Some Rock 'n Roll

Awhile ago I compiled a list of all the bands that I have gone to see live. Now, I realize there are people who have seen many more bands than this.. but I also realize there are people who have seen much less.. so it doesn't matter.  These are all bands that tour and have a professional album. I've seen a lot of local bands, but I didn't feel like listing them all. oh yeah, and not all of the opening bands are listed, b/c they were either too terrible or not important enough for me to remember (though I usually forget the name, the experience is never lost, so we can still laugh)  Also, like all of life's experiences, I could probably tell an interesting story about most any concert on this list. So, here we go:

Old 97's

Garbage
U2
Weezer - 2
Tenacious D
Super Furry Animals
Jimmy Eat World
Pete Yorn
AM Radio
Cursive
Wilco

Jay Farrar
Ben Kweller
Pearl Jam
Idlewild
The Sounds - 2
Kill Hannah - 2
Ozma
Nada Surf
Rooney
The White Stripes
Quintron and Miss Pussycat
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Midtown
Reggie and the Full Effect
The Strokes
Eagles of Death Metal
The Get Up Kids
Maritime
Ultimate Fakebook
Mewithoutyou - 2
Anberlin
The Faint - 2
Bright Eyes
Chris Isaak
Natalie Merchant
The Blood Brothers
Blood, Sweat, & Tears
The Appleseed Cast
Michelle Branch (the only thing we could find on my 21st bday....)
Spoon - 2
Ben Folds - 2
The Old Canes - 4
Midday Ramblers - 3
Shiny Toy Guns
Civil Twilight - 2
Placebo
The Billions - 2
Koufax
A Silent Film - 3
Brendan Benson
Dropsonic - 2
The Foo Fighters
Cake
Smashing Pumpkins
The Airborne Toxic Event - 2 (AMAZING)
Minus the Bear

There are also a few that I don't even want to admit that I've seen b/c of circumstances like waiting for the next act and the band was so bad the guy at the door let me in for free. *cough*Simple Plan*cough* oh god, that was terrible.


Moving on, I've started thinking about the bands that are still on my must see list. There are only two bands that really sticks out in my mind: Modest Mouse and Death Cab for Cutie. I've always missed out when they've been in town, and they are probably the last bands I would LOVE to see. (Actually I could've gone to see them in Lawrence with Nikki, but a certain guy had told us he could get us tickets to The Mars Volta, so we held out on spending our money. Yeah.. That didn't work out.) A few others that come to mind: Beck, Jimmy Eat World again (its been awhile,) The Swell Season or Glen Hansard, Silversun Pickups...

The others are more or less older bands that I just feel wouldn't do themselves justice as they would've done back in their prime. So, here is a list of concerts I would've liked to see at the band's peak, if time was no object:

Led Zeppelin (OF COURSE)
The Clash
Queen
The Beatles (obviously)
Nirvana
Beastie Boys! (RIP MCA)
The Pixies
The Rolling Stones (early years, just for good rock 'n roll measure)
Rage Against the Machine (hell yes!)

There are SO many other bands from the past that I would've liked to see, but I couldn't begin to list them all. I know you're sitting there coming up with a list of those I haven't mentioned, but lets just say I would've liked to have taken in every decade. That covers a lot of bases. A lot of stuff from 1965-1975, though. Think of an artist in that time period, and I probably would've liked to have seen them. For instance, Jefferson Airplane. Jimi Hendrix. Bob Dylan. Ok, you get the idea... Similar idea with the punk/post-punk era. That would be kind of fun to experience, right?

Seasons of Mist

Well, congratulations to the US Central Plains for finally jumping into the seasonal routine. I can finally wear a jacket outside, and the fall foliage is becoming quite lovely. Thankfully I was able to take a trip to the North and East this October (the most precious of months,) and was able to take in an Autumn to remember. I'm beginning to miss the magical region that is central Pennsylvania, with is winding roads, gentle mountains, deep streams, and old buildings dotting the countryside.

Glorious Autumn! Besides the colorful scenery, there is always so much to do in the Fall. Did you know there are people that have never been to a pumpkin patch? I was appalled! Who are these people, and where do I find them? I will take them on a tractor-pulled wagon right now! There's apple picking and cider, fall festivals, and bonfires. Anything to get you out in a hoodie in that crisp and chilly weather!

The most exciting part of October obviously comes at the end.. the very end. I belong to that population of adults who may have grown up, but still carry a strong love for the holiday of Halloween. In fact, I think my love for it may have grown as I've aged, since it was mainly about the candy and trick-or-treating when we were kids. I've never been into the grotesque, living-dead, bloody ax-murderer stuff. My parents never allowed us to get into that sort of thing, and I now kind of agree with them. To me, Halloween is a mystical time for spirits and creatures, and letting your imagination thrive. It is easy to feel the energy of its Samhain origins in the October night chill. In Celtic tradition, this was a time when the border between the living and the Otherworld became thin. So for some, the tradition of warding off bad spirits by wearing costumes to mimic or scare, has turned into a commercial horror-fest. However I, like many others, like to take this time as an opportunity to let the imaginative spirits inside come alive, and become what I possibly couldn't be any other time of the year.

 I was very pleased when I threw my first Halloween party back in 2004. Not only did people show up to carve pumpkins beforehand, but everyone came back dressed in full costume...some of which had taken a lot of thought. After that, the annual costume party was something to look forward to every October. Well, until everyone moved away.

And of course, there are the movies. This is the time of the year when I will watch anything with a little mysticism and spook. Anything to get me in the spirit. That said, even though it is now a 17 year old Disney movie, I still have to watch Hocus Pocus each year. Its just a must. I've already gotten it out of the way this year with my brother and sister-in-law in Pennsylvania (they even made up a drinking game - drink whenever you're ashamed to be watching it. ha!) Other good bets:

Spooky Musts
Legend of Sleepy Hollow
The Haunting
The Omen
Dracula

Witchy Goodness
The Craft
The Witches of Eastwick
Practical Magic

Harmless Fun
Young Frankenstein
The Halloween Tree
Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Beetlejuice
Death Becomes Her

You might be wondering about the absence of the most common extreme horror flicks. I'm not really a big fan of blood and gore. I like supernatural suspense and bizarre twists, just not really crazed maniacs with chainsaws. Ooh. But I will say that Shaun of the Dead is a nice little addition to any movie night this time of the year!

Happy Haunting!!

Writer's Block

There are times when I am afraid of the writing process. Afraid of the blank page staring back at me, and the unsatisfying words that I know I'll inevitably scrawl across its surface. I have too many stories built up in my head from years of pushing them back again. When I try to focus on one such plot, another emerges with a greater sense of urgency, until their paths are crossed, and I'm all muddled up. I want to focus. To make my brain stand still for a moment, and really walk through a world I have created. I feel so old, like my time and opportunity are slipping away. I've never had the desire to write a book. Only strings of lovely lines that linger on the tongue and make a print in your brain. Who am I to think that I could amount to anything? When have the goals of a daydreamer ever come true?