Starry Nights Music Festival 2012

Hello All,

Three weekends late, but here I am catching up!

September 28-30, 2012

The first thing that I have to say about the Starry Nights Festival in Bowling Green Kentucky this year is that it was highly enjoyable. It was a bit of a long drive, but I'd say the experience was well worth it, and the company was also quite good...

My friend Elizabeth, having never been to a concert before in her life, invited me to consider going to this one   with her sometime back in July or August, as long as I could drive us both there. In the end, the actual "being able to drive us there" was a bit of a fiasco, but it was all worked out in the end. So we left Friday after classes and drove to Kentucky.

The Starry Nights Festival featured many bands and artists in the Indie/Rock vein, including a few that I knew of before hand, like Manchester Orchestra and of course Cage the Elephant. Elizabeth wanted to go primarily for CTE, but she is a greater lover of music than I, so she was listening to the Starry Nights Spotify playlist and was picking out the bands that she didn't want to miss.

After a long drive that went late into the night, we pulled into the campground where we would spend the next two evenings and set up the tent behind the car.

Elizabeth and Me at the Festival

Our Humble Campsite

After a little bit of music on Friday night, we crashed for the night to get ready for plenty of activity on Saturday...

Waking up, we went out to see what there was to be seen. We met some of our neighbors, we went to see the giant art wall, we checked out the woods where they had a "Hammock Haven" set out and were trying to rally people to play capture the flag, we did the climbing wall, and more. I was still suffering from mono at the time, so I had to take a nap for most of the afternoon (I think the long drive left me a little drained!) but she got me up in time to go back to the stages to hear music that night.

It has been a long time since I personally have gone to see a concert and the first time that I've ever gone to a real music festival (although the Big Spring Jam - where I first saw Cage the Elephant - was probably a close cousin). I enjoyed the atmosphere a lot. There was a big sense of general neighborliness and a very relaxed ambiance. The only real issue with the festival goers was the proliferated use of drugs and alcohol, but that was an issue that never really approached us. We were never threatened by anybody and security was otherwise great. I'd say that, despite that, it was probably among the safer music festivals I've known of, and that is highly to its credit. Well done, Starry Nights.

Between Frisbee golf, capture the flag, and the music, the campground became a very friendly place. It reminded me a little of Jamboree, a feeling which I admit to missing.

The Corner of the Art Wall

My Little Contribution

After taking a detour to watch a hot air balloon, we rushed over to the main stage just in time to push our way into the crowd to see Portugal the Man, who played right before Cage the Elephant.

Portugal the Man, doing that rocking out thing. I really enjoyed listening to these guys.

In the time between Portugal the Man and Cage the Elephant, we took a break and then returned to the much less crowded big stage while another band played and the little stage. In this manner, we were able to weasel our way closer and closer to the stage, putting ourselves right in the middle of the action to see CTE.

There's something about being right in the midst of the most - well - dangerous part of the concert crowd that also makes it worth it. I believe that different kinds of music are meant to be listened to and appreciated in different ways. As I said back in February about the House Show at the Dark Room, that was the way to listen to that kind of music. I'd say that classical music is best appreciated dressed in your tails and ties in glorious opera halls. Trash can drums and an old sax probably beg the greatest presentation on a street corner in Memphis or New Orleans. I'll bet that plenty of music sounds best in the CD player of your car.

Cage the Elephant, for all intents and purposes, is probably best listened to as you jump up and down in the midst of a few hundred other strangers going crazy as well, as glow sticks and balloons fly over your head and the cold night air meets the heat of one's love for good sounds.

I personally enjoyed the performances of "Flow" and "Shake Me Down". I would have posted video, but despite our very close crowd position, my poor phone wasn't able to get a video with decent sound quality. So rather than subject your poor ears to ragged static, I recommend getting up, taking your own adventure, and going to see them.

However, our proximity did bring us close enough to catch a few showers of the fireworks they were launching and catch an up-close and personal experience with the lead singer.

Matt Shultz, crowd-surfing. Got to sort of help catch him when he fell a few moments after  this picture was taken.

It was a great night of music and excitement, and we were both content and ready for bed.

The next morning, we packed up and headed back, taking a lunch break in Nashville for famous Jack's Barbeque and just a little bit of sight-seeing.

