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| Friday, March 07, 2008 |
| Starting the Day with a Smile |
I'll be honest, I haven't been in the best of moods lately. I've been working almost constantly with no end in sight, I haven't been sleeping well, I've just been sort of ... I don't know ... blah. It's not to say that I haven't had some great nights out the last few weeks, or that I haven't had any stories to tell around here, I just quite simply haven't been up to it.
But this morning - for no particular reason other than I was fast asleep by 9:45 last night - I woke up with a smile on my face. It was a smile that persisted through my commute. As I stood on the 4 train, with Gomez flowing through my ear buds, I kept smiling at random moments. I'd be subtly mouthing the words to the songs and not realize it. Well, I didn't realize it until a man sitting in front of me caught my eye and smiled. I was a little embarrassed then, but that didn't stop it from happening again just a few minutes later.
As the guy got up to get off the train a few stops later and I moved in to take his seat, he looked me straight in the eye and said " It was so nice to see someone in a good mood on the train. Thanks for starting my day off with a smile - have a good one."
I rocked out a little bit harder to the music after that. Labels: misc., music, NYC |
posted by FINY @ Friday, March 07, 2008   |
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| Wednesday, May 16, 2007 |
| Blinded By Nostalgia |
"Was there an age limit on this show?" Ryan asked as we entered Hammerstein Ballroom last night.
"I have no idea," I answered. "Why?"
"There are a lot of children here."
As I looked around while we snaked our way towards the front of the stage, I noticed he was right, but didn't really think anything of it. So there were a lot of teenagers. They didn't look any stranger to me than I must have looked when I went to see Belly when I was 15. Ryan, on the other hand, felt old. And then said something that took me by surprise.
"It may not be the best idea to be this close to the stage"
Excuse me? When is being close to the stage, especially in a venue as large as Hammerstein, a bad idea?
"We're going to get caught in the mosh pit."
Ok, now I felt old. It hadn’t even occurred to me that the Arctic Monkeys might be moshing music. But looking back to my mosh pit experiences in the past, I figured, eh, I could handle myself.
But as the music got going, and the shoving commenced I realized my error. I found myself thinking about the camera, phone, and cd player in my bag. Clutching my purse in front of me I fought to find the room to dance (I absolutely can not stay still at live concerts) but not be pulled into the fray.
In the end, we avoided the pit, standing only on the outskirts our view occasionally obstructed by a passing crowd surfer (I honestly thought that stuff ended a while ago - have I been that naive?). It was a great show; high energy, a mix of old and new songs, and a crowd that was - clearly - very excited to be there.
But as we walked down the street towards the subway Ryan pondered the question: What's the age cut off for moshing? I remember quite vividly being thrown around like a rag doll at the Smashing Pumpkins concert when I was sixteen and loving every minute of it. Ditto for when I went to see Bush that same year. Sometime around my 18th birthday I crowd surfed for the first time though mainly because two of my guy friends bet me I wouldn't.
So what had changed? Why was I suddenly looking at these kids thinking: um, don't you want to SEE the show? You paid $40 for your ticket, and they weren't easy to get, so you clearly really like their music. Don't you want to, you know, listen to it?
Is it that I am now earning my own money and paying my own way so it has more value to me? The idea of potentially losing my camera, keys, etc. is suddenly more meaningful when mommy and daddy won't replace it later? Or is this just a normal part of "growing up"? Cause I have to tell you, until last night, I was pretty firmly in the I'm-still-a-big-kid camp.
But apparently I’m past the moshing age. Whatever that is.Labels: music |
| posted by FINY @ Wednesday, May 16, 2007 |
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| Tuesday, December 12, 2006 |
| Brain Dump Part ... 23475 |
Really isn't everything I post here a brain dump? I've used that title so many times I don't even know what number I'm on now. So on with the brain dump:
* The interviews are going well. I had a second interview with one organization yesterday that included a writing test and providing them with writing samples (shockingly none of which I took from here). Today is the second interview for the position that I am REALLY excited about, so keep your fingers crossed for me.
