SPRING BREAK

Spring Break 2012 .... It was filled with ridiculously warm weather, Halo Wars Risk, Rayman Origins, potentially excessive amounts of day drinking, and two really great concerts.

We had wanted to go to EMA, but things never really came together. Then Chris won a pair of tickets from the wonderful Radio K last minute. Due to my misunderstanding of how late Macy's stays open, we ended up at the concert considerably early. Like an hour before the opener.... luckily, we got stools! I love the 7th St. Entry, but man does it get LOUD in there. I'm not really one for loud grunge/punk music, however, the opener Nü Sensae was so much better than I had expected. Of course, EMA herself was wonderful. Her mom was at the show, which was pretty cute. EMA handed a bottle of Jack Daniel's out to the crowd and had people pass it around. Needless to say it was gone in minutes. Just a great show to sit back and watch.

Then there was the Grimes show! Another great show at the entry, but not great spots since it was sold out. We managed to find tickets on craigslist that weren't jacked up in price just a few weeks ahead of time. But where to begin!  The opener, Elite Gymnastics, is a Minnesota band inspired by Korean Pop. It's so nice to see new and interesting things coming out of MN, I would definitely see them again and again. Then there was Born Gold, a Canadian band, who almost stole the show with their crazy light show and dancing. It seemed like some members of Born Gold played with Grimes when she came out? She played a ton of great new stuff off her most recent album plus some old good'ens. Some alone, some with band mates. I would have loved to see more, but she said some of her songs can be overly complicated to perform live.

We almost went to zero concerts over break and ended up at two great shows. Despite being loud and crowded, shows at the Entry always end up seeming dear to my heart. Now, I am reminiscing fondly and trying to avoid reality, ie that my life is consumed by schoolwork.

I am electro-moron. (Pretty Lights!!)

I could not tell you the audible differences between someone using a Macbook and a synthesizer. I could not tell you the difference between dubstep and house music, if there is one. But what I can tell you is, Pretty Lights, woah my God, Pretty Lights! My boyfriend won tickets last minute from Radio K, we napped up, and got ready to party. We showed up a little late, maybe 10:30 PM but still caught part of an incredible DJ set by Bonobo. Some of the songs he remixed included 'All of the Lights' by Kanye West and 'Islands' by the XX. I have never danced so much in my life! Everyone in the crowd was moving, everyone in the crowd was happy, even the zombies. I don't have the words to describe this night, but I might use ones like exhilarating freedom or unquestionable acceptance. I have never loved a crowd so much. I left this show equivalently sweaty as Gogol Bordello, the sweatiest concert of my life, and as happy as Brand New, when I heard them play the 'No Seatbelt Song.' This concert, by a band whose music I have barely heard, has surpassed all concerts moments of my life.