Fall concert season has commenced!

At the beginning of summer, my co-workers and I anxiously awaited the 10am hour so we could logon to Ticketmaster and snatch-up the best tickets for the shows we were looking forward to the most! 

The line-up kicked-off last week with a phenomenal show put on by Fleet Foxes at The Greek!  The venue, in and of itself, has a bewitching quality on concert goers, and along with the bright, waning moon and musical performance itself, I was entranced into a music stupor by the first strum of the guitar.

When describing Fleet Foxes to my mom, who had unfortunately not heard of them prior, I likened them to a band I knew she would recognize: CSNY.  While this may be a bit of a stretch as Fleet Foxes  are yet to garner the accolades of time and reverence that  CSNY has maintained throughout its career, Fleet Foxes are well on their way to becoming highly-acclaimed and well-loved in the future.  With harmonious melodies, beautiful, thought-provoking lyrics and visually stimulating yet simplistic videography, the band inflicted a haunting effect on the massive crowd throughout its entire performance!  If it weren’t for lead singer, Robin Pecknold’s, stunningly unique voice, along with his band members, emphatic music playing,  I swear you could have heard a pin drop in the mesmerizing musical vortex that was The Greek that night.

Just Another New Day at the Office

One of the greatest things about working at MTV are the improptu excursions, panels and CONCERTS on a fairly regular basis.

Yesterday, my colleagues and I were lucky enough to be temporarily torn away from our computer screens for a last-minute performance by Fitz and the Tantrums.  The group has been garnering a lot of commercial, digital and social success lately, and it is no mystery why.  With an upbeat, jazzy sound, energetic dance moves and an interesting fashion flare, this band is sheer hoopla.

Fitz and the Tantrums - Moneygrabber

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3WRXYYBwRA&ob=av2n

Fitz and the Tantrums -  Don't Gotta Work it Out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpK63g3-AOI

New Summer Concert Season

When my friend called to tell me that she was going to be coming to LA for the Dispatch concert, I immediately got excited and bought my ticket.  I used to love listening to Dispatch in high school, and I'm fairly certain that my friend, Andrea, and I even schemed to play hookie and roadtrip to their "final" gig in 2002.  So rebellious, per the usual.

Since that time, the band has gone on a few reunion tours, all of which neglected to register on my radar.  Despite my negligence towards the band's tunes the last few years, I very much so looked forward to revisiting the ska/reggae/acoustic tunes of my youth with a few good friends.

As the weekend of the concert approached, I anticipated catching-up with my out of town guests and spending my Sunday at the Greek.  A few days before the concert, however, I received a call from my whom I was supposed to go with.  Being new to California, and not living in LA, an amateur mistake was made when she purchased tickets to the show on Saturday at the Greek in Berkeley.  Siiiiiigh.   

Despite being disappointed by the absence of my friends, I went to the concert alone and really enjoyed myself.  With each strum of the guitar, memories of driving around in my hometown and sitting around at bonfires came flooding back to me.  Being fully immersed at the concert, I also realized I never acknowledged what a talented group of musicians comprised the band.  Each of them, unique looking in their own ways, play drums, guitar, bass, sing and write their own songs!  That takes true talent, and to see so much of it up on the stage at once was overwhelming.

Some claim that scent has the most power to  instill nostalgia in a person, but to me, music and sound conquers my scent driven memories;  songs have the ability to take me back to an age, a place and an emotion, and that's what makes them impossible to live without.

Duet Revisited

I know it's not new, but I am revisiting this Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson duet and can't get enough.  Sometimes I can't believe that Scar Jo is the same age as I, seems like she has done and can do everything.  Beesh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2r8uMPCnRc

Plan B - no not that one- and Eliza Doolittle

Given the choice between the seasick crocodile and the Grinch, I am still not sure after 25 Christmases which one I would choose.  However, given the choice between music and the tube, I would hands-down take la musique.  I've always enjoyed researching new bands and listening to their catchy tracks before they really hit the "mainstream."  Living in LA, I have had a lot of exposure to new music, as well as an opportunity to meet and see new a lot musicians!

A few weeks ago, a colleague and I went to see Plan B and Eliza Doolittle at the El Rey, a small venue up the street from my house.  The great thing about going to small shows at small venues is that you have the opportunity to meet the artists, their agents and managers and stylists.  Both artists that performed that night are dressed by a really sweet english couple named Avigail and Damian who work with another stylist team over here in the US.  After chatting around the crowd, it was nearly time for the tunes to commence!

Both Ben [Plan B]and Eliza really have talent; songwriters with killer voices, easy melodies and lyrics that have been painting pictures in my head for over a year.

Have a listen to the below:

Plan B

Writings on the Wall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ1baVKmrQo

Plan B

She Said

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQjh9H-ymK4&feature=relmfu

Eliza Doolittle

Skinny Genes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1IHTi_FCAo

Eliza Doolittle

Money Box

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YJ6Ov-3qc0

Even though these two english chaps are yet to make a massive splash stateside [already major in England!] I predict that you will love the above, and that they will strike gold in the US by 2012.

New Identification

It's been a long-time coming, but it's official: I'm a California gal.  After six weeks of waiting for the state to process my new ID, I finally received my CA license in the mail!  No more expired, chewed-up Ohio license; traded in for a shiny, signature-embossed one with a picture that's, well, way too close.  

Beware those of you who will be doing your new ID portraits in the near future, they show no mercy!!

New Visitors and a New Age!

To be completely honest, I am not certain where the past month has gone! Hard to admit, but I have started to understand the expression "time flies" as I've gotten older!

I wish I could use the excuse that I have been traveling about for the past month, or doing something else wildly exciting that has caused me to neglect my New Year's resolution; but to be honest, my life has been consumed by work for the better part of these last few weeks!  The upside of having little time outside of work, is that work also sometimes means play!

In this industry, January and February mean AWARDS SEASON!!  Golden Globes, SAGs, Grammy's and of course, the Oscars.  Awards season this year was enthralling for me, especially considering  this time last year I had just moved to LA, and was more or less clueless and meek!  To add to the general enthusiasm experienced at this time of year, SWG had the opportunity to work with Vanity Fair on their 2011 Campaign Hollywood!  SWG was brought on by the publication to support on six different events on the six evenings leading up to the Oscars.  In addition to all of the VF events, we also had a mobile beauty suite initiative, and several post-Oscar events.  It has been a whirlwind few weeks in the office, but it has been a grand old time!

In the midst of all of the madness, I wish I could say that my birthday forgot to arrive, but alas, I am now old.  Despite the fact that I have joined the conglomerate of society that is spiraling downwards to death, my birthday was amazing this year [especially compared to last year...I'm noticing a pattern here!]  Back in December, while drinking multiple bottles of wine with my best gal pals from growing-up, I managed to persuade the infamous, Aubrey, to come visit me for my birthday weekend.  I have to admit, it was a somewhat selfish maneuver as I initially wanted a 24-hour distraction to the doldrums I was expecting to accompany 25, but honestly this birthday has been one of the best thus far.  It was lovely to catch-up with my old pal in my new city, and Aubrey and I managed to see a significant amount of LA despite some wicked hangovers!  From the time I picked her up at the airport, it felt like no time had passed between us.  Aubrey's trip embodied what I now know to be true about old friends, while lives constantly diverge, there are certain points where people can come together and be exactly on the same page despite years between you, and Aubs and I are certainly happy in our respective cities, with our own lives without the kiddos!  I never thought I'd say it, but viva being a quarter-century old and single!!

Aubrey and I at The Grove before our big day out!

First time at the Pacific

I was sad to see Aubrey's visit to come into a close, but we managed to squeeze as much fun, trouble and "oh jesus" moments into three days as was possible, and I knew I had more fun ahead on my actual day of birth!  My loverly boss, Al, secured tickets for her mom and I to go to American Idol!  I haven't followed the show in years, but HELLO STEVEN TYLER!  How old is he? Does it matter?  He's a legend, and amazing, and not disappointing in person!  Besides Mr. Tyler, going to a live-screening allots a totally different perspective on the tube!  It was exciting to be part of the audience, [third row I may add- merci, Allison!] and ever since  we went, I have been strangely invested in predicting who will be kicked-off!  Post-idol, the lovely Jenet picked me up, and we went for a lovely dinner in a cozy restaurant in Laurel Canyon named Pace.  Good friend, good wine, good conversation; elements for a perfect end to a great day and fresh start!  I've been saying it for weeks now, and I'll say it again: I feel it in my toes, this is going to be a good year!!

New Old Stuff

Sunday is universally "funday," but for me, while living in LA, "funday" typically entails rooting through antiques, vintage clothes, old edition books and random odds and ends from times past.  That's right, Sunday is flea market day in LA!  Woo!

If you like to scavenge, like myself, there is a flea market to be found every weekend if the mood strikes. From the Melrose Trading Post to Long Beach [which I am yet to make it to!] and down to Joshua Tree, the SoCal area has secondhand good sales covered!  While it is fun to pop the top down in Selma and road trip to a far away marche, I always find something fabulous and functional at the nearby Rosebowl Flea Market in Pasadena.

  Painted metal letters and flowers.  Someday, I will buy!

Taking place the second Sunday of each month, the Rosebowl Market is the best I have ever encountered.  There is literally something for everyone at one of the 1,500+ vendors; and even if you're seriously that hard to please, non-purchasers will still leave satisfied after a fabulous day of people watching.

Hand-crafted leather bags.

Amazing old bath tub.  Seriously...how cool!

Today I had many things on my "want" list [as always!,] and I was victorious in some ways, but remain on the prowl in others.

Moving from across the country with two suitcases in hand, I have been lacking severely in my material possessions this past year, and have always allocated extra funds to making my homes feel like, well, home.   Since moving into my Miracle Mile house in October, I have slowly introduced new furniture, art and "homey" bips and bobs, but have thus far been unable to locate a bookshelf or coffee table that I really love.  Today, however, the market supplied me with a brilliant, yet slightly unconventional, hutch that will be perfect for movies and books in our family room.  WOO!  I was so pleased when I spotted the piece from afar and knew that I needed it for my own.  Approaching the vendor, I had my best bargaining face on.  I asked casually [so as to not impress my excitement upon him:]

Me: "How much for that hutch?"
Vendor: "Well, it's actually supposed to go on top of a desk, but obviously there's not desk.  So.  I'll give it to you for twenty dollars."
Me: "TWENTY DOLLARS?"
Vendor: Yeah? Twenty.


What.  I did not even try to bargain with this guy, I just found another deal of the century.  I don't care if this isn't your traditional bookshelf, you can't get a shitty, faux-wood shelf from Targe for twenty dollars!  This hutch may not be PERFECT in every way, but for the price and the quality of the piece [solid wood!,] I took it home and will make it my own in the near future!!

Viva la Flea!!

New Foodie Idea: Grilled Pizza!!

Per my own volition, I have been displaced from my WeHo home this week to watch some fabulous pups.  In addition to finally having some animals in my life [halla-lou-ya,] I also have two amenities at my disposal that I have desperately missed:

1. Counter space!!!
2. A grill!!!

The last two evenings I have been in all of my glory grilling eggplant and peppers and making pseudo-muffuletta-esque sandwiches.  While my concoction was delicious, I left work this evening knowing I wanted to try something new.  I considered stuffed portobellos, goat cheese pasta, and even a simple serving of french toast, but none of these options satisfied my reignited adoration of the grill.

Walking into my local Trader Joe's tonight, a genius idea came over me [well, at least I thought it was genius!]  I've been craving pizza lately, and if restaurants serve brick oven pizza, why can't I make grilled pizza?!  Kind-of the same, right?

With just a few ingredients, I made myself a delightful treat.  First, I took the dough and punched it thin, threw it on the grill and browned the dough.  When the dough was nice and toasty, I spread some olive oil around, reduced the heat and flipped the crust.  After flipping, I added a little tomato sauce, pesto and buffalo mozzarella.

After letting the pizza settle for a few, I added tomatoes, artichoke hearts, crushed red pepper and capers and gave the pie a few to come together.  Success, a scrumptious pizza pie.


 I called my Mom while en route to my temporary home to tell her about my dinner idea, and she thought it was going to be questionable at best.  WRONG!  No joke, this was simple and delicious.  Maybe my pizza wasn't perfectly round, but the crust had a great texture and flavor, and I am already for round two!

New Obsession :: Pumped Up Kicks

It may not be totally new in the grand scheme of life, and it's certainly already catching on out here on the west coast, but I cannot get enough of Foster the People's "Pumped Up Kicks."

I don't know exactly what the heck the song is about [perhaps you can decipher some secret meaning?]  But I know that I am loving it.  Such an interesting combo....like MGMT's Oracular Spectacular made out with Edward Sharpe, then awkwardly seduced this Beetle Juice scene.