ballin' with the rock'n'rollers

so, i seriously doubt i'm going to end up giving you guys those previous reviews. it's well past the point of anyone caring, and i'm just too crazy these days to finish them up. maybe someday i'll post them and be like "here ya go" but until then, you'll have to settle for a simple breakdown:

*muse was great. i was up in the second mezzanine, thanks to not having real computer access for a few weeks. that sucked because usually people who sit there are lame. they were no exception this time around, and i was majorly jealous not to be part of the swirling crowd beneath. matthew bellamy kept to his reputation of being wicked shy by barely saying anything to the crowd, but boy, can that tiny man shred the fuck out of a guitar and piano. some people got pissed off by them using a computer to do some of the work, but if you're playing in hammerstein ballroom with a sold-out crowd on a huge stage, why not make your life a little easier and bring it up a notch? besides, i saw muse at curiosa when they didn't have crazy screens and gadgets and it was just them and bellamy literally switching in a second from guitar to keyboard to guitar and it was still perfect. they've earned their right to use a freaking computer. i rarely leave a concert as buzzed as i did that night, even by being up in the nosebleeds. in essence, i love muse and will continue to do so.

*the format/rainer maria/anathallo/street to nowhere was a really great concert too. i'm really mad at myself for not getting this one out in a timely manner because it was an interesting night, to say the least. if any, this one will probably be posted in full. but just to abridge, street to nowhere started off the night with some great energy. usually openers don't get a crowd as revved as these guys did. look them up, they're from oakland and really cool guys. anathallo was whacked out. i liked rainer maria, even though their stage presence is blah. get a little more into it, girl. the format was ridiculous. seriously. considering they sold out the show without having a label, and with the help of nettwerk (who i mentioned a few posts down), i'd have to say that they're pretty kick ass. and they were. i was up there bouncing along and watching everyone else have a good time too. i even converted a few people over to like them. afterwords, thanks to sonia inviting me along, i got to hang out with all of the bands and nettwerk people at shades of green, my formerly preferred underage watering hole, and now just my preferred watering hole. the manager of brand new bought me a round. i crushed slightly on members of the format, and best of all, had someone take a ridiculously awkward picture of me with a digital camera (i might be in teh intarspacez somewhere now). it was a good time, and sonia and her brother, who were the people i hung out most with, were nice. hopefully i'll be bumping into them again soon.


*spill canvas: good. not totally pants-wetting, but decent. didn't stick around for mae. i don't like them, really. sorry. i was also really emo that night, so a good review is probably never going to happen.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

as for recent news, i got to attend the blender vma after party with m'boy jamie and all of his friends, etc. i got all jazzed up and then waited in line for like 2 hours, but we made it in! and there was free booze! i drank waaaaay too much free grey goose with tonic and then proceeded to run up and down stairs following the various vip dudes because we had badges. i almost fell down a landing, but thanks to my cat-like reflexes, made it through without losing myself. while i can't say i really hung with anyone of fame-magnitude (just because you have the badge, doesn't mean they'll talk to you), i can say that the people i was with were awesome, and i also had the best cabdriver after the event, so all-in-all, i'd say it was worth it.

this picture describes it well:









yes, there were a few douchey people hanging around, but that's the industry for you! i'm willing to take the good with the bad as long as i have a good time.


and that's it for now. keep it real, boos.

/jen/