Weekly Song List: Friday, October 26th

Craft fair mania!!! It's been a crazy week getting ready for the Salem Open Market and (as always) there are a few key songs that have helped keep my energy up. Stylistically, they're all over the place. But for me, they work wonders. 

And so, I give you this week's song list. Enjoy!

1. Paddling Out. Miike Snow: As all of my Twitter followers know, Miike Snow has been one of my favorite bands to listen to while getting ready for this craft fair. Their music blows my mind all the time, but the energy of album Happy To You really set the tone for my week. I also saw these guys live in Portland, ME this past weekend, so that experience is still fresh in my mind. I love this song with all of my heart. They played it live and it was a blast to dance to with a theater full of happy people.

2. Joy Ride. The Killers: From their 2006 album Day & Age. Again, I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something magical about this album that helps me to be super focused on my work, and yet full of energy and spirit. This song is a particular favorite. Love the whole album. Also, Sam's Town holds this same magic for me.

3. In Particular. Blonde Redhead: From their 2000 album Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons. I was completely obsessed with this album in 2000. I remember listening to it over and over again in my studio (I went to art school, so I spent a lot of time in my studio). Such a great album. And again, that inexplicable motivating force.

4. Movement & Location. Punch Brothers: Talk about motivating. This song literally moves forward, and at a great and steady speed. Such a beautiful song. This song was my introduction to Punch Brothers. Upon hearing more of their music though, and seeing them live a few weeks ago, I'm now totally enamored with these fellows. If you haven't heard it yet, listen to this song immediately.

5. Poor Tom. Led Zeppelin: I think that this is the first Led Zeppelin song I've featured on a weekly song list, which is crazy bananas. I have so much love for Led Zeppelin. Oh my sweet goodness. Like "Movement & Location", "Poor Tom" has amazing forward movement to it. The drums!!! I mean, seriously. The drums. Awesome. I recently invested in the Led Zeppelin complete studio recordings box set. Excellent idea on my part.

6. You've Got Her In Your Pocket. The White Stripes: I know that this song has already been featured on one of my weekly song list, but that just goes to show you how much I love it. Jack White and his guitar. I would do a variety of very dramatic things to hear him play this song live, as is. Just Jack and his guitar. Oh my! A beautiful, heartbreaking song.

7. Cooling. Tori Amos: From the 1999 double album To Venus and Back. This particular song is from the live album portion. I initially heard this song on the PBS live music/interview show Sessions At West 54th during which a musician or band would perform and then David Byrne would interview them about their music and creative process. Amazing show. I saw Tori on this show and it completely changed my feelings toward her music. I felt so connected to her creative process and ideas, and I really enjoyed her live performance. "Cooling" was her closing song and it blew me away/made me cry. Gorgeous song. I'd say it's one of my all time favorite songs. On this recording she talks about how she only plays it live "because it just didn't want to be on any of the records". She also refers to it as "one of her best friends of all the songs". I love this idea of her songs taking on their own identities and having a will of their own. Brilliant.

Photo: Miike Snow

P.S. Woah! I wrote so much about that Tori Amos song. I guess I just has a lot to say about it??? It didn't seem like that much when I was writing it, but alas.

Weekly Song List: Wednesday, October 3rd

This week's song list is inspired by some of the live music that I was lucky enough to see (and hear) this week and past weekend.

I saw Jack White not once, but twice. Holy smokes! Amazing, unforgettable shows. Both with his all lady band The Peacocks.

And last night I saw Punch Brothers at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH. Oh my sweet goodness! Incredible show. From the venue to the opening act to the Punch Brothers themselves. Truly fantastic.

But more on that later.

Each song in this week's list connects back to these live shows in one way or another. Be it a song that I heard live, or a song that I listened to in the car driving to one these shows. There's a definite atmosphere to this group of songs. Sort of bluegrass, dark country, and melancholy.

And so, here you have it! 7 songs from me to you.

1. Hell's Bells. Cary Ann Hearst: This lady is my new favorite. I adore her. She and her husband Michael Trent make up a two person band called Shovels & Rope. I saw these two in Boston opening for Jack White and they slayed me. Absolutely blew me away. This song "Hell's Bells" is a foot stomper of a song.

