Is it lame to write a review of your boyfriends band?

Well, then fuck you.


I've seen the Exemption trio preform more times then their own
mothers. I've seen them in-state, out-of-state, on LI, in
Manhattan, up your ass and in your backyard and I must say
I've never been prouder of my boys. It seems like only
yesterday that these glorious haired boys were grungy little

youths practicing in an attic or garage and imitating the

sounds of Green Day, Nirvana and Pantera.  Of course, their

tastes have matured as have they. I've watched them grow as

musicians and humans since before we were teens and their new

album Public Cemetery Party fully encompasses their abilities

in a seriously beautiful mind fuck of a way.  The album touches

on more genres then I could even name jumping from metal to

blues, from hard hitting to groovy drum beats paired

with hard hitting vocals to pop melodies you'll be singing for

days. This album will fuck you up like Steven Segal, mesmerize

you like a fat hit of acid and finish you off with a good,

happy cry like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Track by track:

Hyperspiral - The first track off the album gives listeners a

little taste of something almost familiar but not created so

masterfully before.  Front man, Tom Moran layers on a beautiful

vocal line that is matched noted for note with screams from Nick Lee.

Blood heaven - The first few beats of this track will pull you

in and encompass you throughout all 4 minutes of this blissfully

beautiful track. 

Mutating skulls - The closest to a pop song that you can get on

the album, this sing along song will no doubt have you movin',

and grovin'.

Hounds of Sound - This is by far the heaviest track on the album

with guest vocals from the bands long time friend Alf Kamin.

This track will fuck you and never call you again. 

Godzilla - Do yourself a favor, put this track in your bong and smoke it.

White animal - 

Birds - This track shows the versatility once more with a bad

ass jam towards the end of the song.  If you have a chance to

see this song live, you will probably shit yourself with glee.

Cold bodies - On this track Nick Lee shows you his vocal talent

by matching up next to Tom Moran. 

Young blood - This track is last but certainly not least.

This track brings together all of the genres from the whole

album for one last hoorah.  Once again you will see a vocally

melodic/screaming match up with appearances from all three

members which eventually turns into a sing a long that ends

with an upbeat jam. 


Not only does this album rock, their live performances will blow

you away. Regardless of the fact that I've been dating the drummer

of this band for the last 5 and a half years, they're one of my

favorite bands to see live because they're always coming up with

something new, and they rev up the crowd with hard hitting grooves

to full crowd sing alongs.  If you want a band that can actually

produce their record right there in front of you then Exemption

is the band for you.  The face melting (I've seen it happen) guitar

solos that pour out of guitarist Nick Lee's soul, the insane time

signatures and quick tempo changes that live in every limb of

drummer Ray Marte, and the bass lines that you can feel moving

through your entire body mixed with the sometimes beautiful,

sometimes heavy vocals from all three members is enough to make

anyone an instant fan upon listening. 

If you know me or have ever read my blog before, you could gather

that I am into bands that jam, grove and move.  But I am also a

fan of hard hitting bands with the unique credibilities that make

you say, "What the fuck did I do before this album existed?"

So, here I am with PCP on repeat for the 100th time asking myself

that exact question.  So I suggest visiting iTunes, cdbaby or any

of the links below to fill the void in your life.  These boys

breathe, sleep, eat, drink, shoot up and shit musical melodies

and it's only your loss if you don't give yourself the opportunity

of listening to this graceful beast of an album.

Listen to the entire album here:

exemption.bandcamp.com

Other Exemption links:

facebook.com/Exemption

myspace.com/Exemption

ourstage.com/epk/exemption

exemptionband.blogspot.com

soundcloud.com/exemption

exemptionmusic.com

twitter.com/exemptionband

I'm always up... and you're always around.

SO, I managed to get a photo pass for Umphrey's McGee at Gathering of the Vibes and I have to say... taking 500 photos over a 2 hour set was probably way too many...

But, I was too excited to stop shooting.  I've taken photos of local bands for so long that I have been feeling as if I was stuck in a rut with my photography and I didn't think I could really go anywhere with it in the future, but this little kick of energy was enough inspiration to remind myself not to throw away this hobby that I love so much.  I am not saying that I have decided to go back to this as a career, but I certainly don't want to forget about it like I have been slowly doing.  And, the excitement of meeting Brendan Bayliss (guitar/vocals) and Ryan Stasick (bass) about an hour before their performance just enhanced the experience.

