In case you missed it, that is Here We Go Magic, the magicians/wizards/geniuses/savants behind last year's best album, seeing my sad tweet and putting me on the list for their show Wednesday night. My mind is sufficiently blown.

Now that's what I call a dream come true. I braved the fever and the runny nose and the cold-medicine-induced madness to see one of the greats in my hometown. WORTH IT! I loved every minute basking in their musical genius.

Are you on Twitter? Leave me your username and let's get twittery. You can follow me here if you're interested!

Also, I forgot it was April Fools Day. I always forget. Any pranks in store for your day? I'll have to get Mitchell somehow...

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this playlist, and I hope that spring is somehow finding its way to your parts. Even if it's more slowly than surely. Happy Friday!

I made this with nothing but love, so I hope you like it! All of these musical morsels have been on heavy rotation in these parts. If you don't listen to anything else on here, at least listen to the Destroyer song. It will change your life. Happy Friday!

(don't forget to check out my giveaway going on at miss teacups and bubblebaths!)

It's been far too long since I actually bought a physical album. I forgot how much it means to be able to see the artwork that comes with an album. I've gone so long thinking it didn't really add that much, but it certainly adds a certain aesthetic that's missing from today's digital age, you know?

Anyway, while mostly all of my collection contains gorgeous artwork, there have been a couple recent favorites.

For instance--I found this absolute GEM in my Dolly Parton/Linda Ronstadt/Emmy Lou Harris record.

Paper dolls of the 3 country wonders. I about died when I discovered this the other day.

Then there's the beautiful picture that came with the Beach House record:

Why can't I paint myself like a zebra?

And I'll always have a special spot in my heart for Heart. The Wilsons are just far too amazing. And Dreamboat Annie is definitely one of my fav albums of all time. Judge as you see fit.

Do you miss album art at all? Or am I the only crazy one?

Oh, how I love vinyl. <3<3<3

I was able to pick up 3 little lovelies for my ever-growing collection:

good ol' fleet foxes.

the life-changing Neutral Milk Hotel

and the beautiful, beautiful album that is Boy with the Arab Strap. A definite must in my vinyl collection.

I also received payment for yet another little freelance project in the form of this absolute gem:

That's an original 1967 pressing. So magical. There's nothing like listening to the Beatles on vinyl.

It came with an amazing picture book inside. I love this picture of George Harrison more than I can even say. Kinda wanna frame it and hang it in my house.

Can't wait for my next excuse to go to the record store. I'm getting fairly good at coming up with good excuses. Eep!

Better news is that one of them was buying a Westy.

But the BEST news is I am now the proud owner of a pristine beauty of 1970s glory--a record player.

Mitchell is secretly a vinyl genius and pieced together this lovely specimen from a number of sources. It's all circa 1970s and basically consists of pure musical joy.

I'm lucky enough to have inherited my dad's immaculate vinyl collection. Now I'm glad he never let me play with them when I was little. They're all in perfect condition and pretty much my pride and joy.

Of course, with new addictions comes some sort of new vice, and the latest addition to my vice repertoire is buying vinyl.

Dropped some mad scrilla the other day on these gems:

Let's be real. I had no choice in buying every single one of those albums. I couldn't even finish looking through the store. I figured it would be best to just get out while I still had g's in the bank.

So, I admit. I'm addicted. And I probably love it more than I'll ever love a firstborn child. Or any child for that matter. Maybe even anything.

It's my little Christmas miracle.

this song is on the top of mine.

<3 here we go magic so very, very muchly. still can't get over last week's show.

kinda what i live for.

I love music. So so much.

So, here's 10 reasons why this concert meant the absolute world to me.

1. I found a copy of Belle & Sebastian's Dear Catastrophe Waitress at the West Jordan library early on in high school. I took it home because I loved the orangey photograph cover. Love at first listen.

2. That album lead to the discovery of their previous albums, which lead to Belle & Sebastian's role as a hugely formative band for me.

