Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Concert 2

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Grace Potter kicked off her tour after the release of her latest album, This Is Somewhere, with a concert at the Waterfront Park in Burlington Vermont to a nearly packed venue. Their opening band, Josh Ritter, wasn't bad, but he was somewhat forgettable after last night's performance, athough he is worth looking into for a decent band. I went with my brother, whom we abandoned, and a friend who's just returned from Greece. I got a couple of tickets for two of our neighbors, but I wasn't able to find them anywhere.

This was my second time seeing the Nocturnals, and this performance topped their one a couple weeks ago at Club Metronome. For starters, they were in the open air, which helped Grace's sound by a tenfold. She no longer sounded as high and poppish as she did last time, this time, they had proper speakers, so there was no problems there. They launched into a fantastic set that included several songs from their prior album, Nothing But The Water, as well as a couple of ones that they've performed live before, such as Belledonna and Watching You. They also included a six or seven minute drum solo, with the entire band playing around the drumset before the end.

Like before, they had an incredible amount of energy and used it well. This set seemed to include a couple more faster songs than last time, and didn't seem to drag on as long, and with a much larger crowd, they seemed to feed off of the energy a bit more than they did last time.

Set List:
Ah Mary Treat Me Right Stop the Bus Here's To The Meantime Belledonna Apoligies (MP3) Lose Some Time (John-Something Cover w/ Josh Ritter) Falling Or Flying Mastermind I've Been Watching You (Unknown - Girls) Joey If I Was From Paris Drum Solo - 4-Way Nothing But The Water (1) Nothing But The Water (2) Cortez, The Killer Big White Gate
More pictures from the event: Here

Weekend

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Vermont experienced a couple of really strong storms last night. While driving to the bank to deposit my paycheck, NPR was interrupted by a weather warning saying that there was a tornado watch in pretty much all of Vermont. This is somewhat scary, because Vermont never gets tornadoes. I think that in the entire time that I've lived here, we've gotten one? Two at the most? They just don't happen here. This morning, I heard reports of inch and a half thick hail that fell in some places in North East New York, and worried about Camp Abnaki, because it's right up there in the islands. I've put out a message earlier today seeing what was happening, because someone said that a tornado touched down in the islands. Apparently Camp experienced some damages, and I'll most likely find out exactly what happened, as I'm headed up there tomorrow morning for something my dad's company is doing, to visit a couple of people at camp and to see my friend Blackwell, who's home for the week. Then off to see Grace Potter again in Burlington, which should be fun.

The Bourne Review

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At the end of the Bourne Ultimatum, Julie Stile's character, Niki Petersen, is sitting at a Cafe, listening to the news. As Moby's Extreme Ways comes on, she smiles and the scene cuts to Jason Bourne, underwater after ten story fall in Manhatten, kicks to life and swims away. To me, it's the perfect, if somewhat circular ending to what would seem to be the end of the Bourne movies.
The movie doesn't hold any surprises to anyone who's seen the Bourne Identity and Bourne Supremacy. It employs much of the same scenes and sequences, but in a way that doesn't seem old or unexciting - Just the opposite. Paul Greengrass's second foray into the gritty world of Bourne carries over the frantic camera movements that risks leaving weaker audience members nausious, but gives you the feeling once again of being right next to Jason Bourne as he punches, kicks, shoots and batters various people, this time CIA agents, who are sent to kill him, and this time, people that he's trying to find.
The Bourne Ultimatum is an excellent installment to the now trilogy, based loosely now off of Robert Ludlum's books by the same titles. Picking up just moments after the second movie ends (In Moscow), we see Bourne get away again. The real ending of Supremacy would seem to be a teaser for the third one, as it takes place in the middle of this movie. However, before that happens, we watch as Jason Bourne goes to France, then to London's Waterloo terminal, then to Italy, then Morocco, as he continues what was started in the first movie - his search to find out who he was before he lost his memory. Once again, action scenes are top of the line, not only exciting, but ones that even top the first two movies. Bourne brings out an improvised weapon once again, this time in the form of a hardcover book, and a towel. Julie Stile's character brings out another degree of interest, as some sort of relationship is alluded to in a cafe shortly after she helped Damon's escape.
There are a number of parallels to the prior two movies - it's nice to see that they're actively part of the storyline. Wombossa is mentioned, as are a number of the events in Supremacy. But the really cool moment comes when Bourne is held at gunpoint by a younger Treadstone-Type killer. "Look what they make you give." He tells him, just as another agent told him in Identity, although the outcome is different here - Bourne survives, where the other agent died. While the first half of the movie follows Bourne over three continents, the last act brings him home, to America, and to the training facility where he became Jason Bourne from David Webb. With the help of Pamela Landy, he helps bring down the bigger scary program, Black Briar, which Treadstone seems to have been a part of. Along the way, there's the usual kinetics, Bourne crashing a car around through New York City, Morocco, leading a journalist around Waterloo station while avoiding the CCTV cameras and in Italy, where he manages to get a team of Americans arrested when they come to apprehend him.

This movie is also more overtly political than the prior two. While assassination is a dominant theme of the first two movies, the implications aren't really examined. Here however, there's not one or two agents who suddently get the impulse to betray the CIA's Black Briar program by going to a hapless journalist, there's four, which brings the CIA down on a witch hunt to keep their dirty little secrets secret. Interesting that this movie comes out shortly after a book called Legacy of Ashes was released utilizing recently declassified documents from the CIA, including their dirty little secrets. Here, the CIA itself, not just the rogue Treadstone agents are the scary people. They not only drag a man who Bourne used to hide the journalist, from a bus, drugged into a van, they assassinate said journalist right in the middle of Waterloo station, authorize the deaths of Nikki, as well as the agent who provided the journalist with names, and, no surprise, Bourne himself. It makes the director's comments in the second film somewhat amusing: "This is still a clandestine agency, is it not?"
The ending of the film leaves a bit open, while leaving enough closure for this to be the final film. Bourne swims away into the murkiness of the water, Nikki is grinning and Extreme Ways is still playing. I wouldn't be surprised if talk of a sequel will be bandied about, given the overwhelming success of the film, but if not, I'll be able to sleep easy about that, if not about what the CIA might potentially be covering up.

Perseids

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Last night was a perfect night to watch the Perseids Meteor shower. A high pressure front came through and cleared all of the clouds out of the way, leaving the skies wide open. I sat out on the roof just outside my window and lay back to watch the skies. It was beautiful out. I can't remember the last time that I've taken more than just a quick glance at the sky to note that, but in any case, it's the first time in a while that I've just taken in the view. The nice thing about Vermont is the lack of light pollution (just a little bit from Montpelier and Barre, but it's mostly blocked by mountains). There's little or no traffic where I live, especially at midnight, and the only sound is the river down the road and the insects in the woods and fields. It was an overwhelmingly peaceful time. The meteors were out as well. I counted eleven before I went in, ranging from very small ones that just flickered, to several that left a trail of light across the sky.

It's the first time in a while where I just forgot about everything, and was completely at peace with myself.

Batman and the Senate Judicial Committee

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This is a pretty cool tidbit from CNN. One of Vermont's Senators, Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, will have a small cameo role in the upcoming Batman movie, The Dark Knight Returns. Apparently, the senator, who's the chair of the Judicial Committee, is a big Batman fan, and will have a small speaking role.

Apparently, he'll share a scene with the two main stars of the film, Christian Bale and Heath Leger.
It's not the first time that Vermont's been involved with Batman. Scenes from Batman and Robin were supposed to be filmed in the Barre Granite Quarries, but that was scrapped due to expense. In addition, one of the best known writers for the series, Frank Miller, grew up in Central Vermont.
It'll be pretty cool to see Senator Leahy in the film. I wonder if it will raise any questions about his approach to the recent subpoenas against White House personnel. Maybe he should get a spotlight on the top of his office complex.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Concert 1

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Wow, what a fantastic concert. That's about all I can say. It was the first time that I'd seen Grace Potter & The Nocturnals in person, and man, they didn't let me down at all.

They opened up with a bang with Ah Mary and Stop the Bus, then went through a bunch of the other songs from their latest album, with the fantastic Apologies, Lose Some Time and ended up with Big White Gate. They left the stage, and came on again for a second set, this time of favorites, with Farmer John, the Beatles's Come Together, If I Was From Paris, Eyes on You and Neil Young's Cortez the Killer, all pretty much one long jam session that just blew the audience away. She mentioned that If I Was From Paris didn't make it onto the album, and that it's one of her favorite songs - It'll be available when the record comes out, although it is on iTunes as a bonus track. She also mentioned that the song Falling or Flying was featured on Grey's Anatomy, and that they've caught some flack for that. It's interesting to see how far a local Vermonter has really gone.

The band was also loud. I have some doubts that my hearing will return at all this week.
Grace sounds amazing in person. Her voice is a bit higher than I would have thought from the record, and the speakers just couldn't keep up with their sound, but man, they've got as much energy as a rocket and they really sustained it throughout, all the way to the end. Welcome home, Nocturnals. We know you're home, you've awakened the neighbors, and what a fantastic way to ring in the new album. Can't wait to see her again on the 19th.
Set List
Ah Mary
Stop the Bus
Apologies
Ain't No Time
Mr. Columbus
You May See Me
Lose Some Time
Mastermind
Here's to the Meantime
Falling or Flying
Big White Gate
Unknown - "Girls Say Yeah"
Farmer John
Come Together (The Beatles)
If I Was From Paris
Eye On You
Cortez The Killer (Neil Young)

SGS / MMH

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Second day on the job. I'm currently on my lunch break, and I've started getting more intigrated with the program a bit, easing into life here.
The school's issued me a laptop to use (which I'm using right now), which is pretty spiffy. I've got a desk, phone, no phone number yet, and a bunch of random items to work on. I'll be getting new tasks later on as the weeks go on a bit, and I'm looking forwards to it.

