12 hours in high heels at the theatre with a very good friend of mine inspired this new song. This is a rough jam, and we're definitely going to go back in and refine things (mainly mix vocals and add real hits places). This is also a different style of all the other things Adam and I have been working on, so I suppose that's why I'm doubly excited. So here it is!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Top 5 Nothings to Do When All You Want to Do Is Nothing
Chicago can be a funny place if one is available to simply walk the streets with eyes and ears open, willing to observe an accept all of the happening surroundings. I find humour in the fact that, while only having been a resident since August 2008, I am already tired of tourist season and complaining about a never ending winter. Yet something about walking down Milwaukee Avenue at 7:15am on a weekday morning makes me smile. Something about walking out onto Clark and Monroe at 6:30pm puts an extra bounce in my step.
There is a vibrancy and pulse to this city that while indescribable, is unmatched to that of New York and certainly to that of Miami. Perhaps it is the smiling couples of Wicker Park seeking out the best brunch to review on Yelp. Perhaps it’s all the Mercs leaving the Loop on the Brown Line to Roscoe Village. And maybe - just maybe it could be that I have fallen in love with some part of this city. Or, rather, at least have allowed the heart of this Midwest drainage line enter my soul as an acceptable place in which to always be on the go.
With these recent thoughts about my loathe/love relationship with Sinatra’s kind of town, I have compiled a top 5 list of things to do when everything inside is just telling you to do nothing.
#1.) Go to Best Buy (or any other store that thrives on one-to-one sales pitches). Say hello to the salesperson that approaches you, and tell them why you are there. Chances are, even if you’re not in the market for a top-of-the-line HD adapter for your out-of-date TV, you’ll end up engaging in conversation with a computer geek who may be just as unhappy as you in that moment. And by computer geek, I admiringly mean someone who can crack jokes about building monster machines and how a certain female might be able to fit one in a bag with three other pairs of shoes and a curling iron.
#2.) Go to Double Door. It doesn’t matter what band is playing or what night of the week it is. Throw away the cover charge, throw away the $5 for whatever vodka special they have at the bar, and release yourself into a crowd of people that really aren’t as intimidating or hipster-ish as they seem.
#3.) Walk, run, bike, skip, roll - whatever - up and down the path on Lakeshore Drive. Start at North Avenue Beach and work your way up, then when you have to turn around to go back from whence you came, the skyline that greets your cardio-weary gaze will serve as a surprising reminder that yes, you do live in a cool city. And yes, those buildings are real. Even the one from Adventures in Babysitting that resembles a certain feminine……… ________.
#4.) Experience the ridiculousness of one of the summer festivals. All they really are is an excuse to drink and walk around in public. But maybe you’ll find that special old guy who dances alone to laugh at. Or admire. Or join during the Macarena on the grass.
#5.) Find a neighborhood coffee shop and befriend the barista at work during your first visit. Then go back at a different time and say, “oh, _____ isn’t here today?” And the current barista will perk up, realizing that you may be part of the local family, and therefore safe to genuinely smile at or even strike up conversation with. It seems everyone in this city is lonely. Making someone else smile will most likely lift your own spirits and therefore serve as a reminder that there is sensitivity left in humanity. And even though it feels like December in June, we’re all in the same boat. So let’s decorate it with sparkles, offer each other coffee discounts, and take plenty of pictures.
Home is where the heart is. Just find your heart and you’re there.
There is a vibrancy and pulse to this city that while indescribable, is unmatched to that of New York and certainly to that of Miami. Perhaps it is the smiling couples of Wicker Park seeking out the best brunch to review on Yelp. Perhaps it’s all the Mercs leaving the Loop on the Brown Line to Roscoe Village. And maybe - just maybe it could be that I have fallen in love with some part of this city. Or, rather, at least have allowed the heart of this Midwest drainage line enter my soul as an acceptable place in which to always be on the go.
With these recent thoughts about my loathe/love relationship with Sinatra’s kind of town, I have compiled a top 5 list of things to do when everything inside is just telling you to do nothing.
#1.) Go to Best Buy (or any other store that thrives on one-to-one sales pitches). Say hello to the salesperson that approaches you, and tell them why you are there. Chances are, even if you’re not in the market for a top-of-the-line HD adapter for your out-of-date TV, you’ll end up engaging in conversation with a computer geek who may be just as unhappy as you in that moment. And by computer geek, I admiringly mean someone who can crack jokes about building monster machines and how a certain female might be able to fit one in a bag with three other pairs of shoes and a curling iron.
#2.) Go to Double Door. It doesn’t matter what band is playing or what night of the week it is. Throw away the cover charge, throw away the $5 for whatever vodka special they have at the bar, and release yourself into a crowd of people that really aren’t as intimidating or hipster-ish as they seem.
#3.) Walk, run, bike, skip, roll - whatever - up and down the path on Lakeshore Drive. Start at North Avenue Beach and work your way up, then when you have to turn around to go back from whence you came, the skyline that greets your cardio-weary gaze will serve as a surprising reminder that yes, you do live in a cool city. And yes, those buildings are real. Even the one from Adventures in Babysitting that resembles a certain feminine……… ________.
