Friday, October 22, 2010
This Weekend...
...I have the district cross country meet and my first speech meet. A little overwhelming. I'll update later with something of substance.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Inspiration and Aspiration
So I just was looking at some of my favorite sites, and while on Jac Vanek's site, I read this story.
http://www.jacvanek.com/about/
Wowzers. That got me thinking, my creative dream doesn't necessarily have to die. This definitely rekindled my art spark. It makes me want to just get out there and do something! Needless to say I emailed a few sites about writing music and fashion reviews for them, and contacted Jac Vanek about getting started in the design industry.
I know this is still just a dream, but I am not afraid to try to bring it to fruition. The way I see it, it is much better than to try and fail, than to let an opportunity pass unexplored.
http://www.jacvanek.com/about/
Wowzers. That got me thinking, my creative dream doesn't necessarily have to die. This definitely rekindled my art spark. It makes me want to just get out there and do something! Needless to say I emailed a few sites about writing music and fashion reviews for them, and contacted Jac Vanek about getting started in the design industry.
I know this is still just a dream, but I am not afraid to try to bring it to fruition. The way I see it, it is much better than to try and fail, than to let an opportunity pass unexplored.
Technical Difficulties
I tried to share a video via a "gadget". Hmm...whatever that is. Anyway it didn't quite work the way I was planning. Here goes attempt #2.
This is the video for Death Cab's "A Movie Script Ending". Ben Gibbard's voice is my daily escape and I just love stop motion videos, so naturally I am dealing with a minor obsession over this video.
Victory!!! :)
This is the video for Death Cab's "A Movie Script Ending". Ben Gibbard's voice is my daily escape and I just love stop motion videos, so naturally I am dealing with a minor obsession over this video.
Victory!!! :)
Thursday, October 14, 2010
California Dreamin'
Louie interview with Say It Back:
St. Louis is not known for its teen music scene, but Say it Back, the latest music sensation from South County, is trying to change that. Made up of Oakville graduates Kelsi Luck (lead singer), Jordon Winheim (guitar), Eric Kopsky (drums), and current sophomore, Joel Winheim (bass guitar), the band was riding high from a with All Star Weekend when I sat down to interview them.
Louie: How long have you been playing together?
Kelsi: We started forming about a year ago, but we didn’t get serious until we went to Chicago to start recording some songs in January. We used to not have a drummer, because Joel and Jordan both played guitar and Eric played bass, but three months ago, we were tired of looking for a drummer and Eric just picked up drums and played at our last show and did a pretty good job. So now Joel plays bass. It works out better that way. We are all in our tight little group and adding someone else would have just been hard.
Louie: What inspired you to start making music?
Kelsi: I grew up doing a lot of musical theater, so somehow when I write I am influenced by that, but also really poppy bands from the nineties.
Louie: What do you feel is your strongest song thus far?
Jordon: Either Wake Up or Toxic Love.
Kelsi: I think our fans like both, but the industry itself likes Toxic Love better.
Louie: Favorite bands? New bands?
Joel: The beach boys. And I like the Neon Trees a lot.
Jordon: Katy Perry. She’s my favorite.
Kelsi: Queen. Lately I have been listening to a lot of Lily Allen. I have been trying to listen to a lot more female singers.
Louie: If you could play a show with anyone, who would it be?
Kelsi: Probably Lady Gaga. I feel like she has the most fans. It’s a draw between she and Justin Bieber. But that’s alive. Dead, it would have to be the Beatles. They are iconic.
Louie: Any plans for the future?
Kelsi: We want to go to California. We have somebody in LA who will record a music video for us and so we want to get out there. And record more. Getting out there will help a lot. St. Louis really isn’t the best place for the music scene. We also really want to get out there and start touring soon, but we are just waiting for the right band. As we are writing more, I hope we evolve as a band and do something a little different.
Jordon: We have changed so much already. I don’t know if you can find our first stuff now, but we have made a huge jump.
Louie: If your band was stranded on an island who would you eat first?
All: Eric.
Kelsi: I lied, I think I would keep him to help me survive, because he is the manliest. If there were weird people on the island, he would defend me, whereas Joel and Jordon would probably run the other way.
Louie: With two brothers in the band is there every any sibiling rivalry?
