Oh my God, Ted!

You need to stop. No, you don't. Never stop.

2013!

I can't believe we are already a week into 2013. I had a lovely Christmas with my family and a chilled out New Years. I hope everyone had a good one and 2013 kicks 2012's arse!

Since I last wrote here I have done a few things:

I made my friend a really awesome mix tape.  I also made her some particularly heinous candy cane vodka.

I drew a banjo, what on Earth possessed me to do that?!

I fell in love with Of Monsters and Men. So now I am sad that I can't see them or Vampire Weekend this Summer!

I read The Hunger Games trilogy in a five day period. Oh my!

I did my Hottest 100 voting, although there were too many things I wanted to vote for. I could have happily given my 10 votes to Mumford and Sons or Jack White. I was very restrained and only voted for 3 Mumford and Sons tracks - I Will Wait, Lover of the Light, and Broken Crown.

I am finally watching Arrested Development and Freaks and Geeks and loving them! :)

I finally finished getting my tooth fixed up after 8 dental appointments including 2 fillings to the same tooth and a root canal (hence me being too poor to do anything remotely exciting this Summer). 

And last but not least I went to see The Hobbit at long last yesterday! :D    

A Very Mumford Christmas.

This satirical article, Mumford & Sons Can't Believe They all got Each Other Mandolins for Christmas* is a real crack up. 

“To be honest, I thought at least some of the 12 mandolin-shaped packages would turn out to be banjos, dobros, or buzuqs when we unwrapped them. But I can’t say I’m disappointed when I think about the amazing sound we could create with this many mandolins."  - Marcus Mumford

I really don't know what to get my Dad for Christmas. He bought himself a mandolin earlier this year but I don't think he has even strummed it. It is a real travesty. It is locked up in a dark cupboard somewhere in the house, where hobbies go to die. 

But I totally strummed it. As if I could resist.

Unfortunately they don't have a mandolin music book for Sigh no More because he would totally hate that. Well, he referred to Mumford and Sons as Muppets** when I went to see them (which is a total British insult I don't get because The Muppets are amazeballs). Unless he secretly knows about The Amazing Mumford, now that would be an unexpected twist. 

I shall leave you with this.

*I really hope Marcus, Winnie, Ted and Ben get all the mandolins they want for Christmas. <3
** I once got called a Muppet for wearing my Ugg boots to the pub after being dragged out of bed when I lived in England. I lived above said pub, they were lucky I didn't socialise in my pyjamas.

Yes.

On Coping With Post Gig Depression

You've been waiting eagerly for months to see that band you love. The day is finally here and before you know it, it is all over. The house lights come back on and you are left feeling elated and a little bit sad that it has come to an end when they never played that one song you were desperate to hear live. The next day you feel devastated that you no longer have that gig to look forward to, you ask yourself why you didn't take time off work and become a groupie. You are suffering from post gig depression (PGD).

Living in a town which doesn't see many decent acts, going to gigs is somewhat of an event and as a result I have experienced PGD many times. I know that the number one way to combat PGD is to have a large range of gigs booked in advance to distract myself. Unfortunately I missed out on tickets to a bunch of events I wanted to attend and am at a loss.  

I am wallowing.

I am probably never taking off this band shirt, like ever.

I am listening to Mumford and Sons on repeat, trawling Tumblr and watching all the YouTube clips ever made.

And I am remembering all the little moments like when Marcus Mumford gave us permission to stand during Little Lion Man, dancing alone to I Will Wait, and when some lady yelled out "that song was so lovely" after they played Ghosts That We Knew and feeling the whole crowd must be feeling simpatico. 

I know I should try and beat this post gig depression by listening to some new music or something. Right? How do you deal with post gig depression? 

*I wrote this a month ago after seeing Mumford & Sons. I may or may not still be mourning the lack of gigs in my life due to being poor and living where I live. I have changed my t-shirt numerous times, so I guess I am coping alright.

A terrible photo I took of Mumford & Sons

Babel

I am loving this song.

In fact I pretty much love all of the songs on Babel. I remember they played a few new songs when I saw them in 2010 and thinking they were amazing then. It was easily one of the best concerts I have been too, beautiful venue, great crowd, and apart from the second band that played which just didn't fit musically (Boy & Bear opened and were perfect) the music was spot on. Such a good night. I am really looking forward to seeing them again in a months time, even though seeing international bands in my home town totally weirds me out (but in a good way!).

I saw this the other day and it is totally true for me.

So I am pretty happy they have followed through with an excellent second album, totally worth the wait. And in case you were wondering, yes, I totally think Ted Dwane is a ginger fox.