My Design:
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Why Should the Fire Die?
Two summers ago, Nickel Creek's album "Why Should the Fire Die" was nothing more than that. However, earlier this year Nickel Creek decided they would disband, and after seeing them perform once more, it remains a question in my head. Why exactly is the fire dying right now? I walked away from the concert stunned and mesmorized by the sheer talent and quaility of their music, and can't help but wonder why they could disband now.
Nickel Creek chose to close their encore with this song as well. Playing completely acoustic, with no microphones and their instruments unplugged, the hushed crowd listened in amazement as their incredible musical talent mixed with their perfectly harmonized voices softly filled the Brown Theater. It was an intimate moment with a band that is leaving everything they've got on stage at every performance. Chris Thile said they played it this way to show how good the acoustics were in the theater, but part of me beleives it was a gift to the fans that had supported them for so long, especially after he said we were the best, most attentive audience they had ever had. It was a special song, and it seems as if my gaze is still stuck on them singing that song with pure talent. They left the stage after singing the song, but not before Chris Thile seemed to gaze back with a sort of sadness that signaled the journey would soon end. I know he isn't sure he wants to let it go.
Before this incredible end, Nickel Creek played to a packed, and strangely older audience, for a solid two hours. There was the expected, but there was much more that kept me intently mesmorized by the show at every turn. This was not just a concert, it was an interaction between the band and their most loyal fans. They didn't just play songs, they told stories, joked, and laughed. They let us see past the band and to the individuality that makes them Nickel Creek. Stage presence is key to a great concert, and the charisma the three members of the band show is second to none. They are not afraid to poke fun at each other, themselves, or even the crowd. And they seem genuinely proud of and thankful for the fans they have. Sara explained that her newest song was inspired by the fact that she had too many cups in her cupboard; it was a break up song. Chris explained that his breakup song had a simple proposition that every Ex should consider. The refrain stated.."If your gonna leave me, set me up with one of your freinds." It was yet another surprise in the show, showing a lighter side of the band compared to their deep, thoughtful lyrics that spread across all three of their CD's. Sean joked that his break up song was on the lighter side; one of it's lyrics says "I hope you meet someone your height, so you can see eye to eye with someone as small as you."
The funniest bit may have been when Chris's explained that he regrets naming the first song on their debut album Ode to a Butterfly. He said its hard to name a song when it has no lyrics, but maybe they should have considered using the muscial notes of the main chord as the title. But then he said he knew DJ's would never play a song titled like that. He assured us though that they never played it anyway.
Each song was played with special care, filled with the special attention to detail that makes the music soar. Each note was accompanied by one, two, or all three of their amazing voices harmonizing their beautiful lyrics. They knack they have for writing such powerful songs amazes me. None was more impressive than a slightly changed but more powerful rendition of "House Carpenter." I have become especially fond of this song lately, and when they began to play it I was extremely excited. Chris's voice on this song was so pure, and the edited lyrics were awesome. They jammed between the stanzas and finished the song with a couple minute instrumental that had everyone in the crowd gazing in awe. It was simply amazing.
The set included Nickel Creek staples such as "This Side", "When You Come Back Down", and a soft, simple version of "The Lighthouse's Tale" before the final song of the encore. Favorties of mine such as "Out of the Woods", "The Fox", and "Reasons Why" were stellar as well. And what would a Nickel Creek concert be with out a few showcases of their first class musical talent with a few of their instrumentals.
It was the complete concert. Filled with their best songs, and new ones that everyone enjoyed. A humble band, and a thankful, awe-filled audience. It was like a conversation with your best friend. When they started the encore with "Ill Be There" by the Jackson Five and followed with their now cult-hit cover of "Toxic" by Brittany Spears you knew they were comfortable with their audience. They gave us everything we could handle and we got everything we could have hope for. The band was humbled by the response they recieved after the final song before the encore, and hurried back on stage to reward the crowd. No one sat back down until the set was finished.
I'm saddened by the fact that I may never see Nickel Creek again, or buy another album. But I am happy to say that I have seen them twice and have listened to their music and been a loyal fan. I wish them the best in their future endeavors and hope one day I will be purchasing their fourth album. Though the fire must die, as they sing "you have to go alone, you have to chase your dream" I wish the didn't have to. But in the same song they reassure us, "I'll still be there, when you come back down." Maybe its all written in their lyrics. Maybe we just have to wait.
