Jack White at Webster Hall

It’s been three whole days since the Jack White concert and this is the first that I’m writing about it.  Shall I go into all the gory details OR do I just talk about the good stuff.  Hehehe.  Decisions, decisions.  All right gory details it is. 

I was on line outside the venue for a mere two hours in the freezing cold.  My lips were blue by the time I got into the holding area.  Okay, not a big deal, I don't mind suffering a little to go see someone outstanding.  Then another hour in the bar with a group of douchy guys being loud and obnoxious behind me which was not fun for me.  My chicana temper was restrained ‘cause I didn’t want to be ejected before I even got into the ballroom.  All right.  I finally get in and proceed to wait another two hours before the actual concert.  That includes a really awful opening act…wish I could name them but really not worth mentioning.  I yawned through their music ‘cause it was that nondescript. 

  

I did get a glimpse of Gary Oldman so that was the extent of my star sightings that night.  Although I heard J-Z was in the house, but he was not in the pit with the rest of us.  Okay, so there I was ten deep from the stage ready for my J. White experience and the opening act comes on and bores to me tears but folks are already squeezing, vying for a spot in the front.  Let’s just say I’m a bit claustrophobic.  I don’t like being pushed and manhandled and elbowed…it’s just not my thing and people are aggressive and really trying to get up front.  I hold on through most of the opening act BUT as soon White is about to come on stage the crowd rushes forward and I am looking for a way out fast.  Being only 5’2” let’s just say I needed a bit of breathing room.  I manage to find a spot next to one of the cameramen…the one way back that had the long view of the stage.  I even managed to keep a decent view of White’s mic. 

So I think I’m golden and I manage to talk some 6 foot guys from blocking my view for a good portion of the first couple of songs, so I can actually see White singing.  I am totally stoked and rocking along with each of his songs.  Loving the line-up.  Loving the guitar.  Jack White can wail on that guitar until it virtually sings backup for him.  He’s amazing to watch live and the sound is sick in that ballroom.  So I’m having a good time.  Then the wall of 6 foot guys decided they need to stand right in front of me.  Ergh!  It just does my head in ‘cause now I can’t see anything…but I can still hear music and jam along so it’s not ideal but I can manage.  Until the guys decide they want to dance along which just sucks cause they are now throwing elbows and moving to the words and it’s just not pretty anymore.  On the very last number of the first set, a guy jams back into me making me go back and my knee goes pop in the other direction.  M****r F****r.  He’s wrenched my knee and I am out of commission.   

I hobble over to the staircase and pop my kneecap back into place.  Yep, I’m done.  I manage to hobble down the stairs, out into the street, pass by Oldman as he zips his pants, wave goodbye to him and head for the train.  That is my little glory time watching White. 

On Saturday, I’m on prescription strength ibuprofen’s and ice packs to get the swelling down.  On Monday, I lose a day of work.  Blah!  I’m not upset about work…I’m more upset about losing out on that second act.  I went online and saw a couple of songs that I wanted to hear live.  Thank goodness for YouTube!!  Anyway, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.  Glad I got a chance to see and hear what I did though.  Will love to catch White another time. 

Here’s his setlist for that night:

The Peacocks


Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground (The White Stripes song)


Missing Pieces 


Freedom At 21 


Love Interruption 


Hotel Yorba (The White Stripes song)


Two Against One (Rome cover)


Top Yourself (The Raconteurs song)


I'm Slowly Turning Into You (The White Stripes song)


Blue Blood Blues (The Dead Weather song) (With "Screwdriver" Riff Intro)


Take Me With You When You Go

Los Buzzardos


Sixteen Saltines 


I Cut Like a Buffalo (The Dead Weather song)


Weep Themselves to Sleep 


Trash Tongue Talker

You Know That I Know (Hank Williams cover)


We're Going to be Friends (The White Stripes song)


Hypocritical Kiss 


Hello Operator (The White Stripes song)


Carolina Drama (The Raconteurs song)


Catch Hell Blues (Fragment) (The White Stripes song)


Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes song)


Goodnight Irene (Leadbelly cover)

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

A Grey Fluorescent Day

I am ready for a cat nap. It’s a cold, grey, fluorescent day. Spent a couple of hours working on Indigo today and yesterday. It’s coming along. I won’t go into specifics right now ‘cause I’ll just scare myself into shutdown mode again. Just plugging along trying to get to the end. Would love to finish it by my birthday. Let’s see how it goes.

17 hours left before Jack White’s concert tomorrow night. CAN NOT WAIT!! I’ve been scouring YouTube for all music featuring Jack White. Came across this insane cover of Jolene and loved it.  I’m not going for music that’s sweet these days. Instead, give me gritty, bluesy, feel-it-down-to-my-blood-and-bones-and-rocks-my-soul kind of music. Ya’ feel me?

That’s all I’ve got today. My brain is fried and my eyes are swimming in small lava pools. Peace out!
Lily

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Jack White - Blunderbuss

I downloaded Jack White’s album Blunderbuss and I haven’t stop listening to it since.  The work is eclectic but familiar.  It’s raw and powerful, and the musicians that play on this album are sick with talent, not forgetting to mention White’s grinding guitar riffs.  The rock influence has hands down made it favorite album for me.  There are some songs where he takes some chances and they are so different from the rest of the album but I liked being surprised by them. This morning, I took a 20-minute break from the album to listen to White’s interview on NPR.  White was talking about his creative process orchestrating through this album.  He’s doing his music without apology and this is coming through in a way that is both exciting and provocative.  Jack White is my kind of musician.  I cannot wait to see him LIVE on Friday.  Rock on people…rock on!!! 