2. Nostalgia. Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo: It's not secret how much I love the BBC Wallander series starring Kenneth Branagh. Well, this is the song used in the beautiful blue and yellow opening credits. Gorgeous! Emily Barker is so talented and soulful. I hope to see her play live some day. I think she'd be amazing.

3. Flippen. Punch Brothers: What can I say about this song and/or about Punch Brothers? I loved their music long before seeing them live, and now that I've had that experience, I'm completely in awe of them. Literal awe. I'm not being hyperbolic here. They're all so crazy skilled with their instruments, and they way that they play off one another and with one another is mind boggling to me.

4. How to Grow a Woman From the Ground. Tom Brosseau: This man writes the most beautiful songs. Opening for Punch Brothers, he came out on stage with his guitar and a harmonica. He told stories (which I loved). And he played this (and many other) bittersweet, beautiful songs.

5. Behind That Locked Door. Yim Yames: From Yim Yames' (Jim James') Tribute To EP. The song was written by George Harrison. Gorgeous song. Lots of air and space in this song. It's also very warm and sweet to me. Jim James' voice melts my heart.

6. Where Did You Sleep Last Night?. Leadbelly: This song is one of the darkest songs I know. From the actual song to the recording of it, to his voice. Haunting, I'd say.

7. Carolina Drama. The Raconteurs: This song rivals "Broken Boy Soldiers" as my favorite Raconteurs song. I have so much love for this song. I'd love to hear this song live. It's a real story song. Amazing atmosphere. And Jack White's voice sounds incredible.

Photo: Punch Brothers

Classic Tale Of Romantic Suspense

I'm re-reading Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca (the "classic tale of romantic suspense") and I'm loving every minute of it. Having read it years ago, and having watched the movie a zillion times, the story and characters are basically etched into my brain and imagination. In the past I've had a hard time seeing the story with any sort of new perspective or insight.

But recently I watched the movie for the first time in years, alone. And for whatever reason (perhaps my mood, perhaps some experience in my own life), I saw the movie in a whole new light. Characters seemed more tangible. More real. And I really related to the main character (who is nameless, other than being the new Mrs. de Winter), and empathized with her. I also saw Maxim very differently. It's hard to get past Laurence Olivier's mind melting good looks, but once you do it becomes clear just how deeply troubled his character is.

Rebecca remains my favorite movie. And as I said before, I'm loving every minute of the book. I highly recommend Rebecca to anyone who loves a good tale of romance and mystery, mixed with a great gothic sensibility and all around fantastic story telling.

Great Jack White Interview With Kennedy

I just watched a great interview with Jack White and Kennedy. Or should I say, Lisa Kennedy Montgomery, which is her full name. I never knew that! You learn something new everyday. 

I also learned that I share my Scottish and Eastern European ancestry with both Jack White and Kennedy. Both are Scottish, while Kennedy is Romanian and White is Polish. I'm Scottish, Irish, Polish, possibly Romanian or Hungarian. It's often hard to pin this stuff down. My brother has been researching our family ancestry for years and passes on new tidbits as he discovers them. I find it all perfectly fascinating.

The interview took place at Lollapalooza which in turn took place last weekend in Chicago.

Weekly Song List: Wednesday, August 8th

This week's "Weekly Song List" is (as promised) on a Jack White theme. As I started making my list of potential songs, I learned some fairly interesting things.

First off, choosing 7 Jack White songs for this purpose is (while not impossible, I suppose) difficult enough for me to have to take, like, four Nesquik breaks. I thought my brain was going to explode from the pressure. Too many great songs to choose from.

Second, when confronted with this problem, one must be decisive: dedicate this song list to The White Stripes (and The White Stripes alone), and allow for 2 songs per day instead of 1. Problem solved.

Keep in mind that Get Behind Me Satan is one of my all time favorite albums, so I could have included every song from that album on this list. But alas, I did not. What I did do (though) is realize how much I love Jack at the piano, and how much I love his ballads, especially the ones about love and girls and vulnerability and feeling lonely.

And so, here you have it! 14 of my favorite White Stripes songs. Note that instead of naming the artist immediately after the song title I've listed the album title, for your reference.

1. You're Pretty Good Looking (For a Girl). De Stijl: My first favorite White Stripes song. My (then) boyfriend and I had a mutual crush on Meg and Jack. And on the De Stijl inspired artwork.

