Karen Elson has arrived.

I had the pleasure of seeing Karen Elson at Lincoln Hall with Dave the other night.

For those of you who have not yet heard of her or had the chance to hear her, she is a fiery redheaded super model, turned Jack White's wife, turned folk singer. Actually, music is nothing new to her. She's been a closet song writer/singer (literally) for quite some time, often turning to her closet to write music for the seclusion it offered. Her album dropped late last month and though I had only heard the title track, her show did not disappoint.

Her sound is very country/folk with an almost gothic theme. Most of her songs were slow and soft, with one exception: 100 Years From Now (video below), which is a song from a cabaret she is part of, was amazing. My crappy coolpix doesn't do her justice in both photo or video, but it was indeed an excellent show. Her presentation was relaxingly sorrowful and low-key; not to mention, that dress was rad.

Kurt Halsey: Exhibit at Rotofugi - Chicago

I admire art tremendously. I especially admire those who have the ability to draw, sketch, and paint amazing pieces. I have a lot of friends who do this both as careers and hobbies and I truly envy them, even though it's one of the seven deadly sins. Let's face it, I'm ok at drawing (anything but scissors 3 dimensionally, just ask my high school art class), but when it comes to painting, I'm pretty sure I fail. Among some of my favorite artists Kurt Halsey sits right at the top of my list. You may have spotted reproductions of his work previously at Urban Outfitters, unfortunately (that is a whole other blog entry waiting to happen). I first fell in love with Kurt back in 2002 when I was pushing through a long distance relationship and came across one of his drawings that melted my heart a little bit. 

Originally from Wisconsin, his body of work focuses on various media including pencil, ink, and paint. Many of his pieces seem to capture the heartaches and butterflies of lerv (tear), but he also creates adorable pieces that are just simply that - adorable. 

"I have drawn since the moment I could hold a pencil. I always wanted to be a newspaper cartoonist. My drawings and paintings are little moments and simple thoughts, and I’m not sure they need to mean anything more than that. My free time is spent quietly with cats, my wife, and my interests in animal rights."

 If you're in the Chicago area, I think it would be in your best interests to check out his exhibit!

...or else!

June 18-July 11, 2010 at
Rotofugi
1953 W Chicago Ave
312.491.9501

I Can Be Your Long Lost Pal

Upon drinking my morning brew and listening to one of the most amazing Peter Gabriel songs of all time, I started compiling a playlist of summer feel-good music. Now...while listening to this most awesome of awesome playlists I thought - "dang." There are a lot of good songs on here from my beloved childhood  that just make me smile. So, I decided to make a top "feel-good songs" list of the 80's/early 90's Era.

Dun

Dun

Dun!

So here you have it. These are some of the songs that remind me of trying to walk in my mom's high heels, jamming with my dad in the basement and playing with my collection of Jem dolls and Polly Pockets. Maybe not the best songs ever, but that's arguable. I can't say that these songs meant much to me at the time other than the fact that I knew they were just...good.

Afton's Fantastical Top 15 (10 was too hard) Feel Good Songs in an 80s/90's State of Mind:

1. Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel

2. Call Me Al - Paul Simon

3. There She Goes- The La's

4. Walking in Memphis - Marc Cohn

5. Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears for Fears

6. Don't Worry Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin

7. The Promise - When in Rome

8. Walking on Broken Glass - Annie Lennox

9. Handle With Care - Travelling Wilburys

10. No Rain - Blind Melon

11. Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2

12. I'm on Fire - Bruce Springsteen

13. Tom's Diner - Suzanne Vega

14. Summer's Cauldron - XTC 

15. Keep Your Hands to Yourself - Georgia Satellites

Note the proton packs...

What's yours?!

T.G.I.S...ummer!

It's beginning to feel like Summer is finally here.

I spent Memorial Day weekend with my family in St. Louis with an abundance of pancakes, Cardinal baseball, and Schlafly beer. Every weekend should be a 3-day weekend. And if I'm elected President, we will have 4-day work weeks and 3-day weekends! ...And a soda machine and Lisa Frank sticker dispenser in the lunch room.

Now if I could just find my tan...

At home in California in t-minus 21 days!

Vote for Afton!