DTH Summer 2K9!

It's a big weekend for the Drop Trowel Hour. Not only did Nitro...err, Devin and I both likely exercise our Obama-given right to gorge ourselves on family-provided barbecue delights, we've also lately been exposed to a lot of R&B. That's right, rhythm and blues, sultry soul, glorious gospel?. Though my version of R&B experience was perceived more like lead exposure while Nitro is practically considering this her own personal Black Renaissance, I feel like this unlikely experience has nonetheless bonded us over hundreds of miles. I can't even tell from my Portland perch just what Nitro's up to down in Santa Cruz until I remember to visit her personal blog, Come On, Get on the Train, which, I must add, is scrupulously maintained, incessantly updated, and explosion-inducing due to its keen observational humour. At the same time, it's incredibly introspective and insightful, but then the deadpan humour hits and you laugh. So I have to recommend it to everyone, even though I would engage anyone in a fierce debate consisting of grunts and arms swings defending my position as the most entertained Nitro/Devin fan in the world.

So I was inspired to cease this DTH blog-posting hiatus by reasons three: seeing the Dirty Projectors play last night at the Holocene, reading Nitro's blog, and this mix I made last night.
The Dirty Projectors - sounded for the most part like birds chirping in rhythmic patterns that are probably a lot more commonly found in West African drumming than a bird nest. They were hot, hot, sweaty hot, in a totally "I went to Yale and studied under David Byrne and some other Afr0-Cuban musicians" way. I'd have to say that seeing Rise Above filled some part of my soul that had been split open the first time I heard the song itself. In case you were there, I was the kid standing on the left of the stage staring at Dave Longstreth with a huge grin on my face the whole time.
Nitro-like I said, a total bro who will kick back to share a brewsky with you but will also leap at the chance to serve by hand-delivering you a mix at any point in time because she's unemployed but is Saving Our Shores and likes Star Trek. A lot.
This mix i made - is for a girl, of course, whom I really like and wish I lived closer to. (Yes, this is also a mode of self expression to not only distinguish but oppose my identity to Nitro's...our mix styles are vastly different and even though I'm not sure what they are, I LOVE elationships). I can make you a copy, because you will want one once you realize how masterfully-compiled it is, but just know it's intended especially for some one. A mix is a feeble attempt to fit her radness.

1. Storm - High Places +o
2. Knotty Pine - Dirty Projectors o
3. Sweet Spots (I typed "sports" at first) - Fiery Furnaces o
4. Dinner with the President - The Evens +o
5. Love to See You - Paul Baribeau *o
6. All for None - Spoonboy +o
7. Small Words, Bigger Lessons - Polka Dot Dot +o
8. Dog Like This - Drakkar Sauna +o
9. The Real Wild World - Adrian Orange +o
10. You Looked Good to Me - No Kids*o
11. Intentions - Whitest Boy Alive* +o
12. Eye of the Volcano - Stereolab +o
13. Bike Freaks - Digital Knife +o
14. Firefighter - Ghost Mice +o
15. Makeout Revolution - Bla Bla Blacksheep o
16. A Minha Menina - Os Mutantes o

* songs whose lyrics are directed personally toward her
+ songs whose lyrics I hope she comments on because they're meaningful to me
o songs I want to make out with her to

do you think it will impress her? circle one y/n.

-Katia/Laoura

Like Trace Remnants of Acid In Your Spine.

1. My Evaline - Weezer
2. Drive on, Driver - The Magnetic Fields
3. Calling Old Friends - Defiance, Ohio
4. Mad World - Tears For Fears
5. Sick 2 Think - Why?
6. You And Me And The Moon - The Magnetic Fields
7. Sleeping Bags - Lyle Workman (Superbad ST....uhhh)
8. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
9. Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes - Modest Mouse
10. Function Of The Sun - The Ruby Suns
11. Between The Wolf And The Dog - Electrelane
12. Lips - Micachu & The Shapes
13. Soothe Me - Sam & Dave
14. Blue Ocean Blue - Lake
15. Close To Me - Why?
16. The Way I Feel Inside - The Zombies
17. Prove My Love - The Violent Femmes (of course)
18. Alright - Supergrass
19. Highly Illogical - Leonard Nimoy (it so good)
20. It's a Living Thing - Electric Light Orchestra
21. Y Control - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
22. Variations On A Theme (Science vs. Romance) - Rilo Kiley

I made it this morning. It's for everyone who isn't in an elationship. I just made that up. It does NOT mean online relationship. I think, to provide a definition, I will have to provide an example: the couple in Away We Go is in an elationship. They are elated, they are in a relationship, and they are enamored. Thus, they are in an elationship. QED.

