Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Mumford and Sons - February 16th 2013

Hi music lovahs, I'll start this bloggity blog off by saying, this show all happened so fast. In mid-January, Mumford posted to their website a registration to over throw all those dick-licker, scalpers that buy tickets and resell them on StubHub for four times the original price. Not neccessarily using that language, but it was in order to ensure that the tickets went to none other than genuine Mumford & Sons fans, and that the process is completely fair and even, tickets were only to be made available for sale through a special registration to receive an invitation to purchase on a first-come, first-served basis. This process was fairly simple and totally random. I registered and then 3 days later received a confirmation email, including a code to allow me to purchase two tickets to the Camden, NJ show and at the original price of $50, to boot! I was skeptical at first when the order was processed and the TicketMaster confirmation reported my tickets would be held at will-call, but nonetheless wicked excited and thankful that one of my coworkers directed me towards this operation in the first place! Thanks, Kyle! <3

My friend Tucker and I hit the road early Saturday so we could visit a friend in NJ. It was quite the aggressive trip, making our way there and back in one swoop and considering neither of us had been to Camden, NJ. After being warned that it isn't the safest place in the world we hit the road and after a brief period of getting lost in the pits of hell and crossing the border to Philly, we finally made it to The Susquehanna Bank Center....safe and sound.

It was a pretty cool venue, located right on the water, which opens up during the summer for outdoor seating, but tonight concert goers were packed inside. Our seats were pretty desc too considering the last minute ability to purchase them. I really enjoyed the show, the energy from the crowd was high and the acoustics sounded spot on. The talent that oozes from these men is insane and I was wildly blown away by the way they can transition from instrument to instrument as if it's nothing. I took guitar lessons for 6 months and I mastered, maybe 3 riffs...like seriously, these men are legit.

BUT...and there is a but, I know...what? Grammy winners with 2 fantastic albums that went platinum many times over...in addition to a sweaty, foot stomping-good time? ....I know, weird...however to be honest, there was no variety. I felt if I closed my eyes it was as if I was listening to the cd. I am in no way complaining, but when I go to a show, I wanna jam and experience things people who didn't get tickets missed out on.  If I am this close to a musician with an abundance of talent such as these men, I wanna FEEEEEEL it. Ya dig? Maybe they were tired, maybe they are still nervous to stray from the path because they are so new to the scene, but whatever it was, made for a small let-down. I still love them and their music, and I am in no way putting down their efforts....I just want more. Does this make me greedy? Maybe, but this is why I love live shows so much more. This is why I spend at least one-third of my salary on shows each year, to experience that unique performance that varies form venue to venue and artist to artist. It lacked that connection, and it made it feel like they were performing on just another night. I just wanted it to feel special, mannnn.

Tuck and I agreed that maybe seeing them at a festival in the summer would make for a way better experience, not only because festivals make everything better, but because they would have the freedom to let their hair down and rock out a bit more genuinely because it wasn't a show that was included on their tour. It would be a little less business and a little more rock and roll.

Either way, Babel won best album for a reason, it's beautifully put together. It's romantic, strong, and shows a different side of these dudes which shines through from the lyrics. I'm super thankful I went and I'm hoping, for the sake of other fans, that it was just that night in the ghetto of New Jersey, and not the majority of shows on their tour.

Oh and PS, Jersey...get your shit together, you're the pits.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Matt and Kim - February 11th 2013

Last night Matt and Kim opened for Passion Pit at the RPI Field House in Troy, NY. While Amber's pledge did wonders for creating an epic dance party for Passion Pit, I'm just going to share the deets on M&K, since I already reviewed Passion Pit, last April.

I don't mean to brag or anything, but Matt and Kim fucking LOVE Upstate NY. Their generous affection of how bad ass of a crowd we were last night was welcomed. They praised us for their past visits to the CapReg and how we always get our groove on for them when they perform. This was their 5th show in 2013 and they claimed it was the most energized yet!

