The Long-Distance Relationship Guide

This started out as an e-mail. Then it turned into a diary like entry. But because I have no diary it will be memorised in my blog.

SATURDAY evening.

I managed to meet some friends during the day, catch up, talk about life and all its happenings. I got home just in time to watch the European cup match Spain-Sweden. Sadly I am not interested who will win or what is going on. I am saving my energy for Germany’s game. Facebook and Myspace have been checked, important messages replied to. But no news have arrived that would solve my current unknown future. Where will I be in two weeks time? I have an idea but no set future.
So I wander around. No, I do not want to eat anything. Tempting though. I look at my new novel; I am too lazy to continue reading. It is certainly too early start watching my daily episode of 24. I go upstairs. Turn on football. I don’t watch it. I then turn on iTunes. I have 14 hours of new music. I start listening to MGMT. Will I really like it? I’m not a fan of track one and two. But I love track three and four. I’m getting into it. I then grab a book I once bought for fun at Urban Outfitters:

“The Long-Distance Relationships Guide”

A fun read for a lazy saturday evening. And an interesting guide to every day situations it turns out. Let me show you the guide:

“How to Clean Up in Under an Hour”

1. Put on some entertainment. Choose some dance musicthat you can sing along to or a book on tape to keep your mind occupied.
2. Tackle the clutter. Make the rounds of your place holding two bags: one for trash, the other for everything else. Pick a starting point and make your way around the place clockwise, not letting yourself get distracted at any point.
3. Dust. Using an electromagnetic dust cloth (like Swiffer), work your way around again clockwise, dusting every surface you come across from top to bottom.
4. Vacuum. Make sure you get into the corners and along the floorboards. Don’t worry about going beneath and behind furniture – this is only a surface cleaning.
5. Dispose of clutter. Remember the bagof „everything else“ from Step 2? Unless there is something in it you’ll need that weekend/day, throw the whole thing in a closet, to be sorted and organized later.
6. Bathroom/kitchen surface cleaning. Again, focus on the superficial and obvious.
a. Clean the bathroom after a hot bath or shower: the steam will have loosened the dirt.
b. Definitely use a toilet cleaner.
c. Spritz and wipe off surfaces with lemony disinfectant.
d. Empty the sink of dishes.
7. Disguise funky odors: Light strong-smelling candles or incense. Dab perfume or cologne on a light bulb – the heat produced when the light is on will release the perfume.
8. Dim lights for good measure.

The music has now switched to Yeasayer. I’ve listened to it before. I like it even more now. For the mellow ones listen to Joan As Police Woman and Martha Wainwright.

References:
Tiger, C. (2005) The Long-Distance Relationship Guide. Philadelphia: Quirk Books.
MGMT – www.myspace.com/mgmt
Yeasayer – www.myspace.com/yeasayer
Joan As Police Woman – www.joanaspolicewoman.com
Martha Wainwright – www.marthawainwright.com

Tracklisting was provided by 2151.

prince & others

I’m back. Finally. With a new blog.

I heard that Prince was going to play Coachella in California this weekend. Something I never expected! But Prince is full of surprises… I’ve never been to Coachella, nor California to be fair, unless you count a 6 hour stop over at San Francisco airport a California visit… I like their line-up and it seems like a great weekend, allthough I predict the croud to be über indie and wanna-be. But who am I to judge. I may be just as indie as all of them…

Back to Prince. RSS fed me this: “Prince covers Radiohead at Coachella Festival”

He played Roadiohead’s ‘Creep’ and ‘Come Together’, the classic by the beatles. I wish I could’ve seen it, not only is Prince the best performer I have ever seen amongst the many performances I got to experience in my life (thank you dad, and everyone at MLK). but Prince also has an astounding talent to write songs and interpret them. Even though I was not a very big fan of him covering the Foo Fighters at the Super Bowl half time show last year.. (I am trying to find it on youtube, but it is nowhere to be found anymore – I am sure they had to take it down after prince demanded all material of him to be taken down, even by fan websites)

But, can you imagine Prince doing Radiohead??!?!!!! I am intregued.

Moving on. Apparently the same day MGMT played the festival. A new band I have heard from through 2151. He has also suggested Yeasayer (love it!), and while you are at it, have a listen to the German band Benevolent.

And finally, I got to see The Kooks play an intimate radio 1 show at the barfly in Liverpool (400 capacity), introducing their new album. It was a great show, but I can’t say the new songs are as good as their first one- but it is very difficult to follow up their debut (I am a huge fan). They are now on their UK tour, which I got to witness at the extremely beautiful art deco “Apollo” in Manchester. The sound was brilliant, the light show amazing at times and the Kooks spot on, even though the lead singer seemed to be quite drunk – but he managed it well.

I also had the honour to meet and see Dallas Green a.k.a. City and Colour at the Royal Northern College of Music. An intimate classical concert style – 400 capacity room – where his folky acoustic music caught the full attention of all audience members (youtube results). It was an absolutely stunning 80-minute set, with the most amazing voice I have ever witnessed. If you have never listened to him, please do so now. I am awaiting an amazon shipping with all three of his official releases. He will be back in fall for more shows, so have a look out and get your tickets!

For now check his gig in Berlin: you tube results

And this to witness his amazing voice (and new single) here

PS: You may have heard him before with his band Alexisonfire, a great contrast to his solo stuff

On a personal note, I am enjoying my last few weeks of my second year in Liverpool, with some emotional ups and downs, but really there isn’t anything to complain about. Next weekend I am going up to Glasgow to relax and take a few days off with my better half.