I Am a Rock - Simon & Garfunkel

I heard this song on XM radio today on the drive home. It's a song I've heard dozens of times before, and only today did I really listen and relate to the lyrics.

Nothing Compares 2 U - by The Coconutz

I caught this flick, "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" on a recent flight back from Europe. It's a cute movie with a good soundtrack. At the end of the movie there's this version of Sinead O'Connor's - "Nothing Compares to you," by The Coconutz. Check it out - a haunting rendition entirely in Hawaiian.

Vampire Weekend - APunk @ Coachella 2008

This is how our Coachella 2008 weekend started out.
Vampire Weekend was the first band we saw.

MGMT - Time To Pretend @ Coachella 2008

I heard this song on the radio today during my morning commute and it made me think of Coachella. Every year that darn festival goes by WAY too fast. Wishing I was back there again.

Tegan and Sara

Tegan and Sara have a unique sound of of vocals, guitar, keyboard and synthesizer that's perfect for an outdoor Coachella music festival. Of all the bands I saw at Coachella this year, they're the ones I most enjoyed sitting on the grass, listening to, on a beautiful hot day in the desert sun. They've got great songs and I could listen to them for hours. The band consists of Canadian singer-songwriters Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Kiersten Quin, who are identical twin sisters.

Below are a couple songs that I really enjoyed live. Today when I heard their music (U. was playing it on his ipod) I had a flashback and I could almost smell the Coachella grass.


Tegan and Sara - "The Con"


Tegan and Sara - "Back in your head"

Day 1 - Coachella

Recap of yesterday (Day 1 of Coachella)

We took an alternate back route to avoid the traffic and it was a life saver getting in and out of Coachella quickly. (Read other accounts that it took 2 hours due to all the mad congestion.) We got there at about 5:30 PM. They did a much better job this year of identifying the tents by posting marques outside each tent listing all the artists and show times. But for some reason this year they didn't use the numbered balloons to identify parking. We were in Lot 4 and luckily there were signs with arrows posted on fences, marking the way, and by using landmarks (and a water bottle on top of our car), we were able to locate our car.

Since we got there late, we didn't have to deal with the heat for that long, as it started cooling down an hour or so after we got there. Although that meant we also missed the two first bands on my pick list. But we did surprisingly well seeing many of the artists on my list (5) , walking by and seeing two others, and a couple extra that I hadn't planned on seeing.

Artists bolded below are the ones we saw

Friday
· Black Kids
· Architecture in Helsinki
· Vampire Weekend
· Tegan and Sara
· Goldfrapp
· The Verve
· Jack Johnson (walked by)
· Fatboy Slim
· Black Lips* (walked by)

The other 2 acts we saw that weren't on my list
· Santogold
· Aphex Twins

2 bands I enjoyed the most

· Teagan and Sara (ditzy but talented twin sisters. I could do without their silly banter that seemed to go on and on and on - but they've got great songs and a distinctive sound that holds up well in an outdoor concert setting.)
· The Verve (It felt like a real mega concert with a polished, seasoned band - and it was great to see the band reunited.)

Everyone was prepared for the heat (or I should say almost everyone), but after the sun went down it got progressively colder, and we saw a lot people who were not prepared for the desert cold. Being a "seasoned Coachella veteran" as U. calls me (although this year I forgot my ID which is required for the beer garden) I came prepared for the heat and cold. It always amazes me how drastic the temperature change is in the desert - going from sweltering hot during the day to freezing cold at night. This year, even with my fleece jacket it was chilly. I felt for those people freezing in their bathing suits.

When we first got there, U. made a comment about people thinking we were old folks with our hats and sunscreen. I replied that I'd rather be old and prepared than young and stupid. Just then I looked up and saw a young guy with a tank top and an awful 3rd degree burn. Even though he was no longer wearing his tank top, with his burn you could see the outline of it on my chest and shoulders. Just nuts. That's cancer time.

By evening's wrap up, we decided to go see Fat Boy Slim. He came on 30 minutes late, which is pretty unusual by Coachella standards. If I had known he was going to be so late, I would have gone and seen a couple other acts playing at the same time. But the tent was packed and it would have been hard to exit and then come back in and find our group of friends again. When Fat Boy Slim finally took the stage, he had a lot of energy and the crowd went crazy so it was a lot of fun.

I'm going to go for a swim now and head out to Coachella this afternoon for Day 2. Going to try and get there a bit earlier today so we can catch Devotchka at 3:35. More updates coming tomorrow.

C-ya @ Coachella 2008!

It's that time of year again - the Coachella Music and Arts Festival at the Indio Polo fields in Coachella. I drove up last night and here I am this morning sitting on a couch in a beautiful home in Palm Springs with wifi, sipping my Chai latte, thinking about all the bands/artists I want to see at Coachella (and the cool art installations)...without any stress. The rat race seems miles away. Yeeessss!

