I just realized that since the launch of this blog in August, I’ve either: a) never posted about how I feel about music, or b) posted about it and forgotten due to some circumstantial bout of short-term memory loss. Because I’ll probably never know if it was option b, I’ll go off option a. So, as one might guess, I enjoy music. I enjoy it a lot. I realize that’s a vague statement that darn near everyone has said at least once in their lives, so I’ll elaborate more in question/answer format. Read on!
What’s the first band/artist you ever got into?
The first two bands to influence me musically were Less Than Jake (a ska-punk band) and the Foo Fighters. I can’t remember when exactly I started listening to them, but it was definitely thanks to my older brother. As younger siblings tend to do, I inhaled everything he seemed to like, but those two in particular stuck with me and eased my secret abhorrence for stuff that I was ‘supposed’ to like back then, like N*Sync and Britney Spears. I always hated that music growing up- always. Period. I was lucky enough to see the Foo Fighters in Memphis a few years ago, and it was one of the best shows of my life.
What sort of music do you listen to nowadays?
I can’t fit my taste into one genre. I used to be mostly into indie rock and progressive rock, but my taste evolves more rapidly as time goes on, and now it encompasses everything from classic soul (I’m way into Diana Ross and The Supremes right now) to some hardcore to electronica. I tried to browse my music library just now to pinpoint some general themes, but my favorite music is kind of hard to identify in one single genre- it’s all a collaboration of styles.
What kind of music would you recommend others listen to?
- Pernice Brothers (he writes the most intelligent lyrics I’ve ever heard- either you get it or you don’t, but try ‘My So-Called Celibate Life’ or ‘Somerville.’ If you dig it, we’ll be friends for life.)
- Bear Hands (this band is fun, funky and witty; ‘Crime Pays’ is great, as well as ‘Tablasaurus.’)
- mr. Gnome (this Cleveland-based band is like a psychedelic, crunchy hybrid of Karen O and Feist; they blew my mind when they came through Springfield a few weeks back. Give ‘House of Circles’ or ‘Plastic Shadow’ a shot.)
- Frankie Rose and the Outs (picture the London party scene in the 1960′s. ‘Candy’ says it all.)
- Band of Horses (a quietly amazing band; ‘Detlef Schrempf’ is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard, and ‘Island on the Coast’ is, frankly, irresistible.)
My list could go much longer than that, but those are random gems.
What’s your dream concert?
The band I want to see most in the world right now is the Yeah Yeah Yeahs! I’m practically stalking them for tour dates. I would also really like to see As Tall As Lions; they’re one of my favorite bands, but they broke up.
What shows are you seeing this year?
Right now I have official or hopeful plans to see the following artists live: Mayer Hawthorne in May; Incubus in May; Kimbra, The Kooks, The Shins, and more at a festival in Kansas City in June; Santigold in June; and The Dear Hunter sometime during the summer. One of my New Year’s resolutions was to see more shows, so I hope it happens! I’ll also be seeing a show tomorrow night. A few friends of mine are trekking up to Columbia, Mo. to see one of my favorite bands, Sleigh Bells. For those of you unfamiliar with this severely hard-rocking duo, they’re the best assault on the ears a closet head banger like myself could ask for. Whenever one of my friends first linked me to them, she said ‘It’s basically just noise,’ and while technically all music is just noise, that descriptor somehow makes sense for Sleigh Bells in particular. If you’re feeling intrigued, Spotify ‘Treats’ or ‘Run the Heart,’ get your mind deliciously blown, and feel jealous that you won’t be getting musically punched in the face Monday night like I will.