Rants & Raves

Hello loverlies,
I feel like I have so much & nothing to share. All my little events seem so mundane but here goes nothing.
Summer is wrapping up next week and I don't think I'm ready for the winter.
I'm definitely growing these next year!

August came and went and now September is almost gone. I seriously can't keep up lately. Dillon's birthday was the 1st. (He's 12 now, if you can believe it!) Laura had a nice little pool party for him at her house. Speaking of Laura, she just got back from vacation. We sure missed her at the store. It was a bit crazy but better that than being super slow. Now my parents are on vacation for their anniversary. 25 years this year! They went to Yosemite and then to Reno for the air races. Samantha's birthday is Saturday and she is turning 21. I was surprised to hear she is planning a big party. I'm going to go for a bit. This reminds me I need to go shopping for some gifts for everyone ;) Next is my turn for a vacation. I need one badly! The family goes to Disneyland mid-December so my concerts will be my mini vacations until then.
I should be at a show right now. The Romany Rye is playing with the Moondoggies at Cafe Du Nord in SF. Matt and Lindsey were working tonight and Crystal just refused to call me back. I would go alone but it's not as fun. Sunday, Matt and I will go see Jonny Corndawg at Hotel Utah. I'm curious to see what Matt thinks of Corndawg! I love that he is totally doing his own thing. Also, I've never been to Hotel Utah so that will be cool. My mom and I are kicking off Hardly Strictly weekend with The Jayhawks at Slims that Friday night. Last but not least, I got tickets to see The Head & The Heart next month and found out tonight that Release the Sunbird will be opening. I've been hearing a lot of good stuff about Zach Rouge's side project. This is a really great video by In The Open.

In the Open: Release the Sunbird - Running Away From Me from In the Open on Vimeo.

Ok, so, fun story:
Yesterday I saw a tweet from ATO records asking to email them if you want to do some street team stuff for Dawes upcoming tour. Seeing how I usually get some posters to help out I thought this would be really convenient since Petaluma is so close. I emailed them last night and first thing this morning I see an email asking if I want to be a "street team CAPTAIN for your area" They get pretty serious about this stuff apparently. I thought it was so funny. They want me to come up with contests to promote the show and list some places for promotion, since they don't have people in this area. I'll help out but I'm not going to go crazy (like I did when I first did this). I don't have that much extra time to get all involved but helping out your favorite band is fun. We'll see where it goes. I'm stoked for the show.
And can Blake Mills please come back to the bay area?! Please!
Alrighty well, those are my rants for this evening. This took way too long to write because my internet hates me tonight. I really shouldn't complain because it isn't my internet. ;) I promise to be back sooner next time. Goodnight everyone

Cue The Music

Happy almost weekend everyone!
I'm bored tonight. Crystal is in Vegas for the week...jealous...and I don't have much money to go out and spend. I had to smog my car and pay registration yesterday so I'm spending whether I like it or not. I did have a $20 off coupon that took some of the sting out of smoging the car.
I can't believe it's already the 11th. How is time moving sooo fast?!? July ended pretty shitty for me. Two concerts got messed up for me by means beyond my control. I didn't/couldn't go to either one. Needless to say I was pretty heartbroken, especially missing Matt Costa. We did have the kids (Dillon & Stevie) up from the bay area for two weeks. They had a good time while they were here. Dillon went to Ramp Rats almost everyday and spent a lot of time with his friends. Stevie was content to spend time at home with us which was nice since we don't see her nearly as often. One of the days we spent at the Sonoma County Fair. I met up with everyone after I got off work. It was a bracelet day and even Travis was big enough to enjoy the rides. He was the cutest flipping thing.

