spread your wings + fly

Kind of digging these totally unique + beautiful hand painted scarves from Shovava.

 

i was there || bonobo

Show: Bonobo

Location: Metro

Date: 9.19.14

Favorite Song: There were quite a few that stood out, but namely opening with "Kiara," "Knowing We'll Be Here" by Daniel Avery, + "The Track I've Been Playing That People Keep Asking About + That Joy Used in His RA Mix" by Four Tet".

Memorable Moment: There were some pretty good dancers out this night. My favorite was this tall lanky boy that had some serious moves. I was totally caught off guard when my friend went to grab drinks + he asked me to dance with him. It was very flattering but also a little intimidating.

Biggest Letdown: Falty DL wasn't able to make it to this show but alas, I caught the tail end of his set at Decibel Festival so all was not lost.

This Show: Was definitely not a s pretty as his live shows but it sure was fun. He played a good mix of his own songs as well as mixes to other songs. The crowd was definitely into it + I will continue to see him regardless of whether or not it is a live show or DJ set.

i was there || hideout block party

Show: Hideout Block Party

Sylvan Esso

Mac Demarco

Funky Meters

Dismemberment Plan

War On Drugs

Location: The Hideout

Date: 9.6.14

Favorite Song: I bought a ticket for War On Drugs + they did not disappoint. They were a perfect closer + "Under The Pressure" was exactly how I had hoped it would sound. I will see them again for sure.

Memorable Moment: I would probably say that Mac Demarco was the most memorable, despite a somewhat lackluster performance. He has a pretty decent album but on this day it just felt like he wanted to rile up the crowd. I did get a good laugh from him lighting a cigarette while he crowd-surfed across the audience.

Biggest Letdown: Dismemberment Plan is so not my thing. I am sure they are fine for their genre but it kind of sucked that I had to stick around and listen to them prior to War On Drugs.

This Show: Is just about the easiest fest you could ever go to + I mean that in the best possible way. There is something nice about only having one stage, even if it means you don't get much of a choice in what you listen to. I'm pretty sure I could have found my soul mate in this crowd too. Such a good vibe all around.

interpol || all the rage back home

i was there || klingande

Show: Klingande
Autograf

Location: Subterranean

Date: 9.4.14

Favorite Song: You know that feeling when you know a song but you can't figure out what it is or how you know it? It is maddening. I went to this show expecting to know nothing but was surprised to hear a song I really did like. It wasn't original, it was a mix + I believe I have heard it on another mix recently. I'm going to keep digging til I get an answer.

Memorable Moment: I got to the show pretty early when the sold out venue was still relatively spacious. Some dude comes plowing through me like "Excuse me!". Totally unnecessary. I shot the nastiest look. Turns out I gave the evil eye to the artists. Sorry, not sorry. You were rude.

Biggest Letdown: This show really made me feel like I was at a party at a frat house. Definite fan boys all around. Plus SubT was so hot + sweaty.

This Show: I honestly did not know what to expect from this show. There were some things I did not like but over all it wasn't so bad. I have always appreciated live instruments at shows + the sax player definitely added a unique component to the night. The crowd was loving it when he came out to perform on some of the songs.

rhye || the fall

slow + steady

2+ years ago when I moved into my current apartment I wasn't very happy with things (aside from finally living alone again). I finally had this huge space to myself but it felt so empty + unfinished despite my grand plans. The reality is that furnishing an apartment + turning it into a home takes time. This is something that 25 year old me should have expected but I wanted so badly for my apartment to be "done".

Grace from Design*Sponge tackles this topic in a post from last month + it struck a chord with me. She talks about the balance of wanting unique, handmade items but also wanting them at low-cost prices which often isn't possible. Grace found that taking your time at filling your home is actually a good thing. It requires you to make decisions on long-term happiness instead of short-term gratification. In the end you usually end up saving money + you have pieces that you really love, not just fillers.

Fast forward two years + things are looking pretty good. There are still a few key pieces I would like to buy but I have come to a point where I have realized that I can wait. It isn't worth putting myself into credit card debt over "wants" vs "needs". I have made a few big purchases (my bedroom furniture, living room rug, floor length mirror) + I am so happy with all of them. Something I'm not really happy with? My sectional sofa. That was something I bought out of necessity at a time when I didn't have much money. It is comfy + does the job though. A new one can come later.

I like to think that a lot of these pieces will transfer well when I finally move into a nicer place too which makes me feel good about my decisions + on waiting.

concert outlook || fall 2014

Fall is officially upon us which means concerts are really starting to pick up. This is one of the largest lists I have pulled together yet probably has the fewest amount of shows that I am 100% locked in on (they are the ones in bold). It's a good list but there aren't a ton I'm totally excited for. I almost never say this but I'll likely make my picks according to whatever my friends are doing. So that being said, let me know if you're interested in checking out any of these...

