Franklin Street: The Celebration

Chapel Hill crazed in victory (as I get crushed on the Top of the Hill balcony). IT WAS AMAZING!

more about "Franklin Street: The Celebration", posted with vodpod

Video courtesy of The Daily Tar Heel.

"It's the blood of a champion..."

I hope everyone is pumped up for the 'ship' tonight!!!!!!
I mean we're talking about Roy's boys going for their sixth National Championship, who wouldn't be? Let us all cross our fingers and hope we'll be able go absolutely INSANE on Franklin Street tonight!! And when you do.....go along with Nelly's throwback "Heart of a Champion" ....it's only fitting!!

CAROLINA TARHEELS:

"Because it's everything NC State isn't; Better than duke; a Southerner's Dream and a Northerner's wish. The pride of the old North State; The ultimate college exerpience; Franklin Street, Dean Dome; UVA's worst nightmare and a place that can get in your blood and stay forever..."


GO HEELS!!!

Life Changing Tunes

Sometimes moments in life bring you to lows so low or highs so high it seems like no other human being is at a reach.  At times like these, I've discovered, the only thing that brings me close to any kind of reconnection to reality is music.  Its ability to transcend through whatever factor is consuming my life at that moment to make sense, even if only for the duration of a song, out of the arbitrariness of said highs and lows is why, to many human specimen, music acts as the universal healer.  

During one such high, a result of some liberation and freedom that only a driver's license can provide, I remember I was flying down the road near my high school, jamming to Dave Matthews Band's Stand Up.  I rediscovered this album in a once forgotten compartment of my car just recently and, since, have not gone three days without listening to it.  

I don't know what would constitute as a "life changing" album, but the pivotal first moments of driving my car, getting my own and doing things the way I wanted (I mean, this was high school) will forever be linked to this beautiful album. 

When I picked it up again recently, I was so emotionally engulfed by DMB's music that I agreed to designate one for my wedding.  But, god knows this is just me being whimsical.   Here's a sample of the lucky winner "Stolen Away on 55th & 3rd". 

P1UNC

And, oh how appropriate.  My posts just seem to transition like magic.  DMB is on their 2009 Spring Tour, will be at Walnut Creek on April 22nd.  This is where the flawless transition happens; Avett Brothers will be joining them here.  Also, opening for DMB are the Roots, Jason Mraz and Old Crow Medicine Show .  Their newest and untitled album will be available June 2nd.  

SXSW '09: Avett Brothers

I totally messed up the flow of this post.  I wanted to write this up before the festival started.  OH WELL, take life as it comes.  Now I can include videos.  I, obviously, didn't get to go to Austin for this special occasion.  When I saw Avett Brothers on the schedule I got so happy, but sad that I couldn't be there.  They performed during the first couple of days at South by Southwest.  (I must, now, give props to my girl who showed me the light of their gracious music, thanks Katie, you one-upping nazi).

SXSW '09: Avett Brothers "Shame"

This North Carolina based bluegrass/rock band is comprised of Seth  and Scott Avett (guittar and banjo men) and Bob Crawford (stand-up bass man).  They came to UNC's Memorial Hall on Nov 2008.  Concert was SOLD OUT.  Avett Brothers are amaziiinnngg live performers.  

Memorial Hall: Avett Brothers "Go to Sleep"

They have produced 11 albums since 2000.  I and Love and You is dropping this July.  

Avett Bros. are coming back to Raleigh on April 22, to perform at Walnut Creek and Charlotte on the 24th.  Here's a list of their tour dates and locations.

Ultimate Concert Line Up

Second installment of this assignment--rock, jazz and electronic...

ROCK
I'd open with The Beatles.

The mid...Citizen Cope.
A mix of alternative rock, pop, folk and ska.

Lastly, the ultimate band in my book, my headliner, Coldplay.

JAZZ

I've only dabbled in this genre very briefly, mostly due to chance when it pops up on my Lounge playlist on Pandora. Oh, and actually, a couple of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan films have prompted me to download a few tracks. Essentially, the scope of my research/knowledge is limited. Sometimes, still, I imagine I'm living through a jazz soundtrack like light, sultry and happy, and when the time calls, low, deep and long-drawn.

Anyways, that's weird, so I'll leave that alone.

Getting the crowd up right. The opener...Louis Armstrong.

The mid...Django Reinhardt. European jazz guitarist. Really amazing. Really beautiful.

The headliner. Because his music is just damn sweet...Jimmy Durante

HOUSE/TECHNO

The opener...Tiesto

The mid. Ok, my newly found interest, Tocadisco

The headliner. We all know him...Benny Benassi

Uuuhh, ok this last line up just got me so excited! I think i just jizzed in my pants.

"Life of Clocks" on Viva La Hova

Micky Boogie and Terry Urban. Aaah so good.

Ultimate Hip-Hop Line Up

Imagining that I had some cosmic power to pull together my choice of the three greatest hip-hop artists of all time for the grandest performance for mankind, I'd want to showcase the diversity and evolution of this specific genre, which has undergone much change. Frankly, I don't think I could do hip-hop justice. First, I have only sampled so many artists and so many of their techniques. There is too much talent to begin with, so much to rhyme about, so much to say. Second, hip-hop is quite an American genre. Its roots are in African American music, and according to wiki, is based on a quasi-nomadic group of West Africans known as griots who functioned as a keeper of oral history. And, since my roots come from much further away, I'm constantly trying to keep up with two worlds. That is, because my interests lie in both.
Regardless, simply put, hip-hop began as poetry and spoken word. Now, it is that, and much more. It is beat dropping. Hell, even trou-dropping (fo the hos out there). It's swagger-ridden. It's auto-tuned. And, in constant transition.

I am no expert in hip-hop; only a fan who is straying away from mainstream and struggling to find the good stuff. I'm sort of lost without a dealer. I can't sustain the highs from witty wordplay, meaningful rhymes and flawless flows on my own discoveries.

But, as my assignment suggests, I must choose three, granted the limited knowledge that I have.
Ok fine.

The opener...The Jigga Man--Hova, himself--Jay-Z

The mid...Biggie

The headliner...Lauryn Hill

Damn, that was hard. If you can call out a better line up, please be my guest, but um, it might be impossible.