OK X: A tribute to OK computer

I just now heard about this amazing album and downloaded it immediately. Its a cover of Radioheads "OK Computer" featuring many awesome bands. I will just copy the play list here since I don't feel like typing it up on my crappy keyboard.

1. Doveman - "Airbag"
2. Slaraffenland - "Paranoid Android"
3. Mobius Band - "Subterranean Homesick Alien"
4. Vampire Weekend - "Exit Music (For a Film)"
5. David Bazan's Black Cloud - "Let Down"
6. John Vanderslice - "Karma Police"
7. Samson Dalonoga feat. The Found Sound Orchestra - "Fitter Happier"
8. Cold War Kids - "Electioneering"
9. The Twilight Sad - "Climbing Up the Walls"
10. Marissa Nadler feat. Black Hole Infinity - "No Surprises"
11. My Brightest Diamond - "Lucky"
    
12. Flash Hawk Parlor Ensemble - "The Tourist"
    
13. B-Side: Northern State - "No Surprises"
    
14. B-Side: Chris Walla - "Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2)"
    

If your a fan of Radiohead its definitely worth checking out. Even though I am not the biggest fan of cover music I think its really cool when good bands get together to cover great bands work.

You can download the album from stereogum

The Resistance

Muse has just announced the release date to their fifth album today. The album "The Resistance" is set to be released on September 14. It is supposed to be very different then their previous four as the band says that they will be getting away from their usual sound and more into instrumental. Sounds different, but something tells me they won't disappoint. This news really brightened my day and I hope it brightens your if your Muse fan as well. Hope they tour the US I plan on making it to the closest city they come to.

More information at their website here

Bands you have to see before you die

bands I have seen that were the best shows I have been too and you must go see if they are ever playing in your area.

Muse
no brainer here. Won the best live act in Britain in 2005 and they sold out Wembley.I saw them in 2007 opening for My Chemical Romance...awful shame in Atlanta and Muse still killed the crowd. The best single set I have ever seen performed I really hope they start coming to the Southeast in their upcoming tour.





Black Lips
If you don't know about this band, you should. Hands down one of the funnest shows I have been to. Saw them at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta and the crowd was insane for the this local band. People throwing beer and articles of clothing everywhere (well one article a Jacket that eventually found its way on the stage). Definitely a must see if they ever come near you.






Matt and Kim
Blogged about them so go read that, but another great live act. A powerful duo full of energy and spunk that always creates amazing dance parties during their shows.






MGMT
I was able to see MGMT at Bonnaroo last year and I became a fan that day. I really did not know to much about them, but I went anyways (The best part about Bonnaroo) and they tour the stage down. Sounded great live and was not in the slightest distorted. I really want to make it to one of their actual shows outside of a festival in the future.







Vampire Weekend
Also saw them front row at Bonnaroo and easily made the festival complete for me. A very unique set list as well that contained new songs for the most part which really made the show interesting. I like it when a band plays new music at their shows it really gets the crowd involved and gives you bragging rights until their next album comes out (which I believe is this Fall!)






Sigur Ros
Last but not least, Sigur Ros live performance are the most relaxing/trippy shows I have ever been too. I laid down for a bit to just listen and take it all in and when I stood up there was an entire marching band walking across stage, which was really cool. I have to see this band again.






I really should have made this list sooner, but I will keep updating you with more bands that are amazing when I think about them.

The (True) History of England

I've been posting on my schools blog so I can fulfill my requirements for my class. This is an entry I posted today

Disclaimer: What you are about to read is the absolute truth and the truth about the truth is that those that really know the truth worked really hard to cover up the truth and they don’t want you to know the truth but after extensive research across Wikipedia I have discovered that the truth cannot be kept secret from us any longer and I have learned the truth and I am now writing this to tell you all about the truth. Its 4:42p.m. in the afternoon and I have places to be soon so lets begin.

What is contained below here is the truth, just like fiction about the truth is always true and true statements on exams are always 50/50 right this information is like that in that it is T and not F which is probably what you would normally guess if you were to read this on an exam, but know this what I’m divulging to you is the truth about the truth of English History. I have obtained this information merely by being here and there is no other way I could have obtained this if it was not for this trip.

It all began with aliens. Not aliens that you would normally imagine when you think of aliens, but think about that Will Smith movie Independence Day those aliens, because well that movie is based on the truth as well (ever wondered why it rarely plays on TV) Well Roland Emmerich knew what was up when he created Independence Day, but we will come back to this later. So don’t forget it.

Aliens once lived on our planet roughly 5000 years ago give or take. They were prosperous creatures and they created a powerful world and like us dominated over nature. Until one day they had literally exhausted there natural resources and animal surplus (we would later discover these remains and they would become known as dinosaurs). So the aliens built massive spaceships that spanned their entire continent (if you study geology at all you will see that once there was only one continent, its name has been discussed for many years and is usually called Pangaea, but those of us in the know, know it was called Jumbuous) and blasted off this planet (which put a large crack down the center and would later span to separate the continents) They attempted to destroy their entire civilization with fire, but the alien in charge of flying over the continent after everyone left to make sure that everything was gone stopped about halfway because it was very bored and very hungry so it checked “all destroyed” on its list and beamed away to the mother ship. This is fortunate for us that he didn’t make it to a little area that would much later become to be known as Salisbury or else he would have found the one structure that was left, Stonehenge.

