Thursday, August 07, 2008
Monday, August 04, 2008
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Superhero
After a few beers and burgers at Neighborhood (a bar on ground floor of our apt building), we decided to head over to an art party. It was held in conjunction with some of the ComicCon folks and aptly named ‘Superhero’ with many comics themed pieces of artwork.
After walking through a desolate and sketchy part of town and Liz having her first encounter ever with city cockroaches, we finally found the plain looking brick building that housed the function. We were greeted by security at the velvet rope and could hear the music blasting and voices mingling from the inside. After a quick check of our foreign Michigan ID’s we were let in to find this scene:
We had a great time looking at the art and enjoying the music. Unfortunately the bar was cash only and all we had were debit-cards and not an ATM in sight. Luckily for us the guy throwing (Jeromy) the party hooked us up with drink tickets (thanks man!). I think he felt sorry for us Midwest transplants with no friends.
Liz pondered on buying one of the pieces until we realized that we were a few-too-many beers deep and even deeper than that in debt. Ha.
These were a few of our favorite pieces:
Anthony Lister
Daniel Johnston
Others
Until next time...
After walking through a desolate and sketchy part of town and Liz having her first encounter ever with city cockroaches, we finally found the plain looking brick building that housed the function. We were greeted by security at the velvet rope and could hear the music blasting and voices mingling from the inside. After a quick check of our foreign Michigan ID’s we were let in to find this scene:
We had a great time looking at the art and enjoying the music. Unfortunately the bar was cash only and all we had were debit-cards and not an ATM in sight. Luckily for us the guy throwing (Jeromy) the party hooked us up with drink tickets (thanks man!). I think he felt sorry for us Midwest transplants with no friends.
Liz pondered on buying one of the pieces until we realized that we were a few-too-many beers deep and even deeper than that in debt. Ha.
These were a few of our favorite pieces:
Anthony Lister
Daniel Johnston
Others
Until next time...
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
BAD-ASS
Liz got her first tattoo last night. Rib cage, big, bold, nuff said. Mad props.
here are a few blurry pics will post better ones once its all healed and finished.
Many thanks to Todd @ Nothing Sacred Tattoo.
here are a few blurry pics will post better ones once its all healed and finished.
Many thanks to Todd @ Nothing Sacred Tattoo.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Monday, July 07, 2008
Happy!
We had a BIG weekend. Carlos's fam came to visit us in San Diego. Here's a photo journal of the events that transpired. Enjoy!
Monday, June 30, 2008
The Figuers album reviewed on Allmusic.com
CLICK HERE TO READ @ Allmusic.com
or
read the text here:
Mixing Latin and hip-hop rhythms with plenty of warm keyboards, fuzzy guitars, and bleeping electronic percussion, Michigan-based the Figuers play a version of left-field rap that's more at home in a late-night lounge than behind an MC's verses. That's not to say the trio's self-titled full-length debut, out on the group's own Fingerprint Records, has that kind of artificiality, that super-smooth breeziness, that's often associated with after-hours music, because it absolutely doesn't. There's a real sense of deliberation and reflection here, both in the careful yet fun arrangements and the actual instrumental lines themselves, so even the most lighthearted of the songs ("Sexy Collarbone," "Play That Beat") never seem fluffy or insignificant. In fact, it's only when the pieces began to feel a little too thoughtful, too serious, that the album begins to lose a bit of the significance it had and slips into the realm of the monotonous. "Instrumental #4," for example, focuses too much on the beat — which is not particularly interesting, one of the few times this is true — and less on melody, trying perhaps to provoke thought but instead losing itself in its own lack of dynamic shift, in its own plodding. Fortunately, the rest of The Figuers doesn't follow suit. Musicians and occasional vocalists Losaka and Hippo, along with DJ IrwinPlus, are able to produce melodic, intricate songs that repeat without being repetitive, that are steady without being boring, that are pleasant and comfortable but not shallow. This is certainly due in part to the fact that they play most of the samples on the album's 14 tracks, so they have the ability to amend and improvise at will, changing up a Rhodes line subtly as it moves throughout the piece; adding words in Spanish and English, extra percussion, and scratches when needed; and showing off the diversity of their influence base. "Explosion (Get Live)" sounds like something Aesop Rock might rhyme over, "Polarcita" blends California soul with warm Ratatat-esque instrumentals, "Running Closer" begins with a soul sample, "Sexy Collarbones" tries to rip off Prince, and "Jala Pelo" breaks into a slow dubstep, all tied together, however, by the Figuers' greater vision of creating a cross-cultural amalgamation of the music they love, a vision that ends up being quite successful.
