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Chuck Klosterman has a new book out today, “Eating The Dinosaur”
Try and find it used, or support your local bookstore.
If you do not like to read books, maybe you like to read newspapers? Is it still reading the newspaper if you read it online?
“Have you ever been to Knoxville?”
That is kind of how I ended up here, so ask yourself the same question. I moved into an apartment and found a great roommate, utilizing Craigslist, I hope the same happens with finding a bike, but I have been looking for weeks now and cannot seem to find something that is large enough for my lanky self.
But yeah, Knoxville. I live there now. Some days are sunny, but every morning I wake up wondering if at some point it poured rain because everything is so wet. I usually tell people I wear cowboy boots and drink whisky, but really I still wear my Nike’s and drink cheap beer, but Barley’s has a $2 Monday Pint night with a top shelf of beers. Reminds me of Michigan sometimes. I will get to why I left there in due time.
Not all the time though. And I am not here to drink beer, I am here to be involved in the city to the best of my capabilities, find a great community of people and continue my passion for being involved in a local industry, specifically music, behind the scenes, where I like it.
I still travel, but in a different way. Not at the capacity I was last year at this time. That journey has ended, now I apply what I learned from all that I met to this life and continue see where that takes me.
Since I have last posted I have attended five very different weddings, six, if you count the Office Finale (and if you count just watching) worked for a not for profit in ClearWater Beach, Florida, taken a photo of the white house from outside the gate and eaten half a birthday cake in one sitting. I’ve done other things, met a wealth of people and continue to try and share my love for composting and recycling. Yeah, yeah, I could type forever, but I will not.
Was I talking about Knoxville?
One of my favorite things about Knoxville is the music scene that has emerged from here. Most people associate Tennessee music with Nashville, or even Memphis, but I have yet to head west to Nashville (two hour drive), but why head there when you can get the same thing across the bridge to downtown Knox. Or KnoxVegas, as some of the local call it. I do not know why, really.
The Tennessee Theater – I have yet to go, but understand I cannot do everything in a week. The historic qualities and great shows that happen here are legend status.
WDVX Community Radio – The Blue Plate special is something to talk about, but even better to listen to – stream it live. If you cannot check it out firsthand.
Bijou Theater – Just saw Andrew Bird play last night and this Theater brings back some heritage. It is housed in the third oldest building in Knoxville and despite it being all seating it is enjoyable for a favorite artist performance.
Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria – I mentioned this. Did I mention I love Monday’s and Live music, yeah they got that too (on many of nights). I have yet to try their food, but I am a bit of pizza snob. We’ll see. Saw a 18 year old white rapper named Total Savage either embarrass his parents, or make them proud. Have not figured that one out yet.
Some artists that I suggest you check out:
Go Vols
Every year my good friend Chris (good name) sends out a list of what he thinks are some of the best CD’s to come out that year. He has great taste and although I have only listened to a fraction of the below, I am willing ti guess the majority will end up being classic albums.
Hope you enjoy them…his words are below;
Happy New Year!
Top 20 CDs of 2008
Halfway through the year it was looking like a pretty grim year for music. I thought I was going to have trouble finding twenty picks. That all changed in the last few months when I was forced to played catch up with some earlier releases. I wasn’t able to catch up on them all so there will be some missing from the list. Please feel free to fill me in. Until then, enjoy the list and here’s to more great music in new year!
1. TV On The Radio “Dear Science”
The music grabs you on the opening track and doesn’t let up, as the songs flow nicely into each other. Each one has a distinct sound, that while listening to the album you tend to ask yourself, “is this the same band?” Diversity at it’s finest.
2. The Black Keys “Attack & Release”
On their fifth release, the duo get some help from Danger Mouse who spices things up but leaves their original sound intact. The loops and beats only add to their style of the blues that they’re playing.
3. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds “Dig, Lazurus, Dig!!!”
Back and better than ever, this album sounds like classic Nick Cave. It combines all the elements that you’d come to expect: Religious overtones, dramatic arrangements and a wide range of melodies that only they can deliver.
4. David Byrne & Brian Eno “Everything That Happens Will Happen Today”
Reunited and it feels so good. This album combines the musical genius of two true artists with surprisingly mainstream effects, that still seem a little offbeat.
5. Goldfrapp “Seventh Tree”
While much more mellow that previous efforts, this British duo has gotten in touch with their softer side and the results are gorgeous.
6. Vampire Weekend “Vampire Weekend”
The little band that could. Amidst all the hype these Brooklyn boys delivered. Fun, catchy and hard to resist.
