Category Archives: Music & Podcasts

Girlfriend is almost 21

My sister and I went to see Matthew Sweet at City Winery last Friday. It was one of his last stops on his Girlfriend tour.

He played the entire Girlfriend album and it was great to see him play live after all these years, though I kind of wish it wasn’t such a laid back venue. It would have been great to get up and dance instead of rocking around in my chair, which literally became a pain in the ass.

My sister was a huge Matthew Sweet fan after Girlfriend was released. I vaguely remember that she went to see him play live at Tower Records and got to meet him. There’s a picture around here of her leaning back as he signed the shirt she was wearing. I know she saw him play live other times (maybe at Taste of Chicago?) and she took me with her to see him play a free show at The Chicago Theater, which I think was my first music concert. We hung out in the alley until we were let in backstage to meet him which is kind of super fucking awesome and something I wouldn’t be brave enough to try today.

I just love this album cover! City Winery made an ‘artist’s wine’ for everyone to taste at the show, and they used this for the bottle label. I considered buying a bottle before I realized that I only had $2 to spend on unnecessary objects.

Even though my sister was the obsessive fan, I look back on my teen years and have realized that Matthew Sweet meant a lot to me as well. I would write out song lyrics of his when I was a freshman in high school, lyrics that meant something to me and my life at the time. I hear a song of his and it reminds me of that crush I had, that phase I went through, or even becomes a perfect expression of how I feel today.

God, I love this video.

I’ve grown up, my sister has grown up, Matthew Sweet has aged, the album is quickly approaching it’s 21st anniversary… but the music of Girlfriend never gets old. The show was an absolute treat and I’m really glad that my sister and I were able to share the experience.

www.matthewsweet.com

Currently

I gave myself a little treat yesterday and went to the movies. I keep talking about wanting to watch Step Up Revolution, but I decided that my $10.50 would be better spent on Beasts of the Southern Wild. I don’t remember where I first read about this movie, but once it got hyped up at Cannes, I couldn’t get away from the news blurbs (particularly since it’s loved by Vulture). It was a touching film, wonderfully visual and in your face in the best kind of way. Quvenzhané Wallis is a revelation, beautiful and fearless, and I hate that I looked her up on IMDB because I want to continue believe that she is Hushpuppy. As for Dwight Henry, who plays Hushpuppy’s father Wink, I kept trying to remember the fun fact I had read about him because the character he plays (and plays amazingly well) is so raw and I knew he was a nice guy in real life. Turns out that he ran a bakery and would bring donuts to set.

During the first half of the movie, I was wishing that I had dragged someone to the movies with me. By the end of the film, I was glad I was by myself (and definitely happy that I wasn’t on a date) because I had turned into a blubbering sad/happy mess. The film won’t appeal to everyone, but if you have an open mind, an open heart, and appreciate visual storytelling, you will enjoy the film. Um, bring tissues. Grown men were wiping tears off their cheeks in the movie theater.

I’m currently in Milwaukee taking a mini-vacation. We got here today, hit up a farmers market, walked around and ate dinner at a nearby mall, and then drove around looking for Lake Michigan, which isn’t far from our hotel. We drove for awhile, wondering if we were even going in the right direction, when we stumbled upon Klode Park. It’s a public area, nestled among some nifty real estate, with a really serene view of the lake. It was nice to be there right before sunset. I’ll post more trip photos once I’m able to transfer everything from my digital camera, but here’s a preview pic taken with my phone:

Music-wise, I finally heard The Royal Concept, had my “Wait, that’s not Phoenix?” moment, and ended up downloading their EP. Did I mention that I’ve been listening to Ice-T a lot lately? He somehow makes work more manageable, just as he made doing homework more manageable when I was in high school. Hmm, what else… I’m liking the latest Passion Pit and am eagerly awaiting the latest from Bloc Party. Finally, I downloaded Aesop Rock  and was listening to him with my older niece while we road tripped to Milwaukee. Then, both the nieces and I had a mini Aesop Rock dance party in the hotel room. It was pure fun.