This year we're doing it the right way
House in nearby Palm Springs with a pool for 4 days - check
Babysitter for 3 days (while the baby frolics in the pool we'll be having our own fun) - check
Friends sharing the house and excitement - check

Not only am I super stoked about this year's lineup, but it also feels like a real vacation even though it's only a 2.5 hours from home.

I'm also prepared with my handy dandy spreadsheet - of all the bands/artists I want to see sorted by times and locations. I'm an organized geek fer shizzle.

Dunno how many we will actually see, but here are my picks for Coachella 2008.

Friday

• Black Kids
• Architecture in Helsinki
• Vampire Weekend
• Tegan and Sara
• Goldfrapp
• The Verve
• Jack Johnson
• Fatboy Slim
• Black Lips*
  

Saturday

• Devotchka*
• MGMT
• Cold War Kids
• Kate Nash
• Dwight Yoakam
• Death Cab for Cutie
• MIA
• Portishead
• Prince

Happy Valentine's Day Honey! (I've got you under my skin)

Frank Sinatra - "I've got you under my skin"


Diana Krall - "I've got you under my skin"

From seeing Diana Krall perform at the Hollywood Bowl together years ago (sushi, wine, and falling asleep on your shoulder, under the stars while Tony Bennett was singing), to the Frank Sinatra crooner in Arizona who sang this song for us and asked us if we were having an affair - this song always makes me think of you. (And not just on Valentine's Day.) Love you!

Beyond the Sea (La Mer) - A song fitting for a rainy week in Los Angeles

The original French version "La Mer" (written in 1945), performed live by Charles Trenet, with English subtitles. Such a beautiful, poetic song.

Bobby Darin's 1960 hit and English/swing version, "Beyond the Sea".

For LOST fans, this video combines the French and English versions. "Somewhere beyond the sea...there is an island."

Let Your Love Flow

The Bellamy Brothers singing "Let Your Love Flow" on German TV in the 1970s.

When I hear this song I think of sunshine, the orange mints at the bottom of my mom's crocheted purse back in the 70's, and long healthy hippy hair parted down the middle. It also reminds me of the coming of age movie "Little Darlings" my mom talked to be about to warn me about losing my virginity. Ha. A true blast from the past.

Another reason to visit Japan

The Silver Beats, a Japanese Beatles tribute band from the Cavern Club in Tokyo. The one guy really looks like John Lennon. He's Japanese and John Lennon was Caucasian, but whatever, it works.

Happy New Year 2008!

Wishing everyone a happy, successful, and inspirational New Year!

Cheers!

ABBA sings Happy New Year.

Ultra Orange & Emmanuelle - "Sing Sing"

Emmanuelle Seigner has a Nico-esque air about her. The beautiful, tall, blond, lead singer, and former model sings a bit off key with an accent. In her case it's a French accent (rather than Nico's German accent). She's also an actress (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), and the wife of Roman Polanski.

I also love her song "Don't Kiss Me Goodbye".

Johann Sebastian Bach - "Concerto for Piano in F Minor, BMV 1056 - Largo"

Bjork Concert at Nokia Theater LA 12/12/2007

This was my fourth time seeing Bjork in concert, and first time at the new Nokia Theater in Downtown Los Angeles (next to Staples Center).

Bjork
No matter how many times you've seen her live, it's always exciting and you never know what to expect. She's always reinventing herself and her concerts are a feast for the eyes and spirit.

Colorful Chinese banners were used for set design, and Bjork wore a quirky reflective silver costume and headband. We also got to hear/experience her sweet "thank you's" tinged with her Icelandic accent and for some reason a few "gracious's" as well.

The audience was on their feet the entire concert. The spider web thread was a nice touch and kept people standing afraid they'd miss something if they sat down. And there was pyrotechnics as well. It was just that kind of concert.

To the guy that was standing in front of me wearing a floppy desert hat. I own a similar type of hat which my mom commented, "Did you just come back from Iraq?" when she saw me wearing it. I get it when you're at Coachella, out in the hot desert sun. It's a great hat for being out in the elements. But in an air conditioned, pitch black, closed concert theater? Not so much.

I was however happy to see lots of other cooler hats in the audience and people who dressed up.

Bjork announced this will be the last time she plays in the United States for probably 3 years.

Complete Setlist for the Evening
01. Intro - Brennið Þið Vitar
02. Anchor Song
03. Immature
04. Unravel
05. Unison
06. Jóga
07. Hunter
08. The Pleasure Is All Mine
09. Pagan Poetry
10. Who Is It
11. Cocoon
12. Earth Intruders
13. Army Of Me
14. Innocence
15. Cover Me
16. Wanderlust
17. Hyperballad
18. Pluto

Encore
19. Oceania
20. Declare Independence

Ratatat - the opening band

The keyboardist reminded me of "Animal" - that's right the muppet. U. was in stitches watching his theatrics, head banging to each note, and doing back bends for extended periods of time. Usually I wouldn't laugh, but he had a huge afro, dressed in a checkered shirt and acted completely ridiculous- it was just too much and I had to laugh out loud a few times myself.

