Monday, April 30, 2012

AAAHHH!!!! JACK!!!!!

Lil' Strangers, are you seeing this Gary Oldman-directed Jack White special?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBAhdDR176M&feature=relmfu

I mean, I am dying. I am dead. First of all, in the intro where Gary and Jack WRESTLE and then Jack makes Gary's LIP BLEED. Oh God, I can't even type any more about it; I have to go be alone. Just watch. Bye.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Strange at Coachella

Okay, so, I THINK I am ready to discuss Coachella. I went with my friend Kyle McNally, who is AMAHZING (Happy Endings reference) and made for the best partner in crime EVER. We left at midnight on Thursday and arrived at the house we were staying at in Indio around 2:30AM (I made good time). We stayed with a friend of a friend, JJ, and his buddies. JJ is a magical human who was somehow able to attend Coachella BOTH weekends, create a unique outfit for every day of the festival (think light-up disco ball tank and shorts ensembles), party with the best of them and not DIE. He was GREAT. Thanks JJ. The house was as close to the festival as you could get, about half a mile away on a golf course/country club property:

Yes, it is very dry in Indio. Anyway, Friday morning after meeting our housemates, Kyle and I went to a strip-mall for some Starbucks and then stumbled upon an authentic Mexican restaurant. This shit was LEGIT you guys. Of course, I asked for some sort of steak and eggs mash-up. Behold:


Yeah, I KNOW. Anyway, then we had to walk to the concert. Strangers, it was HOT. Like, I took a picture of the dashboard of my car at NOON and it was 107 degrees. The annoying thing about the festival is that even though we were only a half mile away, you have to walk around the entire polo field where they put on the concert to get in. So it's like 2 miles in scorching heat. Here's Kyle after a mile (rhyme):


Like we had A LOT further to go at that point. Anyway I will stop whining and get to the music. Friday we were um, kind of dead, by the time we got to the festival so I could barely pay attention to Girls from inside the beer garden except to say that Vomit is a wonderful song and the lady who accompanied the band with her vocals was CRAZY good. After that, we hung out for a little Pulp action. Let me tell you, these guys have still got it:

I don't know who that man is staring at me with scary red eyes, but I did not notice him when I took the picture. You guys, Pulp is kind of an awesome band. They are extremely British and 80's-sounding (two of my favorite things!) and Like a Friend and Common People are both songs that are MEANT to be played live. I was into them. Then we checked out Frank Ocean, who if you haven't gone to see, GO RIGHT NOW RIGHT NOW. He has a wonderful voice and a pretty face and sings sexy sexy songs that make me feel funny in a good way. That was was a treat. Then it was time for MY BOYS, also known as The Black Keys:


That's my boyfriend just MURDERING the world with his guitar. The fence is because I was in the beer garden watching. So let me say this: The Black Keys are an INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE band with such a deep and fantastic catalogue that they basically could've played anything and I would've been happy BUT they do a weird thing at Coachella where they don't play LOUD enough. It happened two years ago as well. for whatever reason, they turned down their amps and they just didn't sound that HUGE. People were complaining that is was too quiet both years and having seen them at different venues let me tell you, they are capable of playing so loud your face melts off a little bit. So, that annoyed me. After that, we were too roasted to stay for Swedish House Mafia, but I heard they were awesome from our cooler, wilder housemates.

So Saturday Kyle and I were much smarter about our plan. We had our coffee, hydrated all afternoon and hung out with our friends, then headed over around 5pm. We started with Martin Solveig, which was AWESOME. I've never really been into the rave/dance side of Coachella and this was an EXPERIENCE for me. Solveig is a DJ famous for his song Hello that the Dragonette girl does the vocals on. She came out and did her thing and it was hot. I don't think this pic does justice to how wild it was in this tent:


Next was Squeeze and if you guys don't know who they are, you need to watch Reality Bites again. They were cute and old and British and really fun. Kyle was happy. Then we stayed in the same tent for a little of St. Vincent and I am LOATHE to admit this, but she kind of rocked. Like, I am basically just jealous of her because she is really pretty and slender and then can SHRED, but I will also be honest and say I was digging what I heard. Then we went to a beer garden and met our friends and danced around to the Shins who were totally fine but like, they played at my college spring break and I don't think they're MEANT for the main stage at a festival like this. Whatever, then came Bon Iver. A lot of people were like "ew, they are so sad, we're going to SBTRKT," but I was like "dude, Justin Vernon is going to kill it," and guess what? I WAS TOTALLY RIGHT LIKE ALWAYS. In the desert at dusk, Bon just sounded so ethereal and Justin sang right into my SOUL. Creature Fear, Blood Bank, and Michicant were all wonderful but when the closed the show with Beth/Rest, I could've died right there and been okay with it. But I didn't die! And then came RADIOHEAD:


