A couple months ago, Andrew kept listening to these beautiful songs over and over again, and I quickly learned about Mutual Benefit. As Christmas became near, I was fortunate enough so incredibly lucky to find out about a small house show they were playing in Grand Rapids, so I emailed one of the people who set it up to get a spot on the list. Then, even though it was so super hard not to tell Andrew, I kept my mouth shut and gave him the news in the form of a Christmas gift. The show was last night, and it was so beautiful. Jordan Lee is Mutual Benefit, and right now he's touring with five extraordinary musicians alongside him (including his sister who sang backup vocals) to recreate his album Love's Crushing Diamonds. Wow, we are seriously so lucky we got to attend that show. I'm pretty sure they are already way too big to be playing house shows, and Andrew said it was the best Christmas gift he'd ever received! Thanks for coming, Jordan and crew!
This was the best picture I could get because that lamp back there eventually was unplugged, but you get the idea!
Jordan is a tiny and adorable man who acts and sings equally as adorably as he appears. He told us jokes about soda (we told him that we call it pop) during the set - "someone got hit with a soda can... It's okay though - it's a soft drink." He also very humbly joked with us that they normally play to thousands of people and their last show was on a yacht. And the house we went to was so lovely - there were autumn leaves hanging from the ceiling and owl decorations everywhere (!!). I might not be hip enough for the Bird House, but I'm so glad I got to go there! Thanks to the hosts, if you by chance ever read this.
So if you haven't heard Mutual Benefit, they aren't just like a one hit wonder. The whole album is a stream of gorgeous songs and thoughtful lyrics. You can order that here, through whichever format you prefer (but obviously you should get the vinyl). And they just began their tour, so if they happen to be coming to a city near you, I highly recommend not missing that opportunity!
Advanced Falconry is probably their most popular song - take a listen! Side note: I love the little boy in this video, he reminds me of my brother when he was little! So cute.
I just have a few minutes before I have to get to work to tell you that one of my favorite bands, Real Estate has a new single out for their forthcoming album. The album is Atlas and you can preorder through iTunes (although I'm holding out for the vinyl) and the song is called Talking Backwards. If you've never heard Real Estate, they are definitely worth a listen! They are like dreamy beach rock. Other great songs by them are It's Real and Beachcomber. Enjoy and let me know what you think!
On St. Patrick's Day I got to see Kate Nash in concert for the very first time! I feel like I've loved her forever, so I was ecstatic when I found out she was coming to Grand Rapids! Here are a few pictures: )
She is so beautiful and wonderful and has the best voice you've ever heard. She is also a great advocate for women and mentioned more than once that certain words in her songs were "non-gender specific" and how if you're a woman and you want to make music how you shouldn't be afraid and you should just go for it! All this in a British accent, btw.
Her band was also all girls! As was the opening band, Supercute! If you haven't listened to Kate Nash, take this opportunity to check out her new album, Girl Talk. Her old albums are brilliant as well!
Check out Plan USA, the charity she is working with! They are doing great things.
I finally saw Walk the Line this weekend. Andrew kept suggesting it and I kept saying no. Of course I ended up liking it, and now I'm listening to he and June on Spotify. Then I wanted to see what he looked like when he was younger since I'm only familiar with the photo of him flipping his middle finger. Then I found this! Aww.
And that's all I wanted to share! What does your week hold? And what did you think of the Grammys last night?
It was hard enough to choose ten of the best songs this year, so I don't really want to have to order these awesome songs from 2012 any further. So here they are, in the order I thought of them. I didn't keep up very well on music this year, so thank goodness for Andrew doing all the work for me. But alas, there was some great music out there! Also, disclaimer: some of these were released as singles last year, but the album came out this year so it counts, I say!!!
Regina Spektor "Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)"
I took Andrew to see Regina for our 2 year anniversary! Her voice is just so flawless and beautiful. I think the album grew on both of us throughout the year, but this song was just so catchy! I love it.
Lord Huron "Man Who Lives Forever"
Andrew always has this playing on the rotation in his car. It's hard to choose just one of Lord Huron's songs, but this one is super pretty.
Alex Winston "Velvet Elvis"
We discovered Alex Winston early this year, and haven't been able to stop listening. She has such a unique voice and "Velvet Elvis" and "Sister Wife" are raunchy and fun, super catchy tunes. She has been snubbed on all the lists we've seen so far, so show her some love!
Beach House "Myth"
So beautiful and dream-like. I love to listen to this and just close my eyes and imagine.
Magnetic Fields "Andrew In Drag"
I am proud to say that I discovered this song before Andrew (which doesn't usually happen). So fun, and I get to imagine Andrew dressed in drag when I hear it!
Fanfarlo "Deconstruction"
Fanfarlo was another band we go to see this year. I like this song the most from their release this year. Not much to say besides: listen if you haven't and their set was perfectly creative.
Islands "Hallways"
I love this! I feel like I should be drinking beer in an old saloon with Islands playing this rolling piano song. And then there would be a dual!
CHVRCHES "The Mother We Share"
I'll be darned if Andrew moved this to my list overnight because made me realize how it's cute how she says "proud" in the chorus because she's Scottish. IT IS SO CVTE. (Also, is this the actual music video?)
