Life's Simple Pleasures: AMAZING Live Performances by OUTSTANDING Musicians

So I went to Memphis on Saturday, where I had the wonderful pleasure of hearing Ra Ra Riot and Death Cab for Cutie play at the Orpheum Theater. Ra Ra Riot's performance was more than I could have ever expected. They were absolutely spectacular and also kind enough to hang out at the merchandise stand to chat with their fans. REALLY cool group of folks. I got to meet four of their members and they all seemed like incredibly normal, laid back people who were just as thrilled to meet their fans as their fans were to meet them.



Death Cab for Cutie didn't let me down either. They never have... this was my third time to see them and this live performance was no less powerful than the previous two I've had the privilege of attending. All the passion and energy was still there. Chris Walla played so hard he broke a string and, unfortunately, hurt his hand. Jason McGerr seemed like he was in his own world as he drummed away like a mad man. Gibbard did his usual sort of back and forth swaying dance as he rocked out on his guitar. His performance of "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" was just as moving this time as it was in St. Louis in October. I love the sound of his voice with an acoustic guitar (as I've mentioned in previous posts... I just feel like his vocals were made to be combined with those softer acoustic sounds). Nick Harmer drives that band with his outstanding bass lines like a freaking machine. I love singling out those lines and focusing my attention on the way they move the music. So good. So good....





I'm counting down the days until the house hunting trip to Seattle. We leave on May 22 for a 10 day stay in that gorgeous city. Hopefully, by the time we come back to Arkansas, we will have a new address in Washington to move our belongings into when return at the end of June to stay for good. I'm also looking for jobs as I didn't get accepted to the University of Washington's Social Psychology Ph.D. program. I think my prospects are pretty decent. I'm hoping that I may be able to line up an interview or two on the May trip as well. Fingers crossed... but regardless of what happens, I couldn't be more excited about getting the hell out of Arkansas and back to the Northwest. I miss it so much I ache. I truly believe that is where I was meant to be.

I also purchased tickets this evening for two shows in Redmond, WA, the weekend of July 17. The Decemberists, Andrew Bird, and Blind Pilot are playing that Friday night and Death Cab for Cutie, the New Pornographers, and Ra Ra Riot are playing Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday show had already sold out, so I had to go with tickets for the Sunday performance. I can't believe my luck at having the opportunity to experience so much good music in a single weekend, though. I love the music of every one of those groups. I've been dying to see the Decemberists for a LONG time, but they never come anywhere near here. I can't wait to hear Colin Meloy sing live!

Tons of stuff I should be doing instead of blogging. Perhaps I should attend to some of that now. Here's to a productive week!

Peace.