a treat for finals week

DM Stith was Sufjan Steven's opener when I saw him live in November - definitely one of the more incredible opening acts I've seen. I mean - he records his voice and harmonizes with himself. live. totes impressed.

dear blog,

I am sorry I have been so neglectful. Really, there is no excuse. So many blog worthy things have happened in the past month, and I honestly don't know why I haven't shared them with your faithful followers. Therefore, I am submitting to you a catch-up post.

I spent halloween weekend in Birmingham. I made muddy buddies and caught up with a best friend while watching John Hamm host SNL, visited with my adorable trick-or-treating neighbors (if it looks like I'm laughing in that picture, I am. they're so funny), did some shopping and ate at Iguana Grill with my family. weekends at home are the greatest.

My Auburn Tigers have won the SEC west. we're 11-0 going into the Iron Bowl, and will be playing the SEC Championship in Atlanta in two and a half weeks. did I submit my information to the student ticket lottery? absolutely. fingers crossed I get a ticket. war damn eagle.

the first weekend of November, a few friends and I saw Sufjan Stevens in Atlanta. he was wonderful. we also did our typical Atlanta activities. I'm getting a turntable for Christmas, so we went to Criminal Records, where I bought my first vinyl - Mumford and Sons' Sigh No More. we ate dinner at Fellini's Pizza, and we had post-concert dessert at Cafe Intermezzo. perfect saturday in atlanta? check.

and amongst these wonderful events, there have been many weekend bonfires at my friend Gray's house, the most delicious pumpkin bread I've ever tasted (from a box!), getting my hair cut short again, wonderful musical discoveries, and FINALLY gaining some direction and clarity concerning post-graduate plans. fall gets better and better every year. God is so good.

musical perfection

on Friday night, I went here:

it was probably one of the most magical nights I've ever had.

picture this: Waverly, AL is in the middle of nowhere, about twenty minutes down 280 from Auburn. they played there on a little stage, with everyone sitting on blankets on the grass in front of them. there were crickets, and stars, and and I wished so badly that I was old enough to be enjoying a glass of wine. I want to go back and stay in that night - it didn't last long enough.

and if you haven't heard The Civil Wars, let this be your official introduction.

you've really got a hold on me

I'm about to brag, big time.

Last night, I saw She & Him. I saw Zooey Deschanel, in person and got to listen to her talk and sing, and saw her bounce around the stage and get on to a guy near the front who was taking flash pictures of her. It was hot, and sticky, and there were a ton of people packed into the covered area at Sloss Furnace where they performed, but I got to see She & Him.

It was like indie music heaven.

My roommate Katie drove up from Auburn to go with me, and of all of the people I could've gone to that concert with, I'm glad it was her. We dressed up in our cute Anthropologie dresses (because let's face it, we wanted to look really good in case Zooey or M. Ward saw us), and got temporarily lost in downtown Birmingham. Oh, the things we do for live music. We also met our friend Gray there. Gray loves all of the same music that we do, so I'm also glad he was there to appreciate the experience with us.

btw, Zooey Deschanel is just too cute. She's so little. And she's sassy, and she plays the piano and the ukelele. At one point someone yelled out "I love you, Zooey!" and she stopped and said "you don't even know me. we've just met. spend five minutes with me at the end of the night and see if you love me then." And M. Ward is just too amazing. his voice is wonderful, and his guitar playing is amazing... he's just great.

The Chapin sisters opened, then sang backup vocals and did some percussion during she & him's set. They were very talented.

and my favorite part about the night, by far, was when they covered the beach boys' "wouldn't it be nice", which I will upload as soon as the internet cooperates.

sweeeet diissspooosition..

Let me begin this post by stating that I love live music. Every new concert experience serves as a reminder of this fact.

Last Friday night, one of my roommates and seven of our friends took a trip to Atlanta to see The Temper Trap. I don't think I've ever been closer to a band at a concert. The Kissaway Trail opened, and was probably one of the greatest opening bands I've seen - they're from Denmark (cool points.), and they have a member of their band who plays the tambourines. tambourines! He wore suspenders, also (more cool points), and danced around the stage. They had such an energetic and fun band - you could tell they were truly enjoying their time on stage. The Temper Trap was equally as great - they played all of their album Conditions, and the lead singer really knows how to put on a show.

I didn't record any videos or take many pictures, so this music video will have to suffice. Picture them live. It was so great. I'm so thankful I have friends who love the same music as I do, and who will travel to different states to see incredible bands.

The night ended at Café Intermezzo with oreo cheesecake. It was definitely one of the greatest nights of the year so far.

young and full of running

Last night, I saw John Mayer in Birmingham.

Oh. My. Goodness.

Here are just a few thoughts I've collected about concerts:

1. According to Kelsey, we saw Coldplay entirely too early in life. They've set the standard incredibly high for every concert I have attended since. The past couple haven't come anywhere close to our Coldplay experience. I was beginning to lose hope, until...

2. John Mayer changed my mind. His concert... I don't even have words to describe his concert. It should be noted that I am still thinking about what an incredible night it was. I love it when artists can elicit emotions with music or lyrics that I would never feel otherwise. For me, this is the mark of a good concert... or really, good music in general.

3. I never realize that I know almost every word to every song of a band or artist until I see them live.

4. I love it when music is so loud that it shakes your core. Like... the pulse from the speakers shakes your whole body, and you're completely overwhelmed with the beat (in a good way)

5. Going to any concert immediately inspires a mental list of other bands that I would love to see live. This was no exception.

6. I admire John Mayer's talent. His lyrics are filled with one line wonders. "By the time I recognize this moment, this moment will be gone" and "It's not that we don't care, we just know that the fight ain't fair"... and really every single word of Edge of Desire - I really learned to appreciate his songwriting last night.

7. This is why I love John Mayer so much: