the ‘oughts? really?

Three days left of 2009.

I sure wish I could see THIS on NYE.

I’m writing this to procrastinate on my album review. Which is weird, because I love writing album reviews. And I should be really really REALLY excited about writing this one because once I turn this one in, I get the new Spoon album. And I’m SUPER psyched about Transference.

Bah. I’d lived through two full decades. Good lord.

And by the way, the “oughts” are a ridiculous way of referring to this decade. I know there’s no number we can attribute to it, but I figure, if we wait long enough, the phrase will come about. There’s no need for it now. I think we should just call it the angsty years. You have to admit, it wasn’t just because I was teen during this decade, but this country, the media, entertainment, people, were all angsty.

I wish this chair I was sitting in was taller. I feel really short right now. And it’s uncomfortable to lay my arms on the edge of my desk. And I’m using my desk now. I need to improve my posture, and sitting with my laptop literally in my lap was slowly giving me hunchback. Plus, I can use my mouse again. There’s no point in having a mouse if you’re not going to use it. AND – if I make an effort to keep my laptop in my room, it will deter my sister from taking it all the time. It won’t be readily available to her.

Our new blu-ray player is so loud. Mom and Dad are watching Inglourious Basterds downstairs and I can feel the bass in my feet, and I’m on the third floor.

Wow, this is the epitome of a tangent post. I’m like Virginia Woolf, but hopefully not as bipolar and annoying. I’m not all “ooo look over there let’s write about those irrelevant bystanders because they have pretty clothes and shiny jewelry….wait, BIRD!”

Seriously. I mailed out Mrs. Dalloway on Christmas Eve, and I couldn’t have been more happy to mail that SOB off. I mean, it was a pretty book, but in this case, you really CAN’T read a book by it’s cover. It needed to be covered with a bunch of random crap.

We had my grandfather’s surprise 80th birthday party yesterday, and it was actually really fun. I don’t mind hanging out with old people, and it honestly wasn’t all old people. There were maybe 4 other people who were as old at Grandpa. 90-year-old Uncle Don wasn’t there, so Grandpa was the deafest person there. The best part of yesterday was Grandma’s old friend Sarah, who taught her to make bee balm, and her sons Caleb and Levi came. And Mom was pretty sure she hadn’t seen them in at least ten years. Possibly 20. All I can remember of Sarah was the stories Grandma would tell me about her bee balm and soaps and her pet quail, Opie. Caleb and Levi were the ringbearers in my parents’ wedding. Caleb was also one of the pallbearers are my grandma’s funeral. Mom said told them that they were Grandma’s “practice grandkids,” since they were 7 and 9 when I was born. It almost made Mom cry when Caleb said that “Elaine didn’t need any practice.”

I miss her.

Well, I’m gonna go actually work on my “homework” so I can get my hands on the new Spoon. See ya later “oughts.” Christ that’s a stupid name.

❤ Abby

Top 20 Albums of 2009

I’ve been waiting for months to post this, but I couldn’t very well make my list in October, because it wouldn’t give a fair chance to any albums released in November or December. But now that I look at this list, it wouldn’t have changed much if I’d posted it two months ago.

But here it is: MY list of the top twenty albums of 2009 (mind you, I may have a slight musical taste bias, but I tried to include a variety of genres in this list. But sadly enough, Sasha Fierce was released in Nov. 2008. So Beyonce will not be on this list. And neither will Gaga.

1. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion

Listening to Animal Collective is like getting an orgasm in your mind. Seriously. Nothing could knock Animal Collective out of the number 1 spot for me. I saw them live in May at Sasquatch, and after that, Merriweather Post Pavilion was the soundtrack to my summer. And not only did I love this album but it was fucking ridiculously critically acclaimed, so I think I know what I’m talking about. And what’s even better – MPP was released in the FIRST WEEK OF THE YEAR. January 6, that’s right bitches. Way to start off the year right.

2. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Another of the discoveries I made this year made many of the “best of” lists this year, but you cannot deny the overall catchiness, cleverness, danceability, and sheer awesomeness of Phoenix’s first album on their new label V2 Records. And seeing them live this week at Deck the Hall Ball heightened the love I have for Phoenix. “1901” should seriously win record of the year. It’s THAT good.

