Life lately

Well, despite the yucky weather we seem to be encountering a good bit these days, we've still managed to get in a few fun activities over the past couple of weeks. Our friends Ben & Emily of Carolina Story came in town to play a show back in March and we were stoked to get to see them perform at Workplay. AND we found out they are expecting their first child! Super exciting. They opened for another Nasvhille band/friends of their, The Vespers, who were super fun and entertaining. I totally recommend checking out both of these bands.

The day after their show, J and I hit the road for a climbing camping trip to Rocktown. We eventually met up with Beth and Phil and climbed pretty hard all day Saturday. Such a good time! We will definitely be back in the fall, when hopefully the weather will be less rainy.

More recently, I was lucky enough to have my friend Casey in town from Portland. She came in for a wedding for a friend of hers and we were also able to sneak in a bridal shower for her while she was here. Her soon-to-be sister-in-law hosted the most beautiful luncheon outside in her front yard for Casey. It was positively lovely and all of the food was delicious. But most importantly I got some good ole quality time with Case and she got some good gifts! I absolutely cannot wait to go to her Portland wedding in less than two months!

Later that same weekend we also celebrated Amy's birthday with some classic bbq at Jim N' Nicks. It was just low key good food, good friends and a really good time. And sadly, the very next night we all got together to watch the How I Met Your Mother series finale. UGH. a) I'm sad it's over and b) I was SO not okay with the ending. I've had time to process it now and I am better with the ending than when I first saw it, but ultimately, I think the writers could have written the entire last season better if that's the ending they were going for. Anyone else feelin me on this? Anyhow, the cherry on top was that we FaceTimed our friend Peach in NYC to watch it with us.

Oh and as per usual, J and I are always checking out any new restaurant in town and we finally went to Post Office Pies (POPs) in Avondale, which is located in the old Post Office building. Love it. Good food, great location. If you're a B'hamian, go try it out soon. Supposedly they also have a great salads, but you know I didn't venture near anything green :) My only complaint/suggestion is that they need to have a BBQ pizza on the menu, seeing as it's the same owner as Saw's. Just sayin!

Music Monday: Rayland Baxter

So if you're trying to save some cash by not attending quite as many shows as you'd like to, one thing you should never ever do is listen to an artist's album that you like who is also coming in town.

Yep, I knew Rayland Baxter was coming in town to open up for Holly Williams (yes, of the Hank Williams Jr. & Sr. lineage) and I told myself I needed to save some dough. I had to start making choices somewhere and not see every single show that came in town that I was interested in. Plus, I wasn't feeling well last week and I needed rest. So I told myself I needed to stay home anyhow.

And then I listened to his album Feathers & Fish Hooks (which I listed as a current obsession back in May) and I knew I didn't stand a chance staying away from Workplay last Thursday night. So after J and I had dinner, I threw out the idea of the Rayland Baxter show, and he was down, so off we went. And honestly, I don't regret spending the money at all.

Rayland Baxter at Workplay in Birmingham on October 17, 2013.

I got to hear a lot of new songs Rayland had apparently been working on, plus some of my favorites from his aforementioned album. He was much more interactive with the audience than I would've expected and was quite funny.

I was also really suprised at how young he seemed to be in person. Judging by his song writing ability and his lyrics, he sounds to me like someone who's seen more of the world than I have. I assumed that was due to age, but now I think otherwise.

We also stayed to hear some of Holly's set and I think I enjoyed her more than J did. Mostly I was impressed that she has so much pressure of the big boots to fill (of her dad and grandad) and she seems to not feel that pressure at all. I think she's just out there doing what she enjoys and not trying to live up to anyone's expectations but her own. Seriously impressive in my book.

To make a long story short, it was money well spent and if Rayland comes to your town, I think you should check him out.

Music Monday: Current obsessions

Artist: Joshua Radin
Album: Wax Wings (listen on Spotify)
Why I love it: It sounds just similar enough to all the other Joshua Radin albums that I love. And trust me, that is a compliment.
Favorite song(s): My my baby
For fans of: Joshua Radin, Matt Wertz,
Peter Bradley Adams
Bonus: You can see Joshua Radin at Workplay in B'ham on Oct. 15th.

Artist: Cowboy Indian Bear

Album: Live Old, Die Young (listen on their website)

Why I love it: They have a very unique sound.
Kind of like mixing folk with some good old fashioned ambient pop. 

