The National at Bill Graham

Last night I witnessed the National at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. I'm not even going to bother talking about the opening acts Local Natives and Wye Oaks....The National were simply perfect.

I have waited three years to see them live but I could never convince anyone to with me and for some odd reason, they are the only band I would refuse to see alone. Last night I went with my friends Ryan and Nicole, my sister bought me the tickets for my birthday and I have to say, it was the best thing anyone could have bought for me.

The way the Nationals control your emotions live is really rare. Their songs build up this tension within you that just makes you want to scream and then after five or six songs into their set, they played 'Squalor Victoria' which gave you a little chance to release that tension towards the end of the song though not all of it. It left you for wanting to scream more, wanting to release that tension more. Few more songs, more tension builds up and then they go into 'Abel' where Matt, the singer just becomes a disaster. This process continues till the end until they play 'Mr.November' and 'Terrible Love' back to back and you just release everything that you had inside you.

It was perfect, just the way I wanted it to be.

My friend Ryan on Local Natives: "They look like a band Urban Outfitters created."

Controlled Chaos

Few days ago, I mentioned I was working on the Romantic Catastrophe/Bellyflop split...well, I decided to scratch the idea. Not really, I kept half of the concept and just sort of expanded on that concept and also decided that the title of the split, together don't sound too good. Individually, the meaning behind the name is interesting to me but together, not sure if it's too good of an idea.

So the split evolved into 'Controlled Chaos"...so here it is:

1. On My Way Back Home by Jim Ward
2. Lived In Bars by Cat Power
3. Goodbye England by Laura Marling
4. La Cienga Just Smiled by Ryan Adams
5. Tacoma by Tim Barry
6. Love Ire and Songs by Frank Turner
7. Man of the Hour by Eddie Vedder
8. A Broken Promise by Sleepercar
9. If U Got Some Magic by Rademacher
10. Apartment Story by the National
11. Forever by the Parson Red Heads
12. Call It Off by Tegan and Sara

Late night thoughts 11/26

For the past few weeks, I've been having a really hard time getting into this whole grad school thing. The studying for GRE exam, working on my CV/resume, trying to figure out where to apply etc...the whole process just doesn't seem as important to me as it should. Back when I was a senior in high school, deep down I knew I wanted to go to college which made the whole process a lot easier.

Part of the reason I having trouble applying to graduate school is that I'm not exactly sure if that's what I want to do. Being a fourth year college senior, I should have things figured out and worked out but the fact that I don't bothers the living day lights out of me. So, maybe grad school is an excuse...a way to buy more time to figure out my plans and delay my entrance into the real world. If in fact it is an excuse, then I need to gather my shit quick and find some motivation to make this excuse come true. 

T-Day 2011

Every once in a while, I am flabbergasted by how genuinely nice some people around me are. Yesterday was one of those days. Maybe there is hope in this world.

...working on a Romantic Catastrophe/Bellyflop split. 

Bands I saw at Fest 10

Friday
Dead To Me
Savage Brewtality
Tigers Jaw
Kid Dynamite
Bouncing Souls
Hot Water Music
Elway (Acoustic)
Red City Radio (Acoustic)
Holy Mess (Acoustic)

Saturday
The Menzingers (Acoustic)
Paul Baribeau
Grabass Charleston
RVIVR
Iron Chic
Bridge and Tunnel
Definace Ohio
Tim Barry
Youth Brigade
Dillenger Four
Ted Leo + the Pharmacists
Against Me!

Sunday
Chris Wollard and the Ship Thieves
Cheap Girls
The Menzingers
Bomb the Music Industry! (Acoustic)
The Measure [SA]
Bomb the Music Industry! as the Weakerthans
The Flatliners as Rocket From Crypt
Comadre as At the Drive-in.

Unthought Known

A much delayed post.


On monday Oct 17th, 2011. I went down to Santa Cruz to the Rio Theatre to see Ryan Adams.
Jason Isbell opened up and played 8 songs and then Ryan played for 2.5hours. I think total of 23 songs with just him, his guitar and harmonica. He did play two songs on the piano including a wonderful stripped down version of 'New York, New York.'
This was my fifth trip to Santa Cruz this year and I fall more and more in love with the city every time. I know lots of people who want to live in San Francisco but I will choose the mountains and the beach any day.

About a month ago, a house few blocks from where I live caught on fire. I walked past it few days later to see what kind of shape it was in. It's kind of sad to see a house burnt down but there is also some type of beauty in it.

A few weeks ago, as I was walking out of the King Library I noticed this on the ground near a bench.

Impresario

Last night was perfect. I went to Slims in San Francisco with my friends Ryan and Nicole. I have nothing but good memories from my time spent at that venue. I have seen countless acts there and it was all the very first venue I went to in San Francisco.

First up was Evan from Into it.OVer it. He is a good guitar player but I felt like most of his songs sounded the same.

Second was Andrew Jackson Jihad. I saw them back in June as part of the Asian Man 15 Fest and I was really impressed with their live act so I was looking really forward to their set. They played everything I wanted to hear...everything. There was also a good amount of singing along and circle pits going on for their set.

Next up was the one and only Frank Turner with the Sleeping Souls. This was my sixth time seeing Frank and second time with a backing band. Most of the songs he played were more towards the upbeat pop type but it was fun none the less.

Somethings that I will remember from the night...I have never drank at a show until last night. Once I got in the venue, I went straight to the bathroom and spent few minutes washing them off my wrists. My buddy bought me few beers and since I no longer had the stamp, I could drink freely. I'm not sure if I will do this again but I do believe it helped me lossen up and made the signing along a lot more easier.

Tembloroso

I have been busy lately, but a post of pictures and important words is on the way.
Some time soon.

Frank Turner Friday
Ryan Adams Monday
Florida 16 Days