3. The Decemberists – Hazards of Love

I want this album to be made into a musical. Seriously. Like with actors who sing and dance and perform this WHOLE album. It was amazing at the Gorge, and it was a completely new direction for the band. But it worked. Some people didn’t like the big guitars and overwhelming storyline of the album, but I freaking loved it. Sure, you can’t really put any songs on a mix individually except “The Rake’s Song,” but within the full context of the album it’s amazing.

4. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest

Thank god I caught their live show when I did, because I never would have discovered how amazing they actually are. When I saw them back in October, I hadn’t listened to them much. Mostly I was just going for the Morning Benders, but yet I wimped out on meeting them. Oh well, Veckatimest is awesome just the same with all the fantastic harmonies and multilayered instruments. This album was my second foray into “freak folk,” and I dig it. So freaking cool.

5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!

Again, I saw them live at Bumbershoot, and it was an unforgettable experience. After their lackluster 2006 release, Show Your Bones, Karen, Nick and Brian came back with a vengeance, producing possibly their most well-rounded album to date. Everything from the the jammy “Dull Life” to the dreamy ballad “Skeletons,” you hit both ends of the spectrum while keeping Karen O’s amazing shrieking vocals. This is how a rock band ages gracefully.

6. Franz Ferdinand – Tonight

I love this album. “Bite Hard” is my jam, and seeing Franz live for the second time truly reconfirmed how charismatic the four of them are together. Alex is so sexy with his seductive vibrato and Nick keeps the rhythm and Bob is adorable and Paul brings the beats. Slightly dancier than the previous albums, “Tonight” could be played at a dance club or a rock show – it’s perfect.

7. La Roux – La Roux

Elly Jackson, I pretty much love you. Androgyny and synthesizers and earnestness. All put together you get La Roux’s eponymous debut. I own four different remixes of “Bulletproof,” and they all rock. It’s like you can’t ruin that song. It’s just that good. And as much of an 80s throwback this was, it was so damn refreshing.

8. Mos Def – The Ecstatic

I don’t listen to a lot of hip hop. So you know this one’s legit if I put it in the top ten. If I can listen to a hip-hop album, it has to be good, right? Dynamic and introspective and catchy and awesome – those are the words I can use to describe this album. I can’t remember where I heard “Quiet Dog Bite Hard,” it may have been at Sasquatch, but that song is the shit. As is the rest of this album.

9. Passion Pit – Manners

Yet another Sasquatch find – although it took them way too long to start their set and my sister and I left halfway through to see Maria Bamford. But listening to this album all the way through just makes you feel happy. And want to dance. A lot. “The Reeling” and “Sleepyhead” are amazing. Listen to them now, with large headphones.

10. Tegan & Sara – Sainthood

Produced by Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla, Tegan & Sara’s 6th studio album was mature in the best ways. Heavier licks, but similar themes made this album fit perfectly into their repertoire. The first single “Hell” has just enough energy paired with Tegan & Sara’s perfect harmonies. And as they get older, you can really tell the difference between their voices, which weren’t as distinct on the earlier albums.

11. Matt & Kim – Grand

One of the coolest married couples in rock and roll, Matt & Kim brings such a simplistic production to undeniably catchy territory that it’s a fantastic mixture. It was hard not to hear “Good ol’ fashioned nightmare” on TV for awhile before fall premieres in the preview for “Community,” but that was fine with me. And seeing them live at Bumbershoot this year just contributed to the fun quality of their music. I’ve never seen a band smile so much. And with Grand, they surely had something to smile about.

12. Muse – The Resistance

Okay, so I considered putting this album up higher on the list, but when I thought about Muse’s previous efforts, I had to take that into account. The Resistance is awesome, but Absolution and Black Holes and Revelations are awesom-er. “Unnatural Selection” is my favorite of the album, and when they played it live at Deck the Hall Ball the other night, I squealed with delight. I’m just wondering what Matt, Chris and Dom will do next.

