My (semi-) annual trips to Southern California includes a trips to...
They have a feature on their website, amoeba.com, called "What's in My Bag?" Wishing to be stopped but no Amoeba Staff Member asked me what's in my bag, here's my adaptation. (Their's is done way better, but I'll let you be the judge.) (All purchases are LPs or Records not Vinyls)
Here's my bag.
Chris Wollard & the Ship Thieves
2nd album from this group. Fronted by a mainstay in Hot Water Music. Great stuff. Hope it's as good as the 1st album.
The albums virgin spin on Maggie.
Cross My Heart
Band that came thru Logan in the late 90s, yes 90s. Off the great label Deep Elm. Look forward to hearing great emo from this.
Archers of Loaf
I began listen to Archers of Loaf thru the magic of FM Radio. Every Saturday, if I wasn't in SLC during High School (1996 & 1997), I turned in to KRCL 90.9 to listen to Tristen & Bernice (Not my Mom). These ladies gave me the gift of Archers of Loaf among others: Built to Spill & Halo Benders. Thank you. You were friends on those lonely weekends in Garland. With Archers of Loaf reissuing a few albums, I'm lucky enough to bring them into my collection.
Dead Moon
Great band. Saw them play in Las Vegas in 2000. They lit a candle, stuck it on the bass drum, & played till the candl bured out. They've since moved onto Pierced Arrows.
I got a gift certificate from Princess for ReSpin Records. A place in Midvale selliln used records. I can add to my Count Basie collection.
Last but not least, this from the Soffe plus Homeland Season 1 on DVD. I've watched the first two episodes. I'm hooked.
Little does the Soffe know is I was OBSESSED when I was a young lad wth Semi Trucks. I wanted to drive when I grew up. I still have the 2 I got one year for my birthday. Double Bonus... I LOVE Joan Jett & the Black Hearts. Now, I'll add this to te collection.
5: Title Fight
I drove to Ogden to go to a small club I've never been to. I sat, sory stood, thru good bands but not great. Title Fight started the set strong. Three or four song into it, the cub owner gets on the mike & tells us only 45 people can remainin the club. That is it's occupancy rate. That meant with all the bands, roadies, & club workers only 8 people could remain. These guys came out back & played 3 or 4 more songs. They didn't want the cops to ruin in our experience. I walked away being a bigger fan than I already was. I wish they'd make it up to Utah. I hope that experience hasn't ruined Utah for them like other
bands.
If you look close enough, you can see me chewing a rhythm on my bubblegum.
4: The Avett Brothers
During my layoff from work, I threw caution to the wind & experienced The Avett (like Pave it) Brothers. When I say experience, I fully believe that. This band is my friends Mel Led & Jason's favorite band. I had not seen them yet. Just hadn't. Being off of work made it the perfect time, meaning I had time to stand in line. I met Jason at City Creek walked around a bit & went to lunch. We got in line about 1430 (Military Time). Doors didn't open till 17 or 1800. When doors did open, I saw my responsilbe friends make a mad dash to the front of the stage. Never have I seen this. I'm a stand in the back kinda guy. (See Above.) But I wanted to live The Avett Brothers. Let me tell you, they did not disappoint. Worth every penny & some. They know how to please their fans. I will see them again. Maybe even up in the front. Ill have to se how my old bones age.
3: The Revival Tour feturing Chuck Ragan, Tom Gabel, & others
I almost didn't go to this. Still jobless (Reading my thoughts, you'd think I've spent a lot of time unemployed.), my dear, dear friend Ingrid told me she'd pay for me to get in. I'm glad she did. The tie between Chuck, HWM, Drew, Ingrid, me, Trent, Adrien binds us. Needless to say, I had fun.
2: Nothington
This band came thru on a very, very bad day for me. Work had not gone as planned. Stressed from the day & drivin home, my phone chimed in a text. Lisa, a friend from Logan & Utah State, wrote me that Chris King had unexpectantly passed away from a heart condition. I was floored at this point. I was balling. Chris is one of te few people I met while on campus. He came to Utah State on a music scholarship from New York. I'm a shy guy & keep to myself. I don't go out of my way to talk to people, but I had seen Chris a few times in my friend Aaron's office. Over time, he was one of maybe three people I stopped on campus when I saw him. He had a voice. I was lucky enuff to see him perform 3 times. I am honored t hve known him & will keep him with me always. Nothingon, a punk band from San Francisco, played a great show to me & 10 others. They made the day and my sadness melt away. I eagerly bought their catalog & play on Maggie a lot.
I have a tie for first...