This is all very good and fortunate for us, but let us fast forward a little bit all the way to after the Jumbuous broke up and focus on one particular region Europe, and more importantly England.

Let us talk about the year 1381 or more like allow me to enlighten you on what really happened this year. History would have one believe there was a peasant revolt in this year over some silly little thing like taxes. History would also tell you that in the 1340’s there was an outbreak of a little something called the Bubonic Plague (I imagine you’ve heard of this). Well the Bubonic Plague was actually an outbreak of another character that history tries to cover up and is merely the contents of horror novels, the Zombie. In the 1340s there was a large outbreak of zombies. Not the zombies we know today, but simply undead. They would mingle with society perfectly fine, but the only negative thing about them was they smelled awful, but other than that were mostly harmless. Edward III did not care for zombies and is quoted as saying “Zombies are just such a disgusting and inhumane creature” so he banished them all to Southwark. Many zombies were swept up in the middle of the night and taken from their homes and their human families and pushed across the London Bridge. It was a very similar scene from American history called the trail of tears, except with zombies instead of Indians. This occurred in 1349 and it took the zombies 32 years of oppression before they finally revolted into what is now known as the Peasant’s Revolt or the Great Rising (whatever tickles your fancy). It was all thanks to the infamous zombies John Ball, Wat Tyler, and Jack Straw. The revolt failed however and Ball and Straw were beheaded (ever wonder why they were not simply hung? Well if you know anything about zombies you must know that a zombie without a head cannot live). After the uprising the English government abolished taxes as a favor for its citizens for having to put up with the retched zombie attack. The remaining zombies were abolished completely off England. They tried to take up root in France but the French (not being fans of awful smelling things) would not allow them on their land either. It is really unknown where the zombie kind eventually ended up (some people say it was in Greenland while others claim that they definitely took over Sweden, but then there is a small group of historians that say it was Canada) but I digress where the zombies wound up will forever be a mystery. Some truths my friend can never be discovered.

There have many documented zombie outbreaks across the history of the world but the last major uprising came in the 17^th century, commonly called the Great Plague of London of 1665-1666, once again its real name for those who lived it will forever be the Great Zombie War of 1665-1666. It began in 1645 when there was a sudden surge of zombie population in the middle of London. King Charles II did not want another uprising on his hand so he gave the zombies a chance to live peacefully with society. Many complained and the zombies believed it was a matter of time before they were cast out like their ancestors. They waited for years putting up with extreme segregation and racism, and pleaded with King Charles II to put a stop to the separation going on in the city, but Charles II turned a blind eye to their needs. He believed that by allowing them to live amongst them he was already doing them a major favor. So why should he make their stay comfortable? Zombies were not allowed in parliament nor entrance to church. Finally one day in 1665 a band of zombies gathered in a peaceful protest. Charles II tried to quell the protest with force. This only caused more problems and the protest erupted into a full fledged war. Zombies tore through the streets of London killing any human they found and feeding on them. What was a protest turned into a year long war and the zombies were finally defeated when Charles II ordered London to be burned to the ground on September 2, 1666. This day is still celebrated and is known as Z-Day. This is a picture from the festivities.

Well friends it is now 6:00p.m. and I have to go and watch a play at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre (fun fact Shakespeare is actually debated to have been a zombie. Which is why he was able to write so many plays, he never slept) there will be more on this later in the history of England the Deuce (or II whatever).

Modern Art... the staues were cool

Some things just should not be considered art. I mean seriously guys I know art is all around us and all but some people take it way to far. I just got back from the Tate Modern Art Museum and while it was very cool and full of the whose who of Modern Artist I just saw some things laying about that didn't really strike me as museum worthy "art". For example, I walked in one room to find a rope lying on the ground. Not particularly arranged in a way to show something it was just piled upon itself in the middle of the floor. I was amazed by this but not for the reason I was there. I was amazed by the fact that this was here and lying on the floor and that the artist is probably making money for taking a mooring line from a dock. I mean seriously is this what art is coming to now? I feel like artist nowadays strive hard to be different and not bound by society. They try to be different for the sake of being different and everyone wants to start the next great thing and it has now gotten to the point of using the simplest object and saying it is art. Another object I saw in Tate was simply a mirror... no frame... no text or any image on the glass a simple mirror and is now art. The excuse for this being art is a mirror of the world so what better way to have a mirror of the world than an actual mirror. Which is all very poetic, but the thing is the artist didn't write a poem about the mirror, he didn't create the mirror, someone else did he just handed it to Tate and walked away. Maybe I'm not a purveyor of modern art as much as I thought I was...sometimes I'm just to much a of a realist. Then again though I feel like I'm a pretty creative kid and I do like to look at art its just I think there should be a limit you know? I could probably make it big by throwing up on canvas or cardboard or something.

Thats enough bashing of the pieces in Tate though, there were some awesome paintings and sculptures to be found here. Some crazy steel or iron structures that look very mechanical and of course Picasso, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Dali, Matisse, Hockney, Bacon, and Rivera can all be found here. So it's definitly worth the look, but if you do go mind your step and look out for ropes you might just be tromping on a masterpiece.

