Monday, October 31, 2011

For all the steps you'll take and all you'll overcome...

This song is on an album that was recommended by a friend of mine a while ago that I recently got around to listening to. I've probably listened to the full album 6 or 7 times in the past day and a half, it is that good.

... I wanna be the one to put it in a song

Influences

In case you haven't realized, I have a very eclectic taste in music. I think this is because I have a lot of people who have influenced my taste in music. Obviously growing up, my parents shaped my early taste in music. My dad listens mainly to classical music which is one of the reasons I love Beethoven so much. However, whenever he is driving he listens to NPR. Any time I hear the trumpet fanfare for All Things Considered, I immediately remember my dad picking me up from school. My mom introduced me to The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Willie Nelson, which I think is a good foundation for anyone. These artists have influenced so many modern musicians, you can't really appreciate music without having at least a passing acquaintance with them. Up until middle school, I only listened to oldies. I still love This Diamond Ring by Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Poison Ivy by The Coasters, and Windy by The Association. I could go on. The other major influence in my musical education was my sister. She introduced me to Green Day's Dookie and Weezer's Blue Album. Even today when my sister and I get together, we compare bands we are listening to. We don't always listen to the same stuff, but we are aware of each others likes and dislikes so we can usually accurately judge what to recommend.  In middle school, I moved on to classic rock and became obsessed with Pink Floyd, The Doors, and Hendrix. To be fair I still am in love with these artists. I was convinced that there was nothing good about the music of the time. To be fair, it was the mid to late 90's so I wasn't far off. In high school I started listening to Dave Matthews and techno. But this is also when I began to really search out new music. Of course it was made easier by the fact that MTV still played music videos. There was also IMF and Fuse. This is when I found out about bands like The Super Furry Animals, The Dandy Warhols, Radiohead, and Gorillaz. Senior year in high school was when I began listening to punk rock. It was a little difficult to find stuff mainly because my friends didn't listen to it or really seem interested. Obviously I knew about The Clash and The Ramones, but my knowledge was very limited. Then I went to college. I think that, at least for me, college is a place to find out who you really are. In high school, you are surrounded by people who live near you, but do not necessarily have the same interests as you. For example, I grew up in East Texas which is a strong hold for right wing conservatism. I on the other hand am a fairly liberal person. In college, you are surrounded by people who made a conscious effort to go to a particular school. For the first time in my life, I was surrounded by people who were like minded and as intelligent as me (I know that sounds really arrogant, but it is true, remember, I grew up in East Texas). I also found people who were into the same type of music as me. I was introduced to Tom Waits by a group of older students who adopted me my freshman year, Jump, Little Children by a friend down the hall in my dorm and tons of other new music that pretty much blew my mind. It was also in college that I met another of my major musical influences. We got to talking when I started singing along to a Streets song that she put on a mix for a party. We had met before and had several mutual friends (kinda hard not to at such a small school) but this was the first time we actually talked. From that point on we shared music whenever possible. It got to a point where we were always trying to find bands that the other had never heard of. She usually did better than me. Every once in a while I hear from her and she has a new band for me to check out. After college, I moved away from these friends I had made, and had to fend for myself when it came to finding new music. Granted, every once in a while I would meet up with them and we would swap music, but it wasn't the same. I've gotten better, and of course I have made new friends who share my love of music. One of my favorite things to do at a party is to sit by the stereo and pick the music that is playing. It makes my night when someone sings along to one of the more obscure songs I pick, or compliments my taste in music.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Friday, October 28, 2011

show

Going to a show tonight at The Loft in Dallas, Wild Flag is playing. Some of you might remember their previous incarnation as Sleater Kinney
Here is Wild Flag's Romance of their debut, self titled album.
And yes, that is Carrie Brownstein for those of you who watch Portlandia.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

German rap?

A friend of mine posted this video a while back and the song, and later the entire album, became stuck in my head.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Send me your strongest machine

Today's band is one I have seen three times and let me tell you, they put on a hell of a show. The Protomen have created a rock opera based around the Mega Man video games that is truly remarkable. Their first album begins with Dr. Light's creation of Protoman, and Protoman's fight and defeat at the hands of Dr. Wily's robot hordes. Light then creates Mega Man and attempts to keep him sheltered from the real world, but when Mega Man finds out what happened to his brother, he swears revenge on Dr. Wily. The second album is a prequel to the first album and chronicles the development of the technology to create the robots and Wily's rise to power. My favorite song is Vengeance, where Mega Man is fighting Dr. Wily's robots.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Coming for your heart like a cannibal

One of my feel good bands is Miniature Tigers. I found out about them when I saw them open for Eisley and Say Anything (don't judge, the ticket was free). They have a great almost childish feel. I got to see them headline a few months later and it was a really fun show. At one point, Charlie Brand (the singer) got off the stage and danced around with members of the audience. Definitely worth seeing again.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

I live in a state of Texas

I got to see the Old 97's this past week, and it was a great show. The show was outside in Deep Ellum in Dallas with the stage framing the Dallas skyline. This is one of the songs they played, and hearing it while looking at the Dallas skyline lit up at night was something I think only a Texan could truly appreciate. Hope you enjoy it.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

BRAAAIIINNNSSSSS

In honor of the season 2 premier of The Walking Dead, here is a song about zombies by the hysterical goth rock  singer, Voltaire.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Dallas Observer Music Awards

Going to the Dallas Observer Music Awards this afternoon and I am pretty pumped. The headliners are The Toadies, Old 97's, Centro-Matic, and Sarah Jaffe. Should be a pretty awesome show. Here is one song I hope to hear today.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

short lapse

Sorry for not posting the last few days, but things have been crazy around here. For those of you interested in instrumental metal should check out Dethmole. It is a one man band by Jeph Jacques, the creator of Questionable Content, one of my favorite webcomics. All of his albums are available for download on bandcamp.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Round One...Fight!

Today's song is by another opening act. I have seen Man Factory open up for the Protomen three times, and they got better every time. Their music is a rock opera based on the Street Fighter video games. So far they have two albums out and I believe they are working on a third. This is the opening track off of their first album.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Got to see the amazing Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls last night. Needless to say, my face was rocked completely off. I love his philosophy on music, how it should belong to everyone. The openers were Into It/Over It, who wasn't bad, and Andrew Jackson Jihad, who were pretty funny. Today's song is by them.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

First you live, then you die

I saw Dusty Rhodes and the River Band open up for Flogging Molly 3 years ago at the House of Blues, and let me tell you, they put on a great show. They are a great blend of Country and Rock 'n' Roll, not to mention very talented musicians.

You're in luck

I got to see today's band open up for Jump, Little Children at Exit/In in Nashville several years ago, granted at that time they went by Michael Flynn. I really enjoyed their set, and now the bassist for Jump, Little Children, Johnny Gray, is in the band.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

A taste of the good life

Today is how I imagine Sunday's would be if I had a real job. Hanging out with friends, cooking good food and having a great time. I'm fortunate enough to have a Sunday off (I honestly can't remember the last time this happened) so I get to help my friend celebrate his birthday. Gonna make some good food and spend time with people I love to be around. Not only that, the weather is beautiful outside. Today's song is by The Old 97s, who I get to see on the 15th at the Dallas Observer Music Awards. My sister introduced me to them when I was in high school and I have been a fan ever since.