Nickel Creek chose to close their encore with this song as well. Playing completely acoustic, with no microphones and their instruments unplugged, the hushed crowd listened in amazement as their incredible musical talent mixed with their perfectly harmonized voices softly filled the Brown Theater. It was an intimate moment with a band that is leaving everything they've got on stage at every performance. Chris Thile said they played it this way to show how good the acoustics were in the theater, but part of me beleives it was a gift to the fans that had supported them for so long, especially after he said we were the best, most attentive audience they had ever had. It was a special song, and it seems as if my gaze is still stuck on them singing that song with pure talent. They left the stage after singing the song, but not before Chris Thile seemed to gaze back with a sort of sadness that signaled the journey would soon end. I know he isn't sure he wants to let it go.
Before this incredible end, Nickel Creek played to a packed, and strangely older audience, for a solid two hours. There was the expected, but there was much more that kept me intently mesmorized by the show at every turn. This was not just a concert, it was an interaction between the band and their most loyal fans. They didn't just play songs, they told stories, joked, and laughed. They let us see past the band and to the individuality that makes them Nickel Creek. Stage presence is key to a great concert, and the charisma the three members of the band show is second to none. They are not afraid to poke fun at each other, themselves, or even the crowd. And they seem genuinely proud of and thankful for the fans they have. Sara explained that her newest song was inspired by the fact that she had too many cups in her cupboard; it was a break up song. Chris explained that his breakup song had a simple proposition that every Ex should consider. The refrain stated.."If your gonna leave me, set me up with one of your freinds." It was yet another surprise in the show, showing a lighter side of the band compared to their deep, thoughtful lyrics that spread across all three of their CD's. Sean joked that his break up song was on the lighter side; one of it's lyrics says "I hope you meet someone your height, so you can see eye to eye with someone as small as you."
The funniest bit may have been when Chris's explained that he regrets naming the first song on their debut album Ode to a Butterfly. He said its hard to name a song when it has no lyrics, but maybe they should have considered using the muscial notes of the main chord as the title. But then he said he knew DJ's would never play a song titled like that. He assured us though that they never played it anyway.
Each song was played with special care, filled with the special attention to detail that makes the music soar. Each note was accompanied by one, two, or all three of their amazing voices harmonizing their beautiful lyrics. They knack they have for writing such powerful songs amazes me. None was more impressive than a slightly changed but more powerful rendition of "House Carpenter." I have become especially fond of this song lately, and when they began to play it I was extremely excited. Chris's voice on this song was so pure, and the edited lyrics were awesome. They jammed between the stanzas and finished the song with a couple minute instrumental that had everyone in the crowd gazing in awe. It was simply amazing.
The set included Nickel Creek staples such as "This Side", "When You Come Back Down", and a soft, simple version of "The Lighthouse's Tale" before the final song of the encore. Favorties of mine such as "Out of the Woods", "The Fox", and "Reasons Why" were stellar as well. And what would a Nickel Creek concert be with out a few showcases of their first class musical talent with a few of their instrumentals.
It was the complete concert. Filled with their best songs, and new ones that everyone enjoyed. A humble band, and a thankful, awe-filled audience. It was like a conversation with your best friend. When they started the encore with "Ill Be There" by the Jackson Five and followed with their now cult-hit cover of "Toxic" by Brittany Spears you knew they were comfortable with their audience. They gave us everything we could handle and we got everything we could have hope for. The band was humbled by the response they recieved after the final song before the encore, and hurried back on stage to reward the crowd. No one sat back down until the set was finished.
I'm saddened by the fact that I may never see Nickel Creek again, or buy another album. But I am happy to say that I have seen them twice and have listened to their music and been a loyal fan. I wish them the best in their future endeavors and hope one day I will be purchasing their fourth album. Though the fire must die, as they sing "you have to go alone, you have to chase your dream" I wish the didn't have to. But in the same song they reassure us, "I'll still be there, when you come back down." Maybe its all written in their lyrics. Maybe we just have to wait.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Weightless Waiting
The doorbell rings,
And the ghosts of the house awake at the sound.
A silence has persisted for only a few days,
But it seems like years
The living but half empty residents arise too,
But only enough to walk to the door
Half hoping to see their son,
Half hoping for Death,
In his dark hood, coming to take them, too.
Down the hall was another
Past wood planks that squeak with life
Under feet pressing them down.
The hallway was dark, void of the former life
This door was shut tightly,
A cross hanging from its knob,
Above, The Lord’s Prayer nailed to its frame.
