This past week has been nuts. I feel like every day has been non-stop but no matter how tiring, luckily, the fun has by far outweighed the stress. Last Thursday I saw Eytan & The Embassy at Milkboy and not only did they rock, I got to meet with Eytan, and he is one truly inspiring human! I can’t wait to share with you the video interview we did with him.
Friday night I was off to Johnny Brenda’s to see Alt-J, one of my absolute favorite new bands. They played a packed house of Philly fans and were just as incredible as I had imagined. I loved that I got to hear all of my favorite songs from their Mercury Music Prize nominated debut record An Awesome Wave. Seeing the band play these songs live really brought them to life. I bought the vinyl immediately after, so stoked to get it before it’s US drop yesterday. I haven’t been able to stop listening to it, the record is addicting!
My best friend (bless her) came with me to the show with no idea who the band was or what they sounded like, and she left a mega-fan as well. She couldn’t stop thanking me for bringing her, which means a lot considering. I talk a lot about bands to my friends, so it means a lot to me when they trust me enough to just blindly go to a show I tell them is going to be epic. Since I haven’t been wrong yet, I hope they continue to trust and come with me. That being said, I am a huge fan of going to shows alone, readers. If you love a band and your friends aren’t cool enough to join you, go by yourself! Make friends either with those surrounding you or the band before they go on and dance your heart out. That’s the great thing about concerts, they are your personal experience and it’s truly what you make of it. You don’t have to rely on others to have a good time, just the band you are seeing. I got an opportunity to talk to some of the boys in Alt-J afterwards and they are absolutely brilliant and fun, I can’t wait until they come back to Philly in March.
Saturday night was girls night! We went to see Bloc Party at the Trocadero. Bloc Party has been a major part of my life for the past 8 years, I’ve seen them almost every time (or actually every time) they’ve played in Philly during those 8 years and have been collecting set lists from the shows for the past 3 shows. Saturday I got to add the 4th to the part of my wall dedicated to Bloc Party. They were so great live as usual, the energy was amazing and so was the crowd. You could tell everyone was so stoked to be there and to see them again, and we danced like no tomorrow!
I was so stoked to have such a jam packed weekend of awesome to shake away the massive work week. This week I am seeing DZ Deathrays again tomorrow (can’t freaking wait!!) with the great Blood Red Shoes at Kung Fu Necktie. Friday night I am seeing Peter Gabriel, and Saturday I am going to NYC to celebrate my of my best friends’ new place! This autumn is already shaping up to be one of the best times and I am so excited for everything in store.
Last but not least:
Happy Birthday to one of my absolute favorite men in music, the handsome and endearing Nile Rodgers. I read his book Le Freak last winter and it changed my life. So well written, this story told by Rodgers is his unbelievable life story and the magic behind what inspired some of his most famous hits (and there are a lot of them). I could not urge you more to buy and read this book immediately so you can see for yourself! Thank you for everything, Happy Birthday Nile!!!
xx Cheryl
Just for fun:
This might be my new theme song:
Random but true:
My heart beats for Phil Collins:
