That ballet gave me the willis.

Tonight Yancy and I took some dates to the beloved romantic ballet "Giselle" at the New York Metropolitan Opera House. It was awesome. Not Opera, but pretty awesome nonetheless. The story's a little hokey, but the music, costumes, music, sets, music, lighting, music, and dancing was all amazing. And the music was incredible. Even student tickets were kinda pricey, but it was totally worth it. Here's some pictures. The lighting made it hard to not get blurry results, but whatever.

Yes, the picture is from kneeshorts.com (I think I swore once I'd never visit that website)

So I saw a girl on the subway today. She was very pretty and was dressed modestly. Very modestly in fact. I noticed her shorts came down all the way to the middle of her kneecaps. This is certainly not normal, I thought to myself. Perhaps in Provo, but not on the Subway in New York. This girl had to be Mormon. She had the look and mannerisms that would normally tip me off as to someones' membership in our often lame secret culture.

So I leaned forward and asked her if she was Mormon. She looked surprised and said, "no." I believe I stepped back into my standing space explaining, "Sorry, just thought you looked Mormon." She got a look on her face that kinda looked like she was offended. But on second thought it was probably just bewilderment. I guess it was the first time she'd been told she looks like a religion. She got off the express at 72nd St. And I continued riding it to 96th St. Which meant unless she got off at one of the 2 stops between, I'd board the same car right accross from me and we'd be in the same car again.

Sure enough, she was, and I said "hi" and explained that I didn't mean to offend her and assured her I meant it as a compliment to her modesty. She'd obviously had some time to recoup and explained that she was just caught off guard and hoped I wasn't offended that she looked offended. She naturally asked if I was Mormon and I told her I was. She got kind of red in the face, so I apologized for my forwardness in asking such a random question of a total stranger. Then we got to know each other a bit and then she offered, "I don't really know anything about Mormons. Is there a website?" Great huh? So I told her about Mormon.org and that we went to church on Sundays at 2:50pm in the building across from the Opera House with the big, gold angel on a spire. She said she knew the building and had always wondered what it was, but was to lazy to try and read the writing on the building. I got off the train and I felt like we were friends. It would be really awesome if she showed up at church.

Some things girls should know...

This post probably seems a little random. But Yancy and I were talking about President Packer's whole "Dating vs. Hanging Out" thing. We decided one reason guys are sometimes averted to traditional dating in the Mormon community is a series of small, misunderstandings between the sexes. By all means, I welcome a "Some Things Guys Should Know" response and I assure you I will be grateful for any insider secrets on the mysterious creatures we call "girls". The list is the collective thoughts of a handful of us men.

1. A date doesn't mean we want to marry you. Chill out and have fun. This is just a chance to get to know you. We might not like you once we do, so enjoy the attention whilst it lasts. The bottom line is, just relax and enjoy yourself. It's really not a big deal, so don't freak.

2. It's hard for many of us to ask girls out, especially when we find them attractive. It takes major confidence to pull it off, so cut us a little slack. I'm not saying, "Say yes" if you really don't want to go. But I am saying that if you'd like to but can't go (i.e. have a conflict in schedule) make sure you actually say you'd like to another time. If we don't hear that, we'll probably never ask you again. Our confidence can be pretty fragile.

3. Never give a guy the "Deer in the Headlights" look when he's asking you out. Even if it takes you off guard, have the decency to smile till his invitation is out. It makes us a little more comfortable in what can be a very uncomfortable situation. If a guy ever abandons ship in the middle of asking you out, you might want to think of how you were facially responding to his attempt. You might have scared him out of it.

The worlds best bbq and jazz in one weekend...

