After a LOOONNGG week of work Jen and I went to the Framing Hanley concert at the Avalon. Walking into the crowded venue was a shock as it is usually a sparsely-filled theater. But the fact that two local radio stations were aiding this concert probably helped to counteract the terrible PR of the Avalon.
Arriving we snagged a seat on one of the hard benches toward the back and only had to wait ten minutes for the opening band The Veer Union to begin. Since we didn't show until almost 8 PM I have no clue if others open for the band but The Veer Union was actually okay for a newer band. They had great stage presence. Some of the favorites from this band were the mohawk on the lead singer, the drummer's head shaved on the one side and how it continually fell into his face. The experimental song where band members switched instruments including lead singer and drummer, then the drummer decided to balance a guitar on his chin was highly entertaining.
There wasn't any drunk people incidents since it's an all ages venue filled with a lot of underagers (I know that doesn't stop them) but there was the spastic girl freaking out because "The Veer Union Sucked!!!" according to her and she wanted everyone to know it.
Finally, Framing Hanley took the stage and they performed the songs from the album well. No really knowing any of their songs except their cover of Lil Wayne's "Lollipop," I was at a disadvantage but I soon enjoyed their other well know singles like "Here Me Now" and "Home". I would definitely recommend the show to those who like Framing Hanley's brand of rock. They are worth the $12 we ended up forking out for the show.
Other points to mention are just a couple of tidbits. I was throughly entertained every time the lead singer (Nixon) had to check that his junk wasn't missing, when the band blew a PA and Jen and I thought we'd finally gone deaf from concerts, the high-pitched shrieks from girls in the crowd, and how we had "Lollipop" stuck in our heads as we drove to get Leatherby's after the show.
As I'm trying not to freeze with the ultra-fun snow that has invaded our lovely state of Utah... I'm remembering my last weekend in Vegas. Apparently what happens in Vegas is that it's warm enough for walking around without a jacket and then when you leave an immediate blizzard erupts in the Beehive State.
While in Vegas I was able to take in a great show by Better Than Ezra - who are great performers who just have a slight aversion to making music videos. One of my favorite songs is Juicy - it's strange yet fun to hear live.
Saturday I was watching FUSE... my favorite music television network - cuz they actually play music - and I caught the end of this video. It was Framing Hanley's "Lollipop." I knew the song sounded familar but I could figure out if I had heard it on the radio or somewhere else. I figured out the band name from the V.J. (thanks V.J.) and I looked it up on YouTube (I love YouTube almost as much as IMDB) and found the video. It made me laugh because in the comments for the video it said that the song was a cover of Lil Wayne's Lollipop and I HATE lil Wayne. However, Framing Hanley took a song and actually made it sound good... but not in the religious going to heaven sort of way. It's more of a dirty song that you don't realize it's a dirty song until you actually listen to the lyrics - enter Exhibit A "Blister in the Sun" and Exhibit B "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
Anyway, talking to Thor at work he mentioned that Jenn can't wait until Manchester Orchestra comes to SLC (I still need to get my tickets - I'll do that tomorrow) and I can't wait until my friend's band Breaux plays live again because I want to see them under their new name and new sound. And now all this talk has put me into this concert mode.
In fact, this weekend I'll be in Vegas... YAY!! Spring Break... and I'll be seeing Better Than Erza live... YAY!!! I'm excited to see them because Jen-Knee is so excited and I just love a good live show plus I really do like their music despite what some might think.
But as for the future concert going here's what I propose... (so far)
Framing Hanley on March 27 at the Avalon ($5 adv/$10 door)
Manchester Orchestra on May 13 at the Avalon ($10 adv/$12 door)
Big Ass Show on Friday, May 19 from 3PM to 10PM (wha?... it's on a Friday?)
I have it, you probably have it, my primary class definitely had it today, and I think even my dog has it... It's Spring Fever!
I'm so excited for several days off in sunny Las Vegas. I need them badly. I have absolutely no drive to work, do homework, go to school, get up, or anything productive. I need to recharge my battery so I can be refreshed enough to finish out this semester. I'm antsy and want to just be outside without a care in the world - and also without a hoodie.
After a co-worker came into work with a second degree burn from a tanning bed, I thought about how everyone gave him advice. "Don't stay in too long." "It depends on your skin type." and so on... I also thought about how I've ranted quite a bit lately and how I should give some advice. But why give your own advice when someone else's advice is just as good, maybe better, and I don't have to form complete sentences - just use copy and paste.
Anyway, this reminds me of high school. It's a poem written by Mary Schmich who wrote it as a parody of every graduation speech ever written - ENJOY!
"Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.
Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Sing.
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.
Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.
Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.
Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.
Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.
Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen."
For those who missed it Baz Luhrrman (director of "Moulin Rouge" and "Strictly Ballroom") created this video as a companion to the awesome 'grad speech' by Mary Schmich:
I am in web design hell. I can't decide how to make my personal site. This is where you come in. I know you (my blogstalking friends) will have some good ideas. And I'm not above 'borrowing'. So if you see a good-looking site, that doesn't look too hard to create, please post me a link.
After a LOOONNGG week of work Jen and I went to the Framing Hanley concert at the Avalon. Walking into the crowded venue was a shock as it is usually a sparsely-filled theater. But the fact that two local radio stations were aiding this concert probably helped to counteract the terrible PR of the Avalon. 
