The pictures are on facebook, so I'll save you all the nonsense of posting them here. Instead, I'll recommend bands that I saw and enjoyed (with small teasers next to them in case you're the type to be interested in finding new music):
Lucero
Emily gave me and Zach the heads up on this band years ago. If you like alt country with a bluesy quality you'll like this band from Tennessee.
Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down
I walked in late on this set, but this chick and her band are so wonderfully poppy. It's a little like Cibo Matto I think.
My Jerusalem
This New Orleans band put on an impressive show (which according to some googling was their first live performance), but I'm not sure their music would be as good without the live element. They were very rock and roll (plus effects pedals, a trumpet, a violinist (formerly from The Polyphonic Spree), and a man who only plays the tambourine). I found the lead singer describing the music online as varied "from acoustic to trashrock" but I'd say a close fit is The Arcade Fire. Their album was just released; I think they might become big.
The Bird And The Bee
This band is becoming pretty well known. I suggest just watching this video and this one. You'll fall in love. They remind me of Air and Nellie McKay if they combined. Also, they put on a beautifully choreographed and costumed live show (again, see my facebook pictures linked above).
The Thermals
Now, I'll admit that I saw them twice without really seeing them (once I caught halfway through and the second time I was pretty focused on drinking) but they're good, solid indie rock and according to wikipedia they've been working hard together since 2002. They're a Sub Pop artist and they stay true to the good old fashioned grunge quality you'd expect.
The Warlocks
I thought this was a very fascinating band. First off, they're the only band I saw that added a video element to their show. They projected carefully-selected old, bizarre film footage during each song on the tent above them. Wikipedia tells me they're defined as neo-psychedelia, but I see them as having enough rock to put them in the same arena with what I enjoy about Sonic Youth. You can see a video here (they're a little older now).
Heartless Bastards
Garage rock. I remember liking them when I saw them on the first day, but now, 5 days later, I can't remember anything stand out about it. It's possible that's because I was behind about 100 people and couldn't see them.
Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers
There was a Brooklyn Vegan show my first day at my volunteer spot (Club De Ville) and this was one of the most exciting bands that night. The lead singer has a lot of energy and I tend to rally behind any lady that can control an audience. I found this description at rcdlbl.com: grinding
blues, sleazy jazz, and disturbing rock tied together with pop and punk sensibilities; the result sounding something like a vulgar Ella Fitzgerald crooning in front of a wall of distortion and thunderous, pounding rhythms. I don't imagine I could say it better than that.
Blind Pilot
A Portland indie folky band that I may be looking into after seeing them at Club De Ville. They gave an NPR interview where they said, while working on their debut album they were, "listening to a whole lot of Neutral Milk Hotel and Joanna Newsom." Yes.
Ponytail
A Baltimore art rock band that won me over completely when they busted a pinata mid-show and threw out the candy. The lead singer tends to emit strange noises from her throat (think Bjork-y) throughout the fierce experimental music. Their first couple songs didn't get me, but after they played for a while I was kind of getting into it. They were very energetic; Pitchfork calls their performances like a "sugar rush." The crowd went nuts for it and it seemed like the pavement became a trampoline. I'm usually only into music with lyrics, but I couldn't deny the frenzy that was Ponytail.
So there you go, get to youtubing/googling. I've always wanted my friends to hip me to new music and I've been lucky to have a lot of friends with amazing taste. Hopefully, one of these bands will return the favor to one of you.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
SXSW!
Back in Chicago I learned this trick to get into expensive festivals for free: vol-un-teer.
Benefits:
1) You always get a t-shirt.
2) You always get in free.
Usually you need to get on the event website several months in advance, but after turning over your contact info you can just sit around until the month before when they get in touch with you. I have used this trick to get into Lollapalooza 2005-2008 and this year I'm using it to get into South By Southwest here in Austin. I picked up my gear today (TWO t-shirts and a fancy music badge) to get me in to see any of the 1,800 artists I want.
Pitfalls:
1) You will always have to work in a location that keeps you from seeing some of the bands you want. Usually the event staff will let you pick an area you want to work, but inevitably you will end up missing out on somebody somewhere.
2) Often you have to do labor that will leave you pretty exhausted and/or sunburned at the end of the day.