* An unexpected up-side to the interview process? I had to go out and buy a new suit. Now, spending all that money, not so much fun. But on the whole, I tend to hate shopping. Seriously, I hate it more than most things. But shopping for a suit? Holy hell is that fun! I'm serious, it's fantastic. There's something about putting on a really nice suit. You feel so polished, so accomplished, so ... professional. Sure I wouldn't want to wear one every day, but a night of trying various suits on was actually quite a bit of fun!
* The holiday season is officially kicking my ass though. Between the interviews, the job hunt, trying to still be productive in my current position, the increase in social engagements because of the time of year, the shopping, the card writing ... I'm stretched a little thin. Ok, a lot thin. To the point that there's the possibility that I had a teensy weensy break down while in Maine with my family this weekend that carried over into my Monday. The Holiday Blues have taken themselves to a whole other level with me this year, and I attribute most of it to the stress of trying to look for a new job while in the middle of one of the most chaotic months of the year. I'm really looking forward to 2007 at this point.
* Speaking of 2007, let's talk about what my 2007 Red Sox are going to look like. Oh wait, I really couldn't tell you. Are we going to get Matsusaka? Did I even spell that right? Do I even care? This offseason has really frustrated me. I mean, the offseason always does, I hate the rumors, the whispers, the hey-this-could-be-true shit. But this season it seems like the Red Sox, and really the MLB in general, are throwing money around like it's just paper with no value attached. What happened to the days of the Sox farm system being the top priority? Of homegrown talent? Of small-name deals instead of blockbuster salaries? The Sox are moving in a direction I am not entirely comfortable with, to be honest. I'm going to miss guys like Trot. And it'd be nice to have a shortstop stick around for more than a season. I guess we'll see how this all shakes out, but I'm not feeling totally confident in my hometown team.
* I never told you about the second Ryan Adams show! Great set list, but holy hell was the audience annoying! To the point that he cut the show short because people kept yelling at him to play certain songs. Now, I understand that people do this from time to time, but not only was it constant, RA actually told them to stop doing it multiple times. It was bad enough that it even started pissing ME off and it's not even like I'm a huge Ryan Adams fan.
Ok, I think that's it for now, hope you're all having a great Tuesday!Labels: music, Red Sox, sports, Unemployment |
| posted by FINY @ Tuesday, December 12, 2006 |
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| Wednesday, December 06, 2006 |
| Christmas Come Early |
Well, sort of. My Christmas present for Barnard Boy, a ridiculously large Ryan Adams fan, was two tickets to the show last night at Town Hall. I gave them to him with the stipulation that he was in no way required to take me to see the show. See, Adams played Monday night, which BB went to alone, last night, and also tonight. Four of us already had tickets to tomorrow's show and while I like Ryan Adams, two nights in a row wasn't necessary. But apparently no one else could make it so to my first of two shows I went.
It was a fantastic show. Now, I'll readily admit to being a casual fan of Ryan Adams. I may know Gold like the back of my hand, but the rest? Not so much. Barnard Boy is trying to change that, but hey, a girl can only learn so quick. Still, I loved every minute of the show. Norah Jones opened up, and later joined Ryan for a duet on "Dear John" that was just absolutely beautiful. "Nobody Girl", "Harder Now That It's Over", and "Firecracker" were played, which made me feel less ... um, well Ryan-Adams-stupid is the best way to put it I guess. You can see the full set-list, and a video of the "Dear John" performance here.
Now, Barnard Boy and many others had told me about Ryan's stage presence wackiness. Last night he walked onto the stage in 6 inch black pleather knee high platform boots, jeans that appeared as if they had been painted on him, and a ponytail sticking straight out of the top of his head a la Pebbles from the Flintstones. I seriously would have broken both ankles before even taking a step in those boots. But I loved the fact that he and the band spoke to the audience so much. He's an engaging stage presence that's for sure.
