PISCES/ARIES CUSP: It is your ability to be innocently fun-loving that makes you so endearing. You are open minded, unselfish, enigmatic, mysterious & somehow able to approach each new day with a spirit of fresh inspiration.
Rediscovering a song!
So it’s been a while since I’ve written... mostly due to the fact that lately I've been feeling that my creative juices and inspiration have slowly been sucked out of me! For a while I felt like, “Wow, I really have nothing to say that’s worth writing about, absolutely nothing!” The more I tried to think about something interesting to write about, the more my brain refused to work. Oh, and also I’ve been really busy, blah blah blah. So with that said, I decided to just be free from thinking about what to write and let it hit me when I was ready.
And it hit me. Do I really need to write about something so in depth that it gives people a headache to read? Not today. Do I want to write about something simple that might make someone smile for a quick minute? Yes!
For me, it’s the little things that make my day. It’s the perfect song at the perfect moment,
A good laugh, Ben and Jerrys, a cool breeze, meaningful coincidences, great conversation… I could go on forever.
Anyways, my point is, that earlier today I had one of those perfect moments that made my day. While driving around with my roommate, she threw on the song “Send Me On My Way” by Rusted Root, on her ipod. I hadn’t heard that song in FOREVER, probably since my freshmen year of high school, and while we drove around in the amazing 80 degree weather, it reminded me of being really young and free and made me want to dance around on the mountains. Then I remembered the music video from way back in the day, and it all made sense to me as to why I wanted to spin and twirl around on a mountain top…
Just watch this video, and if it doesn’t make you smile, then perhaps a little self-reflection may be good for you?
This is totally my happy place:
I love rediscovering a song all over again! What a great feeling! And what an awesome music video. Watching it just makes me smile, so I thought I'd share the love...
Also, for those in Colorado, if you like Rusted Root they will be performing on July 21st at the Fox Theatre!
I’ve never seen them live before so I’m really looking forward to this!!
Free Live Music This Weekend!! Seriously!
It’s true!! It's true!!
SUNSATION, is an end-of-season music festival at Copper Mountain, CO... with loads of free music, snow, and sunshine! So for those of you living in Colorado, you won’t want to miss out on some free live music from national acts, this weekend, April 12th and 13th.
I’m personally, really excited about this because it’s MUSIC, it’s FREEEEEE, and how often that does ever happen?? Most of my money is spent in the order as follows: CONCERTS, downloading CONCERTS, Food, Bills, Clothes, etc… So it’ll be nice to actually take a break from spending money on music this weekend, and eat something else besides 89 cent cans of tuna.
So for those who are interested, here are the free bands that will be there:
Saturday, April 12th:
Band of Heathens
Perpetual Groove
George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic
Sunday, April 13th
Trevor Hall
Lotus
Matisyahu
To learn more about the festival, and the bands playing, check out the website:
http://www.coppersunsation.com/
See you there!!
Synchronicity blows my mind!
The universe truly works in such mysterious ways. I definitely don’t believe in coincidences, I believe in things happening for a reason. Everything… even the smallest thing, happens for some reason.
The other day I checked my bank account, saw that money way taken out of it for some unknown reason, like the bank always seems to do. So I obviosly started to stress because… well…money issues can be really upsetting! (Plus, I have people telling me that I'm almost 24 and need to get my life together. I need to get a 9-5, sit in a cubicle all day and work like everyone else. "Even if wont like your job Maria, you still need to do it because you need money and insurance)."
But I don't think that's what life is about...and that's not me. I want PASSION and HAPPINESS in my life and my job. Is that too much to ask?