Jordon: Yeah. I hate him.
Joel: Well, I love him.
Kelsi: They sometimes wrestle during practice and they are like “we are brothers we can fight” and Eric and I tell them to stop, but they keep punching each other. So we just have to let it go, ‘cause if we get in the middle of it they will just get mad.
Louie: How often do you practice?
Kelsi: During the summer we practiced everyday at 11, but now we are finding it is difficult because Joel gets out of school at 2:30 and Eric works at 4, so we just have an hour and a half window to practice in.
Jordon: We have a set that is about 15 minutes long, so we usually just play through that twice.
Louie: What do you want to do when you “grow up”?
Jordon: I will always try to be in a band or write music.
Joel: I want to be a tattoo artist.
Louie: What makes you different than other bands today?
Kelsi: They are so many good new bands out there right now but I think that we have the dedication, the drive and the work ethic to go out and make it happen. We are in it all the way, and we pay for it out of our own pockets. We followed Warped Tour and sold out CDs which we paid for to be made. I don’t know if our parents see it that way. Their dad says if you are a good band you will get noticed, but right now you have to really work for it, or have connections. Every time we play a show we make new connections and we learn something. We are stilling trying to learn what really sets us apart, because just having a girl isn’t different anymore.
After a little more conversation the band headed out to their van, named Charles, and drove off. To learn more about Say it Back, visit them at www.myspace.com/sayitbackrock, look them up on face book or follow @SayItJordon, @SayItJoel, @SayItKelsi, and @SayItEric on Twitter. To listen to their music visit their Myspace, or look them up on iTunes.
St. Louis is not known for its teen music scene, but Say it Back, the latest music sensation from South County, is trying to change that. Made up of Oakville graduates Kelsi Luck (lead singer), Jordon Winheim (guitar), Eric Kopsky (drums), and current sophomore, Joel Winheim (bass guitar), the band was riding high from a with All Star Weekend when I sat down to interview them.
Louie: How long have you been playing together?
Kelsi: We started forming about a year ago, but we didn’t get serious until we went to Chicago to start recording some songs in January. We used to not have a drummer, because Joel and Jordan both played guitar and Eric played bass, but three months ago, we were tired of looking for a drummer and Eric just picked up drums and played at our last show and did a pretty good job. So now Joel plays bass. It works out better that way. We are all in our tight little group and adding someone else would have just been hard.
Louie: What inspired you to start making music?
Kelsi: I grew up doing a lot of musical theater, so somehow when I write I am influenced by that, but also really poppy bands from the nineties.
Louie: What do you feel is your strongest song thus far?
Jordon: Either Wake Up or Toxic Love.
Kelsi: I think our fans like both, but the industry itself likes Toxic Love better.
Louie: Favorite bands? New bands?
Joel: The beach boys. And I like the Neon Trees a lot.
Jordon: Katy Perry. She’s my favorite.
Kelsi: Queen. Lately I have been listening to a lot of Lily Allen. I have been trying to listen to a lot more female singers.
Louie: If you could play a show with anyone, who would it be?
Kelsi: Probably Lady Gaga. I feel like she has the most fans. It’s a draw between she and Justin Bieber. But that’s alive. Dead, it would have to be the Beatles. They are iconic.
Louie: Any plans for the future?
Kelsi: We want to go to California. We have somebody in LA who will record a music video for us and so we want to get out there. And record more. Getting out there will help a lot. St. Louis really isn’t the best place for the music scene. We also really want to get out there and start touring soon, but we are just waiting for the right band. As we are writing more, I hope we evolve as a band and do something a little different.
Jordon: We have changed so much already. I don’t know if you can find our first stuff now, but we have made a huge jump.
Louie: If your band was stranded on an island who would you eat first?
All: Eric.
Kelsi: I lied, I think I would keep him to help me survive, because he is the manliest. If there were weird people on the island, he would defend me, whereas Joel and Jordon would probably run the other way.
Louie: With two brothers in the band is there every any sibiling rivalry?
Jordon: Yeah. I hate him.
Joel: Well, I love him.
Kelsi: They sometimes wrestle during practice and they are like “we are brothers we can fight” and Eric and I tell them to stop, but they keep punching each other. So we just have to let it go, ‘cause if we get in the middle of it they will just get mad.