Matt & Kim!!

Last night took a trip to Old Street to the Old Blue Last to see a little powerful duo called Matt and Kim for the second time! They were just as good over the pond then they were back at the states. It was was one of the craziest shows I have been to in a while, and it almost didn't happen. When I showed up they were supposed to get on stage at 8p.m. but something happened to the PA system it like exploded or something so we all had to sit down stairs waiting for them to fix it. They finally got the system all fixed and everything situated and began the show at 10pm. Now this might have put a damper on a lesser band but not Matt and Kim. They took the stage with so much energy and played as fast as ever. The crowd just exploded in dancing. I was kinda in the back of tier 2 (Refer to my girlfriend's wonderful blog if you don't know where tier 2 is goodafternoonbrad)
but I was quickly shoved forward into tier 1 and the very front of the stage as soon as they played Cinders and that is where I stayed until the end of the show. Near the end of the set Matt had soaked his keyboard so much in sweat that it malfunctioned a little bit he said it was the first time that it has happened out side of Brooklyn and Kim broke her drum stool at the very beginning of the show, but still did not faze this eccentric duo. If they are touring in your area you have to go no questions asked. You are guaranteed to have a great time I promise!
I'm pumped about seeing them in Chicago this summer at the pitchfork festival and probably before that in Atlanta.
A picture from the first time I saw them in Birmingham at the Bottletree Cafe

Refer to their Myspace for tour dates: Matt and Kim

Welcome to 1432 Everyone!

Took a trip to Warwick Castle today... and man was it a trip. We arrived to find a full blown renaissance festival going on with people dressed exactly as they would have in those days. If only someone had informed before hand or else I would have worn my stockings. I couldn't help but laugh because I remembered that South Park episode "Super Fun Time". Where the school goes to that pioneer day and no one will break character. At one point I received a phone call near some guy playing a lute, and when I answered it I half expected him to call me a witch or something. "Where'd you get that fancy device stranger...you must be a wizard!" It was hilarious even though I felt like I was back in Disney World or something. Its one thing when you have a Renaissance Festival in the middle of some forgotten field, but its another thing when you have it in the middle of a flipping castle... that has been standing for centuries. Its almost like shaming history in a way when you turn a monument to medieval culture into a theme park. There was a Joust as well which well... was kinda cool except for it was so scripted I could tell who was going to win the "princess" hand in marriage before the thing had even begun. I still cheered for the Black Knight though, because he was pretty cool. Got some ugly looks from children though.

Speaking of children what the hell is with some of these British parents. I mean don't get me wrong some parents are great, but others are pretty poor. My friends and I were sitting under a tree and some halfass father wheeled his baby under this tree and parked it. He then mosey'd off to the gate to stare at the dirt while waiting for the joust began. The baby sat quietly for like 1.2 secs and then began bawling! I mean c'mon dude. I wanted to go kick him, but instead we all got up and went to get food... I'msure the baby was fine.

That dude I posted at the top stood in a circle breathing fire for a good 40mins. That really can't be healthy for you in the least, but after watching him spit flames for so long I feel like I can do it too... maybe I will try next time i'm around a bonfire or something. He also told us there was a dragon or something living in the tower and that if we yelled loud enough the dragon would come out. I shamelessly believed him and, with the rest of the 5 year olds in the auidence, stared yelling for the dragon to come out... of course he didn't. Sometimes I'm just so stupid, but its wishful thinking that makes this world interesting.

There was a also a Falconery exhibit (to quote Joe thats my "Verb" haven't heard that in YEARS!) This was cool except for the damn bird kept flying in a tree and disappearing. He also had a Bald Eagle (AMERICA!!) which he made fun of and said its his least favorite bird. Then he made some quip about flying over a McDonalds and the audience laughed...bastards. Learned though that Bald Eagles bully smaller birds into giving their food up to them...ah the spirit of America!

We walked along the ramparts of the castle and looked off the towers pretty sweet scenary you could defintely get a good view. However, due to this festival there was grafitti along some of the walls. Funny that for centuries you cannot see anyones name, but then you enter the 21st century and suddenly the walls are coverd in carvings with stupid things like "Bobbo wuz here!" and this picture "Ho-Bama" wtf??

Hobos

So I've been seeing tons of hobos on the street lately it kind of awakens a sensitive feeling in me. I kind of want to give them money... but I know it won't do any good. The bums I see here are not the usual bums I saw in Mobile they are shivering from withdrawal and rocking back in forth begging for spare change. Well actually this is just one woman I pass everyday while walking to the tube. Shes the most pathetic person I've ever seen. I really wish I had taken a picture of her, but I don't really want to draw attention to myself so instead I walk by without making eye contact. Maybe I will do something someday...before I leave here just take all the pence I have saved up on my counter and just throw them at her.

It must be a sad feeling to have no one in this world you can run to when you are in trouble or just have no one left because you've been getting high your whole life and suddenly you are worthless. Maybe it is just because I am young but I just simply cannot imagine myself in this situation or even to the point where I would have to camp out on the street for a night. It ain't easy being homeless. I know there are people though that go without shaving for a few days and move into the city to live like a homeless person for a day or two. They think its cool or inspirational or something, but to me that just seems like such a slap in the face to actual homeless people. Like crouching down next to someone and saying... "Yea man this does suck! Well see ya later I'm going back to my AC apartment... good luck with all this."

