Grammy Preview.

You all know I am a big big fan of the music. I am fairly vocal about it. I have even bought my first concert ticket of the year - St Vincent - early February - at the worst name concert venue in the stratosphere - "The Venue". Gah.... Excited for the concert though! Anyways... music's biggest night in music is next week - The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards are next Sunday and I can't fricking wait. Tons of music, great performances, many outfits for me to mock :)

A lot of big names have been nominated for Grammy's this year. Everyone's favourite country sweetheart Taylor Swift has a ton, as does the wacky yet amazingly talented Lady Gaga. Beyonce, Greenday, The Black Eyed Peas, even my eternal beloved Dave Matthews Band. DMB has been nominated for album of the year and according to EW's insider, they are the front runners at this point. While I don't know if I agree with that .....it would be a nice screw you to the Grammy idiots who left LeRoi off of their "In remembrance" scroll last year. It is not that I don't think they deserve it. I am just not sure if anyone can derail the Taylor Swift juggernaut. And the rationale that the only reason they will win is because the Academy voter traditionally like "rock fare" is a little insulting.

The advertising campaign for the Grammy's has been decent this year. Capitalising on the social media frenzy going on all over the world, they launched the We are all Fans campaign. This is pretty cool. According to the Grammy website: this is " a first-of-its-kind interactive fan experience — featuring portraits of GRAMMY-nominated artists composed entirely of real-time, fan-generated YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, and Facebook postings. This user-submitted content is continuously gathered from these social media platforms and refreshed on the campaign site to form a constantly evolving, "living" portrait of each artist. TV, print, out-of-home, and interactive all support and will drive traffic to the site."

Super cool right? The still images above do not give the campaign justice at all. Check out this You-Tube video for Gaga. Ah-mazing right. Can't wait for the Awards. Will you be watching? Who do you want to win? How wrong is it for me to say I kinda want Taylor Swift to be completely shut out. I don't know if I can take any more of her "aw shucks....me?" schtick. I know I know. I am burning in Hell. Should I save you a seat?

XO

Theatre Geeks from Yale are blowing up the Interwebs

I know I am very very late to the bandwagon about these dudes. You have prolly seen the last 2. But whatevs. These are new to me and they are fricking awesome. And they are posted in order of amazingness.

This is two kids from Yale - singer Sam Tsui and guitar playing/beat boxing/ producer Kurt Hugo Schneider who are in the unique and enviable position of having gone viral on YouTube multiple times. People post covers of them singing their favourite songs on YouTube all the time. That is not in any way unusual. But to have millions of people view said covers - and not because they are funny, cute or down right adorable - but because they are fantastically good - that is incredibly impressive.

Their latest is up first and features one Sam doing an awesome medley of Lady Gaga tunes. The arrangement is perfect and this has already had more than 1.2 million views. Great voice right?

The duo has also produced an outstanding version of Journey's Don't Stop Believing a la Glee. With Sam doing both the Lea Michelle and Cory Monteith parts. As well as all the back up and harmonies. Amazingness. The video - which has been viewed about 3.5 million times - is also super simple, but features Sam on stage with himself and himself and himself... you get the picture. If you scroll through the comments, there are people who are confused thinking this is the most amazing group of identical Quintuplet's ever.

Finally, is the - there are no words for how good it is - medley of Jackson songs. Holy F*ck. No words - right? The arrangement is mind blowing. The video is simple. But it gives you chills. Coming up on 4.5 million views. Chills I say.

Sadly, I suspect that these very talented dudes will not parlay this success into anything more than a trip to The Bonnie Hunt Show. As 99.9% of these Internet sensations are forgotten about in 6 months. Whatever, I will happily wait to see what they come up with next.

XO

2009 - My Musical Discoveries

As someone who rarely, if ever, listens to the radio expanding my musical horizons to new bands and acts can sometimes be a little tricky. I rely on friends, TV shows that thankfully actively promote their tunage, Soundtracks and word of mouth. Such as discovering Laura Marling late in 2008 when an actor I liked mentioned them.

While I couldn't even conceive of listing my favourite songs or even artists of 2009.... I will leave that to many many others who I am sure are doing an admirable job. My favourite songs of 2009 include songs that have been around for many many years. While I love discovering new musical loves, I tend to go back to what I have known and loved. It's the reliability, you see. However, that is not to say that i have not become enamoured of a few new artists this year. Instead, to keep things interesting (for me as well as you fair reader), I am mixing it up a little.