2. Truth Doesn't Make a Noise. De Stijl: I love the lyrics. And everything else about the song.

3. The Same Boy You've Always Know. White Blood Cells: This is one of those songs that I love about girls and vulnerability.

4. Hotel Yorba. White Blood Cells: Catchy as all get out. Great to do the twist to.

5. You've Got Her In Your Pocket. Elephant: Another one of those songs about love and girls and vulnerability. I also love the simplicity. Just Jack and the guitar. I would do a variety of dramatic things to hear him play this live.

6. I Want To Be the Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart. Elephant: I think the title says it all.

7. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself. Elephant: Brilliant cover of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David song made popular by Dionne Warwick.

8. My Doorbell. Get Behind Me Satan: Jack at the piano. Love it. It's also just plain cool. And snappy. Very snappy.

9. Little Ghost. Get Behind Me Satan: Hmmm? Mountain music + mandolin + love song about a ghost = perfection, oozing with charm. Also, one of my favorite songs to sing along to.

10. Instinct Blues. Get Behind Me Satan: I love the bluesy grind of this song. And Jack's voice sounds ridiculously good. Also, it's funny. "Even strawberries get it."

11. I'm Lonely (But I Ain't That Lonely Yet). Get Behind Me Satan: Again, Jack at the piano. With the exception of one bit of lyrics that makes me chuckle ("she's homely, and she's cranky, and her hair's in a net. I'm lonely, but I ain't that lonely yet"), I find this song totally heartbreaking.

12. A Martyr For My Love For You. Icky Thump: One of my all time favorites. I love the organ, the heaviness of the sound, and the narrative. A man saving the girl he loves from himself. Swoon. And sad. Very sad.

13. Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn. Icky Thump: This song is so full of majesty and a grand sort of atmosphere. And as a (supposed) descendent of Scotch-Irish gypsies (???), I also love the Celtic influence on this one.

14. Let's Shake Hands (Live). Under Great White Northern Lights: I believe this song was the very first White Stripes 7" single. The afore mentioned rendition is from the 2009 live album Under Great White Northern Lights. Great energy. Jack's guitar is killer, and Meg plays her drums with lots of gusto. It's so good!

Photo: cover of The White Stripes 2005 album Get Behind Me Satan

Seeing Jack White Live (Again), How Lucky Am I?

Very lucky indeed. I'm so excited I can barely stand it. And it's all happening very soon, so I'll be writing a full review and complete song list shortly.

And in honor of this, my second Blunderbuss live show, this Wednesday's "Weekly Song List" will be on a Jack White theme.

Hope you have a great week!!!

Hitchcock's Rebecca Never Ceases To Amaze Me

I watched Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca last night for the zillionth time. As the title suggests this movie never, ever ceases to amaze me. Joan Fontaine is the epitome of "perfectly lovely", and Lawrence Olivier is ridiculously handsome, gentlemanly, and charming.

And then there's Mrs. Danvers. One of the great movie villains.

Being one of my all time favorites (if not my one-and-only all time favorite), I'm certainly biased.

But in my opinion if you enjoy: gothic things, mysteries in general, black and white movies, movies that take place in creepy mansions, movies that take place on the coast of Cornwall, movies with awesome villains, movies with awesome female villains, Lawrence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, psychological thrillers, ghosts, (and so on) you've simply got to watch Rebecca. 

Weekly Song List: Wednesday, July 25th

And here you have it! My very first weekly song list. Feel free to leave any questions/comments in the "comments" section, and enjoy!

1. Is David Bowie Dying??. The Flaming Lips + Neon Indian: the Lips played this song when I saw them live this past October in Portland, ME. It was my favorite song of the whole show. Amazing song. I also love Neon Indian.

2. Superstar. Sonic Youth: completely brilliant cover of The Carpenters song, which also happens to be a completely brilliant song in its own right. Haunting. Dark. Romantic. Beautiful.

3. Optimistic. Radiohead: awesome, lush, gorgeous song from Radiohead's 2000 album Kid A.

4. Broken Boy Soldiers. The Raconteurs: this is the song that got me hooked on The Raconteurs. I love the momentum of the whole thing. It makes me feel like I'm riding horseback in some Western, or running at a great speed through the woods. Great song to listen to while driving.