One last note before I head off to get ready for my interview this afternoon, I still feel a little weird watching concerts in venues that have seats. I'm more of a stand up and bounce kinda show goer myself, so sitting down through an entire concert always feels, stifled. Towards the end a bunch of people were standing up in back, as a matter of fact one of them even yelled at everyone else for being yuppies and sitting down all night (which I was alternately offended by and loved all at the same time) and a large part of me wishes the entire crowd had done that all night, but I guess that's just not the way venues like this operate.
Oh, I lied, that wasn't the last note, the last note is that the people sitting in front of Barnard Boy? Annoyed the HELL out of both of us. The talked through the entire show, which made for a lot of shifting in our seats in order to continue to see the stage. But when they weren't talking she was raising her hands above her head to clap or snap along like she was the biggest fan at the show. Um, if that's the case sweetie, shut the hell up and WATCH. And you know it's bad when you piss off someone who's favorite Ryan Adams song is "Gonna Make You Love Me".Labels: music |
| posted by FINY @ Wednesday, December 06, 2006 |
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| Monday, October 30, 2006 |
| "Oh My, Oh My, Oh My, I Think I'm Falling In Love!"* |
... with the Dansettes, that is. Saturday night, Barnard Boy and I met up with some fellow Emersonians at the Mercury Lounge, and I gotta say, I'm hooked. We had all talked for a few days about getting together since yet another Steve from Emerson was visiting from LA for the weekend (this Steve graduated before I actually got to Emerson, but Barnard Boy and friends were tight with him) and every time they mentioned who we were seeing, I thought they were saying "Dan Setz". Seriously I was thinking some guy with a guitar. Boy was I wrong.
Enter The Dansettes, a trio of women backed by a full band singing a modern day do-wop. Think, the Supremes-style, though not nearly as polished, and white. It would have been easy for this to come off as cheesy, but since they were all original songs, no covers at all, it just ended up being a TON of fun. I haven't danced that much at a show in ages. Sure they could use a little tightening, and the dancing could be a bit more choreographed, but damn can these women sing. Take a listen on their myspace page. * The title of the post was taken from the lyrics to "Oh My".Labels: music |
| posted by FINY @ Monday, October 30, 2006 |
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| Monday, September 18, 2006 |
| Takeaways |
The late Israel Kamakawiwoole's version of "Over the Rainbow" is the kind of song that lends itself well to television commercials, movie background music, and any number of other commercial uses. It also lends itself well to getting stuck in my head. Last night, after hearing it during, I think, a cereal commercial, I went to download it from iTunes, and paused only briefly while remembering sitting in The Twin's wheelchair/desk chair, singing along to that very song after hearing it at the movie theater.
After listening to the song a couple times through, I went to my CD collection in search of something that would knock the beautiful and addicting song out of my head. As I searched through CDs both old and new, I realized that inside the large black binder in which I store my music, there was basically a timeline of every past relationship I've ever had.
For those of you who've seen The Runaway Bride you'll remember that one of the things Julia Robert's character took for each of her fiances was she began eating her eggs in the style with which he favored - scrambled, egg whites only, benedict (my fave by the way), etc. For me, apparently, it's music.
Apparently, I pick up a group or two from each ex. From The Twin it was Kamakawiwoole and Iron Horse, a bluegrass band who's tribute to Metallica Fade to Bluegrass completely changed my mind about bluegass in general. From The Ex I became a big moe. and Dropkick Murphys fan. A high school boyfriend rekindled the love of classic rock my father had tried to instill in me since birth. The list goes on, but I think you get my drift.
