Beckie’s Neighborhood

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But look at all the lucky fuc*s that get to go to this year's street scene.  I'm going to say that this is, HAND'S DOWN, the BEST lineup the festival has ever seen.

To name a FEW: Beck, The Black Crowes, The National, Spoon, Justice, TV On The Radio, Atmosphere, Cat Power, Tegan and Sara, Hot Chip, The New Pornographers, Vampire Weekend, The Hives, Cold War Kids, Tokyo Police Club, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, MGMT

Wow, I've never felt the pangs of jealousy so clearly before.

Honestly, Sex and the City is one of the best romantic (?) comedies I've seen in a long time, and perhaps one of the best movies that will probably come out this summer (yeah, I said it).  I think it all comes down to exceeding expectations.  I was expecting a two hour long SATC episode filled with sarcasm, wit, romance, heartbreak, new york city, (sometimes heinously ridiculous) clothes, and life lessons.  If I had gotten just that, I would have easily let this movie slide away with at least a B rating.  To my surprise, I got all of that and more -- I got one of the best SATC episodes I've ever seen with some of the most heartbreaking scenes, some of the most dramatic, and some of the funniest (I will never, ever, ever, forget that scene with Charlotte in Mexico).  On top of that, I honestly don't think Big has ever looked so good in and out of a suit, haha.  With that said, thank you to Michael Patrick King for helping direct and write this, but more importantly, thank you to Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon for getting their shit together and teaming up one last time to play, even if if fictionally, four of the most iconic and loved girl friends our generation of television (and now film) will ever see.

chyea!

Ok, I normally don't like to review movies because I really don't think I have the knowledge or credibility to judge most of them (except for maybe on counts of music supervision), but I figured I would start giving my two cents on movies that I feel I can reasonably talk my way through -- the first one I'll have to start with, for this summer, is The Strangers.  Again, I'm by no means an expert on film production, but I'd have to say that the cinematography and sound in this movie are damn good.  And what I mean by damn good, isn't that it's beautifully or artistically filmed (which it could be, I just wouldn't really be able to say), but that the way the scenes are filmed (choppy and sometimes shaky, but not messy) and the way sounds, including complete silence, are utilized really make the suspense of the film -- which in the end, is all it really has; the movie lacks any true storyline or plot, has little character development (though I will say Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman do have some delightful on-screen chemistry), little gore, and to be honest, makes little sense by its very abrupt end.  What it does have though, is a good one hour and thirty minutes of nail biting, teeth clenching, sweatshirt-over-eye-covering, squirming in chair, suspense.  I honestly can't remember the last "scary" movie I've seen where I can almost hear my heart pounding in my ear for the majority of the film.  I don't care if Rotten Tomatoes gave the movie a 40%.  It was scary enough to make me want to never purchase a gramophone or record player ever again, and any movie that can make me want to not purchase something I've always wanted is a commendable movie in my books.  If you're a horror movie buff and are looking for a grade A film, I suggest you take your money elsewhere, but if you're just someone who enjoys a good scare and a movie that makes you mutter to yourself "He deserves to die [for being such an idiot]" I really would recommend this movie to all. 

On another note, the theatrical trailer for The Happening tonight looked amazing.  Let's just hope it's not something silly -- Yes, Signs (and the Jolly Green Giant), I'm talking about you.

Last night's Uh Huh Her show at the Roxy was, in short, pretty stellar.  I wasn't expecting so much new material, but from what I heard, Common Reaction is going to be an amazing album – heavy on the synthesizers, keyboards, and bass.  Unfortunately, from the tracks played last night, I didn't really hear any other song as catchy or upbeat as "Not a Love Song" or anything off of the EP.  BUT, this could just be because it's hard for me to really review a song when I first hear it, especially live.  Also, maybe the album's not meant to be full of catchy dance hits, which is fine with me, because I do enjoy a great mellow-when-you-want-it-to-be-but-upbeat-if-you-make-it-out-to-be album (think: Blonde Redhead - 23).  Everything UHH played off of the EP though, sounded even more amazing live than it did the last time, and Not a Love Song was a giant hit with the crowd, which was to be expected.  The band has visibly become more comfortable with playing live and it really shows through in their amazing stage chemistry; Camila and Leisha really seem to gel well together and complement each other on stage, and there's also something I find precious about the two of them sharing a bass (haha); the boys add a greater dimension to the live show, and it’s great to see that they not only seem to really love what they do, but also help make Uh Huh Her’s live set the hard-hitting and energetic performance it is now.  I really have no doubt that this band has the potential to be playing in bigger venues, so before they get to that point, I recommend for anyone who’s a fan of great electronic-indie-rock to check them out while they’re still playing small clubs.  Fans of Ladytron and old school Cure or Depeche Mode, or anything along those lines, should not be disappointed.