ANYWAYS, later on in that hectic day, I opened up my journal about to write something down and stumbled across a very old horoscope that I had ripped out of a newspaper years ago while I was living in Vermont. (Because I save EVERYTHING that I find to be even remotely interesting)
It said:
“When I was in my twenties, I refused to work for a living because I wanted to live for a living. As a result, I got an extended opportunity to perfect the art of cheerful poverty. One winter, while staying in a ramshackle cottage in North Carolina, my cash reserves got so low that I had to leap to a new level. For meals, I exuberantly retrieved discarded food from dumpsters behind grocery stores. For heat, I gleefully smashed up my wooden furniture with a hammer and threw it in my wood stove. I was the happiest person alive, with lots of leisure time to mediate, read books, write poetry, take long walks, and make love with my girlfriend. Be inspired by my example, Aries. Identify some aspect of your life you tend to regard as inadequate or insufficient, and redefine it to be an asset.”
Finding this piece of paper could not have come at a better time. It helped me realize that I have to look at my living in poverty as a positive thing. Even though its been a struggle lately, positivity really goes a long way. So as long as I try to see the bright side of every situation, and have some good music to motivate me to make changes, and help me feel better, I think things will work out.
I also love listening to music that relates to what I'm experiencing at every moment. It makes me feel like I'm not the only one feeling that way...
I've been on a huge Beatles kick lately, and one of my favorite quotes from “Strawberry Fields” is definitely relatable to my situation…
“Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see. It’s getting hard to be someone, but it all works out.”
So true.
Thank you John Lennon and The Man Who Wrote That Horoscope, for making me feel better!!
Ipods and High Altitude Don't Mix!
Apparently, the higher up you are in elevation, the greater the chance of your ipod crashing. I am sure it’s rare, but for those of us living in Colorado, it is quite possible to loose our music…at least while you are high up in elevation. Once you get back closer to sea level, I guess the ipod begins to work again.
If there's a chance you don't believe me...
http://www.myfoxcolorado.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=7F500F8BFA49A5F90E3742164DA4E113?contentId=1368217&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1
I also got this from Apple's site:
Environmental requirements
Operating temperature: 32 to 95 F (0 to 35 C)
Nonoperating temperature: -4 to 113 F (-20 to 45 C)
Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
***Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)***
So out of curiosity, has anyone living in Colorado, or traveling to places high in elevation, had to deal with their ipod crashing? I wonder if there is a specific type of ipod that is more susceptible to breaking... maybe the ipod nano because the hard drive is so small? Or is it the newer ipods, or older ones? Or a certain brand?
I don’t know how common this problem is, but my 80 gig Ipod Classic has been working perfectly fine in Colorado, as did my old ipod Nano.
Anyways, I figured it would be good to share this info, just in case someone may be having problems with their ipod and not know why. I’m sure it's not that serious of an issue... unless your climbing Everest (and I definitely won't be anytime soon... or ever for that matter) but it’s still always good to know these things.
I also came across this forum on Apple’s site, where people are sharing their issues and theories about ipods not working at a high altitude.
Check it out if interested.
http://www.appletalker.com/forum/index.php?req=thread&id=398
'Hey Jude' sung by the tiniest fan...
A spitting image of Paul Mccartney... if Paul was a 2 year old, Korean boy in diapers named Hero. This so so cute though! And absolutely hilarious. YOU'RE WELCOME!
The Evolution Of My Musical Taste Buds
It’s such a trip to think about where your musical taste comes from. Not only that, but how it evolves. When was that point in my life where I actually began to understand the beauty and depth of music and lyrics?
When I was younger (and I think a lot of people will agree with me) I mostly listened to what I was exposed to. Basically, I listened to what was shown to me on MTV, or whatever was popular on the radio. I didn’t know any better. I didn’t realize all of the incredible music that was available to me underneath of surface of the mainstream media.
Back in the day, before I was exposed to the music I am passionate about now, I went through many stages of musical tastes. I think our lives are all about understanding who we are, where we came from, and where we are going, in all aspects. To get to where I am now, in a musical aspect, I had to go on a very long journey of (some very embarrassing) stages of musical preferences.
