Music Mondays: music to save your mood

I know it's not Monday anymore but I had a bad day today and this was about the only thing that got me out of my funky mood.

Old school Kings of Leon cures all. Before the arenas, before "Sex on Fire", before the radio airplay, before the model girlfriends and famous friends there was just four boys playing amazing music.

To this day they still manage to save me from my horrible moods.

Glitter Love & Sparkles

x x x

Brooke

IT'S ARRIVED: iPAD LOVE!

I've had it for approximately 30 minutes and already I'm in love!

About a month ago at work we were told we all won iPads through an incentive that we had forgotten about - today they arrived!!!

Currently it's syncing with my iTunes but I cannot wait to figure out exactly what I can do with this beautiful creature of a machine. It's beautiful, sleek, and simply gorgeous! I don't know exactly what it's purpose is - all I know is I'm so happy I have one!

I'm going to JB Hi Fi to go buy accessories for this thing so that I can protect it as much as possible.

I brought it home and took photos because I just couldn't wait to share the amazingness!

I'm going to see Scott Pilgrim Vs The World tonight (it doesn't start for 3 hours so I have at least 2 hours with the iPad before I have to leave it).

'Scuze me while I disappear for a few days (I'm SOOOO glad I have the weekend off)

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

Music Mondays: We Are Scientists review

** We Are Scientists - photo by ME! **

Ahh We Are Scientists - is there anything better?

I went to this show on behalf of Rave Review (even though I had already bought a ticket - my friend Lauren enjoyed it for free) and my review of the evening is up for all to enjoy.

ASH and WE ARE SCIENTISTS @ Billboards 04/08/10

WORDS BY: Brooke Jagoe

WOW! Check out the full gallery HERE! (Photos by Laurence Barnes)

Co-headlining shows don’t work properly in Melbourne. It’s a fact – especially when the bands are not really similar enough for the co-headline label to be used.

This was the feeling of many people who turned up to Billboards on Wednesday night for the W.A.S.H double header. While this combination would have worked in the UK, it didn’t here. Those who were there early were only there for We Are Scientists and those who turned up later were only there for Ash – there was no middle ground, at least not from the people I spoke to.

Read the rest here...

I realised after it was posted that there are some grammatical errors in the review (going from present to past tense etc) but I'm blaming the excessive tiredness that had worn me down last week. I'm only just starting to catch up on the sleep I've been missing out on.

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

Engulfed in music videos

* We Are Scientists setlist = scored! *

While I come down from the Splendour Sideshow high and are once again unable to string together enough words to warrant a blog I thought I'd share a couple of videos from the bands who have invaded my whole being over the past 7 days.

WE ARE SCIENTISTS - It's pretty much always about them. This isn't a music video like what I've shared before but a mini film that shows the extra side to them that I love so much.

And here's a their music video for "Nice Guys" - an amazing bad-ass scooter video that shows that the SilverFox has mad skillz.

THE STROKES - as previously mentioned it was my first time seeing them live and I'm still trying to find the words. Here's one of my absolute favourite video clips (possibly ever) for "Heart in a Cage". It's so simple but so eye catching.

FLORENCE & THE MACHINE - this woman is a powerhouse. She belted out song after song to a sold out arena and left tingles up my spine and tears in my eyes. This video clip is pretty much what I'd want my own video clip to look like (if I had that kind of talent as a musician) - the sparkles, the lights, the glitter - ahh Florence!

FOALS - I've already written about how much I love this band and shared 2 of their videos but there is something about this band that totally sucks me in everytime. This video for "Spanish Sahara" is mesmirising.

30 SECONDS TO MARS - probably seems like a strange mix to throw in with this bunch but it was absolutely amazing. This video for their new single "Closer to the Edge" is one of the most beautiful videos that incorporate live footage that I have ever seen - and then there's that moment the piercing blue eyes draw you in and takes your breath away.

TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB - SO much energy that you just want to dance and shake your booty (evidence was the kid that was right near me - he was so into the music he kept hitting his butt into me. He was having such a blast you couldn't help but smile at him). This is the super cute video for their song "Something Good Can Work"

I know it's not Monday but I've been hanging out with these awesome bands for the past 7 days (by hanging out I mean being in the crowd dancing and singing my heart out and living in their music). It's been a super tiring week and my eyes are currently hanging out of my head but I wish it wasn't over already.

I've got to somehow review the show I went to last night - it's my mission for tomorrow night - and once it's up I'll share. I've also got part 2 of the Stormy visit and more stories from my London trip (gosh that feels like so long ago now).

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

A Storm invades Australia - week 1

On July 13th 2010 I had my first official camp friend come and visit me and stay with me and allow me to show her around my country. I've had some camp friends get in contact with me on their travels through Melbourne but they've never come to Australia purely to hang out with me - until now.

My lovely friend Laura (who shall henceforth be known as Storm - because that's what we call her) travelled all the way from California to join me and my friends on a little adventure. It's not unusual that she's done this - we had her meet us in London in '07 for a 3 month trip and we spent a week with her last year in her home town on our USA adventure. We're travel buddies and are already planning for another journey.

Here's a photo journey that gives you an idea of what we got up to for the first week.

We took Storm to an AFL match where we drank a lot of beer, ate meat pies and watched the mighty Collingwood thrash the pants of St Kilda.

On my b'day we headed to the ACMI in Melbourne to check out the new Tim Burton Exhibition. We couldn't take photos inside the exhibition but I got a bit too excited by the bat-mobile! This exhibition took my breath away - being a Tim Burton fan I was in nerd heaven!

We also wandered the alleyways of Melbourne and took silly photos while trying to find a cupcake shop. I got a mini red velvet (!) cupcake.

Other things we got up to: pizza pirate parties complete with flashback  movies (Don't Tell Mum The Babysitters Dead), Summer Heights High marathons, pavlova and pasta nights, drinks by the Yarra River, failed attempts to get a taxi to take us out - resulting in geeking out on Star Trek, dinner parties with my family which include Kyla (my niece) proclaiming that she "loves Stormy", lots of Nandos (because apparently they don't have it in the USA) and somehow managing to have a Twilight marathon without trying (it's becoming a tradition).

Week 2 will be coming soon - I'll post it this week, it's just I didn't want to overload with the photos. I had over a thousand to chose from!

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke