Man Man at the Mercy Lounge

I opened up Safari yesterday to my nice Google homepage only to see on my Nashville concert ticker that Man Man was playing a show that night. It didn't really matter what happened the rest of the day, with a surprise like that, there could be no wrong. I've been a fan for a few months now, and with a picture of their live show like this:


there was no stopping me from seeing Man Man for myself. I got to the Mercy Lounge slightly early and heard their sound check, which only served to top my anticipation. Their lead singer came and let us in, talking to us and thanking us for coming. He even went back stage and got the six of us plastic bowls and spoons, cereal, and soy milk for us to enjoy before the show. What else could go wrong? When the show finally started, the energy was close to euphoric. Unmatched by any I've ever seen. Not even close. They came out in war paint only to play 50 minutes of continuous music...no breaks. For instruments they used everything from bike horns to spoons in a metal bowl. And the crazy thing was for all the stage antics, facial expressions, and audience christenings (yes, i was man man christened), they actually sounded great! They were so good I have made a promise to myself that I will travel up to 3 hours to see them again, so if you have a chance, by all means GO TO THEIR SHOW! I will leave you with a wonderful sample of my night last night. I hope you enjoy!

Man Man -- Hot Bat
Man Man -- Engwish Bwudd

Thanks to http://lostinyourinbox.blog-city.com/ for the mp3s.

In light of my night, my list of favorite shows has undergone a dramatic shift. Sufjan is still secure, but Man Man has made its mark:

1) Sufjan Stevens at the Rhyman
2) Man Man at The Mercy Lounge
3) Coldplay at Starwood

Close behind: Lovedrug at Exit/In, Augustana at City Hall, and perhaps even Family Force 5 at Rcktwn.

LOST Season 3 Finale

The LOST finale is here tonight, and I myself am elated. My prediction: Locke will survive (he was shot in the kidney he no longer has), join up with half of the others that don't trust Ben any longer, and go to the 815er's camp to try to warn them about Ben. Sayid and the gang will think it is Ben's group and fight them instead. As for Charlie...who knows, but he won't die. I think that Desmond's the one that really is supposed to die. And I'm going out there, but somebody's going to pull a serious con on the 815ers tonight, and my call is Jack. I think that's how we will be left for the next nine months: trying to figure out why Jack betrayed to group.

Any other predictions?

Dang It Feels Good To Be A Tech-Nerd

Normal Rockstar points us to this incredible article featuring the mastermind behind facebook. This 22-year-old was offered 1 billion dollars for his Web 2.0 baby, but he turned it down! Crazy or what?

LeaderShape

I appologize for my absense from this ol' blog machine in the last bit. Life has happened, in the form of a leadership camp called LeaderShape in nowhere, Tennessee. It featured student leaders from colleges all across Tennessee, and I won't soon forget the people I was fortunate enough to meet. They made the week what it became :o).

Fortunately for the faces that read these words on the other side of this screen I am staring into, I am back and see summer in front of me. That means an unoccupied mind that desperately needs occupation, of which it hopefully will find in the form of my typing fingers and an audience who is willing to spare a few moments. Thanks for reading, and I hope to start blogging at level 11 soon... stay tuned.

My Second Semester as a Playlist

I know it's long, but it's been a meaningful semester. Full of change and growth. I've highlighted a few lines for you, so I hope you enjoy. Despite how it may appear, it's really been a positive, optimistic semester. Oh summer, what songs will you bear?


1. The Freshmen -- The Verve Pipe
"For the life of me I cannot remember, what made us think we were wise and we'd never compromise...We were merely freshmen."

2. Hero (Bonus Track) -- Regina Spektor
"I'm the hero of this story, don't need to be saved."

3. The Movers and the Shakers -- Herbert
"Don't wanna fight for a feeling."

4. Existence -- Kevin Max
"What is this, this mess of my existence?"

5. Am I Wry? No -- Mew
"Can you tell me exactly how I should have done?"

6. Dog Problems -- The Format
"And blame postmodern things I can't relate."

7. Pistol -- Dustin Kensrue
"Honey, you lay me bare."

8. Many Lives for 49 MP -- Final Fantasy
"He keeps a book of photographs of his younger self."

9. Uh-Merica (Bonus Version) -- Regina Spektor

10. Thin Blue Flame -- Josh Ritter
"If what's loosed on earth will be loosed upon high, it's a hell of a heaven we must go to when we die"

