Archive for Music
January 28, 2007 at 11:20 am · Filed under Music
For my birthday, Clear purchased me a ticket to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra: The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky.
Not being the huge symphony buff, I dont have a whole lot of critique on the performance. I was in the very last top row, which made it a bit of a strain to see. I closed my eyes and listened to the music for the most part. The orchestra played a short 10 minute introduction. Then, they took a break to regroup. The orchestra moved to the back half (as you can see in the photo) and the dancers came out for part 1. I got out my seat and stood to watch the dance portion. They took an intermission and came back out with the full symphony, but the dance was done. Part 2 was the portion one would recognize from Disney’s Fantasia. In front of me was a family of bobbleheads. They were really intent on the piece and were nodding their heads like it was a rock concert.
Download link
The ballet dancing was interesting to watch. There were 3 males and 3 females dressed in casual dance shirts and pants. I wish there was a backdrop, costumes, or maybe some props to help paint the picture. I was also a little disappointed that they didn’t act out the second half. It seems like the most relevant (and well known) of the piece with the rituals and sacrifice. But I suppose they wouldn’t have been able to fit the entire orchestra on the stage. After the dancing act, Man! The audience applauded forever! I mean sure it was good and they were out there for maybe 20 minutes, but the dancers had to bow four different times. They took each others hands walked to the front, bowed, came back, clapped, took hands again, rushed the front, bowed, came back, and left the stage. Then, they came back on stage and did it all over again. People. It was good, but stop clapping, and lets get this show on the road.
The concert experience is nice, but I dont know if I fully “get it”. The directors receive a ton of praise, but what are they actually doing. They’re just a visible metronome. They didn’t compose the piece. It’s already laid out for them, and they’d be a fool to change anything about it. The only thing they do is speed it up or tell one section to play louder or not. By any other director or orchestra, a concert of this magnitude would sound exactly alike. If I were to buy a CD of the performance, I feel like I’d get the same listening experience out of it. And do I really need to get all dolled up and bump elbows with some of these people. Aside from the bobbleheads, many of the people looked all dressed and weren’t even paying attention. Did you come just to get all dressed up?
I dont know. Just my 2 cents.
November 21, 2006 at 5:17 pm · Filed under Lifestyle, Music, News Events, Techy
Day of Turkey is fast approaching, and I wont be posting for another week. I’ll be taking the train to Iowa, and spending time with the family. Now, I know you’re all eager to read ‘Part 3′ and then the dramatic climax of ‘Part 4′, but you’ll just have to wait. Until then, I’ll try to hold you over with some blogs, music, and news snippets.
- iamfacingforeclosure.com/ -A 24-year-old aspiring real estate investor from Sacramento CA. After going to few seminars he bought 8 houses in 8 months. However, he’s ran out of cash, an is now facing foreclosure.
- johnchow.com/ – He’s an internet mogul, who talks about making money on the web, how he made his career, fancy restaurants, and general techy stuff.
- tradertim.blogspot.com/ – Tim Knight, founder of a technical analysis site, gives his daily perspective on the market, his portfolio, and option positions.
- I’m on the Flying Spaghetti Monster Halloween page.
- Family Guy Clip – How’s that novel you’ve been working on?
- I think an Akita Inu would also be a fun dog to have. The Shiba Inu is a pocket size version.
- I found the website for Brainstorm: Movies, Comics, and Games.This is the rental place I’ve been going to. Though, I haven’t been there in awhile.
- Patriot act makes it harder to get real Sudafed
Music:
- Blue Cheer – a San Francisco-based rock group of the late 1960s and early 1970s, who helped to pioneer heavy metal music.
- Jefferson Airplane -an American rock band from San Francisco, a pioneer of the LSD-influenced psychedelic rock movement.
- Foo Fighters new Skin and Bones album. I might have to get the UK DVD. It comes with 2 DVDs, whereas the US version may have only 1.
That’s it. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
October 24, 2006 at 10:20 am · Filed under Music
Over the last week, I’ve ordered some new music and DVDs.
The first CD is “Live at the Jazz Bakery” by Sara Gazarek. Last year, I was listening to NPR and was about to head downtown. Her song “All or Nothing at All” came on and I had to stop what I was doing. I zoned out and waited for NPR to tell me her name. After that, I went to her website and listened to a couple of her other songs. I think I ordered her CD a day later.
So “Live at the Jazz Bakery” is a recorded live performance with her singing some new and oldie songs. I ordered this as soon as I saw it. The website said it was only available online with limited pressings and autograph, which I got thank-you-very-much.
Then, last week, I ordered “DVD by Sexy”, “Sabbia”, and Ten East.