#4.) Experience the ridiculousness of one of the summer festivals. All they really are is an excuse to drink and walk around in public. But maybe you’ll find that special old guy who dances alone to laugh at. Or admire. Or join during the Macarena on the grass.
#5.) Find a neighborhood coffee shop and befriend the barista at work during your first visit. Then go back at a different time and say, “oh, _____ isn’t here today?” And the current barista will perk up, realizing that you may be part of the local family, and therefore safe to genuinely smile at or even strike up conversation with. It seems everyone in this city is lonely. Making someone else smile will most likely lift your own spirits and therefore serve as a reminder that there is sensitivity left in humanity. And even though it feels like December in June, we’re all in the same boat. So let’s decorate it with sparkles, offer each other coffee discounts, and take plenty of pictures.
Home is where the heart is. Just find your heart and you’re there.
Monday, June 15, 2009
eeE PC
This is my first post from my new little computer that is perfect for the girl on the go. Welcome, eee PC!!! In perfect fashion, I am initiating this new machine by stopping at a friend's house and sitting down to write.
Bad sentence.
Fun dudes who are making fun of how little this is.
"If that computer were a shoe, I could borrow your shoe."
Our reaction to the size and fun provided by tiny things...
....I must also take a moment to give props to Jim, the amazing Best Buy man who assisted me through my purchasing adventure. He seriously brightened my day and shed some light on a recent event that made me question the popular human culture.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Do You Believe In Rock and Roll?
Clothing lines claim it on t-shirts. DJs claim it on the air. Scenesters claim it on the dance floor. Rock and roll is dead. But Friday, May 29, I was transported to the life of a college kid in 1978, watching the future legends of Aerosmith pull off the Draw the Line Tour. Of course, the band I was experiencing was not Aerosmith, but rather Powerspace, whose efforts to stay true to their classic influences and the sound within their souls have succeeded in creating a rock sound that audiences of 2009 can enjoy. Powerspace bared all and laid it down on the line with their fresh-from-the-studio new set as the opening act for Kill Hannah. Asking the audience if they "Believe in rock 'n roll," this band rose to the challenge and proved their ability to channel classics while bringing their energized and raw sound to the stage.
Anyone can pick up a guitar, add some distortion and copy an old solo from their parents' old KISS album. Thanks to the tight groove and colorful arrangements understandably provid
ed by guitarist Tom Schleiter, Powerspace truly rocked. If happiness could be defined by sound, its song would be sung by these guys. Not only did their groove and full harmonies create happy soundwaves, but the guys were happy to be up there. Kevin Kane was a smiling little Ringo on the drums, and bass player Jake Serek was radiant with onstage bliss. I received an apology for a tired set due to studio time when I spoke with guitarist Max Perenchio afterward. But their delivery from beginning to end was anything but tired. New songs like "Red, White and Bruised," "Don't Stop" and another even more rocking tune of which I can't recall the title especially brought an excitement (and even harmonica! Alec Cyganowski channeled Steven Tyler on point throughout this number). Since the title has been lost from my own memory, here is a video to enjoy. 
With streaming guitar solos (and well thought out solis, to be exact), Tom and Max's background harmonies add a beautiful warmth to Cyganowski's edgy lead. It really is unfair to single out any member without it leading to a strength provided by another because they all work so well together. The energy onstage creates an atmosphere between the five of them that displays what their hard work and hours spent together can achieve. They all want to be up there, and it shows through the focus I viewed as each member carefully set up, tuned, and checked sound. One may think that after touring as extensively as they have, the guys in Powerspace would be setting up for a show at Double Door like it was no big deal. I admire the technique and dedication that drives this band. It comes through in their passionate (and sweaty) performances.Check the guitar soli at the end of "Red, White, and Bruised." What fun!
And that is what Friday, May 29 was. Fun. Being transported to a world where hard work and
smart musical minds can not only be appreciated but celebrated was a magical and inspiring experience. I give this the Fravel stamp of approval with much pride.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Concert Preview
Native Chicago band Kill Hannah will be headlining Double Door's 15th Anniversary party tonight. Excitement has been building up all week because I had heard talk of this band since my arrival in Chicago in August. By the time I had caught up to the hearsay and chatter, the band was already on a fully fledged European tour (with Powerspace's Tom Schleiter subbing in for Jon Radtke). Since learning of this show from the Powerspace website, I decided to really dig deep and decipher some of the mystique behind this band. Every band has its fans, but what I found behind Kill Hannah was an entire community that not only loves the music but supports each other in that love. Thanks to the blog of lead singer Mat Devine, I've been able to learn a lot of what has gone into their most recent record as well as how this band survives in their daily lives. I'm anxious to see how that will transfer onstage this evening.
From the recordings I've been exposed to so far, the standouts have been Lips Like Morphine (powerfully sexy, intense and haunting tune), Kennedy, and Wrap Myself Around You (for me, this tune showcases the unspoken emotions behind spoken physical desires). It will be interesting to see how their recorded intensity and almost industrial sound will transfer live. Hopefully it'll be a nice blend between this great acoustic version and the stellar headphone mix of the EP.