They say you learn something from every relationship you're in. Apparently, my lessons broaden my musical horizons.Labels: dating, music |
| posted by FINY @ Monday, September 18, 2006 |
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| Tuesday, July 11, 2006 |
| One Sweet Show, Pt. II |
After leaving the Pour House, The Welshman and I headed over to Boston Billiards to meet my high school friends before going into the show. THIS is where the wheels fell off. A very quick beer and two shots later, we were headed into Fenway. I am still convinced that it was those two shots, which were my second and third within an hour and a half, were my downfall. And I think the picture of the Welshman speaks for itself:
But once inside Fenway, I was absolutely giddy. Though many of the male members of our group were not exactly excited to see Sheryl Crow perform, I really enjoy her music and she played a solid set (though I think we missed a few songs waiting in line to get onto Yawkey Way).
The break between Crow and DMB gave me a chance to look around the park, kind of take it all in. One of my favorite parts of the entire day was the Green Monster, which spelled out Dave Matthews Band (you can click on these pictures to make them bigger by the way):
The break also gave the Welshman enough time to start planning to jump over the barrier onto the infield just so he could roll around on it. The idea being that the one scrawny security guy on our side of the field probably wouldn't do much damage to him.
And then, it was time, Dave came out, and I lost all track of well, everything. They played a great set list, most notably, a fantastic cover of Sweet Caroline, which was just so venue appropriate I couldn't stand it. During that song, as I am prone to do, I called The Twin, said absolutely nothing, but held the phone up for him to listen to the song. After about 30 seconds he hung up. Which made total sense as I had called him before we got to Boston Billiards, warning of how that would most likely happen, and telling him to feel free to just hang up.
But I told him that when I was relatively sober. I have now been drinking for somewhere around 5 hours. So all throughout the show I am texting him. Telling him I'm so sorry I was calling and texting too much and that I promised I'd stop. But of course I didn't. Instead I KEPT texting about how sorry I was. And in my totally wasted state, I was upset. No good reason, just upset. Hell he even texted me back and told me it was fine. At the time, I totally didn't believe it.
That small issue aside, the show really was amazing. They opened with One Sweet World, one of my favorites, and closed with Two Step as an encore. And in all honesty, they could have played all their hits, and only their hits, and even though I HATE it when they do that, I still would have been happy as a pig in shit. I was at Dave Matthews at Fenway Park, it just doesn't get much better than that.
 Labels: Boston, drinking, friends, music, photos |
| posted by FINY @ Tuesday, July 11, 2006 |
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| One Sweet Show |
Well, I survived ... barely. It was quite the weekend in Boston, here's the illustrated story:
The Welshman and I arrived in Boston around noon, dropped our stuff off with a friend of his we were staying with, and headed out on the town. Our first stop? 21st Amendment on Beacon Hill.
And it was there that our first two beers were had while watching the beginning of the Sox game in Chicago. Perhaps it was a bad idea for me to start drinking at 1:30, knowing that I was going to continue on through the night. But at the time, that didn't really occur to me.
Soon after the bar we headed to Boston's famous North End. While I was in college I was OBSESSED with Bovas Bakery, which, no matter how hard you argue, I will always think makes better pastry than Mike's.
And let's just say I was really effing excited to be at my old college haunt:
So after that brief respite from the alcohol consumption, clearly we needed to get back to the bar.
So off we went to The Pour House, another college tradition of mine, where shots of SoCo and Lime and a few rather large beers were had. At this point, it's around 4:30, there's still a lot of night ahead of us ...
More to come later since Blogger is having a problem with photos at the moment ...Labels: Boston, drinking, friends, music, photos |
| posted by FINY @ Tuesday, July 11, 2006 |
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| Friday, July 07, 2006 |
| Just for Jason* |
Well, in a few hours I will be heading, once again, to a destination weekend. This week's stop? Boston, MA for the Saturday Sheryl Crow and Dave Matthews Band show at Fenway Park. That's right, one of my favorite bands (DMB) is playing at one of my favorite places on the planet. It's possible that my head is going to explode from being so freaking happy.