13. Florence + the Machine – Lungs

Would they please tour in the States? I mean, really. This album was a late addition to the list, as before last week, I’d only heard “Dog Days Are Over,” but when I heard all of Lungs, I had to add it. It has all you want in an album – upbeat jams like “Kiss with a fist,” and bluesy emotional ones like “Drumming song.” And it’s so nice to hear a rocker chick with a great low voice – in fact, this year was a year of deep-voiced gals. Similar to the next best album.

14. Bat for Lashes – Two Suns

Like the Annie Lennox of ’09, Bat For Lashes (Natasha Khan) manages to weave sci-fi folk with indie rock in the most interesting way imaginable. Like the British hybrid of Bjork, Imogen Heap and Kate Havnevik – this album is amazing, no matter how you classify it. So peaceful, yet so dynamic. “Two Planets” and “Daniel” are two of my favorites off the album.

15. The Cribs – Ignore the Ignorant

The Cribs are my new fav Brit-rockers of the year, even though this album was their second release. I’d very much enjoy seeing them live next month, but I’m still not sure I’ll be able to. The Cribs have the dirty appeal of today’s Brit rockers but also a hint of the real lo-fi imports of the 80s. One of my favorite parts of this album is the very beginning of each song, as you can hear the very rudimentary elements of the music starting up.

16. Brandi Carlile – Give Up the Ghost

I freaking love this album. I was disappointed by The Story, but Brandi Carlile went back to her raw bluesy, folksy roots with Give up the Ghost. “Before it Breaks” is the only song that sounds remotely like it belonged on her previous album, but it’s better than even those songs. My favorite track is “Dreams,” which sounds almost like they all recorded it together in one take, because it catches all the nuances of Brandi Carlile’s great voice, as well as the synergy between her band. Another great release from one of Seattle’s finest.

17. The xx – xx

Isn’t that the simplest album cover ever? Surely compared to some of this year’s album covers. But it’s a reflection of The xx, the 3-piece electro rock band from the UK. Both vocalists Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim provide such a subtle seductive feel to the simple beats, which create as Rolling Stone said “booty call music for the indie rock set.” Pretty much. Dreamy and dark and sexy, The xx would be the perfect music to get some to. I think.

18. Girls – Album

One of the break-outs of the year, Girls created a disc that feels both old and new at the same time. And it sounds so much like Elvis Costello it’s kind of crazy. Not in a bad way. And if you manage to sound like an updated Elvis without sucking, you’ve managed a feat. “Darling” is my favorite track off this album, and I recommend you listen to it soon after reading this.

19. Wilco – Wilco

Wilco can do no wrong. Exactly. It’s like the very nature of Wilco is to be awesome. Really, do I need any more explanation?

20. Paramore – Brand New Eyes

As much as Paramore got all the buzz this year because of “Twilight,” Hayley and co. came back with a great third album. Like I said, it’s the year of the chick rockers. And I feel like all their MTV love has almost reduced how good they really are. But honestly, without Hayley Williams, Paramore would be just as mundane as their lesser peers. Because they started so young, fans really get to grow up with Paramore. And I’d honestly like to see where they go next.

I’m done now. That was really difficult. I had to leave out a few good ones. Yell at me if you feel need be. But don’t be too harsh. I worked really hard on it.

And in fact, I’m going to explain a couple of those omissions.

The Fame Monster had some wicked songs on it, “Speechless” and “Bad Romance” are amazing, but as a whole, they didn’t fit together as well as The Fame did. I still love you Gaga.

And as a self-proclaimed indie kid, I’m not going to necessarily conform to all the other lists that I’ve seen and include Bitte Orca just because SPIN and Time and Stereogum and Pitchfork did. Dave Longstreth’s voice annoys me, and some of the songs on this Dirty Projectors’ album is kind of grating to me. I dunno. Punch me. I don’t care. Although “Stillness is the move” is a pretty great jam, as is Solange Knowles’ cover of it.

❤ Abby

best. week. ever.