5. Alesund. Sun Kill Moon: I heard this song during an episode of Sons of Anarchy. It was very well placed, and I think I'll forever think of that scene when I hear the song. And, I've just discovered that this "band" is actually a moniker for Mark Kozelek, formerly of Red House Painters (a favorite of mine from way back). He writes some of the most heartbreaking songs.

6. Dark Days. Punch Brothers: from The Hunger Games original soundtrack. Beautiful song. I just love these guys. Can't wait to see them live in a few months!

7. Night After Night. Laura Marling: every time I hear this girl I have to remind myself that she's only 22. She has so much soul and emotion and vitality in her voice. I know that age doesn't matter, really. She's just so accomplished and poised. She's my new favorite. She's magic!

Photo: The Flaming Lips.

Punch Brothers In October + Chris Thile On NPR

I'm very excited to share that I'll be going to see Punch Brothers live in concert in October! And I have fourth row seats. Crazy. Unbelievable. Amazing. I can't wait!

Chris Thile (second from the right in the photo above) was interviewed recently on NPR's Here and Now and it was a real treat. He was so funny and down to earth. And charming in his enthusiasm for the mandolin.

Oy vey! Funny? Charming? I think I may have a crush on this fellow.

Jack White Roseland, Nine (Or So) Weeks Later

I can't believe it's been nine weeks since I saw Jack White and his all male band The Buzzards at Roseland Ballroom in New York City. Or that it's taken me so long to write about it. But then again, it did take me seven (or so) weeks to write about Blunderbuss.

Maybe I just need somewhere around two months to fully process all things Blunderbuss related???

Whatever the case may be, I can say with absolute confidence that this show was one of the best I've ever seen. All of the elements were there. The stage was bathed in a gorgeous, cool, hazy blue light. The setup was beautiful, thoughtful, and thorough without feeling contrived.

A banner with three very tall vertical stripes fell as the backdrop during the show opener "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground". The crowd went completely insane. I'm a tall, strong girl who can hold my own, but it was a little touch and go there for a minute. I was maybe 6 people from the stage, and the pressure from the crowd surge was intense. The guy standing next to me was out of his mind with happiness. It was pretty endearing.

The Buzzards looked fantastic in their suit vests and jackets. Over the course of the show, I got a crush on the tambourine-player-come-background-singer-come-sometimes-mandolin/piano-player. He's a real cutie, and he totally rocked the heck out that tambourine.

And then there was Jack.

Jack owned three different looks over the course of the show. A very cool long-ish black jacket with a white (or very, very light blue?) stripe across the chest. A gorgeous, perfectly crisp, perfectly fitted, very rich, maroon/burgundy colored button down shirt. And a plain black t-shirt for the encore.

All were accompanied by the most classic yet awesome black jeans and equally awesome black belt (see photo above). He also wore some very snazzy shoes. Shiny and black. Or boots, they may have been ankle boots. Booties? Are they called booties when men wear them? I hope not.

And now to the music. What can I say, really? It was unforgettable! And so ridiculously good that it seems silly for me to even try and explain how or why it was good. The Buzzards were so awesome. I feel lucky to have seen them.

Every song was fantastic and special in its own way, but my personal favorites were:

1) Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground (amazing opening song)
2) Trash Tongue Talker (I love Jack at the piano!)
3) I Cut Like a Buffalo (heavy and dark)
4) Top Yourself (need I explain?)
5) Catch Hell Blues (one of my favorite White Stripes songs)
6) Hello Operator (lots of crowd involvement on this one)
7) You Know That I Know (Jack charmed the heck out this song)
8) Blunderbuss (heartbreaking and beautiful)
9) Take Me With You When You Go (this song is so dynamic, and my favorite tambourine player was on the piano for this one, which was exciting and fun to watch)

To see a the full song list for the show click here.

An interesting tidbit. I treated my 23 year-old niece to the show. I come from a big family, I'm the youngest of seven, so I became an aunt at a young age. My niece and I are more like sisters, and we have a lot in common.

And so, I was not surprised that she fell completely in love with this music. It was sort of her introduction to Jack White, having never really listened to The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, or The Dead Weather. She did (though) buy Blunderbuss when it came out, so she was familiar with those songs. She loved the whole show. Even (and in some instances, especially) the songs that she didn't know, which I think really speaks to how well they were played and performed, and how much feeling was put into every sound. And the experience of the whole thing. Like we were all in it together. Yes, Jack and his Buzzards were on an elevated stage and they were bathed in light, but there was something unusually intimate and (dare I say?) tangible about the whole thing.

