Ezra and the Chandeliers

Cait and I made it to see Vampire Weekend for the second time at The Marquee on April 13. It was a spectacular show, despite the fact that there were idiot teenagers pushing their way through the crowd in giant masses and a creepy, drunk asshole who had to be right next to us for way too long. The opening band was Abe Vigoda, but the lighting of their set really was not conducive for anyone attempting to take a photo. They had a great energy that made me feel like I was a teenager in 1989 listening to a new garage band forming on my street.

As for Vampy Weekend, as Carles likes to refer to them, they were brilliant. The first time they played their self-titled debut album in order, so it was nice to have a mix of favorites from each album. I was able to capture some video of 'M79' and 'Run', my favorite songs on their first and second albums respectively. At times, the videos are unintentionally trippy, but you still able to see how great they are live.

Note: Of course, Vampire Weekend is a band, and not just Ezra and some Chandeliers. You wouldn't know it by the majority of these photos though. Perhaps a slight obsession is revealing itself. Hope you enjoyed.

Moving objects with my mind

A friend introduced me to Telekinesis a few months ago, but for whatever reason, I did not connect with the sound. It is the musical project of Michael Benjamin Lerner, who performs vocals, guitar, and drums on the recordings of the "Telekinesis!" album. However, on tour, he travels with a band consisting of Chris Staples, David Broecker, and Jonie Broecker. Around May, I went to a show at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix where Telekinesis and another band opened for Margot and the Nuclear So So's. I thought Telekinesis put on a good show, but still could not fully get into their sound. (Right now, I am essentially admitting that my past self was quite a fool.) For some strange reason, the song "Coast of Carolina" came into my head a couple days ago while I was preparing to do laundry, and I could not get it out of my head. I went to listen to it, loved it, reviewed shitty video footage I took at the show a few months ago, and uploaded it to youtube.

Telekinesis - Coast of Carolina Live @ the Rhythm Room



Yesterday, I actually purchased the album, and have been listening to it on repeat since. While, I enjoy the album as a whole, I always have those "favorite" songs on albums, and below are my track favorites on Telekinesis!:

Track 2."Coast of Carolina" In my head: at first it sounded a bit bland, but after a while it began to sound amazing. great song.
Track 5."Awkward Kisser" sounds like a delightful mixture of Death Cab and Of Montreal
Track 11."I Saw Lightning" (Listen on Myspace) such a cute love song.


Lars and the Real Girl-like video for Awkward Kisser



"Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand." - Kurt Vonnegut

Heavy Cross, all in gold

I have had a love affair with Gossip ever since viewing footage from "Live in Liverpool". Beth Ditto has a presence that cannot be ignored, nor imitated. It is very rare to possess both of these characteristics these days. I have had "Heavy Cross" on heavy rotation ever since it was released on their Myspace profile. The video reminds me of something from the 80's, with a futuristic twist. Not straying from her usual, Ditto is wearing outlandish outfits, which she pulls off spectacularly. Favorite? Of course, the all gold number at the beginning! Perhaps I shall start rocking gold lipstick. ha