I'm living vicariously through NPR tonight and listening to sets from Newport Folk Festival. This Middle Brother set is killing me in the best way possible. I want to travel and see these things live so badly. Music saves me everyday so I feel lucky to be in CA where live music is prevalent. Those festivals and the Daytrotter Barnstormer tour are brilliant events that I'm going to need to attend at least once. Lollapalooza was last weekend, Austin City Limits is coming up and Outside Lands is this weekend. I feel very lucky to be going to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival this year. Unlike all the previously mentioned, Hardly Strictly is free and has an amazing line-up to boot! No word on Dawes being there but I still think it's possible if they back M.Ward like a week longer. ;) I've been wishing those boys would come back to Northern CA and then they announced a tour that begins and ends here! It's a co-headlining thing with Blitzen Trapper which is kind of a bummer but I refuse to complain. I'm still shocked that they are kicking it off in Petaluma, seriously Petaluma! Anyone who wants to go with is absolutely invited. I bought tickets for the Petaluma show and the SF show. I am super excited! My Delta Spirit boys have been on the down-low recording some new stuff. They are all of a sudden hitting a bunch of these festivals and bringing some of those new tunes. I'm hearing new album buzz for February and couldn't be happier. This is a new song called "Empty House" that they performed at Lolla. I like!


So I'm going to try and go concert crazy since I feel like I've been slacking. You should come with, because they are good times!
Enjoy the rest of this foggy summer. I'm curious to see how the harvest pans out around here. Hopefully we get some hot August nights pretty soon...

Let's Change The Song

Via: This Is Not Porn

Man oh man, I'm glad I don't own a TV. The news is about as depressing as it gets these days.
I really shouldn't say things like that because I have it sooo good compared to so many right now.
The other night I was babysitting Travis at my parents house. He had gotten out of bed and so I let him cuddle with me on the couch. Wanting to see what has been going on, I decided to watch the 11pm news as Travis fell back to sleep. After only a few minutes I started crying. Here I sit with a sweet baby boy in my arms, an entire life before him, and all that is on the news is death & destruction and the possibility of more war.  I was incredibly overwhelmed and felt absolutely helpless. Needless to say it's been hard to come back from that... I'm just trying to be grateful for what I have and make the most of my actions.
In addition to that we had a time change, lots of rain, St. Patty's Day and more rain. I'm ready for some sun and a better mood. I have the day off tomorrow so this evening I'm determined to start improving it.
Tomorrow will consist of getting new shoes, a haircut, and investigating the cost of 4 new tires. I got my tax refund so new tires it is.

And now to the music...

The big news is that SXSW was last week. Overhyped but still fun. Maybe I'll go someday. Anyhoo, Dawes did a gig for Rolling Stone where they announced the name of their new album. It's called "Nothing Is Wrong" I haven't seen a track listing yet but I'm 90% sure I've heard almost all the songs live because I love them that much ;) I was surprised to hear that "Million Dollar Bill" will be on the new album. Speaking of Middle Brother, their show here in SF is right around the corner! I'm going to spend that afternoon in the city. I planned a little picnic at Alamo Square for before the show. I think Ashley is going to come with. To bad more people don't want to come because I think it's going to be a ton of fun. I get all excited and then remember Blake Mills will be there too!! Hello gentlemen...

Photo by Doug Seymour

A little over a week ago I discovered this band from Seattle that I'm now seeing everywhere. They are called The Head and The Heart. They have such a sweet but raw sound that I quickly was hooked on. Lucky me they are playing in SF next month too. I'm going to try and go but we'll see.

Here is my list of shows coming up... join me, won't you?!

Middle Brother @ The Independent - Sun. April 3
Young The Giant @ Slims - Fri. April 22
The Head and The Heart @ Bottom of the Hill - Wed. April 27
The Boxer Rebellion @ Slims - Fri. April 29
Nathaniel Rateliff @ Bottom of the Hill - Sat. April 30
Other Lives @ Cafe Du Nord - Tues. May 24
Brett Dennen with Dawes @ The Fox Theater - Sat. June 25

The Show Must Go On

No matter how you may be feeling, the world around you doesn't stop. For me, that might be a good thing.

