Monday, September 27, 2010

The worlds collide, but all that we want is a Shady Lane (or a Merriweather Post Pavillion)

Saturday was the annual Virgin Mobile FreeFest... without boring you to absolute death with details, let's skip straight to the highlights (and lowlights):

Best overall set: LCD Soundsystem

LCD Soundsystem

with the awesome dance-party energy, seizure-ific light show and enormous disco ball, LCD easily had the strongest set of the night. Despite being absolutely exhausted, I was completely compelled to dance.

Biggest surprise: Matt & Kim

Matt & Kim

Ben & I have seen Matt & Kim twice before, in the tiny club room at Sonar and Ottobar. we had pretty low expectations considering that the pavillion at MPP is about 1000x larger. plus they're all mainstream (read:lame) now, right?

WRONG. these kids got a new-found swagger. they were crowd surfing, climbing on their instruments, starting sing-alongs to old school tunes.... it was an all-around good time. plus there were balloons involved. who doesn't like balloons? i was smiling and dancing through the whole set.

Reason I'm most glad I went to VFest: Pavement

Pavement

Pavement are icons of indie music. their influence is obvious in many new albums/artists, and their albums have reached truly classic status. AND, they've been broken up for the last 10+/- years, so i was beyond ecstatic that they were re-united and touring. a chance to see these guys is pretty fucking special. they were really great and made me an even bigger fan. there probably won't be too many more opportunities to see them live in the future.

Biggest disappointment: the crowd at Neon Indian

Neon Indian

Let me start by saying that this is NOT Neon Indian's fault. they were great, just like when i saw them at Sonar. but the crowd in the dance forest SUCKED. it was a bunch of douchey-looking bros standing around, smoking cigarettes. i tried dancing through the crowd and getting them pumped, but i'm pretty sure i just made an ass of myself. apparently everyone at VFest was too cool to dance to Neon Indian.

Dear Neon Indian,
I swear that not all marylanders are that fucking lame. We had a good time at Sonar, didn't we?
Love,
ML






All in all, a pretty successful day of live music.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Playlist #7: Recent Aquisitions

Picked up some good stuff recently; it's time to share.

Image is from Ra Ra Riot's in-store performance at the SoundGarden celebrating their latest album release.



What are some new tunes you've picked up recently?
What albums are you most looking forward to?

Drumming Song by Florence + The Machine
I Can't Dance by Genesis
Couture Suicide by Japandroids
Lips 'n' Stuff by Les Savy Fav
Too Dramatic by Ra Ra Riot
Blue as Your Blood by the Walkmen
Heroes (David Bowie cover) by Peter Gabriel
Monster (Mix 4) by Kayne West

http://8tracks.com/mlalexis/recent-aquisitions

One Night in Canton (Ohio)

Over the weekend, Ben & I drove out to Canton, Ohio for my co-worker Andrea's wedding. The 6 hour drives (Saturday + Sunday) could have been worse - the Pennsylvania mountains out that way are just gorgeous. It was a really short weekend but so worth it. It was great to be there for the wedding and the reception was realllllly fun. Baltimore kept the party going 'til 2am. We shut that place down.

A N Wedding
Ben & I

UA Girls at the Wedding
All the UA girls!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

One Huge, Expensive Show; One Tiny, Free Show

This was a very musical few days!

After Gaga on Tuesday, Ben and I went with our friends Mike and Whitney to see the Dum Dum Girls, Beach House and Vampire Weekend at Merriweather Post Pavillion on Saturday.

It was a really fun show. My second time seeing DDG and BH, my first seeing VW. The energy was way up and the crows was really into it. Lot of dancing in our seats of course!

I'll be the first to admit that Vampy Weeks is not the greatest live band ever - but - it was definitely worth it to see them since the two openers are among my recent favorites. There are definitely people who are MUCH biggers fans of Vampire Weekend than myself.

Pictures!

DDG @ MPP
Dum Dum Girls
beach house @ MPP
Beach House (lots of Victoria LeGrand hair swooping of course)

VW @ MPP
Vampire Weekend

VW @ MPP
Love those chandeliers.

Last night, Ben and I went over to the SoundGarden in Fell's (amazing indie music/movie shop) to see Ra Ra Riot for a live in-store. SO. GOOD.

Ra Ra Riot @ SoundGarden
Tiny widdle stage

Wes at SoundGarden
I got a pic with Wes of RRR and Discovery.

And the whole band signed my LP...that's a framer.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Little Monsters, You Were Born This Way

Last night Tiff and I went to the very long-awaited Lady Gaga Monster Ball concert in DC! Of course it was absolutely incredible - but in my mind, Gaga can do no wrong!

Making Gaga-inspired outfits was very neccessary - when you go Gaga, you go hard. It took a lot of crafting + sewing but we looked FUCKING AWESOME, in my humble opinion.

Lady Gaga
We are SO ferosh.

Lady Gaga Outfit
My inspiration: Lady Gaga + Clark Kent

Lady Gaga
Flaming piano was badass, and Gaga was ROCKING the ballads. Her voice was definitely on point last night.

Lady Gaga
The outfit was incredible. It was motorized, and would GROW throughout the song.
Reminded me a lot of Hussein Chalayan's Spring 2007 transforming dresses collection

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Playlist #6: Hip Hop Moment

I'm going through a hip-hop phase, but I'm not sure why. Maybe it's Kayne's weekly track drops, or trying to power through work at the office, or just because hip-hop is awesome.

Image is a screenshot of Wale & Gaga from the video for Chillin'. Two of my favorite artists on one track, perfection.




What genre are you really into right now, at this very moment, as you read this?
What are some of your favorite hip-hip collabs?

Ecstacy vs. Lollipop by JJ x Weezy
Soundtrack 2 My Life by Kid Cudi
Pressure feat. Jay-Z by Lupe Fiasco
Chillin feat. Lady Gaga by Wale
Bulletproof (remix) by Major Lazer x La Roux
Tangerine feat. T.I. and Khujo Goodie by Big Boi
Hold the Line feat. Mr. Lex Santigold by Major Lazer
Power (remix) by Kayne West
ChamPain by CeeLo Green

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack

Hilton Head was excellent!

Lots of beach time + lazy reading + pool swimming + eating + family time.

With some fabulous bonuses: a fantastic mani-pedi at Faces, Pirate themed mini-golf, massage at the Westin Heavenly spa, indulgent shopping splurges at Porcupine.

I definitely did not want to leave, especially with an 11 hour drive back on Sunday. But we survived. And its nice to be back home in Charm City.

HHI pool
Ben's mom took this on her iPhone... pretty good quality for a cell phone camera, eh?

HHI
As usual, Ben successfully ruined every picture that I took of him.

Did you go on any vacations this summer?

Semi-Related: do you have any good book recommendations?
I ask because I read two very good books while I was in HHI, and would like to continue that streak ;)