Music Monday: Rain Edition

Music Monday is going to be a cold and wet one here, so I'm giving  you my top singles and albums to listen to on a rainy day. Settle in with your Earl Grey, put on your alma mater sweatshirt and curl up under your coziest blanket. I've got your ears covered, though.

It took me a while to jump on the Ray LaMontagne bandwagon, mostly because he was sorta preppy cool before I was willing to listen anything that wasn't signed to an indie label. The fact is, the guy's voice will knock the breath out of you. "Airwaves" from his March 18th album, Supernova, is both young and old at the same time. The blue-eyed soul and beautiful lyrics aren't hard to listen to, either. This is possibly my favorite new single this week.

I love Rufus Wainwright. I'd have to say you can't possibly go wrong with any of his albums during a rainstorm.  His lyrics are poetry. His melodies divine.  "In My Arms" from his self-titled debut album is a perfect example.

Belle and Sebastian typically hits it out of the park for me on a dreary day.  Their music is sleepy without putting you to sleep.  It usually keeps the good and mellow feeling going even after the sun comes out.  For this day, I'm picking If You're Feeling Sinister, the band's second album.

My absolute all time favorite song for rainy days, though? Eleanor Rigby. Sure, it makes me tear up a little every time I hear it, but sometimes you just need a good cry. Maybe that's why it rains to begin with.

Geeky Bunny's Week in Review

It's been a busy week for this bunny. I worked on a new song to record with the band, I helped my mom move, and got some kinda crummy news about a new job I was hoping to land. I didn't forget about you all, though.  Here are some things that happened this week that kept me smiling.

The Girl Meets World trailer is up.  It's very short, but worth the watch if you're still suffering from Cory and Topanga withdrawals:



FXX will air all 552 episodes of The Simpsons over 12 days, starting August 21st. Woo hoo!

Parks and Rec was ridiculously funny this week, and had an amazing guest star. I may rerun that bad boy as soon as I procure some blueberry wine.

Shonen Knife and Afghan Whigs both have albums coming out this week.  I'm having teenage mixtape flashbacks as I type this.

And if you do nothing else to round out your Sunday, The Muppets Take Manhattan is currently streaming on Netflix.

My Apologies in Advance

This is really mostly my way of saying that I probably won't be posting for a couple of days, but Netflix is finally streaming House, M.D.  *squee* I don't care if it's formulaic and they use Interferon to treat everything.  I love it and Hugh Laurie's dazzling baby blues, and no one can convince me otherwise!


In the meantime, while you're waiting for a real post, please listen to this amazing Joseph Arthur song from S4E7: Ugly.





 

Au Revoir, Roseland

NYC's Roseland Ballroom closes it's doors today after being a music mainstay for 95 years.  My favorite live album, Portishead's Roseland NYC Live, was recorded there.  Lady Gaga will be it's final performer, with tickets reportedly selling for more than $300 a pop.

Roseland actually started in Philadelphia in 1917, but sought a change of scenery after the city's blue laws kept them from operating on Sundays. Two years later, in the heart of Manhattan, Roseland set up shop in a five story building at Broadway and 51st. It hosted jazz greats like Count Basie, Louis Armstrong and a young Ella Fitzgerald.

In 1956, after the original building was torn down, Roseland put it's roots down in an abandoned skating rink on West 52nd. It saw the rise of rock and disco, it's share of controversy and many and varied events over the years. It was considered a neighborhood menace after a teenager was shot there in 1984. Madonna performed an exclusive show that had fans waiting for days outside the venue only to go home after 30 minutes of music. Fiona Apple had her breakdown there. Hillary Clinton even celebrated her 53rd birthday within it's walls. 

There's no doubt it will be missed by many.  I'm only sorry my vacation will be next year, and not in time to see this piece of music history before it's lights go out. I'm a musician myself, and I'd often daydreamed about singing there. As of now, there are no plans for the building, but hopefully some of it's parts will be preserved as a living memorial of all the wonderful music that has played there over the years. 