If you want one, I'll make you one (unless you are unqualified; see terms listed above). I'll even send it right to your doorstep because I have nothing better to do (Hell, I could drive it to your doorstep) and I sort of like some of you. Kind of. Sort of. I mean, all of you folks that frequent The DTH blog. Which is zero. Well, me. I like me. No, nevermind, I don't frequent The DTH blog, and I don't like me.

Ah, it's a good mix, anyway. I don't think that's a lie. I miss writing on here. I only have one musical recommendation: Spaced Out - The Best Of Leonard Nimoy and Wiliam Shatner. It's the funniest thing I've ever tried to sit through. Of course, the Bilbo song makes it all worth it, anyway. I'd have to say that the highlight is Shatner's insane (INSANE) scream at the end of his spoken word rendition of "Mr. Tambourine Man". Holy shit.

I will make more and I will write more. Promise.

Take me to the airport,
I need to be extremely far away.

_Nitro

Lastshow lastshow

We featured two straight albums this week: One, Akron/Family's Akron/Family, and two, The New Pornographers' Electric Version. I suggest reading Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway while listening to the former and rehashing past hostings of The Drop Trowel Hour to the latter. Well, that's what went down in the KLC studio, at least, during these magical all-music periods. We finished off the show with a 25-minute-long discussion of...erm, stuff. I don't even remember.

I'm going to miss you.

Look for updates on this blog during the summer months. Hell, look for them in the fall and winter months, when I'll be going to Russian metal shows n shit.

The Drop Trowel Hour loves you.

_Nitro

Devin and Laoura breaking change on your face!

Last night I dreamt that I got really high and then did a lot of coke. When I woke up after the dream, I was convinced that I was still in this state. It was 4 AM. It was quite disturbing. Happy 4/20!

'Twas a hot sunny day at Lewis and Clark (in the eighties!), so we celebrated it by sitting inside and playing music for you fooz. It was really quite a nice time, though. We have a challenge for all you listeners out there for this week's blog: YOU tell US what we talked about today! Because we don't remember!

1. Uh-oh (It's Morningtime Again)- Little Wings
2. Personal Space Invader - Andrew Jackson Jihad
3. Parentheses - The Blow
4. Rise Above - Dirty Projectors
5. Playboy - Hot Chip
6. I'll Be Your Counterpart - Baby Dayliner
7. Summertime Clothes - Animal Collective
8. The Stars of Track and Field - Belle and Sebastian
9. After the Afterlife - Chad Van Gaalen
10. death from above - css
11. not if you were the last junkie on earth - dandy warhols
12. do you realize?? - the flaming lips
13. let's call it off - peter bjorn and john
14. hash pipe - weezer
15. creature - guidance counselor
16. _______ - Helvetia
17. _______
18. Something 4 the Weekend - Super Furry Animals
19. Witches Hat - Incredible String Band
20. Head Spins - HIGH PLACES (like KLC LOLZZZ)
21. Advisory Committee - Mirah
22. (Untitled) - Julie Doiron
23. Jammin' - Bob Marley
24. The Irony of it All - The Streets
25. Fall Saddles - Why?
26. Perfect Day - The Velvet Underground

_Nitro && Katia

All Decisions Are Vinyl

Today we vinylly had an all-vinyl show. Once we vinylly got the hang of it, it was pretty fun and it gave us quite a run for our money--finding the next lucky record that would be broadcast on Drop Trowel was sometimes troublesome. We had a few duds (the song by the George Shearing Quartet was most definitely not using theremin as promised and Katrina and the Waves should've gone out with the tide), but it was a pretty fab show overall(s). KLC was infested with some eighties mice who turned out to be rather friendly and really adorable (white blazers, scrunchies on bowtied tails, turquoise button-downs, t-shirts with various shapes displayed on them). We regret not playing any Spooky Tooth for our listeners (they're like Sonic Youth, but scarier and mintier), but we simply ran out of time.

1. Against Doctor's Orders - Kenny G (wut a rebel)
2. The Reflex - Duran Duran
3. Conception - George Shearing Quartet
4. Prospects - Madness
5. Corn Dogs - The Bobs
6. Pet Sematery - The Ramones
7. Undone - The Lucy Show
8. Love That Boy - Katrina and the Waves
9. Battery Brides - XTC
10. Born Under Punches - Talking Heads
11. Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush
12. The Prize - Ultravox
13. I Am A Camera - Buggles
14. I Am the Audience - XTC
15. Ask - The Smiths
16. This Woman's Work - Kate Bush
17. Mr. X (half of)- Ultravox
18. A Man with a Good Car (half of) - Gang of Four
19. Road to Nowhere - Talking Heads (again)
20. Stay Up Late - Talking Heads (againnnnn)
21. Dumbell - Mission of Burma
22. Barracuda - Heart
23. Suburban Home - Descendents
24. Statue of Liberty - Descendents
25. Kabuki Girl - Descendents
26. Shame of the Nation - New Order (on 33, then 45 when we figured it out)
27. Never Let Me Down - David Bowie
28. Little Fury Things - Dinosaur Jr.

Hopefully, we'll have some more vinyl days in the near future.



_Nitro

"Come pick my roses, PORTLAND!" -Aqua

Today is a celebration of your life: the 90s, and is Brought to you by V8 Splash. We spinnin shit you ain't nev expected from the Drop Trowel Hour!! But this is where we come from. That is, the streets of Bonny Doon and St. Louis in the 90s, in Nitro and my respective small gangs: the Prideless 3 and the Silly Gang. Firstly, we need to give a special thanks to Rhey de Shugehr for coming in and performing "Fly" from their self-titled album of a capella Sugar Ray covers, now available at every Target and Borders in the world. We learned that, contrary to our initial world views, Russians and French Canadians can indeed come together and make renditions of Sugar Ray songs that are arguably even more beautiful than the originals. Aside from our kindly guests, more awkward urges to strip for tour groups, and Parkinson's awareness via my computer screen, here's what you need to make a great 90s casserole:

N
1. My Name is Jonas - Weezer
2. Mykel and Carli - Weezer
3. 8 minutes of dead air brought to you by Fred Meyer
4. Strike it Up - Black Box (Jock Jamz!)
5. Prove My Love - Violent Femmes
6. My Lovin' - En Vogue
7. Roses are Red - Aqua
8. Sail Away - Enya
9. Candle - Sonic Youth
10. Mystery Hours - New Pornographers
11. Stay Away - Nirvana
12. Be Yr Mama - Sleater-Kinney
13. Morning Glory - Oasis
14. Every Morning - Sugary Ray
-Live Performance of "Fly" by Rhey de Shugehr
K
15. The Cruise - The Rentals
16. Molly's Lips - The Vaselines
17. Queenie - Bratmobile
18. Deceptacon - Le Tigre
19. Big Time Sensuality - Bjork
20. Emperor Tomato Ketchup - Stereolab
21. 1979 - Smashing Pumpkins
22. Sugarcube - Yo La Tengo
23. Car - Built to Spill
24. Shitty, Shitty, inaudible clip from the movie "Empire Records"
25. What's Up (Also shitty, shitty version from the Dave Letterman show) - 4 Non-Blondes
26. Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms

-Katiaaaaaaaaa

Free Strip Tease On The Drop Trowel Hour!

1-800-KLC-STRP is the number to call, folks. Ask for Nitro or Katia, otherwise known as Frisky and Damsel. Today's show was both aural and visual. I gave two tours a very intimate introduction to both myself and KLC. We're considering making this a weekly feature. We'd appreciate your input grrrrrrrrreatly.

We briefly reviewed the NANK camping trip and delved into the intricacies of sprinkler system beats. Beyonce paid us a visit, groveling for change as always. I gained a pen and lost some dignity; Katia lost her balance and gained my approval of the Baby Ruth candy bar. Playlist:

1. White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane
2. Red, Yellow & Blue - Born Ruffians
3. By Your Side - CocoRosie
4. I Just Threw Out The Love of My Dreams - Weezer
5. Poor Harold - White Magic
6. Blue Ocean Blue - Lake
7. Step Into My Office, Baby - Belle & Sebastian
8. To Hell and Back - Madeline
9. Promise - Violent Femmes
10. Crazy In Love - Beyonce Feat. Jay-Z
11. Ready Or Not - The Fugees
12. These Few Presidents - Why?
13. German Love - Starfucker
14. Time After Time - Cindy Lauper
15. Vamos - Pixies
16. Isla De Encanta - Pixies
17. From a Motel 6 - Yo La Tengo
18. Something off a Post-punk compilation
19. See above
20. Oh No - Gogol Bordello
21. Some beautiful, badass unknown song
22. Another beautiful, famazing, super super, fucking AWESOME SCARY badass unknown song (by Cat Power)
23. You Be Sweet - LEVY
24. I Wanna Die - Jolie Holland
25. Execution Day - The New Porn.

_Nitro

No Luv

Unfortunately, we weren't able to have our show today due to extr33m amounts of skoolwurk. Instead, I'm going to take a break from over-analyzing Lord Tennyson's "The Eagle: A Fragment" to let you in on some hep beats I might've let your sorry ears experience were it not for this major inconvenience (it's not like I CHOSE to go to school):

Some more Animal Collective
Some more Electrelane
Some more Pixies
Maybe some Arcade Fire
Some CocoRosie

Basically, the show would have been the same as it is every week. Same bands, different songs (sometimes the same songs!). I might've shaken it up with some Why? or maybe even some Weezer (I live on the edge!). And since Katia has forever abandoned this sacred Drop Trowel blog, I'm going to guess she'd play some Paul Baribeau, Animal Collective, Ruby Suns, Chad VanGaalen, and perhaps some Mount Eerie or Sleater-Kinney. But really? I have no fucking idea.

Things we might have talked about:
Underbites (new find on campus!)
Tea bags
Teabagging
Men
Women
Portland
Mosquitos
Sponges (live animal, cleaning, and birth control varieties)
Things we don't like
Things you don't care about


_Nitro

Drop your trowels, keep your towels, move your bowels.

We revealed these three gems of advice this afternoon on Drop Trowel. We had The Gay Horse as a guest once more. This time she came with thought-provoking interview questions in mind, and about halfway through our show, she let all of our listeners get an inside look into the Drop Trowel studio. We discussed my activist anti-condimentist group, MUSTARD, along with hot dogs, McDonald's, and grape juice. It was a very interesting time indeed. Here is my half of the playlist:

1. Tables and Chairs - Andrew Bird
2. Grass - Animal Collective
3. Between The Wolf And The Dog - Electrelane
4. Gigantic - Pixies
5. fish&chips&dip - Under The Mustard
6. Bluish - Animal Collective
7. Loud Pipes - Ratatat
8. Crumble - Swan Island
9. Stupid - The Long Winters
10. Y Control - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
11. Testament To Youth In Verse - The New Pornographers (League of L theme song! Just listen to those lyrics!)
12. Apple Orchard - Beach House

This week's playlist was composed of music I've been listening to quite a bit ("Bluish" is definitely the song of the week) combined with a few that speak for a sudden resurgence of ideas I thought were dead and a need to feel badass enough to fly into the air to the sounds of intense metal riffs and cheering. I was also inspired by all of these awesome saint candles I got at Freddy's recently. So there you go.



The Drop Trowel Hour loves you.

_Nitro

Routine?

1. Blast Off! - Rivers Cuomo
2. Swimming Pools - Thao
3. Knowing The Things That I Know - The Blow
4. Buddy Holly (Acoustic) - Weezer
5. To The East - Electrelane
6. Ob Ish - Why?
7. Oh My Darling - Madeline
8. Lights Out - Santogold
9. Somewhere There's A Feather - Nico (rap version)
10. Where Are You Now - Brandy
11. Sweets - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
12. We Are Of The Future - The Nextdoor Neighbors
13. Only In A Moment of Clarity - Jay-Zeezer
14. Blue Monday - New Order
15. Morning Sun - The Ruby Suns
16. 99 Luftballoons - Nena
17. In The Morning - Built To Spill
18. Inside The Molecules - Chad VanGaalen
19. Same Thing Every Day - Paul Baribeau
20. All The Same - Quasi
21. Daily Routine - Animal Collective
22. Every Day Feels Like Sunday - Of Montreal
23. Same Ghosts Every Night - Wolf Parade
24. Errrr...some song by Rosa

Today we started off the show with an introduction to Rivers Cuomo's unreleased rock opera, Songs From The Black Hole. We then entertained our listeners with discussions of the following:
-Cousins who are named Mike
-Jens Mache
-Jay-Zeezer
-Routine (Weezer and gramatically incorrect song titles)
-Nena
-Rivers Cuomo
-Confused elderly people who call KLC
-Confused insurance saleswomen who call KLC
-Confusion
-KLC
-Whether or not you need to dial the extension listed on the KLC phone when you call KLC

We also marked our territory.