Favorite song(s): Washing, Seventeen, Let it Down

For fans of: Seryn, Gotye, Peter Gabriel 

Artist: Young Readers

Album: Family Trees (listen on bandcamp)

Why I love it: It's my favorite blend of mellow melancholy.

Favorite song(s): All I have

For fans of: A.A. Bondy, The Felice Brothers

Artist: Count This Penny

Album: Pitchman (listen on Spotify)

Why I love it: It's lovely and peaceful and has great female/male harmonies. Oh and I forgot to mention a little bit of pickin', too. 

Favorite song(s): Roll Up Your Sleeves,
Big Tall Pines

For fans of: The Lone Bellow, Carolina Story

Artist: Courtney Jaye

Album: The Exotic Sounds of Courtney Jaye
(listen on Spotify)

Why I love it: It's a little bit country, a little bit island-y and maybe even a teensy bit 60s pop.

Favorite song(s): Need Love, Tiger's Eye

For fans of: Brandi Carlile, Juliana Hatfield,
She & Him

Bonus: You can catch Courtney Jaye at the
Cask & Drum music festival in B'ham on Oct. 12th. 

The dish on Birmingham: a love letter to my town

I can't lie. On Monday, when driving home from an amazing long weekend of camping at the Ocoee River in Tennessee, I actually groaned out loud as we approached town and I saw the "skyline" of Birmingham (that is, if you can consider four tall buildings a skyline?).

But the thing is, even though I groaned, I truly do love this place.

As I think I heard someone say recently, Birmingham is a city that is neither too big nor too small. But like the tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, it's 'just right.' I like that it's not so big that I am too timid to get out and explore roads to see where they will take me and who they will take me to. And it's also not so small that there isn't anything to do on a random weeknight. I always feel like I could run into anyone that I know at any moment when I'm out on the town, but suprisingly I very rarely do.

Don't get me wrong, Bham definitely has its fair share of problems. Traffic can be annoying (though I know we have it easy compared to many other cities), jobs (or at least really fun, cool ones) can be hard to come by and of course there is the always ongoing political mess that I don't even completely understand (or want to understand for that matter).

But as an optimist, I like to look at the bright side. I like to look at all the amazing things my city has to offer:

• Railroad Park, an award-winning urban greenspace that hosts free exercise classes, concerts & other events
• a beautiful new stadium downtown for our minor league baseball team, The Birmingham Barons
• incredible restaurants including those owned by award-winning chefs like Chris Hastings & Frank Stitt (but let's be honest, you're more likely to find me at the J. Clyde, Rojo, El Barrio, Saw's or Slice)
• UAB Health System—one of the top four largest academic medical centers in the country
• a pretty decent music scene thanks to venues like The Bottletree, Workplay and the new Iron City
• new developments including an entertainment district downtown and the revitilization of the Avondale area
• three top-notch colleges: Samford, Birmingham Southern and UAB, which was recently named the 10th best medical school in the nation by the U.S. News
• a variety of offerings for the outdoor enthusiast including 50 miles of biking and running trails at Oak Mountain State Park, more biking & running trails plus a zip line at Red Mountain Park and boulder fields for climbers at Moss Rock Preserve
• the unbelievably gorgeous renovated Historic Alabama Theater, which hosts concerts and their summer and holiday film series
• the Sidewalk Film Festival, which I think is the coolest event Birmingham hosts all year long
• and of course plenty of great shopping opportunities at both small boutiques around town and larger stores at the Summit

I swear my list could go on and on, but I'll stop here and hope that I've covered most everything I love about my (now) hometown. I'm sure I left a few things off, but I can always save those for another day.

And honestly, when you get down to it, it's not just about the awesome things I can do in Birmingham, but it's more about the awesome people that I get to share my adventures with. I have been so fortunate to have developed my framily here in Bham and now I've started to branch out with other great friends, thanks to the tons of people I have met through the climbing gym and church.

Basically what it all comes down to is, if they say 'home is where the heart is', then my home is in Birmingham—whether I live here forever or not.

Or to make that a broader statement, as the group Alabama sings "My home's in Alabama, no matter where I lay my head."

ps. If you want to see/read an entire 40 page piece on the state of Alabama which will be featured in the upcoming Delta Sky magazine, you can find that here.