Two were now staring down this passage,
A mother and father,
Seeing only a void now.
Mirroring the one torn through their hearts-
Hearts aged twenty years this week.
Their heads turn back to the front door,
With their hearts still staring blankly down the hall
Death was not waiting at the door, or their son,
But instead another nameless face, aching with a void.
A motion, come in, another, a hug
Eyes meet, nothing can be seen
They stare through each other
To the void that pierced the others heart
Tears follow, they mean nothing
Silence falls once more
Like the world dropped out from under them
The wood planks, leaving blackness below them
In her eyes, the boy changes for an instant
The scene moves far away, far from her present prison
Her boy, shoes unlaced and loose
Dragging a Scooby Doo backpack down the sidewalk
A bus, yellow as the sun he had finger-painted the day before
Stopping, turning, smiling, waving his small hand
A larger, much colder hand grasps hers
Tugging her back, back to the present,
The hand leaves hers and beckons
The boy moves forward
The father whispers
The boy understands
The boy leaves them alone,
Just as they were before he walked away
Climbing the stairs, he stops, taking a breath
Collecting his thoughts, he is weightless
He enters a room, though it doesn’t feel right
Something screams at him to turn back
There is nothing he will like here
The room is a mess, restless almost
Maroon walls
The bed is made, though, seeming out of place
It is big enough for two
But no one had slept in it for days
On it, a newspaper article,
An obituary
Wet with tears and crinkled
As if it had been clutched for many hours
His mouth falls open as he reads it
A small gasp shoots through the room
Reverberating just long enough for him to shuffle to the mirror
Nothing reflecting back
At the front door, a weary woman
Clutching the knob and peering outside
A shout from the kitchen rouses her
“Anyone there, honey?”
She collapses to the floor in grief
There was no one there
And the ghosts of the house awake at the sound.
A silence has persisted for only a few days,
But it seems like years
The living but half empty residents arise too,
But only enough to walk to the door
Half hoping to see their son,
Half hoping for Death,
In his dark hood, coming to take them, too.
Down the hall was another
Past wood planks that squeak with life
Under feet pressing them down.
The hallway was dark, void of the former life
This door was shut tightly,
A cross hanging from its knob,
Above, The Lord’s Prayer nailed to its frame.
Two were now staring down this passage,
A mother and father,
Seeing only a void now.
Mirroring the one torn through their hearts-
Hearts aged twenty years this week.
Their heads turn back to the front door,
With their hearts still staring blankly down the hall
Death was not waiting at the door, or their son,
But instead another nameless face, aching with a void.
A motion, come in, another, a hug
Eyes meet, nothing can be seen
They stare through each other
To the void that pierced the others heart
Tears follow, they mean nothing
Silence falls once more
Like the world dropped out from under them
The wood planks, leaving blackness below them
In her eyes, the boy changes for an instant
The scene moves far away, far from her present prison
Her boy, shoes unlaced and loose
Dragging a Scooby Doo backpack down the sidewalk
A bus, yellow as the sun he had finger-painted the day before
Stopping, turning, smiling, waving his small hand
A larger, much colder hand grasps hers
Tugging her back, back to the present,
The hand leaves hers and beckons
The boy moves forward
The father whispers
The boy understands
The boy leaves them alone,
Just as they were before he walked away
Climbing the stairs, he stops, taking a breath
Collecting his thoughts, he is weightless
He enters a room, though it doesn’t feel right
Something screams at him to turn back
There is nothing he will like here
The room is a mess, restless almost
Maroon walls
The bed is made, though, seeming out of place
It is big enough for two
But no one had slept in it for days
On it, a newspaper article,
An obituary
Wet with tears and crinkled
As if it had been clutched for many hours
His mouth falls open as he reads it
A small gasp shoots through the room
Reverberating just long enough for him to shuffle to the mirror
Nothing reflecting back
At the front door, a weary woman
Clutching the knob and peering outside
A shout from the kitchen rouses her
“Anyone there, honey?”
She collapses to the floor in grief
There was no one there
The Fair
Purple and yellow buzz by
Followed by blue and red flashes.
The colors race after one another
Shining brightly on marquees.
Eyes dart from place to place
Overwhelming barrage of color.
From balloons exploding at dart point
To ribbons decorating the winners.
Tongues peek out of slightly open lips
Reaching to touch the sweet smells in night air.
Amid others thwarting the nostrils
While still more dive straight for taste buds.
Every step reveals more of this festive welcome.
