I'm a lucky girl. John Heart Jackie is returning to Provo from my other long-lost home of Portland, Oregon on March 1st-- just in time to help me celebrate my last birthday in the region of the twenties.
Still have another band to add to the lineup for that night, but I hope you will join me to enjoy a great night of lovely music, lovely people and likely some lovely cupcakes (gluten-free + otherwise!). Maybe I will wear something shiny.
For a little tease, here is a new video of JHJ (Peter & Jennie) covering a beautiful song from Damien Jurado's new album, Maraqopa. "Working Titles" happens to be one of my favorite songs off the album, I am sure you will enjoy it. (This video was filmed by Ben Moon--check out his other work with some names you will recognize, here)
(Jennie Wayne and Peter Murray of John Heart Jackie- Photo by Eugénie Frerichs)
Friends, I could use a little help with something (and would love to hear what you have to say about it).
Yesterday a video was released on YouTube by a popular Provo, Utah comic which exploits Black History Month, Black Americans, and BYU students.
Dave Backerman (scratchmybackerman on YouTube) appears in "blackface" interviewing BYU students about their knowledge of Black History Month and includes many other unrelated questions to stimulate reactions. True to the nature of many Americans, the students depicted in the video are ignorant if not clueless and stereotype driven. But none were as blatantly ignorant as Backerman, who coached ridiculous and embarrassing displays from his interviewees, and produced a video where not only he shamed himself but detracted from the social progress so many people have worked their lives to further.
In addition, the video he released was intended as comedy material, of which he will make a profit of in some regard. And while I hate to add to the amount of views (over 23k the last I checked), this issue is so highly important to me that I am proposing the following:
Demanding a public apology from Dave Backerman and the removal of his video.
So please, take a stand with me by sharing this blogpost, my video posted herein, commenting on my video or by sending a personal message to Dave Backerman with the same statement.
(In case you have not seen the video in discussion, it can be found here)
I know it's February now, but I can't let this month go by without finally sharing a little bit about the NYE I spent at home.
Mid-December, I had this vision: me and maybe 5 or 6 friends I knew who would be in Provo Town for the New Year, dancing hard, all night long. It had been a long time since I held any sort of party or gathering at my house (odd, I know) but I knew this was what I wanted to do. In fact, I didn't care if anyone came at all--- I like to dance and I have never wanted to fill that desire so much in my entire life than on December 31st, 2011.
Tons of tinsel and sequins and five hours of dancing later, it turned out to literally be the BEST party of my entire life. And of course, the only New Years I have ever truly enjoyed. Thanks to APT for the set that started us out right (Prince was ALL up in there!), James for bringing the Loud and the Moves, Nikki for bringing the most aerobic dancing of anyone I have ever met, Carly for the last Diet Coke I enjoyed, Chris "MedicinalMedia" Nielsen for playing late-night deejay, my roommate Jaryn for inspiring me to have a party and the 30 other people who just made my night by coming and dancing with us all.
These were the best people to spend my last night of 2011 and my first morning of 2012 with.
Happy New Year, all you friends. Hope your year is filled with these kinds of times.
I don't know Mia personally, but I have been admiring her from a distance throughout the last few years:
After serving on the Saratoga Springs City Council, she was elected Mayor in 2009, the first black woman in Utah to hold this office.
In addition to being a Hartford graduate and actively involved in her community, family and church-- Mia is now running to hold the 2013 seat in the recently formed 4th Congressional District for Utah.
During a generation when Utah is growing and defying long-established stereotypes (SLC was just named "Gayest City in America" by The Advocate), having Mia Love win the congressional seat would mean another step upward for our state. I am looking forward to seeing how her campaign plays out and what she has to offer. This promo video for her campaign is a nice introduction :
Because I vote based on ability and not on statistics-- I hope that Mia can provide what we need as representation so she can also represent us in Washington D.C. as a Mormon, a mother and as a strong, black female leader (and I am sure Tyler Perry would also endorse this message).