Music-related: Tammi got me a Lollapalooza t-shirt for my birthday in addition to some kickass vegan chocolate bars that I can’t wait to try. Thanks, lady! Now I can pretend that I attended the festival. I absolutely do not regret not going, especially since they had to evacuate and all, though there are several artists I would have loved to see. After experiencing Pitchfork, though, Lollapalooza seems so damn huge, uncomfortably crowded, and overall way too much to handle.

In other birthday news, I must thank MK for taking me out for a drink to celebrate. Not only did I have a fun night with a good friend, I learned yet again that even a little gin makes me talk very openly about anything and everything. Or, maybe it’s just because Monika is super cool. Either way, gin for me totally equals veritaserum. It would behoove me to remember that lest I partake while in the company of people who really don’t need to know my secrets.

That’s all for now! I’m going to try and enjoy the next couple of days. Work will be insane when I get back from Milwaukee, and I want to relax while I can.

Currently

Hey. The title of the blog is i-cant-drive, so let’s talk driving for a minute. Driving complaints: bikes, scooters, trucks, slow drivers, fast drivers, honkers, buses, tire pressure light, oil change, need to get my car detailed. Oh, crap, need to go for an emissions test, too. Kids, if you’re reading this and are looking at the photo above, you will note that my hands are NOT at 10 and 2 on the wheel. Do not follow my example. Be a good driver. On another note, it’s obvious that one should not drive while under the influence. I wish I could hand the keys over to someone else when I’m having a bad day.

Are you watching the Olympics? I’m not. I like keeping up with the highlights and results, and I even like reading people’s live tweets. When talking to a co-worker about it today, I realized that one of the reasons I’m not watching is because it stresses me out. Don’t get me wrong — I’m seriously impressed with the athletes and their abilities. But the pressure they must be under! It brings me back to my music competition days when I was a serious stressball and had a serious stick up my ass. It’s honestly gut-wrenching. Hearing about Gabby Douglas’s mishap on the uneven bars made me feel so nervous. Hearing about it. Not watching it. I can’t bring myself to watch it.

MK and I are prepping for our next quarterly party at work. I can’t help but think about how much has changed in the three months since the last one. The last three months, six months, one year… I still feel like I’m a boring, lame girl, but my life keeps getting better instead of worse. That’s good, right? Anyway, this quarter we’re doing a summer theme thanks to MK’s awesome ideas, so I’ve been listening to The Beach Boys tonight while putting a playlist together.

In terms of TV, I’ve been marathoning Lost Girl. I didn’t know what to expect from this show, but I’m fricken entertained. It’s good-looking people in supernatural situations with some sexy times and swearing (if you’re watching the uncensored version anyway), humor that I dig, and a mystery that keeps me invested but doesn’t cause me to lose sleep. It’s not campy but it ain’t Battlestar Galactica, either.

I’m pausing my reading of Everything Happens at Night and started reading The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris. It’s an easy read, which is just what I need right now, but I have a feeling that it’s going to break my heart.

Birthday weekend is coming up! I’m not that excited. I mean, I don’t really have any plans which is totally boring and lame. I thought I would be out of town all weekend but it turns out I’ll only be gone Sunday and Monday. So if anyone wants to go to impromptu dinner, drinks, and a viewing of Step Up: Revolution (because COME ON, I want to see something mindless and happy and corny plus DANCING), let me know. We’ll have a time, as Rayanne Graff would say. If you get that reference, we can be friends forever.

Currently

Oy. Summer in Chicago. So fun. So hot. So much to do. So many psychos on the road. My commutes have been a bit horrendous! It makes me wonder why I bother driving. But let’s not be hasty. Driving has saved me in a way. On the other hand, it nearly caused my death this evening. Some dumbass decided to swerve into my lane on the highway. It’s good to know that my reflexes work  and it’s also good that I had plenty of room to get out of the mofo’s way without crashing into anything. ANYWAY.