11. Wake Up - Arcade Fire
"We're just a million little gods causing rainstorms."

12. The Zookeeper's Boy -- Mew
"Answer me truthfully, do the clouds kiss you?"

13. Heart Made of Sound -- SoftLightes
"They could want you, but they don't need to want you."

14. Engwish Bwudd -- Man Man
"All I want to be is a shubbly bubbly gobbly goo.."

15. Alright (Ratatat remix) -- Memphis Bleek

16. Nothin' No -- David Vandervelde
"I remember every word that you said"

17. Stop This Train -- John Mayer
"I know I can't, but honestly, won't someone stop this train?"
(but pretty much the entire song is golden...)

18. Everything Starts Where It Ends -- Lovedrug
"When nobody wants you in their life..."

19. The Wrong Guy -- Julie Doiron
"No one should see this."

20. Sad, Sad Song -- M. Ward
"The hardest thing in the world to do, is to find somebody believes in you."

21. Borderline -- Sufjan Stevens
"Don't put up your borderline."

22. Perhaps She'll Wait -- Bebo Norman
"But I will dream of tomorrow, where perhaps she'll wait for me."

23. His Guiding Hand (Album) -- Medicine Head

24. Thieving -- Lovedrug
"We're all in love with stolen hearts."

25. Me, Violin and Dancing Bear -- Page France
"They want a crooked-er you and a crooked-er me."

26. Click Click Click Click -- Bishop Allen
"You've ended up in someone else's frame."

27. Damnit Anna -- The Morning Benders
"Can't you look me in the eyes?"

28. Waking Up Before Her -- Groom
"Replacing your face will be only half the battle."

29. I'll Believe in Anything -- Wolf Parade
"Oh look at the trees and look at my face and look at a place far away from here."

30. You're Supposed To Be My Friend -- 1990s
"We're supposed to get along."

31. These Are the Eyes -- Bodies of Water
"You forgave but I cannot forget."

32. Billy Brown -- Mika
"Gonna shake the water out of every nook."

33. Big Boat -- M. Ward
"Says he's got a big boat but it's just a fairy boat and that makes for a short, short ride."

34. Coffee and Cigarettes -- Augustana
"Till Spring, when the sun can finally be free."

35. Mr. Disgrace -- Luke Temple
"He'd never written a poem."
"If only they knew where everything starts in a world made of too many parts."

36. Yolanda Hayes -- Fountains of Wayne
"Who can you trust with your love these days?"

37. A Savior On Capital Hill -- Derek Webb
"There's never been a savior on Capital Hill."

38. Step Forward -- Cloud Cult
"When you finally know you can't know, step forward."

39. Springfield, Or Bobby Got a Shadfly Caught in His Hair -- Sufjan Stevens
"I don't care to say what I failed to recognize."
"The morning papers made the most of nothing at all."
"I took off my clothes and she took it for a holiday."

40. Middleman -- Bright Eyes
"The dead can hide beneath the ground and the birds can always fly. The rest of us do what we must in constant compromise."

41. Stay Sound -- Steve Moakler
"All I can ask of you is that you not forget about me."
"You be the gun I'll be the trigger finger. We'll start a war..."

42. Colorshow -- The Avett Brothers
"Be loud let your colors show."

43. Fiend Over Your Knees -- Thee, Stranded Hourse

44. Marion Barfs -- Clint Mansell

45. Going To A Town -- Rufus Wainwright
"Tell me, do you really think you go to hell for having love?"
"I'm so tired of you, America."

46. Racing Like A Pro -- The National
"Oh my God it doesn't mean a lot to you."

47. Selling Advertising -- David Bazan
"I know it's hard to be original. In fact, nothing scares me more, because Jesus only lets me do what's already been done before."

48. Brotherhood of Man -- The Innocence Mission
"This is the brotherhood of man."

49. This Too Shall Be Made Right -- Derek Webb
"And this too shall be made right."

50. Walken -- Wilco
"I was talking to myself, about you."

51. Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah -- Jeremy Casella
"Land me safe on Canaan's side. Bid my anxious fears, goodbye."

Forget Spidey and Sparrow

The one movie you need to see this summer is not Spiderman, Shrek, or Priates. It comes out this Thursday, and I can't wait to see it. It's Once.



