Sunday, June 26, 2005
When urban planning and indie rock collide...
First of all, it was not just great but supergreat to see Sean and Erin and some other new folks associated with Sean and Erin in Chicago last night. The bar we went to did not have my first two choices of brews, however, and I'm not much of a drinker to really get all fancy, so that was odd. But I'm glad I got to meet up with them, and as an added bonus, I did not have to wait for more than a few minutes to catch my busses back west to get home. That late sometimes they run only every half hour. The benefits of living where I live? 1)cheaper rents and 2) actual places to park your car. Not much of a nightlife around, although until I get settled into the urban lifestyle I'd rather live in a neighborhood a little less crazy and congested.
Anyway, real quick, there was an awesome convergence of two seemingly unrelated professional / personal interests when I received an e-mail from the Planning student listserv at UIC from a person calling for volunteers for the Intonation Music Festival. Apparently a lady who is part of the nerdy planning program is also an organizer for a totally awesome indie rock festival, with about a handful of bands I'm interested in seeing playing within two days in the same place. If I help out for one shift I can get my 2-day pass for free (a 22-dollar value), and get some t-shirts, and maybe some free snacks in a possibly air-conditioned tent??? That last one was I guess, but you never know.
The key is I've been looking for groups of people that have two common characteristics with me. It's nice to meet a bunch of Jewish people, but if they are political news junkies, that's a bonus characteristic that indicates some shared commonality beyond a general identity. So a Jewish / Planning Student, Indie Rock / Planning Student, Jewish / Indie Rock, and whatever coupling makes my socializing a little less random and more focused. The burden on my shoulders is to create and nurture more interested and activities that will allow me to come across these "identity combos" if you will, and I'm still working on that. But if there's an indication that in the world of planning students there exist volunteers for a music festival, that's a cool correalation.
So anything else going on with you guys? don't have to answer just wanted to finish the post that way.
Anyway, real quick, there was an awesome convergence of two seemingly unrelated professional / personal interests when I received an e-mail from the Planning student listserv at UIC from a person calling for volunteers for the Intonation Music Festival. Apparently a lady who is part of the nerdy planning program is also an organizer for a totally awesome indie rock festival, with about a handful of bands I'm interested in seeing playing within two days in the same place. If I help out for one shift I can get my 2-day pass for free (a 22-dollar value), and get some t-shirts, and maybe some free snacks in a possibly air-conditioned tent??? That last one was I guess, but you never know.
The key is I've been looking for groups of people that have two common characteristics with me. It's nice to meet a bunch of Jewish people, but if they are political news junkies, that's a bonus characteristic that indicates some shared commonality beyond a general identity. So a Jewish / Planning Student, Indie Rock / Planning Student, Jewish / Indie Rock, and whatever coupling makes my socializing a little less random and more focused. The burden on my shoulders is to create and nurture more interested and activities that will allow me to come across these "identity combos" if you will, and I'm still working on that. But if there's an indication that in the world of planning students there exist volunteers for a music festival, that's a cool correalation.
So anything else going on with you guys? don't have to answer just wanted to finish the post that way.
Comments:
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Sorry I'm not deep into Seinfeld references? Was there an episode that discussed interest mixing? Or worse yet, did I sound like GEORGE when I was analyzing my social opps?
All I know currently about your music tastes is Nada Surf, Rilo Kiley, Decemberists, and female singers. The best I'm currently into don't offer straightforward songs with 3 minute lengths and sung lyrics. The immediate CDs that came to mind were those 80s collections I told you about through e-mail. They are excellent because they mix a few 80s hits, a few lesser hits by big 80s artists, and a few obscure songs that are nonetheless perfect 80s style. I don't know how deep your knowledge and love for 80s music is (or are you over that?) but it's a fun collection.
Other than that, if you can think of say your 5 most favorite bands, albums, or songs, released in the last 4 years, maybe I could dig up something. I'm investing a lot in classic albums that are on sale for 8 or 9 dollars though. Recently I got a birthday check from my Grandma, so I am splurging a bit. Today alone, I bought the new Beck, plus a punk album from the 80s band X, and a new album by the Raveonettes who opened for the Strokes when I saw them April of 2004.
I just thought of Belle and Sebastian as a good band for you to check out, but please give me some pointers.
I will do a last minute check up call with you tomorrow.
bye!
All I know currently about your music tastes is Nada Surf, Rilo Kiley, Decemberists, and female singers. The best I'm currently into don't offer straightforward songs with 3 minute lengths and sung lyrics. The immediate CDs that came to mind were those 80s collections I told you about through e-mail. They are excellent because they mix a few 80s hits, a few lesser hits by big 80s artists, and a few obscure songs that are nonetheless perfect 80s style. I don't know how deep your knowledge and love for 80s music is (or are you over that?) but it's a fun collection.
Other than that, if you can think of say your 5 most favorite bands, albums, or songs, released in the last 4 years, maybe I could dig up something. I'm investing a lot in classic albums that are on sale for 8 or 9 dollars though. Recently I got a birthday check from my Grandma, so I am splurging a bit. Today alone, I bought the new Beck, plus a punk album from the 80s band X, and a new album by the Raveonettes who opened for the Strokes when I saw them April of 2004.
I just thought of Belle and Sebastian as a good band for you to check out, but please give me some pointers.
I will do a last minute check up call with you tomorrow.
bye!
Said Seinfeld reference comes from a ninth season episode where George tries to mix all of his interests (food, sex, television) at the same time. Hijinks ensue when George, while in bed with his girlfriend, is caught trying to watch TV and eat a pastrami sandwich, among other things. The puzzled girlfriend asks what he's doing. His response:
"Pleasuring you?"
The episode also has the hilarious sausage grinding song, and Lloyd Bridges pushing 80.
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"Pleasuring you?"
The episode also has the hilarious sausage grinding song, and Lloyd Bridges pushing 80.
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