And, I'm seeing Grace Potter and the Nocturnals later on tonight, a special show that Pure Pop is doing, which should be pretty cool. I'll have to remember my camera. And hope that my car stops smelling like a skunk. I think I clipped one on the road last night.

Job.

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So, I'm starting my new job tomorrow. Actually, I've probably already started by the time that this is now up, because I'm writing this on Sunday night. I'm a bit nervous, and excited. It means a much higher salary than what I got at the bookstore, actual benefits, vacation time, retirement money, it's overwhelming. Still, this means no more customers, corporate bullshit and targets each day, and no more sucking up to customers. Still, I'll miss the discount, and the random customers who've come in who I've come to know and enjoyed talking to. Still, work has sucked since Amber and Eric were fired from the store, they were really the only ones that I enjoyed working with. I've still got another four or five days left at the bookstore, pulling a couple long days, but it'll be over soon. So, I'm sitting in my room watching through the second season of Battlestar Galactica, currently watching the extended version of Pegasus and Resurrection Ship. I blew most of my last paycheck from Walden on the DVDs, picking up Hot Fuzz, Layer Cake, Babylon 5: The Lost Tales and Stranger than Fiction as well. I ditched some of my other DVDs with FYE, which helped offset the costs a bit. Been doing a bit more with music as well. I've got that music blog that I've started up, and a string of concerts that I've been to and will be going to. I just saw the Alternate Routes earlier last month, and Cary Brothers / Priscilla Ahn / Stars of Track and Field earlier this month. This week is Grace Potter & The Nocturnals with a special show, then later on this month at the waterfront in Burlington, as well as the Dave Matthew's Band next week.
It's an upturn to a very shitty month. But not much.

Upcoming Concerts

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It seems that I've been on a bit of a music kick lately. First, I've been working on the other blog, Carry You Away, which is going interestingly, and today, it's experiencing a pretty nice spike in hits, hopefully more and more people will take a look at it.

I've also been to a bunch of concerts, and will be going to more. Already, I've seen The Alternate Routes, in Burlington as well as Priscilla Ahn, Stars of Track and Field and Cary Brothers earlier this week at the Higher Ground. Next week, on the 7th, Pure Pop music will be doing a 'Secret Show' for anyone who pre-ordered Grace Potter's newest album, This Is Somewhere, and I'll be bound for that, once I learn where it is - I got my lanyard yesterday. The 14th, I got tickets for the Dave Matthew's Band at the SPAC, and I just put an order in for Grace Potter's concert in Burlington on the 19th of August.
In addition, three other artists that I like, Matt Nathanson (10-14) and A Fine Frenzy with Brandi Carlile (10-7) , will be at the Higher Ground.

I'm looking forwards to it.

Cary Brothers Concert

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Singer-Songwriter Cary Brother has been a favorite of mine for a little while now. Most everyone would probably remember his song Blue Eyes, which was featured on the Garden State soundtrack back, a couple years ago. Since then, he's released a couple of EPs and a fantastic full length album, Who You Are.

He played up here at the Higher Ground last night, and I finally was able to get out to see him.

Two bands played before him, both linked on the same tour, a woman named Priscilla Ahn, who fits nicely into the chicks-with-guitars catagory and Stars of Track and Field, who're more of the indie-alt-rock field.
Ahn was the better of the two opening acts. While she's just starting out, she's got a good voice, and a bit of talent. She's still got a little ways to go, but I think that she'll be someone to keep your eyes on in the future. We'll be hearing from her soon - she's got a full length album that she's working on now.

Stars of Track and Field are interesting. They've got a decent sound, and when they want to, plenty of energy, although they started off their set with a more acoustic couple of songs before keying it up a bit. They're also worth looking into.

The best act of the night, of course, was Cary himself. Right off the bat, he and his band came on to the stage and cracked a couple of jokes with the audience, and then went through a fantastic set of music from both his new album and some of his older stuff, as well as a song that I didn't recognize. Here's the set list:

- Jealousy
- Ride
- Supposed To Be
- Wasted One
- (New Song)
- The Last One
- Honestly
- The Glass Parade
- If You Were Here (With Priscilla Ahn)
- Who You Are
- Blue Eyes (With Priscilla Ahn)

Ahn came on stage for two numbers with Brothers, which worked really nicely, although she was drowned out a bit by the second guitar and bass. Cary was as well a couple times. Overall, it was a fantastic concert. I got to talk with Cary for a couple of minutes after they were done, really nice guy, seems to really like his audience and chatting with them. He's playing at the Iron Horse down in North Hampton, Mass, today, and I'd highly recommend making it over to see him.

