New (to me) Single: SKATERS

SKATERS are the new hipster ish out of New York that the cool kids are all abuzz for this years SXSW.  I really dig them...they kind of remind me of The Drums, and really cool fun punk poppy rock.  They just released their video for "I Wanna Dance (But I don't know how)" and it's pretty cool.  I was expecting to see a barrage of horrible dancing, but instead was treated to some pretty sweet Kung Fu and a cute kid.  I'm always amazed when smaller bands have artsy expensive looking videos to go with their music.  It's pretty impressive.  Labels (and subsequently bands) don't have Hype Williams video budgets anymore, so I always appreciate when bands are able to put out something that looks like it does.  

If you happen to be wading through the flannel and feathers at SXSW this year, you can check them out at these parties:

Tue Mar 12:

8pm      Vice Party (Austin, TX) - 401 E Cesar Chavez

Wed Mar 13:                         
3PM     BlahBlahBlahBlahScience Party - Maggie Mae's - Indoor Stage - 323 E. 6th St

-and-

8pm     The Warner Sound at The Belmont - 305 W. 6th St

Thur Mar 14:                          
11pm    Paradigm Mohawk Party  - The Mohawk - 912 Red River St

Fri Mar 15:                     
5:45PM Nylon Party  - W Hotel Rooftop - 200 Lavaca St.

If not, SKATERS kick off their first headlining tour in April and will release their debut full-length on Warner Bros. Records this summer.  Learn to dance by then, ok?

An Experiment in No Comprende - Pesadilla en el Parque de Attracciones

I've recently been listening to Spotify Radio while doing my daily computer errands and the Indie station keeps playing these lovely tracks that are in Spanish.  I don't understand anything they are saying, but I am quite taken by the music just the same.  I'm a sucker for great songs with good melody, that make me a little emo. 

"Pesadilla en el Parque de Attracciones" by Los Planetas is one of those songs.  I had heard it a few times and the song made me happy.  First, I'm thinking: oh what a great love song.  Then, it dawned on me that maybe it was a song about longing.  Is this a couple that's already together?  Are they separated by distance or time?  Did they break up?  Did he disappear for no reason and suddenly feels bad?  Are kids throughout Latin America and Spain are listening to this song and feeling the same way?  If only I knew what they were saying!

I'll start by saying that I have a very limited grasp of the Spanish language.  I often brag that I can read it, just not speak it and also that I KIND OF understand what people are saying when they speak it to me.  So, I thought it would be funny to do a compare and contrast with what I THINK the song is saying vs. what the song is ACTUALLY saying. 

My version:

OMG, you're so awesome and I love you
I want to be with you
I think of you all the time and want you with me
I'm so sorry for all the horrible things I said to you
Follow me into the sunset and we'll be happy
We can dance together in the moonlight
You're awesome
I'm awesome
Let's do this
Love ya, mean it
  (Rinse and repeat)

The real version in English:
"Know that I expected
This happened and nothing happens
That alone gives me reason and I've been learning
From time to time I have been with you
And I applied my enemies
Your dirty tactics of harassment and demolition
I've also got a good thing
From all this mess
And I want you to know
I hope you end up hanging from a pine
When you see how stupid you've been
When you see that you have done fatal
And I want you to know
That has been hell to be with you
Who the hell is the closest thing,
You look a bit like Satan

I want you to know that I have come
In your fucking scenes "Now I'm out"
Get out and that would be a really lucky
If not I see you in the coming years
For me that you could throw a pit
Who and what do I care
If I start thinking a moment I think I prefer
So you know that I hope you end up hitting you a shot
When you see how stupid you've been
When you see that you have done fatal
And I want you to know it's been a hell being with you
Let me just narrowly missed
But I'm hard to kill
And I want you to know it's been a hell being with you
Who the hell is not so much punishment
You look pretty to Satan"


HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...kinda not the same thing...

It made me think how you attach your own emotions to a song, whether you know what the song says or not.  And, also that it's possible to have the same song mean something to you whether it means something positive or negative, and still for the same reason.  It's a little bit of circular logic, but that's been my life lately.

The best part?  I love the song even more and its inspired me to seek out other Indie en Espanol artists.  Me gusta!!

To be continuado...

I Fell, So What?!

When was the last time you fell on your ass?  Sober?  Mine was today.  It was a little shocking.  I was out for a run and had stopped to switch songs and put on my new favorite "If So" by Atlas Genius when I tripped over an uneven sidewalk and face-planted.  "You shouldn't be texting and walking," my sister said to me.  Well, I wasn't.  And, it's still not cool.  The Student Driver who passed by as it happened slowed down, made sure I got up and then went on her way, but it was still a little embarrassing.  I haven't busted my ass in a long time.  It's a little jarring.  My knuckles are all scraped up (saved the iPhone) and my left knee has a scrape about the size of a half dollar (that's bigger than a quarter to all you younguns).  But, most of all, my ego is bruised.  It's been a rough couple of weeks and this just kind of cements (pun intended) what a shit time it's been. 

BUUUUUUT, I'm not going to let it get me down.  To write this, I needed an appropriate song as the soundtrack.  I looked on Spotify for "The Fall," "Fell" and then "Falling Down" by Muse popped up, from their BEST ALBUM EVER Showbiz...which made me put it on and reminded me how obsessed I used to be with this record and how fucking amazing it is.  I know that Muse are superstars now, marrying actresses and selling out arenas, but back in 1999-2000 when this record was new, no one gave a shit.  Except for me.  I cared.  I loved.  So, that was a nice flashback.  I am now listening to Showbiz and reveling in its greatness, like catching up with an old friend. 

So, I guess that falling wasn't so bad after all.  It was an annoying bookend to a really crappy few weeks, but I guess it reminded me to get back up.  Which I did.  After I fell, I dusted myself off and ran the rest of the way back.  And, it inspired me to write something.  And, now I have some cool battle wounds.  But, most of all, it made me realize that even after being dumped once again, I will get back up and get back out there and all will be okay.  A little hydrogen peroxide, Neosporin and some Malbec and I'll be back on track in no time.