Fiona Apple "Every Single Night"
I had never really listened to Fiona Apple, like at all, before we found out we'd be volunteering for her concert this summer at Frederik Meijer Gardens. So I started listening and instantly became a fan. You can just almost feel the same emotions she is singing about because she is taking them from a deeper place. Amazing performance, by the way.
Purity Ring "Fineshrine"
I feel like this song might be way too hipster, but other than that, I love it! I will say that I watched a live performance of Purity Ring, and certainly wasn't in love, but the recorded stuff is great!
Bonus Track: The Lumineers "Ho Hey"
I don't know where this song came from, but it's all over the radio! I first discovered it by Shazaming. Is that a word? Anyway, good for these guys, who have been nominated for two Grammy's. Indie music has definitely been slowly taking over!
I would LOVE to hear your favorites! Please indulge me: )
This is a super fun time of year because for those of us who like lists, we get to rank things like music, movies, news, and events from the past year! Andrew and I love all the top album and songs lists and he always forces encourages me to make one. I'm still working on that list, but I've been focusing on all the embarrassing pop songs from the year that made me sing, smile, dance, and sometimes pretend that I wasn't listening. Here are my top 5!
5.Calvin Harris feat. Neyo "Let's Go"
This isn't really an embarrassing one, in my opinion, but very feel-good and fun to listen and dance to!
4. Bruno Mars "Locked Out of Heaven"
This song is so so catchy. I don't really like any other Bruno Mars songs, but I always dance to this when I hear it!
3. Carly Rae Jepsen "Call Me Maybe"
I thought this song was so stupid the first few times I heard it. It had like five words and made zero sense. And oddly enough, the first few times I heard it we were in Croatia! I remember trashing it with Andrew's sister Tory. But then it was overwhelmingly catchy and I gave in. Plus it always puts a smile on Andrew's face, so it was hard not to like!
2. Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj "Beauty and the Beat"
This song definitely has the beat going for it. And it's in Just Dance 4, so I love to dance to it!
1. Taylor Swift "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"
This one is really embarrassing. But have you seen the video? Don't you love hearing the weeeEEEE? Ugh, I listened to this so many times this year it's sick. And it's the only Taylor Swift song I even know the name of! She sucked me in!
So what were your favorite pop tunes this year? A little Katy Perry or Rihanna maybe? Please don't say Chris Brown, I still don't care for him, ugh. But let me know! I'd love to hear: )
I'm so excited because tonight Andrew and I get to officially celebrate our two year anniversary. It was actually two months ago, but my gift to him was a ticket to see Regina Spektor tonight! I've always been aware of her, but never listened much until I met him. Plus, we haven't been to a concert in a while. Have any of you ever seen her live? This should be a great start to the week!
Time for some java so I can stay awake for the show!
Anybody else feeling a little hipster-egotistical because you, like me, loooooved The Format back in the day, and then they reformatted, so to speak, and became Fun.? I saw The Format open for Something Corporate my sophomore year of high school and then "Interventions and Lullabies" became one of my all time favorite albums. Every song is amazing. The Format never got insanely popular, but they were so good! So so good. Even if you do just like Fun., you need to please check out that album! My favorite song from it will always be "The First Single (Cause a Scene)" but there are zero good versions of it on youtube, so I'll refrain from posting one that's not going to get you excited. Check it out on their myspace though. (Does anyone actually still use that??)
Anyway, so then Fun. came along, and I knew they existed and had downloaded their first album that I never really listened to because it just wasn't the same very good. I was home a month or so ago and listening to the radio station that plays the best music in town, so you know, whatever is popular and not too much rap or country. I hear Fun.! Whoa! I mean, hey good for them, but how strange! So I guess this is the new anthem for life now or something:
So who do you like? Fun.? The Format? or all of the above because you love Nate (the vocalist)? Just wanted to throw the discussion out there!
dude, this girl is awesome! i'm kind of bummed i hadn't heard of her sooner, but better late than never, right? she is actually from the detroit area, which makes her even more cool, and she sings about some really interesting subjects. check her out!
"choice notes" - 99% certain this was shot on Heidelberg street in detroit.
fanfarlo:
one of the reasons i love london-based fanfarlo is that they use so many instruments in their music, which is something i appreciate (like beirut!). i have seen them three times, 2x when i went to sxsw and once just a few weeks ago in ann arbor. they put on a really great show and were genuinely excited in ann arbor that there more than 40 people in attendance. anyway, they have two albums out, the most recent called "rooms filled with light." this is one of my favorites from said album:
"deconstruction"
icona pop:
my instructions to you are: turn up real loud and dance! i don't know anything about icona pop. i just love it.
"i love it"
i am also very excited to announce that youth lagoon is coming to michigan on july 13th. he'll be at the crofoot in pontiac. listen if you haven't, and come to the show: )
two days after that, andrew and i will hopefully be volunteering for andrew bird at frederik meijer gardens. it really is a super amazing venue for a concert.
what music can't you get enough of right now? and what's your summer concert schedule hold?
