Songs I've Seen LIVE!

Happy Friday! We've made it through another week, and survived the OVER 60! Tornado's that came through MN yesterday. Man, that was crazy!

Anyhow, Friday Mix Time! I hope you all enjoy listening as much as I enjoy making these. It is what I look forward to on Fridays!

This weeks mix is all about songs that I have seen live. Ive been to so many shows, it is ridiculous. Although there is always room to see MORE shows. While this collection is not my top 20 or anything, they are notable songs that I have heard live, and enjoyed. Yes, I put Phish and DMB on the mix. Ive seen both bands many times, so I needed to add them. Hope that works for you guys. So, enjoy this stuff. I will say, while they aren't my *all time favorites* they all sounded real real good when I saw it up close and personal.

MIX: http://mixtape.me/p/16800

1. The KKK Took My Baby Away- The Ramones. I grew up in a house where the Ramones were played a lot. My older brother really likes them a lot (and even has a tattoo of them on his ribcage.) So when they came to MKE back in 94 or 95, and I knew my brother was going, I had to go too. I remember it was a hot summer day, and I (at the time had been into "moshing" and stage diving) got hoisted up on top of the crowd-I was like 11 years old, and passed around all over the crowd. Everyone thought I was super cool for being 11 and at the show. At the time I had no idea what a musical dream it was to see the Ramones. It was a f*ing awesome show!

2. French Navy-Camera Obscura. This past Thanksgiving A and I took a road trip to visit her family and friends to Detroit (where she is from.) Over the long weekend we did a handful of exciting things, including seeing Camera Obscura live. It was a really nice show. I know *nice* seems like a weird word to use, but it was. The crowd was respectful-not too crazy (I mean how crazy can you get at a show like that...) and the venue was very clean and sort of fancy. Anyways, they were a great band to see live. 3. Possession-Sarah McLaughlin. This album is on my top 10 ever list. It has don't so much for me over the years. I owned the tape of it when I was in grade school, and listened to it until it was destroyed. I did the same with the first CD copy I had. So now I'm on my third copy of it, and hopefully that wont get scratched. Her voice is AMAZING, and her lyrics are killer. Not to mention she is great live. A and I are going to Lilith Fair in Chicago this summer and cant wait to see her.

4. Sunrise-Yeasayer. One of the best live shows I've seen (twice!) I dunno what it is about them, but I love these guys. Seeing them at the 7th street entry was especially cool because it is so small and we were right up front. At Rock the Garden last year we ran into the guys and ended up talking to them. They were very humble and polite and Rad.
5. Beach Comber-Real Estate. My last trip to New York was wild and crazy-as per usual. However this trip was extra cool, because we saw a show. We went to see Real Estate and Woods. Both these bands were awesome. But Real Estate was especially cool to me. I just like their flow a lot. They all seemed to be having a good time, and I loving it. So, get "beachy" and enjoy this little number.

6. Turn Off the Light- Nelly Furtado. You may think it is silly that I have seen her live. It was freshman year of college and we were real into the album Whoa Nelly. I was actually really sick the night of the show, but really wanted to go. So I went to Roy Wilkins all sick like and ended up dancing my ass off all night. Her stage presence was amazing and she had backup dancers. How cool is that? real cool because they were damn good dancers

7. I Saw the Bright Shinies-Octopus Project. Have you ever heard of a theremin? It is musical instrument that basically involved manipulating sound waves with your hands. Have you heard the song good vibrations by the Beach Boys? The weird high pitch stuff going on right before the chorus is a theremin. It is AMAZING to see it played. This song has a lot of theremin. and this band seriously kicks ass. Not only is there instrumentation unique, they write unique songs that are exciting to hear. I suggest you see them if you ever can.

8.Smash Your Head-Girl Talk. I know Ive told you to see girl talk live before, but Ill say it again. He is amazing. So much energy. So much throw back. So much fun!

9. Gumbo-Phish. I know I know-I am a damn hippie. While I don't listen to the constantly anymore, I still really like Phish. They are an amazing band to see live (if you enjoy their music.) Jams 20 minutes long, covers of ridiculous songs like Gin and Juice, jumping in unison on trampolines while playing and glow stick wars that will blow your mind (picture HUNDREDS of glow sticks constantly flying through the air while the band jams the fuck out of a crazy song as you are peaking on happiness. good times.) I like the song Gumbo. It also is not 12 minutes, like a lot of their other live songs. I thought I'd spare you in case you aren't a huge Phish Phan. But check those horns! Hot, no?

10. Lazy Lover-Brazilian Girls. Ive seen them live 2 1/2 times (the half was because it was only half the band.) They are wild and crazy and hypnotic. The first time I saw them was at Bonnaroo about 7 years ago. It was 2am, and the mood was right. As soon as the lead singer started singing, the whole crowd was locked in. We sang along even though we didn't know the words. We all felt like she was sing to just us. Shit, I felt like I'd take a bullet for her by the end of the night. She had me under her spell. ok, enough.

11. Fuzzy Pink Hand-Cuffs- Dillinger Four. When my brother found out I was moving to MPLS to go to school, the main piece of advice he gave me was to go see D4 and hit up the Triple Rock. I did both, but T-rock is much more fun when you are of age. I myself am not the biggest punk fan, but I can really get down for a night of good music. And these guys are fun to see (mpls band made good.)
13. Subterranean Homesick Blues-Bob Dylan. Ive seen Bob Dylan 3 times. 2 times it was almost like watching a dead man on stage. The third show, however, was awesome. He was much more interested in being there and didn't sound like someone cut out his lungs, backed over them with their car and put them back in. The good show I saw of his was better than good. It was great (not legendary or anything....)

12. Murder of One-Counting Crows. Talk about amazing lyrics. Yes, they tend to be on the downer side, but in that good way-like hurt so good. Ive seen them a few times and even met the band once. Very cool. Also, Adam Duritz has fake dreads. Up close his hair is grey underneath. August and Everything After is a phenomenal album (IMO) and this song was always my favorite off of it.

14. Long Train Runnin'-Doobie Brothers. I liked them a lot as a kid, so when they came to the WI state fair, I had to go. For no other reason that the radio played them a lot, I thought they were awesome. and seeing them (I was young-maybe 10?) Made me feel way cool. So, throw back to old Cayla-good work 10 year old self. Then I saw them again in college. Not as fun, but still a good time.

15. Hold On, Hold On-Neko Case. I saw her live with an ex of mine, and sometimes it is hard for me to listen to her and not think about some of the bad (and good, i suppose) times. But she is just so damn good. Her hair like wild fire-you just can't turn away! My lady loves her, so Ive been able to change my association a bit, making the whole thing much easier. Still not too sure about the New Pornographers, however.

16. Anna-Taken by Trees. I just got into this band this past year. They came to the Minnie and I surprised A with tickets. And what a pleasant surprise. So good. Also, the Cedar is a great venue to see bands like this. So intimate, and the sound really comes out well.

17. I Turn My Camera On-Spoon. Y'all know how I feel about Spoon. Ive only seen them once, but that was enough to really turn me on to them (isn't it funny how sometimes going to a show gets you into a band, and sometimes you like a band forever and never get to experience a show. I feel fortunate.) I hope to see them again, but their shows are often pricey.

18. Slow Hands-Local Natives. Read a review of their recent Mpls show HERE: http://c-bicyclediaries.blogspot.com/2010/05/local-native-have-my-heart.html

19. When You Come Back Down-Nickel Creek. Ill admit I was much more into these guys back in college, but when I hear them now, I'm brought back to a different time. This is a real mellow song, but the vocals are beautiful. This group really knows how to work well together. I saw them live in MKE back in 2002. It was Summerfest, they were playing before Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and we had a GREAT spot (big picnic table that we were dancing on all over the place. and the peeps behind us yelled at us.) Fun times.

20. Lie in Our Graves-Dave Matthews Band. This is me really letting you into some shit. You can laugh, you can cry, you can sympathize. Ive seen DMB 25 times. All across the US. I was OBSESSED when I was age 11-21. I have a drum stick from sitting 2nd row and holding up a sign that said "Carter is God." He is a great drummer. I actually have several (IMO) cool stories in regards to seeing Dave live. Going to those shows really helped me become who I am now-good bad and ugly. One of my favorite moments was having last row in Madison and getting approached by a guy who worked for the band who then gave us 3 row tickets. I held up a #40 sign (song they hadn't played in years-literally) and Dave looked down at me at the end of the show and started to play it before going into a different encore. later that week at the MKE show, someone (random) approached me to say thanks for holding up the sign. how did he recognize me, not too sure. But it was an amazing moment in my life. I still have the homemade #40 poster.

OK friends, that is it. Enjoy your Friday afternoon!!!!

cassttes ramones sarah real estate the octopus project phish D4 neko spoon nickel creek