But homeless people have a bad rap as pretty much the world hates people who live on the street. I would really like to talk to a hobo some day and maybe hear their life story I feel like that would be interesting... or really sad... I dunno. I will put it on my to-do list. Maybe arrange the meeting so I wouldn't be putting myself in danger of being harmed or robbed. I mean seriously hobos are angry people sometimes. I remember a friend of mine inhigh school brought a large gathering of hobos some pizza and wine once and they retaliated and hit him yelling shit at him and such... It was messed.

Oddjob

So throughout our stay at the wonderful Hostel Panda in Vienna we had multiple roomates, but the one that I will always remember was Farzob from Taijikistan. How we met Farzob (or as we called him Oddjob) is a very bizarre story which began the very first night we arrived. When we moved our stuff into the room we noticed that one bed in the center had someone sleeping so we tried to stay quiet... however little did we know this was to be a common trend in the life of our "sleepy" pal. The next morning we slept a little late (around 10am) and when we awoke the man was still wrapped up in his blankets asleep. Thinking nothing of this we left and when we returned that night he was still asleep (I guess it was a late 10pm...). The following morning he did not wake up when we did and we left again, but this time returned around 4pm to find him still asleep. We began laughing at how ridiculously long this man has been sleeping we really did not know what to think. However we sat in the kitchen and talked for awhile until suddenly he woke up and walked out into the kitchen to stare at us...

We were a little creeped out but we talked to him for abit... I mean he was no bigger than 5'0 and there was 4 of us what did we have to fear. He knew little English and could only mutter one line phrases such as; "What is your name", "Where are you from", "America the country of Dreams", and "I'm Doctor" were for the most part our conversation you could fill in the rest. He then surprised us by asking us if he could come along with us to the Mozart concert we were planning on going to that night... and well we said sure why not. He awkwardly followed us all the way to the theater hall and when the concert began... he low and behold fell asleep.

We woke him up after the show and walked back to the Hostel where he immediately dove back in his bed and went into his hibernation with his infamous words "I sleep here". Oddjob truly was an odd and sleepy little man. This was the last time we spoke to him as he stayed asleep for the rest of our stay in Vienna. I don't know what they do in Taijikistan, but apparently it involves a lot of sleeping.

Vienna

I have just returned from a weekend holiday in Vienna and I have to say it was awesome. Minus the fact that i don't know much German my friends and I were able to successfully navigate our way around the town without any problems whatsoever. I mean Vienna is much like any other European city in that its very culturally diverse. There are people from all over the world everywhere (but not many Americans or well we didn't see many). My friends Ross, Clay, Joe, and I arrived in Vienna on Thursday May21 and at first we walked out of the airport and looked at each other all thinking the same thought "Well we are here... now what the hell do we do" We were very confused about all the signs in German and somewhat lost even (Thank you whoever decided pictures were a great way of communication I think it was some caveman) for without picture we may have never it out of the airport. We were lost again however when the bus dropped us off at the bus stop in the seventh district (also the gay district... we didn't know this until we were there) called Wien Westbahnhof. Anyways to make a long and confusing story short we wound up finding our way to the Hostel Panda where we would be living the next few days. We were greeted by a group of Dutch kids who were also in Vienna for holiday...These kids were cool, but after sitting around with them for awhile we soon realized that they did not like Americans too much, and after I argued with a kid about American politics for a bit (he was trying to say I am an idiot even though he has never been to America and the reason he does not want to go was because he was scared he would run into George Bush... which would have been surprising as I have not met George Bush and I don't think he spends his days wandering through the streets waving.)

Anyways Dutch kids not super cool, but alright. We spent the next day walking around Vienna and seeing as much as we could... it would be about this point I posted all the wonderful pictures I took and even a video I was planning on making which would document my trip, however my computer decided it hates my cameras memory card and erased all of the pictures I took this weekend... SO long Vienna its like you never existed.

I guess I will just say that we had an amazing time in Vienna and we met some very strange people and saw some incredible sights such as the top of Mount Untersburg (a part of the Alps).

Iron & Wine- Around the Well

Iron & Wine or Sam Beam's new LP is finally being released today (May 19, I don't think my computer is going to update... I'm living in the future). This album is (in my opinion) the best LP Iron & Wine has made. It's just a collection of unreleased stuff spanning from Iron & Wine's beginnings in 2002 to now. The entire album is absolutely incredible and includes some of the most relaxing songs. The music is very harmonic and even a bit haunting. The lyrics are (as usual) poetry. I can listen to this album a thousand times over and never tire of it. I am a huge fan of "The Trapeze Swinger", but lately I have been obsessed with "Love Vigilantes", but really it is very hard to play favorites here as every song is equally as promising and powerful as the next. Do your ears a major favor and buy this album today!