Great show. Great pierogies at Veselka before the show. It's crazy, there are a handful of things that I miss about living in NYC, and Veselka is hands down the most missed. But I digress.

Photos by the awesome Jo McCaughey.

Seven (Or So) Weeks Of Blunderbuss

It's been about seven or so weeks since the release of Jack White's solo debut Blunderbuss, and I'm finally ready to write about it.

I'll start by saying that I feel like I've been listening to the album non-stop for these seven or so weeks. Especially while I'm driving. Sometimes the whole thing. Sometimes select songs. Sometimes select songs on repeat.

My current favorites are: "Freedom At 21", "Trash Tongue Talker", "Take Me With You When You Go", "I Guess I Should Go To Sleep", "Missing Pieces", and the title track, "Blunderbuss" (which is my favorite favorite). I'm loving the album as a whole, but these are the songs that I find myself craving.

I wrote a post about the word blunderbuss earlier this Spring, before the album was released, and I think that the title is spot on. There's something explosive about many of the songs, but they also have a sort of romance and a bittersweet, brutal allure. There are three songs in particular that are (lyrically) quite violent. One of these is the first single from the album, "Love Interruption".

And then there are songs like "Weep Themselves To Sleep" and "Blunderbuss" which melt my heart every time I hear them.

One of my favorite lyrical bits is from the album opener "Missing Pieces": "Sometimes someone controls everything about you, and when they tell you that they just can't live without you, they ain't lying. They'll take pieces of you, and they'll stand above you, and walk away. That's right, and take a part of you with them".

Musically, Blunderbuss is fascinating. Rich and spatially dense, while still offering some breathing room in between sounds. I love all of the piano, and Jack's guitar is fantastic, especially on the album closer "Take Me With You When You Go". What a surprising gem of a song. As it begins, you think that you know how it's going to be, and then before too long it's changed into something altogether different, new, and exhilarating.

Jack White's solo debut Blunderbuss is available now in record stores, and online (or in person, if you're in Nashville!) at Third Man Records. 

Yes, I Too Love Downton Abbey

Like the rest of Western civilization, I love Downton Abbey. I watched the first season this past January, and then watched the second season when it aired on PBS.

I did (though) miss the Christmas special when it aired, thereby missing the interviews with cast members that were aired immediately following the special.

I watched the Christmas special a few days later online, but the interviews were nowhere to be seen. So I turned to Google. I found a few interviews, which were fun to see.

And I found this lovely photo of of Dan Stevens, Michelle Dockery, and Sophie McShera (otherwise known as Matthew, Lady Mary, and Daisy) at Derby Day at Epsom Downs on June 4th, 2011.

Isn't Sophie McShera's dress divine!?!

The Colbert Bump + 1000 Blue Helium Balloons

I love watching Stephen Colbert and Jack White together. Colbert is always in perfect form. And it's great to see White play the "straight man" to Colbert's grammy-obsessed-funny-man-host.

And so, when I saw that Jack White had been on The Colbert Report on April 26th, I was one very happy girl. Not only was the "interview" priceless and very funny, but Jack White and his all male band The Buzzards performed "Freedom At 21" , which is one my favorite songs on Blunderbuss.

The two men discuss the famous "Colbert Bump", the Grammys (of course), and the recent Third Man Records release of 1000 blue helium balloons into the sky.

And if you haven't yet watched the Colbert/White 2000 and 1...and 1: A Rock Odyssey and/or "Catholic Throwdown" from last Summer, I tell you. Watch them immediately. They're so, so good. And you'll get to hear Colbert sing his "chart adjacent" 80s synth-pop hit "Charlene (I'm Right Behind You)". Also priceless. 

P.S. I was driving around today (a full three days after writing the above portion of this post), running errands, listening to Blunderbuss, when I remembered something that made me burst into a fit of the giggles. During the afore mentioned Colbert/White "interview" on April 26th, Stephen Colbert asks Jack White if there was any way that he could to do some backing vocals on the album (post-release of said album!?!) He then goes on to sing these amazing, hilarious background style vocals. They even show a clip of his singing edited into the "Love Interruption" music video.

