The Lumineers

I am a huge fan of the roots revival music of the last few years. Like Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers, and now The Lumineers. There is something about the rustic, heart-on-the-sleeve music that kind of nods to tradition while setting off into uncharted territory that I love! It's soulful, sweet and fun to sing to. I've brought up the Lumineers before on this blog here. Last night was their (sold out) concert. I paid $30 for two tickets and after seeing them perform live, I would have paid double that for each. They were awesome. When we got to the Santa Ana Observatory, where the concert venue was. I was a little concerned. It was right behind my old college, yet I never knew that it existed. Although Wes likes the Lumineers too, he wasn't all to excited to stand in line with a bunch of hipsters near the back of an Ikea parking lot. But once inside the place was pretty cool. It was like a low budget house of blues but waay smaller. They had a full open bar and even though it was all general admission with no actual seating we got a prime standing spot where I could see the stage perfectly and felt close enough that I might as well have been part of the "mosh-pit" area.

When The Lumineers came on stage they looked exactly the same as they do in this picture. We had said in the car ride there that the show wouldn't be the same unless one of them was wearing suspenders and wouldn't ya know, the drummer was!

In fact, I think that's the only thing he wears. 

Although the 3 main band members consist of: The lead singer, Wesley, the drummer, Jeremiah, and the cello player, Neyla. The base player and the keyboardist had pretty large roles as well. 

Between every song it took them a minute or two to change instruments. I was surprised that each of them played at least 3 instruments and they all swapped with each other. At one time there was a cello, a mandolin, an accordion and a xylophone and a tambourine. That's talent.

Plus, they were a ton of fun to watch. The sound was great, they got the crowd really going and maybe, I'm just a little bias but Wesley was sexy. My Wes is pretty hot too though ;)

They were so good live that I left the concert thinking that it had to be the best one I had ever seen. It probably helped that the venue was so small that the intimacy made the music more special.

Their whole self titled album is only 42 minutes long but they played for over an hour singing cover songs of Bob Dylan and some of their new not even named yet stuff that will be on their next album. After only hearing a couple of their new songs once, I know that I'll be buying the album as soon as it comes out.

Incase you've only heard their one hit song on the radio, "Ho, Hey" I have posted a couple of their songs that they performed live, so you can see for yourself just how good they are!

Hope your Monday goes by quick!

Hit Me With Music

I would consider my music taste to be eclectic. I like all different kinds and don't limit myself to only one style. But my absolute favorite genre is folk/ Indie. There is just something about a banjo that I love! Here are my favorite songs at this moment, PLUS a song from Mumford and Sons new album that won't be released until September 24th called 'I Will Wait.'


I heard this song first when my brother posted it on my Facebook page and 2 months later it was a hit on the radio. The kid has a knack for finding songs before they become popular. I think this song is so sweet. The Lumineers will be in Orange County October 7th and you can bet your sweet bippy I'll be going! Tickets are only $15.00!

The Lumineers - Ho Hey

Although his parents must have hated him when he was born for giving him the same name twice. Phillip Phillips showed them by winning last seasons American Idol and my little ear drums. You may have heard this song in an Olympics commercial that has been playing recently. I Adore this song. I've had it on repeat all this morning.

Phillip Phillips - Home 

Of Monsters & Men is an Icelandic folk/ indie pop group who became famous for winning their hometown's battle of the bands. Their Song "Little Talks" is popular on the radio now. Listen to their album. I like the whole thing!

Of Monsters & Men - Love Love Love

Mumford and Sons! I believe that this band is the start of the kind of music played by the bands above. Marcus Mumford's (the lead singers) voice is so unique. And I really like that they don't actually have a drummer. The song below, 'I Will Wait' is from their new album, Babel. You can listen to 5 of their new songs here. 

Mumford And Sons- I Will Wait

Get Down!

I  Finally figured out how to customize ringtones on my new phone that I got for Christmas and man am I excited! Yep! What song did I choose your'e wondering? why "Lonely Boy" by The Black Keys of course! I can't wait for people to call me so when my phone goes off I can dance around like this guy:

Believe it or not that is the "Official" video for the song. I love it!

Happy Hump Day! 

Little hopes and tiny dreams

My old ASB Teacher used to tell us: "Shoot for the moon and you will land on a star." Totally lame. I used to do the teenage eye roll every time he said it. But now that I'm older, I kind of like this cheesy little line, it's actually kind of cute.

This post is going to be about the things that I wish or would really like to be able to do. Am I going to shoot for the moon with all of these? Probably not, but hopefully I'll land on a couple stars anyways.

1. I would LOVE to be able to sing. Or even just play an instrument. One day hopefully I will learn. Its bands like the Civil Wars that make it seem so cool and easy. I wish I could be that cool. Um, plus the male singer is smoking hot! Johnny Depp's twin for sure.