Here are a few of the photos of Umphrey's from Vibes:

As excited as I was, I was still timid because it was my first photo pass ever, so I feel as if these shots have all been taken before.  I really can't wait to have access to photo passes in the future and be able to step outside the box and really take some unique shots.

And, speaking of getting another photo pass, I got MY first official pass for Umphrey's at Westbury Theater on Long Island.  It was a really cool fabric, and I was excited to keep it, frame it, wear it every day... but then I washed it in the laundry and it got ruined... at least I have PHOTO memories!

The venue was really awesome, but not too conducive to taking photos.  I mostly took video, using my cousin Megan's d90 nikon slr camera.  I still have yet to edit the videos, because I don't really know how to.  But I will eventually clip it together.  They are all bits so I will have to put a recorded audio clip behind it, but I think it will still be cool.  I do have a few stills, but I am not sure if I took them or Megan did, but I will add them anyway.  We also somehow got back stage to meet all of the guys from Umphrey's and I must say, they were really awesome.  I always think about what it would be like to meet my idols and how I would feel about it afterwords, but I have to say that it was a really great night.  They didn't ruin any expectations that I held for them, they only raised them.  The night entailed silly Polish girls, bros named Marley, shitty beer, a painful, against my will boob signing, and a late night Diner run.

Photos from Umphrey's at Westbury and the aftermath:

So, all in all a very Umphrey's month.  And, to top it off I can't stop listening to 30db, which is Brendan Bayliss of Umphrey's and Jeff Austin of Yonder Mountain String Band.  I chatted about them in a previous blog, but as of now I have become full fledged obsessed.  Check out their album 30db: One Man Show!

I shall end this blog off with some photos from the rest of Vibes:

Fun things in that bunch are Jackie Greene, cute little kids, and the McLovins.  I seriously recommend this festival for anyone within a few hours of Connecticut... the weather was beautiful, and the scenery was even better.


Later days,

Alli

"I'd probably be wrong, if I was right."

So it has occurred to me that I should get a laptop.  While I sit here and type

this out into the notes section on my, in more then one way broken, iPhone I

realized that I am my angriest, hungriest, sleepiest, and in my most aggravated

states while commuting on the LIRR.  I always sit here and have thoughts

about bullshit and wish I had a device that would pull them from my brain to

make my friends and family aware.  A pen and paper could work, but I never

seem to have them at the same time.   And it wouldn't really help anyway

because I've forgotten how to write since High school.  Sometimes I draw a

bunch of squiggly connected lines when I am asked to sign somewhere, but

it doesn't actually say anything.

stolen signature

 For serious though, I could TYPE everyday about the weird people that I see/get stuck sitting next to. You know, like the guy that is next to me snorting cocaine.  He looks like someone straight out of American History X. I could see him taking off his shirt and banging his chest like an ignorant, no brained fuck and showing off his tattoos. If this were the south he would be a coal miner. He would sleep on the job and never wash his hands before lunch. He's got a crazy eye that won't blink. I wish it would stop looking at me. Just the eye, he's looking at his cocaine.


This rant was really going to be geared more towards burritos... It's scary how you can actually read my train of thought, or rather the lack of a consistent brain wave.
 
Anyway, Burritos (capital because of their importance, not just to me but in socitey as a whole) are on my top 5 obsessed list next to cats, red pandas, chewing on plastic that is pliable without hurting, as my mom says, my $20,000 teeth, and chocolate sprinkles from Marshalls in Massapequa. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel that this is everyone on planet earths top 5 obsessed list.

Someone corrected me.

Unfortunately, it was brought to my attention that this is not a plausible thought being that most all of the world does not know about Marshalls. But rest assured, the other four are correct.

Finally, to the true topic of discussion. I have made my status, "Moe's burritos are sub par to all others especially Qdoba."

I had once made this my status, months ago, and there was an uproar.  This time, not so much.  This time, people agreed with me.  Moe's sucks.


My Burrito Store List*
#1 - Qdoba - If you want REAL salsas' you can find them here.  IN YOUR BURRITO, not next to it, not for dipping, but INSIDE.  Also, they always have Cholula hot sauce, which in my book is the only hot sauce of the world (my book is always right.)

#2 - Chipotle - Chipotle is a second to Qdoba, however it is a far second.  The only reason that this place is even any good is because of the consistency of their tortilla wraps, almost as great as Qdoba's.  Chipotle is a mock Qdoba.  Everything is the same except for the salsa.  Why would you make the only option for mild salsa have giant chunks of tomatoes and onions in it?  That isn't mild, that's bullshit.