Below are 5 artists that I discovered this year. To be clear - they are generally not new artists in 2009. Some have been around for years and years. And I am shocked, amazed and frankly a little embarrassed that I was not a fan before now. These are simply acts that came onto my musical radar during the course of the year.

1. Metric Metric Metric.

Okay, so it is just Metric. Hands down my favourite new discovery of the year. I ended up seeing them three times this year. Loved each and every show. Metric is a Canadian indie rock band that have been around since the early-nineties. They have an eclectic sound that for me is firmly anchored by the talent and charisma of their front woman - the amazing Emily Haines. I have already admitted to having quite the girl crush on this chick. Her dance moves kill me. Her clothes, her vibe. I hate using words others use regularly but it is her steeze that gets me. She is beyond cool without trying and an amazingly talented performer. An awesome mix of rock, pop, synthesised Beats - Metric has it all. They totally remind me of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (who I also saw this year a couple of times). Their latest album - Fantasies - is amazing and fantastic on so many levels. I am trying to think of one song that encapsulates their amazingness and can't.


2. Cold War Kids.

This indie rock band from California has been around since 2004. I distinctly recall when I first heard of Cold War Kids. I have a friend who has pretty awesome taste in music and he posted something about them on Facebook. He once told me to buy Dashboard Confessional's - The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most - with a guarantee that if I did not like them he would give me my money back. I think he was also the one that started my DMB love. So I have trust for his musical recommendations.

While they have in no way reinvented the wheel when it comes to a musical style or sound, I love Nathan Willett's voice. They are another band I got to see live this year - Bumbershoot, in Seattle - fantastic. I could and have listened to Hang Me Out To Dry on repeat for hours. So good.




3. Alexi Murdoch

An admission before I go on. I saw Alexi Murdoch in concert late last year. He was opening for Alanis Morrissette and was actually the person that informed me that Obama had won the presidency. While I really enjoyed his set, I didn't know his name and promptly forgot about him. Until I saw the movie - Away We Go. Murdoch was the soundtrack to that film. After I got out of seeing it I immediately went and bought the soundtrack.

His voice is haunting, deep, soulful and amazing. Simple songs, simple tunes. Exactly how I like my musicians - full of angst and talent. Just beautiful.



4. Lady Gaga

Oh Lady Gaga. What a long strange journey we have had this year. At the start of the year, I found you pretty much annoying. Then I came to appreciate the substance, but hate the show. All the crap - the costumes and antics - that is what I disliked. Thankfully - happily - I was able to look past this by the time I saw her in early December. Ninth Row Centre Bitches. And holy mother of Xenu - was it an amazing show. Best show of the Year? I don't know. But it was pretty fricking phenomenal.

Gaga - she of the unfortunate stage name and wacky persona - is undeniably talented. She can sing. And not just sing, she can sing well. She can play the piano. She writes her own music. Yea, it's pop music, but so what? Talent is talent. Although I would still prefer the substance over the styling, I am a convert and am proud to call myself a monster.



5. Miike Snow

This electropop outfit from Swedon were co headlining with Jack Penate at a show at the most ill named venue in Vancity - The Venue. Lame name for a .... um.... venue, right? Gah. Anyways, I have been a fan of Jack Penate for a few years - he toured with the magnificent Adele so I checked him out and.....love. Anways, teeny little show. 2 acts. Convinced someone to come with me. Fricking awesome.

Different from what I typically listen to. I am more of a boy/girl with a guitar/piano kind of music lover. But this was cool and has now opened me up to a whole new type of music.... which I guess is a good thing right? Live they were a trip, coming out in masks that they kept on for half the show. They are coming back in April - bigger venue. I will be there!



Okay, so that is five acts that I am happy to have discovered in 2009. As I just subscribed to Rolling Stone - Happy early Birthday to me! - I am sure my catalogue of muscial boy/girlfriends will increase even more in 2010. I know I know. I am quite the musical slut. I am fine with that. Who did you discover musically in 2009? Who made your panties drop?

XO

Music Monday: From my Keyboard to your I-Pod

I have been so wrapped up in a Brett Dennen - Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - Lady Gaga haze for the last few weeks that I have been neglecting some of the others on my Playlists. I am such a bad girlfriend I know.