It’s interesting to see the evolution of musical taste buds…
I started getting into music at a very young age, when my Dad would play the Beatles for me, along with other 60's bands. The Beatles were the first band I really fell in love with though. (Without even realizing their true talent, because, well, I was 4 years old) I didn’t analyze their lyrics, or relate them to my life in like I do now…I was just turned on by the upbeat melodies in their songs, like Penny Lane, Octopus' Garden, Yellow Submarine, and Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds.
As I grew older, around elementary school, (the early 90's) I began watching MTV and listening to the radio. I became interested in what was popular. My idea of good music back then was, from what I can remember…
The Beatles (Still being my favorite)
New Kids on the Block
Green Day
Ace of Base
The Cranberries
Hootie and the Blowfish
Sister Hazel
Spin Doctors
Collective Soul
R.E.M
Salt N Peppa
Blind Melon
Pearl Jam
(Back then however, it wasn’t so much the band or album that I was into, it was more about the bands’ hit songs that were popular in the media).
These two videos really bring me back to the very early 90's... and by the way... STILL so good!!
And who didn't listen to THIS song??
In middle school (1996-1998) I became more involved in appreciating certain bands, and buying their albums, rather that just listening to popular hit songs on the radio. Here my favorite bands and some of the first albums I ever bought…
The Beatles- Magical Mystery Tour, Revolver, White Album, Abbey Road, SGT. Peppers
Sublime – Sublime, 40 oz to Freedom, Robbin’ The Hood, Second Hand Smoke
Dave Matthews Band – Under the Table and Dreaming, Crash
Blink 182 – Buddha, Cheshire Cat, Dude Ranch
311 – Grassroots, 311, Transistor
Alanis Morrissette – Jaged Little Pill
Less Than Jake – Losing Streak
MXPX – Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo
Beastie Boys – Ill Communication, Hello Nasty
Bush – Sixteen Stone
Spice Girls – Spice
Silverchair -Freak Show
TLC- Crazy Sexy Cool
Joan Osborne – Relish
Oasis – What’s the Story Morning Glory
Garbage - Garbage
Weezer – Blue Album, Pinkerton
The Fugees – Score
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik
When I think of middle school, these two videos pop up in my mind...
Still one of my favorites...
While in High School, my musical taste began to solidify, as I believe I found the music and genre I truly love, that reflects my personality. Here’s what I began listening to from 1999 – 2002, where I grew out of the whole pop punk rock phase, and was introduced by my peers, to Phish and The Grateful Dead. My high school had a huge population of kids who were into the Dead, Phish, Reggae and other “jambands”. Once I was introduced to these bands, it was the beginning of the end of my journey towards finding the music and community I was meant to be a part of.
From the beginning of High school, towards the end, here’s what I listened to...
Sublime
The Beatles
Blink 182
Britney Spears (yeah, I’m not proud of this one, but whatever, I admit it, it was my guilty pleasure!)
311
Dispatch
Dave Matthews Band
Phish
Grateful Dead
Allman Brothers
Bob Marley
Led Zeppelin
Pink Floyd
Janis Joplin
Paul Simon
Bob Dylan
Moe.
Jiggle The Handle
String Cheese Incident
Keller Williams
Crosby Stills Nash & Young
Disco Biscuits
Most of these bands are still my favorite for the most part. It’s interesting to see all of the phases you go through in life and how they've led you to where you are now. And it’s also great to laugh at yourself at the ridiculous music you used to listen to, that you thought was so cool. I am pretty proud of my young self though… there is a lot of music that I listened to when I was 12 that I would still listen to now.
Yay me!
