Seduced.

Imagine Dragons may or may not have raped me from my innocence Friday night, much like most of this generation has been through the musical stylings of a one Lady Gaga.

But before we indulge, we must retrogress.  

The evening dawned while in line for the show at Velour.  We were 17th or so.  The competing venue, Muse, was obnoxiously trying to lure fans from the headlined Dragons on promises of MTV film crews and a cheaper cover.  It was a hard decision. I just couldn't decide.

Seriously? No. Who were they kidding? Let's leave the coveted Dragons and go for twelve seconds on a dying network.  It's not as if we were appearing on the Shore. And if we were, I would always choose ID.

Dragons. Always. Absolutely.

Alas, the poor, struggling music cafe surrendered to a sub par crowd and we continued our quest to catch glimpses of Fox and Reynolds conversing through the curtains behind the red V adorning the window sill of the Velour.  Delightful.

The pre-gamed, 30-something group that had been waiting longer than us had entered first.  It was 8:10 and they were already gone. Oh, and they brought children. I would love to be their child, watching mommy piss faced and dancing. Thank goodness it's a dry venue, poison control would have had to be contacted.


My excitement was uncontrollable. Or it was. I don't recall my exact actions. But in my head I was screaming.


After twenty minutes of standing four feet and two people back from the stage, Links took the center and played a set that was nothing less than fantastic. 

Hello Amsterdam played next.  Although their stage presence was not there, they offer mild thrills and entertainment.  You can download their album legally and for free here.


Dragons were next.  We had moved more to the center by now, away from some of the blacked out bimbos whipping their hair in our face and making atrocious noises and gestures.  Plus, our view of the front man was crystal. 

They took the floor.  I died. Right there at the Velour.

Their set was amazing.  Me and Dan screamed lyrics to each other, not once, but twice. Of course his were the only ones coming through speakers. Can I just say, him screaming at me and me at him, both with scarily intense and satisfying faces, was one of the greatest moments in recent times.


Afterwards, we chatted with him about our intensity and awesomeness.  Snapped a few flashes and Makayla took a lot of restraint when she didn't drop her pants in front of him.

I mean, I look twelve, but it's fine.

If you would like to see a couple videos I took of the performance, Click here.

Granted they aren't the best quality. Don't sue me. Also, sometimes they go to his crotch.  This is completely unintentional. I wasn't paying attention to the camera.

*Side Note: I will be volunteering at Velour now! Can you say my foot is in the door? I can't wait. That's all. 

Vintage Bohemian & Beautiful People

Guess who had a ghetto-fab Easter?

That's right.

Don't worry that, in between sessions of conference, Easter dinner was spent at a park in St. George eating KFC out of bucket.  And without napkins or utensils.

At least the weather was lovely.

The Morning Benders with  Miniture Tigers & Desert Noises Tonight at Velour.  Color me excited. 

Love. Make it Hurt.

Tonight, in a dim light, with vibrations blazing through the air, a revelation came.  A revelation that proclaimed to me that my tolerance for mediocre music has dwindled to nothing.

I'm speaking of Allred.

I used to enjoy them.  But in the midst of True Religion, Seven Diamonds wearing douchers, and hearing the music they love, I was finished.  Allred is no longer a part of my life.  And that is fine.  I have outgrown them, and I am truly thankful for that bike unlatching from my rack.

The night, however, was not lost.

Shilen, the music store goddess (I don't actually know her name), helped me with some amazing new sounds.  I purchased the Monsters of Folk album.  It's gold.  Pick it up.

Also, listening to Katie something-or-other in an alley by Sammy's in frigid conditions was such a redemption to the nonsense that Allred was giving us.

Important Matters

It's 5:04 AM.

Sunday Morning.

Daylight Savings just creeped on me.  It wasn't a part of my life last year, so it's hard to adjust.  I don't like it already.

This weekend is over.  Sunday will be lit in the valley three hours from now, and then I have the daunting task of church.

Not that I don't love church, I do.  It's just the people.

I love people too, don't think I am some horrible person.

But really, come to my ward.  Bleak.  It's as if their souls have passed and they are just a pile of skin drifting.

I would go to another ward, but what's the point?  I love not feeling a need to participate in anything but church services.  I don't have to date, it's not expected in this ward, people settle here for eternal singlehood.  There are a few rare gems, however.  People that I actually care to talk to.  But again, rare.

But that is in the future, lets retrogress for a second.

This weekend was absent of negativity.  Which is always appreciated.  It did have a lot of attitude with specks of indie awesomeness.  Also needed and appreciated.

Neon Trees performed a spectacle of a show at the Velour in Provo Friday night.

They started the night off with a sit in acoustic version of Sins of My Youth that was simply brilliant.  Not only did it give the room a calming energy, it also got you excited for what they were playing next.  Which is everything opposite of calming.

Dallon from The Brobecks played a short acoustic set after Neon taunted us with their opening.  He was on a uke, which he had apparently only started playing two weeks ago, and kept saying that he felt really awkward being on stage alone, with a uke.  Well, if that was awkward, Bravo on whatever you do regularly, cause it must be amazing.  Dug his sound, "Goodnight Socialite" was a killer.

Shark Speed tried to captivate, but failed miserably.  The lead couldn't keep the attention, and belongs as a side guitarist.  He might have the voice of the band, but he cannot entice, nor entertain.  His stage presence was far from spectacular.  I was watching the guitarist to the left most of the time.  Not only did he look like a front runner, his performance was far more captivating.  The sound was average, I didn't feel the need to purchase their LP at the end of the night.