Nokia Theater
It's very cool that we have another concert venue in Los Angeles. I like the location and it was surprisingly convenient to get in an out of. Also appreciated the advertising free atmosphere inside the theater. Orchestra seats were nice, but it looked like wherever you sat, you'd have a good view. The one downside was the parking - $25. The theater is pretty sparse inside. It leaves you feeling like maybe it's unfinished. Or were they just trying to be minimal with plain black?

I Love LA

The video above was created using shots of LA and follows the songs lyrics. The creator is beating his/herself up over not including Dodger Stadium (but he/she did include another ballpark - Angel Stadium).

It warms my heart to hear this "I Love LA" song by Randy Newman played after sporting events in LA. It stirs up my love of LA, the city I grew up in and love. Plus it also means that the LA team won. Yay!

Today I had one of those euphoric "I Love LA" moments. I was sitting in the park with my daughter after shopping for fresh produce at the local farmer's market. The sun was shining on a beautiful LA winter day. I was eating a tamale, and wearing my flip flops (after Yoga), and just so happy and thankful to be living in LA, and not anywhere else in the world (aka it's still warm here and we have blue skies even in December).

Ever read the lyrics?
(Don't know if I agree with people in NY dressing like monkeys - but the rest he got right.)

Hate New York City
It's cold and it's damp
And all the people dressed like monkeys
Let's leave Chicago to the Eskimos
That town's a little bit too rugged
For you and me you bad girl

Rollin' down the Imperial Highway
With a big nasty redhead at my side
Santa Ana winds blowin' hot from the north
And we was born to ride

Roll down the window put down the top
Crank up the Beach Boys baby
Don't let the music stop
We're gonna ride it till we just can't ride it no more

>From the South Bay to the Valley
>From the West Side to the East Side
Everybody's very happy
'Cause the sun is shining all the time
Looks like another perfect day

I love L.A. (We love it)
I love L.A. (We love it)

Look at that mountain
Look at those trees
Look at that bum over there, man
He's down on his knees
Look at these women
There ain't nothin' like 'em nowhere

Century Boulevard (We love it)
Victory Boulevard (We love it)
Santa Monica Boulevard (We love it)
Sixth Street (We love it, we love it)

I love L.A.
I love L.A.
(We love it)

Nothing says Christmas in LA better than good holiday shopping music

Wham - "Last Christmas"
Back when George Michael was teamed up with Andrew Ridgeley to choose life while pretending to be a girl toy.

You can't avoid hearing this song this holiday season. It's being played in every store and mall around. Thankfully I enjoy hearing the song so I don't mind.

Here's another good one:

Mariah Carey - "All I Want For Christmas"
The video is a tribute to Johnny Depp, so it's more watchable.

And can't forget my childhood favorite:
Alvin and The Chipmunks - "The Christmas Song"
I remember slowing down the speed of my record player to hear their real voices. Every cool kid on the block was doing it and talking about it to be "in the know".

I recently saw a billboard for their new movie, "Alvin!!!" and was surprised they still have a following. Or will it be the adults dragging their kids to see it?

Steel Drum Friday

Happy Friday!

Here's a Jamaican steel drum band playing "One Love".

Control

Above is the official trailer for Control - the film about the life and death of Ian Curtis, who was the lead singer of the pioneering English post-punk band Joy Division.

Ian Curtis committed suicide at the age of 23, on the eve of the band's first American tour in 1980. The remaining members later reformed as New Order.

Review
The film is shot entirely in black and white to resemble black and white period photographs, and does a good job of capturing the look of 70's Manchester, England. The star Sam Riley who portrays Ian Curtis does an excellent job of depicting Curtis' youth and vulnerability.

Samantha Morton, who plays Ian Curtis' wife Deborah Curtis, however feels horribly miscast. Usually brilliant in any role she plays, and one of my favorite actresses, she just seems too old for the part (playing opposite to Sam Riley) and their love connection was not believable.

Alexandra Maria Lara, the German actress who plays Annik Honoré, (Ian Curtis' mistress), the Belgian journalist who met Ian Curtis while Joy Division was on their European tour, was perfectly cast. She looked the part and every time you saw the couple on the big screen, you felt their chemistry. (Sparks must have flown off the set as well because both actors are now linked romantically and are said to be a couple.)

The movie is based on the book by Deborah Curtis: "Touching From A Distance" and it's still all speculation (from his wife's perspective) on why Ian Curtis killed himself. My biggest complaint about the movie is that it doesn't offer any additional insight into the singer, the myth. But if you're a Joy Division fan, the movie is pure eye candy to watch, and it's great to see recreations of gigs they played and hearing their music again.

Flock of Seagulls - "Space Age Love Song" - (80's Flashback)

I saw your eyes
And it made me smile
For a little while
I was falling in love

I saw your eyes
And you touched my mind
But it took a while
I was falling in love

I saw your eyes
And it made me cry
And for a little while
I was falling in love

I was falling in love
Falling in love
Falling in love
Falling in love
Falling in love