Hey, she has a new music thingy!

I'm trying a new Music of the Mo site from Project Playlist, as you can see as it is posted in the margins of my blog. I'm not sure if I like it or not, yet, and I guess it's really up to you guys. I don't want it to be annoying, especially if you have different music taste than me. (In that case, please feel free to hit the pause button on the actual player.)

I have very eclectic taste in music and some of the songs are louder than others. You're welcome to skip around and see what I've got goin' on. Also, I didn't have time to preview all of my selections, so some of the songs might be samples. I am still adding music, so keep posted.

Let me know if you HATE having the music pop up automatically (especially since some of the songs buffer for forever! If that happens hit pause or skip to the next song), or if you like the button list better. OR let me know if you dig it.
:)

She Talks To Angels - The Black Crowes

Jars Of Clay - Work

College Revisited

Black Moon Creeping - The Black Crowes

Wonderwall - Oasis

Been Caught Stealing - Janes Addiction

Give it Away - RHCP

Drown - The Smashing Pumpkins

Blue October

Blue October is one of our local bands. Have you heard of 'em?

I think my kids call them emo, but they have a cool, relaxing, mesmeric sound.

Girlie Retreat

I'm having my own girl retreat this week-end, as Rich has gone to his folks house in Amarillo and I have elected to stay here in an effort to preserve my own sanity. Girl retreats require tons of chocolate, silk pj's, and excellent music. Here's a sample of some kick ass girl artists and a sampling of the music I'll be listening to this week-end:

Happy Easter Memories

Enjoy this not-so-Easter song, "Shameless" by Ani DiFranco, as you read this post:

One of my favorite Easters of all time was the one when I went to Perry, Oklahoma with one of my favorite friends of all time, Carol B. This was another one of those goofy spur of the moment college trips that fit right in with the Roswell Alien Landing anniversary, and the moving sidewalk experience at the Shroud of the Virgin de Guadelupe(complete with twist top BVM head, the rest of her body filled with holy water). Several of us piled into a car and drove to Carol's parents house (which is actually two huge farm houses connected somehow) in the po-dunk, one horse town of Perry, OK.

Carol's family LOVES Easter, and every year her parents hide hundreds of plastic candy/prize filled eggs all over their very large farm. Everyone is then grouped by age and is sent out in waves for the hunt, littl'uns first, big'uns last. Also, there is one "grand prize" egg, which is HUGE (the size of a football) and is filled with extra goodies. You never know where the big egg will be! One time it was even buried!!

During this particular trip, I remember that Carol wanted us to attend the sunrise Easter service. She came running into the room at something like 4:00 AM and took a flying leap onto the bed I was sharing with my friend, Corrie. Carol was yelling, "He is risen! He is risen! The Lord is risen!!!" with arms and elbows and knees flailing. Too many bodies! Panic! Then came the steam-roller! Too many bodies! Choke, sputter, shock.

That has to be one of the worst ways to be woken up. Seriously, Carol!! Happy Easter, indeed!

Nevertheless we all threw on warm clothes and went to the outside sunrise service, my first and only, where we celebrated the miracle of the resurrection with whispered praise, all snuggled together in a moment that would always be remembered, and we were grateful to see the beauty of a sunrise with people we loved.

Also, from that trip, I remember eating at the famous Eskimo Joe's in Stillwater.

I remember playing the "heads on stomach laughing game", four of us laughing ourselves into content sleepiness and we actually did fall asleep. We took a long nap in our little dog pile outside on the grass in the warm sunshine.

I remember performing a Vaudeville song and dance routine for a cluster of cows who watched the whole number, paused, then turned all at the same moment and ran away in disgust! How rude! They should've been applauding. Really. When was the last time they actually had a vaudevillian act performed especially for them? Dude. Cows suck!

I remember four-wheelers, a trampoline, country breakfasts, and just being still. It was an AMAZING, restful trip!

Happy Easter, everyone!

Seven Songs

Lisa and Jen both shared the top seven songs that they've been listening to lately. Then Jen went and challenged me to pick my seven. This was really hard! I listen to all kinds of music, but I guess these get played on my MP3 more than the others:

Float On - Modest Mouse


Steady As She Goes - The Raconteurs


Six Underground - The Sneaker Pimps


Take Your Mama Out - The Scissor Sisters


Island in the Sun - Weezer


Say it Right - Nelly Furtado


The Remedy - Jason Mraz

Thriller - Michael Jackson 1983

Who knows the dance?
[I'm raising my hand.]

The Dandy Warhols-We Used To Be Friends

Don't you hate it when you can't remember the proper name for things? Daily I have a ridiculous number of conversations that go like this:
Me: Have you heard that song by that band that's on that show that comes on after Gilmore Girls?

Friend: What with the who now? Seriously. Are you on something? Give me a concrete noun, please!

Me: You know! That one song! (sigh)

Friend: Um. OK crack baby.

Me: Nevermind. Geez. (Seriously, I'm so misunderstood.)

So Fougs, it's "We Used to Be Friends" by the Dandy Warhols. Also, I haven't forgotten about the CD you wanted to borrow. I still remember the name of that one and will try to bring it to you soon.