I finally finished A Widow for One Year. Thanks again to Jen for recommending it! I had my stick-the-book-in-the-freezer moments with this one. I didn’t know a thing about it before I read it, so I may have been a bit unprepared for all the [redacted because I won't want to spoil it for you]. It took completing the book for me to fully appreciate the writing and the characters. I gotta give myself props for finishing this one. I’m such a delinquent! I’m not sure what my next book will be. Maybe one of the ones I got at Lit Fest? Or maybe I should catch up on my magazine reading.

Music-wise, I’m in a Jamie Lidell, INXS (the real INXS, thankyouverymuch), and Lupe Fiasco kind of mood. Random? Maybe. Totally. At least it’s not a Bon Iver mood. Not that I think Bon Iver sucks. You know what I mean. If you don’t, I can’t really help you.

I’m grateful for the following:

  • My friends. They rock. I’ve needed them lately and they have all came through. I’ve chosen wisely.
  • Gin. Rum. Gin rummy.
  • Hulu.
  • The fact that I’ve gone down two sizes at the Gap and can shop at H&M again without feeling like a heifer.
  • Impatience, more assertiveness, and the ability to understand people when they communicate poorly. I know this is a weird one, but less time is wasted when I step in to explain things and help move things along. I can no longer sit quietly in agony.
  • Coffee and the option to add an extra shot of espresso to my soy lattes.
  • Toothbrushes.

I’m pretty excited because I took the day off on Friday and will be spending the day downtown with my niece. She often mentions wanting to go to “The New York” again, but the fact is that she’s barely experienced downtown Chicago. If I were a more brave woman, I would totally take her to the beach. Alas, she will have to settle for her first(!) El ride and the glorious Buckingham Fountain.

That’s all for now! I’d like to leave you with this:

RIP Nora Ephron

All Apologies and Memories

Chicago has a new underground alternative station* right now, which I am thoroughly enjoying because who knew how much I would enjoy hearing Pearl Jam and Soundgarden and Death Cab and Weezer and Gotye OH SHUT UP, GOTYE on the radio?

Yesterday, All Apologies came on and — goodness. It’s like I do a time warp when certain songs come on. I was 13 when In Utero came out. (Awesome, I just dated myself. Ahem.) I remember going to my brother’s room after school and checking out his CDs. In Utero was one of them, and I would just listen to the entire album. I wasn’t aware that any of my friends listened to Nirvana. I’m grateful for having an older brother and sister because they’re the ones who introduced me to a lot of great music.

I remember being really disturbed by the lyric, “I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black” in Heart-Shaped Box. Pretty funny, considering that there are a lot of fucked up lyrics in that song for a young girl to find disturbing.

I remember wondering if Kurt Cobain made his hair greasy or if he simply just refused to wash it.

Anyway, All Apologies came on the radio and I almost started to freaking cry in the car. O HAI, MID-LIFE CRISIS. I am just really grateful for music and the artists who share themselves through it. Whether it’s Nirvana or Bob Marley or Debussy… music has moved me as a listener, audience member, and a performer.

*87.7 for those who can get it

Currently

Happy Sunday! Wait. Happy Monday! Oh, how I love and hate Monday holidays. I know I should be glad that I will only have a four day work week (and I only had a four day work week last week since I took Friday off), but the weeks where we get Monday off seem so long. Anyway, here’s what’s been happening.

Turning Veganese turned celebrated its six month anniversary which also means that I’ve been on my way to being vegan for six months. I feel great and morally superior to omnivores. Just kidding about that last part. But, I do feel great. I have had to shop for new clothes to go with my slightly new body. A better diet isn’t everything, though, so…

…I’ve decided to start working out again. My reasons for wanting to exercise are mostly superficial. Like I said, I feel great, but I would like to look great. I would also like to be more physically fit. I walked up seven flights of stairs at work a couple weeks ago and sounded like I was having a panic attack afterward. A guy at work does it everyday and said he started out the same way, but now it’s pretty much effortless. That’s good motivation. We have an on-site gym at work, so all I have to do is drag my ass in there. I dusted off the old gym bag (I literally had to dust it off) and packed it for tomorrow.