Next week, hopefully, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.

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So, I feel like crap once again. A while ago, I wrote up something on an author who happened to come into the store and who I thought was really rude. Written up and done, and I pretty much forgot about it. And then that author found that entry. I'm not sure how, not sure that I want to, but she felt badly about it. She came back to the store the other day and apoligized, and explained her side of the store. I've been unhappy with things that I've said and written of people, but this time I was really ashamed. She said that she was having a bad day. Her book was just out, and she just wanted to be helpful, where I thought that she was being possesive and stubborn. I'm a horrible judge of character. Everybody has their bad days. I should have realized that, and not flown off the handle, figuratively. I should also remember that people do read this and be careful about what I say in the future. I'll be annoyed by people in the future, I know that. Hopefully I'll learn from this to some extent and not repeat it.
So, Mrs. Sarah Strohmeyer, I'm sorry. Coming into the store probably was hard, and for my part of that, I am truly sorry. What you did has humbled me. Everyone else, forget what I said earlier about the subject, because it was unprofessional, out of line, and just plain rude on my part. And for that, I hate myself and that I know I'm a horrible person. Maybe it's a good thing that I'll be leaving the bookstore. I think I'll turn in my two weeks earlier than I figured I would.

New Job!

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I haven't mentioned this at all, because I wasn't sure, but I just got the call earlier this morning, so now I know. I'm getting a new job. Norwich is hiring me for their online master's degree school, and I'm going to be an assistant director there in the Master of Arts in Military History division. To say that I'm excited is an understatement. I've been unhappy with Walden Books for a little while now, and recently, two of my friends were fired, which has made my time there a bit worse. However, I'm not going to worry too much about it for now, because ... New Job!

A Quarter Century

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Happy 25th Anniversary to my mom and dad (Yesterday). We had about 60 people over at our house for the afternoon, which was fun, because it was a lot of people that I hadn't seen for a while. Of course, it meant that there was a lot of explaining about what I was up to, which was good and bad.
Mom and Dad were thrilled, because they didn't plan it, and they've been very happy for the past 25 years. Here's to another quarter century.

Looking back

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I've personally been dreading tonight for a good part of the week now. As a bookstore employee, I've been preoccupied for a very long time with the upcoming release of the seventh and last Harry Potter novel, which will be released tomorrow, if you're not willing to go online and search for the scans of the pages that have hit the internet. I've been dreading it for a number of reasons, the main one being the sheer amount of people that'll be coming into our store. Customers have become an irritation of mine for a while now. Whoever said: The customer is always right was probably just some pompus jackass who was annoyed that someone wasn't waiting on him. (It actually probably wasn't, but it's probably been purpetuated by that type of person.) Most of the customers that'll be in line will be the really excited Harry Potter fans, and this is another wearisome part for me. Because along with them will be the "Harry Potter is the greatest book of all time" and so on sort of speeches and praises that I've been hearing more and more of.
Harry Potter is not the next greatest thing in the world. Not even close.
I was first introduced to the series through my sister, when I was a freshman in High School, nearly eight years ago. I was hooked on the first book from the get-go, and must have read it a dozen times. Same with the second and third books. I remember, much to my annoyance, that the day I finished the first book, there was a blizzard here and I was given a three day weekend, when I'd planned on getting the second and third books from the school library. I wasn't a happy person for that weekend.
I read the forth book, and the fifth when they came out, but by this time, my fanboy love for the series cooled a bit as I discovered other fantasty books that were much better, in terms of reading level and overall plot. Even books considered to be in the same genre, such as Philip Pullman's Dark Materials and Ursula K. LeGuin's Earthsea, not to mention LeEngle's Wrinkle in Time, which I'd rediscovered. In general, better reads.
By the time book six came out, I'd only read book five twice, and until this summer, I'd only given book six a quick read once.
This past June and July, I got all the books together and went through them all, in between other books that I was reading. My opinion on the series is about the same as it was a couple years ago now. They're fun books. Not the best in the world, and certainly not the best written, but they're light, fun and entertaining.
In about twelve hours, we'll be done with the rest of the sales for the evening (about 2 am) and I'll be home, with a copy of the newest book, because I am interested to see what happens with the series. I remember thinking in high school, then calculating out when the last book would be released, and I came up with it coming out around my last year of college. I remember wondering what would happen in the series over those remaining books, and what would happen in my life over the next decade before I got to read the last volume. Now, I'm out of college, and I can't help feeling that giddy feeling that a part of my childhood is about to close up. Not even the fanboys can ruin that.