Louie: How often do you practice?
Kelsi: During the summer we practiced everyday at 11, but now we are finding it is difficult because Joel gets out of school at 2:30 and Eric works at 4, so we just have an hour and a half window to practice in.
Jordon: We have a set that is about 15 minutes long, so we usually just play through that twice.
Louie: What do you want to do when you “grow up”?
Jordon: I will always try to be in a band or write music.
Joel: I want to be a tattoo artist.
Louie: What makes you different than other bands today?
Kelsi: They are so many good new bands out there right now but I think that we have the dedication, the drive and the work ethic to go out and make it happen. We are in it all the way, and we pay for it out of our own pockets. We followed Warped Tour and sold out CDs which we paid for to be made. I don’t know if our parents see it that way. Their dad says if you are a good band you will get noticed, but right now you have to really work for it, or have connections. Every time we play a show we make new connections and we learn something. We are stilling trying to learn what really sets us apart, because just having a girl isn’t different anymore.
After a little more conversation the band headed out to their van, named Charles, and drove off. To learn more about Say it Back, visit them at www.myspace.com/sayitbackrock, look them up on face book or follow @SayItJordon, @SayItJoel, @SayItKelsi, and @SayItEric on Twitter. To listen to their music visit their Myspace, or look them up on iTunes.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Fan Appreciation
From Louie:
A Night Out with We the Kings and A Rocket to the Moon
Eighty degrees and sunny, the perfect weather for an outdoor concert to close out the summer. We the Kings and A Rocket to the Moon are lined up to play what promises to be a great show. A Rocket to the Moon opens on a good note, as front man Nick Santino serenades the audience with dance anthems and ballads, passionate and infectiously exciting. The impact that these musicians have had since becoming a band is clear–from the moment they stepped on stage they had the crowd singing along with every word. They leave the stage but promise to hang out once they’ve eaten. Enter Travis Clark and his group of friends from middle school, We the Kings, who connect with the audience right away, opening with their hit “Skyway Avenue”, a fan favorite that has the whole crowd out of their seats. Their set includes album hits, a few solo numbers, a cover of Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle”, which inspired the band to pursue a musical career, and closes with their classic “Check Yes Juliet”. The lyrics are screamed by the crowd of mostly high school students.True to their word, once the concert ends the members of A Rocket to the Moon make their way out to an area where mobs of girls are waiting to receive hugs, pictures and autographs. For the select few who stay a little longer, Travis appears to hug and talk to his fans. It’s clear that both bands are dedicated to the people who support them, working around Six Flags’ tight security to hold actual conversations and make genuine connections. A band can’t succeed, after all, without the support of its fanbase, and, despite their success, these bands have not forgotten the importance of their followers. All in all the show was an incredible and memorable way to end another long, St. Louis summer.
“Smile Kid”, We the Kings’ latest album, and “On Your Side”, A Rocket to the Moon’s first full length album are both available on iTunes. To listen to free streaming music for each check out We the Kings at www.myspace.com/wethekings and A Rocket to the Moon at www.myspace.com/arockettothemoon.
A Rocket to the Moon will be returning to St. Louis is November to play with All Time Low at the Firebird.
This is not the usual kind of music I listen to, but these boys put on a great show. I would like to include my own pictures which I think capture the magic of that night better than words :)
And last, but certainly not least, a picture that Halvo took of us and shared to all his fans via Twitter :)
A Night Out with We the Kings and A Rocket to the Moon
Eighty degrees and sunny, the perfect weather for an outdoor concert to close out the summer. We the Kings and A Rocket to the Moon are lined up to play what promises to be a great show. A Rocket to the Moon opens on a good note, as front man Nick Santino serenades the audience with dance anthems and ballads, passionate and infectiously exciting. The impact that these musicians have had since becoming a band is clear–from the moment they stepped on stage they had the crowd singing along with every word. They leave the stage but promise to hang out once they’ve eaten. Enter Travis Clark and his group of friends from middle school, We the Kings, who connect with the audience right away, opening with their hit “Skyway Avenue”, a fan favorite that has the whole crowd out of their seats. Their set includes album hits, a few solo numbers, a cover of Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle”, which inspired the band to pursue a musical career, and closes with their classic “Check Yes Juliet”. The lyrics are screamed by the crowd of mostly high school students.True to their word, once the concert ends the members of A Rocket to the Moon make their way out to an area where mobs of girls are waiting to receive hugs, pictures and autographs. For the select few who stay a little longer, Travis appears to hug and talk to his fans. It’s clear that both bands are dedicated to the people who support them, working around Six Flags’ tight security to hold actual conversations and make genuine connections. A band can’t succeed, after all, without the support of its fanbase, and, despite their success, these bands have not forgotten the importance of their followers. All in all the show was an incredible and memorable way to end another long, St. Louis summer.