This weeks instalment is courtesy of a friend of mine who knows my deep and abiding love for music. I saw her briefly at a work function and she mentioned this amazing band to me. Told me I would love them. She then emailed me the entire CD to my work account, which was fine except it was about 80 MB! Eek.

I had to email each song to one of my personal accounts individually as I couldn't get more than one to go through at a time. So totally and completely worth it though. The band is The XX. From the UK, this is an uber cool group of kids who write about love and loss - all with a kicky synthesised beat. I heart them. A lot. They may be touring here next year. Sometime in April. Weeeeee!

They remind me a titch of Miike Snow, who I adore and saw a few months ago. They too are touring next year. In April. Sigh. I can already tell that 2010 is gonna be a hot and heavy year for me and my boyfriend - music. Do you know him? He is dreamy. And I am his eternal slave. Forever and always.

XO

The Monster Ball - Show me your Teeth!!

If you know me, you know my musical tastes. I am in musical heaven if there is a somewhat cute boy with a guitar. He writes his own material, and seeing him in concert involves him and his guitar. That is my musical orgasm. It has worked for me over the years and I am generally left satisfied. I have always been more interested in the substance of an artist, more than the show.

This is why Lady Gaga leaves me torn. While I have appreciation for her substance as an artist, the show and hype surrounding her has always kind of irritated me. The costumes, the hint of a penis (which I am pretty sure she encouraged), her close friendship with the douchy Perez Hilton… all of that has left me cold. Especially when I know she is talented – she writes her own songs, plays the piano and wonder of wonders, sings live. I have heard her sing acoustically – she has a great voice. But the package….. there was the rub.

Over the past few months however, I have found myself more and more intrigued by this New York pop phenom. To see her in concert, or not to see her in concert? I am more of a folk music kind of gal, but Gaga I was now wiling to make an exception for. When my friend Nicole left me a message telling me we had ninth row seats to her concert at the Queen Elizabeth theatre, I did a happy dance in the middle of Filene’s Basement on the Upper West Side of New York.

Last night, I experienced the Monster Ball. From start to finish, through about 6 costume changes, Lady Gaga kept us totally and completely energized and entertained. She was so captivating that it wasn’t until about half way through the show that I realized the amazing abs of her dancers. Holy abs and impressive packages in their tight spandex. Hello salty goodness. We danced our asses off.

Loved the whole thing. Especially when it was just her and the piano. Only a song and half. But that made it worth the $90. Ninth row center. Short chicks in front of me. The perfect setting on my crappy camera found very quickly. She didn’t play the one song I always skip (Brown Eyes – such cheese).

From the first song to the final encore she was fricking awesome. She danced, she sang live and it was good. All good. So fricking good. To see her in a relatively intimate venue was fantastic. Next time it will be GM place and it will not be the same. The staging was relatively simple, lots of screens to give coverage during costume changes. Mainly it was just Gaga and the dancers.

One of the best shows I have seen all year. And I have been to a ton. She definitely made me wanna Just Dance!

XO

Confessions of a Music Lover's I-pod

Trying very hard to be consistent with this. You know the game: "shuffle all" your electronic listening device and write down the first 15 songs that come up..... only skip if the same artist shows up.....no cheating. Give me your shameful musical secrets. I can handle it. I even have a few of my own :)

Here we go:

1. Black Hole - She & Him
2. Get on Your Boots - U2
3. When I Go - Brett Dennon
4. What I Got - Sublime
5. Little White Lies - Alexz Johnson
6. My Interpretation - Mika
7. Nan You're a Window Shopper - Lily Allen
8. Polly - Nirvana
9. Just a Girl - No Doubt
10. Season of the Witch - Terry Reid
11. Don't Drink the Water - Dave Matthews Band (Central Park Concert)
12. Another Brick in the Wall - Pink Floyd
13. Manhattan - Kings of Leon
14. Teeth - Lady Gaga
15. Secret - Missy Higgins

Wowsers. This is an odd mix. Good, just a little odd. I am seeing both Brett Dennon and Lady Gaga this week.... Weee!!!! Much excitement for both.

And much love and congratulations to my eternal musical boyfriend - The Dave Matthews Band for their Grammy nomination this year!! Yay yay yay! Not that this makes up for the Le Roi diss at last years awards, but it goes a little toward it.

Happy Sunday y'all. I am off to the movies......