And through it all, here's what I listen to now (hasn't changed much since highschool and college)
Grateful Dead/Phil& Friends, PHISH, Disco Biscuits, Ratdog, Gentleman, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Damian Marley, Stephen Marley, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Brothers Past, Ben Harper, Talking Heads, Pink Floyd, STS9, Keller Williams, Amy Winehouse, Ani Difranco, Bennevento/Russo Duo, The Killers, String Cheese Incident, Moe, Les Claypool, Oysterhead, Ween, Conspirator, Damien Rice, Mason Jennings, Sublime, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Radiohead, Janis Joplin, Erykah Badu, The Band, CSNY, New Deal, Pnuma, Perpetual Groove, Gym Class Heros, The Clash, Indefinite Article, Apollo Sunshine, Boombox... to name a few
And I'll leave you with this classic...
hahaha
Ladies and Gentlemen: This is BOOMBOX!
Ahh.. BOOMBOX! I seriously cannot get enough of this band! Should I even call it a band? It only consists of two people, DJ Russ Randolph and singer/songwriter/guitarist Zion Rock Godchaux. As just a two-man-band, the music they create sounds like there are a plethora of talented musicians on stage!
Both artists have a very impressive musical history, growing up with parents as musicians and starting their love for music at a very young age. Randolph started out as a drummer, but what interested him most is the producing aspect of the music industry. Zion started to play drums at two years old and began playing the guitar and writing songs as he grew older. These two make a perfect pair, with Randolph’s understanding of the producing aspect, and Godchaux’s talent for songwriting.
OH! And if the name Godchaux sounds familiar to you Dead lovers, Zion is the son of Keith and Donna Godchaux, former members of the Grateful Dead circa 1971-1979. Keith was the keyboardist and Donna was the female vocalist, who joined the boys on stage for certain songs.
ANYWAYS, back to Boombox (why does everything always seem to go back to the Dead with me? Which by the way, BOOMBOX does not sound like the Dead so don’t jump to conclusions). Boombox has a very unique style, and a lot of times it is that distinctively different musical style that attracts me to a band. Boombox describes their music as Rock/Disco House/Psychedelic… but I like to call it “sexy psychedelic funky electronica.”
I had the pleasure of seeing them not too long ago in Ft. Collins. They rocked my knee high rainbow socks off!
Curious? See for yourself. What do you think??
Check out their myspace at:
http://www.myspace.com/thisisboomboxcom
A new festival is born!!!
So a new festival has just been announced! Yay!
Rothbury Festival! From July 3-6th, in Rothbury, Michigan
At first I thought, Rothbury Michigan? That's a random place to have a festival.
But after viewing the website I was thrilled! It's such a beautiful place and there’s so much going on at this festival, it’s going to be hard to decide what to do! Not only is there AMAZING music with an INCREDIBLE line up, there is ALSO….
CAMPING, RV's and ONSITE LODGING – Spending the night in log cabins right on the festival site! Think a luxurious summer camp! These cabins have beds, showers, bathrooms, a fireplace, a master bedroom with a Jacuzzi, air conditioning, a daily lunch buffet, outdoor pools and hot tubs… seriously. Everything you can imagine. (It’s unbelievable expensive, but it looks unreal!) Check out pictures on the website!
YOGA – Everyday, including sessions with renown teachers and also special guests, like MICHAEL FRANTI (Michael Franti and Spearhead)
OPEN MIKE NIGHT – You can participate in an open mike night! AND it will be listed in Rothbury’s festival program!
THINK TANK- Will host a mix of presentations, discussions, workshops, film screenings, and audience Q&A sessions throughout the festival site to offer insight into topics such as; Finding Energy Independence, solutions for corporations, individuals and government. Events will share ideas about how to lessen our ecological and carbon footprint.
A GET UP TENT – Get costumes, get your hair done, face painted, tattoos..
ENERGY FAIR - Scheduled and surprise activities, plus food and drink, vending, performances, presentations, contests and interactive opportunities.
A CIRCUS AND THEATRE!
A FOOD DRIVE – Hosted by Conscious Alliance
TRIPOLEE DOMES – An interactive experience set within a connected dome environment with a bar and lounge. A show featuring global DJ’s, live musicians, performers, and visual projection artists. During the daytime, there will be Yoga Workshops, DJ Master Classes, Earth Harp Instruction, and more.
