Thursday Is Party Day

I happen to really j'adore Asobi Seksu. They remind me of summer romances, long nights up with best friends, drunken skinny-dipping at the beach, accidentally letting go of a balloon and then watching it float up into the air, impromptu picnics, spending time with the one person in the world who gets you, sheer dresses, bare feet, and wet earth, and getting caught in the rain.

That being said, "Thursday" is probably my favorite Asobi Seksu song, aside from "Walk on the Moon," "Mizu Asobi," and "Nefi+Girly" which is the song they used for all those Skins trailers. It's so ethereally, heavily, softly gorgeous. And makes me long for summer. I mean, what the fuck LA? It's been cold and rainy for the past week. Let's get back to normal soon, shall we?

Anyways, here's the video for "Thursday." Also, if you're looking for someone to spend the night with on Valentine's day, just show up at my house with this song playing out of your boombox, a six pack of Sweetwater 420 ale, and a pizza and I'm yours.



E

What's Going On Jemina?

Apparently Jemina Pearl is still going post byoP. And now she's got Karen O hair. I'm eternally jelz only because I always wanted to have Karen O hair. But I'm not sure what to say about Jemina. I'm mostly sad because I loved byoP and I want her hair and I'm not sure this whole thing is such a good idea.

Discuss.



O, J.

E

"They're Going To Pan The Camera Back To Him, But He's Already Gonna Be Gone."

Whoa. I sorta internet died for a second guyz. I know I'm usually over hurr on the daily, popping in and talking about life and love and television and clothes and stickers and ponies and myspace.com, but lately I've been occupado (how the hell does THAT get by spellcheck?) at my mom's house. She's decided to sell the house I lived in in my precious, memory laden high school years. Like I care.

The real important part lies in the fact that I have to clean out everything and make piles of what stays with her when she jetsets to LA (yep, that's what I wanted, to live in the same state as mi madre un tiempo mas - that's one more time, right?) and what goes to Goodwill and what she sells at her garage sale. This is all sorts of crucial 'cos I'm sort of a packrat and I'm always terrified of throwing away some chunk of my childhood that I'll want in twenty years when my children are old enough to care about "vintage" and "retro."

Obvi this is an emotionally and time consuming process; I've been here for two weeks and all I've managed to clear up is one wall...well, it's a corner, mas o menos.

Anyways, if you guys are ever all like, "We need some Erika up in hurr," which I doubt ever happens, feel free to head over to my Tumblr, which I update like two hundred times a day, or you can totally SKYPE me. Not really.

So we'll let this just be my away message, in case I don't talk to ya'll for a minute. Oh, and of course I had to go out with a video. I love this song. It would play at the end of my personal life movie, as I walked into the sunset and the screen faded to black. I mean, obvi I have an active and well exercised imagination.



E

Happy Christmas You Guys!

Hopefully you are happy wherever you are, whatever you're doing, whomever you're with. I sure am. And if not, there's always Jack Daniels and iPods, so take your pick.

For those of you coherent enough to understand these words, I'm going to leave you guys with one of the (very very few) Christmas songs I like, from one of the (many) movies I really don't care for, Love Actually. Yeah that's right, I don't think that movie is all that great.



Merry Christmas!

And remember, giving is only better than receiving when no one's naked!

E

Bye Again!

This morning I am leaving for Atlanta once again, only this time I'll be gone for a month. Things should get pretty interesting this time. Life lessons were learned, revelations were had; the year is slowly ending itself, and from what's happened so far, it seems like it'll only give way to a thousand awesome beginnings.

Hopefully I'll be able to keep updating things pretty frequently seeing as I'll be held hostage in my mom's home without a car (blegh, 25 to rent a car is so bullshit). I'm also excited because Sam and I are going to see Band of Horses on New Year's Eve and my gay bffl are going to party at all the gay clubs. And apparently there's a gay restaurant we're going to...just makes me wonder when Atlanta got so gay.

Anyways, I leave for the airport at 8:30 am, so I'm off to clean a little and then go to bed. I hope you guys have a fantastical Christmas break. I really do. And to totally segue, I would like to leave you guys with this video, of a song that's been in my head all day.