2. I would really like to be a guest at a soiree like one Gatsby would have thrown at his large estate in the Hamptons. Beaded flapper dress, Champagne and the Charleston? Yes Please!

And how fabulous is this already put together ensemble I plan on wearing from Miss Baloo? 

3. It would be so romantic to have a love epiphany and figure out the one I was supposed to be with,  then run to him like in the movies with this song playing. Of course he would love me as well and we would make-out furiously as the song was ending.... 

 

4. I would like to have sex with Don Draper. This needs no explanation.

5. I think it would be nice to sleep in, pretend that it's the weekend, snuggle, and of course make banana pancakes. This could happen on any given day, but it never or rarely does.

6. I would like to produce this: .... By this I mean a sweet little girl. - not anytime soon though!

7. I would like to be recognized for my work in a magazine like Better Homes and Gardens. OR Coastal Living. Definitely Coastal Living.

8. Another movie scene. I wish I could drive in the rain and feel a sense of calm and contentness and have this beautiful song come on. Songs never come on when they're supposed to. Doesn't it sound like a rainy day song?

9. I would like to know how to dance. Well. Not hip hop. Real dancing (sorry), like Swing dancing and 'Western' and Salsa and Waltz. Man that would be fun!

10. I would die to have mermaid hair that looked like this:

11. I wish I had a gay best friend or relative (I'm not picky) like Cam from Modern Family. He is totally  my favorite character on the show. 

12. I wouldn't mind driving around in one of these little cuties.

13. And lastly, I obviously need a place to park my new car... What better place than an adorable little cottage, maybe one that looks like this. With a little yard for Rox.

So there you have it. Just a few strange little hopes and dreams that I wish will happen in the nearish future of my lifetime!

Movie Review: 50/50

My wonderful wicked stepmother to be, gets free movie tickets from her work on a regular basis, which she then sends to me (so they don't go to waste of course... And they don't!) In my Birthday card last month she sent me a stack of them and lately I had been to busy to use them, until last Friday! It seems that there are a ton of good movies out there that need to be seen, but one that stuck out the most to me as of late was 50/50. I love Joseph Gordon-Levitt from Inception, (500) Days of Summer and 10 Things I hate About You and who doesn't like Seth Rogen from Pineapple Express, Knocked Up and Superbad? All of those movies are in my top 100!

When the previews for 50/50 came out I was intrigued right away, a movie like this had not been done before and while I am aware that I am a little ignorant have no clue on the subject I wanted to give the movie a chance. I knew with the two actors starring in it that it would not be a disappointment, and it wasn't! Here is the Movie Trailer, for those of you who may not have seen it.

Movie Info:

Inspired by a true story, 50/50 is an original story about friendship, love, survival and finding humor in unlikely places. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen star as best friends whose lives are changed by a cancer diagnosis in this new comedy directed by Jonathan Levine from a script by Will Reiser. 50/50 is the story of a guy's transformative and, yes, sometimes funny journey to health - drawing its emotional core from Will Reiser's own experience with cancer and reminding us that friendship and love, no matter what bizarre turns they take, are the greatest healers. 

I have to admit that I knew I would like the movie right away by the music that was chosen and as the first scene opened, Seattle was the setting. Although I'm glad I no longer live there, I will always have a soft spot for my hometown.  

While watching the movie, I laughed, hard and cried, a lot. It was sweet, heart warming, and human. I was nervous about how it was going to end, I won't spoil it for you but I think it ended exactly the way that it should have. I walked out of the theatre feeling tingly and happy that I saw it.

The Facts:

Cancer is a touchy subject, and sadly it is a very scary and widely spreading disease. While cancer affects people of all ages, the risk of developing cancer generally increases with age. In 2007 cancer caused 13% of all human deaths worldwide (7.9 million). And rates are rising as more people live to an old age as mass and lifestyle changes occur in the developing world.  

Information from: Rotten Tomatoes, Wikipedia, and yours truly. Images from Google Images.

A fresh idea

Stenciling doesn't get the street cred that it deserves. You can totally use stencils in a modern way to complete a space and make it beautiful! just look at the lace stenciled canvas. Beautiful! 

And look how sophisticated and expensive this staircase looks! I love that each riser has a different pattern. Gorge! And it would cost almost nothing but a little time, unlike having real patterned tile put in.

 

So if your thinking of sprucing up your home but want it to be easy, unique and on a budget, head over to your local craft store and paint your design woes away!

Birds of Feather.... and under the weather.

I've been out for a while because I was feeling under the weather. I spent my three day weekend under the covers with all six seasons of I Love Lucy instead of celebrating the last days of summer.... (Poor me.) However, I bet I would have liked it all a bit more if I had this super cute pillow on my bed with me!

I love that it's wide enough for two (if I ever decide to share) and I think the little birdies are adorable!