South by flippin' Southwest

So it's been almost a week since my descent to Austin for a weekend of SXSWing and let me tell you, I had more fun than I thought humanly possible. The music was EVERYWHERE! Every corner I turned I was assaulted with conflicting melodies and odd harmonies created by a thumping hip hop show next to a raging punk club show tied together with a street hippie playing their guitar for quarters. It was musical overload and I loved every second of it.

Friday night was a bit of a blur and I am not sure we stopped long enough to take in any one band that night. We were tired and I know personally I was a bit overwhelmed, and Abe was a bit jaded after spending the entire week before at the film portion of SXSW. So we sat in a little bar without a band called Paradise and watched the world go by. FYI...during SXSW, take your own car. Just suck it up and pay for parking. Otherwise, you will be wandering around downtown Austin until 4:00 am trying to hale a cab. Eventually you will have to run into oncoming traffic to stop one and scare your friend half to death...but, maybe that's just me.

Saturday was the best day I have had in so long, I still smile when I think about it. I got to sleep in VERY late and laid around the hotel for a while after Abe went to work. I luxuriously ate a $10 grilled cheese sandwich while watching the 40 Year Old Virgin and planned out my day. My plan fell to the wayside quickly though. I jumped in a cab and started my musical adventure on 6th street. As I rounded the corner at the intersection I was dropped at, I heard a familiar guitar riff and realized instantly that I walked onto an impromptu Marcy Playground street show. I watched and listened and knew then it would be a great day. I strolled down 6th street stopping outside open windows to catch snippets of bands I'd never heard of but loved instantly. I watched some of the best live indie acts I'd ever seen at the outdoor stage and then, finally, Abe was done with work. I was glad to have my partner in crime back. We walked, talked, laughed, and listened both of us at times breaking into the conversation with a "hey, I like that..." after hearing a distant note we both responded to instantly. Day turned quickly into night and we found the most magical chairs in Austin to kick back in and have a beer or two. I say they were magic because they revived us (revived me and brought Abe to life and out of his SXSW funk). Once Abe finished his last interview and we said goodbye to his friends, we dove back into the sea of people on 6th street. He ran into people from Dallas and I got a great hug from Kim who said, "I think I remember you, I don't know, I love you though!" It made me giggle.

I am not one for crowds, so that part kept me catatonic from nervousness at times. Especially that night. It seems the douch bags of Austin come out when the moon is up like some sort of awful pack of popped collared werewolves. The turn their white ball caps slightly to the side, spray on more cologne than humanly necessary and start fights with random skinny emo kids on the street (or with each other which is more entertaining). Sensing the crowd swelling as more and more people filled the limited empty spaces, we ventured into the bar at the Omni where we were the only people talking. So we did it loudly, laughed even louder, and made more inappropriate jokes than necessary.

We finally made our way back to our hotel and passed out laughing on our beds.

Sunday was a long drive home, but the conversation was good and the laughs about memories not quite dry on their canvas were amazing.

I fell in love with SXSW. I had an amazing time. I have an amazing BFF in Abraham. Life is good.

The songs to define a lifetime

I have heard that scent is the strongest sense tied to memory...now, I think I heard that on a Febreze commercial so take it for what you will. I don't know that my memories are kicked into gear by scent. I recognize scents obviously that trigger memories everyday. When the smell of cigarette smoke worn into a jacket after many years hits me in the face while giving a hug I always remember and miss my Uncle Frank, if some one wears Polo Sport (yikes...why?!?) I am reminded of my first kiss, and the smell of rose oil always reminds me of a soap my Granny had in the bathroom at her house. Songs though, for me at least, trigger deeper emotion behind the memories. A song can well up tears from so long ago that I never thought I would cry them again or create a belly laugh where silence once was. I call these songs the songs that define my lifetime.

When I hear the first notes of these songs its as if I stepped back in time. I am literally there in my mind. I can remember everything about that moment down to the last detail. Some of these moments I want to relive on repeat so I never forget them. Times spent with Lauren driving around in her little green car (the green bean) or in Barney prior to that(a purple Saturn). Sitting in the garage watching my Dad and Uncle Frank work on their Corvettes wishing one day that I could be as cool as they were (I honestly never have been that cool...nor do I think I ever will be) and the first time I heard the Counting Crows sitting by the pool with James, as we did everyday in the summer, 14 years ago. These are times I never want to lose.

Songs that make me thing of other times that have defined my life are a little different. I don't relish to hear them, but when I do I rest in them. I would never change anything in my past. Without the moments of less tact, grace, or unintelligible thought I wouldn't be here; but to relive some of those things is not always as pleasant as the moment initially was.

"So what are these songs Jenn?" you might be asking yourself...or maybe not but it's my blog so I'm going to tell you anyway, or at least one or two. If I told you every song that garnered a memory we'd be here all day.

Sitting by the Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding: Sitting watching my Dad and Uncle Frank. It's my Dad's favorite song. I can hear him whistling it now as I am typing this.

Genie in a Bottle - Christina Aguilara (vomit...): Riding in the car with Lauren in Indiana. Feet through the sun roof and the twins driving next to us on our way to their house.

Date Rape - Sublime: Yep...7th grade under a Willow tree...most people who know me know what I used to inhale under that Willow Tree. This song was playing the first time...I just got really thirsty and want some chicken nuggets.

If You Get There Before I Do - Colin Raye: This is the song my mom played at my Paw Paw's memorial service. It makes me cry every time.

I Can Only Imagine - MercyMe: Played at my Uncle Frank's memorial service. Makes me a little more hopeful than sad...apparently it made my Dad question his own mortality and the life he has lead...that's another blog.

Stop, Hey What's That Sound? - Buffalo Springfield: This was the first song the Edge played when they came back on air after 9/11. I was driving to work when they came back on air. I remember how weird it was to go from news, news, news all the time 24 hours a day and then to finally hear music again was almost surreal. Like I'd never heard it before. I appreciated it more after that day.

There are plenty more. Make a list of songs that bring memories back to you. Burn them on a CD. An audible journal of sorts you don't have to take the time to write. Defining moments might not always have a smell but they should always come with a soundtrack :)

What I'm listening to right now - Giving Up by Ingrid Michaelson.

In honor of Valentine's Day: The Rise and Fall of the Love Song.

Love songs hold a special place in people's hearts. First loves, lost loves, crazy love all can be summed up in a song for most. Anyone who's had a relationship has had a song you called "our song". This song summed up your relationship or the way you feel/felt about that person.

Sometimes the song was saccharin sweet laced with hearts, stars, romance and wonder. Others are a little darker. A codependent sort of love. A darker need for one another beyond the lovey-dovey surface. Lately though, a love song has had less to do with love and more to do with sex...or a lack there of.

Of course there are songs meant for a younger set that have to do with passing notes, holding hands, candy pop melodies, and puppy love which is fine and good when you are 12 (although, I am not sure why a target demographic would be someone who can't buy things for themselves...but that's another blog.)

All of this is to say, what has happened to a good love song? When did love turn into songs about animalistic sex (and I am not talking about Closer by NIN. This is not a "love" song...contrary to some opinion, although it is a great tune), cheating on your significant other, or stealing someone away from a happy home for selfish plesure. Love is not selfish nor is it the same as lust...at least that's what I've been told. I have felt and received selfish love, I have been party to a bit of lust in my day, and though I may not have experienced true unconditional romantic love I think I have at least seen it hanging out once or twice. Love is patient, according to the good book, love is kind. Love waits forever and is selfless. I haven't heard a song recorded in the last few years that has really captured that the way songs used to. Granted there are a few exceptions that could be sighted, but not many.

I tell people all the time that a mix CD and some grocery store flowers would make me happier than the biggest diamond on earth. So this Valentine's day, if you are as poor as the rest of us, do some research on classic love songs (if you need examples I am available for mix CD consultations), light some candles, cook a tasty meal and enjoy each others company while listening to great music. If you are single like me; make yourself a mix CD, get a pedicure, grab a beer with some friends and still enjoy each others company set to an awesome sound track.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!! May cupid hit you square in the tookas!!

What music means to me.

I love to talk about music. It's the one pure joy I have in life. Music has been my constant companion through everything. I can hear a note and tell you where I was the first time I heard that song. I started this blog because as much as I like to talk about music, I can never fully express it properly when I am speaking with someone. So this is a place I will let it all out.

What music means to me is happiness. I love to sit in the warm embrace of a melody. There are songs that I could listen to on repeat for days and never grow tired of. Lyrics speak for me when I've lost the words to express how I feel. Everyone who is a part of my life has a "theme" song. Sometimes I tell people their song and sometimes its a secret I keep to myself.

Songs that I truly love, even hold color to me. As if while I was listening to the song, if I closed my eyes, that's the color I would see. Purples, amber, greens, reds, golds, all shades represent how the songs hit me inside.

Live music is an entirely different animal. The energy of a live show is indescribable. The band and the audience have, for at least that hour they're on stage, a symbiotic relationship. Feeding off each other. The energy flows back and forth, building and growing as the show goes on. And after the last encore has finished and lights come up, you're suddenly shocked back into reality; as if you've jumped from the hot tub to an ice bath. So you discuss and dissect the show to keep it alive for as long as you can. Rolling the memories around your mouth like a fine wine. Holding small moments in to keep just for yourself so years from now you can go back to those moments and relive that night.

Some have said that music is my drug of choice. This might be true, but I am not sure there is musical rehab and if there was I am not sure I would go.

So strike up the band, let the songs play on, one more encore, and whatever you do don't stop the music.