Clouds of spun sugar, soon sticky to the touch,
Fingers jabbed forward, pointing to the treasures
Sizzling and tantalizing at each concession window
Youth simmers here, boiling to excitement in every person.
A mysterious passion for the thrills they seek.
The moon swung bare, staying just beyond
The rides climbing high to reach it.
Followed by blue and red flashes.
The colors race after one another
Shining brightly on marquees.
Eyes dart from place to place
Overwhelming barrage of color.
From balloons exploding at dart point
To ribbons decorating the winners.
Tongues peek out of slightly open lips
Reaching to touch the sweet smells in night air.
Amid others thwarting the nostrils
While still more dive straight for taste buds.
Every step reveals more of this festive welcome.
Clouds of spun sugar, soon sticky to the touch,
Fingers jabbed forward, pointing to the treasures
Sizzling and tantalizing at each concession window
Youth simmers here, boiling to excitement in every person.
A mysterious passion for the thrills they seek.
The moon swung bare, staying just beyond
The rides climbing high to reach it.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Family Ties
(One of the poems I submitted in my portfolio today.)
My tie was knotted tight against my neck
Seeming more like a noose to a boy my age.
A warm smell floated from the kitchen,
The women of the house with aprons over their dresses.
A cool breeze swept through the porch,
The men of the house taking in the fall day.
I was there too, though
Not quite a part of the ritual, not quite a man.
I took a seat next to my grandpa.
His aura was warm and comforting,
Oozing the love he had shared with so many.
He sat there quietly, taking in the scene,
Collecting his thoughts, waiting to speak.
He said few words now, but I could still
Remember the stories he used to tell.
Sitting in his presence, they flooded out of him.
His eyes spoke of the lands he had seen
But only one could tell the story.
The other moved but said nothing.
It was glass, and instead told one story.
His wrinkled, tough hands told
The rest of the stories from his working days,
His feet tapped on the porch,
Almost as if he was surveying his work decades later.
His skillful hands built this place,
And lovingly he raised seven of his own here.
His gaze met mine,
I was embarrassed,
But he slowly reached down, adjusted my tie
Then patted my head as I smiled up at him.
I looked from him to my own father,
Gazing at the unmistakable resemblance
Remembering I have always looked like my dad.
He was the tie that connected me to my grandpa.
I felt like I was right where I was supposed to be.
My tie was knotted tight against my neck
Seeming more like a noose to a boy my age.
A warm smell floated from the kitchen,
The women of the house with aprons over their dresses.
A cool breeze swept through the porch,
The men of the house taking in the fall day.
I was there too, though
Not quite a part of the ritual, not quite a man.
I took a seat next to my grandpa.
His aura was warm and comforting,
Oozing the love he had shared with so many.
He sat there quietly, taking in the scene,
Collecting his thoughts, waiting to speak.
He said few words now, but I could still
Remember the stories he used to tell.
Sitting in his presence, they flooded out of him.
His eyes spoke of the lands he had seen
But only one could tell the story.
The other moved but said nothing.
It was glass, and instead told one story.
His wrinkled, tough hands told
The rest of the stories from his working days,
His feet tapped on the porch,
Almost as if he was surveying his work decades later.
His skillful hands built this place,
And lovingly he raised seven of his own here.
His gaze met mine,
I was embarrassed,
But he slowly reached down, adjusted my tie
Then patted my head as I smiled up at him.
I looked from him to my own father,
Gazing at the unmistakable resemblance
Remembering I have always looked like my dad.
He was the tie that connected me to my grandpa.
I felt like I was right where I was supposed to be.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Symbol Project, Octopus
Assignment:
We were given a number that corresponded to a floor of an fictious museum. Each floor housed different areas of natural history. My number, seven, was ther floor that housed sea life. After knowing our number and topic, we had to choose an animal or object that would be used to represent the floor as a whole. Next, take that chosen animal and intergrate it with the number of the floor we had. The objective is to create a fluid integration that does not emphasized one part over the other. Your eyes should catch the number and the animal almost simultaneously. Thus, the visitor will know exactly where they are and what they can expect to see. It should be easily recpgnized from a distance as well.
So without further ado, my project:
We were given a number that corresponded to a floor of an fictious museum. Each floor housed different areas of natural history. My number, seven, was ther floor that housed sea life. After knowing our number and topic, we had to choose an animal or object that would be used to represent the floor as a whole. Next, take that chosen animal and intergrate it with the number of the floor we had. The objective is to create a fluid integration that does not emphasized one part over the other. Your eyes should catch the number and the animal almost simultaneously. Thus, the visitor will know exactly where they are and what they can expect to see. It should be easily recpgnized from a distance as well.
