6/30/11

i'm kelly, but tonight i'm christine

The time has finally come for me to relocate myself to the magical Sherwood Forest in Rothbury, Michigan for Electric Forest. I am beyond excited. This is my first camping festival & I know that I'm just going to love it. I'll be checking out some some old favorites as well as a lot of new acts that I'm not as familiar with. What's better than the feeling you get when you discover some truly great music?

That being said, I'll probably be ignoring this blog for a few days while I recover from the experience. I'm really looking forward to sharing the weekend with you all though!

(via)

in a city trance

I heard this song about  week ago in Forever 21 of all places. I knew it was familiar, but I couldn't place the artist or title, so I did what I typically do for songs I don't know -- I typed out a few lyrics on my iPhone notepad with the intention of searching for the song later (yes, I'm familiar with Shazam, but I haven't fully embraced it). I eventually started searching for the song, but the lyrics I had were not matching up to the proper song (might I add, this is super frustrating for a search engine "expert" like myself). Yesterday I had this strange revelation where I could hear the song playing almost perfectly inside my head & I was able to piece together a few more lyrics. Voila, mystery solved. "I Won't Kneel" rocks & funny enough, I already had the song in my iTunes.

Ps. How stellar is this music video? The lighting & the outfit are so perfect.

rest in my arms, sleep in my bed

Not too long ago a discussion came up about the top 25 most played iTunes songs. I typically listen to music on my iPhone, so I knew my iTunes list would be a little dated. I perused through my top songs last night & was pleasantly surprised with how exquisite my musical taste has remained despite genre. 2008 Christine was much more mellow than 2011 Christine. Both equally awesome though. 

According to iTunes, I have listened to "Vito's Ordination" by Sufjan Stevens 120 times & I am not at all shocked. It is quite possibly the most beautiful song I have ever heard & I will absolutely never grow tired of it. 


"Vito's Ordination" - Sufjan Stevens


Also on the list? Lots of The National, Bon Iver, Passion Pit, Ryan Adams & Crystal Castles. Maybe sometime I'll provide a full list. I am ashamed of nothing.

(via)

6/28/11

i was there : tiësto

Show: Tiësto

Location: The Mid

Date: 6.26.11

Favorite Song: The thing about Tiësto is that his sets are just so cohesive. They have a perfect flow with no awkward space & they just seem like they all have to coexist together in order to be portrayed in the best way possible.

Memorable Moment: I was 10 feet away from the best DJ in the world. Insane. Never again will I see him in such an intimate setting. Words can't describe the night.

Biggest Letdown: I was really hoping to hear Kanye's "Lost in the World" again. I heard it at Ultra & absolutely loved it. Maybe I'll be lucky & get it on Friday at Electric Forest (yeah, that's right. I'm seeing him again in less than a week).

This Show: was unreal. Seriously, such an insane experience. I was with such a fun group of people who really loved the music & everyone was just so happy to be there. Also, I was pretty pumped to have an excuse to wear my sequined short shorts again. Little victories.

i was (kinda) there : yo la tengo

Show: Yo La Tengo

Location: Green Music Festival

Date: 6.25.11

Favorite Song: Well number one, I am not that familiar with Yo La Tengo. Secondly, the sound sucked & even if I was more familiar with the songs, I probably wouldn't even be able to distinguish between them.

Memorable Moment: It was a street festival on a beautiful Chicago evening -- what's not to love?

Biggest Letdown: Someone just didn't do a good job setting up the sound for the festival. Whether you were close to the stage or not, all you heard was bass.

This Show: barely justifies a blog post, but I was there.


i was there : avicii

Show: Avicii

Location: The Congress

Date: 6.26.11

Favorite Song: There is just something truly beautiful about "Seek Bromance." That song will always make me feel all tingly inside. I love hearing it live & I'm pretty sure the sold out crowd at The Congress would agree as well.

Memorable Moment: Avicii is kid, yet he is so unbelievably talented. He can sell out a crowd of thousands & perform with the biggest smile on his face. You know right away that he's living his dreams & that's pretty awesome.

Biggest Letdown: Hardly a legitimate letdown, but his sets felt pretty identical to the one's I had seen during Ultra. It'll be interesting to see the way he progresses as time goes on.