Seeing the DMB concert in Boston, whether it be at Great Woods (I refuse to call it the Tweeter Center), Foxboro, or now Fenway Park, is a bit of a tradition with my set of RI friends. We haven't missed a summer tour up there since somewhere in the mid-nineties. It's become more about getting everyone together than it has about the show itself, though in all those years we've seen some amazing ones. And inevitably, stories abound, so be on the look out for wasted Finy stories come Monday. It should be a great weekend!
*The title of this post refers to a friend of mine who recently accused me of becoming lame since getting back together with The Twin. The lack of drunken debauchery has him seriously worried. Don't worry, Jason, I'll do my best this weekend to provide you with many an embarrassing moment!Labels: Boston, friends, music |
| posted by FINY @ Friday, July 07, 2006 |
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| Monday, December 19, 2005 |
| ... Go to Galapagos |
When I first arrived in New York I did so in order to accept a job at a college textbook publisher in midtown. I was working for seven different people. I WAS Peter from Office Space. Now, years later I look back onto those years and think: “Why in the hell did I stay in that job for so long?”
At the same time that I joke around with my friends about how terrible my time there was, I will always be grateful to the company for one thing: introducing me to some truly wonderful people.
I was reminded of this on Friday night as Meegan, KO, KO’s husband, The Buddhist, and I filed into the Paradise Factory Theater, bracing ourselves for, well, God only knew what. We had all met because of our time at The Company, and we were there to support the family member of another former coworker.
 DC actually used to be one of my seven bosses. She was one of the good ones (ok in truth only one of them was terrible, I loved the rest). DC comes from an interesting family, filled to the brim with musicians. Her brother Chris, was the one we were there to see. A member of the popular NYC band The Knockout Drops, Chris is currently starring in a sort-of-one-man-show called “Escape from Bellevue”. And seriously, if you’re in NYC on a Friday or Saturday before The middle of January, you really should go check this show out.
 Now, knowing Chris, I am never going to be able to write an objective review of the performance (I’ll leave that to Newsday). I will say I was amazed that a show about Chris’ alcohol and drug abuse and his multiple trips to the famed mental institution, Bellevue, had me laughing as often and as hard as it did. The mix of monologues, Drops songs, and various videos were simultaneously poignant and hilarious. (My favorite, by FAR was the video “The Whore Whisperer”).
And what do you do after seeing an hour and a half long show about the rocky path to sobriety? Well of course you go to a bar and get yourselves some drinks. So as our crew sat there drinking beers reflecting on the show and generally shooting the shit, I was reminded of how lucky I was to stumble across such great people. Even if it did mean a year and a half of torture.Labels: music, NYC |
| posted by FINY @ Monday, December 19, 2005 |
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| Wednesday, April 06, 2005 |
| The Man He'd Love To Be |
I saw my father tonight. Standing in the middle of a Dogs Die in Hot Cars concert. Arms crossed, a slight smile on his face, gently bouncing to the music while hundreds of twenty-somethings bopped around him. I could see the content look on his face, the way he gives himself over to whatever he's listening to, no longer conscious of what's around him. I saw him gently nod towards the stage at the end of songs instead of clapping.
And then someone passed between us in the crowd and the spell was broken. My father was still in Rhode Island, sitting cross-legged on the floor of my childhood home's living room, listening to one of the thousands of vinyl albums in his collection. Still bouncing a bit, still nodding, but with less of a content look.
The man, standing slightly to my right, was what my father could have been. What he'd love to be. The man standing near me was what my father gave up to be a husband and a father.
A few nights ago on the phone my mother and I had the following conversation:
MOM: Where were you last night I tried to call.
ME: I saw the Kaiser Chiefs last night, actually be sure to tell Dad to check them out they were fantastic.
MOM: I try not to tell Dad about all the shows you go to.
ME: Why ... is he upset about all the money I spend, again?
MOM: No, he's jealous.Labels: family, music |
| posted by FINY @ Wednesday, April 06, 2005 |
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