Driving through Nashville

At the Grand Ole Opry House

Had a lot of fun and a nice little adventure.

Until next time, S.O.C.K.S.

I'm Jonathon, and this is my life.

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A Nice Stay in Naples

Hello Again!

I write you now from Naples, Italy: the Bel Paese’s very own Posto al Sole.

For those of you who don’t know, I lived here as a foreign exchange student for about nine months one year ago (which explains why I speak Italian). I stayed in Naples with two different host families over the course of my program, and I met a huge amount of people between school and activities. Above all, I had a wonderful time. To me, Naples is my own true Italian home.

Beyond normal things such as being so very very glad to be eating wonderful food, to be seeing the sea, and to be diving and dodging through the tiny streets again, I’m very happy to be able to come back and visit everyone. I’m staying with another family that was very good to me and I’ve been up to a lot in the meantime.

The first and most important thing that I’ve been out and about doing is revisiting all of the friends that I made while I was here. The first day back, I went by on the last day of school to try to terrorize all of the classes of students that I knew in my time there, as well as run into some of my old teachers and visit the principal. Let’s just say that Operation Invasion was a huge success. I passed by the principal’s office without thinking about it too much at first and she thought that she saw a vision. Next thing I knew, I was wrapped in her arms. Over the course of the rest of the hour, she and I had an immense amount of fun calling all of the teachers to the office individually over the intercom and saying that they needed to coming with “massima urgenza.” It was so funny to see their faces when they realized what the “big problem” was. I had a great day full of lots of surprised faces and warm regreetings.

Halfway through my week and a half stay down here, my mom and siblings made the long 5-hour train ride down to the city to see the place that I called home for so long. I picked them up at the station and took them to their hotel straight away just to get everything square, and then we set off immediately on a travel program that I wrote just for them…

Our first stop was a lunch break at Trattoria Nennella.

Here, I was able to get them to have a satisfyingly close representation of a real, home-cooked Italian meal. They had a delicious potato and cheese pasta dish (the special of Nennella) and spaghetti Carbonara, and they loved both. And at last, they also got to try real buffalo mozzarella and absolutely adored it.

Next I took them up to Vomero (the neighborhood where I lived) and showed them where I used to do everything. They saw the school, the church, my houses, places where we hung out, places where we went walking, the stores where I used to get food and books, everything. They even got to see the view from the Castle St. Elmo over the whole city. That evening, I got together a big dinner with my exchange coordinator, all the families hosting me, and a few friends from school. It went so well. My family got to finally eat the real Neapolitan pizza (the best!) and meet everyone who took care of me over the course of the year. My siblings had a good time talking to some of the people I went to school with, even though they had to work hard to cross the language barrier. At the end of the night, the family hosting me now took me and them on a scenic car ride to see Naples by night – one of my favorite views in the world. Mom said it was like something out of her dreams.

The next morning, they took a bike ride on the street that runs along the sea, appropriately called Lungomare. Now (and this is new even for me) it’s closed to street traffic, and people ride bikes, go skating, and just walk there. It’s so beautiful. I admit that I really hope it stays that way, because it makes the seaside even nicer. All my little siblings enjoyed the ride, and I took them to have some typical Neapolitan and Italian sweets afterward.

After lunch, we made our last pass down Spaccanapoli, the famous street that cuts the old city in half and has some of the neatest and most iconic shops in the city: the ones that sell the Presepi. Mom, who loves art, almost never left. And, of course, my sisters got their taste of shopping. They all had a wonderful visit to Naples and went back home very content later that day.

Friday some friends and I went to the beach at Gaiola and I had my “primo mare” of the year. I caught some sun, went exploring and cliff jumping, chatted in Italian and in English, and had a good day at the sea. Thanks to the rocks where we went exploring, my fingers and toes were pretty cut up by the end of the day (so I’m a little worried about violin practice now) but it was a great sojourn.

Then, that night, I got a crash course lesson in being a lead singer.

Gabriele, who is the guy I’m staying with (the oldest son in the family) is a bassist in a sort of band, and he wanted me to come with them for their latest show to sing “Cough Syrup” by Young the Giant. They are above all a hard rock music group and occasionally do covers of Italian and other rock songs. Here is a video of them actually playing normally.

