Monday, April 15, 2013

Tour blog 956

...or something like that.


Best part about getting new merch? Less room for my fat butt in the van. Hello, vinyl!



Bathroom wall art. One of my weaknesses. #stopslutshaming



Remember that time at the show when all the other ladies were dressed like punk pinup girls and I was looking all Taylor swift-y and felt like they wished I was part of the Nashville that was burnin'? Good times.

Song reference--get it?

Also I think the fact that my selfie clearly is tarnished by my square still plugged into my phone counts as a major #merchgirlprob



Southgate House. Such a beautiful venue.







Sometimes we stay with people who I think may steal my fillings and sell them for meth. Sometimes we stay with people who have tanning beds next to the bar in their basement. I like staying with these people better.



This is what I like to call "why it's best not to have mimosas for breakfast and wine for lunch"



This evil thing, reincarnated.



Tootles. Always a good time.



Post-show photo shoot.



"The Fall" featuring Aaron on the merch rack.



I'll pretend like this was all the donut that I ate.



Stages are for rocking and for napping upon.



Ditto.



I don't know what I love more, Tootles or red lipstick and my jack daniels shirt.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Dawes--Stories Don't End

Dawes new album, Stories Don't End, has been my constant writing soundtrack since it was released on Tuesday. Lyrically, this is one of the most brilliant records I have bought in years. Yes, years. It's that amazing. In addition the to genius lyrics, the music is beautiful as well. It's really the best music purchase I have made in a very long time.

Below are four of my favorite songs from Stories Don't End. I've included lyrics from each that I found to be particularly exceptional. To really get the full effect, buy the album and listen to the songs fully. They're enough to take your breath away.

Dawes-- Most People



This song is without a doubt my favorite from the album. Maybe it's because I love songs that I can identify with, and so many of these lines resonate.

"And it all makes up an image that resists interpretation
Which is lately how she likes to see herself
How she does not believe in accidents, doesn't disagree out loud
And falls in love with every man she cannot help"

Dawes--Just My Luck



"Just my luck I never said I loved you
Just my luck it completely slipped my mind
It's not my colder-hearted tendencies that keeps you from being here with me
Or the universe's brilliant designs
It's just my luck

I spend my whole life moving forwards but understand it looking back
Like watching last night's tapes in the middle of a game
I should know how this thing works now, I should accept it as a fact
That there's really nothing out there I can blame"

Dawes--Someone Will



"Grab your cigarettes
And follow me out of the living room.
And I’ll get drunk enough to tell you how I feel
About the men you loved,
And how they all seemed to get the best of you
Because If I don’t say these things, you know,
Someone will.
.....
So I hope my voice can stay as clear as I need it to
But that my words take on the nature of a drill
To be set against the frozen sea inside of you
Because if I don't tell you I’m falling in love, then
Someone will."


Dawes--Something in Common



"And as I stare over my breakfast and out into the street
I find that sorrow I've been chasing way too often,
That the man that stands in front of you is not the sum of all his dreams,
But I'm hoping they've got something in common
I'm hoping they've got something in common"

Monday, April 8, 2013

A little heavy for the sunshine? No way.

Something about warm weather makes me crave heavier, harder music. It's an obsession I've had since I got my first Sevendust album. I was in high school, finally had my own car and had somehow convinced myself that I was a little badass because I liked rock music, wore black band shirts and my boyfriend was in a band. Total badass, right? Haha. It's funny looking back on it now. I still vividly remember getting Alpha in the mail as a combo with tickets to my first Sevendust show. My best friend and I listened to that album over and over, turned up so loud, windows rolled down and sunroof opened. We thought we were so cool listening to our 'metal' music--though we were probably playing it in the car on our way to do very un-metal, un-rebellious things like 4-H meetings or Volleyball practice. It didn't matter though. In those few minutes between leaving school and getting to the Extension Office, with a little time added on to circle Wal-Mart or McDonald's, we were the coolest kids we knew, and anyone in earshot was gonna know it, too.

Last week, the first few consecutively warm days of the year rolled around and the time had come to roll down the windows, open the sunroof and turn up the music. Coincidently, Sevendust's new album, Black Out The Sun, came out at about the same time. I didn't stream it or preview it before I bought it, I just went to the store and got it. I was ripping the plastic off as I waked out the door of the store. I ejected my winter music and cranked up the volume. I rolled down the windows and Spring officially began as the first song played.

Here are a few of my new favorite windows down, scare the elderly songs that are perfect for turning up as you ride around and enjoy the sunshine. (And if you're anything like me, you might still feel like a little bit of a badass, even if you are more than a couple of years out of high school.)

Sevendust--Black Out The Sun



The title track isn't anywhere near the hardest song on the album, but it's heavy enough to still rock hard. The entire record is pretty good, not my favorite from them, but solid. I definitely recommend it if you're a Sevendust fan. "Faithless" "Picture Perfect" and "Got a Feeling" are also great cuts to check out.

Marilyn Manson-- I Don't Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me)



I hadn't heard this song until I guest hosted The Incubator on 105.3 a couple of weeks ago and Justin played it, but now I'm crazy about it. I have loved Manson since my high school days - his greatest hits album was in regular rotation along with Sevendust. This song is everything I like about his music- heavy and weird, yet catchy as hell. A perfect balance to the happiness the sunshine makes you feel.

In This Moment- Adrenalize



That's the official lyric video, but I highly recommend watching the official video on the link below. It's kind of amazing.

http://www.revolvermag.com/news/exclusive-in-this-moment-premiere-new-video-adrenalize.html

This girl is absolutely crazy and I love it. Not so coincidentally, In This Moment gives me really Manson-esque vibes so they fit perfectly in this list. "Adrenalize" is super heavy and has such a dirty, raw feel to it. I'm not usually a fan of the girl-fronted rock band business, but she more than earns her place. I totally want to be her when I grow up. She is a real badass. But I guess I'll just have to pretend as I listen to her and In This Moment all summer long.