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Just because...

For a chillin' out Sunday afternoon, Angie Stone's voice is beautiful.  

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Just Because It's Too Cool to Pass Up

Awesome cover...check it out!!  Hooray for creative people!!

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Spring Cleaning

It’s that time again. I am on a rampage across my apartment & my life and have been sorting “stuff” out of the closets (literally and metaphorically). I’ve made a decision to contract a bit of the work that I have both in my physical space and out in cyberspace too. Which means, that I’m pulling down /throwing out /discarding paintings. I’m pulling down my profile from Fine Art America and rolling up some canvases up and binning all that work-in-progress. Also re-vamping my website and pulling down my painter-ly profile. I think I’m disowning the painter in me. I’m not in a snit. The reality is that I haven’t touched my paints and IF I’m not working in the medium, I’m not growing in the medium. Therefore, I’m keeping two of my favorite pieces and the rest are going. I just don’t have the space to store it all. And I’m not paying storage fees for it either.

So, I am also pulling loads of books from my shelf and putting them out in the lobby of my building for folks to snatch up. My bookshelves are so jammed packed that I need to gift away a good portion. I need breathing room. I’m also sending T back his collection of our favorite sci-fi show Farscape, it’s an extensive collection. Now that he’s in a new space and has room again, I can send that on.

I also have about 20 years worth of journals that I’d really like to torch. I’m still on the fence about the journals but let’s see how much I get accomplished tonight. I’m trying to lighten my load and I refuse to buy anymore bookshelves. Doing this makes me feels like I’m on the verge of becoming a nomad and I’m looking to strip down and keep only the essentials. Time to go make a dent *rolling up my sleeves and getting to work*.

By the way, an anonymous reader suggested that I check out CowBird as another place to send written work. Thanks for the tip, I’ll definitely look into it.

Peace out,

L~
 
All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Jack White at Webster Hall, April 27

I’m in a mood today. I’ve got a stupid headache that is making me grumbly. Ergh! It feels like the start of a migraine. I’m trying to get ahead of it by taking a high dose of ibuprofen and drinking lots of water. Hoping that I don’t burn a hole in my stomach lining. * head in hands* These migraines suck a**.

Anyway, I actually started to write this entry to share with you that I scored tickets to see Jack White at Webster Hall on April 27th yesterday. I am beyond stoked!! It’s going to be a live stream on YouTube Vevo, directed by Gary Oldman. How sick is that?! White’s album drops on the 24th. Sweeeet!! Can’t wait. Rock on!!

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

The Cabin in The Woods

The Cabin in the Woods is a movie written by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard.  It's funny and clever and strange and yes, it even made me jump a few times. I love the way they re-tell this horror story.  My sister went with me and didn't really like it that much...and I'm sure she'll send out her negative review into cyber space....that only makes me want to write a positive review.  Hehehe.  I laughed a lot...there are some clever one-liners and some in-jokes that were great!!  It's really gory and bloody but then again this is a horror movie.  So love it or leave it...I'm still a huge Joss Whedon fan and will probably go see this a few more times with friends who will laugh along with me.  Yay!!  So go out to see it because it's a great twist to the classic genre!!  

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Carlos Santana is a Rock God!!

Today I am listening to Carlos Santana ‘cause this man is magic to my rock sensibilities. When I listen to him play all I want to do is dance naked in the street....*nodding* seriously!!

So I couldn’t decide between Corazon Espinado with Mana or Smooth with Rob Thomas. Both showcase the man’s playing so enjoy...Rock on people, rock on!!

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

New York- Snow Patrol

I can't stop listening to this song.  It creeped in and won't let go.

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Blood For Poppies

I know it’s been awhile since I last wrote. Hmmm, I can only blame it on this pesky chest cold, * cough, cough * It took me out of commission late last week and I’ve been trying to stay warm, in this icebox of an office, wrapped in a thick flow-y sweater and drinking lots of hot tea. I can feel the stirrings of Spring fever as I sit here listening to some tunes from Chicago (the Broadway musical) on Pandora music. The jazzy vibe from the music is intoxicating today.

Yes, I have a soft spot for Broadway musicals. Hello? it makes sense, I love music. Wish I could hold a tune better because I’d be out there peddling myself as a musician. But alas, the gods chose to make me a shy, wilting wallflower. BAH! That last sentence made me laugh out loud. Maybe my next collaboration will be for a Broadway musical. Good golly miss molly....that is a huge undertaking that my poor sickly constitution can’t quite allow me to wrap my head around. But wouldn’t it be fantastic!! It would have to be a love story...but whose? Perhaps it can be part cabaret with a story threading its way thru a series of songs and dances. Yes, my wheels are turning. That’s going to have to be for another day though. My to-do list seems to be growing by the day.

I am in the process of pulling my writing portfolio together so I can start sending it out to some NYC studios again. I need to find a full time gig preferably writing for television. I’ve spent enough time spinning my wheels trying to finish this novel. Right now I wish I had my laptop here so I can pull strong scenes from plays I’ve written. I also need to convert some video footage from VHS to digital to burn DVDs to include in that packet of work that I’ve put up. It’s going to be a full-on package of works produced by yours truly. I am excited and very nervous. I have giant butterflies in my stomach just thinking about.

So my song choice for today is Garbage, Blood For Poppies.

I love Shirley Manson’s voice and OMG! Duke Erikson's bass playing on this album is sick. I keep listening to it just to listen to the man riff. I can’t wait for their album to drop. I looked up tour dates and sure enough tickets are already sold out to their concert in NYC. I am a day late and a dollar short. Story of my life....

Rock on people...rock on!!

L~~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.