Who could ask for more? Really? Friday night we all went to a "drive in" movie (aka, sponsored by dodge) in Rockafeller Plaza. They showed "Kettle of Fish", a romantic comedy that did well at the Tribecca Film Festival. It made me think twice about the prestige I afforded the festival, cause said movie sucked. It started to rain so we all left. The director was there and most everybody left. At least he could comfort himself by claiming it was the rain and not his film. We went to eat at some random deli and one in our party was too accomodating to a drunk mexican with a guitar and got bit. That's why you don't get friendly with insane drunk people... you'll get a love bite. At midnight we went to the famous "Blue Note" jazz club in Greenwich Village. Not because we expected the best jazz in the world, but because it was only 8 bucks as opposed to the usual $25. The band was actually very good. Particularly the drummer, guitarist, and saxophonist. They were called the square egg and played a rock kind of feel to R&B vocals, all in a free-form jazz setting. They were very entertaining. And I had a good burger...don't ask what I paid for it.

On Saturday we slept in (on account of the late jazz). When Yancy and I got up, we went grocery shopping and then headed downtown for the Big Apple BBQ Block Party. Basically they roped off a park and a few blocks and invited the best BBQ places in the country to set up a trailer/tent and sell their wares. I had some ribs from a place in NY that were nothing special and an awesome pulled-pork sandwich from a place in Mississippi. Was there ever any doubt that the Southerners were gonna be better at it? We also got free hats with pig ears and wore them around the East Village for the rest of the day.

We were pretty pooped by the end of the day and passed on clubbing in favor of a movie. On Sunday I went to church, then we were intending to go to Harlem Meer for Jazz in Central Park, but discovered it wasn't happening and so I climed up a hill and slept for about an hour in a really nice, secluded spot. Central Park is really wonderful. Seth and I went to a cool dessert night in midtown with some girls he'd met at church. And finally, we headed up to the American Legion Post in Harlem for more free jazz (a hammond organ jam, actually). We quickly encountered a less-than friendly bar-tender who insisted we buy a drink or get out, so we left... I'd have been happy to buy a drink if it weren't Sunday. I was a little bummed I had to leave though cause the friend who invited me there was playing the organ and we left after one song. I figure I'll go next week sometime and explain it to him. Just so I don't seem rude. And now...pictures. (Courtesy of Yancy)

Flyin' Solo...

So I did my first session all by myself yestereday. Granted, it was just recording the exact same thing I'd done twice before with Anthony, but it was still cool. Just me, an analog tape machine, a big SSL9000 J-Series console, and a drummer. I felt pretty cool and important.

Anthony was feeling sick and asked if I minded running it alone? I was really surprised that he trusted me that much. But I told him it wouldn't be a problem. Then after not sleeping very well the night before for nerves' sake... I went to work and the session went off without a hitch. At least not any hitch I couldn't handle. I even fixed something that Anthony told me later had been bugging him and got big kudos. He bragged about my solo session today to the owner. It was cool.

Hell, I still love you New York.

Some pictures, taken at random times, yet unposted.

Even Old New York was once New Amsterdam...

I had a late night session last night recording the piano-man. It was cool. So today I had no work. I woke up late and then skulked around "Old New York" and Amsterdam. I wandered around the East Village, Seaport Village, Chinatown, Little Italy and Soho. It was fun. Here's some pictures.

I'm in a New York State of Mind.

And that's great cause Billy Joel's in the studio. I haven't seen him, I guess he likes to record in the middle of the night. I don't really care if I get to meet him, but man, would I ever love to meet his daughter.



Whew! So hot. That Christie Brinkley has good strong genes.

Oh, and here's some more pictures, I chilled in Central Park a bit today.





















































































And I know it's completely dorky, but I totally listened to Stawberry Fields Forever on my iPod while I took this.

Some New York Pics and First Day of "Work".

This is the building where I have my internship. Yes, there really is a five room world class studio in there.

The studio's in an area of West- Central Manhattan called Hell's Kitchen.







Our immediate neighbors are Sony Music...








...and Montel Williams. One day after work I might try to sit in the studio audience. Just for kicks.


Work was pretty cool actually. We set up a decca tree (above). To record some strings for the original cast recording of some musical called Grey Garden. And I saw my first famous person, but in an effort to not be an annoying stupid intern didn't go shake his hand or even talk to him. It was Ryan Adams...the hip indie country singer, not to be confused with Bryan Adams, the hack, Canadian pop singer (see below).