Life lately

Believe it or not, things have actually slowed down the past couple of weeks. It's been pretty nice! Other than going to several shows which I've blogged about here and here, things have been low key and I even got to start and finish a book. Which, btw, I highly suggest Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn if you are looking for a good "whodunnit." Oh and I caught up on a lot of magazine reading which I'd fallen a couple of months behind on (yikes!).

I even somehow managed to get a Saturday off and was able to go to the florist with Ashley to help her pick out some flowers for her big day...which is coming up on Sunday! (so yeah, things are getting busy again this week!)

This past weekend included working a track meet and going home to spend time with the family for Easter. I hid eggs inside the house with my nephew for a couple of hours and then mom and I went in to "town" to look for some shoes for the wedding—no luck though. Sunday night was a birthday dinner for Amy at Chuy's and it was so so so good to have Peach back in town. I can't wait til we are all back together again this weekend!

Last night was the festival of colors and Dana had organized several of us to get together for dinner at Taj India. This was only my second time to eat Indian food and it was so good. Plus we all got to spatter the colored powder on each other in celebration of spring and as always, we enjoyed great conversations. Definitely a good time. Life is good!

Music Monday: St. Paul and the Broken Bones

The first time I heard about the band St. Paul and the Broken Bones was a few months ago when their drummer Andrew was my waiter at El Barrio—believe it or not. Somehow my friend Jara, who was eating dinner with me that night, asked him something that led him to telling us about the band he's in and their upcoming show at the Bottletree later in the week. He even gave us one of their posters to keep and told me to look up their videos on YouTube.

I remember coming into work the next morning and doing my web research on these guys so I'd know what their "sound" was. Holy Moses was I blown away. Here was this white boy (Paul Janeway) wailing away some soul into a mic while simultaneously breaking it down in a full suit and bow tie. I knew I needed to make it to see these guys. However, unfortunately my good intentions to attend that show were ruined by a 14 hour work day. I gave myself a break by figuring they were a local band and I'd catch them again soon and that I really needed to sleep instead. I still kick myself for missing that show.

But here we are, just a couple of months later and my first chance to see them live was at Workplay. And of course, they are already performing to a sold out Birmingham crowd who was on fire for our new hometown heroes. Unbelievable. Talk about a religious experience. Trust me when I say these guys are bound to have you testifying. Don't believe me? Just listen to them here.

But really and truly you need to see these guys live. I'm telling you, the lead singer Paul Janeway is just electrifying. And seeing the brass section on stage reminded me so much of a smaller version of the Dap-Kings, who perform with Sharon Jones.

A lot of folks are already saying that St. Paul and the Broken Bones are the new Alabama Shakes. And while I can see the similarity, I still think these guys are a bit different in their own right. But seeing what a sensation the Shakes have been lately, I don't think anyone in the band would be opposed to that comparison. I defintiely hope to see St. Paul and the Broken Bones share that level of success.

St. Paul and the Broken Bones at Workplay.     Photo: Kyle Stichtenoth

Paul Janeway of St. Paul and the Broken Bones.   Photo: Kyle Stichtenoth

ps. I should also mention that one of their openers was the incredible Nashville band Luella and the Sun, who I've written about before here. Definitely a great way to start a show!

Music Monday: Lucius & David Ramirez

Sometimes you seek out shows. You know you love the band and you've spent weeks waiting for them to come in town. Then other times you have a crazy bit of luck where you stumble upon a show and witness a bit of magic.

I have to admit that's exactly what Lucius was for me. I actually went to Workplay to see The Mowgli's, but it was the opening band (Lucius) that I enjoyed more...way more. (side note: I actually ended up not liking the mowgli's live. I'm just not one for that much..."energy." It all seemed a bit much and showy. Put me off completely.)

Anyhow, I was intrigued at the get-go when I walked into Workplay and saw the matching peplum jumpsuits the girls of Lucius were wearing, along with their sci-fi-ish updo hair styles. But it was their mind-altering harmony that really did me in. Then fast forward to ending the set with the quintent (2 girls, 3 boys) coming down to the floor (literally) to sing acapella and play drums with the ground and beer bottles...I was a goner. I can't help it. Accoustic endings and using odd items as instruments are my musical kryptonite. I will definitely be on the lookout for these guys to come back to the Ham.

Lucius ending their set on the floor.

I went back to Workplay on Friday night to see David Ramirez perform. I get the feeling I will be on a first name basis with the door staff here pretty soon. They definitely recognized me. I'm a music junkie, what can I say?

