My favourite online stationery service, Paperless Post, and kate spade new york have teamed up to present a colourful array of 75 new cards. Plus, they're doing a fun giveaway...more on that below.
Of course, there is nothing quite like getting a handwritten note of thanks or hello but I've been using Paperless Post since it was in beta to add a little pow to all of these einvites that flood our inboxes. You want to stand out, right?
It's almost like the real thing but faster to get out. Plus, it tracks your RSVPs. I love the envelope opening aspect most!
I've used them for large parties of a few hundred people to small dinner parties for a close group of friends. I'm sure any of these would be a nice memento to send to a friend that needs a little cheering up.
Whenever you want a fast and chic way to invite people, think Paperless Post.
Is it just me or have there been more music gigs than normal coming to Houston? And, good ones. So many that there's no way I can make it to all of them. Maybe you can help me?
Below are some of the gigs as of today (that I know of...) that need you at them...and me, too.
Beach House play HOB on September 19
This year I've been most pleased with catching Exitmusic (they opened for School of Seven Bells in March at Fitzgerald's), the entire Lower Dens gig with Alan Resnick and No Joy and, most recently, Kishi Bashi. Good, good stuff!
And, don't overlook the opening acts. I found Exitmusic and Other Lives that way...you never know when you might hear something great before it's truly discovered by the rest of the world.
Here are gigs that have caught my attention -- October's a bit crazy, isn't it?? I can't make them all but if you go to one and love it, let me know in the comments! Tell me if you hate it, too. :) I don't think you will...
Click on links below for some song/video previews to whet your earbuds:
September 19 - Beach House (House of Blues) (why: Baltimore-based BH has been growing in popularity over the years. Their most recent album, Bloom, has been on many "best of" lists already and the year isn't yet quite over. See them at HOB before you have to go see them at Woodlands Pavilion.) 21 - The Walkmen, Milo Greene (Fitzgerald's)
October
10 - Alan Resnick makes an appearance with Dan Deacon's tour -- he's great! I hear Dan Deacon is pretty rad, too. ;) (why: Alan Resnick had me at the front lines of the Lower Dens concert. From his site: Alan Resnick is a visual artist obsessed with his own face. Since 2009 he has been working towards the creation of a lifelike digital backup. This avatar is being designed to fill the role of Alan to family and friends in the event of his death.' Alan also co-directed the video for Lower Dens' latest single, 'Candy'). 11 - Bombay Bicycle Club(Fitzgerald's) 12 - Tennis, Wild Belle (Fitzgerald's) (why: Tennis is a wife/husband duo and Wild Belle is a sister/brother duo but that's not really why. Tennis' latest album reminds me of the vocals of some of my favourite girl groups of the 60s and Wild Belle's hit 'Keep You' is the soundtrack of all single girls.) 15 - Father John Misty (House of Blues) 17 - Lower Dens (Fitzgerald's)
(why: I think Lower Dens' release of Brains reminded me of what new, good music is out there. Their gig earlier this year was simple and perfectly crafted from two openers to the final encore. Jana also spent some time in Houston and we tend to support our own, especially when they've done good. They will also be touring with Grizzly Bear!)
Exitmusic's wife/husband Aleksa Palladino and Devon Church
23 - Exitmusic (Fitzgerald's) (why: A band that I love to hear get loud and engulfed in percussion. I think each band member brings something to their sound...and Aleksa Palladino's voice is really like no other...deep, brooding and powerful.)
November 10 - Other Lives (Fitzgerald's) (why: I was intro'd to them right before they exploded...at least in the indie scene...I was one month too late to bring them to Songs From A Room and then a few months later, they open for Radiohead. BOOM. Go see them.) 14 - Jens Lekman, Taken by Trees (Fitzgerald's) (why: He always popped up on my Pandora station and just started to be in my regular rotation...time to see what it's all about.)
Bands I Also Want To See:
September 13 - The Suffers (open for Mingo Fishtrap) (Discovery Green, free)
September 14 - Canned Acoustica feat. B L A C K I E, Craig Kinsey, New York City Queens and others and it benefits Houston Food Bank. Admission is 4 cans of food. Do it! A great sampler of local musicians.
September 16 - Twin Shadow, Niki and the Dove, Bang Bangz (Fitzgerald's)
October 13 - Two Door Cinema Club (House of Blues), Free Press Summerfest 2012 alums
October 20 - Grandfather Child w/ Folk Family Revival (Discovery Green, free)
October 25 - Ghostland Observatory (they actually have 3 nights at Warehouse Live)
October 28 - Crocodiles (Fitzgerald's)
November 1 - Sharon Van Etten(Fitzgerald's)
p.s. Of COURSE, I love the musical intimacy of Songs From A Room. Videos soon from those gigs of some really fab Houston and Austin musicians. Not on the Songs From A Room list? Go to http://sofarsounds.com.
It may come as no surprise that I love music. If it does, well I just spoiled that one.
If you know me, you know the love runs pretty deep so when a friend asked me to be in a music video for Austin-based band, Dead Waiter, I jumped on the chance. I am also a huge fan of interesting and old architecture and the video happened to be filmed in an antebellum home, Ravennaside, in Natchez, Mississippi.
It was shot in Natchez, Mississippi in 2005...which also happened to be the same weekend that Hurricane Katrina hit.
We had just wrapped shooting and had barely any communication with the outside world and I suggested we check what the TV had going on -- little did we know that it would have a devastating impact. We were in the hideous, desperate, standstill traffic with other evacuees and made it to Lake Charles, LA.
I will never forget the director (the amazing Sharad Patel) asking if it would be ok to order a sopapillafor dessert. I glared at him and said we needed to get back to Houston! We're still friends but...come on! That sopapilla didn't even look that good, Sharad!
This music video had even more interesting ties as Dead Waiter was on 99x100 - a record label by my friend and a favourite musician of mine, Roger. Neither of us knew the other was linked to the other, so it was cool to take part in. The video would be shown in a few film festivals.
So happy I had the opportunity and will never forget it. The music is also perfect for this rainy, stormy day in Houston.
"Veni, vidi, vici."*- a collection of things I've done and am glad I did. I try to do and experience as much as possible...as long as it hurts no one and is legal. Even my horrible acting. ;) And, I despise the term, "bucket list."
August 7 to 15, 2012, has been deemed Julia Child Week for what would have been the doyenne of French-American cuisine's 100th birthday. Her publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, chose 100 restaurants in cities around the nation to officially produce a Child-inspired menu for the celebratory week. Houston has five of the 10 in Texas and they are:
If you can't visit any of those, get inspired via her Facebook page, Twitter or Tumblr. Archival footage, recipes, pictures and more will be shared and feel free to share your own.
For those desiring a more hands-on approach to celebrating the cuisine Julia Child made famous, check out Sur La Table's Celebrating Julia Childcooking class where the instructor will guide you through some of her most famous recipes. You can also celebrate on PBS by streaming her classic shows.
Those were probably the most consistent phrases out of my mouth all night as my eyes filled with astonishment and my mouth occasionally gaped wide open with Cirque du Soleil's opening night of Kooza.
Kooza is inspired by the Sanskrit word "koza", which means "box", "chest" or "treasure", and was chosen because one of the underlying concepts of the production is the idea of a "circus in a box".
POP! Out jumps the Trickster like a jack-in-the-box with a leap so high that you just wonder...how in the heck...did that just happen? It was so clean, crisp and precise. Much like the entire night; yet, embraced with warmth, laughter and some soul...and some really great audience participation.
Immediately, you are embraced with laughter and amazement. And, then, confronted by fear, innocence, excitement and more in the form of an androgynous character that resembles the uncertain and unknowing that we all face from time-to-time. Even the seemingly fearless performers of Cirque du Soleil must feel that way...or do they? They have the bodies of creatures that appear to have no limits but are still able to show the human side of enjoyment, imperfection, fun and absolute entertainment.
One thing I also noticed was everyone was fixated on what was going on before them and you saw nary a lit up smartphone either texting or taking pictures. It was such a lovely, non-intrusive few hours that I can't wait to experience again.