However, before UHH gets to that point, I feel like they need to build a more loyal/legitimate fan base.  What really upset me was that it seemed like there were just a lot of Leisha Hailey/L Word fans out in the crowd last night just there to admire one of their favorite actresses on stage… However, I wish it had really been an entire room of Uh Huh Her fans who partook in over-the-head rhythmic hand clapping when appropriate, or at least bobbed their heads to more than just one song.  I know that it was going to be a given for a ton of L Word fans to show up at an UHH show, and especially one in West Hollywood, but tonight all I could think to myself was "Man, I wish more than just thirty people in this room would really get into this music".  Granted, I know some people are the silent-listeners, the internal-reflectors.  But, come on, I swear I only saw a few people really sing or dance along, and I'm going to guess at least 25% of them were drunk (beer or drink in hand and the drunken sway -- you know, that sway).  And that's fine, if alcohol makes it easier for you to get into the music, then more power to you.  But screams of "Camila [or Leisha], you're hot! Take off your shirt!" over and over make you look like an obnoxious nub.  I feel like strong independent women always complain about or try to amend the double standards imposed on them by society, but I thought it was so funny that some of these women thought it would be comical (?) to shout out those things at a concert in between songs just to catch the lead singer's attention.  If most people think it's trashy for a guy to do that to a female singer, what makes it any different if you do?

I mean, the point is, that it all comes back to what makes a live show especially memorable.  Sure, the band performing well, the lights being synchronized correctly, and the sound being loud just enough to make your heart palpitate to the beat of the bass drum but not so loud that your ears want to bleed, are very important factors.  But what really makes a live set what it is, are the fans.  After going to so many shows, I can easily say that the best ones I have been to are the ones where every fan in the venue is singing or dancing along to the music, or finding some way whether internally or externally to connect to what’s being presented to them on stage, and what’s being emitted through the speakers.  In the end, if you’re only at a show to a) get drunk, b) say that you saw [insert band here] live, or c) get some (underage) ass, you’ve sadly wasted your money.

On that note, Uh Huh Her only has great things destined for them in the future, but I hope more people, other than L Word fans, take the time to listen to them and give them the shot that they undoubtedly deserve.

Now, pop lock and drop it. 

In no particular order:

1) Blog about my ridiculously and amazingly epic time at Sasquatch 2008
2) Land an internship
3) Work on Pencil Sketch like it's nobody's business
4) Pick up photography
5) Play more piano and guitar
6) Write and blog more
7) Give up red meat (temporarily)
8) Read at least 3 books a month

...So I'm going to fill out a pointless survey for shiggles! 

So, I don't know what makes me angrier -- that I totally forgot to get up this morning to buy tickets for the Paramore/Jack's Mannequin pre-sale, or that the show's in a seated AMPHITHEATRE.  At this point the only seats I can get are in rows T or U in the "Orchestra" section which is still the third tier away from the stage.  After doing about twenty different ticket re-searches, I decided I would just settle for seats in row T off to the side, but my credit card didn't go through, so I just took it as an omen to not buy the tickets.  I'll most likely try again when general sale starts, but to be honest, all of this is just so upsetting.  And yeah, ok, I know -- it sounds so selfish and immature of me to not want to buy these tickets just because they're seated, but I just want to clarify that I used to pay fifteen dollars to watch paramore play dingy venues that were definitely in violation of fire safety regulations.  To possibly think that I would ever have to drop 95 dollars on two SEATED tickets to see this band, completely blows my mind.  Paramore, I love you, and will always love you, but I just -- I just don't even know anymore. I'm not saying this is the end, but maybe we should just spend some time apart for both our sakes (or maybe just mine, but who's counting?). 

So, Narrow Stairs will get a proper album review post in due time because I haven't let the album fully cycle enough to write anything of significance, but I just wanted to say that "Your New Twin Sized Bed" is already one of my favorite tracks off of the album.  Something about it just puts knots in my stomach, and that is just such an awesome thing to come by in a song.  Thank you Death Cab, for everything.  I mean it -- everything.

So this is the first Mother's Day I think I've actually spent away from my mom, and more significantly the first that my family will spend without my grandma.  It's kind of a weird feeling -- a mix of disorientation and emptiness.  For some reason, the first and clearest image that comes to mind is me slaving over the stove trying to make pancakes for both her and my mom, and completely butchering and burning the first batch, but having my grandma look over my shoulder, pat me on my back, smile with that smile of hers, and tell me in chinese that they look and smell great and how she loves it when I cook for them.  I don't know what I'm trying to say.  Maybe what I'm trying to say is, 阿麻, if you were here I'd make you all the pancakes, french toast, and eggs that you could possibly imagine... But since that's not possible, I hope you're getting your fill wherever you are.  We all miss you tons.