RPI Field House holds RPI's hockey games so you can imagine the size. The ice rink, turned floor, was packed with intelligent, poly-tech, hipsters that were totally getting weird on a Monday night. It was awesome. The surrounding bleacher seats were full too, but with the more tame type of folk. I obviously was on the floor, pretending to be a college kid. I was most definitely one of the oldest chicks there, but whatever, when in Rome at an EQX show.

Matt & Kim, were on point. They are WAY better live, in my opinion. I dig all their tunes, but listening to them on my pod or in the car is a totally different experience after seeing them in the flesh. First off, Kim is this hot, little peanut with Michelle Obama arms from her bad assery on the the drums. She can 'shake dat ass,' so well that I am pretty sure when Nate Dogg and Eminem joined forces they wrote that song about her! Kim's energy was infectious and she just seemed so happy. What a goddess.

Matt's stage presence was genuine and not only was his delight to be on stage apparent, he was brilliant on those synthy keyboards. Hailing from Brooklyn, Matt definitely did not burn his tongue on his pizza because he ate it before it was cool...MATT IS COOL. (#hipsterjoke #brooklyn. #hadto) But seriously, he is, and the two of them together make for a insanely, talented pair. It was an amplified experience full of crowd surfing, loud singing and an Alice DeeJay throw back, "Better Off Alone," that I got down to, hard. Amazing.

I don't have cable, or a TV that allows me to watch music videos, but I'll be spending my evening tonight scouring YouTube to check out any magical creations they have mastered. Matt and Kim were sure to thank EQX for being one of the first stations to play their beats and I'm thanking them for always putting on such great shows.

I have a picture on my Instagram account of Kim literally walking on the crowd. Username: LinnieP. Check it.

Oh also, this happened. 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The Lumineers - December 2012

This past Monday The Lumineers came to visit Upstate New York for a FREE show at Upstate Concert Hall. "Free?" you ask...Yes. Free. While I don't know how this happened, I do know that I have never seen that parking lot in Clifton Park so FULL, and not of cars, but of people! However, I can confidently say that it wasn't packed because of the no-cost show, but because of The Lumineers. After some research I've found that since tickets started selling for their recent tour,  every US show they have played or will play has sold out, many within hours.

The folk-rockers started as 4 talented musicians on the east coast and because of the industry's not so welcoming attitude the decision was made to head west. By way of Craigslist the band garnered Neyla, who contributes a softer side. Neyla plays the cello, mandolin, piano and has romantic vocals like the goddess she is. There in Denver, they were able to create tunes that would eventually turn them into rock-stars. STARS! Stars that made Upstate Concert Hall look like MSG, in regards to headcount...well, almost!

"Ho Hey," was the song that was recorded and discovered on YouTube, later to be released on some prime-time soapy type show, which later allowed them to release their self titled album in April of this year! Can I just say, "THANK GOODNESS," because this album...oh this album, I don't know how to describe, except it's a story. From, "Flowers in Your Hair," to "Morning Song," it's a perfectly crafted mix of simple rustic folk, rock and love. It's an album where pressing "shuffle" is frowned upon.

 My friend Tucker and I were towards the back, and while it was hard to see I somehow made it happen. The band opened with, "Submarines," played for a good hour and twenty minutes and closed with a Talking Heads cover of "Naive Melody!" Currently my favorite song is, "Dead Sea," and while I wish it could have been a private serenade, I was able to overcome the d-bags who were fist pumping and talking in front of me and hear the sweetest sounds that ever were. "Hi Wesley, I'm really good at the tambourine!" :)

My favorite song of the night, was one I've never heard before, which they titled "our new song." It was a sweet and simple duet with Neyla and Wesley. The lyrics were honest, the melody was ballad-like and to quote the exact description from their website...it was "heart swelling." If rose petals started falling from the sky when they performed it, I wouldn't have been surprised. Please release it soon!

Since Tucker and I were such cooperative concert goers, and because the law of attraction is such a strong force, Tucker was handed a set-list of the show from the bearded beauty sound man. The night was so rad, I couldn't stop smiling. To boot, this all went down less than 7 days after the band's TWO Grammy nominations, I can't help but feel I'm part of music history, in some small insignificant way. GRATEFUL.