“DVD by Sexy” is a rock-umentary of The Eagles of Death Metal. It’s directed by Liam Lynch (the “Whatever” guy, who is also directing the new Tenacious D movie.) I’m not exactly sure what’s on the DVD, but I’m sure it will be sexy. QOTSA had something similar to this in their deluxe edition of Lullabies to Paralyze.
Sabbia” is the result of a 2 year collaboration between filmmaker Kate McCabe and musician Brant Bjork. While being neither a visual album or traditional documentary, the experimental and trippy film takes you on a California journey from “high” desert to low desert showing a beautiful and mystical landscape through many perfectly lovely and some stoney weirdo moments. Hope to see you there!
In the last 2 years, Brant Bjork has become one of my favorite artists. He recorded some music just for this DVD, and I’m excited to hear and watch it.
Ten East is a musical side project with collaborating artists, which should be similar to “Sabbia”. Brant makes an appearance along some members of Yawning Man, which is another desert band.
Hurry up mail man!
September 21, 2006 at 10:34 am · Filed under Music
Today, I was checking the wikipedia entry on Death From Above 1979, a Canadian Rock Phenom, and it said that they were now defunct. I checked the offical page, and sure enough one of the members confirmed that they were no more. =[ Here’s how the obsession started:
Last year, I ordered 4 CDs online. Through no fault of the company, I ordered an unavailable CD, which delayed the shipment. After a month, they notified me to say that the CD still wasn’t in. So, I told them to cancel the unavailable CD and replace it with DFA79. I had never heard any of their songs, but people were raving about them online. All together, I received the 4 CDs and surprisingly the DFA79 album was my favorite. Quite the diamond in the rough.
They only recorded one full LP, but they had a couple hard to find EP’s and rarities. I’ve since scoured the internet trying to find these. Now, I’m gonna have to cherish all of the songs, b-sides, and live sets I have. One of the members, Jesse Keeler, has a side project called Femme Fatale which is equally good, but not as great. He’s also rumoured to be working with Josh Hommes on the new QOTSA album. But, still, this is a sad day.
We can still watch them on Conan O’ Brien with Max on drums.
August 4, 2006 at 5:04 pm · Filed under Music
Well, Lollapolooza is taking place all Fri-Sun: 3 days, 8 stages, and 130 bands. Many of the bands, I’ve never heard of, but there are some personal favs such as QOTSA headlining. I dont plan on going to Lollapolooza per se, but I do plan on going. Let me explain.
Lollapolooza is inside Grant Park in Chicago, with Buckingham Fountain as the focal point of the show. Now, the parks and streets of Chicago are very much open and public areas. So, the only thing that seperates one from the venue is about 30 ft buffer zone and a 6 ft fence. No, I’m not planning on sneaking in. But I will be listening from a distance.
Today, I was riding my bike around the lake front and you could hear the echo of the concert from any location. I rode around the concert fences to scope out the scene. Today, I found a shady, grassy knoll to camp out at. I read my book, enjoyed the outdoors, and took in some music. When QOTSA takes the stage on Sunday, I’ll hang out around the fences and take in the music from my bike. I really dont see the difference between paying and listening inside or hanging outside and listening. I dont need to see the band afterall.
“Mers, dont be a cheap bastard. Just buy a ticket and go with your friends.” Hmmmmm…no. There are just somethings you’ve got to take a stand against.
A one day pass is 65 bones + the fu**ing $8 service charge. A service charge, SRSLY? A machine prints out a ticket. What service requires this? “Robbery” charge is what they ought to change the name to. This is typical of many concerts, but more so associated with larger venues.
Though, I dont have a problem with the $65 price tag. There are 42 bands playing any day, but you could only catch about 6 different band’s sets. At any time, there are at least 4 bands playing at the same time. So, you really have to pick and choose. But, I dont have an issue with that. It’s reasonable and the the bands gotta get paid.
However, if you plan on catching 6 bands, you need to be there from open to close. You’d be confined to stay inside the gates for the entire time. NO REENTRY! That’s lame. When you get hungry or thirsty, it means you have to succumb to the overpriced bottled water, beer, and food. It’s also like being herded around like cattle. You’re packed in with tons of meatbags, which can only move an inch to get anywhere. Then, most people stake out the good spots all day. So, even if I paid to see QOTSA, I’d be way in the back and unable to see the band. I think listening outside is a better deal.
So, that’s my point and I’m sticking to it. Tomorrow, there aren’t any bands that I’m dying to see, but I’ll probably head back just to chill. The shady tree and grassy knoll were amicably comforting. And, I’m almost done with my books.
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For my birthday, Clear purchased me a ticket to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra: The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky.