Austin City Limits Festival, The Flaming Lips, and my horrible blog procrastination

Over the past couple of weeks I have been trying to wrap my head around how to write down the experience I had at ACL this year. Along with writers block, emotions, and basic procrastination, it has now taken me almost two weeks to finally put up a new blog. Along with me trying to figure out how to write about finally seeing The Black Keys live, and they were amazing, it also made me think about just the privilege of seeing some of these bands live. It’s not every day you get to see 130 bands across 3 days with two great friends, and one very understanding wife to let me go. Not only do I get to cross a few bands off my bucket list to see (I am sure I am going to cross them off that list numerous times), but I did get to cross a huge one off the list…..seeing a live show on stage.

I got lucky enough, not only to see a band from Oklahoma on stage, but a pioneering band that I have literally listened to from the time I have gone to college to now, and that band would be The Flaming Lips. I got the amazing experience of being one of their dancers on stage in front of 45,000 people. I have to say it was one of the coolest experiences I have had. That was a rush of emotion that I have only felt three times in my life. One was the first time I met Kristen (actually the second time we met in a week for the record). And the other times, not very many people can pin point the dates, but one was March 17, 2003 and seeing Sloan for the first time ever, and the second was Nov. 17, 2003 when I married Kristen.

Some people have running marathons, traveling, Iron Man Triathlons, or pushing themselves to the limit, but for me I love the experience of seeing a band live with a crowd of people with similar interests to make me feel alive. I have to say when the Lips hit the first of “She don’t Use Jelly” I actually got choked up and knew that I was in a special place at that point, I guess you could say it was one of those “pinch yourself moments” just to make sure you weren’t dreaming. All the worries, fear, and anxiety I had felt the past few months melted away while watching Wayne Coyne shoot confetti and balloons into the crowd. That is why people should go to live shows, to let all of your troubles go away for a few hours or for me over a weekend.

Sometimes people get so wrapped up in day to day life they forget about the little things. They get so wrapped up in training for the next big race, or the next travel destination, or the next time you get to go out, that sometimes it’s ok just to slow down, put some music on, and sit in the living room and just listen. So for me music is my escape, sometimes music helps me with my emotions, sometimes it reunites friends that haven’t seen each other in 8 years, sometimes it connects you with new friends, but the best thing about it is you can put on an album and escape with someone you love, with your daughter (that will be too cool for Dad too soon), and at times it helps you get through the good and the bad.

There were a bunch of amazing bands there that weekend, Muse, LCD Soundsystem, Blind Pilot, Portugal. The Man, The National, Band of Heathens, Bear in Heaven, and many many more, but that one experience and emotion I got to have thanks to a friend and Wayne, will resonate with me for the rest of my life. That is what it’s about, having that one experience of emotion ,good or bad, to make you feel alive and to take it with you as you move on to the next one. Thanks Wayne, it was amazing.

Music for the Week:
Seeing that I have procrastinated for two weeks, I guess you can say music for the past two weeks. So I will do my best to describe the albums, but the most important thing is to just listen to them. If you like them great, if not, send me a suggestion, I always like new music.

Kings of Leon-Come around Sundown
Not to sound like a douche, but I have been listening to KOL for a while before all the soccer mom’s started singing “Sex On Fire”. Some people say they have sold out, I have to say they are just getting better. My favorite album will probably always be Because of the Times, but Come Around Sundown will probably hold a close second. From the first song to the last it is a great album. The more I listen to it the more I am loving it. Check out the songs The End and Pyro.

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists- The Brutalist Bricks
I just picked up their vinyl (yes vinyl, and I love it) album this past week. I got to listen to them a little at ACL and what I heard I really liked. They have a nice mix of indie rock and punk. This is their sixth album, and I really like it. Check out the songs Ativan Eyes and One Polaroid A Day.

The Bravery-Stir the Blood
I have been wavering on The Bravery for a while. I have really liked some of their songs they have released, but sometimes XM will play them into the ground and I grew tired of them. I decided to give their newest album a shot. They worked on this album with the same producer that worked with Santogold and M.I.A. They remind me a lot of the current flow of “Killers” type bands such as Interpol, The White Lies, etc. I have to say I like all three bands, so I am liking this album. Check out the songs Slow Poison and Adored.

The Drums-The Drums
Another band that I heard a few months ago on XM that I started to like. They are along the lines of these new “surf” rock bands that are coming out much like the Wavves, The Best Coast, Surfer Blood, Real Estate, ect. It’s a nice laid back indie rock, it’s wearing on me, but I am starting to like this album. Check out the song Let’s Go Surfing and Skippin’ Town.