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some bands I would rather have seen yesterday

Yesterday, I went to Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic. While it certainly had it’s moments, it wasn’t the best musical experience of my life. I won’t bore you with the details. Instead, let’s put it behind us by listening to some of the bands and musicians I wish had been on yesterday’s bill. I’m not going to write a lot because these performances speak for themselves. Take a gander and I think you’ll be hard pressed to walk away without a new favorite.

Nb: This list is comprised, for the most part, of acts you can see in small clubs all over the country (and in some cases, the world) for under $20. A couple of the bands have transformed into new/related/spinoff groups but, the odds are good you can see most of these folks live in the next year or two if you keep an eye on those club listings.

It was unbelievably hot in that club,
but this was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.

A Welsh-Chicagoan singing about Hank Williams:

One Man Bands

Bonus

You can’t see this band anymore,
but most of them are still playing music.

One of my favorites…

…and this one’s for Willie 🙂

O, excelsior!

I know, I know. “How can she post so frequently?” you wonder. “All that typing must result in unsightly calluses on her fingers. Eww.” Well, if you’ll just pay a little more attention, you’ll notice that I haven’t posted in over a month. Pretty sad, huh? Yeah, well get used to it. You know, the fanzine this blog replaces only came out once a year. And I had help with that! Seriously, you might wanna read real slow. There might not be another post for a while. Why? It isn’t because I’m lazy, it’s just because I’m undisciplined. And because I don’t really enjoy writing. Luckily, I do enjoy having written, so I reckon I’ll keep it up. Every now and again. (May I suggest a feed reader?)

Summer is ending here and I couldn’t be happier! Sometimes I wonder why I suffer through this brutal weather. It makes me pretty miserable. I can’t cook without heating the house up unreasonably, and I don’t like to go swimming. I do like to go sledding. I live in the wrong state.

I’ve been kinda grumpy all summer, but now that it’s cooling off (it only gets into the upper 80s or low 90s lately), my temperament has been improving. I have more energy and things are starting to sound fun again! Fall’s fun! Highlights of my fall calendar: Cat Power, my brother’s wedding, Magnetic Fields, The Humpers reunion (!), Fun Fun Fun Fest, Charlie Parr, a one-night basic digital camera class, the Flair Symposium, a possible camping &/or hiking trip, and more. Also, the debates, the election, and either unbridled joy or the deepest pit of sorrow the morning after. And the cherry on top: two whole weeks off over the winter break during which time I’ll either finally get my shit together or go totally insane. Yay!

Crush

Please join me in enjoying my newest girl crush: Kelly Macdonald. Yes, apparently, I have a type.

Check out her film works here.

I first noticed her in No Country For Old Men. I was instantly captivated. Then I saw the trailer for Choke last night. I am now planning to revisit Trainspotting, then work my way through her other films. Mmm…

Corn + Bacon Salt = Yum!

I , originally uploaded by lasuprema.

guerilla museums rock

Last weekend, I checked out the latest show over at the Museu m of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata. I love people who choose see the magic in the way the world works. People who look a little longer, and who consider alternative explanations. And I also love poeple who cram their converted garages with a bunch of weird crap, then invite the general public to come have a look! If you’re in Austin this weekend or next, you should really stop in (they’re open on Saturday afternoons). But don’t worry if you miss the current exhibit because, as their bumper stickers say: “We are living in the Museum of Ephemerata.” Indeed we are.