So, duh, they were amazing. Thom Yorke's voice does not come from Earth, I am sorry. My only beef with the band is that they essentially refuse to play ANYTHING from The Bends, which is one of the greatest albums of all time ever forever. I think it's because the band has different members from when they did that album and I get that, but I went through puberty to The Bends and it still breaks my heart when I hear it and I just think PLAY BONES, FOR SHIT'S SAKE. Anyway, they were totally stellar, regardless. Got weird to Weird Fishes.

Sunday we got our Mexican fix because why not and then we went to the festival sort of early and THANK GOD because not only could we hear Band of Skulls just OWNING it on the way in (I really love that band) but we saw Santigold and she was probably my favorite act of the festival. She is just the queen, strangers, THE QUEEN. She was fun and loud and danced a lot despite the blistering heat. And her music is just solid, you know? I didn't take a lot of pictures during the day because, well, I was living my life, but I did snap this beautiful shot in the beer garden:



I don't know who this couple is but I am obsessed with them and everything that they're doing with their lives. Anyway, I started taking pics again at The Hives:



That is Kyle rocking out to them because they are just fucking ROCK STARS. I mean, the main dude is kind of pretentious and self-promoting, but I could've just been annoyed at his Swedish accent, which sounded like he was mocking the way Americans speak (it's still totally possible that he was). Also, The Hives have an extremely attractive, cuddly, bearded guitarist (bassist? HOW CAN YOU TELL?) so if you are reading this Swedish bassist/guitarist, let's get a cabin in the woods together.

Ok ok sorry, then came Calvin Harris and he was good, but I sort of already got my DJ fix with Martin (who actually played Calvin's hit Feel So Close in his set, so I didn't even NEED Calvin). I didn't even stay to see if Rihanna came out and I LOVE me some Rihanna. Then we checked out the end of Girl Talk and wow, that dude is very energetic and mashes up some really interesting songs. But I was waiting for Florence and the Machine. Okay so, I've seen Florence before and have been utterly blown away...I was NOT this time. I think her voice hurt or something because she kept going low on songs where she usually belts it out on a high note and I don't just think she was doing a cool vocal thing. Overall she was still SOLID, but it was nothing compared to when I clung to her flowy skirts at the Troubadour as she whispered Cosmic Love into my ear (this happened, I SWEAR). We stayed for the beginning of Snoop Dog and Dre and heard Gin and Juice, but I will confess I am not rap's biggest fan and the stuff I do like...well I am an east coast girl at heart and that heart belongs to Jay-Z and Biggie Smalls. Also we had a 2 mile walk back to my car and then had to drive back to LA and I didn't go to bed until 3:30AM because I insisted on watching Girls. But I'd say it was a successful weekend...until next year!


Monday, April 23, 2012

I Like It!

Lil' Lovers, I just got back from Coachella, so I am NOT currently okay. However, Dry The River's new album Shallow Bed is really helping me get through the day. It's a little cheesy and a little cutesy Fanfarlo-y, but generally it's full of really beautiful melodies and it's curing my three-day hangover so JUST TRY IT. Thanks. Here is a preview of my weekend:

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Movie of the Summer

Lil Strangers, I will prob see this in theaters twice. Why? OH I DON'T KNOW:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMU7s6cwxEM

Yeah. I am kind of excited. KIND OF.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Same Old Legrand

Oh Beach House, never change. New one by my besties (IN MY MIND):

http://www.vulture.com/2012/04/beach-house-lazuli.html

For them, this is a dance track. Dig it.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Strange in VEGAS

Lil Strangers, I went to Vegas for a lady weekend. I got back yesterday. I am EXHAUSTED (but still had to watch Game of Thrones, Mad Men and that new show Girls, which is so brilliant that I would DESPISE 25-year-old Lena Dunham out of jealousy  if she didn't also seem super-sweet). Anyway, this is what I can show you from my trip:

That's my ladies and me in the car approaching the strip. What happens in Vegas stays there, DUH. I can't believe I am going to Coachella this weekend. I am wild and like to ignore how OLD I am.

