The CragBaby

My friend HIP #1 introduced me to English indie rock band The Kooks last year through the Inside In/Inside Out album. I really, really dig the album! Every song is great, but I especially enjoy the song "Ooh La". Check it out!

Sweet! Shaft just helped me figure out how to put music on my blog!
Here is Pants Up by Sam Bailey.

*disclaimer.. this might not work in IE on Windows yet. Still working out the kinks, so if you want to listen you might have to switch to Firefox. =)

I am originally from Helper (also referred to as Price), Utah, a smaller town off of Highway 6 on the road to Moab. The Bailey boys, who I have referenced on this blog a number of times, are from Price as well. I don’t miss my hometown as the further I drive into Carbon County, it seems the more opportunity vanishes. Yet even though I couldn’t live there now, I am proud that I am from that quirky town filled with coal mines.

Ben wrote this song about Price that I really enjoy and thought I would post.

My friend Sam created a new cd, Communist B-Sides, containing old and new renditions of his music, new compositions and covers of some classics such as Grapevine, Here Comes the Sun and Let It Be. The cd quality is fantastic and Sam has augmented his personal compositions with other instruments, for instance creating a blue grass sound with a banjo to the song Pants Up. I have 6 copies left of the Communist B-Sides and would love to hand them out to any readers or friends. If you want a copy, give me a shout-out.

His previous cd, A Prelude to a Bus Ride, can be found at the Salt Lake downtown library.

My good friend Sam recently moved to Guam to practice law. I can’t express how excited I am for his move and envy his opportunity to live abroad.

As a going away gift, Sam, who is a guitarist and composer, put on a house show. I absolutely love his folk-like music, with lyrics including:

“Bobbing with the potatoes
Trying to stay afloat.
So I grabbin’ me a carrot,
and trying to carve a boat.
And I’ll set sail
straight for your heart.
And if I get there
will you give me a part?
Cuz you are the girl I can’t resist,
though you persist.
Though you persist.”
Great Expectations

“If I turn the temperature down
and I’m the only heat around
Would you come on darlin’ and sit a little closer to me?”
Proposal #2

“I carry my phone
wherever I roam.
Feels like a big long leash.
A fish when it’s hooked
well, tastes better cooked.
She’s fishing catch and release.”
Bachelor’s Lament

Listening to Sam play that night made me realize (again) how lucky I have been to have him in my life. His friendship has been invaluable. He seems to understand me well and regardless of how little or much I see him throughout the year, he is always there for support. Mostly though, Sam is perhaps the only friend who I can openly talk to about any of my emotions, no matter how raw they might be that day, and he is always willing to listen.. just listen. He has gotten me through many rough patches in my life and I am lucky to have him has a friend. I hope he finds much happiness in Guam.

Michael Franti is one of my favorite artists as his music captures the essence of climbing trips and the chill life attached to the hobby. I was introduced to him and his music two years at his performance during the Gallivan Plaza concert series. The plaza was packed with people dancing, drinking and thoroughly enjoying the music. It was a warm beautiful night that was perfectly cooled by the slightest rain shower. The night was a perfect summer evening.

This past summer Franti was on the list of artists hitting Gallivan again and I stoked to see him again, his concert being the only concert in the series that I was determined to see. As luck would have it, my good friend Shaft and I had planned to go all summer but during this week Shaft’s youngest daughter ended up in Primary Children’s Hospital fairly sick and so we spent the evening with her, painting and watching a movie.

Unbeknownest to me, Michael Franti was schedule to hit the SLC scene again during the Outdoor Retailer show. Shaft bought two tickets and asked me if I wanted to join in. Oh man, it was such a treat and yet another fantastic Franti show.

Me and Shaft prior to the concert. Woot!

My friend NYPE Analyst sent me this Youtube video. The song is a techno re-mix of a Finnish polka song, but the lyrics are half Finnish and half gibberish. Supposedly the song became popular after it was dubbed over this YouTube video. The funny thing is, the song is pretty catchy and next thing I knew I was bobbing my head along to the beat. My favorite part of the video is how she is spinning a leek (of all things). It is all so catchy!

Here is a video of the original song.

I am a slow adopter when it comes to listening to music and/or liking music. I’ve had friends give me cds that I haven’t listened to for about a year, and then when I do I absolutely love them. Or I will hear a song and think it is ok, but upon listening to it again it can become my favorite tune. Thank goodness for sites like Last.fm, Pandora and the iTunes beta “For You” section as these services help me branch out.

I wrote about Local Musicians from Price, Utah last week and wanted give an update on that post. When I first received the Poetry for the Masses cd I thought it was good and instantly had two favorites (very rare for me). However, I have now listened to the cd probably once (if not twice) a day since then as it runs in the background as I work from home on my part time research gig. I now have numerous favorites within the thirteen song collection and truly think Ben has an amazing voice. I would urge you to at least check it out or possibly get a copy of your own. One of my favorite tunes of the album is still on my myspace page.

I love to support the local Utah artists and find it surprising the talent that has come out of Utah: Jewel, Kalai, Lyrics Born, Peter Breinholt, Joshua James, Kurt Bestor, bass player for The Used…… I have two friends, brothers actually, who are from my hometown of Price who have cds on the market.

I have been friends with Sam Bailey for years and genuinely enjoy his unique work. I suppose is music would be labeled as folk with his humor and intelligence being mirrored in each song. His cd, “Prelude to a Bus Ride” can be bought at Orion Music in Sugarhouse or checked out from the Salt Lake downtown library. The whole cd is fantastic, but my personal favorites are “Proposal #2″ and “Bachelor’s Lament”. Sam isn’t focusing on his music at this time, but his cd still ranks as one of my favorites. Every once in a while I am lucky and I can catch Sam on his trips to Salt Lake …. and when I am really, really lucky he has his guitar in hand. He plays a mean version of “Little Red Riding Hood”, but it is an extremely rare occasion that I can get him to bust that one out.

His younger brother Ben is also a musician and is currently focusing on his music. I purchased the cd online and received it in the mail just yesterday. His music is completely different than Sam’s in the sense of tone and music structure (Ben’s music is mostly more of a slower tempo and more serious than Sam’s tunes), but similar in the sense that they are both thought provoking. Ben is on myspace under Poetry for the Masses and currently has one cd released called “Tale Tell Heart”. The cd is great with my favorite songs being “Expectation / Realization” and “Hope”. The bonus track of “Bloodstain” is great as well. If you want to hear the full track of “Expectation / Realization” go to my personal myspace page as it is the song on my profile at this time.

If interested in the local artists in the community or want to just listen to some good tunes… check them out.

Not only is the word vivace fun to say, but when I used to play the piano I loved anything that was written to be played as vivace, especially if written in a minor key. Vivace and minor equal magical. A prime example being the Revolutionary Etude by Chopin. Complete magic.

Last night, a bunch of my friends and I went to Vivace. For any of you who don’t know, it is an absolutely fabulous event that takes place about every other month. Basically it is a program set up by the Utah symphony that targets young adults in order to try and interest this group in classical music. The tickets are completely affordable, plus include an after party with free drinks and food.

Me, the girls and one of the docs.

The after party was held in the symphony lounge in celebration of the 2nd year old anniversary of the founding of the program. There was a whole crew of my friends laughing, eating and drinking way too much wine.

Two of the climbers: #11 and Doc#2

Me and the Grayhghost. Yes, I am wearing clothes, even though it doesn’t appear that way.