Very funny stuff. I'm giggling still, as I write.

Jack White At Roseland Ballroom, May 21st

As you may by now know, I was lucky enough to see Jack White perform live in NYC at the Roseland Ballroom a couple of weeks ago. I'm going to write a full post about the show very soon, but for now I'd like to share a list of the songs played.

Suffice it to say, the show the was unforgettable.

And so, here you have it! A full list of songs played by Jack White and his all male band The Buzzards on May 21st, one very special night for myself and thousands of other deliriously happy people.

Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
Missing Pieces
Sixteen Saltines
Hypocritical Kiss
I Cut Like a Buffalo
Trash Tongue Talker
Top Yourself
Two Against One
Black Math
Hello Operator
Weep Themselves to Sleep
You Know That I Know
Blunderbuss
Ball and Biscuit

*Encore*
Freedom At 21
Steady As She Goes
Take Me With You When You Go
Catch Hell Blues
Seven Nation Army

Photo by the beautifully talented: Jo McCaughey

Jack White + Gary Oldman = Something Fantastic

Jack White's long awaited solo album Blunderbuss has been released. It's a real keeper, but I'll write more on that later. This post is about Jack White's recent American Express Unstaged live show, directed by none other than the great Gary Oldman. The performance was streamed live on Vevo this past Friday. I didn't watch because (as you may know) I'll be seeing Mr. White live for myself later this Spring and I didn't want to ruin the surprise of the whole thing. This shouldn't keep you from giving it a look, though! I've read lots of rave reviews, and from what I can tell from stills, the stage is bathed in a perfect hazy blue. 

Leading up to the Unstaged show, a series of trailers were released, featuring both Mr. White and Mr. Oldman. I'm particularly fond of this trailer-come-inside-look which has footage the two men wrestling, driving around and talking, and of Jack White and his band performing a couple of really great songs in what looks like a music room of sorts at Third Man Records? I recognize the wall mounted elephant head from White's American Pickers episode.

May 26th: As a update, it seems that the entire American Express Unstaged show is no longer available for viewing, but select songs are available on Vevo. My favorite is "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground". 

I'm Loving Punch Brothers Right Now

I'm completely in love with the song "Movement and Location" by the band Punch Brothers. It's so unbelievably good. I heard it on WERS (one of my favorite local radio stations) about a week or two ago, and thought "I'll just buy the one song now, and see how I feel". I'm totally going to buy the whole album. On vinyl, if I can find it. 

I should also mention (in light of my previous post) that Punch Brothers have a song called "Dark Days" on The Hunger Games soundtrack. Also on the soundtrack are such artists as Arcade Fire, The Secret Sisters, and Neko Case.

Jack White + Love Is Blindness

Just a tidbit about Jack White's cover of the U2 song "Love is Blindness". It's so fantastic! It's dark, moody, sensual, and fairly feedback-ish. Which I love.

The song is part of the full album cover of U2's early 90s classic Achtung Baby, and it features not only Jack White, but other personal favorites, like The Killers and Depeche Mode. And to boot, all proceeds from digital sales go to Concern Worldwide, Ireland's largest aid and humanitarian organization.

On a related though completely different note, I really enjoy this photo of Jack White. I love a man in a suit vest and fedora.

Jack White + Evan Peters Sort Of Look Alike

I feel like Jack White and Evan Peters sort of look alike. Their coloring is (clearly) different, but they have a similar boyish handsomeness.

Photo of Evan Peters by Lauren Dukoff as seen in L'Uomo Vogue.

Photo of Jack White as seen on the March 3rd episode of SNL (no, I'm not a time traveller...I just love this photo so much that I thought "why not go back in time and change up a post I wrote 3 months ago!?")

Jack White + the Slow Build

My appreciation for Jack White has been a slow (albeit steady) build.

As I wrote in my post from a couple of years ago about The Dead Weather, I saw The White Stripes on Charlie Rose a few years ago and I really liked Jack White and the things that he had to say about his music and the creative process.

The White Stripes have been on my radar since their album De Stijl. It was our closing time music at the cafe where I worked during college, and we all loved it so much. It was like a big, noisy present after a long day of making latte after latte after latte. 