Friday, April 13, 2012

A Dickhead

Lil Strangers, I am going to VEGAS this weekend (sin! city!), and while researching important jams (very Calvin Harris-heavy) for the trip, I stumbled upon this sensitive jam by this dude Morgan Page called "Addicted." The vocals were done by Greg Laswell, who sings that emo version of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" and is a sexy gentle woodsman. Anyway, here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t1Jdvphhxk

The funny thing is, I thought Laswell was singing "Yeah, I...I might be a dickhead," which I thought was so genius and actually more romantic than just being "addicted" to someone like JGL was to Zooey Twinkletwee in 500 Days of Summer. Everyone knows that guys are great at being blindly obsessed with women and TERRIBLE at admitting they are silly assholes, but love us anyway. So the point of this post is...well, there's no point and this song is GOOD, but could've been great. Viva Las Vegas!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Underrated Today

Lil Strangers, "Ask Me Anything" by The Strokes is an underrated song. Check-it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lltqEv-kvCA

Julian C. sings "Don't be a coconut..."! HOW CUTE IS THAT?! Okay bye.

Strange Bears

Happy Tuesday Strangers! So I was off Friday and had myself a lovely long weekend. Thursday night I went with Noelia Estrellia to see Bear in Heaven at the Echo. Bear in Heaven is a very excellent, moody Brooklyn band and Noelia knows them (she's cool). Check out one of my favorite jams by them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGS7vNLhxNA

Ooooh, right? Anyway, Noey knowing them had nothing to do with how close we got to the stage. That was all us clawing and grasping our way up there. Worth it, though:

Are you not clear on how close we were? Here:

My hand was basically on that dude's foot. He liked it. Anyway, our friends Jon, Anthony, and Jeff were also playing that night in their band Beat Club (http://www.beatclubband.com/...they ...they are seriously great and insanely handsome) at Harvard & Stone (http://www.harvardandstone.com/) so Anna picked us up and we went there to "after party." It was FUN.

Friday Brett had a LOVELY Passover Seder at his apartment. He really does it up. Look at the table:
Even though I had to look up how to spell Seder online, this dinner is really special to me; a bunch of friends getting together and appreciating our freedom. I'm serious, I loved it. Also, Brett lives in Santa Monica but I HAD to mention it.

Saturday I saw a community theater production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd with Deanna, Cassady, and Kyle. I did not take a picture...because I was sleeping (sorry Dee! At least we were back row!). I'm glad I went though, and seeing people work so hard and just really love what they do was inspiring. Community theater is something I don't usually check out and something I actually used to PARTICIPATE in (until I was 12 and decided I did not have the "classical good looks" required to be a movie star and would never be satisfied as a character actor), so it was nice to see.

Sunday was EASTER, so of course I met Noey for a drink at Alcove (http://www.alcovecafe.com/). We ran into our friends TJ, Charles, and Chris and enjoyed a delightful time with them, and then continued to hang after they left:

That's when we got frustrated and decided to throw everything on the table. It's a fun game we play. Then Emily came and met us and we went to her co-worker Michael's VERY GROWN-UP AND FANCY Easter Brunch. He made a HAM, you guys. Also incredible bloody Marys, chorizo, biscuits, and his friends made Spanish torta (that might not be what it was; it was egg and potato pie made by cute Spanish ladies with accents). And there was a BABY there. Like a real cute, cherubic blond baby. And a bunny:

Cute Em! That's also a bunny scarf on the table. Then we went to our friend Jason's for more ham and more fun. Good times.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Love

As if the feelings I felt for this man weren't already all-consuming:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/magazine/jack-white-is-the-savviest-rock-star-of-our-time.html?ref=magazine#

He's a God.

SOS!

Dear Lil Strangers-

You know how bad I am with technology and the interwebs...how do I turn off the thing that publishes all I listen to on Spotify on Facebook?! It's really embarassing when I am having a day where I alternate Carly Rae Jepson with Demi Lovato. Also, this song is fun:

http://prettymuchamazing.com/mp3/jj-beautiful-life

Thanks to Noelia as always for turning me on to all the hot new jamz.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

On Repeat...