-Marisa Brown, Allmusic.com
or
read the text here:
Mixing Latin and hip-hop rhythms with plenty of warm keyboards, fuzzy guitars, and bleeping electronic percussion, Michigan-based the Figuers play a version of left-field rap that's more at home in a late-night lounge than behind an MC's verses. That's not to say the trio's self-titled full-length debut, out on the group's own Fingerprint Records, has that kind of artificiality, that super-smooth breeziness, that's often associated with after-hours music, because it absolutely doesn't. There's a real sense of deliberation and reflection here, both in the careful yet fun arrangements and the actual instrumental lines themselves, so even the most lighthearted of the songs ("Sexy Collarbone," "Play That Beat") never seem fluffy or insignificant. In fact, it's only when the pieces began to feel a little too thoughtful, too serious, that the album begins to lose a bit of the significance it had and slips into the realm of the monotonous. "Instrumental #4," for example, focuses too much on the beat — which is not particularly interesting, one of the few times this is true — and less on melody, trying perhaps to provoke thought but instead losing itself in its own lack of dynamic shift, in its own plodding. Fortunately, the rest of The Figuers doesn't follow suit. Musicians and occasional vocalists Losaka and Hippo, along with DJ IrwinPlus, are able to produce melodic, intricate songs that repeat without being repetitive, that are steady without being boring, that are pleasant and comfortable but not shallow. This is certainly due in part to the fact that they play most of the samples on the album's 14 tracks, so they have the ability to amend and improvise at will, changing up a Rhodes line subtly as it moves throughout the piece; adding words in Spanish and English, extra percussion, and scratches when needed; and showing off the diversity of their influence base. "Explosion (Get Live)" sounds like something Aesop Rock might rhyme over, "Polarcita" blends California soul with warm Ratatat-esque instrumentals, "Running Closer" begins with a soul sample, "Sexy Collarbones" tries to rip off Prince, and "Jala Pelo" breaks into a slow dubstep, all tied together, however, by the Figuers' greater vision of creating a cross-cultural amalgamation of the music they love, a vision that ends up being quite successful.
-Marisa Brown, Allmusic.com
SOLD!
Sold our old house in Ann Arbor today! No more double housing payments. It took us two and half months to sell it. This calls for a celebration considering how lousy the market is these days. Done and Done!
now back to un-packing....
now back to un-packing....
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Grand Canyon
We stopped in to the Grand Canyon to check things out. Didnt get a chance to camp out because the campgrounds were full. So we stayed in a 'lodge'. We saw the sights, spent the night woke up and made a bee line for San Diego. Here are some sights:
Total miles traveled: 2,473
We're now in San Diego in an empty apartment. Just got some internet, We'll be moving our stuff in this saturday. I'll post pics of the mess then. stay tuned!
Total miles traveled: 2,473
We're now in San Diego in an empty apartment. Just got some internet, We'll be moving our stuff in this saturday. I'll post pics of the mess then. stay tuned!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
New Mexico Intermission - Day Three
Howdy! we spent all day today hiking around in Bandelier National Monument Park in New Mexico. About 2 hours north of ABQ it houses some ancient Native American ruins and awesome scenery. take a peek below:
More Random Road Fun
Random shots from the road, day one and two were rather uneventful except for the violent storm we drove through in Oklahoma. Miles traveld so far: 1,592. enjoy!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Cross-country Adventures day one
Today we officially said goodbye to Ann Arbor and our house.
Here is Liz standing where our dining room used to be:
packed up the car...
and we went off on our way. Not too many sights to see on this leg of the trip, we did drive through St. Louis and Liz caught a shot of downtown
We finished day one in Springfield, MO for a total of 738 miles traveled today.
We're exhausted and just ate some Papa Johns in our hotel room, ready for some sleep and looking forward to our 13 hour trip to Albuquerque tomorrow.
stay tuned for day two!
Here is Liz standing where our dining room used to be:
packed up the car...
and we went off on our way. Not too many sights to see on this leg of the trip, we did drive through St. Louis and Liz caught a shot of downtown
We finished day one in Springfield, MO for a total of 738 miles traveled today.
We're exhausted and just ate some Papa Johns in our hotel room, ready for some sleep and looking forward to our 13 hour trip to Albuquerque tomorrow.
stay tuned for day two!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Monday, June 09, 2008
Challenger
Got to drive this car a few days ago.
It was fantastic on the highway, but at 12 miles/gallon I didn't feel as bad about owning one of these instead:
lookin' pretty and ready for the long voyage ahead.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Thursday, June 05, 2008
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