Musical Psychosis

Sorry it's taken so long to update the blog, so much has happened since my last post. Starting with the most recent, I was at the Leeds Festival last night and witnessed some truly amazing shows. For starters, there was Vampire Weekend.. did some great songs but I think they had some sound problems so it was a little disappointing. Then we got to see the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs who I thought did a lot better. They also had some great songs to play. By the time Bloc Party had come on, things had gotten pretty out of hand. With the combination of high energy rock and hundreds of thousands of people all wanting to get as close as possible, it was pretty tough to concentrate on the music without passing out of getting trampled. Their set was pretty good though. For the finale, we got to see Radiohead... and if you don't know, they are by far my favorite band still playing. I got a front row seat for this set, which required some very physical maneuvering as well as stamina but it was definitely worth it. The set list was amazing:

1. 15 Step
2. Airbag
3. There There
4. All I Need
5. Lucky
6. Nude
7. Morning Bell
8. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
9. 2+2=5
10. A Wolf At The Door
11. Videotape
12. (Nice Dream)
13. The Gloaming
14. Reckoner
15. The National Anthem
16. Bodysnatchers
17. Idioteque
18. Encore:
18. You and Whose Army?
19. These Are My Twisted Words
20. Jigsaw Falling Into Place
21. Paranoid Android
22. Just
23. Everything In Its Right Place

The new song, These Are my Twisted Words is a great live song as well. The studio version doesn't really do it justice. Wolf at the Door was a surprise but it really killed, as did the National Anthem/Bodysnatchers/Idioteque combo. I have some videos too... (the sound is alright)

IDIOTEQUE

BODYSNATCHERS

NATIONAL ANTHEM

Fred, I hope you got my phone messages. I was thinking of you.

:::NEXT:::

I've also been spending a lot of time at art galleries. My favorite so far (apart from the tate) has been the SAATCHI gallery. It some of the most exciting contemporary pieces I've ever seen. Like the old man bumper cars...

These were fully automated, 100% realistic old men in automatic wheelchairs. They had sensors on the chair and they just rolled around the room hitting each other and the walls. I was able to walk around with them and experience it first hand. It was one of the best experiences I've had in an art gallery.

:::Next:::

Before that, I took a trip with Gabby to the Battersea Power Station. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's the structure on the cover of Pink Floyd's Animals album. It truly is an architectural masterpiece. You can't really experience the enormity of it until you get there and walk around it...

This leaves us with the song of the day.

I hope you've all enjoyed this last update, I hope I hear from you soon.

You know that I care what happens to you,
and I know that you care for me too,
so I don't feel alone,
or the weight of the stone,
now that I've found somewhere safe
to bury my bone.
And any fool knows a dog needs a home,
a shelter from pigs on the wing.

JUST ONE WEEK 'TIL LEEDS

so there is just one week 1eft ti11 I see what wi11 probab1y be the greatest concert of my 1ife up to this point. it might get topped by the F1aming 1ips in november, just because I HEAR they do a great show. but we'11 see!!!!!!

::::ITS RAINING DOWN AND LES MIS. IS A GREAT READ::::

Song of the Day -- Thievery Corp. ft. The Flaming Lips

My Own Pictures

Clever Clever Clever

The guys from Radiohead have to be the cleverest people selling music today. I'm not speaking in terms of the music they are making, but the way they are distributing it. They've just released a single called these are my twisted words.. it's a pretty good song. But how they got it out was amazing. First they mysteriously leaked it onto the web two or three days before its release, gave no explaination and just let the fans figure it out for themselves. There was aboslutely no media involved, no middle men, just a viral release of their new single. Then today, RELEASE DAY!!! they anounce on the greenplastic website that it was a song they've been working on for a while, among others, and they just completed it. And there is a link to w.a.s.t.e (the official site) where you can download a digital copy of the single free of charge (if you wish). They also have a pdf file that comes with the song to print out the album art on tracing paper and assemble the image yourself, it's pretty cool. Thom Yorke did say they had a new radical plan to release their music in the Believer the other week. I'm glad we now know what it is and that it's working. This is probably the first step in the next revolution of the music industry.




http://www.waste.uk.com/Store/waste-radiohead-twisted+words.html

Tate

Today I went alone to the Tate Modern..
the art gallery.
I was one of the best experiences
of my life. I took the number 4 bus
to St. Paul's Station, where I got
out and walked around St. Paul's
cathedral. It truly is an architectural
masterpiece. Then I walked across
the millennium bridge, which is also pretty astonishing. Just to be able to stand above the river and look down it on both sides for miles and miles, it blew my mind. Then into the gallery... The amount of art they have and the quality of it, has to make it my favorite modern art gallery that I've been to. The structure itself is amazing. I loved the video art sections the most, there's a lot of great stuff. Anyway, it took me a good 3 or 4 hours to go around the whole thing, and I can't wait to do it again with all my class mates next week.

Cambridge

Today me, Charles, Aiasha, and Graeme went to Cambridge for a bit of punting. For those of you that haven't heard of punting, (which included me up until today) it's boating with a stick. It was amazing fun, Cambridge is an absolutely beautiful city. We went under a bridge and Charles didn't duck and almost got knocked into the water. Anyway, I still miss you Fred, and I'm excited to see all my good ass friends. Safe travels everybody.

London... So Far

I've been here about two and a half days and it's been great. Just hanging out with the friends -- the English way. Leeds is getting closer and closer, it's very exciting. Also, I'm going to Edinbourgh this monday to see Kris, should be fun.

Underworld

Little Speaker - Underworld

The Raindrops.....

The Raindrops.....

The Raindrops.....

The Raindrops.....

London Tomorrow Night

Anyone for tennis?...... Wouldn't that be nice

England

Just a couple more days till I'm back in the UK, how I've missed you. I'm staying with my good friend Charles, he's great. I'll be in Islington. Here is the flat we're staying in.

I also found out I got into my backup school in San Francisco, SF Art Academy. Got some tough decisions to make now...

Moving Out

I moved out of my apartment in San Diego this morning. It was pretty emotional, sorting through the records, remembering the ones that really kept me and Fred going... Animals, Pablo Honey, Thick as a Brick, Simon & Garfunkel. Then emptying the fridge and seeing all the Stone growlers and arrogant bastards.. ah Keith, the sexual tension between us. We really had fun this summer, a lot of fun. I will forever remember Caminito Juanico 6341. Best fishes everyone....

In Limbo - Can't wait for LEEDS

In Limbo - Radiohead

Strange Days

It's been a weird few days.. actually weeks. I can't wait to see Anne, David Berg, and David Pramik. I'm really gonna miss my roommates too. It's been a great summer with you guys. And I hope Fred can pick up where I left off in terms of soulless jokes. I've got England ahead in a week, and I've been counting the days for months...