#3 - Baja Bettys - Boston - This place is great because if you are a student, you can eat and drink for only $5.  That also makes it taste good.

#4 - Taco Joes - Massapequa - Listen, the very first time I went here, I screamed "TACO BLOWS" to the crowd of people and ran out.  Oops.  This incident was before I was a full blown burrito lover.  A self-proclaimed connoisseur (of ADULT mac and cheese as well.)  However, despite making many of my friends throw up immediately after digestion during their grand opening, they have gotten better.  Though, they still aren't perfection.  You can't just place your mediocre store across from Marshall's, (best ice cream in my very correct book) All-American, (which has been featured on a show on the food network which is hosted by THE DOUBLE DARE GUY) and Marsala's Pizzeria (everyone knows it is better then Gino's pizza) and expect to stay very busy.

#5 - Moe's - sucks... It's only on this last because someone needs to lose.

*I should bring to your attention that this information is all accurate and has been tested by scientific data, inside my stomach.




I am honestly, at my happiest when I am eating Burritos, Qdoba in particular.

Proof.

The thought crossed my mind that there may be other burrito places in the existence of the world, however I don't find it too likely.


In other news, I have not been able to stop listening to Mantis by Umphrey's McGee.  The CD came out a while ago, however I scratched it pretty badly and it wouldn't play in my car.  I just put it in again this past week, and it magically works.  You should pick it up.  Or steal it off the internet.  Umphrey's has gotten big enough that they can afford it.  Or better yet, pay me and I will just burn it for you.

Just kidding, buy it.

 Mantis Cover

But seriously, pay me.


Other people you should pay are the McLovin's.  And, if you don't want to just pay them because they're still little babies and you feel you should give them money for lunch, you should just pick up their album Good Catch.  The album featuring the three youngsters will be sure to shred your face off, in a good way.  Though, it does not do the young teens justice to their live performances, it is still pretty rockin'.  I was lucky enough to catch them at Mountain Jam at the same stage I had seen Lotus two years prior.  And, I must say that I think they could have handled a late night set just as Lotus did in 2008.  While looking around the crowd at the McLovin's one may have had flash backs to Lotus' entranced crowd, being that the crowd had the same glimmer in their eyes.  They both seem to be bands that gain immediate fans.  If you were to throw some heavy lighting up on the stage with the McLovins, the set would have been even more memorizing then it already was.  This self-propelled trio of teens became famous off of YouTube by covering Phish and other jammy bands.  And, I must say, I think they can hold their own against their heroes.  I think that regardless of their age, which makes them very news worthy, they would have eventually become noticed from the high levels of talent and excitement they bring to the stage.

Tearin' it up in all the papers... this was foreshadowing. Stolen photo.

Check out the review of Good Catch by Relix that I stole (I think this is an acceptable thing to steal since I work for Relix) from their website below:

Relix review

Join me in the "Thousand Hippie McLovins March" at Gathering of the Vibes.  I am not sure really what it means to join this march, but I would assume it just means to go see them preform, because otherwise you will regret it when they are really famous and you need to pay $200 just to see them.


In later news, I am sleepy.  Apparently, this isn't only my photography blog.  Who knew?  I should probably put a photo in here that I actually took...

Meow.

Later days,


Alli

"Such a long, long time to be gone... and a short time to be there."

So, the last blog that I made, disappeared out of no where.  It was really unfortunate that I spent a ton of time dedicated to posting... 10 photos... which took me all of 5 minutes... and then it went and deleted itself.  Boo.  But for real, I am getting my website up and running again, eventually, which will contain my best(?) photos.  And this will be where I post photos from my everyday life/events that I wouldn't add to my portfolio.

This summer I have been lucky enough to work at Relix Magazine, a national music magazine that covers the likes of the Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers, Gov't Mule, Derek Trucks, Umphrey's McGee, Tea Leaf Green, and all of the other bands that I have come to obsess over the last few years.  It has been to my advantage that Relix also travels to music festivals all across the country, and they have been so kind as to take me along for the journeys.  Fortunately, these festivals are some of which I would have been attending anyway.  The benefit of a free ticket and gas money to these concerts pays for the amount of money I spend commuting every week.  So, for those of you who are against internships... I win, big time. Some of you may say that this sounds as if it is the best gig in the world... and I would have to say that I agree.

