Category Archives: gimme my music

This post might not mean a whole lot to some of you. And it's very likely you might find it boring. Possibly even dramatic. And I thought for a good long while today about how to blog about this experience and not make it boring or dramatic. But the fact of the matter is that it all boils down to one thing:

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 have returned.  Much to the chagrin of my morale, I might add.

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.