I Dreamt That I Dreamt That You Loved Me In Your Dreams.

Last summer I was out in London for six weeks working on a Nokia project with Wieden + Kennedy.

It was honestly some of the best times I've had in my life.
I was in an especially raw place in my life, where I was choosing to live blown wide open.
I was full of wonder and really rooted in the experience of the nowness.
The friends I made at work were/are such an amazing bunch and I saw more art and live music 
in a six week period than I usually see in six months (and I go to a ton of concerts!).
Plus I managed to be drunk nearly every night, because that's apparently how they do it in London.
And being a competitive, patriotic American, I couldn't let them beat me.
They did anyway.
Wankers.
Them Brits are like fishes, they.

So one of my favorite shows I went to was a double bill of Favours For Sailors and Dananananakroyd 
that my friend Martin Jackson took me too, as they are mates of his.
It kicked my ass all over the place and I jumped around like a teenager.
Here's these young kids from London and Glasgow clearly influenced by American rock, 
especially mid-90's indie stuff (Pavement, Sebadoh, etc.) making a fun, fucking ruckus.
Had such a joyful time.
And now I hear they're getting more recognition over in the UK, particularly with this track leading the charge:

Good on them.
It's only matter of time before they come crashing our shores.
In the meantime, have a listen and support them (like I did) by buying their new EP:

Love me some Brits.
Especially music Brits.

What's the use in dying, dying, if I don't know when.

It's my dad's birthday today.

He turned 65 and according to a telephone conversation with my mom, 
apparently he has flown down to Florida for a fraternity reunion event of sorts.
Tried to reach him on his cell phone, but no luck.
He's not one for that kind of technology.
Was hoping I'd get through to him though.
Miss that man.

And last night I dreamt of being back in Los Angeles, driving around.
I actually miss that city, though I lived there so shortly.
I think my body is having a slightly hard time adjusting to the colder weather and really craving light.
Perhaps partially due to the fact that I am working in an office most of the day, save for breaks, and finishing up every day when it is dark outside. 
Can't wait for spring.

Listening to this album by Here We Go Magic right now.
Amazing stuff.
Right tone for the day.
Kind of melancholic, yet oddly hopeful.
In this track, his voice reminds me of Paul Simon's a bit.

 

Also, saw School Of Seven Bells last night at Le Poisson Rouge and got to see my old pal, Sam Ghostly. Good times.

Getting Lost, Getting Found in Other Music.

Got a really great batch of music today.
Especially super excited that I got to pick up the most recent Mississippi Records releases,
as it's tough now that I don't live in Portland any longer.
I always pick of multiple copies to give to friends.
 
Really digging this album too:

Support local music.
Support great music.
Support independent music.
Make new friends.
Support old friends.
 
http://www.othermusic.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_Records

http://www.myspace.com/thetallestmanonearth

How does someone with nothing, end up with so much to show for it?

Still in NYC, hanging in my office right now, listening to the School Of Seven Bells album.

 

Reminds me of driving around in my car in LA, windows rolled down, warm sea air blowing wildly in.
Makes me miss good Mexican food and reminds me of the recent time that Sam Ghostly and I went 
to a little taco place on Pico Blvd., the day after we heard about Charlie from Telefon Tel Aviv.
Sad, sad news.

Trying to do good things with my life.
Trying to be creative.
Trying to live compassionately and passionately.
Trying to be full of truth & beauty.

http://www.schoolofsevenbells.com/

http://ghostly.com/artists/school-of-seven-bells

Wind, snow.

A photo from my current office in NYC.

 

So funny to be working out of a mid-town/Madison Ave. (i.e. Mad Men) space.
The fluorescent lights hurt my eyes, so I turn them off and embrace the darkness, which reminds me of Portland.
Speaking of which, I finally picked up the Grouper album today at Other Music on my lunch break.
It is so beautiful that I don't know what to say.
I just keep listening to it on repeat.
This particular song reminds me of listening to Galaxie 500's This Is Our Music during winter 
of my freshman year of college at University of Whitewater in Wisconsin.

I would turn off all the lights in my dorm room and leave just the Xmas lights on.
It was freezing outside and snow would be piling up and the heater would make knocking sounds and steam up the windows.

 

Gotta hustle, like uh-oh.

I'm now in NYC for a bit. 
Doing some freelance work and braving the cold.

Right before I left LA though, my pals at Ninja Tune had just sent me the new Thunderheist album about to be released on Big Dada.
Being a fan of "Jerk It", I popped this in my car as I way driving around the city getting ready for the Big Apple journey.
Totally vibed with my last day on the warm West Coast.

Chasing Wavvves.

When you don't what else to fucking do, or you feel scared or sad or frustrated,
just put on the new Wavves LP and skank around your house.
 
It'll all get radder.
Much radder.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skank_(dance)

http://ghostramp.blogspot.com/

http://www.fuckittapes.com/woodsist.htm

http://www.myspace.com/wavves

Skankin'-in-my-Los Angeles-apartment-photo courtesy of my ol' pal, Dyrayll: http://www.freshpaintpdx.com/

All The Stars, Your Eyes, Raining Just For Me.

Last Friday, Cali (http://www.rvca.com/advocates/?cat=10) and I were driving to Whole Foods to get some lunch for the Beta Petrol crew.
I asked him if he had heard the new Antony & the Johnsons, as I had only heard the EP and the first few tracks on the LP.
He popped the CD in and said that there is a line ("Hold that man I love so much") in the song "Aeon"
that Antony will be remembered for, and proceeded to play it for me.

 It was raining in Los Angeles that day, and as I was listening to the song for the first time,
there was a certain alchemical and powerful reaction I had
to the intensity and tenderness and beauty of that song unfolding
right there in Cali's car, in the grayness
of the sky, on a day filled
with the gravity and magnificence of my own life unfolding.

http://www.antonyandthejohnsons.com/thecryinglight/
http://www.secretlycanadian.com/onesheet.php?cat=SC194
 
http://betapetrol.net/