Another thing I’m going to try doing is bringing my lunch to work. I spend so much money on coffee, breakfast, lunch and snacks at work. It’s icky and it’s putting me in the poor house. Anyone got any recommendations on a good French press? I have one but I’m thinking of buying a nicer one and keeping the old one at work.

As part of my lazy Memorial Day, I thought it would be nice to watch a movie while laying in bed. I guess I could have watched it while working out in front of the TV, but I didn’t, OK? I watched a modern-day classic, the 2011 version of Footloose.

Watching this movie did not change my life and I bet you are rolling your eyes or laughing at the fact that I watched it. Well, I enjoyed it! I thought Kenny Wormald was charming. Shut up.

I also watch good stuff, like Mad Men. Ohmigosh, did you see last night’s episode, “The Other Woman?” Sooo good. So disturbingly good. Quietly shocking and thought-provoking. I just love Jon Hamm. And I love Ginsberg. I think Ben Feldman is cute and I love him in Drop Dead Diva and that Hillary Duff movie he was in and I swear to you that I am an intelligent person with good taste in television and movies.

Music-wise, I’m liking the new record by The Walkmen. I also can’t get Rihanna and Carly Rae Jepsen out of my head. Why am I admitting this on my blog? That’s my cue to end this post and go to bed.

 

Currently…

…Listening To:

It’s been a Personal Jesus/Strangelove/Just Like Heaven type of week. I guess that’s why I streamed Mixed Emotions by Tanlines nonstop on the days that I forgot my iPod at home this week. Thank you for the first listen, NPR! I am painfully behind on The Nerdist Podcast but try to make it a point to listen on my drive home from work. Hey, I have tickets to see The Nerdist guys next month. I need to make sure I’m caught up on all the inside jokes.

…Watching:

I felt the sudden urge to re-watch Everwood a couple weeks ago. I started with season 3 and am nearly done with the 4th and final season. This show was really kind of out there but still entertaining and touching. I didn’t skip any episodes, which I did during a recent Felicity re-watch. However, I do feel the need to say that the character of Amy Abbott, portrayed by Emily Van Camp, is pretty damn annoying: she’s pushy and selfish and presumptuous!

Reading:

I find that people either love Dave Eggers or hate him. I fall into the former camp. I spotted Zeitoun in a bookstore at O’Hare before a flight I took over a year ago. I didn’t start reading the book until three weeks ago. I shamefully don’t make time to read these days unless I’m headed downtown via the CTA. So even though this book is a quick read, I’m still not done with it. That should be remedied on or before my next appointment downtown, which is in a couple of weeks. In addition to this, I’m trying to stay on top of The Week.

…Awaiting The Release Of:

Guys, I can’t EVEN. I rarely watch movies in the theater anymore. I wanted to see a movie so badly this weekend just so I could practice being a movie theater goer. Yes! Really! I’m trying to figure out if I want  to watch with someone else or if I should go alone. There’s a lot of crying potential so I’m thinking I might go alone.

And this has been an update from i-cant-drive.net. Good night/day/whatever and good luck.

Ready? OK!

DO YOU KNOW that it’s National Cheerleading Week? Oh my gosh, it is! Can you dig it? Can you D-I-G-I-T?!?

I was a cheerleader in 4th grade. Our school colors were red and white, and our mascot was the cardinal. Cardinals, you’re looking -clap- GREAT! It’s almost laughable that I was a cheerleader. Sure, I was spunky, had a lot of energy, and I had a lot of school spirit. Ahem. But I wasn’t exactly athletic. I am talking picked-last-in-gym-class levels of athleticism.