I am alternating between two songs today and I am having so much fun with them, I felt the need to share them with all 22 of you. Yeah, there are 22 of you now; I am basically trending globally. Also I had this Vitamin Water Zero this morning, the "drive" flavor, and it has natural caffeine in it and I never have caffeine and I feel TREMENDOUS. Anyway...

1) "Head On" by The Jesus and Mary Chain (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGp47YwDZ48&ob=av2e) Wait, Strangers, HOW THE HELL did I not really know about this band?! Like, I obviously loved "Just Like Honey" off the Laurel Canyon soundtrack (this movie will make you like LA, seriously), but they've got so much other good stuff! This song came on in my car this morning and I thought it was The Big Pink until I discovered that really, The Big Pink just took a lot of inspiration from these dudes. Love it.

2) "Give Your Heart a Break" by Demi Lovato (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlUk1eRVfu8) Umm, okay, so, sometimes I just need a super cheesy jam in my life. This happened with Jojo's classic "Too Little Too Late" Summer of 2006, Robyn's "Dancing on my Own" Summer 2010, and as of late I've been no-pants dancing in my apartment to Carly Rae Jepson's "Call Me Maybe," which you should know is awesome just by the title. This song is NOT as good as those previously mentioned, but it's making me happy right now, and though I'll probably forget about it tomorrow, I am attempting to live in the moment. Go with it.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Strange At An Awards Show

Hey Lil' Strangers. Oh, so Friday night I went to Franklin Village, which is an adorable little stretch of STUFF between Hollywood and Loz Feliz. I had dinner with my ladies Deanna and Noelia at Franklin &Company (http://franklinandcotavern.com/). Let me tell you, it was a SCENE. Because there is like ONE street with bars and restaurants on it in Franklin Village, people are literally spilling into the streets. Like, I definitely shoved Adrian Grenier out of my way (guys, remember Drive Me Crazy?!). Anyway, Franklin & Company is just FINE. It was super crowded, waiters kept bumping into the back of my chair and while my steak salad was pretty nice, Noey and Dee both got a Brussels sprout and bacon salad, short on the sprout and short on the bacon. So whatever. Then after running into several of my friends on the street, which made me feel very cool, we went to the Upright Citizens' Brigade (http://losangeles.ucbtheatre.com/), the main attraction in the neighborhood. UCB is basically the best comedy in LA (sorry...other places) ans I say that as I almost never go to comedy shows and one time Louis CK did a surprise set at UCB, confirming to me that he is my dream man. Anyway, we saw this really amazing musical improv show. Like, it sounds like my worst nightmare, but the performers were just hella talented and had me peeing in my pants...so naturally I had to go home afterwards.

So Saturday after an amazing Grub brunch with Anna (http://www.grub-la.com/), I went to the Kids' Choice Awards with Kyle (yes, I know, I am a baller). It was...whoa. First of all, I am so fucking old I didn't know who anyone was. Like, One Direction performed? The row of teenage girls in front of me confirmed that One Direction is, in fact, a very big deal (I was worried the girls would fly over the railing into the arena; shit, I sound like a grandma again). Also, there was so much slime. See those orange balloons?


FULL OF SLIME. Oh and Katy Perry dangled in front of me for five full minutes:



Cute. Anyway, it was a fun time. Then Kyle and I went to Blue Cow Kitchen (http://bluecowkitchen.com/) for dinner and it was so amazing, I made myself sick. We got Merguez sausage spiced with harissa, curried cauliflower and broccoli in a "smoking" paper bag, beet salad with pesto and buffalo mozzarella mousse, and root veggie chips with an assortment of dips. Then for dessert we had a sundae made with caramel popcorn and caramel sauce and then the God Damn WONDERFUL chef gave us a buttermilk bread pudding with creme fraiche and strawberries that he was trying out. Duh, it was delicious. Then we swing by my friend Andrew's birthday at Villains  (http://www.villainstavern.com/Home/VT.html), which is kind of a cool/weird lounge with live music that's in a circus tent downtown. It's a very cool-looking bar, but a little scene-y and ridiculous for my tastes. Also, since I haven't been eating dairy or gluten, my body decided to turn on me Saturday night and break out in a very sensual rash of hives, so I had to take my sexy ass home early. BTDubs, all this Saturday night stuff was downtown.

So needless to say, yesterday was a detox day: res walk with Linds, laundry, weird TV, etc. Later lil' guys!