Tube Tunes

A major change here in London is the amount of music (or I should say the quality of music) on the streets. I mean for the most part in the states you walk down the street and see some guy strumming a guitar... but its rarely that good. Now don't get me wrong there are some very talented street musicians, but for the most part or maybe just where I am from Street music is not to outstanding. But today when I was walking to the my tube destination I suddenly heard a wonderful rendition of Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" and was taken back... because well it sounded good and fit the atmosphere of walking past all these people. However, I turned the corner and saw to my amazement a man dressed in a clown suit... I kind of froze in my footsteps (well because i hate clowns) but luckily the man behind me was kind enough to shove me on my way again. I don't know what it is about clowns I mean seriously what happened!? CLowns are supposed to embody fun times and laughter, but for some reason in our society Clowns are some of the most hated people on the planet! I guess Stephen King really screwed the pooch on that one for writing IT (if I was a clown i would be pissed at him for that). It kinda makes me sad that clowns are hated so much, because I would honestly like to be able to laugh at them or with them whatever... but I think these thoughts then actually see a clown and quickly throw them out the window, because facts are facts and clowns are scary as crap! Theres something already mentally unstable about a man in his forties willing to paint his face and wear a rainbow jumpsuit to entertain little children and then when you have them walking around doing magic tricks and laughing like a maniac... well the whole thing is just unhealthy.


But anyways this particular clown was playing "What a wonderful world" and actually playing it good (did I mention he had a Harmonica in his mouth, because thats kinda important). The whole song was fitting and people were strolling by chucking pence into his case. I mean the situation was bizarre. But I guess the point I'm trying to make is we need more street musicians like this man (maybe minus the clown suit).

Another talented musician I saw was a boy (not older than 16) playing a Cello in the middle of the streets and he was AWESOME. He has a whole set up on a street corner and was politely rocking out to Mozart. What a peculiar sight. England and class go together like 2 peas in a pod...

Just Handshakes (we're British), Heartless Bastards, The Woo!worths, The Last Republic

More shows yay! The other night I found myself stumbling across a underground show in some abandoned subway station. Well it has a name its called Club 229 (or just 229) and had a fascinating time! It was really cool to see all the various people in the show united by such a variety of bands. In the crowd I even saw a few men in business suits. The only thing that was negative about the show was the girl dancing in front of me. I believe a good friend should tell you when your a bad dancer and making a fool of yourself, but this girls friends stood there and laughed with encouragement. All while there friend jerked her body about in weird poses (it reminded me of the Seinfeld episode where Elaine shows off her terrible dance moves... in fact it looked exactly like that). Anyways I'm all for free expression and dancing to whatever just so long (if you know your a poor dancer) you dance in the back and not in the very front in center of the show. Its distracting from watching the band.

Just Handshakes (We're British)

this was a small British band that were (like me) newcomers to London. However, they played like they have been there many times before and really rocked the stage with a great energy. Their music sounds very Wolf Paradish except with a girl lead singer. I've been listening to the EP they gave me and while the studio stuff is just a tad disappointing it is only because live they sound amazing. I also was privileged to meet the whole crew after the show and they were very upstanding and cheerful people. Keep on rocking I look forward to one buying their CD. I would upload music here for your listening pleasure.... but it makes the site all laggy and obnoxious so here a LINK to their myspace instead.

Heartless Bastards

This was the band that led me to such an incredible show. I have been listening to Heartless Bastard since I stumbled across their single "The Mountain" some how made it on my ipod (I'm really not sure how it did). But I'm thankful that it was there as it led me to a great show in London. Heartless Bastard are fellow Americans and they were happy to meet us after the show. They too were very nice and played a killer set. If you have a chance to see them I strongly advise it.
http://www.myspace.com/heartlessbastards

The Woo!worths

A British electronic band to the core the Woo!worths also played a fun set (which got the rest of the crowd dancing, which made me happy because terrible dancing girl was buried in the crowd) The Woo!worths's music was very similar to what you would hear in many London pubs (techno). Not saying theres anything wrong with that, I am a fan of electronic dancey dance music and the Woo!worths definitely quenched the thirst to dance. It does not lok like they will play any shows in the States, but if you happen to be in the U.K. go listen. It will not be a disappointing show I promise.

The Last Republic

The last band of the night and unfortunately the best is not always saved for last. While they played alright music (it really wasn't my taste) they had annoying stage antics that made them seem like a Fall Out Boy wannabes. I like it when bands play for the love of their music but this group just seemed like they loved themselves (maybe it was just the lead singer). I did get to meet the band after the show and they invited me to party with them so they weren't bad guys I just wasn't a major fan of their music.


I don't know this show happened on the 13th I really need to get better about finishing these blogs right afterwards I start to forget... so I guess thats my report on the 229 adventure show all in all it was an awesome time look any one of these bands up if you want to see a good show.

Cheers

Andrew Bird

I went to my very first London show today and was very entertained. My friend Joe and I went to the Shepherds Bush Empire (or the O2 Empire) it was an awesome venue that according to someone was a top venue in a GQ article... but I couldn't find anything, but still good location!These are the best pictures I took of the stage it took a while for me to learn how to work my camera... Anyways on to the show.

The crowd in London is much more laid back then America. Refer to goodafternoonbrad
for a list of American Show rules, specifically the one about personal space, in London you have lots of personal space (at least at chill shows such as Andrew Bird. I mean this could really only apply to Andrew Bird's crowd, but still laid back shows in the States seem to follow the loss of personal space rule.) However, London shows (at least this particular show) I had plenty of room to move about.