Looking back, I am really not sure why I decided to go out for cheerleading. I suppose I must have been impressed by the cheerleaders at our school pep rallies. They wore cute outfits and they always looked like they were having fun. There was something about the routines they did, how they knew when to clap, when to stomp; the motions they made with their bodies that looked complicated, but were really just simple and calculated. I suppose I thought, “I can do that. I can be peppy. I can be loud and cheerful.”

We had to learn two cheers for varsity tryouts. I practiced and I was ready when it was my turn to show off in front of the coach. I knew I did the best I could possibly have done, but I still wasn’t sure if I would make the squad. There were already a few girls who were in the squad the previous year, and only a limited number would be selected. I was elated when I saw that I made the squad and even more elated when my coach remarked that I had great jump height.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to be a super gymnast. Cheerleading for me was learning routines, staying in sync with the other girls, memorizing cheers, and committing to practices and cheering at school sports events. No pyramids, no splits, no tumbling aside from the occasional cartwheel. I loved our coach. She was laid-back, trustworthy, and helped us keep a positive attitude even when our team was losing or the opposing team’s cheerleaders were doing aerial cartwheels. (She wasn’t too happy when we bent over, lifted up our skirts, and shouted, “UP YOURS!” to the other cheerleaders at a football game that one time.)

My cheerleading days are a blur to me now. I still remember some of the cheers and routines. I bust them out from time to time, successfully creeping out anyone who is around me.

Hey! Hey you!
You really think you’re cool
You thought that you were winning
But you ran out of fuel!

You found out
That we’ve got class
It must have been confusing
‘Cause you ran out of gas!

My favorite thing about cheerleading had little to do with cheerleading. I used to ride with the same family when we drove to away games. I’m not even sure how or why I ended up riding with them. My fellow squad member was one or two grades ahead of me, and our only interaction was during cheerleading practice or games. BUT ANYWAY, my favorite thing about cheerleading is the impact it had on my music tastes. Specifically, cheerleading and riding around with that family was my introduction to the oldies. Of course, I had heard all the old songs before. The Supremes. The Beatles. Dave Clark Five. Dusty Springfield. But this experience made it different. The dad would sing along as he drove. My peers liked the music. It was such a happy car to be in. I found myself going home and setting the dial to 104.3. I would listen to it after school and dance around in my bedroom. Even if cheerleading sucked, the way it fueled my appreciation for the oldies would have made the entire experience worth it.

GoooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CARDINALS!!!!

That Time When John Mayer Made Me Cry

Please don’t think less of me for writing about John Mayer. He kind of grosses me out, but I don’t dislike his music. One exception is that Daughters song. And Waiting on the World to Change. And Your Body is a Wonderland, because it makes me think of Jennifer Love Hewitt’s boobs. Anyway, whatever your taste in music may be, you can’t deny that he has talent.

I clearly remember the moment that John Mayer got to me and tugged at my heartstrings. I was waiting in the car for my sister, and The Heart of Life came on. I found myself listening to the lyrics, really listening. Before I could stop myself, I was crying like a mofo. And I wasn’t even having a bad day!

I hate to see you cry
Laying there in that position
There’s things you need to hear
So turn off your tears and listen

Pain throws you heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No, it won’t all go the way, it should
But I know the heart of life is good

You know it’s nothing new
Bad news never had good timing
But then the circle of your friends
Will defend the silver lining

Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No, it won’t all go the way, it should
But I know the heart of life is good

It’s a simple song with a good message. It lifts me up whether I need a boost or not. It’s a nice surprise whenever it pops up on iPod shuffle, like it did today and thus triggered my desire to blog about it. It’s best consumed in moderation. I don’t want it to go all Why, Georgia, Why on me. And, listen. At least I didn’t tattoo the lyrics on my arm.

Photo is from fuckyeahjohnmayer.tumblr.com