The idea of the circus has filled our minds with wonder and awe since childhood. Some of us still want to run away with it...
Circus entertainment has entertained many generations before. Even in 2012, you still have elements of performances that have carried on over time like clowns, the wheel of death, Vaudevillian theatrics, double high wire, contortionists and balancing acts of all sorts. There's a reason -- because people enjoy watching it.
It is truly worth your time to go, get out from the typical hum-drum of checking our email and opening file cabinets. Go see some magic before your eyes, fill your mind with wonder (were there magnets on those chairs? My engineer friend and I pondered. The non-engineer said yes, ha ha) and go feel like a kid again. I think I need some Cirque once a year! And, some more yoga and exercise.
This is some of the best music that has come out of the first part of 2012.
There is a lot of music out there and PLENTY of reviews on these bands. I've included a few below. Take them as you will. Art is like dating - you go out and try it and if you don't like it, you know more of what you like and what you don't. I don't think someone else telling you whether something is good or not should be the decision-maker. Luckily, for you, there are a lot of good reviews on all of these.
First thoughts: Hazy, hypnotic dreams.
Ok, first it was Brains. Then, it was Propagation. So maybe I'm a single whore...as in album single... These happen to be the singles off of their most recent album, Nootropics. There have been some nights and a bottle of wine that have accompanied the entire album. I love the wailing guitar and Jana's use of her voice in Candy. I just saw them live and was curious to see how the album would translate. Verdict: So good, great energy and the best gig I've been to in a while. They are ontour in the US and parts of Europe through August -- you should catch them.
Hospitality
Song: Friends of Friends
Album: Hospitality Purchase here.
First thoughts: Boppity, summ-summ-summertime and yay, friends! Kind of what I thought of L.A. vs. NYC.
This is probably as about as poppy and cute-sy I'm getting in these suggestions. For some reason, when I first saw the video -- it reminded me of a modern day, NYC version of Clueless and the reality of long distance relationships. They suck and good friends are amazing people to have in your life. NYC is her now, dude. Nice little message. Watch the video, too. They'll be on tour this summer. Would love to finagle a Houston show...
First thoughts: chiming and sumptuous Myth was the first track I heard...and always made me cry when I listened to it. Teetering between moments of happiness and then seeking someone to "help me to make it," felt close to home. Myth really is a gorgeous song...you need to listen to it, too. Lots of touring for them starting July 1st.
Purity Ring
Song: Obedear
Album: Shrines (out July 24, 2012)
[if the song isn't showing up, listen to it here.] First thoughts: ethereal and drifting; heavenly and hellish
This takes me back to some of my favourite electropop which also resided in the goth world. Maybe the goths and non-goths can all be friends now since I can see them both liking it :) They arrive courtesy of 4AD which hosted another ethereal, ghostlike fave, Cocteau Twins.
First thoughts: dramatic, dark and strong. Am I going too far when I think of a darker Janis?
I stumbled upon this band as the opener for someone else. The lead singer has an incredibly powerful voice with an equally powerful band to back her up. If you see them live, the percussion makes your whole body reverberate along. It is a song ridden with drama and radiance. "Suggesting Berlin and Bowie, Bedhead and Portishead, Exitmusic's third release continues and catalyzes the pair's stepwise progression..." - Grayson Currin, Pitchfork.
Bear in Heaven
Song: Sinful Nature
Album: I Love You, It's Cool
First thoughts: unleashing inhibition and sex.
I definitely first heard this and thought of a hazy seduction. Then I thought, "Bring it Bear In Heaven." And, Jon Philpot's explanation of the song makes perfect sense to me now:
"'Sinful Nature' is an ode to all the shy girls out there. Don't restrain your inner freak. You could change the world if you just let yourself. It's also an inner dialogue between my responsible and not-responsible self."
First thoughts: Damn catchy. Laugh when you need it. Go ahead, it's ok. Someone better play this at a dance party.
Read what NPR had to say, "First Listen: Tanlines, 'Mixed Emotions'.