I heard them first on EQX when they posted that epic YouTube clip of "Ho Hey," being performed in a candlelit apartment and it forever sealed the deal. I fell in love, with the song, with Wesley, with men with beards...with everything. Later released was the single, "Stubborn Love," and I'm hoping, "Dead Sea," is next. While I was lucky enough to gain access to the coveted list for a guaranteed in to the show, other people were not...BUT I later found out that The Lumineers started to play in the parking lot (and were asked to stop by local cops) for the crowd that waited around but wasn't able to get in and were listening from the parking lot. Fans make it happen and I'm sure the Lumineers are well aware of that.

I am so thankful for the peeps I've come to know at EQX, allowing me to experience some of the coolest shows OF MY LIFE. Monday night added to the list.  EQX I dont' know how you bring in these amazing bands and talent but.....oh wait, yes I do...you're the sheeeeeet, that's how. Keep doin' your thang! 


Friday, October 26, 2012

Mind Blown.

Apparently the people over at Spotify are doing more that just giving their listeners good music at a cheap rate, they are also conducting surveys to draw conclusions about music and it's relationship to 'getting down in funky town,' if you will.

While this is no concert review, I couldn't help but share the ties between music, romance and the freaky-deak.

Make your way over to HuffPo at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/25/better-than-sex_n_2017605.html?utm_hp_ref=women&ir=Women

Feast your eyes and ears on the results. I, for one, am shocked at the findings.

The first CD I ever owned, in 4th grade circa 1994, was Meatloaf's!! It's all making so much sense now...

Peace, love and music
<3

Thursday, October 25, 2012

RockTober.

....see what I did there? ;)

Last night in Saratoga, the elusive Robert DeLong came back to Upstate NY. This was his second visit in less than 2 months. Robert was one of the Pearlpalooza performers, which I so devastatingly missed because of my bout with Lyme's Disease (flipping the bird as I type it). However, this time I was sure not to miss it! Thankfully, I ordered my ticket in advance, as Putnam Den was packed with fans. The turn out for a Wednesday night was unreal and made for an even better experience.

I used the descriptor elusive, because before EQX dropped his hit, 'Global Concepts,' I never heard of him. His inactivity on iTunes and Spotify also make it hard to come across his music. Determined to find more songs, I scoured the interwebz and found most of his jams on Soundcloud.com and his website, Robertdelong.com. His website also allows you to sign up for free music via email which makes it a lot easier when you're in the mood to listen to him.

Alas, what RD lacks in presence on the most popular music downloading sites he makes up for in performance.

Pairing rock and roll beats with electronic, dance/dub bass drops, he proves that it's quite the perfect marraige. This combination can be quoted perfectly with the Paula Abdul song, "Opposites Attract," circa 1988. Hayyy Paula! The catchy music is created right in front of the concert goers eyes, which oozes talent. His lyrics, guitar riffs and badassery (not a word, suck it) on the drums are all recorded on the fly and looped throughout each track while continuously adding more layers. I was in the front for the first half of his performance so I thought the sound at the Den was fine, however after moving to the back for more room to dance, I think the volume could have been louder. That bass though, vibrated to the core ..delicious.

His modesty and humbleness make him attractive to watch, but it's his unique vision that makes you want more . His wifey sets up camp at the back of each venue with a face-painting stand. Fans line up for decorative, glow in the dark designs to pay their respect to his "movement." Robert DeLongs insignia is a big, orange 'X.' He marks his presence everywhere and after researching what it means, I found out that the inspiration behind the simple "X," actually packs a powerful punch.... and I quote, "Truth Movement, the year of the 201X, the esoteric sciences of psychic symmetry." ....riddle me THAT.

Sammy!
Robert just signed with Glassnote Records, a label that also houses Two Door Cinema Club, Temper Trap and Mumford & Sons, to name a few. RD has paired with many of these bands to record dubby remixes that are soothing yet funky to listen to. Robert has been performing since 2010 but still has yet to have his album drop. Fans patiently wait and I predict when his album does release it will be huge for this Seattle native.

