I thought this thing would just update itself.

Apparently, it doesn't. So, I guess this is it. Thanks for reading!!!

Sincerely,
Elle

The Word Play

There is still no flier made for this show, but the Word Play are having their CD release show THIS SATURDAY, January 17th, at the Woodward Avenue Brewery in Ferndale. Also playing: Prussia and Natural Monuments.

The show probably starts at the usual show time and probably costs something like $5.

Someone make a goddamn flier already.

For the Dead, for the living

Traversing through soliloquies of heartbreak and loss, one might find Misty Lyn and the Big Beautiful's debut full-length, For the Dead, to be too emotionally dense to listen to alone. Misty Lyn Bergeron's fervent and honest lyrics stir the songs to a frenzy, and the combination of pedal steel, fiddle, cello, and violin pull your heartstrings in all directions. Backed by the likes of Michigan heavy hitters Jim Roll and Matt Jones, the soundscape of the album is as deep as the poetic prowess of Bergeron. From beginning to end, the seasons carry this album's themes, as well as the cyclical nature of all things in life, such as "Summer. Lull." "The Fall," whose comparison of the season to the action of falling might seem simple, the pessism (or realism, if you will) of the lyrics, "as if it wasn't clear enough, the sun beats down and lights the broken lines within/when you start believing that the things that once existed can begin again/then all you know goes up for sale, you finally learn that things will always end and end," finds a soft spot in the hardest of hearts, a reminder of the first slap in the face that life doled out to us all. Songs like "Gathering" and "For the Dead" pump up the energy in the record without sounding too contrived or overdone. Although this record boasts no record label to back it (yet), it gives us one more shining star in the Michigan scene, possibly one of the only things keeping us from being completely obsolete.

Misty Lyn and the Big Beautiful will be on the Detroit Today show on 101.9 WDET (Detroit Public Radio), playing songs from and discussing From the Dead around 11:30am on Friday, January 9th! Tune in if you have one of those radio things. If not, you can stream the program live (or some other time) through their Web site.

Please check out their CD release show at the Magic Stick on January 10th, with Great Lakes Myth Society and The High Strung. Cost is $8, they go on first, so get there early!!! Nevermind, they are going on second.

Happy Prussia Day

Prussia is releasing some new stuff in February. Their release show is on my birthday (the 7th). 2008 Elle would be upset about this, but 2009 Elle says "that's AWESOME!" And get this, it is FREE. That's even MORE awesome.

The show is at the Crofoot in Pontiac. February 7th. With Wildcatting, The Silent Years, and Javelins. Anyone have a flier?

Warm Fuzzies.

I made my way back to the Elbow Room last night and my head exploded.

I went to see Joseph Scott Band (The Joseph Scott Band? Joe Scott and his band?), an 8-piece mega ultra super group. Matthew Milia, Davy Jones, Scott Sellwood, Chris Bathgate, Dan Von Erck, just to name a few. Oh, and Joseph Scott. It may have only been five or six songs, but it was an experience to behold. Some of the dudes even had to introduce themselves onstage because they had never met prior.

Mittenfest was pretty effin' sweet. I am sorry you missed it, but chances are, you wouldn't have gotten in anyway. This is where a blogger might complain about something that happened that was small and insignificant. But I can't. I feel full of feelings. Feelings of warm fuzzy happyness. It feels sooooo goooood. Even with a hangover. So good.

Things have been slow. Whatever.

Mittenfest III at the Elbow Room, day two: It looks like this whole thing has already been a great success. 826Michigan is deserving of it, and I was so excited to see a line 20 deep outside the Elbow Room. Maybe I should see if they can help me become more literate and use bigger words correctly. Hardy har har.

In all seriousness, seriously, my blogging time has come to an end for the time being. I have other things to focus on. There are more important things in life than blogging. OMG I KNOW RIGHT. It's weird, but I think I will adjust. I am sure you readers will adjust as well. I hear there are a lot of new blogs and bloggers in the area.

