Life Lately | Hangin' On

You know those times when you have so much to do that you don't do any of it? I've had a bit of that lately, mainly just with writing, which is weird because it's one of my favorite things in the world. I feel like I do my best writing at the wee hours of the morning in my bed, but then those are also the times when I'm the closest to sleeping. Usually sleeping beats out writing. I need to change that, especially because I have a lot to catch up on.

It's summer now, which really doesn't have any significance for me anymore, since I'm not in school. What really is summer for non-students, anyway? For those of us that work retail, it's the time of year where teenagers are running around the mall for hours at a time with $20 to waste our time instead of their parents'. It's a joyous time, most definitely. Last year it was around this time when I got hired at Lush (so it's been a year, which is crazy as hell), but this summer feels different. Last summer I was all about finding my place in my new job with my new coworkers in a new company. It's been an amazing year, for so many reasons. So many reasons that if I tried to list them, it would take too much time. But the TL;DR version of it - Lushies, YouTube, new friends, being okay with myself.

The last one is the most important one. It's been almost a year and a half of being single, and I've never felt more confident and sexy in my own skin than I have the last few months. I've made some amazing connections with new friends that I attribute a lot of this to, but it feels good to feel good for once. 

I'm not entirely sure what the significance of these photos are - maybe it's the mood, maybe it was my overall lazy day attitude last week, who knows. This week is going to be much busier for reasons I'd rather leave to the imagination, but it will also be a lot more exhilarating. I'll keep you posted, for sure. 

But for the last bit of business - I'm currently constantly spinning this new record from My Goodness. It's seriously so good you guys. I've only seen them twice and I feel like a doofus for not discovering them sooner. Buy this thing, guys. It's loud and fast and heavy and raw and perfect. I've been shouting out all the lyrics along with Joel Schneider in my car the last two weeks. It's some heavy shit.

What are you recent inner musings? I felt the need to spit out words for no particular reason tonight. Also you seriously need to check out My Goodness. Today's post title is, after all, a track from Shiver + Shake.

Life Lately: Boris Yeltsin and the Tow Truck Incident

So I wouldn't necessarily say that my life has been exciting lately, per say, but it's been... interesting.

I'll start out with where it began last Wednesday. I decided to shoot two shows that night. Why? I don't know. I'm crazy. 

It started at the Showbox SoDo for the James Blake, a.k.a. lanky ginger white guy with the voice of an angel trying to seduce your panties off. Seriously, the guy's voice is pure sex. I managed to get a photo pass for the show the night before, so I was able to go for free thankfully. I'm not a huge fan of SoDo, so I'm never too keen on paying for shows there, especially when they're over $20. I'm cheap.

It's Record Store Day! What are you gonna do about it?

I, sadly, have to work today so I can't go out and celebrate Record Store Day like a good indie music fan, but I did recently buy a couple records from Easy Street so I feel a little bit better about it.

However, for those of you who have nothing to do on this fair Saturday, here are some new records that you should seriously consider listening to and possibly purchasing. Support local music, y'all!

 

Us on Roofs - Self Titled

 These guys come from my hometown, so I've got a lot of Gig Harbor pride for them. I often say how much I hate Gig Harbor, but then I remember about Us On Roofs. On their Facebook page, they describe themselves as "Shoegazing Math Pop/Art Rock," which is pretty damn accurate.

Pickwick - Can't Talk Medicine

 This band played at the Mariners opening day at Safeco Field this year just a couple weeks ago. Again, I'm so proud of these guys. My friend Lucas' brother Alex plays drums and it's awesome. Plus, Galen Disston's voice is just... the bees knees. I can't even describe it because it's so perfect.

PVT - Homosapien

 I saw this Sydney band open for Menomena back in October and I just recently started listening to them again and oof, it's sexy music if I've ever heard it. Heavy basslines and vocals reminiscent of Michael Hutchence (of INXS) but without the cheese factor - me likey. Australia's been bringing it these days.

Hey Marseilles - Lines We Trace

 This was one of the records I picked up at Easy Street a couple of weeks ago. I've listened to it I don't know how many times by now, but it's so so so good. If you earnest, beautiful, indie folk music, I don't why you aren't already listening to Hey Marseilles. They have cello, viola, trumpet, and ACCORDION. AN ACCORDION IN THEIR BAND. Enough said.

Joshua James - From the Top of Willamette Mountain

I saw this guy last month in Portland open for Noah Gundersen and I was blown away. His music has been featured on Sons of Anarchy as well as Noah, and it fits so well. It's gritty but smooth, beautiful and dirty - all kinds of paradoxes, but it makes for a fabulous album. "Queen of the City" is definitely a stand out track. 

Now go support your local record stores, because even in Seattle, we've lost half of them in the last 3 years. We need to keep them open and thriving.

Let me know if you'd like me to do more music-related posts. I don't want to make this a music blog because I write for a couple other ones myself, but I love music so there's no sense in not including it once in awhile. 

Best wishes!

-Abby