Tracks to peep on SoundCloud include: "Sun," "Globle Concepts," "Happy," and "Big Broom."

While I'm not quite tech-savvy enough to link my Instagram (linniep)  or Facebook (Lindsay Kate) to this blog, I invite you to make your way to my pages to view some pics of the show.



Monday, September 17, 2012

Florence and the Machine - September 2012


“I want my music to sound like throwing yourself out of a tree, or off a tall building, or as if you’re being sucked down into the ocean and you can’t breathe,” says Florence Welch. “It’s something overwhelming and all-encompassing that fills you up, and you’re either going to explode with it, or you’re just going to disappear.”

I honestly don't know how to start this post about Florence and the Machine. I was going to allow the performance to sink in a bit more and share later in the week, but I have so much elation and emotion ruminating that if I wait I may explode! I feel, at best, this post will be more catharsis than a review.

First off, for the record, I do not believe in magic. I think it's creepy, for lack of a better term. I never saw Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and those of the like because wizards scare me, casting spells will forever remind me of Voodoo, and even though I admired most every Disney movie; I had more of an affinity to the love story behind each rather than the underlying magical themes. So, with that said, to describe last night ...it was MAGICAL. Florence was bewitching. A Good Witch, like the Glenda of the UK. The magic combined with The Law of Attraction made for a stunning evening, one which I will gladly keep in my heart forever.

Florence and her machine came to visit Upstate NY on September 16th, 2012 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center and it was nothing short of spectacular. Ordering the tickets back in May felt like a decade ago, but it was well worth the wait.

Like every Sunday, I lead my yoga class at Hot Yoga Saratoga. This class, I made a Florence Inspired play list, which included all of my favorites. Some of the other teachers at the studio and myself all had tickets to the show and figured we'd make a whole evening of it. We all took class together, which is rare since our busy schedules usually conflict, but all 5 Bikram Teachers and myself were in the studio at the same time, practicing next to each other. It was a beautiful class too. I really sank into my practice and before I knew it, class was over. I digress...

Donned in gold, sparkles, feathers and Flo inspired attire; we made our way into the venue. My excitement was similar to a 5 year old on Christmas morning.

Since I first heard, 'Dog Days Are Over' I immediately coveted Florence's music. The album, Lungs, consists of so many songs that I've attached to positive and negative memories. When Ceremonials was released it's as if she stole my journal and wrote about my heartache with lovers and family, beautiful love I've experienced and all of life's sublime yet delicate transitions and milestones. Her romanticized lyrics and strong vocals not only pull at your heartstrings but sometimes punch you in the stomach, metaphorically, of course. Florence has a way of captivating the listener in such a way that when her song is playing you can't help but lose your original train of thought or arogantly turn the volume up. For me, her songs take me elsewhere, and as mentioned in the quote above, they oftentimes leave me short of breath. Needless to say, I felt so lucky to be at her show.

Her stage presence was fierce. She had a fearless way of sucking you in. However, she is the opposite of her performance persona. Florence's voice was feminine and humble. She requested the crowd show off their loved ones, friends and family. She also asked each of us to turn to someone unfamiliar and say hello, to create a cohesive bond between concert-goers. I did as requested and sitting behind us was another yoga practitioner! There was no question that Florence's peaceful demeanor transcends off the stage and into the crowd. She is full of love.....she must do yoga. ; )

The "machine" consisted of so many talented people. The harp, the drums, the tambourine are all elements that seem so simple, but visualizing everything together, rather than hearing the songs on my iPod, made for a jaw-dropping experience. Florence's modern movements on stage, bare feet, and her red hair and long limbs wailing about added so much honest drama. Her performance was unique to September 16th, her words, her songs, her laughter was all a once-in-a-life-time event for everyone there last night.

