Ah!! Like Music in My Ears

I graduate in a few short months and I'm bored with it already. I passed on a full university and decided Ivy Tech would be better for me. I'm moving to Bloomington in the fall and I'm really really excited about that.

My friend Eli and I are planning a self-sustained tour this summer. We've mapped out 17 cities in the states that surround Indiana. I can't wait for this, to get outta here for a few weeks, come back buckle down, get some work done and keep playing shows. That's what i really wanna do, is play music and travel and look out and see people coming to listen to my music and liking it. That'd be the most amazing thing in the world.

I was smoking with my friend a couple nights ago. We'd gone out for a roadie, he'd just bought a sack of Purple Trainwreck, and at 12:45 it was a perfect night for a drive. The snow on the ground was bright white and soft, the sky a soft purplish, and the lack of wind made the 29 degrees, feel like 40. We passed the joint back and forth, talking and laughing, comparing our favorite guitars and on and on.

I kicked back in my seat and he turned the radio up louder. Dave pummeled me into my seat. "Don't drink the water, there's blood in the water!!" My skin prickled. I was pretty high, boarder line stoned at this point. He put on Bitches Brew and i went insane inside my mind, i lost myself in the trumpet. I started thinking about playing music, friendships, growing up and all the worrysome things seventeen year olds think about. The New Year begins in 6 days. I have a feeling it'll be a good year. Merry Christmas.

Indiana: there's no place like home

Indiana. Born and raised. I never knew how "country" people really think Indiana is until i made friends out of state. A friend of mine moved from Conneticut and said he couldn't believe how flat the land was out here. But, Indiana has hills. I live in Avon, a city so small and rural it didn't become a city until 10 years ago. In fact, it was technically considered a village in 1993. My backyard used to be a cornfield up until a year ago, now it's a middle school.

Indiana is absolutely gorgeous to me, yeah, sometimes i'd like to get out and get away and see something other than farms, and corn, and lots and lots of trees, but then other times I couldn't see myself living anywhere else. My bestfriend lives in Osgood which is about an hour and a half southeast of here. There's a total of 1,650 people who live there. It really is a farm community. He lives on an 18 acre farm with three horses, a few duckies, a cow named Norman, some chickens, and dog named Maggie. The last time I stayed with him, we camped out at and went horseback riding with his dad and half his community. People driving didn't even bat an eye lash as we made our way through the back roads in a caravan of horses, donkies, and minihorses.

While riding a cute little beagle joined us on our journey and Dylan's father aptly named him Beagle Dog. "Come on Beagle dog, keep up" I had to be back home that evening to play a show in indianapolis, so we rode the horses back to his home. Again, no one batted an eyelash at the fact that we stopped at a gas station on horse back. On the way home the horse I was riding began to ride a little faster, pretty soon we were flying down the road when my saddle slid down and I was holding onto her mane for dear life. Dylan pulled up beside and tried to hoist me back onto the horse but it was too late. I was down and out and my body slammed like a rag doll. My horse took off and i told Dylan to go catch her. I was alright, a little bruised up but, nothing i couldn't handle. It was a great story and I'll never forget that weekend. it was amazing.

Indiana may be country or hick, or small town or whatever people wanna call it, but i don't neccesarilly think it's a bad thing. some of the nicest people i've met were people in some of the most rural places. Greensburg, Indiana people have tipped me five dollars just for playing guitar on the street. I really am a small town kinda girl. All you stuck up big city folks stay in your big cities.

Manchester Orchestra has quickly become my favorite band. I am itching to see them live. Andy's voice sends chills straight to my bones. Countless times i have sat in the dark and listened to their albums, which is what you have to do with their music listen to their albums. Each one is a piece of a much larger puzzle, the final product being a well rounded mature and brilliant bad. The evolution of MAN is amazing, you can seriously hear them grow up and into their own on each album. I like to compare them with fine wine. They get better and better with each album. Each little ep is a teaser that leaves you anxious for the main course. Listen to them, with each album in order. Spend time with them. listen track by track, get to know each song. You won't be disappointed i promise. They speak to you and make you go, "how the fuck could someone know exactly how i feel and articulate it so well." Amazing band