3. High school painting class with Mr. Powell. Belle & Sebastian.

4. Discovering what would later become my career in a very random desktop publishing class that I only took because there was nothing else to take. Belle & Sebastian.

5. Andrew and Christopher.  An epic friendship. We would later go together to see Belle & Sebastian at the Hollywood Bowl in 2006 with the LA philharmonic. Still reigns today as one of the greatest nights of my life. (Andrew and Christopher--I will pay you good money if you can dig up a photo of this night. I mean it.)

6. First years of college with Emily staying up all hours of the night, mid-day naps, and lunches at the market. Walking across campus at 7:30am, freezing, donning scarves and totes boots. Belle & Sebastian.

7.  Mitch. Our first band in common. Although he would later admit he only downloaded the discography because he had seen me wearing my "Scotland's for me!" B&S shirt and wanted to impress me. Cute nonetheless and effective--he ended up loving them.

8. So so many countless drives to and from Logan in every season. Belle & Sebastian.

9. Driving 13 hours in a 1984 westfalia vanagon to LA with Mitchell. Just to see Belle & Sebastian. (and Jenny & Johnny)

10. And the real reason I love Belle & Sebastian occurred to me halfway through the show as they played Sleep the Clock Around. I looked around and saw thousands of crazy vintage-clad, music-loving kids just like me smiling and singing along with every single word of the song and realized that Belle & Sebastian has been everything to everyone there through the years. And I got the feeling that I wasn't the only one that had 10 very strong ties to Belle & Sebastian.

And in that moment I was just a little overwhelmed with how much I love music.

Anyway, enough with the sappiness. Just let it be known that this concert was a hugely personal and mostly incredible experience. I mostly wish I could relive it every night.

Dirty Westy, iron maiden-clad traveler so pumped for the show.

Jenny. Looking amazing as always in a red dress and white tights. LOVE her.

Stuart. Plaid jacket. Amazing.

We waited in line for 2 hours for this spot. Worth it.

"sitting prostrate on the floor" singing Piazza New York Catcher.

I love Stuart Murdoch. So much. Mostly for his dancing seen above and below.

Yes, this is really my picture. Yes, he really was that close. And yes, I did touch him. Sigh.

Easily the best show of my life. And if you really want to get emotional, let's talk about Jenny Lewis coming on stage. Maybe just take what I said about the sleep around the clock moment above and times that by bajillion. Life changing for sure.

And of course, if you're a B&S fan, here are a couple of videos. The first one is mine, but I had to include a couple of other amazing songs from some other fans. They took much better video. Also, Stevie the guitarist is amazing. Just sayin'.

I'm tired. Sleep wasn't quite an option on this 3-day road trip, but it was worth it. Tremendously worth it.

I don't yet have time to expound on the details. My lunch break is only so long. Plus, I want to stop and really think about the words I'll use to describe such a mind-blowing experience. Also, I hate play-by-play vacation blogs, so give me a little bit of time to adequately determine a meaningful yet interesting way to tell you of my travels.

Until then, let's just pretend for a moment that two of my favorite musical influences unite. Let's pretend they walk on the same stage and play an outstanding song. Together. Let's just pretend those two musicians happen to be Belle & Sebastian and Jenny Lewis--my two longstanding stalwarts of sheer musical bliss. We're talking literally my two favorite bands that I have loved and cherished for years and years and years.

Hmm....what if I told you that really did happen?

And I was there.

weather: hot.

A/c status: broken. Change weather to very hot.

Discomfort level: off the charts. But temporarily diffused when
I look down at my captain EO shirt.

32oz. cup status: full. Diet mtn. dew.

Current tuneage: belle & sebastian's the life pursuit.

Previous tuneage: belle & sebastian's dear catastrophe waitress.

Current mental state: infinitely happy.

Reason:

If I had to create some sort of spectrum to rate this show, I probably would tell you to suck it because this was easily EASILY the best show of my life.

Expect full deets tomorrow via pics and videos. Also, please note my life is complete. Should we not make it home due to a firey westy crash, I would die happy.

See you tomorrow.