Anyhow, it was worth the trip. David Ramirez was pretty amazing. He has this powerful, full, round and beautiful voice that draws you in and leaves you hanging onto and believing every single thing he says. I think in one word you'd call that "genuine," but we all know brevity is not a strength of mine.

There's also something about his sound that makes me feel like I should be in car traveling across the country while listening to his music with my windows down. Who knows? Hopefully one day maybe I will. He does at least have an EP coming out in May called The Rooster. So that's a good start. And he has also started chronicling his adventures on the road, which I for one am psyched about. I mean who hasn't ever wanted to go along for the ride with a musician? Well, now you can. Sort of.

David Ramirez at Workplay

Music Monday: Shovels & Rope, Luella & the Sun, Telegraph Canyon, The Great Book of John and Green Seed

It's no secret that I love music. I mean, I have a lyric from a Lumineers song tattooed on my wrist. And while I usually find time to get to live shows, that typically happens a couple times a month at best. But somehow in a span of 7 days, I managed to go to 4 shows and see 7 different bands at those shows. So I thought I'd share a bit about the bands that I've been privileged to see perform lately.

Love disguised as music. Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent of Shovels and Rope.

First up is a little band called Shovels and Rope. Yeah, you might have heard of them by now. They've been on David Letterman and will soon be lighting up a ton of music festivals this summer including Coachella, Hangout Fest, Wakarusa, Sasquatch and the Newport Folk Festival. I feel incredibly blessed to have been one of the lucky ones to catch their act from the floor at the Workplay theater to a sold out crowd on Saturday Feb. 9th. It's hard to really put into words what you experience at a Shovels and Rope show. You're basically witnessing the love and respect that two people have for each other on a stage, set to some pretty incredible music. It's just absolutely electric. Not to mention it's a ton of fun watching two people in love trade off back and forth from the guitar to the drum set and then never knowing what instrument Michael Trent is going to pull out and rock next. I'm telling you now, if Cary Ann and Michael come to a town or music fest near you: GO!

They also had an opener Andrew Combs who sounded pretty amazing. I really enjoyed his honky tonk sound, which was heavily influenced by the slide guitar his bandmate played. You can listen to his Daytrotter session here.

Luella and the Sun performing at Good People.

The next night, Birmingham Mountain Radio was hosting a free show at Good People featuring a band called Luella and the Sun. I had only heard their single "Fly So Free" but it was such a neat and unique sound, that I was intrigued. Plus, a free show? Count me in. The weather that night was pretty nasty, but I was pleased to see that a pretty large crowd how still came out to see the band, who ended up being fantastic. I will say that the sound in Good People needs a little work if they want to have bands play there from time to time. It's just way too echo-y in there. But still, I was impressed and I will definitely be checking out Luella and the Sun the next time they are in town. And by the way, they are also playing Hangout Fest, so if you're going to that, be sure you catch their set.

Telegraph Canyon performing at The Bottletree.

Then a couple of days later on Tuesday night, I managed to drag myself out for yet another late night to see my friend Bekah perform with her band Great Book of John. Unfortunately my phone died during the show so the only photo I managed to take was of the first opening band, Telegraph Canyon, a band out of Texas who I was pleasantly surprised by. My first impression of the band was that they sound a bit like a hyrbid of Seryn and the Lumineers. Not a bad mix, huh? For their last number they came off the stage and down to the floor to perform unplugged. Love it when bands do that. Especially when they manage to pull that stunt off well, and Telegraph Canyon certainly did.

I hate that I didn't get a pic of Great Book of John, but if you're a local, you know that GBOJ are Birmingham veterans who always put on a good show. I think their next album is set to be released sometime around April and then they should be on the road a good bit after that. So if you're not a local and they come to a town near you, get out there and see them.

(and btw, even with an iphone, it's clearly impossible to take a bad photo inside the Bottletree.)

The Green Seed performing at Metro.

Feeling a bit like a groupie, I went to see GBOJ again at Metro bar this past Friday night. I have to admit that though I did want to see them, I really wanted to see a hip hop act called The Green Seed. This was mostly because I have still never been able to catch one of their performances, even though they are also local and on the Communicating Vessels label with GBOJ. I can't say that I know much about hip hop, but I do know that I had a great time watching these guys perform. They are high energy and excellent at their craft, plus they have two very talented DJs spinning behind them. It was certainly a different kind of Birmingham night than I am used to experiencing and I look forward to catching them at other future shows.