Did you know a person can get lost into an Inception-like depth of Top Ten Lists?
Well, they can. I found out the hard way-- I think somewhere around 80 Top Ten Lists were stewing around in my head for a while during the holidays.
Instead of blogging about every one (overwhelmed, much?) I decided to stick with the only one that actually matters...
Ladies & Gents, my Top Ten Favorite Albums of 2011- in no particular order (and at the bottom of this list is a link to a Spotify playlist for you):
A.A. Bondy "Believers" (The Catskills)
Fat Possum Records September 2011 on iTunes on Spotify
A.A. Bondy sings a sadness straight to my heart (am I a masochist?) with simple melodies and poetry rooted in the mountains.
Cameron McGill & What Army "Is a Beast" (Chicago)
Self-Released March 2011 on iTunes on Spotify
Cameron McGill & What Army has been making stops at Velour on their tours from Chicago for as long as I can remember-- every album I have witnessed to come from this band grabs my attention more than the last--a band full of great guys making incredible music. This album ought to be topping charts all over the place!
Shabazz Palaces "Black Up" (Seattle)
Sub Pop Records June 2011 on iTunes on Spotify
Did you know Sub Pop Records added a hip hop group to their family? Indeed they have, and wisely. Shabazz Palaces brings hip hop back to it's roots--in blues, jazz, good hooks, heavy beats and technical rhymes. Good hip hop beats through my veins, and I am proud to add "Black Up" to my extremely selective list of favorite hip hop albums.
As is true to their musical style, this video also happens to be one of the most intelligent pieces I have seen in a long time.
The Moth & The Flame- Self-titled debut album (Provo)
Self-Released November 2011 (local only)
on SoundCloud
(look for a national release later this spring)
There are times to admit when I am being partial and biased, but this is not one of those times.
The Moth & The Flame's debut album is taking Utah by storm. Once the record hits it's national release, I expect it to be competing fairly quickly with any heavily successful indie groups releases.
I won't say much about them right now (saving more details about them for another post) but I will tell you that so many people believed in this band and this album, they sold out their album-release show (over 300 people) and at the last minute had to add a second show for later in the weekend (with over 200+ attendees). UNHEARD OF! Especially for a band so early on in their development.
Desert Noises "Mountain Sea" (Provo)
Northplatte Records October 2011 on iTunes on Spotify
Although Desert Noises has had a fairly quiet release of their album "Mountain Sea," they have been attracting attention from national and international blogs, websites and magazines. Following a heavy five months of touring across the US, they returned home to for an album release show recently, which showed just how far a 'good' band has come-- they are tighter than ever, and writing material that will continue to keep them at the top of the charts. Once the right person hears their album, tell Fleet Foxes to hold on to their hats. DN is one of the next big bands to come from Provo.
Look for their Daytrotter session they recorded in upcoming months!
John Heart Jackie "We Are Gold Mounds" (Portland)
Self-Released August 2010 on iTunes on Spotify
I know what you are thinking: this album was released in 2010! In my defense, I didn't meet Peter and Jennie (the 'hearts' of John Heart Jackie) until early this year when they played at Velour, on tour from Portland--so I couldn't very well enjoy this album until I happened upon it! Having JHJ at Velour was interesting: we knew we liked their music, but we took a little gamble on having a fairly small, touring band play. We fell in love with them that first night, and we were happy to welcome them back again this recent fall.
Don't tell the other bands on this list, but "We Are Gold Mounds" was my most played album in 2011. I like sweet music, sad music even sometimes, and this album brings the prettiest of these two things to the table. Listening to JHJ is something like floating down a river of nostalgia with a few of your grandma's best friends narrating an ethereal tale of the happiest parts of sadness, the tightest of harmonies carrying you all the way. Maybe that sounds confusing. Regardless, it's a great album, made better by the wonderful people behind making the music. I owe this band a lot for reviving my interest in what is happening in Portland! x's and o's are sent across the country in their direction.