But there’s only technically two weeks left of this lavish holiday, as we return for classes on… the 5th. However, my winter quarter stars on…fucking new years. Those …’s were me going and checking my Google calendar. Oh well. This week’s been goddamn amazing, and next week will surely have a lot to live up to. But Caity’s coming home, so everything will be great!

I still have yet to send my WAS-board secret santa gift. I think I’m going to have to 2-day that shit. Good thing I paid like nothing for the actual supplies, so I can pay for shipping! I’m really excited for he/she to get it, and I’m really excited to get mine. And in case you didn’t know, because you aren’t cool and haven’t joined the Sci-Cave yet, we did a giant worldwide secret santa gift exchange. I’ll be surely back with pictures once I get mine. EEEK yay.

Okay, so I didn’t come here to blabber on about WAS, but I would gladly do that any way.

I CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT DECK THE HALL BALL.

HOLY CRAP.

So I updated the other day with the news that I’d acquired a photo pass, but I haven’t told you about the show. I posted my show review here: POPWRECKONING. BUT THERE’S SO MUCH MORE TO TELL THAT’S IRRELEVANT TO THE MUSIC.

Laura and I left late, because I’m an idiot. My GPS took on the wonkiest route I could have imagined. We almost got stuck on a slippery hill where another car was stalled. That was kinda scary. We found the ridiculous parking at Qwest field, which Laura paid for (thanks love), and who parked right next to us? Why it was Anna! Anna, whom I haven’t seen in like a gazillion years, who I went to high school with. Huge coincidence. And a nice surprise, then Laura had someone to hang out with until we found Joe. Cause, uh, I had to go wait with all the other rocktographers by the pit. Good lord that sounds cool. I’m not trying to flaunt how awesome this is, really I’m not, but IT’S SO AWESOME. Have you ever had one of those really really REALLY exciting moments that you couldn’t help but tell everyone? I got that way when I started writing freelance for the Gateway (blech), then when I got on the Ledger, then when I started writing for Popwreckoning, then when I got my first guest list spot to the Lonely Forest a few weeks ago. BUT THIS WAS SO MUCH BETTER. I had a lanyard and everything. It wasn’t like being able to bring my camera into a little indie rock show at a tiny venue in Seattle. No, this was one of the biggest shows in Seattle. It sold out in a day. ONE DAY. And me – little ‘ol 20-year-old me – got to be one of those people who calmly file in and out of the pit and take pretty pictures while the sweaty, dehydrated fans battle it out in the mosh pit, losing earrings and being inadvertently felt up my dozens of people.

Needless to say, I was frickin’ intimidated. As soon as Andrew walked me over to where the other photographers were, I felt so miniscule. Them and their huge-ass telephoto lens and fancy camera bags, and me and my borrowed Ledger camera bag and ‘lil 50mm lens. Don’t get me wrong, I freaking love my 50mm, but next to the ginormous lenses being hauled around me, it looked sad. And to my disdain, Vampire Weekend had way too much smoke machine during their act. Since we only got to shoot for the first three songs, and they were the first band I shot, I got too anxious to switch out my lens for the my 28-135mm. So those pictures turned out kinda crappy. Even processing wouldn’t help them, because the smoke machine hated me and wanted everything to be the same color and have no contrast. Balls. But I soon became more comfortable, switching between lenses quickly and promptly popping the element back in on my 50mm when it felt like breaking free.

BTW, Ezra Koenig is perhaps one of the most adorable people ever. I’d be all for marrying him. And VW was damn good too. “White Sky” is my jam, and I’m super pumped for Contra in less than a month. JANUARY 12TH!

Easing my way around the pit didn’t feel all that awkward after awhile, because everyone was more professional than I am, and no one got in anybody’s way. But people still were assertive enough to get the best shots possible. It was like an unspoken language that we all shared for those short blocks of time we had in the pit. Honestly, I was more awkward waiting outside the pit before each band, because all the other photographers seemed to know eachother, and there I was, a newbie who has no other connections besides Popwreckoning. I stood by myself, looking through my pictures between each set, deleting the bad ones to save room on my card. I still only have a 2GB card, by the way. Gotta save all the room you can.