Anyways enough about the crowd

Snowbird

This was the opening artist and while she had a lovely voice for the most part it was not amazing. The music consisted of a synthesized beat, some piano, and her voice... which came of sounding very Regina Spektorish. She also wrote a song about the horrors of killing a bug, but then told us a story about squishing a bug, which really made no sense at all. I believe your either for killing bugs or against it. There can really be no in between on this matter. This was best summed up when I asked one of my fellow showgoers what he thought of this and his response was priceless "Shes a fence-sitter one of the worst types of people." Imagine that in a heavy British accent (it was pretty funny.)

Courtney Tidwell

Now this group was alright. They did not sound that great, but definitely a decent band. They kind of reminded me of a less hardcore version of Pretty Girls Make Graves the music was not that complex nor were the lyrics, but all in all not bad.

Andrew Bird

Amazing! a awesome and spectacular show from the start. Andrew Bird can do some pretty sick things on a stringed instrument and its not so much the animation of his show that makes him good. It is how well he plays a violin, guitar, or anything else on stage. His band mates (I am no sure if they are his regular band or just studio musicians for the tour) were also quite impressive in their own rights. Andrew threw them some solos and they easily played some smashing riffs. His music is kind of like a folk meets rock and is best friends with bluegrass. Definitely worth checking out if he tours near you and if not go purchase his new EP or buy his albums, you won;t be disappointed.

Welcome to London!

This morning at 12:35 a.m. Central Time, your humble bloggist arrived in London Gatwick International Airport to begin his study abroad program for the next month.

We arrived in London in a little over 7 hours and after no sleep and walking out into London's streets at 6a.m. their time I was already exhausted. But we had to make our way to Regents College this of course meant dragging our bags through London in the early morning. For the most part this was not too difficult, but a few did make a scene when we blocked the Tube gates with our luggage... It was kinda embarrassing. Then when we boarded the tube I specifically heard a man tell his girlfriend "Oh god we are sharing the tram with Americans" which kinda took me back... I guess it is true that Americans are not to well liked.

This is the best picture I could manage while we were rushing our way through the British Railway system.

Anyways after the whole Tube debacle we finally came out at Baker Street, which was as expected decorated with Sherlock Holmes paraphernalia everywhere (even the walls had Sherlock Holmes profiles on them.... I 'm going to get my picture with that wall someday.)
However, I couldn't manage to take many pictures here, because well its kind of hard when your pulling a 45lbs bag and fighting your way through crowds (I mean after all I didn't want to look to much like a tourist...)

After we made it out of Baker Street and walked a quick 5 minutes around the corner we approached what would be our home for the next month, Regent's Park. It was something else, because of the excellent weather we were having (I was expecting the rain as this is usually the case in England.)
And at last we made it to our new home Regent's College, where I will be keeping you up to date with what is happening in London for the next month. Seeing as how I have never been here why don't we discover this place together.

Summer is here. Bring in the summer reading

Ahh summer. The beach, the water, the weather, and if your like me the reading.
Now many people get summer reading confused with actual reading, but I am going to tell you it most certainly is not. There are rules to follow when reading during the summer. For instance, if you are going out to the beach with a copy of John Milton's Paradise Lost or Dante's Divine Comedy you are going about summer reading all wrong. This is not a time for smart and deep reading that requires you to pay attention to every detail and even actually follow the plot. No this is a time for those cheap Wal-Mart books you pass up most of the year, but once again you have to be careful to what you pick up even in Wal-Mart. Thats why I have decided to provide you with a list of what to look for when choosing your summer reading material.

1) For the first rule and one of the most important rules is IT MUST BE MINDLESS. I mean mindless in that while reading you can actually daze off for a few pages and when you come too you still know exactly whats going on, but at the same time you have to somewhat enjoy what you are reading no one likes to be trapped in a boring book.... especially in summer.

2) Some character must either be killed off or have sex during the first 50 pages. Violence whether we like it or not is interesting and one of the best hooks a story can provide. Sex is also in the same category (and this is fine by itself if your the type that does not enjoy violence.) However, if you can find a book where someone has sex then goes out and kills someone or even gets killed during sex you have found a jewel amongst the summer reading books. I remember reading a book once that I found from the dollar tree where a man has sex with some random woman from a bar, and then 2 pages later the random woman gets murdered in the streets. The man happened to be a detective and he wound up trying to chase down the random womans killer for the rest of the book. This was a great book. Not only was it mindless and I probably only read 30 pages in the whole 200 something, but it started off with such a zinger of an intro I could not put it down. Books like these are few and far between so if you happened to find one... spread the wealth.

