Reunited and it Feels So Good

On Friday night, Dan, Maria, Kyle and I participated in one of America's favorite past times—bowling. We went to the relatively trendy 300 Atlanta (similar to Lucky Strike or Tin Pin Alley, if you're familiar with those).

Our dinner, drinks and prices per game were not cheap, but I do feel that the group enjoyed the outing. I think the highlight of the evening, however, was being reunited with a long, lost love...

The music video.

Oh how I've missed thee! Channels that played music videos in our youth now focus on reality dating shows, pseudo soap operas and other things not pertaining to music videos. Even Total Request Live, a show that goes through the "top 10 music videos" of the day only plays snippets of each video.

At 300 Atlanta, ATL VJ's kept videos flowing and entertaining. After playing some relevant songs, the VJ at the helm mixed things up with "Old School Friday," going through some Naughty by Nature, Aliyah, Snoop, Bel Biv DeVoe, etc., even going so far as to mix one video into another. Each lane had a screen and bowlers were moving and grooving to the music (myself much more awkwardly than the bowlers to our left and right).

I was particularly enamored with Rihanna's newest release, Disturbia. She's hot, the song is fun and the video is fierce. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6zdhHLvT7k

Guilty Pleasures Part II

Not unlike my friend Kate, I have an affinity for cheesy R&B music, sometime so sugary sweet that I am embarrassed to sing the lyrics in the company of others. Wouldn't singing the lyrics, after all, be a hit on my credibility?

After hearing a tune for about the fourth time on 99.5 fm ("99-5 the Beat"), I finally downloaded it. I've been jamming to this tune ever since.

So in an ode to my Guilty Pleasures blog from April 29, I write version 2.0.

• "Closer" by Ne-yo
• "Forever" by Chris Brown
• (I can't believe I'm publicly admitting to this, but...) "Crush" by David Archuleta (of American Idol fame) 

Download the iTunes  (or mp3's). I guarantee you'll soon be addicted, and dancing in your seat.

Rock and Roll (Mostly)

I've been a terrible blogger lately! I have thought of some good topics to write on but haven't made the time to write in a while. Check back soon for a recap of our Rathbun's dinner (see May 21 post for part one) and a summary of Dan and my travels to Ft. Collins, Colorado.

Anyway, something recently made me want to make a list of all that bands I've seen. As you know, lists are quite enjoyable for me. I believe my list may have been prompted by hearing my dad talk about some of the bands he's seen (KISS, Alice Cooper, etc.)... and I decided it would be neat to have my own list.

Few music acts traveled to Eufaula, Alabama or Columbus, Georgia during my years there; plus with rather protective parents, I wasn't allowed to make the two hour trek from Columbus to Atlanta for shows. I can say, however, that a lack of concerts in my pre-college years definitely gave me additional appreciation and interest later in life.

Now the question is "which of these bands will make it to 'classic rock' status in 20 years?"

Shinedown

Nine Days

Third Eye Blind (2)

Everclear (most terrible sounding live band I've ever seen)

Cake

Maroon 5 (4)

John Mayer (3)

Stone Temple Pilots (2)

Incubus (4)

No Doubt

Garbage

Better Than Ezra (6)

Hot Hot Heat

Coldplay (2)

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Vertical Horizon

I Am the World Trade Center

Pacifier

Chevelle

Puddle of Mudd

Bon Jovi

The Killers

The Fray

Matisyahu

Cheap Trick

Good Charlotte

OAR

Train

Hoobastank

Bush

Evanescence

Pete Yorn (really great show despite not knowing but one of his songs at the time)

Death Cab for Cutie

Jump, Little Children

Gavin DeGraw

Dave Matthews Band

(possibly a few I forgot)

Updates

Nov.: Madonna

3/27: Collective Soul (awesome)

9/1: Depeche Mode

And to think it all started with a handful of privileged concerts (Hootie and the Blowfish in 6th grade with my youth group, Gin Blossoms with my mom in 8th grade and a few Audio Adrenaline shows with my friend Elizabeth Hamrick during middle school).

Take It to the Grave

So, a drunk Scottish guy trying to hit on some of my friends at the Yacht Club in Little Five asked my group of girls the following question, “If you could only pick one album to go to the grave with, what album would it be?”

His question, albeit a failed attempt to start a long conversation with us, did prompt some thinking among our crowd. Some of my gals mentioned The Pixies, Bob Dylan and Velvet Underground. Two of the gals insisted they were going to the grave together and chose a TLC album as their, I think, fictional (and mocking) choice.

I had a few that I couldn’t seem to choose among. My first thoughts were “Core” or “Purple” by Stone Temple Pilots (I’m a lover of 90’s grunge—what can I say?). Or maybe the album that didn’t leave my high school cd player for months (“Pardon Me” by Incubus). Then I felt a little more “dancy” and wondered if I made the wrong choice. Perhaps Madonna’s “Immaculate Collection” or one of Depeche Mode’s greatest hits albums would do the trick a little better. After all, eternity is a long time to be listening to the same 12 or 18 tracks.