From the Basement

For those of you that remember and miss watching music videos, you have to check this "From the Basement" site out (link below). It is even better, kind of like a cross between videos and "Unplugged". It's more intimate, like you're getting the opportunity to sit in on a recording session.

No overproduced videos, agendas to sell music, costumes to sell image. Just the artists...making music...in a room.

Fabulous.

Apparently a small crew has taken on shooting HD video and doing their own sound. "My own personal goal is that in the future some of these performances might be seen as the truest representation of the state of their artists work, captured in a way that lets their talents speak without the interference of presenters, or audiences." -Nigel Godrich

See for yourself here.

Roanoke, Definitely more than a one-star place.

I had the pleasure of spending some time in the Roanoke, VA area this past weekend. I was officially there to help out with their ADDYs but got to see much more.

The largest man made star, as a website I found so eloquently put it, "Was Built in 1949 and is visible from just about every part of the Valley. This splendidly illuminated, 100 foot-tall Star situated on the top of Mill Mountain was named by Indians wandering between the parallel ridges of the Allegheny Mountains (their great valley Shenandoah), 'daughter of the stars.' Roanoke is known as the 'Star City of the South'."

I have to admit, aesthetically it kinda beats our giant Amoco sign in the Lou.

Also, there was a fabulous little open-air market feel to the downtown area that is home to both a new art museum and a train museum (Roanoke is historically also a railroad town).

Then there was the fantastic late night music of Mr. Tony James. Seriously you had to be there to believe it. I've never heard a version of Hotel California quite like this one. Ha.

Most notable, though, is the politeness of everybody you talk to there. Even being from the mid-west, these people can please and thank you like the nobody's business. As one of the people in our crew pointed out, even the revolving door at the Roanoke airport has a polite southern accent.

All in all, a great visit. One giant star maybe, but I'd give it more like four or five.

Happy Friday.

I went to lunch with a few coworkers today. Delicious, delicous, Blues City Deli. I really do love that place. The Redbird Special is PHENOMENAL. If you're in St. Louis, head on down to the Soulard/Benton Park area and check it out. You won't regret it.

Anyway, it came up that we'd missed Jimmy Kuehnle's Inflatable Suit Performance Tour under the Arch.

"What the F?", you say. Yeah, I said the same thing.

So we looked him up and got the scoop. Find that at http://www.jimmykuehnle.com.

I'm pretty sure that's why he calls it an inflatable suit, right? Gets people asking questions.

I have to be honest, I pictured a guy in some sort of puffy leisure suit. Don't know why, that's just what came to mind first.

But so here's the best part...We're walking toward the office on a fairly warm winter Friday with BCD happy bellies when one of us spots Jimmy and his inflatable suit walking down Washington Avenue. That's right, don't see that everyday.

It was actually kinda funny, like our own little Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Don't you just love those little coincidences?

Going West.

I saw this stop-motion animation today and thought it was too fabulous to not share.

It also then made me think about how long it has been since I've posted to my blog.

The thought process went something like this: "Wow. That was fabulous. Coincidently, it is called Going West. Hmm. I just got back from a trip out west. I should get back to posting these kinds of things to my blog. Maybe just for today, I'll share this. Next blog, with more time permitting, I'll share some thoughts on me Going West."

Neat.

Halloweenie Eve

The Vampyre
Lord Byron

But first, on earth as Vampire sent,
Thy corse shall from its tomb be rent:
Then ghastly haunt thy native place,
And suck the blood of all thy race:
There from thy daughter, sister, wife,
At midnight drain the stream of life;
Yet loathe the banquet
By which perforce
Must feed thy livid living corse:
Thy victims, ere they yet expire,
Shall know the demon for their sire,
As cursing thee, thou cursing them,
Thy flowers are wither'd on the stem...
Wet with thine own best blood shall drip
Thy gnashing tooth and haggard lip;
Then stalking to thy sullen grave,
Go--and with Gouls and Afrits rave;
Till these in horror shrink away
From spectre more accursed than they!

Ride the Rivers Century Ride

Even though I don't think anyone would ever describe me as an athlete, while in school I played one sport or another for just about every season. From volleyball to basketball, soccer to tennis, and yes, even cheerleading to pom pons. You can definitely find me in a silly yearbook photo for all them.

So if not because of being a natural athlete, why else would I play?

Back in school, I'm pretty sure I thought it had more to do with being social. A great way to hang out with friends. But now I realize that it is also because I truly enjoy being active.

Anyway, the newest sport I've added to my repertoire is cycling. And aside from the ridiculous gear (As a rule, I never like to wear spandex as an outer layer AND I definitely don't need extra padding on my "seat"), I think I've really found something I'd like to stick with.

I'd gotten a bike last summer and spent some time in the saddle, but it wasn't until a friend suggested doing a century ride for his birthday, that I'd ever considered doing anything more than riding a few nearby trails.

So, I spent the last few months training and gearing up and am happy to report that I survived the ride and can't wait to do another!

If you're curious, the Ride the Rivers Century was a fabulous ride that included sites of the mighty Mississipp, Route 66, two ferry crossings, five trails and the Gateway Arch. Check it out here.

KoL

My husband Aric and I were lucky enough to come across tickets to the Kings of Leon show last week. Typically I would prefer to see a show at a smaller, more Pageant-esque venue, but free tickets and not having seen a show in a good while seemed like a perfect opportunity. Don't get me wrong, it is definitely fair to say that I dig KoL. We have a couple of their albums and I rather enjoy Followill's random shrieking that tends to accompany some of his vocals.

As the lights go up from the opening band, we finally have a chance to take a good look around. We'd of course gotten there with enough time to see a few White Lies songs, but it was dark and we were rushing.

Anyway, as the lights go up Aric asks, "Since when are skinny jeans the concert-going uniform."

"HAHAHAHAHA," I laugh.

"Oh wait, does that make us old?", I realize. "Shoot. I kinda think it might."

As we try to rationalize that if we are indeed older than average for the crowd, "We at least kinda blend in, right?", we notice a couple two rows in front of us. They certainly have us in age by a good 10 years, seem to be dressed very "hip" for when they were the average age at a show (circa 1990s), and they don't seem to notice any of this as they take a photo for the group of kids next to them.

"They must've already had their come to jebus about this", we conclude. And after few jokes between the two of us as we scan some of the other craziness in the crowd, we've settled in and are ready for the show to start.

It was a pretty entertaining show as it goes. Lots of "Rock Show" lighting, great sound, mixed set list, energetic crowd, and as a band they all seemed to be pretty talented musicians. I would definitely recommend checking them out when they come through town.

So I guess it was bound to happen at some point, you can't stay in 21 forever, right?