This Show: was the second one of my night. I knew it was going to be a great time & I was certainly not let down. That kid has some skills.

i was there : junior boys

Show: Junior Boys

Location: The Metro

Date: 6.24.11

Favorite Song: I think it's safe to say that "In the Morning" is somewhere in my top 25 songs. I just absolutely love it & it was pretty amazing to see live.

Memorable Moment: Not to be repetitive, but "In the Morning" was a definite highlight. I also really enjoyed some of their newer songs, like "A Truly Happy Ending" & "Banana Ripple."

Biggest Letdown: My timing estimates were a little off, so I probably missed a decent amount of songs. I only heard Junior Boys perform for about an hour & I probably missed out on a few older songs that I would have liked to have heard -- namely, "So this is Goodbye."

This Show: was the first of two concerts I went to that night. I was a little hesitant about the marathon concert night, but I am so so trilled that I chose to go to this show & it's another group I can happily check off my must-see list.

(via)

6/27/11

sexy boy

"Sexy Boy" - Air

I just watched the season premiere of True Blood & I've got Eric Northman on my mind...

(via)

i'm so clever it takes no effort


"Cold Dust Girl" - Hey Champ (Gemini Club remix)

(via)

6/23/11

my intentions are bass

"Jamie, My Intentions Are Bass" - !!! (MF/MB/ remix)

!!!'s music is so fun, I just wish I enjoyed their live show a little bit more. At least the energy was there.

(via)

the ride of a lifetime

"Drowning" - Armin Van Buuren feat. Laura V (Avicii remix)

I've got a marathon weekend of concerts ahead of me with Junior Boys, Avicii, Yo La Tengo & Tiesto. I'm pretty damn excited!

(via)

i was not magnificent

"Holocene" - Bon Iver

Everyone has picked up the new Bon Iver album, right? I'm a little obsessed to say the least & "Holocene" is my hands down favorite. Bold statement, but this might be my top album of 2011 so far. I thought For Emma, Forever Ago would be hard to top, but they sure did it with Bon Iver.

Only problem? Stupid me didn't get tickets for their show at the Chicago Theater. I'll pay big bucks to go to this show (the price you pay for stupidity), but so far my problem is finding single tickets. I know I have a month to find a ticket, but any advice would be appreciated. I am only finding pairs at this point. xoxo!

6/22/11

i was there : my morning jacket





Show: My Morning Jacket (& Daniel Martin Moore)

Location: Auditorium Theater

Date: 6.17.11

Favorite Song: I have a very special place in my heart for "Where to Begin." Always starting over, but somehow I always know where to begin.

Memorable Moment: The Auditorium Theater is beautiful. I had been once for Ray LaMontange, but I was sitting floor level. The balcony is where it's at because you get to see the golden arch* of lights. At one point, MMJ played "Golden" with only the "golden arch" lights; no stage lights. Pretty awesome. Also, I was a big fan of the wardrobe choices.

Biggest Letdown: Aside from the Hillbillies** behind me spilling beer all over me throughout the show, I would probably say that I was hoping to hear more of their older, less popular songs.

This Show: Didn't quite top their 2007 Lollapalooza performance with the Chicago Youth Symphany Orchestra, but I still enjoyed it none the less. Jim James always puts on a good show & I'm excited to see them perform again at this years Lollapalooza.

*Direct quote from Jim James.
**Direct quote from the random guy sitting next to me.

blogger superlatives: i would go on lunch dates with...

Joy Cho of Oh Joy!
Don't let her petite (albeit pregnant) exterior fool you; this little momma sure knows what will tickle your tastebuds. Joy is good at a lot of things (such as writing books & making wallpaper), but one area she excels at is cuisine.

Sometimes I kind of hate her (typically just before lunchtime), but for the most part, her foodie posts are pretty awesome. They make me appreciate food as an art form & also push me to be a little more adventurous when picking my own meals ...& maybe that saying "yes" to dessert is okay.

Thanks, Joy!
(all photos pulled from Oh Joy)

i used to think i was the strangest person in the world

"I used to think I was the strangest person in the world, but then I thought: there are so many people in the world. There must be someone just like me who feels bizarre & flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her & imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there & read this & know that, yes, it's true. I'm here & I'm just as strange as you."
-Frida Kahlo 

Aside from being tragic, the life of Frida Kahlo was so fascinating & inspiring. Both images of her & paintings by her stop me in my tracks. I know little about her life aside from a small high school project & a film starring Penelope Cruz. I am curious --- has anyone ever read a particularly good biography about her life? I am on the hunt for one & would love a good recommendation.

