Oh yeah...Friendly Fires

Girl's night out tonight. Dinner at Mercat. Dancing around to this song because I'm so excited.

It Doesn't Get Much Better Than This...

This past Sunday I decided that instead of settling for one live show that I would treat myself to three. Cara and I began our journey at 2:00pm and after a quick stop downtown for some retail therapy we started out on our lovely day of travel, food, & some of the best music I've heard all summer.

A look back at our journey...

6:15pm - Rock Plaza Central @ Wicker Park Fest
*Cara and I caught about 10 minutes of this band upon our arrival at Milwaukee & North. They played a great live show and can best be described as rockabilly/country/rock. Something different to shake it up.

6:30pm - Company of Thieves @ Wicker Park Fest
*This band was beyond amazing! Their recent album was slightly up tempo, but I could have never anticipated the energy that each member brought to the stage. I'm convinced that when I finally live out my dream of joining a band (hilarious, I know) that I will strive to be at least half as cool as Genevieve Schatz (lead singer). They played a few of their current songs while mixing in a song from their upcoming album. In my opinion, the set was too short, but then again I could have hung out all night.



8:30pm - Sugar Ray @ Taste of Lincoln
*Wow! That's all I have to say. I always had such a teenage crush on Mark McGrath, but now he is...well....older. I have to give it to him though because the band completely rocked out and kept the crowd happy with a few of the older songs that we all know by heart (admit it). They actually performed a great cover of a classic Ramones song and even invited two unsuspecting guys from the crowd up on the stage for a little impromptu karaoke.


10:00pm - Marseilles @ Glascott's
*What a nice surprise! While walking home from our Sugar Ray experience, Cara and I noticed that a band had set up shop inside Glascott's (a great local bar in my area). We were tired and ready to go home, but I'm so glad that we got our second wind and decided to stay out. This band is extremely young (think college students), but their music was interesting and left me wanting to hear more. I'm hoping to do just that at their upcoming show at the Bottom Lounge on Wednesday, August 5th (opening for Early Day Miners).

--I didn't get a chance to catch them at Wicker Park Fest, but The Hood Internet are an amazing group that I highly recommend checking out. In the style of Girl Talk (whom I love), they mix current songs together and lay down beats that turn any old time into an excuse to dance. You can check them out at Lollapalooza (Sunday)!

Sappy for Love Songs

Yes, it's true that my job allows me to share in one of the happiest days of two people's lives (hopefully), but it also has given me a chance to open up my ears and appreciate some really great music. I hear "At Last" by Etta James more than I care to share, but when one of my couples takes the time to make sure that their first dance song completely reflects who they are (and their taste in music) then I just can't help but to applaud them. "First Day of My Life" by Bright Eyes is a beautiful song that continues to make me a believer in "the real thing". Hey, we all have our weak spots.

The lyrics say it all...


This is the first day of my life
I swear I was born right in the doorway
I went out in the rain suddenly everything changed
They're spreading blankets on the beach

Yours is the first face that I saw
I think I was blind before I met you
Now I don’t know where I am
I don’t know where I’ve been
But I know where I want to go

And so I thought I’d let you know
That these things take forever
I especially am slow
But I realize that I need you
And I wondered if I could come home

Remember the time you drove all night
Just to meet me in the morning
And I thought it was strange you said everything changed
You felt as if you'd just woke up
And you said “this is the first day of my life
I’m glad I didn’t die before I met you
But now I don’t care I could go anywhere with you
And I’d probably be happy”

So if you want to be with me
With these things there’s no telling
We just have to wait and see
But I’d rather be working for a paycheck
Than waiting to win the lottery
Besides maybe this time is different
I mean I really think you like me

Music Fix - Shout Out Louds

Where do I even begin? This band hasn't released any new recordings in the past two years, but for some reason I don't hold it against them. I'd like to list just a few simple reasons why...

- Both albums (Our Ill Wills & Howl Howl Gaff Gaff) are outstanding.
- Female keyboardist, back up vocals, accordion extraordinaire (Bebban Stenborg).
- Opened for Kings of Leon early in their musical careers
- Their bass player directed the Peter Bjorn & John video for "Young Folks"...you know, the song with all of the whistling.
- The group will finally hit the studios in August to pick back up where they left off.


Download it: "Normandie" / "Tonight I Have to Leave It" / "Hurry Up Let's Go"

**In totally unrelated music news...MGMT is set to appear on Jay-Z's upcoming album. I can't even begin to think about how crazy that is going to be. Nice collabo!

Kanye Meets Acoustic Guitar

I actually saw this performed live...it was sick. Seriously.

I Heart Live Music

It will surely be a good time...

Wednesday, July 22 @ 9:30pm

The Datsuns
Turbo Fruits
Royal Pines

The Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Ave.

Music Fix - The Kooks

The Kooks are by no means a "new" band. Only three short months after selecting their moniker they were signed to Virgin Records and three years later they've produced two full albums and have hit the ground running in the U.S. I can still remember my first official summer in Chicago when I purchased the first album, Inside In Inside Out, and would blare it in my apartment as I got ready for a night out. The more I listen to their music, the more I love it. It's fun music and I just felt it deserved a shout out. You won't be disappointed!

Sidenote: The whole idea behind this blog was to pay homage to all of the great bands that have inspired me and this band is no different. She Moves in Her Own Way. It's true.

Download it: "Sway" / "Ooh La" / "Seaside" / "Time Awaits"

It's a beautiful thing....

Lisa and I had the chance to sit 5th row for the Coldplay show last July at the United Center and it truly was a day I will never forget. We somehow made a cameo in their video for "Lost!" and scored a set list all in one night. I look at this picture now today and still can't help but smile.