1b: Band of Horses
I've been a fan forsome time now. Jason introduced me Everything All the Time. It was instant. I was in love. Jason, Mel, & I were lucky to see them then. I had not seen them since. Last tme thy rolled thru, I had a math quiz & couldn't. When Twilight announced them on the roster of bands for the summer, I was pretty giddy. Even luckier for me, I learned themy friends Wade & Amber were going to come down. Luckier even still, my friends Mel W. & Lin were going to be in town too. Then I met the infamous Amy Willis that week & she joined in, along with th usual suspects, Jason & Mel Led for the awesome reunion, only missing John & Kelsi, Aaron & Lauren, and Adam & Tori. Next time. We got all the hits The Funeral, NW Apt., Knock Knock (Off the new album,out now), Laredo, & the Great Salt Lake not once but twice. They called everysong Great Salt Lake after they played it early in th set. So when the encore rolled around & tey said this one's called the Great Salt Lake. I didn't think they'd it. BUT they did. Thank you Band of Horses for making it a great night.
1a: The Naked & Famous
I learned f this band thru my musings with Lin over ichat. He sent it & I loved the first track. I think I listened to it 100s of times. I began to pass this amazing work around to some of my friends. Two years later, they finally come to Salt Lake. Even better, The Depot. I gathered some change (still unemployed) & bought a ticket. I'll tell you it was maybe the best twenty I spent all 2012. I see bands perform all the time. It's fun, but old hat to me. I will always appreciate live music. Love it actually. But this band from New Zealand blew me away. They played Passive Me, Agressve You from top to bottom or at least every song. I came away wanting to see them istantly again. In my years beyond years of going to shows, that is a good sign. I came away with a new fave song stuck in my head. Thank you to The Naked & Famous for making 0h 12 memorable.
Thank you all the bands I saw throughout 2012. I hoe to more of you along the way.
Great up & coming band. These youngsters are wise beynd their years.
4: The Gaslight Anthem, Handwritten
Geat band from... New Jersey. If you like The Boss & Punk Rock check 'em out.
3: Hot Water Music, Exister
Band I learned about from Drew. Gone 6 years in March.
2: Nothington, Borrowed Time
I got this album on a very bad day. RIP Chris King.
1: Mrs. Magician, Strange Heaven
Top to bottom, I can listen to everything this band puts forth. Great album. I never tire. Man Crush Alert... It's on the Swami's record label. Hopefully, I'll see them open for The Night Marchers along the way.
5: Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe
5a: Japandroids, The House ThatHeaven Built
Man Crush Alert: The Drummer is wearing a Hot Snakes t-shirt. 5b: The Avett Brothers, Live & Die 5c: The Lumineers, Ho Hey
4: Mrs. Magician, Nightlife This my fave of their album Strange Heaven (SPOILER ALERT!) will be on my Top 5 Albums list.
3: Hot Water Music, State of Grace
So good. I wish Drw was around for this. I think HWM would ave made him proud to put this in his ears
2: The White Wires, Girly, Girly, Girly
All their songs on youtube are sugary delicious.
1: Rocket from the Crypt, He's a Chef
When I found out my FAVORITE band had gotten back together, I was floored. You don't how many hours I spent looking for this clip, 100s. Out of the approx. 38,000 time watched, I'm sure I've pdded that by 1000 or so. I cn't stop smiling when I hear or watch this. If they don't play the states, I'm going to be disappointed.
New Year Eve & New Year Day are my second least favorite "holidays" of the calendar month. But being new toSalt Lake City, I thought I'd venture out. Met over at Mel Led's house. Watched Dick Clark's (RIP) Rockin' Eve. We watied for her friend Patrice. We let & went up to Kneader's for warm drinks. I got a rueben.
It was alright. Pickle was the best part.
Next, party number one. I walked in & the first thing that I said, "The odds are forever in my favor." There was at least 6 females to 1 male. I enjoyed a few mocktales. Yes, I hear some of you grown.
Delicious.
The second party was a huge chruch thing. Not as big as the church dance I went to 11 years ago in Long Beach to the day. My cold was getting to me by this point. I was ready to go home & to bed knowing I had towork in the morning.
I was loopy on cold medicine & mexican cocoa. I did get some sexy pictures taken. (Wink, Wink.) That's it. No kiss at midnight. To shy to make that daring of move. Funny story though, while standngin line to get our picture taken, a guy tells me he likes my Ray Bans. I'm doped up & asked again. "Ray Bans." Oh, duh, my glasses. He the begins to tell me how much he likes my coat & the buttons on it. (Band Buttons not th real buttons. Although, he might have got there.) I turn away & Mel Led & Patrice begin to talk about how this guy had a man crush of me. He kinda did. Well, not what I expected, but none the less flattered.
That's New Year Eve. Those most anticlimactic event every year. Next year, I'll go to bed at 2200. It's the new year to on the east coast, right? Right. That's good enuff for me.
Words to live by from THE Joey Ramone. See you in the future...