XO

Music Monday: From my Keyboard to Your I-Pod

Greetings & salutations friends. I am feel just a little crappy today. Not quite sick, but feeling like it is about to happen any moment. Preemptive action was required. This involves bed, hot strong sweet tea and drugs. Wish me luck. Busy busy week at work, can't be sick. I am refusing to allow it to happen. I am blaming Paris Hilton. She was in Whistler over the weekend and apparently that was enough to make me sick. Bitch, really needs to stay the f*ck out of my country.

She also hugged one of the Olympic mascots. Anything bad that happens at the Olympics can now be blamed on Paris Hilton. I am serious. Already one of Canada's best hopes at a medal in skiing (I think, I don't know from sports) was injured on the weekend. Paris is to blame. I bet Stephen Colbert sent her up here to f*ck our sh*t up.

Anyways, only a very quick post today. Music music music is my boyfriend and today I bring you two indie peeps that I love. They are playing at the Commodore next week and I have just decided that I must attend.

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals. My friend Kent asked me how I had heard of these guys, and I have no f*cking idea. Maybe Grey's Anatomy? Cause even though the show sucks balls, they have good music. I just know they are awesome.

Brett Dennen..... he played with Missy Higgins a few years ago. Was supposed to see him at Bumbershoot in September, but the timing got all f*cked up and I couldn't swing it. Boo Hiss. Love him.

Love. Anyone else going next week? Then I have Gaga on Thursday. Very different styles I know. But that is how I roll.

XO

Or Maybe it's Always about Lady Gaga?

Oh Lady Gaga. You knew that I would have to write something abut this. I can't let something this big go slide by without commenting on it.

First off, congrats on the Best New Artist Award. I'm gonna say it was completely deserved, pretty much because I think the rest of the nominees were rappers and I am not a fan of the rap music. Gonna also give you props for the performance. It was dramatic and interesting and you sounded great.

Crap, I think I was supposed to save the other compliment for the end of the post. You know, the "sandwich" technique where you say all the bad stuff in the middle and temper it with a compliment at the start and end..... I learnt it in management training. Oh well.

Because...... Seriously? This is what you chose to wear to an Awards show. Let me clarify, these are what you chose to wear? Sigh. Some people are raving about the "avant garde"ness of it all. The cutting edgeness. The fact that you are able to think outside the box....... to all of these people I say bah!

You are a singer. And a damn good singer. And no-one talks about that. They talk about the wacky. The showing up with Kermit the Frog. They talk about the 5 (or was it 6) costume changes...... geez, even Ms America contestants don't have that many changes of clothes at the pageant. You could maybe get away with that sh*t if you were hosting the Daytime Emmy's. But not at MTV.

And you know what really sucks about your performance...... Pink totally blew it out of the water with her aerobatic amazingness. But if you had sat there with a piano and belted the cr*p out of that song, that I would remember it. And write about it.

XO

PS: In case I wasn't clear..... these outfits are all from the same night. Yes, that is 6 costume changes in one night. Sigh.

Gaga is the Hermaphrodite Cheerleader from Yonkers?

Do you remember that Friends episode with Brad Pitt? The one where Ross and Pitt's character admitted that they started a rumor about Jennifer Aniston's Rachel Green. The one where she had a "teeny-weeny"? Great episode. Brad Pitt looked super hawt.

Anyways, there is a point to this whole thing.... trust me.

Remember when Chandler screamed "You're the hermaphrodite Cheerleader from Long Island". Well, when I first heard on the interweb that there was a video circling that proved irrefutably that Lady Gaga had a peen, that line ran through my head for the rest of the day. Okay, so Gaga is from Yonkers, but tell me that is not close?

So yes there is a video (below). In this video, Gaga appears to be panties-less and there seems to be a hint of a penis.....Sigh.

There are many words one can use to describe Lady Gaga. Completely stupid is not one of them. She is an artist who prides herself on being shocking and loves being the centre of attention. What better way to get herself a ton of free press? Hmmmm........ Her "teeny-weeny" is so completely and utterly a stunt to get girlfriend (or is it boyfriend....) coverage in pretty much every blog in existence. And it has worked!

Sadly, I am quickly becoming completely over her stunts and attempts at being wacky and fashion-forward. I think she is an incredibly talented singer, but this crap is getting old. She doesn't even have the Amy Winehouse "I am a totally f*cked up crack head" excuse. Check out this video of her live acoustic performance of Paparazzi. Amazing no?


XO