3) A bear or some form of dangerous creature must make an appearance in the novel (bonus points if a bear and another creature actually fight in the novel) I say bears, because well bears are really flipping interesting. They are like the modern day T-Rex only much more badass, because they don't have stumpy arms. From my experience Bears make novels better. By appearance I mean the bear has to eat someone, the protagonist or the antagonist or even a random bystander. Who he eats is unimportant and beside the fact just so long as he does eat someone. I have even found that the bear does not even have to be a mainpoint of the novel. In some books bears come in merely to devour some random sap, but soon shuffle off in the next page to go do important bear things. This is perfectly fine. But I am not biased against another creature (sharks, velociraptors, anacondas, dragons, tigers, Minotaurs, Giant Robots, Aliens, Godzilla, even a gorilla) just so long as they follow the same rules as the bear. Once again bonus points if one of the listed creatures comes into the novel along with a bear.... and they fight. Then you have the best summer reading material ever.
When I was 8 years old I found a book on my parents bookshelf that seemed interesting enough, because of the mention of an unknown creature on the back of the book. So I read it, but soon found it to be a very boring and sappy love drama. I never wanted to put a book down so bad in all my life, but for some reason I stuck with it and good thing too. When I reached page 100 this sappy love story turned into a hunt for a mutant-shark-man-fish (I kid you not) that was ravaging the village that the main characters resided in. After this novel I knew my summer reading days would never be the same.

4) There must be a beach either a picture of a beach or the mention of a beach somewhere in the novel. Since this is a book for the summer and summer entitles beaches, so should your novel. A beach is a must if you can't be there you should at least be reading about one. Now this throws a wrench in rule number 3, but thats why I revised it to include any creature other than a bear. Bears don't frequent beaches near as much as they should, but beaches are prime locations for another lovable man eater The Shark!

5) Secret agents. I figured this rule kinda goes without saying as it is common knowledge that secret agents are awesome, but I guess I should mention just how cool they are. I mean just look at Ian Fleming's character James Bond. Arguably one of the coolest men in the entertainment industry next to Sean Connery... and guess what Sean Connery was James Bond! Thats saying something if the character you are playing is almost if not cooler then you are. This is why James Bond books are perfect summer reading, minus the fact that most... errr all of them contain no bears. (however they do contain sharks.) Don't worry though I am not encouraging you to find a secret agent on par with James Bond, but as long as the novel contains a secret agent even if he is mentioned in the liner notes (or there is a James Bond reference.) There are many ways to fulfill this requirement.

I guess I am going to call it quits after rule 5 mainly because I feel like the rest of the rules would be just really cool things like; David Bowie, Space travel, Scantly clad women, etc... but I don't believe there is a book out there that would include them all. So I will just keep it with the 5 golden rules to finding summer reading.
Anyways I wish everyone the best in finding summer reading material. If you manage to go 5/5 in the rules then you have it made. 4/5 is very good, 3/5 is not too bad its acceptable, but 2/5 and you might as well go see a movie if you want to be entertained.

-Thom

(I believe Patirck Macmanus did an article such as this, and if you have enjoyed mine you should look his up a very top notch writer.)

BrakesBrakesBrakes "Touchdown"

Wow... this album is flipping amazing! It has combined the progression of my musical taste since I was 15 years old until now. From Punk to a slower alternative style, this album has it all. If you have not already purchased it then I strongly suggest you do. I had not heard of this band until yesterday when I was scouring pitchfork for more music and happened across this album review. I soon found myself listening to the entire album off of pitchfork and then downloading it, and after listening to it back and forth to class today I have decided that BrakesBrakesBrakes are now one of my all time favorite bands and thats a pretty solid decision.


The band is a 4 member band and they are from England (which further adds to my theory that for the most part good music always comes from Europe. Not to say American bands are bad, they are amazing but... well music is music who cares where it comes from if its good its good and I will listen to it.) Anyways there a very good band and unfortunately for us they are only touring in Europe (at least thats the dates they have now) Maybe I can sneak away from London this summer and go see them, but I doubt it.

It really sucks to live in the southeast sometimes. I feel like I am buried in country music festivals and actual good bands avoid coming here (at least we have Atlanta... Thanks ATL for doing your best) Oh and Bonnaroo, but unfortunately I will be missing that this year and will be in London (so i guess its a win win for me) but still the Bonnaroo lineup is pretty impressive this year its a shame I have to miss it (and that no friends of mine are going to it to tell me about YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!)

Anyways BRAKESBRAKESBRAKES Good music if you have not downloaded the album yet please do (that is if you are into good ole fashioned indie rock without all the electronics) So go get yourself a copy of their album anyway you know how you will not regret it.

-Thom

Jane Austen

I had to take a class survey today for my 19th Century British Novel Class today and it was pretty much like every other survey I have ever taken and I answered it like every survey I have ever taken... except when I came across the question about what we would like to have changed about the class. Which got me thinking about what I would have changed. It was not a bad class and I learned a variety of information, but the one thing I would have changed about the course is the dropping of a particular character whom I am sure most everyone is familiar with... Jane Austen

I hate Jane Austen. Never have I read anything so boring then her work. It is dull and highly uninteresting. It just makes me so sad that our literature culture today is madly in love with her and what she had to say in her novels. It is on par with reading a lifetime movie plot for hours. We were assigned to read Emma in the course and the entire time I was reading this novel I was thinking to myself alternate plots that were happening in the text in fact I have one written down for the novel Persuasion which I was forced to read last semester...