_Nitro

Why? And for whom?

The first half of today's show was brought to you by the trendy emotion of this school year: anger. I'd like to mention that there were also undertones of nostalgia for single-digit years of age, nostalgia for grace during sleeplessness and grunge (/high school), feelings of loneliness and unworthiness, and the excitement of the prospect of a blonde-haired, other-wordly male person who can probably fly. Uh, what? Anyway:

1. Loquasto International Film Festival - Mark Mothersbaugh
2. Light Leaves - Why?
3. 1991 - Crystal Castles
4. 198d - At The Drive-In
5. To Death With You - The Cotton Jones Basket Ride
6. From My Bedroom Window - Dear Nora
7. Telephone Line - Electric Light Orchestra
8. The Human Hosepipe - Harry & the Potters
9. Hounds Of Love - Kate Bush
10. The New - Interpol
11. The Good Life - Weezer

The second half of our show was led by our good friend, The Gay Horse, who directed us away from our mics and down into the drippy system of slowly dissolving pipes that run underneath Lewis & Clark. I believe Katia's computer may have been responsible for playing such bands as The Parenthetical Girls and Os Mutantes. I also vaguely remember hearing a Nextdoor Neighbors song at some point in our journey, but that could have just been the acid talking.

_Nitro

The Valentine's Day Mix.

Here is the playlist for the Valentine's Day Mix I made:
1. Bohemian Like You - The Dandy Warhols
2. Please Do Not Go - Violent Femmes
3. I'm Waiting for the Man - The Velvet Underground
4. Heart Factory - Sleater-Kinney
5. Criminal - Fiona Apple
6. It Doesn't Matter Anymore - Buddy Holly
7. Steak For Chicken - The Moldy Peaches
8. Sophisticated Side-Ponytail - Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
9. Take On Me - A-ha
10. Beauty Is Only Skin Deep - The Temptations
11. Party - El Perro Del Mar
12. El Scorcho - Weezer
13. She's A Rejector - Of Montreal
14. Hey Boy - The Blow
15. Hella Nervous - Gravy Train
16. Everybody's Stalking - Badly Drawn Boy
17. Simeon's Dilemma - Why?

It's strange that I'm still pretty content with this mix. Most of my mix-making confidence is usually lost after I give the person (or, in this case, people) the CD; however, upon re-listen, I've decided that it is a startlingly accurate portrayal of how I feel. About what? Well, I'm not sure, exactly, but I guess it would make sense to say Valentine's Day (VD), so I'll say that. But I think it also represents how I'd been feeling the week prior to VD. I was kind of in this self-satisfied, pretentious, holier-than-thou mood brought on by the fact that I knew I wasn't going to be anywhere near bitter on VD. I realized it's just as easy to be bitter about VD as it is to be excited about spending a night in with ur hubby. I just associate this particular kind of bitterness with high school, where, surrounded by pig-headed morons, I felt unique in my hatred for VD. I feel I've reached the point where I can just not acknowledge this Hallmark-iday and feel fine. Unfortunately, since I'm a hateful, pompous bitch, I began to feel bitter towards the bitter people.

This is why I was worried about the mix. I wasn't sure if it would seem to flow to anyone besides myself. This is one of the reasons why I put "Bohemian Like You" as the first track; it's quite satirical, but is masked with "fun" lyrics and really upbeat music. It's genius. The next track, though, kind of reverts to the initial kind of "anti-VD" bitterness. It's a good fucking song, though, and I love how melodramatic it is: "I fall down dead, she never get to see the tears that I cry." It's also just so damn great to sing along to. I think there are probably a few more songs on here I put on either as more pro-VD or more anti, but I hope they fit in well with tracks such as "Simeon's Dilemma", "Steak For Chicken", and "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" (or, the "I've learned to settle for ugly people" song), which are all fairly funny to me. I sound crazy.

