Bolt of Blue

It had been more than several months since the last time I saw Mellowdrone so I was looking forward to this. I’d also never seen Elbow. The night turned out very relaxed and there was an underlying sadness to both sets. Jonathan started off the Mellowdrone set dedicating a song to Elliott Smith. The rumors were already sweeping the Troubadour that poor Elliott had killed himself. We didn’t want to believe these rumors. After an intense set of some new and old songs, my friend asked Jonathan if the rumors were true. Sadly, they were. We still didn’t want to believe even though we knew Jonathan and Elliott were friends. It was just to shocking and tragic and for a couple more hours, we held on to the belief that this was not reality. That Elliott was fighting to live and was not gone from this world.

Elbow were quite impressive. I don’t know if thoughts of Elliott influenced the emotions of the evening, but even though I had laughs with friends, I went home feeling cold and so very alone.

Sidenote: Nick Wechsler (of Roswell fame) walked up and joined the line right behind us prior to being let in. I turned bright red and pondered if I should talk to the fella. I know he recognized me but wasn’t sure where he knew me. Eventually I got the guts to strike up what turned out to be a hilarious and fun conversation. Such a sweet guy. In case you aren’t aware, I have a serious Roswell obsession. Still. I’ve met and seen Nick a few times now (see rock star). Plus, I have a lot of trouble talking to actors. Musicians = no problem. Actors = want to vomit.

The Mellowdrone show on Wednesday was lovely. Though the set was too short (for good reason it turns out), Jonathan once again impressed me. I felt this was one of his strongest and more playful performances I’ve seen in a while.

It’s certainly something to be surrounded by new fans and curious folks in a packed Troubadour who are all there to see Mellowdrone. Vastly different from the times I’ve seen him in a small bar with 12 other people where he goes on to sample my friend’s laugh and use it in a song.

If you have not checked out his EP, what are you waiting for? You can download all the songs on his website or buy a copy of the EP online for darn cheap.

Coachella is tomorrow. I’m so jumpy and excited about it. They announced the schedule. Only one major conflict for me… Hot Hot Heat conflicts with Blur and that is so wrong. And it looks like I’ll be dancing to Interpol as it all ends.

Speaking of Blur… check out their new video for Crazy Beat on MTV of all places! Swoon. And check out there performance on Jo Whiley. And apparently, in a LA radio interview today, it was mentioned that one Alex James is lost in Mexico without his passport. And this happens often. No wonder he had trouble getting into this country. Let’s see if he turns up on the Craig Kilborn show tonight.

Be still my Duranie heart. Finally. Duran Duran are doing 4 shows in Japan in July. More dates are expected. And damn, they better announce more soon or I’m seriously considering going into further debt to make my first trip to Japan. No joke. These shows will be the first time all 5 original members have performed together since Live Aid in 1985. That’s 18 years! I guess it’s kind of fitting that they will play in Japan first (possibly) as that is where Simon, Nick and Warren played their last show together as Duran Duran.

The box set (all their singles from 81-85) is due out June 10 in the US, May 12th everwhere else. So I’m thinking they may do some things in the US in June too to help promote its release. Right?

For all those who were concerned or just merely curious, Miss Modern Age made it to LA and is alive and currently sleeping on my couch.

Ewan Alert:

• Regis and Kelly, May 6
• Making of Down With Love, HBO, May 6
• Tonight Show, May 9

Greatest quote ever! (or at least for today)

“I don’t really have to promise myself anything. That’s all part of the wonderfulness that is me. Like they say in America, ‘If it ain’t broken, then don’t fix it.’” – Pelle Almqvist, when asked what his new year’s resolution was, from Rolling Stone.

The rest of the little interview is full of more brilliance from Pelle. God I love that boy.

The Mellowdrone website has finally been redesigned. It’s smashing… lots of new pretty things, er, well, photos, to look at. And new tour next year with Johnny Mar. Oh yeah!

The line-up for KROQ‘s Almost Acoustic Xmas is so disappointing. Aside from Coldplay and The Vines, nobody really interests me for the second night. The first night? Forget it! I mean… POD. Sum-41. New Found Glory. Snore. But I expected that. The next night doesn’t really get that much better. Beck is alright I guess and would be cool to see again. But CREED? What the freaking hell is up with that?!?! KROQ doesn’t even play Creed. Nor do they play Jack Johnson who I have nothing against but he’s more like an easy listening Dave Matthews kind of guy. I had high hopes for this year’s concert. They were dashed today. So sad. It could have been so much better. But either people turned KROQ down or they just didn’t ask the right people! Now… I might go. I might. If I can get a ticket. Maybe. I don’t know if it’s worth suffering through Creed and Dashboard Confessional for The Vines and Coldplay, who I have already seen numerous times this year. Sigh.

Dude. Laura gets almost the same average amount of daily hits as Ewanspotting. She is such an internet rock star.

I want. I want. I want.

Er… um… Mondays. Blah. Blah. Blah.

Feeling stressed and yucky and bored and weird. Typical.

Saw Mellowdrone on Friday. So cool to see Jonathan playing with a band (and his bass player ROCKS for wearing a Duran Duran t-shirt and being sweet after the show). Really, really rad. The crowd, however, was the worst crowd I’ve ever seen at a show before. They were even dead during the main act, Abandoned Pools, who weren’t bad but there was something missing for me. Maybe it was the crowd sucking ass so much. Abandoned Pools sounded real good and played well, but I don’t know. I just wasn’t feeling it… they lacked energy or charisma on stage. Again, this could be a problem with how LAME the crowd was. I was ashamed. But Mellowdrone… it was a great set that was all too short. Some guys in the audience were being hostile and loved hearing Jonathan telling them off. He might be skinny but he’s not afraid. Loved it. I think that show was also the first real time I ever took photos of him. Will try and post ‘em soon. Have lots of photos to post… Doves, Hives, PP… I’m so behind. I hate moving.