SERYN (Mad Jigs #7)

I’ve never heard more beautiful music live. For everyone who lives in the Texas area, take advantage of the fact that my favorite band is local and see them as many times as you can.

I was introduced to Seryn at a Sofar Sounds DFW show earlier this summer and have seen them twice more since then. Nothing compares, and they astound me every time. Seryn is easily my favorite band to see live. Never have I heard more beautiful, spiritual, or awe-inspiring music. Furthermore, the band is made of up lovely human beings; what’s not to love?
I searched YouTube for a while trying to find a recording that did them justice, but everything paled in comparison to their live shows. I suppose their sound is too intricate and magnificent to be captured on any recording device. I’m not being dramatic – they’re just that good.

Return to NYC: T-minus 6 Days

Oh. My. Lord. 

The summer of 2012 crawled by on all fours and somehow flew at the same time. The second day I was home I was already missing the city and public transit and los todos de mis amigos de NYU. Grace lectured me, sternly insisting that I don’t “wish [her] summer away.” Isn’t it odd that for thirteen years you live for the summer and then once you hit the college years, you look forward to school? No. Because college is awesome. 

Mad Jigs #6

Kelso – one of my fabulous roommates – took me to the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island at the end of July while I was in New York for two Sofar Sounds shows. She’s great and the festival was great and being back in New York was great. Dawes was there (at the Newport Folk Fest) and this song was great.
Basically, click play and bask in some greatness.

I wasn’t at Lolla but their recordings are better than Newport’s recordings. Ah the benefits of wealth, fame, and popularity. Festivals sell their souls in exchange for riches and trade their music-loving crowd for hipster-obsessed teeny boppers. Rant over.

I love the lyrics to this song.

Mad Jigs #5

http://vimeo.com/41709341

“Lazy Jim” by the Whiskey Collection LIVE at Sofar Sounds NY (April 2012)

The Whiskey Collection was actually one of the first bands I ever booked all by myself while working for Sofar Sounds NY (and one of the first bands I have ever booked… ever). A friend, jazz musician at NYU, and bassist for Cheap Blue Yonder (they’re also excellent – http://cheapblueyonder.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-the-bitter-end) actually introduced me to this band on a whim one night. Anyways, I’ve yet to fully adjust from Czech time – hence my being awake at 6AM on Saturday – and am in an Americana mood this morning.
Time for coffee! Enjoy!

Tick Checks for Czech Ticks

Mister Matt Coleman’s wonderful video montage of English Camp in the Czech Republic

Mad Jigs #4

Tater and I have the best Czech students a drastically under qualified English teacher at a YL Summer camp for 8-14 year olds could ask for… and they sing! We’ve obviously taught them all the most essential English phrasing and dance crazes. I think the video speaks for itself. I’m going to miss these little punks when we leave; they’re sweethearts.

Mad Jigs #3

After twenty-four hours of travel – plane, bus, plane, bus, train, train, and mini hike – the Rennhacks have arrived in a little town called Prudká in Česká republika. It has not sunk in. I am in shock. This is a movie.
We’re teaching English to 8-15 year olds at a YoungLife Camp here. Wish us luck!

Note: In no way is this Griffin House song actually relevant, with the exception of the title. I’ll try to discover some weird Czech bands while here. To be continued…

Mad Jigs #2

Annie came to work with me today (whoopie) and just played this song for me because – and I quote – “it is constantly stuck in [her] head.”
Freak.
“Say I was bouncing! Say my energy just oozes out of my quirky and spontaneous dance moves!” requests my 15 year old sister (“Who will be sixteen in six months! BOOYAKASHA!…As she ‘trolololol’d. Ah I narrated myself”).

PS Sorry, to all seventeen of my devoted followers, for not posting yesterday.

Mad Jigs #1

I love Willie Nelson. You can blame my Texas roots, but I prefer to call it good taste. Sitting in H&A’s Fort Worth office editing the Policy & Procedure Handbook makes for a slow day, but I’ve got Willie’s new 2012 album, Heroes, playing in the background. It’s wonderful, hilarious, and timeless – much like the man himself.

Introducing: M.A.D. J.I.G.S.

(My new way to be more chronically hip to the groove, or at least more regularly pontificate about it)

Maybe
Aproximately
Daily

Jams
I (as in the nominative singular pronoun; a reference to myself)
Glorify
Spasmodically

MAD JIGS. It’s fun to say, right? Obviously, I’ve found it taxing to post regularly. Solution: create a silly acronym and an excuse to share whatever eclectic little tune has been stuck in my head. A few lines of conjecture as to why this or that particular ditty drew me in, maybe some reflection, a witty line here and there, a dash of metacognition … it’s all within the realm of possibility.

Candidly, I’m bored.

Cheers! (My Sofar ‘boss’ Jodie’ is English; it’s catching).