The energy level was high, so high that Florence ran into the crowd and around the orchestra level, and also right in front of our seats! I was able to grab her hand as she skipped by and I was in heaven the rest of the night. I am the epitome of not cool, so touching Florence's hand made me shriek like a 12 year old meeting the Beibs, but WHATEVER, it happened. If you are familiar with the book, The Secret, then you understand what I mean when I say, "I attracted Florence into my life." From the play list, to the admiration, to the clothes we wore, to the crowd I was with...it couldn't have been more perfect.

I could go on and on about this fantastical night, but I'll leave it at that. I believe my mild obsession is healthy. 3 years have passed since the release of her first album and I still listen to her daily. I heard all but one of my favorite songs last night, but she made up for it by grabbing my hand. She is independent, unique and damn creative. She writes her songs from the pit of her stomach and the bottom of her heart, she is a true artist...and those traits are what I admire most.

And although there is so much time to continue to rank my favorite shows, she now hold place number 2, falling right below The Avett Brothers.

Her music is for lovers, for friends, for family and for friends-made-family. I am so thankful that this concert took place, at this exact time in my life. :)

 

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

The Gaslight Anthem - July 2012

The above quote is from Brian Fallon, albeit that's all he shared, making sure too keep his lips sealed in order to save face about his run-ins with famous people over the past couple of years since Gaslight has made it.

Last night the American boys from Jersey brought down the muhhaah-effin house. Brian Fallon, not only the lead vocalist with heart, but a comedian and inspirational talker? Yes, all true. Fallon shared stories about his encounters with Bossman Springsteen and also reflected on their new album being #1 in various countries in Europe! "Not to sound cheesy," he shared, "but if we can do it, proves anyone can!" As an aspiring rock goddess/journalist-extraordinaire, I got the chills! Here is their tweet from a mere 7 hours ago. Check out the hashtag, love!




Handwritten is out NOW in the US and it’s number 1 on iTunes rock chart, let’s do it, let’s go for number 1!!!!!! #followingdreams


Playing  '45' and 'Handwritten' from their new album, Handwritten, released today, along with 'Great Expectations,' and 'Here's Looking At You, Kid' off their 2008 album, The '59 Sound . All those amazing beats that hooked fans in the first place sounded better than ever last night.  The show brought me back to college when I first started listening to them.  Their lyrics all remind me of summer lovin'  and I was blasted back in time when they played, "Old White Lincoln." 

                                              'Like a dream I remember from an easier time..'

Brian, Benny and the two Alex's covered Dave Matthew's, "Crash Into Me"  They played 'Handwritten' for the first time in the states. Casually making history in a strip mall in upstate NY, I'll take it! When they played, "American Slang," I was secretly hoping Bruce would come out of a smoke cloud in the back like he did in New Jersey last year, but I guess he was busy or something?  Instead Brian's stories and impersonation of him sufficed. Fallon's demeanor is so genuine and the passion he has for the music is so apparent. His vocals are an emotional treat and the group dynamic screams, "humble appreciation!" About a third of the crowd last night were fans from Philly and Jersey and after attending my first Gaslight show I can see why their following is so loyal.

I traveled solo to this show. I planted myself fairly close to the stage and held my ground. The show was packed, not as crazy as the Matisyahu/Dirty Heads on Friday, but packed. I was running on 4 hours of sleep from my Sunday-Funday shenanigans, but managed to muster up energy to dance like a rock princess, once the adrenaline kicked in from the vibes of the show I was in heaven.

When I started writing this blog post, only 8 of the 15 songs had downloaded from the new album. Now after first listen, my top picks in no particular order are "Keepsake,"  "Biloxi Parish,"  "45," and "You Got Lucky."  From the buzz it seems "Teenage Rebellion" will be the next single to hit the radio, which is also amazing.  I can't wait to listen to it 107 more times today. I wish I could skip work and drive around with my top down. Soon. : )

On an unrelated note, I breezily walked passed Gavin Rossdale holding his son Kingston, on Broadway in Saratoga Springs yesterday. Gavin is in town opening for Nickelback at SPAC this evening. I think NB should open for Gavin, but that's just my opinion. Gavin, if you saw me too and you're reading this, I love you.

"Play for the lovers." -Another heart-string pullin' tweet from The Gaslight Anthem.