Liz Phair Everything To Me

I bought Liz Phair's new cd, Somebody's Miracle, today. So far I love it and it will be one of those that I can listen to as I wind down and fall asleep (or on the airplane to soothe that damn anxiety attack that makes me hold hands with complete strangers - I guess I'm making friends (?)).

Liz Phair joins the likes of David Gray, KT Tunstall, and Nora Jones. These voices are so comforting to me.

Plus, I want to look like Liz Phair when I grow up!

Gary Jules - Mad World (Donnie Darko version)

Donnie Darko completely messed with my head, and after I saw it, I sobbed for 5 minutes and then had to sit in silence for at least 20. I don't know why, exactly - AND yes, I am weird because of it..
Anyway, I love the remake of Mad World and it reminds me of whatever catharsis I had when I watched the movie.

Mr Brightside (other version)

I've been listening to The Killers a lot lately. I like to sing/scream their songs after a bad day..especially the sarcastic ones.

Rouge, Gnarles, and Peppers

Last night was the Red Hot Chili Peppers show at American Airlines Arena.

Rich and I got ready (and successfully avoided the student who has my home phone number somehow and who wanted to know where I was sitting at the show), drove through the freezing rain and made it to the concert. We found our section, our row, and then we turned to get to our seats and OF COURSE I hear, "Mrs. Haag?!" Yep. One of my IBers was sitting on my row a few seats down from me. As I was trying to hide my beer (I don't know why) and was trying to not look flabbergasted (after all, I do really like this kid), I said, "Oh, hi J. How are you? Yeah, this is fun. A is here, too? really? where? (uncomfortable glance around the aisle) OK, I'm gonna head to my seat now. See you later." J and I only exchanged one other conversation when she came over to chat a little and then we gave each other one extra side glance as Rich was being elbowed in the face by Rouge. All in all, it wasn't an unpleasant situation.

Who is Rouge?

Rouge - short for Baton Rouge, as in the place where this drunk RHCP groupie was raised - sat next to us and flailed like a mad fiend, falling all over every one around him, spilling (more like pouring) beer on his own crotch, and putting on and taking off his shirt over and over again. This is him:The boy was "feeling the love" quite literally. At least I got something like four hugs (and I say something like because they were only "sort of hugs" that were more like the hugs boxers give each other in order to stay standing) before Rich traded places with me. Rich must have had 75 "sort of hugs" as the evening progressed (and he got at least one nipple tweak), as did everyone else in a 5 mile radius - hugs, not tweaks. I was worried about the guy getting sick, but I was amazed at Rouge's stamina. I think Rouge even tried to buy shots for the people serving beer (who wisely cut him off) which is really ballsy seeing as they don't serve shots. This happened all before the music started. As responsible members of society, and since Rouge was by himself, we made sure that he wasn't driving. Rich thought Rouge was pretty funny and anyway, he is used to being beat-up at concerts.

Gnarles Barkley kicked off the evening and was good. How can you go wrong with funky, bluesy, hip-hoppy soul ? Oh. You play it in an arena... The string section - who do some pretty impressive chair dancing - are called the G-strings: clever and cool. Overall, Gnarles Barkley was a fun, friendly warm-up.
Then it was the Chili Peppers' turn



They started off boldly and I was pretty excited when Anthony Kiedis hopped onto the stage. How can hopping be sexy? Anthony Kiedis is a sexy hopper! Musically, I thought they were pretty strong, especially John Frusciante, the guitarist. But at the end of the night I left completely disappointed. The only band member who talked to the audience was Flea - and we love Flea - but Anthony Kiedis barely said anything. When he did, he said something derogatory about football which almost got him booed out of the arena. Dude! You're in Texas! We invented Friday Night Lights! He left he stage pretty early and the band didn't even play "Tell Me Baby", one of their most popular tunes on Stadium Arcadium. Anything they played off of Blood Sugar Sex Magik was good and "Snow" was fun, but the band didn't even attempt to connect with the audience. I could have watched this show at home on TV in surround sound and had the same experience!

I realize I'm spoiled because NO band can compete with the type of show that U2 gives. Even in a giant stadium, you feel like U2 is playing for you. And let's not forget that Joan Jett rocked hard! So what gives? Obviously, the RHCP are talented musicians and they are still around after 20 years so they're doing something right.

Also, the Star Telegram had a similar review:

There's not a whole lot new going in the Chili Peppers act these days. Flea still overplays his bass with considerable ferocity, Anthony Kiedis still sings nonsensical lyrics about California and has trouble hitting a good portion of the harder-to-reach notes, and drummer Chad Smith, well, still wears hats on stage. The only real change in the band's classic sound is guitarist John Frusciante.
Frusciante, who has always been just a touch better than the rest of the band, continues to explore new ground as a guitar player. Where he's considerably reined in on disc, he runs wild live. Where Flea gets noticed for how much he plays, Frusciante does more while playing less than anybody this side of Prince.

Maybe they would be better in a club show. Most bands are.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Snow (Hey Oh)

I'm so super pumped about this show tonight!!!

Haddaway meets Jim Carrey

Listen to this as you read Martini-weeny.