So without further ado, my project:
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Lots to Say
Okay. I just want to let the loyal viewers of Bloomington or Bust that there will be much read and see in the coming days. I have been uber-productive lately and I'm preparing to post some things on here. Starting later tonight you can begin to read and/or see these posts:
1. The State of Hoosier Basketball
2. What Rap Isn't
3. Each day a new poem I wrote for my Creative Writing Portfolio
4. My latest 3d Project Pictures
5. My Graphic Design Symbol Project
This is for you to get excited for the coming events...and for me to remember.
Check back often.
1. The State of Hoosier Basketball
2. What Rap Isn't
3. Each day a new poem I wrote for my Creative Writing Portfolio
4. My latest 3d Project Pictures
5. My Graphic Design Symbol Project
This is for you to get excited for the coming events...and for me to remember.
Check back often.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Gus-terrific!
Guster had an easy time warming up the crowd after the guy in between acts called us Purdue. After a flood of boos, Guster came out, said they were happy to be in Bloomington, IN at Indiana University and everyone liked them. They did a lot to keep the crowd happy and entertained for the rest of the night, too.
Dustin, Matt, and I had stellar seats right down the middle, in row 25 with no one blocking our view because we were the second section of seats about the entrance tunnel. Doesn't get much better than that. The set got off to a quick start with one of my all time favortie Guster songs, and actually the first one I ever heard. Then it was in Matt's room at Dayton, but this time Demons was playing live on my own college campus.
The set continued with an ecletic mix of new and old, and very old. But I knew and loved them all, except for one. Brian noted that he saw a lot cornhole sets while driving around the campus so they did an impromtu song about cornhole. It was interesting to say the least.
They gave us a choice between Either Way and So Long, with Eden being the "we aren't going to play it even if it wins the vote" song. I voted for So Long, but Either Way came out on top. In the end, I liked that they played it. They mixed in the new songs, but my favorite live song is still Happier, and it did not disappoint.
They did not sale any tickets to the balcony, so the ushers went to sit there when the concert began. At the end of the set, Brian said before they came out for the encore he wanted only the 20 or so people in the balcony to chant for the encore. After a stellar performance of Fa Fa, the crowd could not resist but cheering and they returned seconds after they left stage knowing their plan was not going to work.
They closed with a crowd favorite of Airport Song which i was especially excited for. The crowd through ping pong balls. Odd, I thought an IU crowd would skip this tradition in lue of loosing their beer pong balls. Oh nevermind, it was Guster. Good 'ole Guster.
It was a stellar show, which the entire crowd enjoyed thoroughly. No one left the Auditorium disappointed.
Can't wait to see who they brin in for the Little 5 Concert.
Dustin, Matt, and I had stellar seats right down the middle, in row 25 with no one blocking our view because we were the second section of seats about the entrance tunnel. Doesn't get much better than that. The set got off to a quick start with one of my all time favortie Guster songs, and actually the first one I ever heard. Then it was in Matt's room at Dayton, but this time Demons was playing live on my own college campus.
The set continued with an ecletic mix of new and old, and very old. But I knew and loved them all, except for one. Brian noted that he saw a lot cornhole sets while driving around the campus so they did an impromtu song about cornhole. It was interesting to say the least.
They gave us a choice between Either Way and So Long, with Eden being the "we aren't going to play it even if it wins the vote" song. I voted for So Long, but Either Way came out on top. In the end, I liked that they played it. They mixed in the new songs, but my favorite live song is still Happier, and it did not disappoint.
They did not sale any tickets to the balcony, so the ushers went to sit there when the concert began. At the end of the set, Brian said before they came out for the encore he wanted only the 20 or so people in the balcony to chant for the encore. After a stellar performance of Fa Fa, the crowd could not resist but cheering and they returned seconds after they left stage knowing their plan was not going to work.
They closed with a crowd favorite of Airport Song which i was especially excited for. The crowd through ping pong balls. Odd, I thought an IU crowd would skip this tradition in lue of loosing their beer pong balls. Oh nevermind, it was Guster. Good 'ole Guster.
It was a stellar show, which the entire crowd enjoyed thoroughly. No one left the Auditorium disappointed.
Can't wait to see who they brin in for the Little 5 Concert.
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