Sometimes I really want this song to play when I enter a room. I guess it is, in my head.



Goodnight world, and have a pleasant tomorrow.

E

Oh Fuck It, I'm Gonna Have A Party!

I'm at that point where you are so upset/frustrated/hurt/tired that you start laughing. You know, like when you hurt yourself but all you can do is cry...then starting laughing? So I am just gonna say fuck it, I have no boyfriend anymore, no job, no money, I keep getting cuts on my hands from god knows what, and all my clothes are in various stacks on the floor because I have been putting off building this goddamn IKEA dresser, but so what? Fuck it!

I'm gonna party myself silly! Fuck responsibilities, fuck the "real world", fuck heartache! All I need is some Spice Girls and eyeliner! I'm gonna have so much fun...um...I'll have a lot of fun!

I'll party like it's 1987 and I'm as cool as Lisa Turtle! (I always wanted to be her...if acid wash denim sets were back in style I would so rock one, scrunchie, Reeboks and all!)

Sometimes you just have to say fuck it! This is one of those times! Now direct yourself to the Nada Surf video below. Thank you!



E

I Feel Like He Could Inherit The Hipster Runoff Throne One Day...

Sergio is the most awesome guy on the planet. The whole one. I want to run into him at some seedy ass bar concert in Brooklyn and then ask him what he thinks of...um, everything. And then I'll buy him a few too many drinks, take him to my walk-up in Spanish Harlem, and force him to blog for me and sign my name at the bottom.

In between we'll perhaps play Yahtzee and watch TV shows on DVRs and do the robot to shitty DJ music.



E

I Definitely Didn't Know About This

While perusing the once great, now hollowed shell of musical existence that is Subterranean, I stumbled on this video in their Top 25 Videos of 2008 list. It came in at #16.

I personally have an extreme and memory-rich love of Dr. Dog. I got into them back when We All Belong first came out in '07, and then started digging and basically just fell in love with the whole catalog. My bf knew a little about them and with my obsession with them, he probably got more Dr. Dog in his life than he could handle. I have so many memories and feelings (both happy and sad) attached to Dr. Dog's music that I can't listen to a single song anymore without crying. In fact, I'm starting to tear up just listening to "Ain't It Strange" in my head. It's a bummer though, because I love Dr. Dog and put at least two songs on all my playlists.

Anyways, it would seem they made a video to "Alaska," which happens to be one of the best songs on their '07 release. I remember when my bf and I were driving to the park from dinner at night and we were driving through downtown ATL and I said, "Wait, let me put on some city night driving music," and I put this song on. All the lights...and this song...and then my bf put his hand on mine and we just looked at each other and no one said a thing...it was perfect.

Oh shit. Since I'm getting all teary again, let me just play the damn video. The concept is cool too. It reminds me of the video for "Mountains" by the Spinto Band, or "Who's There?" by Cavil at Rest (but only very loosely). Anyway, watch it, love it, live it. DDFL.

Dr. Dog - New Music - More Music Videos

E

I Want To Start A Community Thrift Store!

This is pretty fucking cool! Current TV never ceases to amaze me with its awesome programs. The one trend I've been noticing with these kinds of things is that the communities that people are fixing up and developing are usually some of the poorest in the city. I think that's what makes it easier, because these communities tend to be tight knit and open for help and change. That's probably why the Echo Park and Silverlake neighborhoods are more community-oriented. Because believe it or not, those areas (despite the expensive shopping) are lower socioeconomic areas.It seems like it would be a little discouraging to try to do things in more well-off neighborhoods because people have the capabilities and money to help themselves.

But my little thoughts on life aside, this is still pretty awesome and totally supports my wanting to move to Philly completely. I totally wish I could run a community thrift store. Minus the Christiness, the little bearded hipsters are so me!

You must be the change you want to see in the world.
--- Mahatma Gandhi


E

NEW LILY ALLEN VIDEO!

Omigosh, omigosh, omigosh! Lily is for realz back! I am so stoked on this new album. I don't even have words for this. You see how the title is in all caps?! It's like I'm screaming!!! Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!

Loves me some Lily Allen! And this song is sooo good. And it's good to see her with long hair again. And I love Lily Allen and this song.