At Lollapalooza, Zach and I usually do a lot of walking and a lot of time in the August heat. But Lolla requires zero commitment prior to the event and the shifts are usually only 4 hours. This SXSW volunteer gig is definitely more demanding than Lollapalooza (it has required one orientation, one mandatory evening of grunt work prior and then three nights of long 6pm-2am shifts during the festival). However, the value of this SXSW music badge that I get is $695 so it's hard to complain too much about the demands. Also, a lot of the bands play for free during the day to get maximum exposure so I'll be seeing mucho music anyway. I'll be working at Club de Ville and it sounds like my biggest duty will be to lug equipment on and off stage in between sets. I'll let you know how it goes and try to keep track of everybody I get to see this week.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
What I Could Have Been (a potential two part series)
So I was watching Biggest Loser last night (big ups...I don't care if only fat people watch you...I will stay true for your inspirational triumphs) and I got an idea for a post. See, the chubbos (as I affectionately call them) were at a food bank and it reminded me, hey I almost worked at a food bank. Then I thought of all the things I've almost done and it seemed worth listing. Below is a list of many of the professions that I almost tapdanced my way into.
1- Volunteer Coordinator at a food bank in Chicago - I went through two interviews there. The second one involved a tour where I was asked if I was passionate about feeding the hungry. I, of course, said that I was, but I think it was apparent that it was a new passion pretty relative to the fact that I had an interview. It's okay. It was in an industrial area and the commute involved a train and a bus and took over an hour.
2 - A part-time administrative assistant in the Alumni department at DePaul in downtown Chicago. The guy that interviewed me was very aggressive. When I told him my biggest weakness he said, "Well that's not really a weakness, is it?" Of course not! You're never supposed to give an actual weakness! Then he asked me if I were to answer the phone right now for them, how would I do it? I awkwardly stumbled through something, realizing that it takes zero skill and would be no indicator of how good I would be at the position. I think my distaste for him showed.
3 - Some sort of assistant at Bacon's Information - On the way to the interview I get North and South Michigan Ave. mixed up. I have to walk five very long blocks. I show up sweaty and frazzled. They give me an editing test. There are supposed to be 12 errors and I can only find 10. I am doomed.
4- Program Manager for Entrepreneur's Foundation in Austin - It's my first interview in Austin. I show up and immediately they ask, "How do you understand our business model and how would you describe it?" Then, "Explain our Equity model." My hour on the website did not prepare me for this. I blow it and do not get a second interview.
5 - Sales Assistant at I.B. Nuts and Fruit Too - I thought I'd jump back to part-time jobs in Columbia, MO while I was in college. Two women ask me about my interest in making deliveries. I don't remember much else other than being a little relieved that I don't have to tell people that I work at a place called "I.B. Nuts."
6- Sales Assistant at the Disney Store - Creepy. Me, Emily, and six other people sit in a circle. We all talk about our favorite Disney characters. They tell us that they never schedule anyone for longer than four hour shifts because the amount of enthusiasm they expect cannot be maintained for longer than that. We meet a zombie that works there and talks about how he takes advantage of the Disney World trip every year and loves it enough to accept $6.25/hour. Emily and I shudder.
7- Assistant Program Manager at a local Austin nonprofit - I'm leaving out the name because this happened within the past three months and kind of broke my heart. I have a long, passionate phone interview that happens to take place until 10 pm at night. This woman rescheduled because I had been in Oklahoma when she initially called. We gab about the rewards of nonprofit work, our enthusiasm for working with youth, our experiences in cold weather cities. She dazzles me with her respect for my level of education and intellect. I get a second interview. I go in and talk with the staff. They are all equally respectful. Weeks later I get the best rejection letter I've ever gotten, assuring me that they expect great things in my future and that she looks forward to our paths crossing and hearing about my future successes. I resist the urge to die a little inside.
8 - Admissions position at a college - I'm not naming the school for similar reasons to #7. Needless to say, I interviewed for this job twice in three months. The first time I meet a committee, they go around the table and take turns asking me questions, one after the other. I don't get the position, even though this position is remarkably similar to the one I had in Columbia, MO. Then, the position is open again a month later. I apply again. They call me in for an interview, again. I think, wow they must want to hire me. I meet a similar committee. They ask me the exact same questions as the first committee. I still do not get the job.
9 - Editorial positon at a PR company - They tell me that they can offer approx. 30 hours now, but that it may decrease as the work diminishes. They tell me they can't provide benefits. They tell me it will involve a lot of data entry. I eagerly tell them I like data entry, but am obviously discouraged by the lack of hours and benefits. I don't really like data entry. Nobody likes data entry. The woman basically tells me how terrible the job will be and that I am overqualified. I don't get the job.
This is just a smattering of the interviews I have had. I am suddenly concerned that future employers will find this and think I'm pathetic. I am not. I am just open to many exciting career opportunities. I am still looking for the right fit. I believe I have learned from these interviews and each one has made me a more composed, mature individual. Oh and I love data entry.