Ryan Adams

Bryan Adams

I finally have something I've wanted my entire life.

A fire escape.

In related news. I live in New York. Harlem actually. It's loads of fun so far. My internship is, as predicted, a very casual affair indeed. They're like, "Come in whenever you like." My first real day is tomorrow. I'll be sure to blog about it. Actually I can't promise that.

We live right on Riverside. The Hudson is really pretty beautiful when Tuna Trollers aren't reeking up the air. I accomplished exactly 3 things today. I went grocery shopping, I went to Barnes and Noble (that visit was most of my day) and the new Apple store on 5th Avenue. I should've done more, but I'm soaking in the city. Pictures soon maybe.

Go Go Gadget Gospel

I bought Gnarles Barkley Tuesday and I have to confess it's pretty awesome. Danger Mouse is my new hero, I want him to be my mysterious robed spiritual advisor. Cee-Lo is awesome as per usual, I want him to be my personal Santa. Good stuff I tell you.

And now I wonder how I was made...

This song has been in my head for weeks. I can't get over how cleverly the Pinnochio story was used as a setting for his self-doubt. I think you should all appreciate this so I'm doing "Scream Phoenix Forum" Style and posting the lyrics here. The song is "Driftwood" by Cursive on The Ugly Organ.

[Sample of an old pinnochio story record:]
"And I am what is left: a puppet!
Laughing at the look of amazment on the musician's face,
Pinocchio dove off the cliff and swam away
He swam steadily for most of the day.
Suddenly he found himself approaching an enormous floating cavern.
Could it be an island?
Pinocchio looked closer and he saw two huge rows of sharp,
yellow teeth and he realized his mistake."


So he would sulk and drink and mope
and cross his arms and hope to die.
And then a fairy came one night
to bring this sorry boy to life.
She pulled some strings
and spun him about.
That boy sprang up
and began to shout,
"My arms, my legs, my heart, my face they are alive!"
And she would cry, "Liar, liar!
What have I done?
You're no lover, and I'm no fighter."

(The story goes on)

So he would buy her things and kiss her hair
to show he was for real.
And she would take those gifts and kisses
though just stringing him along.
She knew about those wooden boys-
it's an empty love to fill the void.
"Pinocchio! Oh boy, how your nose has grown!"
So he would cry, "Liar, liar!
I'll prove it to you!"
But then it grew
He had grown tired of her
So it was true
He left her apartment
And he walked all night long
'til he was stopped by the shore of the ocean.
But still he walked on, amongst the whales
and the waves, and screamed
"Liar, liar!"
And his wooden body floated away.
He just drifed away.

And now I wonder how i was made...
And now I wonder how I was made...
my arms, my legs, my heart, my face,
my name is Driftwood.

Coachella 2006 And why Life is So Good.

Coachella was completely awesome. On Saturday I saw Head Automatica, The Walkmen, Wolfmother, Common, Imogen Heap, Sigur Ros, Franz Ferdinand, Atmosphere, and Depeche Mode. On Sunday I saw The Infadels, Murs, Mates of State, Jamie Lidell, Gnarls Barkley, Yeahs Yeah Yeahs, Massive Attack, and Tool. I also saw small chunks of many other bands' sets...some of which were great.

Highlights include:

Gnarls Barkley (Cee-Lo Green + Dangermouse) appearing to perform with a 15 piece band including strings. The band came on stage dressed as characters from the Wizard of Oz and struck up Breathe (the first musical cut from Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon) whereupon Cee-Lo and Dangermouse triumphantly entered dressed as the Cowardly Lion (see picture) and the Tin Man respectfully. What followed was 45 minutes of pure, unadulterated awesomeness.

Imogen Heap the singer/co-programmer of Frou Frou played a completely awesome set and called the soundguy a "lazy douche". And he was.