And that is all.



E

The Most Special Movie Ever!

I'm normally not a Michael Rapaport fan (not since Boston Public ended a milli years ago), but this movie looks kind of super weird funny awesome. In that weird funny awesome way that screams independent film. Plus I may be the only person on the planet who caught this, but I am loving the use of the Clock Work Army's song "The Day We Woke Up Without Mouths" in the trailer. Okay music geekiness over.

Um, so who's coming with me?

One. More. Week.

Um, ohmahgawd ohmahgawd ohmahgawd! It's only one more boring week until Thanksgiving! You know what that means, right???

One more week till I see my boyfriend!

I'm super excited because we haven't seen each other since August. Craze shit has happened since then, obvi. I am happy to see him a) because I love him very much and I adore seeing and being around him, b) because he (sadly?) is one of my only true friends and it'll be nice to be around someone who gets me and c) because I feel like I've changed and developed so much (for better and maybe worse) that I almost want to show myself off. Like when you get that awesome sauce top at F21 for 60% off and you want to wear it the very next day just so you can tell people you got it for 60% off when people compliment you on it.

Not to mention the fact that Thanksgiving is like the jumpoff for the rest of the year. After it passes, it's Christmas, the New Year, and then not only will I be in my fantastic new townhouse, but I'll have a better job, more opportunities, and a few seriously life altering decisions to make.

I'm stoked. You should be too. To get you in the mood, please direct your attention to this video:



Damn. A decade later and I still hate Peppermint Patty.

E

"You Rock Like A Girl." - "Thank You."

Man...I wish I could have spent my formative and angst-ridden teenage years in the 90s. But noooo. I had to blossom in the gross '00s. Not important. Important is the fact that I spent an entire hour last night reading up on Kathleen Hanna. Important is the fact that she has become my Gloria Steinem.

Important is the fact that I spent two and a half hours listening to 90s riot grrrl rock music from the Muffs, the 5,6,7,8's, Free Kitten, Lunachicks, and Hole. Important is the fact that tonight, I bought my first Bikini Kill record.

Really important is that I found the video for this song (btw, one of my favorite songs in ever). I wish I had been a teen when grunge was in. I would get a pair of lace-up boots, patterned tights, and sundress, and put this song on whilst leaning over the bathtub to die my hair blue. Now enjoy.



Oh yeah, and important is the fact that once I go back to Atlanta and get to drum again, I will so totally be starting a garage band. It will so be awesomeplus.

Deuces,
Erika

I'm Moving! And Other Interesting News!

That's right bitches! I'm relocating! But not to awesome super cool have fun Hollywood like I'd wanted, mostly because I'm too poor to. And I have no one to live with, so my poor ass has to make rent alone. But oh well. Instead I am moving to not fun super boring kinda hot mostly empty Calabasas, CA. Does that sound familiar? It should. The Kardashians live there too. So with my move it should up the population to a whopping eight.

I'll be shipping up and shipping out in mid January, and I couldn't be more excited to get away from this hellhole apt. Plus the new apt has a washer/dryer in it so no more of this washing clothes twice a month to save time and money. Booyah!

And in other interesting news, my bf sent me my old drafts and copies of White Rice! Which means we can be in business pretty soon with this stuff! V and I worked ourselves up into a frenzy talking about it. There're no plans for the mag yet, but a launch party with beer and crackers is in the works!

Also, I'm going back to Atlanta in two weeks so expect fun tales and some not so live blogging! AND...I JUST BOUGHT...

SPICE GIRLS GREATEST HITS!!!!

It's so awesome! I can't believe I a) got it used for only 7.99 and b) remember all the words almost a decade later! This is why school should focus more on what you do retain than what you don't. The outcome of the Crimean War? I dunno. The words to "Spice Up Your Life?" Got 'em!

Deuces,
Erika

Repo! The Genetic Opera

So since I'm kinda becoming the self proclaimed darling of the indie movie scene (okay, so only like one person knows me at the Sunset 5), I guess I will be seeing at least one movie per week. Except for that one time when I saw Happy Go Lucky on Friday and then Let The Right One In on Saturday night. But that was rad because I ran into this awesome customer while waiting in line and I totes helped him and his friend make an educated ticket purchase.