Phoenix was up next, who blew my freaking mind. I mean, oh my god. I’m so much more in love with this band than I was before. And if I don’t get a pass to the show at the Showbox SoDo next month, I will be very sad. Because it’s sold out. But in 25 minutes, Phoenix could not have used their time better. Thomas Mars even managed to crowd surf all the way to the back of the room. Then again, a waify dude like that, it would be easy. My pictures got better during there set. A few of my favorites are of Thomas, and I was so damn close. That’s the coolest part. But I guess since I’ve never met any bands still, getting that close is still pretty cool.

Metric – let me tell you – so much better live than on the album. But that could be because The End played “Help I’m Alive” more than anything else this year, most likely 5 times a day. I got some of my best pictures of the night of Emily Haines, but they had much better lighting than VW or Phoenix before them, so it was easier. She’s so hardcore and sexy at the same time. And “Stadium Love” was an awesome song to close on. She had on this cool sparkly dress and a shaggy dog ‘do, and I wish I was as cool as she is.

Sadly enough, all three of the openers had half hour or less to play, which was bullshit, because they were just as good, IF NOT BETTER (COUGH PHOENIX COUGH) than the closers.

At this point, I needed water. But I didn’t know how long the intermission before 30 Seconds to Mars would be. So I waited. And when they came on, holy shit people got excited. Even though 30 Seconds to Mars was the odd band out in this giant lineup of awesomeness, they didn’t seem to care. Jared Leto (swoon) treated everyone in the room like they were there to see strictly 30 Seconds to Mars. He got a spotlight any everything. No one else got a spotlight. Good lord he loves his fans. Almost in a needy way. But this where the pit got even more interesting, almost dangerous. At the beginning of their set, Jared shouted at the crowd “Let’s see how many fucking people we can get to crowd surf at the same time!” Great, thanks dude. So people crowd surfed. I swear, every time I turned around a security guard was picking another tiny teenage girl on the verge of passing out or a 15-year-old frat wannabe. I’m never crowd-surfing in my life. I’d prefer not to have people’s hands all over my ass. About halfway through our time in the pit for 30STM, Jared decided he wanted to get EVEN CLOSER to the crowd, so he jumped off the stage into the pit, knocked into me, and climbed up on the barricade while a security guard held him down safe from insane fans. I know I kind of passed over this in that last sentence, but Jared Leto ran into me, practically fell on me in the chaotic moment he created. Really. Not sure if I have super powers because of it, but it was still pretty cool. And I got one of my favorite shots of the night out of it.

Yeah, it’s sweet.

And I was the only one who got this shot, because I was standing right there. The other photographers frantically got around me after he jumped in, but I was the only one who got THIS shot. I’m super proud of it.

After 30STM, I needed air and water, so I went out into the lobby. And I’m not sure who this was, but I knew he was a photographer, as he was toting around his telephoto. But I was sitting against the wall with my glass of water, lanyard around my neck, and going through my pictures so far. I looked up really quickly, but he just looked at my camera, and nodded and smiled.

Weird, but cool at the same time. Again, with this unspoken language. So crazy. I’m just kind of upset I didn’t introduce myself to any of the other photographers officially. Oh well, there will be plenty more chances for that. PLENTY MORE. And it’s still early. I’m only 20, you know.

Then came Muse, the band that we all technically came to see. It took way too freaking long for them to get on stage. Seriously, I was standing in the pit, listening to remixed Animal Collective and Ladyhawke for ten minutes. Great house music, but I wanted Muse, DAMNIT! Finally, Matt, Chris and Dom got on stage. And it was epic. That’s the only word I can use to describe it. No, wait, I’m going to look for a better synonym for epic…GLORIOUS. It as GLORIOUS. Yes, I’m going to use that from now on. Muse was the one act that I regretted not having more time to shoot. I got some good ones, but there were opportunities for better ones. Matt had this crazy huge mic that got in the way of his face in so many pictures that would have otherwise been excellent. Oh well. I got to enjoy the rest of their hour-long set after I finished taking pictures, and I went to find Laura. Apparently, she and Joe had been pushed to the barricade, and Laura was lifted out by a security guard. And apparently Joe was right behind me when I got this shot of Matt.