Atmosphere (w/Brother Ali) was really incredible...even better than last time. They were lined up next to the headliners (Depeche Mode), so it was a cozy little crowd. I got to go with a cute girl from Australia who worked at the festival (more on this to come) and had so much fun, I feel I could reasonably contest their assertion that you can't imagine how much fun we're having.

Murs performed a really awesome set in front of a pretty small crowd. Slug showed up for the last song and that just made it even better.

I got to sit in the sound booth for most of Tool and had a straight on view of the stage. I had been about 10 rows from the front in the push-and-shove for the first 4 songs or so. Then I deecided I would get out and watch from the back (I really am getting old). So I worked my way to the trough and was pulled out by security. I followed them toward the sound booth and asked where the exit was. They said there wasn't one and to sit down and watch the show. So I did. Tool was astoundingly good. I'd seen them once before in HIgh School, but this was way better. I sat down with Tool's soundguy and got to ask him questions about how he mic'd and mixed and stuff. I learned a lot.

All that... and I only had to pay around $300 for the whole trip and get a little sunburned. Good deal.

So on to why my life is so good now. I used to be rather good at social interactions with the opposite sex. It was easy for me to talk to girls, even ones I didn't know and ask girls out. Now many of you can attest I am arguably somwhat handicapped in that department, and most of you (Adam excepted perhaps if he even remembers me from Riviera days) have always known the retarded me. One lousy girl pretty much ruined me about 4 years ago. No joke. I fell harder than I've ever fallen for a girl who played me hard. The first of "the Melissas". Ever since that she-devil ripped my heart out of my chest I have been clumsily bumbling my way through the whole "girls" part of my life.

Not any more. I totally just snapped out of it. I was trying to sort out some ticketmaster issues with our camping tickets and was invited to sit down in the shade with the 3 people selling tickets while I waited on the bastard ticketmaster rep for an hour or two. There was an independantly wealthy ex-hippie who only worked at Coachella for fun (and belonged to the Amalgamated Order of Real-Bearded Santas http://www.aorbsantas.com/pages/1/index.htm ), a completely quiet "intern" from a nearby college and a super cute girl named Bre from Australia.

I just up and snapped out of it. Snapped out of my 3-4 year social impediment. Before I knew it I was the old me just talking to this girl. She was a big Atmosphere fan, and we really hit it off the first day, and went to Atmosphere together. Then we went dancing to Daft Punk afterwords and hit some shows together the next day. Then she came by my tent night before last and kissed me. And I kissed her back... a lot. It was awesome.

I want to clarify, I'm not in love with this girl. I'm not even anticipating ever seeing her again. I'm pretty confident IM will pretty much be our only future contact. It seemed understood between us that it was just this random thing. I'm typically not into "random things". I usually crush pretty horribly until it all dissolves around me. But I wonder if my only reason for this random thing was to pull me out of a slump. I told Yancy last night I felt like a could defeat a Yak in head-to-head combat. I really feel amazing. I'm moving out of Provo. I've got my old confident self back, and I'm really happy. So my life rules. I don't really understand it. I even forgot my happy pills this weekend. And yet here I am, more content with my life than I've been in years. Strange.

The unrequitable crush list.

Jen inspired me with a post subject. The following is a list of the women I will always have a little-boy crush on. My future wife will just have to accept that I will always love these women too.

Zooey Deschanel. Beautiful actress and singer/ukeleist in an old-time Hollywood bulesque act. What's not to like? She's hot, funny, has a lovely voice, and to my advantage has a thing for guitar players.



Kristen May. The hotty lead singer of Veda posessed of one of the most devastatingly powerful female voices I've ever had the pleasure of being assaulted by.



Jena Malone. The girl next door type crush. Another actress. Perhaps she'll play a character older than 17 this year, but probably not.



Julia Dufvenius. New young favorite of the best director ever (Ingmar Bergman). I'm not even sure she speaks English, but who cares? She's lovliness defined.



Oh, and she really plays cello.