7. Gary Louris “Vagabonds”
The ex-Jayhawk goes solo for the first time in his career. He doesn’t stray far from the formula that made that band so great: His melodic voice singing over roots rock music is just another step in the right direction.
8. Pink “Funhouse”
I always love a great break-up song and this one is chock full of them. Pink covers a lot of territory on this album delving into pop, rock, blues and ballads. The common denominator that brings them all together is her raspy voice perfectly suited to deliver the biting lyrics.
9. Beck “Modern Guilt”
An excellent collaboration with Danger Mouse who co-produced the album with Beck. This album clocks in at just over 33 minutes, but while it’s short, it’s also sweet.
10. Ray Lamontagne “Gossip In The Grain”
On his third release, Ray is trying his best to be a little more upbeat. While this is a welcome change, the songs that stand out the most as still the quieter ones.
11. Fleet Foxes “Fleet Foxes”
Taking cues from Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Shins and My Morning Jacket, these guys seem to borrow from all the right sources. The album is filled with haunting three part harmonies with dramatic effect.
12. Kings Of Leon “Only By The Night”
These guys seem to be taking lessons from Radiohead…exploring their experimental side but still managing to rock.
13. Aimee Mann “@#%&*! Smilers”
While I wasn’t crazy about her last release, this one includes some great songs which evoke the songs from the Magnolia soundtrack. A nice return to form.
14. MGMT “Oracular Spectacular”
This Brooklyn duo captured a lot on their first release: Some funk-filled psychedelic experimentation.
15. Sigur Rós “Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust”
The Icelandic lads further their signature sound by mixing things up a bit by adding horns and singing one of the songs in English.
16. Al Green “Lay It Down” & The Raconteurs “Consolers Of The Lonely” (Tie)
From the start of this record it sounds like you’re listening to classic Al Green circa 1971. A fine album that brings you back to a much simpler time. Jack White & the boys offer some good old rock and roll, but with enough of a twist to make it sound fresh.
17. Okkervil River “The Stand Ins”
This was a year full of indie boy bands. While I sometimes had trouble keeping them all straight, these guys stood out by simply delivering a solid album…that and Will Sheff’s distinct vocals.
18. Pale Young Gentlemen “Black Forest (Tra la La)”
This band from Madison, WI sound like they could be from another place and time. Combining instruments like the glockenspiel, flute, French horn and harp with more traditional instruments like guitar, bass, drums, cello and violin, they make a unique sound all their own.
19. Madonna “Hard Candy”
While not her best, the Queen of Pop offers up a solid set of songs that will get your booty shaking on the dance floor.
20. Nada Surf “Lucky” & Wolf Parade “At Mount Zoomer” (Tie)
Nada Surf is a band that I’ve heard of for years, but never managed to really listen to. This album changed all that. The combination of rock with a pop flair made for some catchy tunes. Wolf Parade on the other hand, are a little more difficult to pinpoint. They may sound like several different bands from track to track, yet still maintain a cohesive sound.
Most over-looked album of 2007 (Tie)
The Apples In Stereo “New Magnetic Wonder” (Thanks Joe!)
Liam Finn “I’ll Be Lightning”
The Bird & The Bee “The Bird & The Bee”
Top 10 Concerts of 2008
It was the year of shows in large venues. (I thought they were supposed to get smaller as we got older?) Regardless, there were some great ones and much too diverse to rate. So, here are my favorites in no particular order:
Crowded House – Filmore East (4-29-08)
The Raconteurs – Bonnaroo (6-13-08)
Pearl Jam – Bonnaroo (6-15-08)
Robert Plant & Allison Krause – Bonnaroo (6-15-08)
The Cure – Radio City Music Hall (6-21-08)
Bruce Springsteen – Giants Stadium (7-27-08)
Echo & The Bunnymen – Radio City Music Hall (10-1-08)
Madonna – Madison Square Garden (10-7-08)
Tina Turner – Madison Square Garden (12-1-08)
Liza Minnelli – The Palace Theatre (12-16-08)
Riding through another ice storm in kentucky with a guy named Will from couchsurfing…seeing if it is possable to post from the car on my cell phone…
This website! Well, for starters finding internet on the road is not always easy and half the time I guess you could say I am not really looking for it.
That aside, some friends asked what was going on, so I figured I would find some internet and some time, to stop making new friends and walking the lands to impose some of what has been going on with my travels to anyone that cares.