I'm expecting a lot of longevity out of this group.
"Drive" Soundtrack
Lakeshore Records 2011 on iTunes
One of the top films of 2011 produced one of the best albums of 2011. It's rare to find a soundtrack I can enjoy start to finish, but Cliff Martinez scores a film with the beats for the walks of life. I love every track of this. Complimenting the film score are tracks from Desire and The Chromatics--
The Devil Whale "Teeth" (Salt Lake City)
Self-Released May 2011 on iTunes on Spotify
Salt Lake City may be home for The Devil Whale, but the band are no strangers to touring the country time and time again. With a second-home in Seattle and frequent tours across the nation, TDW steadily climbs into the hearts of fans everywhere. They have been one of my favorite local bands for years, and I am wishing them the success they deserve with "Teeth." Hopefully in coming months we can finally hear the Daytrotter Session they recorded last year while they were on the road!
Stream their album, here:
Dustin Christensen "Highway Lines" (Provo)
Self-Released October 2011 on iTunes
As long as I have been involved with local music (which has only been a short three-ish years) I have heard Dustin's name. Eventually we became friends, but I had yet to hear the solo album he had been working on. Turns out I wasn't the only one...many local musicians and fans have been anticipating this release for years. Dustin is a respected songwriter (I can't turn a corner without hearing about another industry award he has won), and has written alongside others who have written for John Mayer, Katharine McPhee, Seal and many other well-known artists.
I was fortunate enough to hear Dustin play a few rare times, but nothing compares with the experience of hearing this album. Country based, but not too genre specific, "Highway Lines" showcases Dustin's finest songwriting. Each song on the album could stand alone as a hit-single, and each song takes the listener on a different journey. Kudos to Dustin for this beautiful album.
Blind Pilot "We Are the Tide" (Portland)
Expunged Records September 2011 on iTunes on Spotify
I used to enjoy Blind Pilot's live shows in Portland and later on their bicycle tour, but "We Are the Tide" released this year hits my soul in a way I hadn't experienced yet (and thanks to Peter from JHJ for leaving me with a copy!).
The last track on this album sealed the deal for me: a new theme song for New York (I collect songs about NYC). Hope you enjoy it.
(Also, you can see them at Urban Lounge on January 28th in SLC. I love Urban, but one day I will get them to play at Velour!)
Hope you find something on here to enjoy! If you want to listen to a compilation of most of these artists, I have created a playlist on Spotify for you to check out: SceneSister- Top Ten of 2011 Comp
I love being behind the camera. Capturing people/things/light at it's prettiest fills my heart in a way I can't always put into words.
Being in front of the camera makes me a little nervous. I'm not always photogenic, I don't often look in photos as I feel I look in real life and the camera doesn't just add ten pounds, but points it out!
But the right photographer is sure to do things right. That's why when Leslie Krout asked if she could take some photos of me, I didn't hesitate to say yes. Leslie and I met at the (couples) Garden Party Baby Shower I put together for Carolee this summer (being friends with a great photographer means you get to be friends with her great photog friends--WIN), and I have enjoyed following her film-photog work since then. I was more than honored she would even ask!
Leslie posted the developed photos a few weeks ago from our shoot at my house, and my first response was, "DAMN! (is that me?)"
She got it. And I love that she wanted to shoot me in my own space. My home is as much an expression of me as what I wear, so this further solidified why I like Leslie. This woman speaks all of my love languages.
Favorite Boots.
of course, the Kitty.
So, please don't think me vain. I think it is so important for everyone to have lovely photos of themselves--I lucked out this time around for sure. Thanks, Leslie! Thank you a million times over for capturing me as myself. And at the least, my grandmother will enjoy the framed print I send her.
Please check out Leslie's other work and the original post for these photos at The Good Report!
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