I apologize in advance for the length of this blog, but I have a lot of things that I feel I need to say, things that I think are important, things that I think you need to all talk about more or think about more. If you don't agree, than I really don't give a shit.

I have felt more submerged than ever this year in the "scene." Or "scenes" if you really think there is a need for distinct separations. I have spent an absurd amount of time watching bands play, talking about bands, writing about bands, etc. As I am sure most of you have. I can safely say that I am very happy with the way things are, and that I look forward to more bands and new people joining the scene. I think a lot of you are opposed to that. Sometimes, I even get a little bored with the little corner of the scene that I hole myself up in most of the time. It's nice to see some fresh faces. Open up your hearts, Detroit. I know this is a really tough time, but we cannot let the times defeat us. Keep doing what you are doing. Keep moving forward.

And now... For what you have all been waiting for (or not), my top whatever songs of blahblahblahblahblahblahblah (yes, this list is very narrow in the entire scope of the "scene" but I like what I like):

The Shaded Forest --- Deastro
I think this made it on 75% of my mixed CDs this year. "I told you we're gonna be fine, I t-t-t-told you, we're taking our time." Yes, we are. And things are going to be OK. How could they not be OK? Randolph is alive and putting out amazing shit at breakneck speeds. Fuck yeah, everything is gonna be fine.

The World's Worst Birthday Gift --- Silent Years
Epic, tender, dynamic. When they play this live, I still get a shiver up my spine.

Warmer Days Ahead --- Lightning Love
This song also has my pick for best lyrics of the year: "When winter's this cold I freeze every kind part of me, and I swear it's never planned, but no one understands. And when we gain some degrees, I'll come crawling on my knees, and you'll love me again."

Unicorn Bible --- Champions of Breakfast
It was hard picking my favorite, but this is one of the first songs I remember hearing.

That entire CD Pas/Cal released
I don't think I need to go into much detail. It was just really really really good.

OK, I am really tired and sick of writing, so here are some other songs (there were more, but I am lazy) I liked in no particular order:
El Dorado --- Javelins
Get Ripped --- Friendly Foes
Fog --- Mason Proper
Yes, I'm Cold --- Chris Bathgate
Snakeskin Hymnal --- I Just Wanted a Bite of Your Cookie (you have never heard of them, but go to cllct.com and download their entire discography, by the way, it was all recorded this year)

You wish your cat could do this.

Coming soon:
++my Top Ten of 2008 list of songs by Michigan bands
++more cats sliding in boxes

I know, he's a politician, just like the rest of 'em

...but you should watch it anyway.

Shall we start a bread line?

Dear readers and friends and creatures;

As you already know, the auto industry did not get the loan they have been asking for. This has so many implications, not just for Michigan (although we have the most jobs at stake) but for the entire country, and perhaps the entire industry worldwide.

I know you all spend a long time on your computers everyday, checking out Myspace and Facebook and blogs and your bank statement. What I am asking you to do is to send an e-mail to the Bush administration, asking them to take action. It won't take long. All you have to do is open up your gmail account, and send a message to president@whitehouse.gov. Tell President Bush how important it is that the auto industry gets a loan of some sort. Explain how your job will be affected by it, if not now, but in the next few months. I know my job will be. I know so many of my friends who have already lost their jobs. This will take a shorter amount of time then it did to read this blog, for goodness sake!!!

once again, president@whitehouse.gov
or send one to Cheney at vice_president@whitehouse.gov

PEER PRESSURE ALERT!!!
Even the fiscally conservative folks that I know are doing it. So, why aren't you?

Sincerely,

Elle

Thanks for reading.

Lightning Love CD release tonight at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. $7 gets you in, and you get a FREE CD! How exciting. It's good, folks. Real good.

I will most likely end up at a bar in Ferndale. I don't like driving in snow. I will attempt to hit up Noel Night in midtown. I hope there are roasted chestnuts. I know there will be crafts for sale as well as free shows (MOCAD, Scarlett Oaks!). I think the festivities start at 5. I could be wrong. Look it up and see for yourself, HERE.