OKnLA

It's been quite some time since I blogged about my exciting life in Los Angeles. That's mostly because, well, it's not that exciting. I work, I hang out, I sleep.  Prime example: it's Friday night and I'm sitting here blogging. Don't get me wrong: I love it! But it's hard to come up with things to blog about if you spend Friday nights indoors eating fried zucchini and drinking chocolate malts (guilty).  It's fine though. I sanctioned today as a #washday for my hair and my clothes.  Sonic, on the other hand, lives like a furry king and gobbles up all of the fun for himself.  Last weekend we made a fair attempt to go camping. If it had not been for the government shut down we probably would have succeeded. On the way there, Sonic got to sit in the front seat and wear a big-boy cap: We got to the mountains and he got to sniff and pee and sniff and poop and pee and sniff and bark and run and sniff and pee and eat snow.  Then, once...

Good morning, loves! Happy New Music Tuesday to you.  I have a special treat for you today, something new that I'm trying that I hope you'll enjoy. One of my favoritest things to do is to find lesser known bands that sound similar to more popular artists. Then, taking this information, I suggest the indie and/or breakout bands to my friends, thereby introducing them to awesome new music. Pretty cool, huh? For example, there's this band  +HEAVY ENGLISH . They sound a great deal like  +The Black Keys .  I know, I know: basically every garage band with the smallest ounce of soul is trying to sound like The Black Keys these days, but hear Heavy English out. I think you'll enjoy the vibe. Start with their most popular single '21 Flights'.  Another match is  +Terraplane Sun , who sound dangerously like  +Foster the People .  Check out their tune 'Get Me Golden' to see what I mean. Foster The People's Mark Foster and Terraplane S...

FINALLY. An artist who has been on my must-see list since high school. A songwriter whose songs I've been singing for more than a decade. A musician whose guitar sound is unmatched. Mr. +John Mayer , ladies and gentlemen!  via www.spinningplatters.com One day back in March my (then) coworker ran to my desk with exciting news. "Groupon is running a deal on tickets to see John Mayer!" she exclaimed. "Tickets are $15!!!" Fifteen dollars? Really? For the whole show?!  Sold.  So we purchased our Groupons nine months in advance and waited anxiously for October to roll around. In the meantime, Johnny boy released another album, Paradise Valley which was a step back in the right direction, opposite the mountain sound of Born & Raised . The old John Mayer is making a comeback, and it was evident during the show.  We trekked down to San Diego surviving a car accident and the antics of a doggie that doesn't enjoy long car rides (poor S...

I'm currently obsessed with a lot of music, but these five bands have really got my goat.  What does that even mean? I've never owned a goat. So I'm not necessarily sure what the expression means. I've always wanted one of those fainting goats, though. So I'm going with it.  The 1975 This group of four young gentlemen from Manchester has an album full of the most adorable songs. If you know me at all, you've heard me fawning over them for about six months now. Ever since they dropped a song called 'Chocolate' I was hooked.  Though their music is alternative in nature, there are clear funky, soulful influences. Their debut album, The 1975 came out this week and ranges beautifully from playful ('Sex,' 'The City') to moody ('Me'). There is just enough late 80s - mid-90s style pop to keep things catchy. And their accents are just so effin cute! The album is available everywhere music is sold and on +Spotify  . Chec...

Back in July I had the fantastic idea to stop eating unnatural sugar for an entire month.  I say fantastic. I mean idiotic.  It all started when I told Jersey Mike - with massive excitement - that July was National Ice Cream Month. He asked how one would celebrate something like that. He thought it was pretty ridiculous that someone might eat ice cream everyday for a month.  I, on the other hand, thought that was a glorious way to live.  At that point I realized I might have a problem.  So I vowed not to eat any unnatural sugar for the month of August. My only cheats would be alcohol, but I would refrain from my usual chocolate martinis and opt for less sugary drinks like...cherry vodka sours. (That's only sort of a joke.) I started with a juice cleanse from my friends at The Real Juice to help rid my body of as much sugar as possible so that I wouldn't crave it so bad. The cleanse was easy. The aftermath was horrible. Let me clue you in to...

It's Earsnack time!!  I know. It's my favorite time, too. So let's get to it.  White Denim - ALL OF THE SONGS!!! Seriously.  What's Mario's favorite fabric? denim-denim-denim What's my new favorite band? White Denim! Have you heard of these guys? If you have, you're in BIG trouble for not telling me about them because they oh-so-rock. Their sound is eclectic and psychedelic with a little bit of soul. mmm, magnific!  I highly suggest checking all of their stuff out on  +Spotify . Their new album drops October 29, so you'll want to be prepared. There will be a quiz.  My faves: 'I'd Have It Just The Way We Were'  - Heavy, dizzying percussion plus R&B-esque melody makes for a song I'll play on repeat.  'At The Farm' - This song is basically a jam session. No vocals, just instruments. Who doesn't love that?! 'Street Joy' - Smooth, etherial, classic. This is the quintessential late summer song....

...and now the tale of how  +Kings of Leon  came along and kicked me straight out of my hip-hop phase.  Seriously, I have been a hip-hop/R&B head all summer. It really is the ultimate summer genre, and my playlists were full of summer jams. But then KoL came strummin' and drummin' back into my life and I have nearly forgotten about rap (save Drake).  The new album, 'Mechanical Bull,' is due in late September and I hope a tour is close behind. Or - dare I say - a summer tour in 2014?? Yes, please! Only time will tell. For now, enjoy these two lovely earsnacks from the boys (partially) from Oklahoma.  These tunes have opened my ears to the world of rock again, so stay tuned for more delightful alternative earsnacks.  *