Not to leave out opening act Powerspace, whom I mentioned in just last week. I am excited to see the sorts of energy they'll exude after being cooped up inside a studio for the past few weeks.
Expect a full write-up of the experience in the next couple of days. Until then, I'll be residin
g in the fear that a blonde girl who wears pink and purple will be shunned at a show like this!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Why Is My Mind Consumed By Powerspace?
Shortly after moving to Chicago in August 2008, I was treated to a concert at the Metro. The headlining band was Cute Is What We Aim For (of whom I had never heard), and the opening acts were Danger Radio, Ace Enders and Powerspace. I had actually never heard of any of these bands, so had no idea of the excitement that would ensue in the hours to come. While I'm not reviewing that show, I will mention that I have almost but forgotten the headliners, and have fallen for the talents behind Ace Enders and Danger Radio, and the mystique that is Powerspace.
Signed by Fueled By Ramen, almost entirely from Illinois (minus drummer Kevin Kane, who hails from Ohio), and almost too smart for their own good, Powerspace has weaseled their way into my mind. I did not want to like this band. During their performance in August, I was impressed by their passion and drive toward a strong performance (though the lead vocals were pitchy at times). All of the members bring an identifiably raw energy to the stage as an extreme compliment to tremendous instrumental talents. Just watch guitarist Tom Schleiter shred this solo. I mean...fuck. Not only is this guy a smart musician but there is talent on the other side of the board as well, as all of their demos were produced by him.
Also, I never noticed a drummer walk onto the stage, but my jaw dropped the moment the first beat fell. Kevin Kane commands the drums with such ease that one would be hard pressed to believe he sleeps behind that throne.
Perhaps I didn't want to like Powerspace simply because I was jealous. I've listened closely to many of their songs from The Kicks of Passion, trying to scrutinize elements of songwriting and production - but have fallen trap to admiration instead. I must admit that I am now anxiously awaiting a leak or even some sort of tease from their second studio album on which they are hard at work with Jonny K.
Maybe the Chicago music scene has created a fan girl out of me. Maybe a new interest in songwriting has led me to follow what those in my age group have already achieved.
Maybe I should just shut up and enjoy my new love of power pop.
Maybe I'll find myself at their show at Double Door on May 29.
Signed by Fueled By Ramen, almost entirely from Illinois (minus drummer Kevin Kane, who hails from Ohio), and almost too smart for their own good, Powerspace has weaseled their way into my mind. I did not want to like this band. During their performance in August, I was impressed by their passion and drive toward a strong performance (though the lead vocals were pitchy at times). All of the members bring an identifiably raw energy to the stage as an extreme compliment to tremendous instrumental talents. Just watch guitarist Tom Schleiter shred this solo. I mean...fuck. Not only is this guy a smart musician but there is talent on the other side of the board as well, as all of their demos were produced by him.
Also, I never noticed a drummer walk onto the stage, but my jaw dropped the moment the first beat fell. Kevin Kane commands the drums with such ease that one would be hard pressed to believe he sleeps behind that throne.
Perhaps I didn't want to like Powerspace simply because I was jealous. I've listened closely to many of their songs from The Kicks of Passion, trying to scrutinize elements of songwriting and production - but have fallen trap to admiration instead. I must admit that I am now anxiously awaiting a leak or even some sort of tease from their second studio album on which they are hard at work with Jonny K.
Maybe the Chicago music scene has created a fan girl out of me. Maybe a new interest in songwriting has led me to follow what those in my age group have already achieved.
Maybe I should just shut up and enjoy my new love of power pop.
Maybe I'll find myself at their show at Double Door on May 29.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Just A Guitar
Since our world of popular music has turned to "techtronica" and auto-tune, I find myself as an artist getting mentally stuck in the jumble. Call it writers' block, call it fear, call it what you will - but I am confused and have turned to other songwriters for inspiration.
So thank you, Ace Enders for your musical honesty and integrity. I've had the pleasure of seeing this musician play twice (the following video from August at the Metro included), and each time I've been somewhat haunted by what he brings to the stage. His lyrics appear to rise right out of his soul, cutting the air with such poignance and emotional sincerity that I found it quite difficult to resist being mesmerized and wanting to know more.
So instead of getting caught up with Reason and Logic and headphone tricks, I took a moment to get back to basics and enjoyed the raw, intense and simple ride that a person with a guitar can take us on.
So thank you, Ace Enders for your musical honesty and integrity. I've had the pleasure of seeing this musician play twice (the following video from August at the Metro included), and each time I've been somewhat haunted by what he brings to the stage. His lyrics appear to rise right out of his soul, cutting the air with such poignance and emotional sincerity that I found it quite difficult to resist being mesmerized and wanting to know more.
So instead of getting caught up with Reason and Logic and headphone tricks, I took a moment to get back to basics and enjoyed the raw, intense and simple ride that a person with a guitar can take us on.
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