Out Past the City Limits

The sound of thunder woke me up very early this morning. Pandora turned into the Halloween cat (arched back, puffed out tail, walking sideways) and proceeded to find a place to hide when she thought the sky was falling. I love thunder storms. I curled up in my bed, tight warm blanket and listened to the sound of the rain for a good long while before I had to get up and get my day started.

Now, I am staring blankly into my computer screen and wishing I was anywhere else but here. I get that everyone feels this way sometimes but…today, I wish I was more of a nomad. Just pack a backpack with some essentials and head out. Wishful thinking. Besides Pandora doesn’t really like to travel, she’s more of a homebody who likes to stretch out on a bright spot in the apt to catch a few rays. She’s my seven lb anchor at the moment.

I know I’ve been a bit gaga over Jack White’s music but really it’s just an amazing distraction from the dissatisfactions of one’s life, don’t you think? I feel shackled and bound and I’m not even married. And for an hour or two music helps get me out of my own melancholy head and reminds me that there can be pleasurable moments. So an hour listening to the music of the rain helped.

I yearn to be out in the world today, taking a long walk out past the city limits, leaving the technology of laptop computers and smart phones behind. Anyway that’s all she wrote today. Heading off to work on my novel for a bit. Wish me good vibes and happy writing.

Peace,

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.

A Day Late...

I know I’m a day late with this bit of news but I was distracted with my novel yesterday. Jack White is numero uno on the Billboard Album Charts. Hoorah!! A co-worker saw the album in Starbucks and told me he thought of me. Awww. It’s just because I’ve been raving about this album to anyone who will pay attention for 30 seconds. And even when they don’t pay attention I make mention of it. I warned everyone ahead of time that I have a music crush on White, so peeps have been duly warned.

Rolling Stone’s Steve Knopper writes: “Will the chart success last? Almost certainly not. No rock band – not even sales powerhouses Nickelback and Coldplay – manages to stick around the album charts for very long.”
Say it ain’t so!! I’m hoping all those fellow rockers out there looking for a sound that is not completely synthesized on AutoTunes will check it out. There is enough buzz happening out in the world that he may hold on to the spot for longer than a week.

I’m sporting indigo blue nail polish to show my enthusiasm.  :-)

Anyway, all this rock music has me revisiting music by Led Zeppelin and looking for new sounds like Black Keys.

Marvel’s The Avengers comes out this weekend and Joss Whedon directed this flick. I’m very excited! Folks are already lined up to see a midnight viewing of this film. I’d be out there too but I am not independently wealthy this week. So I may hold off till a Saturday viewing. I was trying to convince my younger sister to come along but she’s not really a fan of Whedon. I’m not really sure if we’re related once she broke that news to me but we’ve always suspected she may have been left on the doorstep. Hehehe. * I kid, I kid *

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.

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.