Another of my favs of the night. Muse was magnificent. And the closing song, a crazy spaghetti western-style “Knights of Cydonia,” complete with harmonica, could not have been a better way to end the show. Seriously.

Getting out of the parking lot was fucking insane. People are douchebags when it comes to backing out of parking spaces. There was this tiny car full of dudes that literally squeezed their way in between the van in front of me and my Nissan. And I wasn’t going to let them go. But they thought otherwise. Oh well, Laura and I played “Hot Fuss” really loud because I didn’t bring my ipod. I forgot how much I love that album.

Oh, here are a few more of my favorite shots. They’re so LEGITIMATE! (I’m not saying legit).

❤ Abby

And these are a few of my favorite things

And these are a few of my favorite things

Originally uploaded by abbigshmail

I was bored. And it’s 3 in the morning.

Plus, I was testing out shooting in RAW instead of JPEG, and I LIKE IT.

❤ Abby

holy crap holy crap holy crap holy crap.

Um….

I just got a photo pass for Deck the Hall Ball.

Oh. My. God.

I only get to shoot the first three songs from each band. But I get in free. So my ticket goes to Laura. And I get to shoot some of my favorite bands. Best way to end the year. I knew it would all work out. I KNEW IT!

Okay.

This is how I feel right now, except for bacon, it should say “FOTO PASSS”

I’m done.

❤ Abby

Anticipation

I think I’ll start these one-word blog titles for awhile. They’re ambiguous. Yeah.

But the point of this post is based on anticipation. The anticipation of 2010. And more specifically, the prospect of new albums, from some of my favorite bands, and some that I just merely enjoy. Either way, I’m going to make a timeline of when these albums will generally be released. Because I have nothing else better to do, than wait for any word back from Deck promotions. Oh right, I might actually get a fucking press pass for Deck the Hall Ball. Yeah, bitches. That actually fits for anticipation too. Yay for vague references!

JANUARY

Twelfth:
OK Go – “Of the Blue Colour of the Sky”

Check out “WTF?”
Vampire Weekend – “Contra”

Check out “Horchata.”

Nineteenth:
Spoon – “Transference”

Check out “Got Nuffin”
Motion City Soundtrack – “My Dinosaur Life”

Check out “Her words destroyed my planet”

FEBRUARY

Ninth:
Hot Chip – “One Life Stand” (no album cover yet)

New electronic jams are always nice. Especially since NPSH’s only rereleasing Glistening Pleasure on Warner this year.

Sixteenth:
Lightspeed Champion – “Life is Sweet! Nice to meet you”

Twenty-Third:
Michelle Branch – “Everything Comes and Goes” (Shut up, “Everywhere” was my jam in middle school. She’s my one step out of boy bands, and one step shy of the Killers.)

MARCH

Ninth:
Frightened Rabbit – “The Winter of Mixed Drinks”

Check out “Swim until you can’t see land”

The Morning Benders – “Big Echo”

I have so much love for this band.

UNKNOWN DATE

February-ish: WE ARE SCIENTISTS!!!!!

I can’t even express how excited I am. Exclamation points don’t do my excitement justice.

May-ish: Arcade Fire.

Holy crap, what if they came to Sasquatch? FOR MY BIRTHDAY?!?

Spring: MGMT – “Congratulations”

Finally, The End will have some new MGMT songs to play other than “Kids.”

Panda Bear.

I ❤ you too, Panda.

The Shins.

It’s been far too long.

Late 2010: The Strokes.

With this new Julian Casablancas solo album, it sparks my interest even more with how this album’s going to sound.

Early 2010: Interpol.

Any way that sexy Paul Banks can go on tour, I’m up for it.

Sufjan Stevens.

Good lord, yes.

Jesus Christ 2010, you haven’t even gotten here yet, and you already rock.

❤ Abby

Finally.

Winter break is upon us. Well, actually, I have one final paper due next week, but that’s it. And it’s for ethics, so it won’t be incredibly hard. I’ve had a great last few weeks, hitting up two great shows, making a Super Awesome Decade Game for Ledger, and spontaneously driving to Seattle for a free movie screening and Michael Cera.