Quickly before I post my photos, these are the covers of the issues of Relix that I have been apart of, so far.  You can see my name in the "interns extraordinaire" section at the front of the magazine.  Exhilarating, I know.  At least they spelled my name right.

        April/May                                            June                                              July

NOW! Here are some photos from my journeys starting from the beginning... and ending never.

Summer Camp in Chillicothe, IL on May 27th-30th (not including driving.)  Took 16 hours to drive there... and 24 hours to get back?  Make sense of that.  Anyway, it was the first festival of the season, and to date it has been the best.  As much as the heat made me hate everyone and everything, the summer eventually got hotter, and when I look back, the best sets were at this festival.  How can you really go wrong with 6 Umphrey sets, 6 moe. sets, and a private bass workshop featuring Victor Wooten, and Rob from moe.?  Not to mention Mule being there... at one point I could stand on top of a hill and hear Umphrey's and Mule at the same time.  I couldn't think of a better scenario for anything ever.

Here are some photos of Summer Camp and a list of the bands that I saw/loved:

30DB - acoustic

Umphrey's McGee - 6 sets

moe. - 6 sets

STS9

Keller Williams

Bassnectar

Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa

Victor Wooten (plus private bass workshop jam)

Cornmeal

Family Groove Company

Moving on... The following weekend I attended Mountain Jam at Hunter Mountain... the dates being June 4th-6th.  This festival has been the love of my life for a few years now and it was convenient that many of the loves in my life attended with me.  These loves being Ray, my boyfriend of 5 years (as of the weekend prior when I ditched him for Summer Camp), his sister Jess, her boyfriend OB, and our good friend Nick Barreda.  This was my third Mountain Jam and I must say, it was the weakest so far.  I was disappointed in the fact that there was no Umphrey's or bands in that type of genre.  It seems that the Jam tried to steer away from bands such as Umphrey's McGee, Tea Leaf Green, U-Melt, and Lotus, bands whom have attended their festival before.  In my eyes, the festival attracted a much older crowd this year and the bands seemed to cater towards that.  Really lengthy, monotonous jams that rarely caused me to lose brain cells (which is what you look for at a festival, in more way then one?) Granted, it was Levon Helm's 9th or 10th 70th birthday show extravaganza at the end of the show, where they brought out about 50 musicians that I never heard of.  But, in all honesty, the festival was fun, but my least favorite festival to date of all the festivals I have been to in my life (melodramatic.)  I think one of the main highlights was playing with two extremely muddy, seemingly parent-less 5 year olds who are more or less destined to be muddy hippies.

Also, I was told by more then one credible source that Dave Matthews, who I wouldn't care about if I had to pay to see him but of course wouldn't mind seeing him for free, was going to come on stage for Levon Helm, which forced me to stay later into Levon's set then I had originally intended and freeze my ass off, and then he DIDN'T come out... extra disappointment and a cold.

Despite the dreary efforts of Warren Haynes, who I still love, adore, and admire after all of this, there were still some great parts to the festival.  I got to meet Jeff Austin from Yonder Mountain String Band and my new favorite, 30DB.  And, I finally got to hear these Avett Brothers that everyone has been raving about.

So, with that said here are some photos of Mountain Jam and a list of the bands that I saw between the rain storms:

Gov't Mule - 4 sets

Warren Haynes - with nearly every single act

Levon Helm - with everyone he has ever known

Michael Franti and Speadhead

Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi

The Avett Brothers

Yonder Mountain String Band

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

The Bridge

The Brew

The McLovins

Anyway, I got home at some point on Monday just in time to take a shower and take a breath, maybe two... but not likely, before I had to get back to school on Monday night at 6pm.  Then... Wednesday morning came (I don't remember Tuesday happening, though I am sure I appeared awake, I was more then likely not), the morning that we were leaving for Bonnaroo.  It just so happens, that everyone had to wait for me because I had to take a test in the city Wednesday morning.  This is how the test went... I took the train from Massapequa to Penn Station and arrived at 8:56 (meanwhile I still had to take a subway and make it to class by 9am.)  I was late.  I freaked out on the way to the test knowing that I only had 45 minutes to take it and I knew I would get there after people had already begun.  I managed to take the train uptown meanwhile I know that Canal street is very much downtown from Penn, so I got to my class even later... making it 9:20am by the time I walked into the building.  On top of all of that, I lost my school ID so it took me time to sign in, and wait for the elevator that only on days when I am rushing, take their time.  So, I finally got into the class, signed in, turned my computer on (old piece of crap Dell desktop), took the test and left the classroom, and was on my way back to Penn Station by... 9:26am.  So after all of that bullshit, the test probably didn't even take 2 minutes.  I got to Penn in no time and was on a train back to Massapequa to meet up with the rest of the Roo-crew.  The crew included... divided by cars, myself, Billy, Caroline, Jackie and Megan.  The other car sausaged (yes, that is an adjective) Nick Lee, Nick Barreda, OB, Jess and Ray.

