Playlist #10: My Girls.

Mad respect for the musicians who don't need a single Y chromosome. Image is the Dum Dum Girls playing at Merriweather Post Pavilion this past summer.




who are you favorite female musicians? do you listen to more male or female musicians? or neither?

Mine by Taylor Swift

Margaret Vs. Pauline by Neko Case

Bad Romance by Lady GaGa

Cosmic Love by Florence + The Machine

Stand Still, Look Pretty by The Wreckers

Walking With A Ghost by Tegan & Sara

Sidedish Friend by Rachael Yamagata

Get Gone by Fiona Apple

China by Tori Amos

It Only Takes One Night by Dum Dum Girls

Much Farther To Go by Rosie Thomas

Don't Leave My Mind by Azure Ray

Actor Out of Work by St. Vincent

Handle With Care by Jenny Lewis/Watson Twins

What It Feels Like For A Girl by Madonna

Playlist #9: Q3 + Q4 Shows

2011 is almost upon us. A look back at some of the shows I went to in the second half of 2010. Image is from the New Pornographers at Rams Head Live.



been to any good shows lately?
got any good shows coming up in 2011?

Daisy by Fang Island

Heart Swells / 100-1 by Los Campesinos!

Silver Jenny Dollar by The New Pornographers

Janglin' by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Ice Melts by Matt & Kim

5-4=Unity by Pavement

Too Dramatic by Ra Ra Riot

Giving Up The Gun by Vampire Weekend

10 Mile Stereo by Beach House

Bhang Bhang, I'm A Burnout by Dum Dum Girls

Money Honey by Lady GaGa

We Used to Wait by Arcade Fire

happy hanukkah to all my chosen (and non-chosen) peeps

confession: i am an amazon fangirl. i definitely drink the kool-aid... it's my go-to online source for pretty much everything (and they really do have basically everything). it's really easy to meet the $25 minimum for free shipping, prices are almost always the cheapest around, and customer service is excellent.

i'm very particular about customer service, so that's a huge compliment coming from moi.
i'm especially fond of the "universal wishlist", which allows you to add items from basically any website to your amazon wishlist with a handy browser button. and i've become a little too fond of adding things to the wish list. it's so damn easy!

since the holidays are upon us, here's a sampling of some gifts on the wish list. feel free to send me any of them ;)

(store names in parenthesis denotes item is on a non-amazon website)

• Opteka Fish Eye lens
• Dolce & Gabanna Rose the One (Nordstrom)
  
• Conair Infitity You Curl
• Ray-Ban Clubmaster II (Ray-Ban)
• Alexander McQueen Faithful De-Manta large tote (Net-a-Porter)
• NOOKcolor (Barnes & Noble)

Do you use the Amazon wish list?
What's on your wish list?

There are only six nights of hanukkah left. GET SHOPPING, PEOPLES!

[to find anyone's amazon wishlist -just search for their name or email address]

Playlist #8: Guiltiest Pleasures

my most embarrassing, guilty tunes; every single one is currently in my active iTunes library. honestly, i'm frightened to post this. image is from the lady gaga concert i went to in september with tiff!



what are some of your favorite guilty pleasures?
what's your absolute guiltiest?

Blow by Ke$ha
Haunted by Taylor Swift
Fearless by Taylow Swift
Alejandro by Lady Gaga
Monster by Lady Gaga
Can't be Tamed by Miley Cyrus
Bed Intruder Song by Antoine Dodson/The Gregory Brothers
Invisible by Ashlee Simpson
Hotel Roosevelt by Augustana
3 by Britney Spears
Half of my Heart (feat. Taylor Swift) by John Mayer
Rumors by Lindsay Lohan
4 Minutes (feat. Justin Timberlake) by Madonna
Obsessed (remix feat. Gucci Mane) by Mariah Carey
Curve of the Earth by Matt Nathanson
Find by Way Back by Michelle Branch
Spiderwebs by No Doubt
E-Talking by Soulwax
Kick Drum Heart by the Avett Brothers
Motorcycle Drive-by by Third Eye Blind
Crowing by Toad the Wet Sproket

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



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



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 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



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.

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.


Ben & I


All the UA girls!

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!


Dum Dum Girls

Beach House (lots of Victoria LeGrand hair swooping of course)


Vampire Weekend


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.


Tiny widdle stage


I got a pic with Wes of RRR and Discovery.

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

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.


We are SO ferosh.


My inspiration: Lady Gaga + Clark Kent


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


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

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.


