Would you like to take a trip?

Step aboard this abandoned gypsy bus. 

In reality it goes nowhere. In your mind, it can take you anywhere. While you lounge around on orange and red moroccan pillows, you consider the possibilities. Eventually the air becomes a bit stuffy and you realize it is time to step outside and explore whatever mirage awaits just outside those bus doors. While your imagination could have driven you anywhere, tonight it has brought you here, to this magical little garden. 

There are no flowers to smell, or fruits and vegetables to nourish you here. You are not too sure why the bus has taken you to this place on this particular evening, but you're not going to ask. It belongs there. You belong here.

Then you understand- a large, old and presumably wise tree grows from the corner. A tree so large, it alone embodies the enchanted world you were looking for. It has knobby roots which grow above and below the ground, beckoning you closer. The branches and leaves form a dense canopy that reaches out enveloping you, welcoming you to stay a while and begging the question: Why would you ever leave? 

For tonight only, this ancient tree has permitted humans to assemble beneath its branches. A wooden platform is erected that, were its surface not flat, you could swear grew from the tree itself. Upon this platform, a set of DJ equipment awaits humans hands to set the albums spinning in motion. Cords and cables intertwine with the plants at the base of the trunk and the Spanish Moss dangling from the branches above. As soon as the DJ enters the arms of the tree, it comes alive. 

The photos below are from the performance of Marley Carroll at the end of the night. His was my personal favorite, the music seemed to belong in that moment so much so that the trees even seemed to sway to his beats.

Now, while this enchanted enclave is where you may have landed, and where you no doubt will return before your departure, inside exists another world which you must experience as well. A man by the name of Otto Von Schirach is present, and there to blow your mind. The freak-show inhabiting the stage consists of alligators and crocodiles, an illuminated-staff-weilding wizard, a skeleton with face painted black, and several other unmentionable beings. The music is loud, so loud you may never be able to hear anything again, and the noise in your ears will never allow you to forget the images you've seen. 

A word of advice, attempting to recount these visions and sounds will most likely compel your friends and family to lock you in a mental ward, so you probably shouldn't even bother.

They like it when you lose control.

Hmm.. What to say about Yeasayer? 

Unfortunately, a lack of computer access has forced you to wait almost an entire week since the show for a recap. Needless to say, things have happened in the past week and my short-term memory has grown foggy. But fortunately, the coveted Macbook is now mine, so these long lapses between posts shall occur no more.

Anyway, back to the show- or rather, what I can remember of it. Flustered, we ran in the door, first to the bathroom, then to the bar, then to the theatre and arrived during the performance of their first song. It was something good, I swear, but as aforementioned, it's hard to remember what it was, exactly. Also, I have a big problem watching a show and knowing the name of each song in the heat of the moment. To be honest I don't even bother trying to remember, 'tis better just to enjoy the magical sounds penetrating your eardrums and swaying your hips, no? Something told me they wouldn't play each track as they do on the album, and I was right. For a majority of the songs, they snuck in long and dreamy musical breaks that really made you feel like you were getting your money's worth. My friends and I had looked forward to this show since back in the days of my boot and the Passion Pit show, who also performed at The Fillmore, so it was a surprise upon entering to find that the place was fairly empty. Not that I mind of course, cooler air and more space to play is all this translated to for me. In the end, Yeasayer chucked us out, a troupe of happy campers.

Granted, this is a very edited down compilation of pictures from the night- there were about 250 from the show and after-party, it would probably be a bit excessive to post them all. After the most enjoyable of nights, I tend to either wake up to almost no pictures, or what seems like a minute-by-minute photo documentary. This night fell into the latter category. 

After the show, we made our way over to a pretty rad little bar called Kill Your Idol, laden with shark heads eating dolls, arcade games, moon men hanging from the ceiling, and about a million other unexpected oddities I probably didn't even notice. 

Never fear a beautiful thing.

Time for another fantastic-amazing-show-recap-photo-post. After a disappointing night out Saturday, I was itching for some sweet tunes by Miami Horror come Wednesday night. The news that the Australian band would be making their way to our shores reached my ears a little over a month ago, and from that moment I was determined to make it to the show. So, with total disregard for the fact mi amiga had class at nine a.m. and I a job interview at noon; we made our way out to catch the stellar performance, sometime after midnight.

 

 

 

Now, since you asked; yes, partying with a band from Australia, named Miami Horror, in the heart of Miami- is slightly ironic. Needless to say, I was inclined to ask keyboardist Benjamin Plant what inspired the rather dope (me, biased? nooo) name. To paraphrase: after considering the bright, iconic imagery that comes to mind when one thinks of Miami, he began throwing it together with a variety of words. Eventually, "horror" occurred to him (probably after a considerable amount of time spent scanning the dictionary... kidding). Anyway, we all know what imagery comes to mind when one hears the word horror: goblins, ghouls and ghosts, oh my! Mr. Plant particularly liked the contrast of the two words in conjunction with one another, and so the name Miami Horror was born. Alas, now they were here and living it. 

 

Head over to the amazing woman above's blog the nomadic files and you might find some more photos from this same evening. Either way, there are lots of other pretty things for you to enjoy, so do yourself a favor and check it out.