AND THE BEST.... THE LINE UP!!!...
Dave Matthews Band
Widespread Panic
John Mayer
311
Phil Lesh and Friends
Primus
Thievery Corporation
Snoop Dogg
Modest Mouse
Michael Franti and Spearhead
Gov’t Mule
STS9
Colbie Caillat
Slightly Stoopid
The Black Keys
Yonder Mountain String Band with Jon Fishman
Gogol Bordello
Citizen Cope
Keller Williams and The WMD’S
The Disco Biscuits
Medeski Martin & Wood
Ray LaMontagne
Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Soul Stew Revival
Drive-By Truckers
Of Montreal
The Dresden Dolls
Gomez
Brett Dennen
Taj Mahal
Mike Gordon
Zappa Plays Zappa
Crystal Method DJ Set
JJ Grey & MOFRO
The Greyboy Allstars
The Secret Machines
Beth Orton
Jakob Dylan and the Green Mountain Rebels
A 3
Bettye Lavette
Lotus
Yard Dogs Road Show
State Radio
The Beautiful Girls
Sage Francis
Tea Leaf Green
Emmitt Nershi Band
EOTO
Panjea with Michael Kang
Railroad Earth
Bassnectar
Pnuma Trio
Diplo
Flosstradamus
The Juan Mclean
The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker
Dead Confederate
DJ Rekha
Motion Potion
DJ Rootz
SOJOURN
No matter who you are, I bet one of your favorite artists will be here! For me.. I can't wait for PHIL AND FRIENDS, DISCO BISCUITS, MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD, MIKE GORDON, YONDER MOUNTAIN W. JOHN FISHMAN, KELLER, BASSNECTAR, LOTUS, PRIMUS, GOV'T MULE... and I'm excited to see certain bands I haven't seen before too!
I really love the mixture of all the different artist too... I mean.. when would I ever get to see Snoop Dogg right before I see Phil and Friends?
This should be an amazing experience. If you can get yourself out to Michigan over 4th of July weekend, you should deffinitely check it out.
Check out the website if you're interested... WWW.ROTHBURYFESTIVAL.COM
Hooray for festival season!
Animations painted on a wall!!!
Here is another crazy video... ART in its most truest and creative forms. I would love to watch someone in the act of creating this. AMAZING.
And here's one more because I just can't get enough!
"Frozen In Time".. This is so crazy!
I found this video on my friends blog and I had to share it too.. it's soo cool!
That is all. ENJOY!
The "In-your-face Apple Store guy"
Everybody knows that guy. Everyone has met him. I met him tonight...
After going with my roommate to the Apple Store to help her buy a new Macbook, we encountered the most persistent and annoying employee who attempted to sell us every product in the store. My roommate knew exactly what she wanted when we walked in, but we ended up in the store for what seemed like FOREVER, because this employee tried to sell us who knows what (I began to tune him out after 20 minutes of him talking non stop).
What is the deal with employees trying so hard to sell you everything? Even if they're not on commission, they make you feel like it's absolutely necessary that you buy the product they're trying to sell. How do you know if it is really important or if they're just trying to make a sale? I can't tell you how many things he tried to sell us.
I felt so bad for her. The salesperson had her cornered, shoving all types of products in her face. I could tell she wasn't sure what to do. All she wanted was a new computer, but he kept talking, and talking, and talking, and trying to sell, sell, sell. Obviously we're both young girls and just out of college, so it's clear we don't have a lot of money to spend. But he WOULDN'T STOP.
Was he just trying to help? Or was he trying to get my roommate to spend more money? It's hard to tell. Especially if you're not good with reading people (which I am not). I am gullible and believe everything I hear. Which is a dream for a salesperson. This guy was so intense though even I could tell how desperate he was to get us to buy what he was trying to sell.
All we wanted to do was tell him, "No we don't want that printer. No we don't want program. No we don't want that program either. Or that one. Or that one. Please just get us the computer so we can go". But instead we just let him do his job.
