Music Monday: Os Mutantes

Os Mutantes are a Brazilian psychedelic rock band and their song A Minha Menina reminds me of summer. Now it's not quite summer yet but after having an awesome sunny 80 degree weekend I felt it was time to start listening to this song:


If you're not fluent if Portuguese, they're basically singing "she is my girl, I'm her guy, she is my love". Now mind you this is my interpretation and not an exact translation since I'm not fluent in Portuguese and that's pretty much the most I understand lyrically from the song.

Thanks high school/college Spanish courses for making me fluent in Spanglish and picking up partial Portuguese!

Catchphrase

Catchphrase is defined as a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance.

I tend to utter this far too often:

Lame.

It usually sounds dragged out like "laaame" and I'll use it to express frustration and annoyance. Ex: "Internet Explorer is lame, I wish everyone would stop using it."  On the flip side, it can also be used to express jealousy or disapproval. Ex: You just told me you're going on an all expense paid trip to Hawaii. My reply would be "LAAAME!"

Realizing that I say lame far to often I've thought about making a conscious decision to start using something else but have since convinced myself that saying lame sounds much more intelligent than repeating another phrase often overused by others like "stupid" or "gay". That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

What is your catchphrase?

Music Monday: Camera Obscura

This week Coachella is coming to me and I couldn't be happier about it. Camera Obscura has a sixties pop sound that I adore and dance embarrassingly to. There is something charming about them that I can't quite put my finger on. I'm convinced I will have to travel to Scotland and scope out their home base of Glasgow to have a better understanding of what makes them so endearing. Any excuse to travel is a good one, right?

This is the title track off their newest album My Maudlin Career:

Music Monday: The Growlers

The Growlers are a surfer/psychedelic/rock/blues/dark/weird... they have their own thing going on. They're currently touring in an old school bus and after seeing them play for a second time I am convinced they are legit when it comes to living a "rock n roll" lifestyle. I'm not sure what the hell they're on but I'm into it and want some more.



Someone Something Junior from WhiteLion333 on Vimeo.

Things I love: San Francisco Giants

It's baseball season! Which means sunny afternoons and cool summer nights filled with over priced beer & hotdogs all while being able to cheer and heckle like a crazy person and not be judged for it. What's not to love?

I was raised a Giants fan. Some of my first memories of baseball consist of being 4 years old and watching the Giants play on TV with my Dad, which we continue to do. But there is nothing better than being in AT&T Park and watching a game. I love San Francisco and being able to take in the city, the bay and my favorite team all at once is like having a little piece of heaven—it's truly that good. Even if you're not a diehard Giants fan I suggest you see at least one game at AT&T park, it really is beautiful. A Dodgers fan once broke down and told me that they liked the stadium. So, if a crappy Dodgers fan can appreciate it, anyone can.


Note: I wouldn't be a real fan if I didn't take a dig at the Dodgers, sorry!



Nighttime view of AT&T Park, across McCovey Cove (San Francisco) from David Berry on Vimeo.

You can catch me at the stadium sporting my black on black Giants cap, panda ears and a big ol' smile on my face. 

Gratitude Tuesday: Kindness

I'm grateful for kindness, whether it's from a loved one or a total stranger. To me, the greatest acts of kindness are often seen as the smallest. But lately I feel like kindness doesn't amount to much if you can't be kind to yourself. I really need to work on that. Being your toughest critic is rough when you're stuck with yourself. I figure if I can give myself a break and be kinder then giving away that kindness will be effortless.

"Well, you made the best of this life where you never knew one day from the next. Dig your heels in a little girl put them to the test. You gotta be kind to yourself." -She & Him

P.S- I'm in love with She & Him Volume Two. I've been singing/dancing around like a fool to it non-stop. Pure bliss.

Music Monday: BlakRoc

Blakroc is comprised of The Black Keys (one of my favorite blues/rock bands) and a host of collaborations with hip hop and R&B artists like Dirty Ol' Bastard from the Wu Tang Clan and Q-tip of A Tribe Called Quest.

The Black Keys + Mos Def+ Jim Jones=