Sunday night us and 1000+ watched as Modest Mouse rocked our socks off. I've been a fan for several years now and haven't gotten a chance to see them , until now. I expected a good show and what a got in return was way more. Isaac Brock (singer) blew my mind with his voice and intensity. They came out to a full house and played 23 songs old/new (setlist here) for about two hours. I always enjoy watching a band play live and the person behind the mic not sucking. I've seen A LOT of shows where the singer's voice is straining the entire show (like nails on a chalk board) and Isaac's voice held up nicely the entire show. If you haven't already done so do yourself a favor and check them out when they come to a city near you.

New Music for the Masses

Photo by Zach Hollowell 

Just when I was beginning to have Bright Eyes / Conor Oberst withdrawls Desaparecidos comes out with a new album "Payola." Desaparecidos have only released one album prior to Payola and I felt it was too harsh and political  for me so I listened and appreciated the efforts but wasn't a fan of the first album in 2002. Payola is still protesting however with a lot more Bright Eyes sound and a less heavy sound. Don't get me wrong Payola is not your typical sappy heartbreaking Conor Oberst song it's Bright Eyes 2011 "The People's Key" sound. I enjoyed listening to this album especially "City on the Hill" it's been on repeat all day. 

     Payola

01 The Left Is Right

02 The Underground Man

03 City on the Hill [ft. Tim Kasher]

04 Golden Parachutes [ft. Laura Jane Grace]

05 Radicalized

06 MariKKKopa

07 Te Amo Camila Vallejo

08 Ralphy's Cut

09 Backsell

10 Slacktivist [ft. So So Glos]

11 Search the Searches

12 10 Steps Behind

13 Von Maur Massacre

14 Anonymous

Listen here  / more Music for the Masses here

01 // Music for the Masses

After their 7 year hiatus Modest Mouse is finally back with a new album called Strangers to Ourselves . They've shared a few of the songs off the new album such as "Lampshades on Fire" , my personal fave "Coyotes" , "The Best Room" , "Of Course We Know" and "The Ground Walks, With Time In A Box". I'm anxious to listen to the rest of the album and finally have Modest Mouse back on the road and I hear there's even talks about another record being release after this one - fingers crossed for that one. For now lets enjoy Strangers to Ourselves .

Buy here 

01 // Mix Tape

To celebrate Valentine's day and my love for mix tapes I've decided to share some of my favorite love jams. I love listening to love songs especially when I was in high school oh my goodness I had The Smiths & The Cure on repeat that's all that went into my ears. I'll tell you what they don't make love songs like they use to no body makes you feel passion like Otis Redding he was always added to my mix tapes luckily my husband now owns the Master copy. If you are making a love mix for your significant other this year here are some you might want to add.
Have a fabulous weekend .


Fleetwood Mac //   You Make Lovin' Fun  (listen here)
Van Morrison // Crazy Love (listen here)
Marvin Gaye // You're All I Need To Get By (listen here)
Stevie Wonder // For Once In My Life (listen here)
Otis Redding // Try A Little Tenderness (listen here)
Beach Boys // God Only Knows (listen here)
Frankie Vallie // My Eyes Adored You (listen here)
Chicago // Happy Man (listen here)
Earth Wind & Fire // Reasons (listen here)
Lionel Ritchie // Still  (listen here)

My weekend at ACL ...

You're all probably wondering how was Austin City Limits ? It was ok, this was the first year where my days weren't full of back to back shows. Maybe that's cause the line up was not as exciting as the past years that we've attended I guess it is hard top ACL 2007 (Arcade Fire, Bjork, Bloc Party, Arctic Monkeys, Regina Spektor, LCD Sounsystem etc.. full line up here ) and ACL 2013 ( Depeche Mode, The Cure, Phoenix, Franz Ferdinand, Tame Impala, Kendrick Lamar etc... full list here ). The one nice thing is we got to go and spend time with our friends and enjoy Zilker Park without having to make that decision we all hate at a festival "Should I go see --- or --- ". Either way it was nice to be in Texas and see my family have some delicious TexMex food and get some much needed sun.

This year I decided to go hands free and rely on my iPhone to capture my weekend, so my apologies for the distorted photos.

*Picture overload after the jump.

New Music : Interpol

Today NPR shared Interpol's new album El Pintor (listen here) the album is set to be released September 8th but you can stream it here.  I've been anxiously waiting for this album for the past four years since I last saw them in New Orleans Voodoo Festival. Interpol is definitely one of my favorite bands every album they've released I've always loved and this one after listening to it of course is no different. There's a handful of new bands that attempt to duplicate their sound however are unsuccessful . I will definitely be buying this album on 9/8 and can't wait to hear it live at Austin City Limits Festival in October and in DC in November. I can not wait. 