1- Volunteer Coordinator at a food bank in Chicago - I went through two interviews there. The second one involved a tour where I was asked if I was passionate about feeding the hungry. I, of course, said that I was, but I think it was apparent that it was a new passion pretty relative to the fact that I had an interview. It's okay. It was in an industrial area and the commute involved a train and a bus and took over an hour.
2 - A part-time administrative assistant in the Alumni department at DePaul in downtown Chicago. The guy that interviewed me was very aggressive. When I told him my biggest weakness he said, "Well that's not really a weakness, is it?" Of course not! You're never supposed to give an actual weakness! Then he asked me if I were to answer the phone right now for them, how would I do it? I awkwardly stumbled through something, realizing that it takes zero skill and would be no indicator of how good I would be at the position. I think my distaste for him showed.
3 - Some sort of assistant at Bacon's Information - On the way to the interview I get North and South Michigan Ave. mixed up. I have to walk five very long blocks. I show up sweaty and frazzled. They give me an editing test. There are supposed to be 12 errors and I can only find 10. I am doomed.
4- Program Manager for Entrepreneur's Foundation in Austin - It's my first interview in Austin. I show up and immediately they ask, "How do you understand our business model and how would you describe it?" Then, "Explain our Equity model." My hour on the website did not prepare me for this. I blow it and do not get a second interview.
5 - Sales Assistant at I.B. Nuts and Fruit Too - I thought I'd jump back to part-time jobs in Columbia, MO while I was in college. Two women ask me about my interest in making deliveries. I don't remember much else other than being a little relieved that I don't have to tell people that I work at a place called "I.B. Nuts."
6- Sales Assistant at the Disney Store - Creepy. Me, Emily, and six other people sit in a circle. We all talk about our favorite Disney characters. They tell us that they never schedule anyone for longer than four hour shifts because the amount of enthusiasm they expect cannot be maintained for longer than that. We meet a zombie that works there and talks about how he takes advantage of the Disney World trip every year and loves it enough to accept $6.25/hour. Emily and I shudder.
7- Assistant Program Manager at a local Austin nonprofit - I'm leaving out the name because this happened within the past three months and kind of broke my heart. I have a long, passionate phone interview that happens to take place until 10 pm at night. This woman rescheduled because I had been in Oklahoma when she initially called. We gab about the rewards of nonprofit work, our enthusiasm for working with youth, our experiences in cold weather cities. She dazzles me with her respect for my level of education and intellect. I get a second interview. I go in and talk with the staff. They are all equally respectful. Weeks later I get the best rejection letter I've ever gotten, assuring me that they expect great things in my future and that she looks forward to our paths crossing and hearing about my future successes. I resist the urge to die a little inside.
8 - Admissions position at a college - I'm not naming the school for similar reasons to #7. Needless to say, I interviewed for this job twice in three months. The first time I meet a committee, they go around the table and take turns asking me questions, one after the other. I don't get the position, even though this position is remarkably similar to the one I had in Columbia, MO. Then, the position is open again a month later. I apply again. They call me in for an interview, again. I think, wow they must want to hire me. I meet a similar committee. They ask me the exact same questions as the first committee. I still do not get the job.
9 - Editorial positon at a PR company - They tell me that they can offer approx. 30 hours now, but that it may decrease as the work diminishes. They tell me they can't provide benefits. They tell me it will involve a lot of data entry. I eagerly tell them I like data entry, but am obviously discouraged by the lack of hours and benefits. I don't really like data entry. Nobody likes data entry. The woman basically tells me how terrible the job will be and that I am overqualified. I don't get the job.
This is just a smattering of the interviews I have had. I am suddenly concerned that future employers will find this and think I'm pathetic. I am not. I am just open to many exciting career opportunities. I am still looking for the right fit. I believe I have learned from these interviews and each one has made me a more composed, mature individual. Oh and I love data entry.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
It begins...
I bought boots! I just won these Lucchese vintage 70s leather cowboy boots off ebay for $39 ($50 with shipping). This is a huge discount for shoes that tend to cost anywhere from $200-$300 at stores here. I'm pretty excited. It seems everybody in Austin has dress-up boots (what Converse are to Chicago hipsters are what boots are to 20-something Austinites). It's a trend I like to call western chic. I was highly influenced by the fad (which probably can't be called a fad as it has existed for decades) and couldn't resist any longer. I'm already working my head through the skirts and jeans I can wear with them.
This seems to be a sign that I've assimilated. So, for all you doubters out there that are pretty sure that you would never take to Texas....give it about 5 months.
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