“Smile Kid”, We the Kings’ latest album, and “On Your Side”, A Rocket to the Moon’s first full length album are both available on iTunes. To listen to free streaming music for each check out We the Kings at www.myspace.com/wethekings and A Rocket to the Moon at www.myspace.com/arockettothemoon.
A Rocket to the Moon will be returning to St. Louis is November to play with All Time Low at the Firebird.
This is not the usual kind of music I listen to, but these boys put on a great show. I would like to include my own pictures which I think capture the magic of that night better than words :)
Me and Halvo
Mr. Justin Richards and I
Me and Sir Travis Clark
And last, but certainly not least, a picture that Halvo took of us and shared to all his fans via Twitter :)
Homecoming Trends 2010 (Louie)
How to Wear AND Where to Get this Season's Hottest Homecoming Trends
Vintage- Make the old new again with a gorgeous vintage dress! Vintage dresses are great because they have different cuts, stunning patterns, fun lengths, and, best of all, no one else will have them! Vintage dresses can be paired with jewels or chains, but for a more casual spin this season, the trend is to pair vintage florals and laces each with leather accents. Think: leather belts, boots , and bags. Score this look at Avalon Exchange in the Loop.
Budget- You don’t have to spend a fortune to look great! St. Louis has lots of thrift stores that are hip and high quality. Saving money is always in style! At Clique you can find high end dresses from past seasons for prices cheaper than you will find at any department store or boutique. As a bonus, the owners of Clique visit New York every season on an accessories buying trip, so you are guaranteed the latest headbands and jewelry to make your Homecoming fashion spot on.
Full-length- You may think the long dress trend is worn out with so many shorter fashions emerging, but a floor-length formal will always be classy. This season, avoid being bored by your floor length gown by looking out for special details. One of this season’s most current trends is the one strap gown. Whether the strap is made up of rosettes, ruffles, or just simple satin, this trend is flattering on every body type, baring shoulders without the insecurities of going strapless. Depending on the neckline, most one-strap dresses don’t require necklaces, so play up your accessories with daring headbands you normally wouldn’t go for. Women’s Closet Exchange, managed by the owners of Clique as well, is a great place to find a new edge on a classic style.
Short- The short formal dress has been done many ways in the past few seasons. Stand out this season in a short dress with sleeves. Don’t worry—long sleeved dresses don’t have to be frumpy! There are plenty of short, sleeved formals that are sleek, flattering and so very 2010. The best combinations for sleeved dresses are long sleeved, fitted dresses in a bold print with bib necklaces sleeved or short dresses with tulle, mesh, or lace neckline and sleeves. Trendy stores in the loop, such as Ziezo and Morrell’s, as well as the stores mentioned above have some great renditions of this trend.
Make it memorable, make it work and, most of all, make it your own this Homecoming season!
Salutations...
Hello bloggers! I fear this will be a pretty unorthodox blog. I had planned for it to be strictly geared towards music and fashion, but who knows what quirky little things will end up on here. I had hoped to post pictures, videos, tips, thoughts and reviews relevant to the latest in the fashion and music industries, but already my mind is swimming with more completely unrelated ideas, so don't be suprised when random goofiness makes its way onto these pages. I will also be posting the articles I write for Louie Magazine on here.
Good luck following my train of thought ;)
Happy reading!
P.S. How about a quote of the day?
Here you go:
"To see a World in a Grain of Sand and a Heaven in a Wild Flower, hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour."
-William Blake
Good luck following my train of thought ;)
Happy reading!
P.S. How about a quote of the day?
Here you go:
"To see a World in a Grain of Sand and a Heaven in a Wild Flower, hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour."
-William Blake
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