It's featuring the lead from the Irish band The Frames, Glen Hansard, and his music is incredible. Check it:

Falling Slowly (live)-- Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

Bazan and Gibbard at City Hall

I had high expectations, and they were easily fulfilled. I had never heard of Jonathan Rice, but he's a pretty goodun. Not much of an uplifting message, but good nonetheless. With David Bazan having his own solo record and several recordings as the former frontman of Pedro the Lion and Ben Gibbard being the mastermind behind Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service, and All-Time Quarterback, each had several songs in their arsenal, and I had no clue what to expect. The audience got a little bit of everything, including several covers.
I think the only thing that could have made it better was if it were at a better venue for accoustic acts. The Rhyman would have been incredible! If you didn't know any of the artists' work, it could have been a long show, but for me I couldn't get enough.

On Second Thought...

"Can't wait..." I ended my last post on. Interesting words.

Well, maybe I can. Time is a limited commodity these days. Or all days, I guess. But to me more wanted than ever before. Which I can only assume is a healthy new oddity in my life. I'd rather the days be longer than shorter. Maybe that could be the measure of my existence. The speed at which I desire my second hand to turn. It is currently traveling at least twice too fast. If you could graciously tell it to abandon its hurried pace, it would be much appreciated.

D.A.N.C.E. -- Justice

I've seen this video too many times from too many people/blogs to not post it:



Best video since MuteMath's "Typical." The song is called "D.A.N.C.E." and its from a new French band that is releasing their first album in June. Can't wait...

Summa Muzak

I just got home from another amazing concert featuring the absolutely stunning and unique Biscuits and Gravy at Cafe Coco. Tonight was their one year anniversary show, and they have definately accomplished a lot. They've played at Coco, 12th and Porter, 3rd and Lindsley, Rocketown, and even the new Schermerhorn Symphony Center. You can't really catagorize their music, but if you were forced to it might just have to be a fusion of Jazz, R&B, Hip-Hop, and even some Funk. There's a live recording of a few of their songs on their website, so be sure to check them out.
Know, though, that they don't do the band justice in the least. They have an uncanny ability to bring a crowd to life and have everybody rocking out before the second verse of any given song. And with the band's average age of 15, that's saying something. The 13 year old drummer will blow your mind. Harold, the band's frontman, lived across the hall from me this last year at Belmont, and it is obvious that the stage is where he belongs. He is in his element, and I don't think anyone could stop him. They are playing several more shows this summer, including a few at Coco (which are free...). Don't let yourself miss this!


Also, I've been digging some movie scores, as well as classical music, of late. Clint Mansell might just be one of my budding favorite composers. His work for Requiem for A Dream and The Fountain is absolutely brilliant. You would probably recoginze his Lux Aeterna, as it was first featured on The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers trailor and has since been the backdrop to any semi-epic movie made. Here's a sample from the The Fountain, though. Do yourself a favor and listen till the end.

Clint Mansell -- Death is the Road to Awe.

Music Friday -- May 4, 2007

Maroon 5 is at it again, and have just released their newest single, Makes Me Wonder. And while the wait has been long, it hasn't been long enough. During their break, they definately acquired some language, and if this song is any indication, failed to produce something worthy of the hype they surely will get. Listen for yourself if you must, but it's really probably not worth it.

Makes Me Wonder -- Maroon 5 (thanks to mblog.com for this)

But it's Friday and nobody likes a pessimistic post on Friday. So here are some tracks that I have enjoyed lately. First off, we have a song by The Avett Brothers. A friend from Vanderbilt introduced me to this eccentric trio that lives somewhere between Sufjan Stevens and Ryan Adams. With a lot of weird thrown in. I hope you enjoy. They have a new album coming out May 15 and a free download on their myspace. You should check it.

Colorshow -- The Avett Brothers

Secondly, I give you something a little less energetic but definately as gut-wrenching. One of my new favorite bands of all time has an album releasing May 22, and you would be making a dramatic mistake by not picking it up. I'm talking about The National, of course. The album hasn't stopped playing on my little hard drive since I got it, and I don't anticipate it stopping anytime soon. Here's a taste of it for you. It's definately not my favorite track on the record, but is still a solid peice of brilliance.

Fake Empire -- The National

That'll do. Let me know what you think.

New Feature Added

I have recently discovered Last.fm thanks to the prompting of my roommate, and I'm starting to catch on. Anyway, you might notice this nice addition to my sidebar:



I just thought I would share with you what I'm listening to every week. It may stay, or I may decide to make it go away. But here it is for now. Enjoy.