Tyler, the Vox and Keys for Neon started setting the stage.

He is so interesting.

His hair, which is brilliantly delightful, his style, his mannerisms.  He knows how to keep an audience.

The band starts and you are hooked.  Through the entire set, you are hanging from each and every lyric, facial movement, seductive sound, fantastic between song dialogue.  Everything.

They played their entire new LP that comes out on Tuesday (pick it up, it is well worth it).  It is hard to imagine that they are from Provo.  Vegas, definitely, but Provo? Wow.  I love it, I love them.

After the show, they were signing stuff, we chatted with them for a little bit.  Seriously witty.  The drummer, who is of the female variety (I know! a female drummer, she is truly amazing), she was great.  Just great.  And we sort of pet Tyler's mohawk.  Not creepy at all.

We chatted with Dallon and asked what he uses in his hair (I loved his hair, also not creepy).  He was way down to earth.  Apparently he is the bassist for Panic at the Disco. This is just a side project.

Did not want to talk to Shark Speed.  Even though they tried to sell me their album when I was buying The Brobecks'.  Pushy much?

Anyways, Saturday came, my sister and I went to Salt Lake to do some service to get free Disney World tickets.  I think it defeats the purpose to do service just for your own personal gain, but whatever.

It was at the Utah Co-Op, a place dedicated to getting organic food at a cheap price to the general public.  Seriously cheap too.  They were selling imported deli cheeses, like Brie, for a dollar a piece.  The stuff that you buy at Target for seven bucks.  Pretty terrific.

We helped organize and stock shelves. Then shopped.  Cheese, hummus, pita chips.  A whole big box full of stuff, and it was only $17.  I would have spent 50+ somewhere else.  They are just doing so much good.  And to think, if I wasn't selfishly volunteering, I would have never known!

I went home and slept until now.  So I think I am up for the day.  I have officially aged forty years.  Thank you.

Vintage Flea Market

Acquired items: A chest, six ties (two clip-on), a clock.

Money spent: 33 dollars.

These treasures will be in my possession until death. They are authentically beautiful and original.

I want to live at the Velour for the remainder of my heart.

Here are some tasty treats for your eyes:

Vintage tie deluxxe

 Favorite. Clip-on. 

 

Best Purchase Ever

That Bites.

So Imagine Dragons, my current obsession [well that, gilmore girls (don't judge, I know it's been off the air for three years, their still witty, deal with it, I'm still straight) and making things in my toaster oven], are playing at the Velour (aka Provo's Haus of Awesome) April 10th.

Oh, I can't go.

Excuse me while I slit my wrists.

I have the unfortunate obligation to join my family for a week-long vacation in Florida. The same vacation we did last August.

I realize we have a timeshare. I realize that Disneyworld is down the street. I realize that it is the most cost efficient trip our family can do in this economy.

WHO CARES?

Imagine Dragons is playing the Velour. 

It's my parents anniversary on the 10th? Here's some flowers.

What is this crap? I mean, God clearly wanted me to see Imagine effing Dragons one last time before my mission. One last time before they hit the big time. One last time at the VELOUR.

Disneyworld can suck it. It's just an imitation of Disneyland with more internationals that don't speak my native tongue.

Ice Cream

I am eating ice cream.

Ben & Jerry's Creme Brulee. I eat ice cream with a baby-like spoon. It works with yogurt too. Cottage Cheese? Yeah. Any soft dairy product, really.

It's Sunday night.

I am listening to Back Ted N-Ted. Don't know them? Look them up here.

Just pondering on this weekend. Eventful, Non-eventful, Stressful, and Stress-free.

I don't like my job, Friday was no exception. It took a great deal not to junk punch a coworker. I couldn't junk punch a client, it would be bad for business. I decided to be a hermit that night. Shocking, I know. Three Redbox movies and Cafe Rio. No human contact. It was delightful.


Saturday was the night. A complete 180. The night was focused on Imagine Dragons. They played a set that was nothing less than adequate at Velour in Provo. Of course we creeped them afterward. Snapped a few memories, gave them homemade stickers to paste in LA, embraced for a little bit. They played Selene, my favorite.

The night, however, did not start with ID.  We made a Hello Panda run at Chao's, the fantastic Asian market on University Ave. just off of Center in Provo. Of course we had to stock up on Hi-Chew and Tim Tams. The real Tim Tams. From Australia. Not the Peppridge Farm business... Why we can get them in Chao's is confusingly terrific.

Walking down Center we stopped into an antique shop that, for reason's unknown, we had never seen before. Gems galore. No purchases, but we will be returning.

Homemade Stickers to plaster all over Provo was what we were partaking of next. The creativity flowed through our fingers, and we made some gifts for our favorite Vegas band as we were seeing them in just a few short hours. Wild sayings, thought provoking phrases, it was all there.

After vandalizing many lamp posts, drinking fountains, dilapidated boarded windows, etc., we squeezed our way to the middle of the venue floor and waited for Dan and company to grace us with their presence. Of course we sang, of course we danced, of course we fainted periodically from the talent oozing from the stereo system. After our meet and greet and promises of some ID vandalism in LA next week, we ended the night. Right there. Nothing else happened... to your knowledge.

Sunday was quiet. Three hours of church, small family dinner, Jersey Shore marathon on the couch kinda quiet. No complaints.

I love the weekend. But I love what is happening this week even more.

Remember: Sing like a pirate, Sip like a gypsy.