Captain Wentworth awaited anxiously for Anne to arrive. After all these years he would finally be returned to the arms of his love. His mind wandered to all the joy that would soon be his future. 'My magnificent Anne' he thought. He saw visions of the future barbecues that he and Anne would attend. He and his friends would grill out while Anne and the other wives sat around chatting. Every now and then he and her would make eye contact and smile. The images made his heart beat faster in his chest, how he longed to be with her.
After a few hours went by Captain Wentworth began to grow impatient 'Where was she?' had he been stood up, No! not by his Anne. Suddenly in the distance he saw her approaching. She was larger then he remembered, but he still loved her the same. He grew uneasy and smiled as she grew closer and closer. Her hair was much longer then he remembered as well. It nearly covered her entire body 'wow he thought, at least it is only hair she can always get that cut.' She looked very familiar however, like he had seen her the other day. Then he thought about his hike in the woods....
that was not Anne at all
It was
a bear.
He had been writing back and forth all these years to a bear... and Wentworth didn't even know bears could write. He reached for his saber, but it was to late the bear was upon him in lightening speed. It mawed the saber from his hand. Wentworth screamed out in pain. The bear laughed and stood up on its hind legs preparing to strike a fatal blow. The Captain managed to roll out of the way, but not quite far enough the bears claw ripped open his right leg.
"AHHH!" Wentworth screamed. The bear snapped it's jaws around his wounded leg and started chewing. Wentworth nearly passed out from the fire now burning in his leg. He glanced next to him and saw his saber laying just within reach. However, the bear noticed this and quickly kicked the blade away from him.... It was the end for ole Wentworth he had sailed the seas and seen many interesting things, but this is where it all had to come to an end as all things do.


There were reports later from many pub visitors that they had seen a bear come in for a pint, but didn't cause trouble for anyone. He had merely drank his drink then moseyed off elsewhere perhaps to hibernate. The weather was growing cold and he didn't want to wind up cave less again like he did last year, and besides what better time to sleep then after a filling meal.





I found this to be a more fitting ending to the novel Persuasion. I strongly believe that sharks or bears in anything will make it worthwhile and interesting.

But I digress... the point of this post was to merely rant about how little I care for Jane Austen and I think I will be as bold to say that no one would really miss her work if it was to say be excluded from curriculum forever.

Throw me the Statue "Purpleface"

I first heard Throw me the Statue a little over a year ago when they released their debut album Moonbeams which I thought was a very good album, and I was happy to see that today they released their EP Purpleface. With only 4 songs on the EP I can already hear a major difference from the upbeat rhythm that I loved so much from tracks such as "Lolita" and "About to Walk". The tracks are much more chill and laid back and sounds like it would make good driving music, but other than that I am a little disappointed in the EP overall, the one song I really liked is also on Moonbeams "Written in Heart Signs, Faintly" and the other tracks all sound very similar to this one. I don't want to give them a bad report though and I do suggest you check it out for yourself especially if your into more laid back music, as for me I was really hoping to dance!

-Thom

Top 5 artists as of NOW.

To begin all of this I would like to start with my favorite topics, Music. I listen to a lot of music and that may just be an understatement, but I'm not quite sure how to explain to you, I listen to A LOT of music. As someone once told me "you can learn a lot about someone by looking through their iPod." This is a very true statement, but I am not going to post every band I have on my iPod it would take far too long and I don't think I have the patience to sit here and write them all (I'm trying not to sound like an elitist, but if I'm failing let me know.) Anywho so instead of all the bands how about the top 5 all time favorites!


1. Cloud Cult- A wonderfully talented band. I remember hearing them the first time in my car of all places and knowing that I had just fallen in love. They are a seven piece band from Minnesota and while I have yet to personally see them live I hear there shows are absolutely amazing. A very good band that if you have not listened to then I strongly suggest that you find one of their albums asap.


2. Radiohead- Radiohead definitely deserves a spot on my list as they were the reason I became obsessed with music in the first place. Ever since the release of The Bends in 1995 I have not stopped listening to music. One of the best bands out there and a must on so many top 5 list I'm sure. Once again though I have not seen them live... I missed them at Bonnaroo in 2006 and then again in Atlanta, GA in 2008. Those days still haunt me as dark days I really have no idea what I was thinking when I didn't go... painful memories. Anyways I have always thought every Radiohead album has been one of the best cds I have heard, but some people seem to disagree. I guess it's just an acquired listen.

3. Muse- I absolutely love Muse. I heard their cover of "Can't take my eyes off of you" and went out and bought Showbiz that day. One of the best bands I have listened to and very inspirational to listen to while writing papers. I have seen Muse live... when they opened for My Chemical Romance in Atlanta in 2007... Don't worry my friend and I left before Chemical Romance ruined what was the best show I have ever been to.

4. Pain- A band I'm sure not many have heard as they were a local band from Mobile AL. A ska band that had so much talent and absolutely incredible songs that were often hilarious. I still wish they were around, it was a sad sad day when I heard they had broken up. All of their music is available via itunes so check them out! Midgets with guns is still one of my favorite albums of all time. Maybe if enough people purchase their songs they will make a valiant comeback... That would be awesome.

5. Portugal. The Man- I only recently heard this band and I really really like them Censored Colors... is just ahhh. From "Lay me back down" to "Our Way" It has just been a while since I have listened to a CD and been able to enjoy the whole thing in its entirety multiple times.

This is my top 5 list while for the most part this doesn't change I probably will replace a few on my top 5 as I am constantly discovering new music and always listening. There is a lot of good music out there and you just never know when that next sound will come along and knock you on the ground.