folky friends

Nevada County is weird, and I like it. It's occupants are talented and oddly appealing. I don't know how you can find fascinating people clumped together in a place where nothing happens. the schools (the few that exist) are liberal and artistic, the jobs are relaxed, people are kind and safe, and time moves just a little bit slower.

my favorite part, however, is some of the music. it's something i've always loved, then forgot about, then remembered, and i want to share it with you. the best part of nevada city is without a doubt the grass roots label. "-founded by marc snegg (who's first gig was playing at joanna newsom's 12th birthday party)" -that bit of quotation is from a magazine i read, but can't remember which one...

grass roots is clearly just a bunch of really awesome friends making music. it's inspiring!

Joanna Newsom probably one of the more well known musicians, but surely isn't the end of the list. joanna went to nu high school with alela diane, whom is apparently friends's with mariee sioux; all of whom picked up guitars after witnessing local aaron ross when they were teensey boppers. aaron ross is my personal favorite and if you ever have a chance to see him take it-he plays a lot in sac.


then there's this guy, named Luke, that i first met playing cello for aaron.
and he was mind blowing, as well, but recently moved away....
i hope to hear his music one day...

benjamin oak goodman is another good'en.

they are all beautiful!

there is something really fascinating about going to a show where all the artists not only know one another, but their audience as well.
everything has double meaning.
when he sings that nerve striking song...
you know exactly which girl in the audience it's directed towards...
music has always been a very powerful thing, and years before and after people will continue put their own interpretation on favorite lyrics as to relate to them. but it's really no match for listening to music that was written a few houses down, about all the people you know...singing about a town that you're in...

forgive me for sounded cliche; there's something very magical about these hills, and i think you have to live here to find it.

as for everyone else, go to as many local shows in your town as you possibly ever can.

also, take note:
these are some awesome, younger musicians that aren't a part of grass roots, but they will get their own light soon. keep a watch...
jessica agnew
molly roth
dylan rodrigue

i'm sad to leave this place behind...a part of me really believes i will come back to find it one day and it will have disappeared- as if i imagined the whole thing.

I Have Bretrayed My One True Love

-but he just doesn't turn on like he use to.

it's my piano.
when i moved on new year's i lost my adapter plug.
it's been nearly two months since he's turned on.
51 days since I've played piano.
1,224 hours since I've written any music.
73,440 minutes of keeping all emotion cooped up.

not okay.

so the other dylan said, "you should learn guitar."
-which he's been saying for like, what? um ever, now, and i never do.
this time however, i said "ok," and meant it.

for multiple reasons
1) i like guitar
2) i need to play SOMETHING
3) it will be a nice hobby to keep me focused, yet distracted throughout my oh so recent breakup.

so, for the price of buying nick a beer at the fox & goose (which i didn't do) i took his guitar home with me and have actually been "practicing." At first I loved it, which made me feel extrememly guilty everytime I looked at my neglected keyboard. It's much easier to learn-having already understood music theory. It's like I already know which notes make which chords-i just have to figure out which of those notes are where on the guitar. It's a love-hate relationship with myself little miss guitar. i'm sure i would have left her long ago, had i not been stuck with her due to lack of accessible pianos.

So lately i've been comparing piano and guitar


1) piano has such a huge range on it- there is much more "master" than on a guitar, which only has six strings

2) you can practice piano for as long as you want without physical reprocussions whereas the stupidass guitar likes to rip apart your fingers. i seriously can't do sessions longer than 30-minutes. will this get better? please, tell me it does.


3) guitar is easier to sing to (or fuck up to, rather) because so many notes are contasntly blending together. i realize anyone's voice sounds nice to guitar (correction: most people's voices) and you can sing however you want
-when you play piano i feel like you can't get away with being "off" slightly
AND you could never get away with quiet, indie, whisper voice because you have to sing loud enough to be heard over the giant piano

4) guitar is portable. it's everywhere you want it to be. -incredibly convenient.


5) guitar is a much more affordable instrument to play

6) everyone thinks they can play guitar, AND HAS TO SHOW YOU??? hey man, can i show you something? can i play it? can i try something? OR they don't say shit and just pick it up and play.
and it doesn't matter if you've taken it somewhere with you or if you invite people to your home and the guitar is sitting in the corner minding its own business.
do you know how many conversations in my bedroom have been ruined by interrupting the discussion just to listen to someone slowly play the same 4 chords over and over


anyways, i haven't given up yet and i'm not going to be able to afford to buy a new piano anytime soon so i'm venturing forth on my selg-guitar-lessions.
if anyone has any advice (i know most of you are more musical than myself) let me know!

for the record: the piano is still my one

Full On Bangin'

So, I have my hair appointment tonight-which always puts me in a great mood. Changing your hair can be such a transformation, and you can do it one day! it's not like working out at the gym, or cleaning your face, or tanning, where you have to wait weeks and even months before you notice any results.

I could never be a boy. they must get so bored with their hair. i guess this explains the facial hair obsession. it's their compensation for not being able to twirl, clip, and curl luscious locks.

i had decided on the color and length weeks ago, however have still been bouncing back and fourth on one decision.
bangs? no bangs? I dig bangs, but my hair stylist told me that bangs are so 2007.-fuck that. she also told me i just couldn't part my hair straight down the middle. and i seemed to get away with that okay.

okay-to the point-yes i know-sorry.
i was browsing chicks with bangs (and i'm not talking trendy side swept bangs. i mean full on- bangs my mom made me have when i was 8) and i realized something. Most of the chicks that are "full on bangin" are some of my favorite female musicians.

Check out Jenny Lewis & w/ rilo kiley

<---bjork

joanna newsom--->

<---Sarah Neufeld of Arcade Fire
(she's the one right in front)

Jenny Conlee (awesome piano player-responsible for keyboard in The Decemberists)------>

Adorable Kate Nash (who is yet another example of the fact that it's okay to love mainstream pop if the artist is British)

Natalie Gordon of Agent Ribbons. They're not famous, but they are fresh outa Sac and awesome. Look 'em up!

<---Kate Bush (though this picture shouldn't count because everyone had big hair and thick bangs in the 80s)

And this is a great picture of Sia------------->
It's different from her normal photo-ops of glorious color. She just looks simple and sophisticated.

Do you believe me yet that great piano swinging gals have some correlation with bangs? No? Coincidence? phsssst....

isobel campbell (belle and sebestian)

tegan or sara...i'm not sure which one has the straight, blunt bangs, but it doesn't matter. they're identical twins.

Cat Power

I have come to the conclusion that all my soul’s musical inspiration lies at the tips of my bangs and I need to make them short enough to drip harmonious stimulation all down my face!