Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Red Right Hand
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Friday, September 27, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Hello, Goodbye
I finished up my summer language program in Japan about two weeks ago, then spent the final week in Kyoto and Osaka being a tourist. It was a great summer, but I am happy to be back home again. The time away has made me feel much more positive about the upcoming year.
Yukata (simple, summer-weight kimono) and a manga I've been reading.
My luggage. I had an insanely small amount of luggage compared to most of the people in my program, but honestly I am really tired of lugging extra stuff around when I travel. The polka dot bag I actually bought in Japan to hold things I had acquired during the trip. My ideal is to pare-down my travel essentials so that I can fit everything in the small wheeled suitcase with room to spare.
Side street near Teramachi in Kyoto.
Shrine near Hikone castle.
Hikone castle.
Actually wearing my yukata. In the summer you still see a lot of young people- men and women, although more women- wearing yukata. In the grand scheme of kimono, yukata are very easy to wear because they only really require one layer and a simply tied obi (belt). Also pictured: the sketchy subway bathroom.
We got to stay at a fancy hotel in Osaka because the rooms were discounted for unspecified reasons.
Why is this tea called The Pungency? No one knows. I also don't know how it differs from this brand's regular milk tea, because it tasted pretty much the same.
I spent my second to last day at day one of Summer Sonic in Osaka. It was unbelievably hot but really worth it in the end.
There was a shuttle bus service from the train station, but the line was so long that we decided to walk instead. This definitely got us there faster and in better moods, but we had to walk through a long stretch of industrial park with this weirdo building looming in the background. I am told that it is the Osaka incinerator, but why it was designed to look like the palace of some Dr. Seuss-designed futuristic evil overlord is beyond me. Why the gold dome? Why the river-of-blood-esque patterns running down the tower?
In the battle against heatstroke I didn't bother to photograph anything else until Muse was setting up after the sun had set. Photography is pretty discouraged at concerts in Japan, which I think is just great because you have to actually pay attention to what's happening, rather than spending the whole time trying to record it.
I'm not terribly familiar with Muse, but they were quite entertaining to watch. My favorite of the bands I saw was Johnny Marr, who we went to see on a whim based on the fact that A. we like The Smiths and B. he was in the only indoor stage and we were concerned about death by increased exposure to sunlight, but oh my god he was amazing. Best heatstroke-induced decision I have made in my life. It's really impressive how much hearing a song live can really change the feeling too- I never thought of There is a Light That Never Goes Out as a song to rock out to, but that happened. Amazing. As the friend I was with said afterwards, it was really clear that he knew what he was doing.
Roses from my husband.
Until next time, Japan.
Yukata (simple, summer-weight kimono) and a manga I've been reading.
My luggage. I had an insanely small amount of luggage compared to most of the people in my program, but honestly I am really tired of lugging extra stuff around when I travel. The polka dot bag I actually bought in Japan to hold things I had acquired during the trip. My ideal is to pare-down my travel essentials so that I can fit everything in the small wheeled suitcase with room to spare.
Side street near Teramachi in Kyoto.
Shrine near Hikone castle.
Hikone castle.
Actually wearing my yukata. In the summer you still see a lot of young people- men and women, although more women- wearing yukata. In the grand scheme of kimono, yukata are very easy to wear because they only really require one layer and a simply tied obi (belt). Also pictured: the sketchy subway bathroom.
We got to stay at a fancy hotel in Osaka because the rooms were discounted for unspecified reasons.
Why is this tea called The Pungency? No one knows. I also don't know how it differs from this brand's regular milk tea, because it tasted pretty much the same.
I spent my second to last day at day one of Summer Sonic in Osaka. It was unbelievably hot but really worth it in the end.
There was a shuttle bus service from the train station, but the line was so long that we decided to walk instead. This definitely got us there faster and in better moods, but we had to walk through a long stretch of industrial park with this weirdo building looming in the background. I am told that it is the Osaka incinerator, but why it was designed to look like the palace of some Dr. Seuss-designed futuristic evil overlord is beyond me. Why the gold dome? Why the river-of-blood-esque patterns running down the tower?
In the battle against heatstroke I didn't bother to photograph anything else until Muse was setting up after the sun had set. Photography is pretty discouraged at concerts in Japan, which I think is just great because you have to actually pay attention to what's happening, rather than spending the whole time trying to record it.
I'm not terribly familiar with Muse, but they were quite entertaining to watch. My favorite of the bands I saw was Johnny Marr, who we went to see on a whim based on the fact that A. we like The Smiths and B. he was in the only indoor stage and we were concerned about death by increased exposure to sunlight, but oh my god he was amazing. Best heatstroke-induced decision I have made in my life. It's really impressive how much hearing a song live can really change the feeling too- I never thought of There is a Light That Never Goes Out as a song to rock out to, but that happened. Amazing. As the friend I was with said afterwards, it was really clear that he knew what he was doing.
Roses from my husband.
Until next time, Japan.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013
Music For: The 80's
This is kind of amazing. I played it while cleaning my apartment and trying not to stress about my impending journey to Japan.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Music For: Starting Again
Suede: It Starts And Ends With You
I just found out this week that Suede (or The London Suede) recently regrouped and put out a CD, which I've been listening to all week. Sometimes music just hits you that way- it's been a stressful week in a weird sort of way, and this was just what I needed.
I seem to be more and more developing a complete disinterest in music produced now, unless it's by significantly older bands. It's not that I have anything against the present state of music, I just rarely hear anything that interests me.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Friday, April 12, 2013
Music For: Strange Mornings
Placebo: Pure Morning
It is afternoon here now, but better late than never.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Music For: The Queen of the Night
I don't know anything about Opera but my brother sent me this the other day, and I think it's about time I learned something. This lady is intense.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
Music for: Trees
A playlist inspired by dark, green forests.
(Unrelated: happy Ides of March! Although perhaps that is not really a happy event?)
Image via Coyhand on flickr
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