It officially feels like December now, ten days after it started.

And the fact that it’s THIS freaking cold:

Seriously, it was in the single digits in Olympia this week. Not quite that cold over here on the Kitsap Peninsula, but Libby did say that when she sprayed Febreze on her steering wheel the other day, it froze to her steering wheel. Don’t ask me why she was spraying Febreze in her car, cause I have no idea, but it’s still funny to think about something freezing that fast.

It’s cold. That’s all I’m trying to say.

So… any plans for New Years this year? I have no idea. Absolutely no clue. I don’t even remember what I was doing last year. Hmm…I think I’ll go check my archives real quick to see. >>>>>>>>>>>>> Well, it looks like I was just at home. Cause I’m pretty sure it was two years ago when I went to Jamie’s house and we lit our crotches on fire. Don’t ask.

But I honestly feel like doing something cool this year. It’s just too bad the two great New Years shows, Minus the Bear and Cake, are both 21+. Balls. I can’t wait for May, for Sasquatch, for 21. God it’s going to rock so hard.

2010 is already looking like a great year. I know I’ve said this before, but it’s true. Like, a gazillion of my favorite bands are coming out with new albums, I’m turning 21, hopefully I’ll get an internship this summer, and there’s a strong chance I might finally meet WAS, if they come to Seattle, that is. Or Portland. Fuck, I’d drive to San Fran if that was the only chance I got at seeing WAS next year.

Oh, that reminds me, I have to finalize my list of the best albums of the decade. I think I already have my best of 2009, but I have to finish writing it up, and I’ve scheduled it to publish at the end of the month. It’s only fair. I mean, a band could come out with the greatest album of the year within the last few weeks. It’s highly unlikely, but hey, it could happen.

My battery is about to die, but it was nice having a tangent post tonight, since I have nothing else to really worry about right now, and I’m tired.

❤ Abby

It was an honor and a pleasure.

After Mapquest took my friend and I on the most illogical route to El Corazon in Seattle, we arrived just in time as the doors opened to see Rooney, Tally Hall and Crash Kings on the Wild One tour on Wednesday. Thankfully, we only had to wait outside for about ten minutes, because it was pretty darn close to freezing.

El Corazon is a small, but fairly intimate venue, with a great view from all vantage points. That night, the teenybopper crowd filling El Corazon differed starkly from those who worked there, covered in piercings and tattoos, dark hoodies and unkempt facial hair. I liked the odd juxtaposition, as it fit the contrasting lineup. The Crash Kings were up first, with their three-piece of Tony Beliveau on vocals and keyboard, brother Mike Beliveau on bass, and Jason Morris on drums. Tony was quite the showman, rocking out with a clavinet, a customized keyboard with guitar strings and a large whammy bar. Bassist and brother Mike played with multiple amps, making music both full and raw without a guitar, leading to rather a unique sound.

The three-piece Crash Kings played a short, but strong set, including first single “Mountain Man,” as well as other crowd-pleasers “1985,” “Raincoat,” “You Got Me,” and “It’s Only Wednesday,” which was recently featured in the film “Zombieland.” I hadn’t heard much of their music before the show, but I was thoroughly impressed with their stage presence, matching the intimacy of the venue with their brotherly synergy.

After their half-hour, Tally Hall came up on stage to set up their instruments, clad in suit shirts and vests, as well as fake mustaches to match their hair color. It fit Tally Hall’s persona perfectly, as they’re pretty much the nerdiest band I’ve heard since They Might Be Giants. Seriously, they referred to their own music as “wonky rock.”

What I love so much about Tally Hall is how funny they are, but they are genuinely good musicians, and they harmonize wonderfully, with guitarists Joe Hawley, Rob Cantor, keyboardist Andrew Horowitz and bassist Zubin Sedghi all bringing their own vocal style. To my delight, Tally Hall played some new songs, meaning a new record coming possibly soon, as it’s been a good 3 years since Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum. But they did play a few of the hits from MMMM, “Welcome to Tally Hall,” “The Bidding,” “Ruler of Everything,” and “Good Day.” My favorite song was actually during Horowitz’s one singing part, “The Whole World and You,” and they got the whole crowd clapping with Horowitz’s adorable subtle lisp. The crowd surely loved the dapper crew, as the youngins surrounding me sang along to all of the words.