Geeky Bunny's Week in Review

Total Film put together the Top 30 WTF Moments of the Whedonverse. MAJOR spoilers ahead, if you aren't already a devout Whedonite.

Still pissed about the HIMYM ending?  The writers actually created an alternate and it'll be available on the DVD.  (Can we just pretend the original never existed?)

A Heathers sequel?  No, thank goodness, but Winona Ryder almost convinced Meryl Streep to be a part of it.

Bryan Cranston is writing a book about his time on Breaking Bad.  Put me on the waiting list now.

It's actually happening, you guys.  Star Wars Episode VII is shooting as I type. 

Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth are reuniting, and it feels so good!  Here is a teaser for Mystery Girls, airing in June on ABC Family:



Speaking of Jennie Garth, I've read several articles that say that Amanda Bynes, former star of What I Like About You, is looking very healthy after her stay in rehab.  I'm really pulling for her.

You need to take this Which Character from "The Sandlot" Are You? quiz immediately and post your result in the comments.   (I'm Ham.)

Blogging for the Cure

It's always been a dream of mine to start a charity in my father's name.  He lost his battle with cancer when I was just a baby, but the stories I've been told about him growing up have helped me to know him and keep him close. One of the stories that lead me down this path was how he'd cash his paycheck and take the loose change to playgrounds and schools and leave it for kids to find.  My dream for honoring him is to establish a foundation that bears his name and holds true to the generous, kind man that he was.  Aside from providing funds to help people receiving treatment for cancer, I want to make sure the loved ones supporting them also receive care. Whether it's taking care of a few months of bills and food, sending a kid to school or college, or just sending the family on a nice vacation to try to alleviate some of the stress of their lives, I want to make sure their needs are met, whatever they may be.

I've been really down lately because I'm very underemployed at the moment and am struggling just to meet my own needs. Though I'm making major strides to change that, I've felt like this dream has been slipping further and further from my grasp. It hit me in the past few days though, that there are really so many things I can do to get started in the spirit of giving, even if all I have to give are my words here and my time out there in the world.  I hope to shine light on charities doing good, humanitarians giving of their resources, and people who have inspiring stories of recovery and wellness to share.  I realize it sounds like a bit of a departure from what I'll be posting on here most days, but I promise to make it interesting and worth the time you'll spend reading it.

One of the things you can do right now is help support my sweet friend Sheree who is battling ovarian cancer.  She is tough as nails and has a heart as big as Texas. Her treatment is expensive and helping her cause by buying a Team Rea t-shirt through booster.com will help keep on her road to health. We need this amazing and awesome woman in the world, so lend your support to her family, and others who love her to pieces. 

I recently read about a wonderful organization while learning more about what my girl is going through that I think is really cool.  They are called Teal Toes, and they help spread the word about ovarian cancer by painting their toenails teal, the color of ovarian cancer awareness, and getting their friends and loved ones to do the same while talking to women about this silent killer. Included on the site is a list of places where you can purchase your polish, some of which actually help support finding a cure!  I already have my teal polish and happen to have a gift card for a pedicure in my purse right now.  I think I know what I'll be doing this afternoon.

Any of you have a charity or cause close to your heart?  Leave me a comment and I'll make sure to post about it in the coming days. 

Wil Wheaton Wednesday

OMG! *squee*  Wil Wheaton is coming to Syfy! Twelve episodes of The Wil Wheaton Project (which is a working title, as of the moment) will be coming to television in May.  It's being described  by Wil as "sort of like Talk Soup for geeks.", and a “weekly roundup of the things I love on television and on the Internet, with commentary and jokes, and the occasional visit from interesting people who make those things happen.”

Wait, Wil. Are you taking inspiration from my blog? I'm sooo flattered.  Of course I'll be on your show.  Have your people call my people and we'll set something up.

The show airs May 27th at 10pm EST.  You'd better believe I'll be watching.

If you don't get the appeal, or understand what he's all about, watch this video of him at a Denver Comic-Con panel responding to a little girl who was being bullied and called a nerd:





Class Act, Wheaton.  Class act all around.