First off, I am in Flagstaff Arizona. I recently hiked the Grand Canyon for 3 days with an old friend who lives out here and many new friends. In fact, i have made MANY new friends along the way and people that I consider great friends and great people in the process of state hoping.
Backtracking for a bit, we met some good people all over San Francisco and learned how to camp for free in the hills across the Golden Gate Bridge.
We camped in Big Sur, which was one of my favorite spots and I continued on with driving with two friends from CT along Highway 1 and Highway 101 along the gorgous coast of California.
San Diego spawned some greatness and instead of camping in a friends backyard we met up with a great dude named Vinny, who I hope to chill with again soon. He opened his doors for us and think we may have tinkered with almost overstaying our welcome. Kind of. If you ask his roomates anyways.
My two friends I met up with in Chicago traveled with me, by car, to many National parks; Badlands/Blackhills, Glacier (some of which was shut down), Yellowstone, which was like the moon with animals on it, Olympic and the list goes on…Thank god for the park pass.
Thats only a hint of what has been happening the past month, but in a few days I am on the move again and couchsurfing and now ridesharing! It’s like hitchhiking, but not as spurrratic and I contribute gas money. That will get me to North Carolina, but before NC I will hit Colorado. Great times await and good friends will be made, I am sure of that.
My bag is at its lightest, as I have learned what to keep, what to carry and what to trade and my mind is sharper at the moments. Life is great and the road is for me. I look forward to Christmas with my family and New years with my Uncle, but asnticipation for next year is peaking through my mind. My budget is low, which makes the adventures more fun and once I can harness my college loan and cell phone bill to be LESS, I should be able to coast my way to Michigan VERY soon.
Thanks for sticking with me and reading about my life – I only do it so that others will see what is possable and take the incitive to errupt their life with joy should they need to. Seek the inspriation you desire and remote your life to something spercial for the ones around you.
Like my good friend Chad says…La Prisa Mata El Placer
p.s. The road will not be the same without Tim, who just hopped a flight from Las Vegas to NYC, where he will embark on an African Adventure for the next 6 weeks.
Back on the move and back on my feet (always am I suppose) in two days….
pps – I am not going back to spell check this becuase time consumption on the computer is very wasteful and neglects the learnings of other useful abstractions.
Michigan. I love it here, at times thinking the trip could stop now and I might be okay with that. I will continue on, that is without doubt. I will return to Grand Rapids, that is without hesitation. I will leave Traverse City in the AM and venture into what some say is some of the most beautiful land in the United States. My new friends from Grand Rapids gave me much to look upon and my new friends in Traverse City added to that list. I have seven days to do much and the rest of my life to do anything.
I have mentioned to some about the book I plan on writing early next year of the travels I have been engaged in. I am confident that the said book will get written here in Michigan, as Ernest Hemingway also once gazed upon this land for inspiration.
For those looking for any updates on the site, I will not be able to access the Internet until next week, at the earliest. For those interested in contacting me via the site or via email, instead please send a note, letter, or postcard (as I have sent many) with whatever words you want to share to the following address:
Christopher Graham c/o Joanne Graham
3 Kings Grant Road
Clinton, CT 06413
I will look forward to reading them upon passing through Connecticut at the end of December
Stay Tuned for the return to Grand Rapids next week, with what I hope will be filled with new thoughts, precious ideas and unjusticed photos.
Clever spin on Greyhound, for the not so like minded, but listen here bus haters. Until Thursday morning, I never knew the bus could be so fun.
I met a DJ, a truck driver, a student who said I inspired her, a special needs teacher, and a brand new (the band) fan.
It was amazing. It was like a community of good hearted souls sharing a bus ride together. I gave the site to a few of them and really hope they read these words and know that my trip is truly better because of them.
Today was a GREAT day for many reasons and this bus ride really set the tone. I wish I could type in great length about it, but I need some sleep, so hope to find the time soon. Stand by for the Cleveland saga and coming soon…TRAVERSE CITY.
Keep hope alive.
:
To say this in short – Niagara falls is one of the greatest things mother nature has offered to us. I think the view from Canada is better, but the fact that you can walk into the falls (see above pic) on the Stateside makes it a wild experience. I worry that the erosion of the falls is something we should be concerned with.
If you have never been before…GO…It is a site to be seen and plenty of activities will keep you occupied. I suggest both sides, Horseshoe falls is perfection for photos and doing the Journey Into The Falls (American side), The Stuntman Museum/Rest stop. Yeah, rest stop and stuntman museum…The Gondola ride and all viewing points.
Stop talking, start doing. See you on the road.