I also sound like I have an STD. Happy VD!

Oh, and if ya want one, holla atcha grrrrl.


...A CD, not an STD. I mean, if you're into that...sharing is caring.

_Nitro

Celibacy Celebration/Lupercalia

Our playlist wasn't saved today (even though it was all typed out), but if you were paying attention, you should be fine.

Here's some good shows coming up that we mentioned:



Feb 20 2009 9:00P
Eagles Hall [basement] w// Explode Into Colors, Tara Jane Oneil, Adrian Orange, + tba. Olympia, Washington
Feb 21 2009 7:30P
The Den w/ Explode Into Colors, Adrian Orange Tacoma, Washington
Feb 28 2009 8:00P
HUSH w/ Explode Into Colors, Panther, Tunnels and Meth Teeth!! Portland, Oregon

Devin loves Laoura

1. Paint By Numbers 1:26 Spoon Boy
2. Foxes Mate For Life 4:30 Born Ruffians
3. If I Died On You 2:24 Karl Blau
4. Planet Health 4:19 Chairlift
5. Also Frightened 5:14 Animal Collective
6. Change Your Life 3:00 Japanther
7. It's Oh So Quiet (Alternate Take) 3:44 No Age
8. Wooly Mammoth's Absence 4:47 Mount Eerie
9. Numina O 3:40 Deerhoof
10. danger 4:14 Kusikia
11. Unconvincing Serenade 6:33 Adrian Orange & Her Band
12. On Parade 2:35 Electrelane
13. Kids 5:03 MGMT
14. Wedding Bell 3:55 Beach House
15. Town Full Of Mannequins 3:12 The Nextdoor Neighbors
16. Close to Me 4:26 Why?
17. Oh, Mojave 2:32 The Ruby Suns
18. It Doesn't Matter Anymore 2:06 Buddy Holly
19. Please Do Not Go 4:16 Violent Femmes
20. Boys Better 4:35 Dandy Warhols
21. NYC 4:20 Interpol
22. Bug-A-Boo 3:10 Destiny's Child

And so it began: the tale of two Scots-Irish lesbians encouraging frustrated workers to abandon their low wage-earning jobs and drop those mortar-covered trowels to da ground! Items discussed on this afternoon's show:

-Lyell Asher
-Animal Collective's awesomeness
-Dead and dying ostriches and bees
-Abandoned Volkswagen vans
-The squeakiness of office chairs
-The origin of the show's title
-The love between Laoura and Devin
-Underbites feat. AJ, the recovering underbite surgery patient
-Rivers Cuomo's possible underbite?
-Cursing
-Parents
-Wikipedia
-Alex and her mono/the fact that she had to get blood drawn
-Top 10 albums of 2008 lists and their inaccuracies (except for ours)

Great first show.

LUV Nitro and Katia (Devin and Laoura)

Mt. Eerie // Kusikia, Karl Blau, Calvin Johnson – Urban Xchange 2.08.09

Mt. Eerie played a set of unreleased songs, so I can't share any of them with you guys, but enjoy this neat video someone made for his song "No Flashlight"

“Cool things keep happening in Tacoma. What’s with that?”

Between striking sexy dad poses, Calvin Johnson echoed this popular sentiment on the occasion of Urban Xchange’s “The Den” opening show. The Den is a new show space located in the back of downtown Tacoma’s finest clothing exchange store. My best knowledge dictates this response: there is a loose collection of Pugett Sound students—musicians and organizers and friends—who care about original music and making it a community thing. Organizers Abby and Allegra, who opened the place up, also recently put on the Tacoma 2nd annual Alder Arts Walk, an event where various musicians from Tacoma, Portland, and beyond played at several houses within a stretch of 8 or so blocks near UPS. This organization continually impresses me and sort of makes me yearn to experience the community of a smaller city. What do you guys think about organizing around art in a bigger city like Portland? Tacoma has always made me feel much more welcome at shows than Portland house shows, but maybe it's just the people I happen to be involved with.

To get back to the show....clearly, it is my ultimate fate to always arrive in the middle of Kuskia’s set whenever they play in Washington. Thankfully they actually played “heart” at the end, which they never play live. This cemented my love for them.