By the time we left the store, which seemed like hours later, my roommate ended up walking out having paid an extra $350... on top of having bought the expensive Macbook... asking me "Do you think what else bought was really worth it?"
I wish I knew.
THEN I get home, and when I sign online, I have constant online advertisements trying to sell me something..
No matter where you are, someone is always trying to sell you their product... in person, online.. EVERYWHERE.
It's getting to be annoying. It's getting to be TOO MUCH.
UGH.
END OF RANT.
Fabulous Scrabulous!
I have discovered the BEST game EVER, and I had no idea about it until just recently. Have I been living in a dark hole? Apparently. Everyone else seems to already know about Scrabulous... the BEST game EVER. And did I mention is it the BEST GAME EVER? Well... It is. It's entertaining AND educational! I am becoming a tremendously great speller! Did you know that
ETAERIO is a word? Yup. It refers to a fruit... A cluster of fruit derived by a single flower...i.e- a Raspberry. I bet you didn't know that. Thank you Scrabulous.
For those of you who DON'T know what Scrabulous is, it's an online Scrabble game. You can play it on Faceboook or Scrabulous.com.
But I should warn you... beware of this game... it sucks you in and all of the sudden you realize hours have gone by and you haven't moved from your couch. You're eyes are bloodshot from staring at your computer screen for so long and your brain hurts from trying so hard to come up with ridiculous words that are worth a lot of points. You begin to have dreams of letters with little numbers next to them. Your work beings to pile up because you've been too busy putting it off to get just one more game in...
I'm actually playing a game as we speak. I'll be back when it's over...
......
......
...........
YES! I won.
(Sorry Alex, I am the new Scrabble Master)
Scrabulous is fabulous.
The End.
Big Easy Blowout, Post STS9, 1.28.08
After a night of STS9 at the Fillmore, followed by a late night Conspirator show on Friday night, I had no idea how I would have the energy for The Big Easy Blow after another STS9 show on Saturday night. I don’t know how I did it, but I gathered every last drop of energy to get myself to that show. I mean, it’s Page McConnell. Former Phish keyboardist and one of the musical loves of my life!
In addition to Page, the musical lineup featured Russell Batiste (Funky Meters, PBS), Papa Mali (Rhythm Council), Big Chief Monk Boudreaux (Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indians) and Reed Mathis (Tea Leaf Green, JFJO).
The show was a Mardi Gras Benefit Celebration. All proceeds from the concert went to the New Orleans Musicians Clinic and Tipitina's Foundation. The show included Mardi Gras decorations and activities, such as raffles, a food drives, drink specials, and New Orleans themed artwork. (The artwork, by the way, was INCREDIBLE). I found myself a great spot in the audience; right next to an artist painting while the band was playing. Half of the time I spent watching the band, and the other half I spent watching the artist paint, in awe. It was great getting to watch the creation of two different forms of art at the same time.
But the music…it was so funky and bouncy, with incredible groove based jams. I felt like I was in the Caribbean, sipping on a Pina Colada by the beach.
The band also covered a lot of my favorite songs – Light Up Or Leave me alone (with Page on vocals), Like A Rolling Stone, Iko Iko, and Not Fade Away.
The Light Up Or Leave Me Alone really made me miss Phish, I’m not going to lie. But are you surprised? Hearing Page on keys and watching his beaming smile as he played brought me back to such a familiar, comforting feeling along with complete blissfulness.
I loved the funky grooves, and I had an absolute blast dancing to them.
I was so exhausted at the beginning of the night at STS9. My body felt like it weighed 500 pounds, it hurt to move a limb. That was probably because of the STS9 show the night before, followed by a late night Conspirator show at Cervantes (it lasted until 4am).
I was really struggling to dance, and I could barely stand… but as soon as I walked into Cervantes to the beginning of Light Up Or Leave Me Alone, I felt overcome by a rush of energy. The show lasted until 3 am and I didn’t stop moving until the last note. It was such a magical night, and it was great getting to see Page do his thing again.