I've loved Jack White's other bands, like The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather. I was even lucky enough to see The Raconteurs live when they toured with Bob Dylan a few years back. They were amazing, totally killed it (in a good way), and they looked phenomenal. I really love their style.

I even bought The White Stripes' 2005 album Get Behind Me Satan because I loved the cover so much. The apple. The red, white, and black. Jack White's sinister-ish facial hair. Meg's coifed do. I loved it then and I love it now. In fact, it's one of my all time favorite records. It's extremely rare that I love an entire album, and this is one of those rarities.

But somehow (and I don't fully understand it myself), my love of The White Stripes never stretched beyond De Stijl, Get Behind Me Satan, and the occasional song. Until now.

I watched the documentary Under Great White Northern Lights this past week. The film follows Jack and Meg White on their 2007 tour of Canada, which would ultimately be The White Stripes swan song. As I understand it, this tour preceded what was supposed to be a full US and UK tour for their album Icky Thump. Their last show was played in Southhaven, MS. The band stopped recording (with the exception of their cover of "Rated X" for the Loretta Lynn tribute album), and officially disbanded earlier this year.

Under Great White Northern Lights is one of the most sensual, aesthetically pleasing, and entertaining tour documentaries I've ever seen. It was beautifully shot. A lot of black and white (and red, of course). The live music performances are so, so good. Oh my goodness! I felt like I was there, you know? I may even like their live versions of songs more than the studio versions. There's a raw intensity and energy that I love, and White's voice has so many different layers to it that really come out in the live performances.

And not only did they perform the usual big shows, but in the afternoons (before the big shows) they performed a series of "side shows" in unusual or unexpected locations, giving people little to no notice (think local bowling alley, or city bus). Like an impromptu acoustic performance of "Apple Blossom" for (what looked like) one family with an absolutely adorable bouncy baby, at the Wildcat Cafe in Yellowknife. Very sweet.

I highly recommend this film to anyone who loves Jack White or live music documentaries in general. The duo perform such personal favorites as "I'm Slowly Turning Into You" and their atomically charged/very moving cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene". The movie closes with an extremely touching performance of "White Moon", with Jack at the piano, and Meg at his side fighting back the tears. Eventually those tears win out, and Jack hugs/snuggles Meg in very sweet and tender way. It's an intense and bittersweet ending to what I think might be the best film I'm seen this year.

And I'm happy to say that I now own it as part of my ever growing live-music-documentaries collection. And I'm sure I'll be watching it plenty this holiday season while I get ready for craft fairs galore! More on that later.

Flaming Lips At The State Theater

Monday, October 24th, what a night! After work, I hopped in my car armed with two new mixes, both chock full of Flaming Lips songs.

A couple of hours later I was in Portland, Maine at the State Theater watching Wayne Coyne rolling around (on top of) the audience in his magic human hamster ball. It was so awesome!

Having read about the Lips' live shows, I knew a bit of what to expect, but it was so much more theatrical, beautiful, and colorful than I could have imagined.

The show was wicked noisy, which I loved. They sounded fantastic. "See the Leaves", "Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung", and (what I'm fairly sure was) "Is David Bowie Dying??" were my faves. "Do You Realise??" was also amazing, of course. It closed the show. Someone fainted a few rows ahead of me. Very dramatic and confusing.

There were tons of oversized balloons, confetti, oversized balloons filled with confetti, green lasers, and plenty of fog/smoke (from fog/smoke machines, of course). Wayne Coyne was wearing his usual dress pants and button down shirt, as well as a very cozy looking fur-type neck warmer/stole. He was quite a joy to watch, let me tell you. Very funny. Charming. Sweet. He has a wizard-meets-circus-ring-master kind of vibe, with a smidge of Fraggle, and/or any member of The Electric Mayhem.

I adore the Muppets, so any comparison to Fraggles or Muppets is a huge compliment! I really, really love Muppets. They're charming and adorable! I think this vibe has a lot to do with his wildly curly hair, and general playfulness and energy.

I'm still buzzing from it. Can't wait to see them next time they're in my neck of the woods!

The above photo was taken by a friend of mine who was also at the show (we went together, and danced our hearts out!) It captures the balloons, confetti, and fog/smoke very well. Beautiful, and magical. Thanks for the pic!