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


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 ;)

• War by Sebastian Junger
• Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
  

I'll Send a Postcard!

I will be on vacation for the next week, hanging with Ben's family down in gorgeous Hilton Head Island, SC. Stoked for massive amounts of beach time + pool swimming.

Try not to miss me too much, k?

Xx
ML

Playlist #5: Q1 + Q2 2010 Shows

Key tracks from bands I've seen live in the first half of 2010. Image is the only reasonably focused picture I took at the Neon Indian show.

GO SEE LIVE MUSIC.

http://8tracks.com/mlalexis/q1-+-q2-2010-shows

What are some live shows you've been to recently?

What are some of your favorite bands to see live?

What are some of your favorite venues for live music?

I Will Come Back by Holy Ghost! [06/18/10 at Sonar]

Deadbeat Summer by Neon Indian [06/13/10 at Sonar]

Autonomy by the Buzzcocks [05/12/10 at Ottobar]

O.N.E. by Yeasayer [05/06/10 at Ottobar]

Fantasy by the XX [04/23/10 at Sonar]

My Propeller by Arctic Monkeys [04/07/10 at Ram's Head Live]

Shake It Out by Manchester Orchestra [04/05/10 at the Recher Theatre]

Lauren Marie by Girls [03/30/10 at the Recher Theatre]

Sleepyhead by Passion Pit [03/29/10 at Penn State York]

Yalira by The Very Best [03/14/10 at Sonar]

Farts & Craps

BIG NEWS:

Tiff and Tricia have officially moved to Charm City!

This is GREAT. Pretty much the icing on my Baltimore-life cake.

One of the best things is that Tiff and I can shop at fabric and craft stores together & then take those purchases home for Arts and Crafts evenings. LOVE.

I finally feel some of my creativity coming back! My current craft obsession: hair accessories.

My creations thus far:










Apparently my preppy side (that I was unaware I had) has been coming out in full-force.

You like? Dislike?
Pretty? Ugly?
Feeling crafty yourself? What have you been crafting lately?

We Used to Wait

On Friday night, Ben and I went down to Merriweather Post Pavillion to see Arcade Fire (Spoon opened).

Arcade Fire totally blew me away. I had pretty high expectations, and I really love all 3 of their albums. And the newest album - which came out on Tuesday and has been on repeat ever since - is EXCELLENT. The live show did not disappoint. Such a great live band, awesome energy.

One of things that I was especially impressed with was how Arcade Fire managed to make such an enormous venue still feel intimate. As someone who almost always goes to tiny shows, I was a little concerned with getting lost in the massive crowd. But I hardly noticed the gigantic venue, I was so entranced with the band.

And that's definitely a sign of a great show.

Spoon was pretty good, especially considering how little the crowd was paying attention to them. At a pavilion like Merriweather, there's lost of people wandering around the grounds/hanging on the lawn, so it can be very distracting. But I digress..

On to the photos:







p.s. beers were $8 at MPP. that's highway robbery! tailgating highly recommended.

Playlist #4: Sirius XMU: Great Station, or GREATEST Station?

Some of my musical discoveries via Sirius XMU. This is just the very tip of the iceberg. I've found so many unbelievably good bands from listening to this station. www.sirius.com/siriusxmu

http://8tracks.com/mlalexis/sirius-xmu-great-station-or-greatest-station

What are some bands you've discovered via radio?

What stations do you listen to for new music?

Esctasy by JJ

Should Have Taken Acid with You by Neon Indian

Odessa by Caribou

Young Adult Friction by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Let's Dance to Joy Division by The Wombats

VCR by the XX

You'll Need Those Fingers for Crossing by Los Campesinos!

Evangeline by Handsome Furs

Warm Heart of Africa (feat. Ezra Konig) by the Very Best

I'm In Love with a Ripper by YACHT

Stillness is the Move by Dirty Projectors

Nothing Ever Happened by Deerhunter

Die Slow by Health

Jail La La by Dum Dum Girls

Boyfriend by Best Coast

Swim by Surfer Blood

Life Coach by Fang Island

Playlist #3: Excellent Discoveries via Opening Acts

Bands that were previously unknown to me, until discovered as opening acts at shows I went to for the headliner. Now some of my very favorites. Image is a picture I took of Publicist when he was opening for The Very Best at Sonar.



What bands have you discovered as openers?