Then, I embarked on a million (67.3 hours to be more exact) hour drive.  This was the first festival that I was actually driving to with friends (which means I had to pay for transportation, boo.)  The drive was intense, but the festival was an overall good time.  The bands were hot, as were the long days.  I literally at one point thought that I was melting.  Turns out, I was just burning, which to me is the same thing.  Good thing my super tan complexion from the festivals prior made me just tan enough to not get skin poisoning.

These faces describe the heat.

Honestly though, if you thoroughly enjoy bathing in piss, it really wasn't a problem to stay cool... but the fact that MOST people don't enjoy DRINKING piss... the 45 minute water lines were really rough.

This guy drinks goat piss erryday. (Beerfest?)

The lineup for this festival as most people know, was spectacular.  There were literally too many bands to see. They were overlapping and I felt as if I couldn't miss any of them.  There was a point where I was saying okay, I will go see one song from this person then go to this tent and see 30 seconds of this person, and then run and try and catch the last breath from this band.  At first I was complaining about the poor scheduling that the festival put together, but then I realized, that just by seeing the headliners preform, I would already get my monies worth, and the rest of the bands were just extras.  I still had to work the Relix booth for 4 hours a day, two hour shifts at a time, but really the only people that I missed were Ingrid Michaelson, who I really only cared to look at, and Stevie Wonder, who I could hear perfectly from the booth.

I keep saying that I would never go back, but I think that if next years lineup can be even a smidgen as good as this years... I am already sold.  Even if I have to buy my own ticket next year... hint.

So, as per usual, here are some photos and the lineup that I caught from the festival of joy:

Dave Matthews Band

Kings of Leon

Tenacious D

Weezer

The Dead Weather

Norah Jones

Michael Franti and Spearhead

Regina Spektor

The Avett Brothers

Les Claypool

Umphrey's McGee

Clutch

Clutch - acoustic

John Butler

Dropkick Murphys

She and Him

All in all, this summer has been pretty rockin'.   I've met some really great people and went to some pretty fantastic shows.  This of course, does not  even include the in office performances that I saw by the likes of Jackie Greene, Tea Leaf Green and Andy McKee.  I saw a lot more, however those are the ones that stick out in my memory as giving me a mini panic attack.  Also, at a benefit I worked for Relix, I won a bracelet made out of Warren Haynes guitar strings... and from what I was told by a credible source, the strings were from when Warren played with the Dead.  If that is not enough to make all of you deadheads, phishheads, spreadheads, umphreaks, and moe.rons quiver then I don't know what will...

Below is a link to a video of Jackie Greene from a performance in the owner of Relix's office... for weeks I have watched this video non-stop... as should you.

stolen photo

 

Jackie Greene performs Sugaree by the Grateful Dead

And, here is a photo taken by my shitty camera in my iPhone of Tea Leaf Green.  Mind you, when I saw Trevor and Josh just mingling around the office, I actually had to leave the room.  Pathetic, yes.  Reasonable, yes.

Oh also, this seriously beautiful human came into my office today.  Good thing was that he was just as talented as he was beautiful which made it all even better!  His name was Robert Francis, a singer, song-writer from California.  I took a few photos which I will add eventually.  As for now, just look at this one of his beautiful face that I stole.

stolen photo

The summer is not over yet... still to come is Gov't Mule in August at the Summer Stage followed by Mule at Westbury Music Hall, both shows more then likely featuring Jackie Greene.

stolen photo

But before that, Gathering of the Vibes in Bridgeport, CT featuring the likes of Further, Primus, Umphrey's McGee and Galactic will take place at the end of July into August.

And then last but certainly not least, in September will be moe.down in moe.hawk, NY.  Obviously featuring none other then moe., who will probably have around 6 sets, if not more.

Keep checking back for more photos of upcoming shows and otherwise.

Later days!

Alli