Anyway, this week's fantastic flick is called Repo! The Genetic Opera. Basically it's set in 2056, a time where plastic surgery runs rampant, the city's people are addicted to painkillers, and organ failure has become an epidemic. This big company, GeneCo loans citizens organs, and if they miss a payment, the Repo man comes and...well, that's the end of them. The whole thing is set Sin City style, and basically has this rock opera vibe going on. You know what? I'll just show you the trailer and you'll want to see it too.



Deuces,
Erika

///UPDATE///
The movie was awesome! Basically it was the best combo of soft porn, goth, musicals, and comedy that I've seen yet. The premiere was craze...people were dressed up as characters from the film, they were taking photos and making videos, these girls started singing every song from the movie, and I chatted it up with a man wearing a cape. Good fun, good movie, cool director. He talked to us before the film started and then the audience clapped when his name came up in the end credits.

Baby Dick...?

This whole thing is disturbing for a couple of reasons. First, Dirt Nasty (Simon Rex) is rapping. Second, this entire song is set to various scenes from Family Guy. Third, the idea of making a song about baby sized dicks is just plain weird.



Deuces,
Erika

Filth And Wisdom

Dudes, it's pretty debatable as to whether or not Filth and Wisdom or Let The Right One In is the best movie of the year. This one was pretty fucking good. In Filth and Wisdom, we're lead by Andre or "A.K.", played by Eugene Hutz, who's the frontman for Gogol Bordello. He basically turns good people bad, and helps the secretly sinful satiate themselves. It's an amazing movie with awesome music, a seriously inspiring story, rock n' roll badassery, sex slaves, filth, wisdom, Britney Spears, British people, handlebar mustaches, Ukranian, and Bourbon in the bathtub.

You guys, you need to see this movie like you need to be awesome. As in immediately, and with haste. Pretty much, now that I've seen this movie, I'm gonna live my life like I'm the coolest person ever and it's going out of style. Like everyone should.



Deuces,
Erika

Let The Right One In

Um, so seriously, this was the best movie I've seen all year. And I've seen a lot of good ones. Let The Right One In is a Swedish film about these two twelve year olds, Oskar and Eli. Oskar is super cute, super pale, and bullied by these chicken shit little boys at his school. And Eli is a vampire. Simple enough. Soon, Oskar's little town is ambushed by Eli's vampiring, and though they fall in love with each other, Oskar and Eli are forced to come to grips with Eli's midnight madness. Oskar loves her no matter what though, and the ending is beautiful, so I won't give it away. Plus there's gore, lil kid love, sewn up vaginas, some bleeding from the eyes, and a woman who gets attacked by CG cats and then catches on fire. The usual Swedish fare.

But really, this movie isn't about vampires, it's about love and everything you'll do for it. It's awesome, adorable, touching, and the countryside of Sweden is beyond beautiful. So find yourself an independent cinema house and see the movie already! Sure there are subtitles, but a little reading never did you any harm.



Deuces,
Erika

Top Of The World

For some reason I've always been a Dixie Chicks fan. I can't really explain why because I'm not into country music but I can stand to listen to them. When this song came out a long time ago I was sort of obsessed with it and now I have it on repeat all the time. That, and this song.



I'm so wee-yerd.

Now go to Missbehave and read something funny!

Lower Learning

That's right, Erika's going back to the movies. This time it's after work so I'm like praying this one doesn't suck because then my day will be a complete fail. But I don't think it will, because it looks fucking hilarious!

So Lower Learning is about this fucked up elementary school with this crazy ass principal who doesn't care about the kids' education or feelings. Then some Board of Ed lady comes in and wants to fix it but it's like school v principal. That's a terrible explanation, I know. But Will Sasso, Jason Biggs, Eva Longoria, and Rob Cordry are in it. It turns out Sasso and Cordry were at the theatre for this meet and greet thing last night so all the shows were sold out, obvi. Anyway, watch the trailer, peep the goodness, and then feel really bad that we don't hang out and thus cannot come with me to see this. Okay, great!



Deuces,
Erika