Karl Blau’s stripped down guitar/singing set was lovely and bouncy. During one song, everyone hummed a disco-y bass line as he syncopated a final verse over it.

I’ve been listening to Mt. Eerie almost constantly for the last four months, and it was just as holy to see Phil with his guitar as to hear “The Glow Pt. 2” as a "voice in headphones." Most of the set was forthcoming material. It was river-hill-destruction-city-lights themed, I would say, and I (regretfully) told Phil at the merch booth I wanted to buy it rather than complimenting it in a better way. It was very beautiful, I meant, and I'm absolutely dying to listen more. Like regular Mt. Eerie, the sound was scratching guitar arching its sound into the warmth of sad melody. Images of familiarity with being alone and feeling the breath of the world connected a less familiar attitude of respect and acceptance I am interested in learning about and knowing from this humbled dude. It was nice that half the crowd was sitting, but my one complaint comes in that most who were standing could see hardly anything in the narrow space. The merch area was perhaps a little more massive than it should be, but maybe for future shows it won't be so bad.

I will refrain from further defiling this experience by trying to describe it. Listen to the Microphones and Mt. Eerie.

_Katia

The Bike Church: Hipster Hangout of SC

Sometime in the past week (Monday, perhaps?), I went to a show. Yes, I actually went to a show; I drove downtown, walked there, went inside, and listened and danced. I did not not do any of these things.

My reason for saying all of this loopy bullshit is that, upon my arrival at The Bike Church to see The Pharmacy, I quickly realized how long it had been since I'd actually been to a show. I'd aspired to go to shows for months (it seems like), but I was always either ill or bogged down with homework. I'd like to give a shout out to my Econ professor, who, the Monday before the Of Montreal concert (Thursday), let us know that we had a quiz on Friday. Snivelly little cock head.

Anyway, yes. After debating for a couple of hours whether I really felt like going or not (my other choice was to stay home and do nothing; the fact that this was such a hard choice to make and that I spent a good part of my evening on the question makes me a bit of a snivelly little cock head myself), I finally called Thor and we made a plan. We met downtown soon thereafter, got some bubble tea, and walked up and down Pacific Mall until we found the place. As soon as we walked up to it, I knew that it was the right place; the grounds were as dirty as the people. We'd found the Hipster mecca of Santa Cruz! We walked up to the large wooden doors and let ourselves in.

It was kind of a weird time to come in. A member of Raggedy Anns, the opening band, was under a spotlight off to the left playing a trumpet while the rest of the band was playing off to the right. The song soon ended and the dude went back over to his bandmates and they kept playing. They were pretty fun, though. Thor and I found somewhere to sit and just watched for a while. It was quite a small room. The ceiling was lined with bike parts, as were most of the walls. There were some typical bike lover stickers adorning a pole in the middle of the room. The clock on the wall was the same as the one in my 4th-6th grade classroom, which was endearing and made me instantly nostalgic. There was a small collection of hipsters standing in front of the band, hardly swaying to the music. Only one guy was dancing the whole time, almost taking out bystanders with his aggressive flailing on numerous occasions. It was odd seeing this collection of people in Santa Cruz; what with all the bikes, boots, leggings, plaid, neon, and general grunge, I felt I was back in Portland again. Through text messages, Alex and I wondered why more of them weren't sporting ironic Hawaiian shirts or toting ironic surfboards around.

Thor and I danced as well. Once The Pharmacy came on, more people started dancing and it was great fun. They played a short but exciting set and the show was over by ten.

2008 Top Ten Albums (Ultra Delayed)

Yes, our last blog post was two months ago, November 8, and most of the top albums lists have come out and folks have ravenously debated over them weeks ago, but I'm here to lay down the real best albums of 2008. And I'd like to announce that Naughty Ezra will continue to shine into 2009, possibly even with a new time slot, possibly airing every week; who knows?!

1. Chad Van Gaalen - Soft Airplane
2. Stereolab - Chemical Chords
3. High Places - High Places
4. Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
5. of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
6. Santogold - Santogold
7. Why? - Alopecia
8. Born Ruffians - Red, Yellow, and Blue
9. Deerhoof - Offend Maggie
10. The Ruby Suns - Sea Lion

_Katia