another reason to love trampled by turtles!

Here is the Duluth, Minnesota bluegrass band covering Arcade Fire. I get goosebumps every time I watch this.


Trampled By Turtles covers Arcade Fire

Weekend Reflection

 

Because I wasn't going to bring my nice new camera to the concert on Saturday, and because my other digital camera is broken, the only source for photo-taking was my cell phone, which takes pretty good pictures for a phone, but to share those pictures I have to find the cord that will connect my phone to my computer, and I don't feel like doing that right now (I will sometime soon though!). I did, however, bring my nice new camera to the hotel suite we stayed at the night of the concert, and I really like the above picture. It's of my best friend from high school, the one who said this.

Weekend Reflections is a blog where people share photos of reflections they took over the weekend, and I've never shared there, but this one would definitely be appropriate.

watch those hands!

I am amazed by this band, and particularly by this performance - how are they able to each play their instruments at such a quick pace, yet stay in synch, and then on top of it sing a harmonized chorus? Wow. I'm seeing them play in downtown Minneapolis this Saturday :)

"silk clothes and frilly clothes is just a waste of money...."

If you're in the mood for some southern bluegrass, here you are:



Here's the recorded version, which I think is a little better: PLAY

Parr for Pres!

I know I've mentioned him on here before, but he's always worth mentioning again, because Charlie Parr is so great. He's a Minnesota-based bluegrass/folk artist, and a Winona favorite. The first video below, actually, was shot at my favorite bar in Winona, and I am pretty sure I was at that particular show. On top of being incredibly talented, Charlie Parr is also incredibly down to earth. Even though he's toured Australia and becoming quite well-known, he doesn't lose his modesty, his coolness. And he doesn't sell out to large venues.

At his shows people often yell out "Parr for Pres," and there's even a sign at Ed's bar (where the first video is shot) that says that same thing. As I'm becoming more and more infuriated with our government, I'm thinking Parr for Pres sounds pretty damn good :)

Oh yeah, I'm going to see him tonight! After a long week of being housebound with a toddler, this mama is ready to have a drink (or four) and stomp her feet...



After getting all sweaty from dancing so much, this song is always appreciated, both for its beauty and its slower beat:

Bluegrass + Winona + Song from Fight Club!

The Trampled by Turtles show that we went to in Winona last weekend was AMAZING. The room was filled with so much energy, and that's because those guys are incredibly talented. I danced for pretty much a straight 1 1/2 hours, since they move from one fast-paced song to the next without much of a break. They don't allow you to stop moving! It was awesome. I didn't take a video or anything (because that would have required me to stand still for too long), but I did get a decent photo:
The guy in the overalls on the far left has amazingly fast fingers. Oh, and I almost forgot, they covered one song during the show - "Where is mind?" by the Pixies! This is the end song of Fight Club, and a song that a college roommate (and best friend) and I have been obsessed with since I can remember. Of course, I had to call her and hold up the phone. Ironic, that they would cover just that song. Well, in their encore, they did some Charlie Parr songs, but he is another bluegrass artist also from Duluth, Minn., and the band actually knows him. Anyway, it was a great night.

Bluegrass + Winona = Love

Gosh, I should really go take a shower while Evelyn is still asleep, but I am just bursting with excitement because J and I are going to Winona tonight to see Trampled by Turtles. Woooohooooo!

Maybe you're like, what? Why is that so exciting that it gets a Woooohoooo after it?

Well, first of all, any visit to Winona, Minnesota, is bound to be awesome. I spent all four of my undergraduate years there (2006-2010), and it is just an amazing town. It's surrounded by bluffs and organic farms, and the town is filled with non-chain, non-corporate coffee shops, bookstores, and bars. And it has a co-op filled with everything organic and sustainable. And, there are so many great and interesting people there. And (last "and," I promise), the town is just filled with my favorite memories. Winona is where I "grew up." (The growing up that you do from age 18 -22, which, for me, was a lot).

Secondly, Trampled by Turtles is an awesome bluegrass band. Bluegrass is my favorite music, and, of course, I first fell in love with it in Winona. So this is a perfect match.

Third, all four of Evelyn's wonderful grandparents are taking care of her so J and I will actually be on a real date (Ha, it sounds like Evelyn needs four adults to control her. They're not all watching her at the same time, of course).

And, our hotel has a hot tub.

And, there will be some great people there that I haven't seen in too long of a time.

And (yeah, I lied about the "and"), there is 100% chance of snow tonight (we'll be off the road before it starts), so what's more fun than bluegrass and bar-hopping and walking the streets of a snow-covered town with the one you love? Mmmmmm..... I can't think of anything right now. Okay, must shower. Damn, literally, as I typed that last sentence, I heard Evelyn bounce in her crib. I'd find a video of Trampled for you but don't have time so go Google!

"Livin' up, honey, it ain't that bad"

Everyone who knows me knows that I would rather not listen to music than listen to country music--and by country, I mean the pop-country that every other radio station plays--I think of Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, etc., etc. Ugh. I don't know why I can't stand it, but I can't. I do, however, love bluegrass music. I don't just enjoy listening to it, because I can never just listen to it; it infuses me with such energy that my entire body becomes a part of it and my feet and heart beat to its rhythm, like when I listen to this song:

Trampled by Turtles, Pert Near Sandstone, Charlie Parr, Beet Root Stew, etc., etc.--all great bands that make me feel so alive. And seeing them in concert is always an entirely sensuous experience that I can never seem to get enough of. I haven't seen Trampled by Turtles live, yet, but I sure plan on it.