Weekend. Get. Away.

No, not really. I'm actually looking forward to the end of week events. Tonight, Menomena performs in-store at the Record Exchange and later performs in-bar at Neurolux. I'm pretty damn excited about tonight all around.

Tomorrow, I will be standing securely behind a Boise Weekly table during Boo at the Zoo. THOUSANDS of children costumed adorably will stop by to scoop up a BW pencil or a piece of candy before moving on to the next table and more free stuff. THOUSANDS. Of. Children.
Tomorrow night, I am going to see Prairie Dog Productions' Pirates of the Caribbean with my 6-year-old niece. Other than her older brothers' school productions, this will be the first live theatrical performance she's seen. The fact that she can order a Domino's pizza, soda and a candy bar while she's there will definitely help guarantee the evening's success.
Atkins out.

Menomena ... da da da dot

I interviewed Menomena's Brent Knopf today for a story before their upcoming Boise shows. Knopf is, without a doubt, one of the funniest people I've ever spoken too. Candid, clever and high-larious.
If you're in the Boise area on 10/26, they're doing a free in-store at Record Exchange and a show later at Neurolux. I saw them the last time they were in town, when they played the Egyptian Theatre opening for the Frames, and I can not wait to see them again. Check out their latest release, "Friend or Foe." Wow.

You can hear them on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/menomena and you can find the CD (and the 180-gram vinyl album!) at Barsuk's Web site: http://www.barsuk.com.

Scooby-doo-bop-de-bop

As a teen, I didn't understand my grandparents' taste in music. The music they listened to seemed so archaic. And though my father introduced me to rock and roll (the Beatles, the Stones, Kiss), I thought even his tastes were a bit prehistoric.
But the other day when I put "Conflicting Emotions" by Split Enz on my brand-new ION USB turntable I realized two things: One, I actually asked for and got a new turntable for my last birthday. Yes, owning a record player and possessing a record collection have some vintage cred, but that's not why I have them. Two, I have a better understanding of why my foregrandfathers liked the music they like. I own a record player for the same reason I like music of the '80s. Those are the sounds that swirled around my head during a very pivotal point in my life: my teens. I have no desire to go back nor do I spend much time waxing nostalgic on that period. There's just something about the time when music first starts to make sense to you; when it becomes an important part of everything you do; even helps define who you are that sticks with you. And Split Enz sticks with me. As does the desire to hear them--and plenty of others--on vinyl. However, I asked for the ION becuase I'm not a caveman. Woman. Technology exists that makes some of favorite music portable and who am I to turn my back on technology?
I mentioned Split Enz's 1983 "Conflicting Emotions" specifically because the songs on this album that spoke to me when I was younger still speak to me. Bob Lefsetz says why better than I do: Silent Letter

A Very Merry Birthday To Me

Historically, my birthdays have always been a little somber. I like birthdays well enough and am always happy to celebrate others' and I'm certainly not against celebrating my own, but something weird always seems to happen on mine. This year, though, my birthday was actually quite lovely. I received wonderful gifts and terrific good wishes from my friends and family. One in particular, was something I've been drooling over for months: the ION iTTUSB Turntable. I've already digitized my vinyl version of Split Enz's Conflicting Emotions, one of my favorite albums EVER. Happy, happy birthday to me.