Summer Playlist vol. 12

Image via  : Madewell

1. Vampire Weekend // Ya Hey

2. Courtney Barnett // Avant Gardener

3. Tune Yards // Water Fountain

4. Toro Y Moi // New Beat

5. Sylvan Esso // Coffee

6. Ought // Habit

7. Temples // Colours to Life

8. Radiohead // I Might Be Wrong

9. Talking Heads // Road to Nowhere

These  songs are perfect for laying on the beach with the sun in your eyes and a beverage in your hand. I hope you enjoy these jams. Have a fabulous weekend!

Love Mix

Photo credit

 1.  Paul McCartney // Silly Love Song

 2.  Queen // You're My Best Friend

 3.  The Beatles //  All You Need Is Love

 4.  The Beach Boys // God Only Knows

 5.  Otis Redding // Try A Little Tenderness

 6.  Janis Joplin  // Piece of My Heart

 7.  The Beatles // She Loves You

 8.  Elvis Presley // Love Me Tender

 9.  The Stylistics //  You Are Everything

10.  Veruca Salt // Somebody

Listen on Spotify

No one can sing about love like The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Otis Redding and Janis. When it came to looking for songs to make this love mix the only way I could go was old school. There's a reason why these songs are still relevant - because they are original and believable. I find it so hard to hear someone like Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift sing about heart break or love, it just isn't believable. Whereas Janis and Otis' heart break is so genuine. With that being said I leave you with some of my all time favorite love songs. Wishing you a wonderful Valentines day.

The Take Away Shows

1. Beirut - Nantes 2. The Shins - Gone for Good 3. Grizzly Bear - The Knife

There are many things I love in this world and hearing my favorite bands play live is on the top of my list and La Blogotheque has brought this to a whole new level. La Blogotheque by Mathieu Saura an independent filmmaker from Paris France started a series called The Take Away Shows which is a series of improvised outdoor concerts in the streets of Paris. Genius! He's filmed Beirut roam the streets of Paris while singing Nantes, The Shins playing Gone for Good at a park in Paris and my favorite Grizzly Bear singing The Knife while walking around in Paris. I watch these and wonder how lucky these street goers were to have a show happen right in front of their eyes. I would DIE. The Take Away Shows series is simply perfection and here are my faves.

Summer Playlist : vol.10

photo via

 

Since summer is coming to an end it's going to start (if it already hasn't) getting colder and harder to keep up with your work outs. One thing I enjoy doing is running especially in the colder months (less sweaty) so lets not stop once summer is over lets keep going. Running clears my mind and helps me sort stuff out. If you're a walker, elliptical-er, treadmill-er, or runner lets keep it going all year long. Today I'm sharing one of my running playlist it's a mix of old/new and should get you through 2 miles smoothly. Hope you enjoy it. On your mark , get set , go!

 

 

 



Summer Playlist : vol 9 (Labor day weekend edition)

Photo via

Labor day is here and all I've been playing are The Beach Boys, Paul Simon and Violent Femmes. Groups that instantly take me to the beach. Just listening to Surfer Girl by the Beach Boys I picture my husband on a boogie board playing in the water. Even though I can't swim I still love spending time by the water, even if it's just floating around on a raft or watching the waves crash into the sand. When we lived in the Gulf Coast we didn't take full advantage of living minutes from the beach. Now that we don't have quick access , I miss it . So this weekend we will play tourist , lay out by the pool and just enjoy the next four days off. Yay for holidays.
Have a great weekend.


 

Summer Playlist : vol. 8

photo via

Weekends are sneaking up on me these days, it seems like one minute I'm complaining about Monday and the next it's already Friday. This weekend I plan on enjoying my last weekend before school starts next week. Hoping for warm weather, laying pool side with Vogue's Sept. issue and just relaxing. I hope you have a wonderful weekend .

 

 

Summer Playlist : vol 7

photo via

Summer's almost over and I'll miss sugar free popsicles, fresh fruit, driving with my sunroof open, my Zara sandals I'm certain won't be cut out for the snow, and my panama hat. Until then I will be savoring every sunny day, enjoy each popsicle and wear the heck out of my sandals.
Since September will be pretty hectic for us we plan on relaxing and enjoy our weekends the rest of the month. Also I am beyond excited for the new Franz Ferdinand album coming out next month , seeing them in December and this weekend I'll be blaring Love Illumination in my car and in my home. (current fave song, I can't get enough of it)

  

While it's storming out...

