Just wanted to say The Knife are absolutely incredible and anything they produce is gold.
If aliens listened to Swedish electro pop, they would listen to The Knife. Here are some oldies, but absolute goodies. Turn the lights off, the volume up, and enjoy. You may not like at first, so take the time:
Les Claypool is the greatest at what he does. Here’s my video from last night:
Been meaning to throw this on here, some really good stuff here. Listen & enjoy:
I like Gaslight Anthem and who can’t love some Springsteen. Here’s a good vid of the singer of Gaslight living his dream and performing with The Boss in the flesh.
Both are from Jersey and it’s known that Gaslight is heavily influenced by Springsteen. Good stuff:
I’ve loved everything Beach House has ever made since their 2006 debut. Saw them at The Beachland Ballroom last week for one of the better shows I’ve seen this year!
Few weeks old, but I’ve been meaning to post this. A fantastic acoustic performance by Phoenix for NPR Music’s Tiny Desk series. Really good:
Trucked up to Michigan on Friday to watch Greensky Bluegrass during the first night of their annual Beer Garden Opening at Bell’s Brewery.
Things to do in Kalamazoo
Things not to do in Kalamazoo
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| From Kalamazoo Trip |
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| From Kalamazoo Trip |
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| From Kalamazoo Trip |
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| From Kalamazoo Trip |
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| From Kalamazoo Trip |
…The Black Keys released a new video for their new album, Brothers. Always good stuff from these guys, enjoy!
The Black Keys – Tighten Up
We spent the past weekend in D.C., a terrific city. I have been there a number of times (biking, protests, marches, inaugurations) but this was a low key trip done in part to get out of Cleveland for a bit, eat some great food, ride bikes, and see Hot Chip and The xx in concert at the 9:30 Club.
I won’t go into too much detail, but seeing a city by bike is the ultimate way to go. I’ve rode D.C. before, and much like Chicago, biking allows you and your travelling accomplices to get around fast, free and without strenuous/slow paced walking (dodging everybody else.) Courtney and I departed Cleveland Thursday night (in typical fashion) spending the night somewhere near Breezewood; everyone’s favorite truck stop community. Awoke early Friday to finish the last 2 hours of the drive and check into the brand new Marriott Hotel on Capitol Hill (great hotel and great rates!, perfect part of town, close to the Green Line.) They let us check our stuff in – we aired up our tires and hit the road.
Biked 17 miles on Friday, stopping to see all the sites (Courtney’s first time!) and walking both the Natural History Smithsonian and the newly renovated American History Smithsonian. We had lunch at the (recommended) Good Stuff Eatery, on Capitol Hill. I had the Obama Burger.
We relaxed a bit before taking the Red Line to Dupont Circle for a late dinner at Nora’s. I can’t say enough good things about this place; its the country’s first organic restaurant, great food and wine with a lovely setting in an old carriage house. A bit pricey, the crowd was light but interesting, talking political work and of their boss, Tucker Carlson (hilarious, I know.) Court and I had the 2007 Bourgogne Passetoutgrain pinot and a full 3-course, delicious. We hung out at Kramerbooks in Dupont on the way home, the nation’s second coolest bookstore – being open 24hrs is an added bonus.
Woke up and had a relaxing day shopping around Georgetown, hitting up a bunch of shops (liked Patagonia, Levi’s, Chingching Cha Tea, and Georgetown Tobacco.) Had a great Italian brunch at Filomena Ristorante. Headed back to The Mall to hit two more Smithsonians, Aviation and American Indian.
We headed to the Howard University campus for the show, stopping at a ghetto-ass store to scarf down some steak sandwiches (we somehow forgot to eat dinner.) Food was cheap, but made better by a homeless guy talking about Funkadelic. The concert was incredible. Broadcast live on NPR national for the Saturday concert, The xx played a short and spot-on set. Hot Chip came out and sounded great, played a good set with a lot of energy.
The 9:30 is a great place to watch a show – however it was (I feel) the loudest show I have ever been to. Honestly, parts of it were painful – either I’m getting old, or things (decibels) are louder in our Nation’s Capitol. The club is perfect beyond that; good beer selection, wasn’t too packed – they even tweeted the exact time each band was to go on – made planning easy. Chatted with some great people, all gov’t professionals; The Red Cross, FTC, Wind Energy Cos.
People who know me know I love Cleveland dearly. I’ve traveled these Midwestern-escape destinations (DC, CHI, NYC, Vegas) repeatedly, well into the double digits, only to find a humble return to my beloved Cleveland, tired, and immediately finding comfort in the dreary, desolate, brick-faced city I live and work in.
I love it here. But the constant vibe in Cleveland is everyone is supposed to work to make it better – an uphill battle, something we’re always fighting for, a hope for the better, all soon-to-come, changes happening, casinos, clean technology hubs, transportation corridors, rock and roll hall of fames and their ceremonies held elsewhere. It make’s it fun, I guess, knowing that we’re always down and out and it’s up to us to make it better (how?). I like the grittiness of that, but I find it to be wearing out.
None of this is a shot at Cleveland, it’s just more and more I ask myself what it’s like in other places where people just live, love where they live, feel safe, and have to invest minimal, if any, effort to make their city a real city. I’m not giving up. I’m ready to do what it takes to make CLE better, but I know I’m not the first to have that idea. This endless and blind hope has been in motion for along time. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.
This is a few months old, but I’ve been meaning to put it in writing: Grizzly Bear’s cover of Hot Chip’s Boy From School is fascinating. Much different style than the original.
I have also included a video of what I believe to be the greatest song ever recorded, Hot Chip’s I Feel Better.
Pretty pumped to see these guys again in D.C. next week! <3 synth