Bhang Bhang, I'm A Burnout by the Dum Dum Girls (opener for Girls)
Valient Brave by Ganglians (opener for Wavves)
Heart to Tell by The Love Language (opener for Cursive)
Live In Dreams by Wild Nothing (opener for Neon Indian)
Chain Gang by Publicist (opener for The Very Best)
Kick Drum Heart by The Avett Brothers (opener for Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers)
New Mind by Pictureplane (opener for Health)
Might Like You Better by Amanda Blank (opener for Matt + Kim)

Playlist #2: Some Great Songs

Songs that I never get sick of. A couple of artists got two tracks, my very favorites. Those are my Sony MDR-7506s that I use to listen to Some Great Songs.

What are some songs that you never get sick of?

My Sweet Charade by Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers
Pedal Steel by Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers
Subterranean Homesick Blues by Bob Dylan
Paper Bag by Fiona Apple
Social Development by Pete Yorn
Strange Condition by Pete Yorn
Poses by Rufus Wainwright
Jesus, etc. by Wilco
Shelter by Ray LaMontagne
We are Beautiful, We are Doomed by Los Campesinos!
California on my Mind by Wild Light
The Pharoahs by Neko Case


http://8tracks.com/mlalexis

NUEVO!

New blog layout today.

First time I've changed it since this blog first began (I spent so long working on it, that I was afraid of changing it).

You likey?

I am excite.

Playlist #1: Necessary Songs of Summer

my lovely friend Tiff introduced me to 8tracks, an excellent website for creating custom playlists.

and since i am a music snob and believe that my taste is superb, i will be subjecting you to playlists of songs i love at random intervals:




Post Acid by Wavves
Round and Round by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
Boyfriend by Best Coast
Airplanes by Local Natives
Daddy Fat Sax by Big Boi
Tell 'Em by Sleigh Bells
Real Love by Delorean
Precious Stone by Pete Yorn

enjoy! and you can thank me later for introducing you to good music.
http://8tracks.com/mlalexis

Only Minor Emotional Damage

This past weekend, Ben & I survived my family reunion shockingly well. The drives there and back really sucked, but the actual reunion had it's moments.

My cousins are awesome and their kids are ridiculously cute.


Beautiful Anna


Gorgeous Julia


& Ben was looking pretty freaking cute too.

A Note to my Dear Readers

Dear readers, if you exist:

Sorry that some of my images are showing up ENORMOUS. Something appears to be wrong with Photobucket. Even though i resize them diligently like a pro blogger, some of the pictures are still huge.

It's really starting to piss me off.

So, my apologies.
And any suggestions, please send them my way!

xx
ML

Artsy-Fartsy-Scape 2010

Ben & I went up to Artscape today - "America's largest free arts festival" - which ALWAYS is over the hottest damn weekend of the summer.

There's a mix of very cool installations, greasy fair food, and craft-fair tchotchkes.

Some of my favorites:

• Bowerbox Press (kind of obsessed)

• Marissa D. Molinaro

Ben purchased a beer glass made from a Rouge Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout bottle

• MICA Masters in Community Arts Thesis Exhibition

we also enjoyed this:



more pictures on facebook.

How Could I Possibly Forget?

I almost forgot one of my best Anniversary Sale finds!



MARC BY MARC JACOBS 'Mr. Marc' Trim Fit Crewneck T-Shirt

Sale $49.90 After Sale: $78.00

mr marc is just adorable, love those suspenders.

unfortunately, the men who shop at The Rail in Towson Town Center apparently don't buy Marc by Marc, so i had to order this piece online. really excited for the package to arrive!

My Version of Christmas

THE NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE.
my favorite shopping event of the year.

allow me to explain: this is not your normal, end-of-season sale. it's a "reverse" sale, if you will. new fall merchandise is discounted for the duration of the sale (approximately 2 weeks), and then marked UP once the sale has ended.

so, instead of getting the last season's cast-offs, you are getting next season's merch at lovely discounts.

ben and i went last night (i couldn't possibly wait until sale day #2).

my haul:

Steven by Steve Madden 'Maryn' Distressed Leather Boot

Sale $179.90 After Sale: $269.95

Trouvé Ponte Knit Motorcycle Leggings

Sale $34.90 After Sale: $54.00

Hanky Panky Low Rise Print Thong (the. best. underwear. ever.)

Sale $12.90 After Sale: $21.00

i think i did pretty well (if i do say so myself)... and kept the spending somewhat in check. i definitely could have done some SERIOUS damage if i wasn't being careful...

there's a leather jacket that's haunting me....