Cantor and Hawley had the most charm, saying that it was “an honor and a pleasure to be playing with Rooney and Crash Kings,” causing everyone to cheer loudly, so then they’d say it randomly throughout the half-hour set. I would have preferred longer than half an hour, and it would have been plausible, as we hit the road just after 11. An hour would have given them more time to banter, showing off their unique personas. But I was happy just the same.

Rooney was up next.

Following a long intro of the “The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly” theme music, building the palpable anticipation, it was obvious that most people there came to see Rooney. They were met with screaming girls, reminiscent of the reaction that the Jonas Brother might get, but with a few token drunk guys.

The foursome came out cool and casual, and started off with “Stay Away” off their eponymous debut back in 2003. It gave me a weird flashback to a little film that you may have seen at one point – “The Princess Diaries,” yeah, cause front man Robert Schwartzman was in that movie as Michael Moscovitz, Anne Hathaway’s love interest. As was the rest of Rooney, as Michael’s band. Sure, the movie was eight years ago, but I just can’t seem to get it out of my head.

That soon left my mind, as I moved from the one side of the stage where bassist Matthew Winter seemed to not be having any fun, to the other side of the stage where guitarist Taylor Locke captivated the crowd with his sweet riffs and undeniably flowy hair. Schwartzman did most of the talking, leading the room through a set list of oldies but goodies like “Blueside,” “Daisy Duke,” “Popstars,” which Schwartzman said they hadn’t played in a while, and brand new songs, one titled “Wild One” that drummer Ned Brower actually got to sing. And he was quite good.

Around 10:40, Schwartzman thanked Seattle profusely for being so great, and it caught me off guard, but made everyone laugh and cheer when Locke started playing random opening riffs from classic Seattle rock songs from Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden.

“Ned’s from here, so we can do that,” Schwartzman said, “Well, born in Chapel Hill, and raised in Seattle.”

It made me smile. But nothing made anyone smile quite as much as the guy standing behind me who kept shouting “I Should Have Been After You” all night. He finally got his wish during the encore.

“Who wants “Simply Because?” Schwartzman asked the crowd.

People cheered.

“Tell Me Soon?”

People cheered.

“How about “I Should Have Been After You?”

And people went nuts.

“Okay, we’ll do it for that guy this one time.”

I was fine with that, as “I Should Have Been After You” was one of my favorite Rooney songs.

At the end of the night, my friend had a completely different experience watching Rooney on the opposite side of the stage as I did. So I guess it’s based on your vantage point. Robert’s the conversationalist, Ned’s got the charm, and Taylor’s got the charisma.

And Rooney’s surely got the light and bouncy pop rock to get you dancing, even on a Wednesday night before finals week.

I’m not very timely

So, I would have written my review of wednesday night’s Rooney, Tally Hall, and Crash Kings show last night, which was great, btw. Here’s a couple of my favorite photos from the night.

But I’ll write more about that later.

I just had to come and explain WHY I didn’t go to class last night, and didn’t have time to write my review.

So, yesterday I remembered that I read something about this contest for colleges to vote to bring a free screening of “Youth in Revolt” as a part of the promotional tour. And accompanying the film, Michael Cera and Portia Doubleday, the stars of the film, would come and do a Q & A.

At about 3, I went online to see when the contest was over, and it turned out that it was over Nov. 29. And turned out UW won. Sweet. And when was that screening?

Last night at 7.

Soon after, Markas and I decided to drive up to Seattle and see a free movie, and see Michael Cera.

Michael Cera!

It was pretty sweet. And the movie too. We got free stuff, cheap parking, and a second night in a row in Seattle for me. This is the most I’ve driven to Seattle since Bumbershoot. Three times in one week. Damn.

But see how close I was. Damn.

Hells yeah.

Okay, I’m done.

❤ Abby