Music is my medicine, so I knew I was going to see Dawes in Davis on the 1st.
I got off work a touch early, (Thanks Brad!) grabbed my sister, and we were off. Now, I have only driven to Davis one other time but I felt pretty good about getting there. As luck would have it, no traffic, and we made excellent time! I parked right up the street for free. As we walked, we passed the band so I knew we were in the right place. It was like a little community center in downtown Davis. Not many people were there and a local girl started the show. Jonny Corndawg had Dawes to back him up and that set was a ton of fun! Then Dawes came on and, once again, knocked it out of the park. Ashley and I had so much fun!!! It's rare that we hang out and have such a fun time being silly anymore. I'm so overly excited for Dawes' new album... After the show, I was lucky and got to talk to Griffin and then to Taylor. (Never did figure out where Alex has gone) They are all such nice regular guys...all good.
*This one is for Taylor who didn't know who Charlie Musslewhite is.


The following Saturday I was in Yesenia's Wedding!
It started off super early. I had to be at the Mary Agatha Furth Center, with my hair done, by 9am. We set up the hall for over an hour and then got all dressed up. The limo came to take us girls to the church in Calistoga. Now, I'm not Catholic and this wedding was a Spanish Catholic wedding. I was a little out of place to say the least.  I just went with it and for the most part and did alright. The ceremony was beautiful. The mariachi band was by far the coolest thing. ;) Pictures followed and then back to the reception hall. I was home by 1am and absolutely exhausted, but it was a great day that I was super honored to be a part of!

Life is beginning to settle down into new routines. The future holds new goals and uncertainties. Overall, all is good and things keep on keepin' on.


P.S.
There are a bunch of shows I'm going to in the coming months. You are more than invited to join me!
Middle Brother feat. Blake Mills April 3 @ The Independent
Young The Giant April 22 @ Slims
The Boxer Rebellion April 29 @ Slims
Brett Dennen w/ Dawes June 25 @ The Fox Theater

Full of Fluff

This is long overdue, I know. My only excuse is that nothing exciting has been going on. Easter was good but low-key. It poured all day. The next Sunday was Travis' birthday. It rained again of course, but it was nice and Travis had fun.
In his Birthday outfit

Cupcake time

New Toys

This was taken tonight. Dillon cut holes in and painted this old cardboard box to make it look like a little house. Travis posed so perfectly while playing in it that I just had to throw it in.

I've been working a lot so I haven't had time to do too much fun extra stuff or I've just been too tired. I'm getting my car worked on tomorrow (cross your fingers they don't find anything weird.) That pretty much sums up my April so far.

Since this is a pretty boring post I'll try to jazz it up with some fun new music stuff that has had me all excited this month:
I heard about this song just last week. Now, I'm am not a hip-hop fan. There are good songs here and there but I usually pass. This song however features a Hayley Williams from Paramore. I'm pretty sure it is the only reason I like this song. Once again her vocals are amazing and this is a nice little chorus.

Ok, that was fun, now check this out. This is a little youtube clip that Hayley posted herself. Don't like Lady GaGa? Well, you will now!

I spent a huge chunk of money on concert tickets this month, let me elaborate...
First I'm going to see 30 Seconds to Mars w/ MuteMath on May 13. I can't believe how close it is already.
Then I bought tickets to a Local Natives show after I procrastinated on their first one and it sold out. Their new cd is in the mail, as we speak, on the way to my house. Enjoy this live version of "Camera Talk"

Another highly anticipated show isn't until October but it will be worth the wait. Jack Johnson is coming to the Greek and I'm going (for a pretty penny). Here is his new single "You & Your Heart." I think he directed the video which is cool but gets repetitive pretty quick.

And last but not least is my favorite guys Delta Spirit. This is off their new album and this clip is actually from the SF show I went to in early March.

This little gem is also off the new album. This is a stripped down version that I just cannot get enough of. His voice, the piano, just amazing! The full band version is great too but this is pretty special.

This post really took on a life of its own tonight. Fun stuff! Well, time for me to go to bed. Goodnight ;)