Anyway, Gabbò was quite excited to have a someone whose mother language was English to sing a song; so much so that he insisted all the other players learn “Cough Syrup” and play it that night without ever having practiced it together before (granted, the song is not exactly that hard to learn, but there may have been a misjudgment on (Gabbò) someone’s part)…

After getting everything from the microphone (which was having issues) to the (awful) acoustics of the room figured out, the guys played. I still hadn’t heard anyone play anything that sounded like “Cough Syrup” (not even during the first practices or the sound check) so at that point I had actually decided I wouldn’t have to worry about it. But in the end they called me on stage after all, so I gave the camera to Livia (Gabriele’s sister) so she could record everything.

I’ll put on the video without telling you about the surprise that the guys made me by accident. I’ll just say that they were always a hard rock group and it was my first time ever to sing on stage with a band.

Ah wow. At least in the end it turned out alright.

Over the last few days, I’ve been in Ischia with my first host family. We went to the beach twice yesterday (including at The Abasciatore Hotel that Uncle Pietro owns and maintains) and I even got to try small boat sailing and retake up windsurfing. I hope to return to Ischia again to stay longer someday, but until then I’ll just have to salute everyone dear to me there and sling my pack back on my shoulders.

Over the next two weeks, I’m not sure where I’ll be. I suppose I’ll just be – as the Italians would say – in giro. I’m doing well and continuing to enjoy my adventure. Now, if I could just find a way to see this straight, I’ll run away to some fortune that I should have found by now. Until then, I’m waiting for this cough syrup to go down.

I’m Jonathon, and this is my life.










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An Intimate Show

Happy Spring Break!

Well, at least to me and the rest of the university - that famous and infamous week off of classes has finally begun. I'm extremely ready for it.

This year for Spring Break, I'm off to visit my aunts and uncles in the Northeast. I'm flying to New York City to stay with my Aunt Tammy and her beaux John and to visit my Uncle Lee. Then midweek I am taking a train down to Connecticutt to stay with my Uncle Dan, Aunt Rachel, and little cousins until Sunday. I haven't seen Aunt Tammy in  maybe a year and a half and haven't seen Aunt Rachel since Thanksgiving two years ago, so it's a good opportunity to drop in and say hello.

Today, due to some booking and other issues, will just be a commute day for me, so my flight leaves later tonight for La Guardia. I'm hanging out at the airport writing to you right now, but that is boring.
Let me instead take you back momentarily to last night for a little bit more interesting of a story...



I had a full, free night before I had to leave and (what I thought would be) an early flight the next morning, so I had already left the university and was staying in Birmingham. I didn't want to waste the opportunity though - surely there was something cool and fun to do in town.

So I stumbled upon a concert thing downtown. It said that Matthew Perryman Jones and Hannah Miller were playing at The Dark Room. It didn't cost much, so I decided I would go.

I called the venue's phone number and got the personal voice mail of someone named Caleb. Part of me wanted to believe that it was a wrong number, but I figured that maybe he was the manager or something. When he called me back, I asked about tickets options and found that there were still spots available. I remember reading 75 people or something like that, so I figured it wouldn't be too difficult to be one of seventy-five late arrivals to get tickets, so I asked him to make sure I would get one. I got directions, thanked the gentleman, and headed down.

When I got there, it took a while to find the spot: I was directed to a little appartment building where I had to buzz in to get him to open the front door. After winding my way around the top floor hallways a while, I showed up at the front door to room 509 where a piece of paper told me that I had arrived.
Turned out that the 75 people were the most possible that the venue could hold.

The Dark Room is the name for the converted private penthouse photography studio in the Phoenix Building on 2nd Ave. N and 17th. The studio - A. Bryan Photo Studio - was dark, strung with little lights on strings and lit with tea candles on the tables and in the window sills. Little mason jar candles sat on the tables here and there and the living room floor was spread with cushions and pillows surrounded by the couches and chairs. The refreshments were a fridge full of drinks and a little bowl filled with packets of peanut butter M&M's.
These photos that I got with my cell phone aren't especially great, but I hope that they convey the ambiance.