Yeah, STS9 was fun… but I LOVE the funk!
Page is the man.
DISCO BISCUITS, COLORADO, Jan 16-19
I don’t even know where to start!! Ummmm…
Wow.
I seriously just stared at my first sentence for a good hour with nothing else to say. I can’t think of anything else. I’m speechless.
I think I’ve made my point.
I guess I’ll try my best to elaborate for those who missed these shows.
For those of you who like the Biscuits, you are well aware that they recently played 4 shows in Colorado. Wednesday, they played at the Aggie in FT. Collins,
on Thursday it was the Boulder Theater in Boulder,
on Friday it was The Fillmore in Denver,
and on Saturday they played the Dobson Arena in Vail.
First off, let me just say that out of the 24 Biscuit shows I have seen, these were 4 of my absolute favorite! At the Aggie and Boulder Theater, the band played both sets, without stopping once. So from one song, they improvised their way into the next song, and so on and so on. I’ve always wondered how they do that. How do they know when to begin playing the next song out of an improvisational jam? How are they always together? Does one member start the change into a new song and the others follow? I don’t know. But it blows my mind.
I wish I could pick a favorite show of the 4, but each show was so different, it’s hard to decide! At the AGGIE the band played more funky jams, and in Boulder they played the song I had been dying to hear since 2002– “Story of the World”. At the Fillmore they played an incredible set list filled with most of my favorite songs, and the VAIL show was mostly trance and A LOT of jamming… the band actually played a 49-minute “I-Man”! They only played 3 songs during their 2nd set! How many bands do you know play one song for almost an hour?
If I really had to choose though, I would say the Boulder and Denver shows were my favorite. Between the music, the energy and the lights, I was blown away.
As for the scene, it was basically the same as the east coast. I was told it was different out here, but it’s pretty much all the same kids. If any show were different it would be the Fort Collins show. It was mostly just college kids going to see a good band. As for the rest of the shows, it was the same type of kids, same ratty aspect… I mean... someone stole my boyfriend’s jacket. Surprise, Surprise – something got stolen at a Biscuits show.
Anyways, I try not to pay attention to the scene and focus on the music and the friends around me. We danced, we laughed, and we had an incredible 4 nights of the Disco Biscuits!
I’m officially exhausted!
Here are the setlists:
1.16.08, Aggie Theatre, Fort Collins
Set I: Jigsaw Earth> And The Ladies Were The Rest Of The Night> The Great Abyss> Astronaut
Set II: Morph Dusseldorf> Cyclone> Munchkin Invasion> Morph Dusseldorf, Alter Ego> Jigsaw Earth_Encore: Rock Candy
1.17.08, Boulder Theatre, Boulder
Set I: Run Like Hell> Crickets> Spy_Set II: Jam> Story Of The World> Helicopters> Save The Robots> Story Of The World, Mindless Dribble> Run Like Hell_Encore: Abraxas> Helicopters
1.18.7, Fillmore Auditorium, Denver
Set I: 42> Voices Insane> Astronomy Domine, Highwire> 42_Set II: Caterpillar> Shem-Rah Boo> Little Betty Boop2> Above The Waves, M.E.M.P.H.I.S.> Caterpillar_Encore: Shelby Rose
1.19.08, Dobson Arena, Vail
Set I: Reactor> Rainbow Song> Spacebirdmatingcall> Digital Buddha> Reactor_Set II: Jam> I-Man> Nughuffer> Basis For A Day_Encore: Hope> Wizards in Winter
BEST ALBUM OF ALL TIME: American Beauty
While up in my friend’s condo in Friso, Colorado, we made ourselves comfortable relaxing by the fireplace while the snow was gently falling. It was beautiful. To make our day even more enjoyable, we popped in a DVD of the show “Freaks and Geeks” (Which by the way, is the greatest EVER. I still can’t believe it was canceled after one season!) But that’s another story.