(via)

6/19/11

trust your intuition; it's just like going fishing


"Father & Daughter" - Paul Simon

I couldn't let Father's Day come & go without a shout out to the most important man in my life, my Dad. I know lots of girls want to claim that they have the best father in the world, but I'm pretty sure I could put up one hell of an argument.

I have never really been a huge Paul Simon fan, but I have a special place in my heart for this song. I'm going to pin it on fishing & golden retriever references, but it's more likely because I know how much my Dad loves me.

Happy Father's Day to all of the wonderful dads out there!

Ps. How about the photo of him on his wedding day? That is a serious tux! 

6/16/11

i still feel you and the taste of cigarettes

"Blue Light" - Bloc Party

I fell in love with Bloc Party my senior year of highschool & I still absolutely love their Silent Alarm album. "Blue Light" came on my shuffle & it made me feel pretty darn nostalgic. 

Ps. The title is a lie. I don't kiss smokers.

(via)

so this is goodbye

"So This is Goodbye" - Junior Boys

Dilemma: I have tickets to see Junior Boys next Friday, but it falls on the same night as my Avicii tickets. I love them both in very different ways. I have never seen Junior Boys before, but I would probably have more fun at Avicii. What's a girl to do?

(via)

no need for talking, i already know

The xx's xx has become one of my top albums in the past year or so. I really liked a few of the songs at first, but I have grown to collectively love the album as a whole. "Stars" is one of the tracks that didn't do much for me at first, but now I can't get enough.

Unfortunately, The xx have gone their separate ways for the time being and it doesn't appear as though anything new will be surfacing soon (although, there has been some solo work). Bummer, right?

Last week I heard about a Brooklyn duo called Creep that supposedly had sounds similar to that of The xx. I took a listen to their song "Days" & was quite impressed. Sure enough, the vocals were from none other than Romy Madley-Croft of The xx.  guess the rumors were valid. I still need to give Creep a few more listens, but they get major bonus points because their website URL is www.officialcreep.com.

6/15/11

penguin paintings

I'm a total freak when it comes to beautiful hardcover books, so it should come as no surprise that I'm going nuts over Courtney Cox's Penguin Classics painting by Harland Miller

jellies

I'm off to the Shedd Aquarium after work to see the Jellies exhibit & other water-dwelling creatures (and maybe imagine I'm here).

6/14/11

flag day

Happy Flag Day!
I might use this holiday as an excuse to get this great patriotic scarf from Free People. I've been eyeing it for a little bit & it would make a great addition to my wardrobe, especially over 4th of July weekend in the magical Electric Forest

They also have a Union Jack version for any of my British brethren.

shopping cart : summer wardrobe

Just a few things I've picked up...


The photos don't do justice for some of these pieces. I blame the pasty UO models.

6/13/11

i was there: neon marshmallow music festival


Location: Empty Bottle

Date: 6.11.11

Favorite Song: I went to this show knowing absolutely nothing about the artists. I can't say I loved Sickness or Bill Orcutt, but Oneohtrix Point Never was actually pretty legit at times.

Memorable Moment: I always love a good 90:10 guy-to-girl ratio. Even if the guys look like this.

Biggest Letdown: Call me close-minded, but I just don't get how this is considered to be good music. It reminded me of the movie Cloverfield (also terrible).

This Show: Was interesting. Enough said.

i was there : benny bennassi


Show: Benny Benassi

Location: The Mid

Date: 5.26.11

Favorite Song: I didn't last long enough to see "Cinema," but the beats in "Satisfaction" mostly made up for that.

Memorable Moment: Popping someone's Mid cherry is always a good time.

Biggest Letdown: I have never seen The Mid so crowded. It was really hard to get around & the tables in the middle of the dance floor continue to get on my nerves. I could have done with about 50 less people, but maybe that's just me not liking my personal space invaded.

This Show: Was a shit show all around, but Benassi brought it!

(via The Mid)

i need you to want me, to hold me, to tell me the truth

"Sad Sad City" - Ghostland Observatory

(via)

6/9/11

chase the night with you


"Targa" - Russ Chimes

(via)

what matters most to me



"For Real" - Okkervil River

(via)

shooting stars

"Shooting Star" - Bag Raiders

I've received quite the arsenal of new music that I'm slowly making my way through. One of the first on the list was Bag Raiders, & while I need a few more good listens, my attention has certainly been piqued.

(via)