Saturday afternoon it stormed for a while and I decided to go back to my childhood. Let me take you back... Growing up our TV time was very limited so our parents always played music. Since my Dad was/still is a musician we had instruments EVERYWHERE. We had drums or congas as end tables, my mother dressed up my Dad's piano with a doily and pictures of us as kids, and not to mention all the amps against the walls. My parents played records from morning til night. Photos can give you an idea of what happened or how things looked back then. However hearing or smelling are two major senses that instantly take me back. Hearing The Beatles , Billy Joel , Anne Murray, Steely Dan I'm instantly taken back to my youth. The smell of vinyl reminds me of my childhood home, the crackling of a record playing reminds me of my parents , the cord switching on a guitar make me miss my Dad tremendously. Hearing Anne Murray sing "Shadows In The Moonlight" gives me a huge lump in my throat because it reminds me of my Mom in the kitchen singing away. So while it stormed out I went back to my childhood for a bit and I enjoyed every second of it.

New Music Monday

photo credit Zach Hollowell

These Nebraska boys also known as Desparecidos  have come with the thunder yet again with their new 7" with  Te Amo CamilaVallejo and The Ultimate Man. You can stream both on Pitchfork here. I've been a fan of Conor Oberst who is the handsome gentleman on the lefts since I heard him sing Road To Joy with Bright Eyes. This Omaha guy never stops he's always making great music whether it's with Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk, The Faint, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, Commander Venus, Park Ave, The Magentas and Desparecidos. This guy loves to play and he can. Not only is he a musician he's one of the founding members of  Saddle Creek Records based out of Omaha, Nebraska which has released bands like Rilo Kiley, Monsters of Folk, Desparecidos, Bright Eyes and Tokyo Police Club. Desparecidos is a little edgier and a lot more harder than his other groups however it's definitely worth taking a listen to or even catching them live.

 

Te Amo Camila Vallejo

 

 

Summer Playlist : vol 6

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Today's Summer Playlist is brought to you by my music mentor, my older brother Rich. Our Dad is a musician and a huge music lover so if it's one thing that identifies us - music is in our blood. Rich and I have and continue to bond over music. This guy and I are tight , tight as can be. We are two peas in a pod. I attended my first concert with Rich and he has since introduced me to so many cool bands so when it comes to music "this guy" knows what he's talking about. He's not a music snob. My brother is simply a music lover. I asked him for some of his favorite summer songs and here's what he came up with.

Hope you enjoy it. Thanks brudda man !

 

 

My night with ...

Thursday we went to watch Parquet Courts do their thing at Baltimore's coolest venue Ottobar. As you all probably know I am a huge music lover so it's no surprise that catching a great band perform is my happy place. I was quite surprised by the venue it's in downtown Baltimore on N. Howard St. , this place was very small. Walking in I was intrigued by all the posters, stickers, wall art inside this place - poster from previous bands that have played there like White Stripes among others. We decided to catch the show from the upper level since this was a punk band I didn't feel like having my feet stepped on since I was in sandals. It's happen to me before and it was awful - I will spare you all the details on that story.

Parquet Courts went on promptly at 10:30pm these guys set up their equipment and just began to play. These four boys played their asses off with songs like Borrowed Time & Yr No Stoner. If you weren't a fan you definitely went home and bought their album Light Up Gold. The show was awesome with about 75 + in attendance jamming out to great rock punk bands. These guys are touring till the end of October so if they happen to be in your neck of the woods [check here] you must check them out.

Thank you Baltimore for another great show... until the next show.

Summer Playlist : vol 5

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It's seems summer is slowly coming to an end, yesterday's temperatures definitely proved that with a whopping 75 degrees. It was perfect if only it was 75 degrees everyday I would be a happy gal. This weekend will be pretty laid back enjoying the weekend with my husband and this wonderful weather we are suppose to be having. Since it is Friday and you know what that means "Summer Playlist" day ... today's summer playlist was put together by my lovely husband. Luckily we both have the same taste when it comes to music so life's been easy. When making summer playlist's I've asked myself or guests "what music do you want to hear when you're at the beach/ pool ?" This is what my guy came up with.   Have a great weekend  

  .

Band of the week

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When I heard Parquet Courts on SiriusXMU I did two things cranked up my radio and downloaded their album Light Up Gold. They emerged in 2011 and I cannot believe I just found out about them a few months ago. They remind me of the Ramones and Television, I know I know a bit extreme but these four guys from Brooklyn New York have an old punk sound to them. I can hear the Ramones influence in songs like Stoned and Starving & Borrowed Time. I love when I get to catch new bands as they emerge while they still have a small following and play small venues. We will be seeing these guys tonight at Ottobar in Baltimore and I am excited to see what they bring to the stage.

You can hear full album HERE .

Summer Playlist : vol 4

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Cheers to another Friday and another summer playlist. This week really snuck up on me , one minute I'm waking up hating that it's Monday and the next minute I'm making salsa for a pot luck for work tomorrow. We have been glued to our TV since Sunday ,we started watching Homeland and we are hooked thank you Showtime. This weekend we have a few errands to run , hoping to catch up on some much needed sleep and finish up season 2 of Homeland so we can have our evenings back. I hope everyone has a great weekend!