I believe the correct term is "House Show" but whatever it was, it was relaxed, peaceful, and intimate. Just you and the music. Sit back on the couch or lay down on the pillows on the floor, holding your loved one dear while Matthew and Hannah sing.

Caleb welcoming everybody to the performance.

Hannah Miller, performing her first song of the night

Hannah and Matthew playing together

Hannah Miller

Matthew Perryman Jones

I have never had a nicer music experience. I sat down on the couch while they performed right in front of me. In all truth and honesty, prior to last night, I had not known of either Mr. Jones or Mrs. Miller, but I was very very pleasantly surprised in so many ways.

The candles and little lights set a kind of mood lighting that perfectly suited the singer-song writer style of the two musicians. People chatted and hung out while the house music played and as soon as the artists were ready, conversation quieted and everyone gathered close to hear them play, like school children at story time. It was so personal and close, it made me feel like this is the way that music is supposed to be heard. She wasn't playing for 40,000 others and me. He wasn't making jokes for stadium seating. It was like a talent show at a family reunion. She knew some of the people in the crowd. He was good friends with the couple sitting next to me. They played their hearts out for no one but the twenty/thirty odd people in the room. I won't lie saying that I felt a little bit criminal taking pictures and videos because the whole evening had such a close, special feeling.

Of course, the best part was the sound.

Hannah Miller kicked off the night.

Here's Hannah sitting on the pillows in front of my couch
while Matthew prepared.

Hannah Miller has a perfectly lovely voice, and a warm and friendly guitar playing style. Her songs come from her artist heart and they are about sadness and love and doubters and dreamers. She plays a little with her husband who has a personal music career as well.
She is a nice girl. I talked to her a little in the intermission between her song set and Matthew's. It was just like meeting somebody at a little social event. I enjoyed her company and she told me a little bit about her music career and the time that she has spent as a musician. She seems to really enjoy it, and loves the artistic aspect of it.


I wish I could go on - she was amazing.

I was able to get some videos of a few of her performances, but I thought that this one was the best. This is a song from the EP called Doubters and Dreamers that she is releasing soon. The song has the tagline for the album, but I regret that I have misplaced the actual name of the song. If you want to find out, I think she'd appreciate you looking up her album. Anyway, I thought you guys might appreciate hearing how awesome she sounded from my perspective.

After an intermission, Matthew Perryman Jones stepped across the moat of pillows and into the little stage circle.

I ran into Matthew during intermission and briefly introduced myself. I had been clued in on everything about him by the lady who shared my couch, but having never heard any of his work, I had to awkwardly admit my ignorance. I asked him what kind of music he played and he admitted that he simply didn't know. I really enjoyed my encounter with him though. He was very open and friendly, humble, and a little bit shy and awkward, but with an evidently big heart and a love for life and beauty.

How can I describe his music? You can hear how much he loves it. That I will say.
Later research found that he has done a lot of songs for TV shows like Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill,  Kyle XY, and more. There is a simple beauty to his sound. I had two favorite songs of his by the end of the night. My absolute favorite was one that was he wrote for his wife, called "Megan's Song". He said that she had been having trouble sleeping, so he wrote it to try to help her and it was passed down to each of his daughters. I did not record that one and I think that that is better. It was a little bit too specially to be recorded.
However, my other favorite was "Oh Theo". It was inspired by Vincent Van Gogh.
He talks a little bit about it in the introduction to this video, and he says that it's on the EP he is releasing soon...

A little bit after the show, I told him that I decided his music genre is just music.

It was an evening of just listening to music and...people. After the music stopped, Caleb thanked everyone and we hung out. I talked to Matthew about...life?...and had a really pleasant one on one with him. Later, when I was helping them break down and pack up, I met and talked to Hannah's husband as well, about college, careers, family, and what we love to do.
Oh well, guess I'm a bit of of a conversation bug.

I still can't get over how great that felt as a way to just listen and enjoy music. I highly recommend it.

I have to go soon - in a little bit I will be soaring over city lights and tiny toy cars.
Just another step in my adventure. Just what I do.

I'm Jonathon and this is my life.




http://hannahmillermusic.com/
http://mpjmusic.com/
http://birmingham365.org/org/detail/220173011/The_Dark_Room

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