9.4 | Klingande + Autograf | Subterranean
9.5-9.6 | Hideout Music Festival | Hideout

9.12 | Metronomy | Lincoln Hall

9.12-9.14 | Riot Fest | Humbolt Park

9.16 | Spoon | Chicago Theater

9.17 | Tobacco | Lincoln Hall

9.18 | Snowmine | Schubas

9.18 | James Murphy | Smart Bar

9.19 | Bonobo + Falty DL | Metro

9.19 | Kode 9 | Primary

9.19 | AndHim | Spy Bar

9.20 | Com Truise | Lincoln Hall

9.20 | Sophie | Primary

9.23 | Twin Shadow | Metro

9.23 | Ty Segall | Thalia Hall

9.23 | Simian Mobile Disco | Lincoln Hall

9.26 | Gardens + Villa | Empty Bottle*

9.27 | Yacht | Concord Music Hall

9.30 | MO | Concord Music Hall

10.1 | La Roux | Concord Music Hall
10.3 | Theo Parrish | Smart Bar

10.5 | Warpaint | The Vic

10.7 | Banks | Metro

10.8 | Surfer Blood | Lincoln Hall
10.10 | Odesza | Bottom Lounge

10.16 | Ryan Adams | Chicago Theater

10.16 | Zola Jesus | Thalia Hall

10.16-10.17 | Foxygen | Lincoln Hall

10.17 | Chromeo | The Riviera

10.18 | Kygo | Concord Music Hall

10.18 | Yelle | Bottom Lounge

10.22 | Tune-Yards | The Riviera

10.23 | SBTRKT | The Riviera

10.23 | Snakehips | Primary

10.24 | Flying Lotus | Concord Music Hall

10.25 | Rhye | The Vic

10.25 | Dusky | Spy Bar

10.29 | Courtney Barnett | Metro

10.30 | Twin Peaks | Lincoln Hall

10.30 | Slowdive | The Vic

10.30 | Digitalism | Concord Music Hall

11.1 | RAC | Concord Music Hall

11.1-11.2 | Alt-J | The Riviera

11.3 | Blonde Redhead | Bottom Lounge

11.10-11.11 | St. Lucia | Metro

11.12 | Interpol | The Riviera

11.13 | Avi Buffalo | Empty Bottle

11.13 | FKA Twigs | Metro

11.13 | Ryan Hemsworth | Double Door

11.14 | Wildcat! Wildcat! | Schubas

11.16 | Nils Frahm | Thalia Hall

11.22-11.23 | Fitz + the Tantrums | The Riviera

11.25 | Death From Above 1979 | The Riviera

*I will be in Seattle so I can't make Gardens + Villa. I have a ticket though so it's yours for free if you're interested.

i was there || north coast music festival

Show: North Coast Music Festival

Chet Faker

Washed Out

Talib Kweli

Future Islands

Little Dragon

Cashmere Cat

Adventure Club

Location: Union Park

Date: 8.29.14 - 8.30.14

Favorite Song: I know I just finished off a night of Chet Faker but being front row (literally) for his set was too good. I enjoyed this one last night too but hearing "Gold" live just made me think of the babes from his music video + that pleased me. I also am pretty sure I was one of the few people in the crowd that could sing all his lyrics word-for-word so that made me feel proud too.

Memorable Moment: The front gate staff was incredibly complimentary to me. On two occasions I got props on my outfit so that really started the festival off to a good start. Chet Faker was of course the highlight again. I saw him pour a water bottle over his hot body + also was close enough to learn that Sam, on the drums, is a total babe too. The guitarist isn't that bad either (although a little dorkier but that is okay).

Biggest Letdown: There are many things that I could list as disappointing (I'm looking at you you little 15 year old perv that grabbed my ass) but I will focus on what I went there to see. First of all, Washed Out you are not going to get the "party started" at North Coast no matter how hard you try. I am glad you are on the lineup + you guys sounded just fine, but no. Secondly, I just didn't feel like I got all that I was hoping for from Future Islands. I think their song choices were odd + I think they kind of hated the crowd they were playing to. "Standing By the Sea" was a pleasure to hear though.

This Show: Becomes less my scene year after year but that being said there are the few Easter eggs in the lineup worth checking out. On Friday I tweeted "I'm here for the live instruments + bearded men" - no one ever (except me) + I think there is a lot of truth to that statement. Regardless of the festival though you get a lot of people that go to these things just to go + could really care less whether the music was good or not. They just know their friends like it so they should too. I have been there too, but I have grown + I have learned + I am proud of myself for that. This year I was willing to brave their awful crowd to check a few more people off my list.

i was there || chet faker

Show: Chet Faker

Location: Concord Music Hall

Date: 8.28.14

Favorite Song: I have used Shazam very few times in my life to figure out which song was playing but when "Cigarettes + Chocolate" came on the speakers when I was at a bar in San Francisco I had to know what it was. It was so unique + interesting + just sounded like me (as weird as that sounds). Hearing it live was just as perfect. It is a song that makes you feel sexy when you hear it + I would say that is a hard thing to come by. Honorable mention: "I'm Into You". Those eyes. Those thighs...

Memorable Moment: Someone asked me what it is about Chet Faker + although I couldn't really answer this guy just does something for me (+ a whole lot of other people, I'm sure). I was just happy to be reunited in the same room with this babe + his beard + his fun bun.

Biggest Letdown: The music snob in me was bummed to be sharing a room with so many non fans. I chatted with a few people who gave the "I don't really know his music. I just know that song he did with Flume. Figured I would check it out." response. Wasted space. Leave me to be alone with him for a private concert if you don't care.

This Show: Honestly as lame as it sounds it made me feel sexy. It did last time too. And for that I will continue to see him every time he plays in Chicago.