Anyways, while watching the series finale episode, the main character was given the album, “American Beauty”, by The Grateful Dead.
She was told that this album would help her with her worries and put her in a positive place. One of her friends was quoted as saying “I wish I never heard it, just so I can hear it again for the first time.”
What a great quote, and I couldn’t agree more. I’m sure everyone feels that way about a certain album. For me, it is American Beauty.
So after watching this episode, I felt inspired to write about my love for this album. I want to get as many people possible aware of this magnificent piece of art. I’m sure most people already know about this album, being that it was released in 1970, but how many REALLY know about the significance that this album can hold in their lives? For me, every song is significant. Each note brings back a memory, each word brings out a thought or feeling inside of me that makes me feel warm and comforted. It’s hard to explain how much every song on this album means to me. The lyrics are pure poetry, and you can hear Jerry’s soul coming through in every note he plays.
Considering the band members had each gone through a great deal in their lives (almost all of them losing their parents, and at the time, Phil Lesh was about to loose his dad) its easy to understand why you can feel such emotion coming from each song. The band truly put their heart and soul into this album, which is why I think it’s loved and appreciated by so many.
The Grateful Dead had much to be inspired from while creating this album. Robert Hunter (the lyricist) found a great deal of inspiration while writing “Box of Rain”. He wrote the song for Phil Lesh, who was about to loose his father to cancer.
Phil had put the music together and Robert quickly added the words for his friend.
Here are the lyrics to Box of Rain:
Look out of any window
any morning, any evening, any day
Maybe the sun is shining
birds are winging or
rain is falling from a heavy sky -
What do you want me to do,
to do for you to see you through?
This is all a dream we dreamed
one afternoon long ago...
Walk out of any doorway
feel your way, feel your way
like the day before
Maybe you'll find direction
around some corner
where it's been waiting to meet you.
What do you want me to do,
to watch for you while you're sleeping?
Well please don't be surprised
when you find me dreaming too
Look into any eyes
you find by you, you can see
clear through to another day.
I know it's been seen before
through other eyes on other days
while going home.
What do you want me to do,
to do for you to see you through?
It's all a dream we dreamed
one afternoon long ago...
Walk into splintered sunlight
Inch your way through dead dreams
to another land.
Maybe you're tired and broken,
Your tongue is twisted
with words half spoken
and thoughts unclear.
What do you want me to do
to do for you to see you through?
A box of rain will ease the pain
and love will see you through.
Just a box of rain.
wind and water.
Believe it if you need it,
if you don't just pass it on
Sun and shower,
Wind and rain
in and out the window
like a moth before a flame.
It's just a box of rain
I don't know who put it there.
Believe it if you need it
or leave it if you dare.
But it's just a box of rain
or a ribbon for your hair.
Such a long long time to be gone,
and a short time to be there.
This album, in my opinion, will forever remain my favorite album of all time. I will never get tired of listening to it. It will always remain the most truthful, creatively composed, harmonic, love of my life.
The best way to appreciate this album to the fullest is to listen to it straight through, from the beginning to the end, with no distractions! Turn the volume up as loud as you can. Listen to every note. Pay attention to every word.
It will change your life.
I can understand people’s appreciate for all types of music, but in my opinion NOTHING touches The Grateful Dead… especially their album “American Beauty”. I live for the feeling of listening to a song and being so overcome my emotion that I get goose bumps running up and down my entire body.
And this album… is definitely goose bumps.
Here is a video with an interview with Bob Weir, who speaks about creating American Beauty. It also includes the song “Brokedown Palace” (It's a clip from The Grateful Dead‘s DVD, “Anthem To Beauty”).
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(Ps. Another interesting thing about this album, is the cover design created by Stanley Mouse... Not only does it spell "Beauty", but if you look at it closely, it also spells "REALITY").
So if for some reason you haven't truly listened to this album... I strongly suggest you do!
