1146 miles

Darlingside – “Still”

I am on way to Boston. I can’t wait to see and experience all that I missed, just because I have only passed through Boston on my way to somewhere else. I know that I am a “different” visitor because everyone else that I am traveling with looks up restaurants, shows, and beautiful parks and historic landmarks. Yep, you guessed it, I am searching for the best local bands. It is an illness where there is no cure.

This is a song and a band that I was thrilled to stumble upon. I will definitely put Darlingside on my playlist. They pride themselves on their original music played by actual instruments. No electronic or synth here. Darlingside is out of Cambridge and loaded with a compilation of deeply, magnificent songs. I really love this one song I am featuring, “Still”. It speaks to me. It reminds me of those people that I love, still. I think about college especially. I embrace my years in college and the friends where I experienced the start of maturity or crazy immaturity with. College, and just after, is such an amazing time of living, compressed in such a short period of time. Those are the people who truly know me and what I am deep down inside. I love them all, still. I wonder if they feel the same.

Listen for yourself and just see if it doesn’t bring up a thought or an emotion that stays with you, but you thought you forgot. This song has wonderful vocals, thoughtful lyrics, and a melody that sticks in your heart. Darlingside won’t be doing a show while I am in Boston, but I am happy to have searched and found a band and a sound that pleases me. Thank you, Boston.
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Posted by Ian Oct 10, 2013 No Comments

Lyrics

Late night
Midnight on the interstate
And I didn’t feel so great
Until I saw the city

And I was younger
And open like a child
Man, it’s been a while
Since I felt that way

More and more I hesitate
‘Cause I don’t know

Happy Birthday
You didn’t want to celebrate
And I was an hour late
And you fell apart

Mostly sober
Sometimes I change my mind
And I don’t have the time
No, we never do

Love and love and nothing else
It’s all I need

I don’t know how much I should readily admit that the music video for Midnight on the Interstate gets to me. But it does and it captures something in me that I don’t know how to say. So I guess the best explanation of why I share this song is that it is the translation of some of my feelings.

There’s a longing for the way things have been. There’s a longing for going home. There’s a longing to have the memories of someone special. They are the reasons that you drive the interstate at midnight. When you see the city, you’re almost there and the flash flood of memories of the times of youth come upon you. The happiness, the joy, and the pure innocence of love–the times you look back fondly at.

I think about this a lot (probably a lot more than would be considered healthy). It’s a form of escape from monotony, from any sense of hopelessness, from the sadder reflection of reality. It’s a dream. It’s a way out.

It’s also a way for me to pretend and make believe. I can ask a girl out in my mind or dreams but I cowardly slink away from any chance under the light of day. The chances might be remote but being remote doesn’t mean they’re not there (head nod to Lloyd Christmas). I spend more moments worrying and wondering than enjoying moments worthy of becoming memories. That’s why I wish I was a little more carefree, but I don’t know if it’s something I can change and I don’t know if I should worry about that either.

We’re not perfect. We’re all scarred and scared in our own separate ways but the idea of love sitting beside us in front of the fireplace keeps us warm on our drives long and short. To be honest, I think that’s all I could wish for.

Posted by Ian Oct 09, 2013 No Comments

I’m a sucker for retro-style pop music. Take Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats or Wesley Bright & The Hi-Lites for instance. You can throw out Willy Moon, John Newman, and Fitz and the Tantrums as well. I joke that I was born after my intended time period and this one of the things that I point to. There’s just simply an energy that gets my toes tapping and I get it.

I don’t tend to get a lot things, but this is one of those things–music and dancing as a joyful experience where you let the world and the worries slip away for a few minutes. As I listen to this song by Olly Murs, I can’t help but smile and be happy.

Olly Murs hasn’t really broken through Stateside after pretty good success in his native UK. He’s essentially on the periphery of America’s pop scene with some songs like Troublemaker and Sony’s backing. This particular song is over 2 years old but was released as a US single this August.

The US version is slightly different than the UK version with different percussion and a couple of overdubs, but I’ve included the latter here.

Posted by Carrie Oct 07, 2013 No Comments

When the common denominator is music, kindred spirits abound. This is true especially in a concert venue where a much beloved artist is performing. Well, except for the gal who takes a million selfies during the best, most intimate heartfelt song of the set, where she is adjusting and readjusting the large bun on her head by doing the upside down hair flip. GAW! Well, needless to say, the guy next to me exchanged a knowing look my way, expressing what I interpreted as sadness and perplexity for the bun girl’s inability to watch or care about the epicness of what was taking place on the stage. We immediately became friends in between bands, if only for a moment. We all shared favorites songs, bands, venues, festivals, and of course the purposeful approach to get closer to the stage and around the bun girl when she was distracted by more selfie poses. The concert is always better when you are surrounded by others that appreciate the music as much as you do. It was a good time, made better.

So here is where the song comes in. In that kindred spirit moment, I found out about a band that wasn’t on my radar and not really new. I searched this blog’s search engine (which is really fun by the way) and sure enough there it was. The band has been featured before, well, several times. It reinforces why I connect to 1146 miles so much. It has been awhile since they were up, so maybe you have forgotten or missed those posts like I must have.

Yellow Ostrich is my listen to band since that concert, thanks to the nice guy in grad school standing next to me. I am especially fond of the song, “Won’t Fade Away” off of their last album, Ghost. I like their stripped down sound that puts focus on the perceptive lyrics and the soft beat and strum of guitar. It’s a really lovely dream-like song, about dreams. After you listen to “Won’t Fade Away”, be sure to check out their other songs as well. Enjoy!

Other Sites To Checkout

Darlingside – “Still”

Love And Love And Nothing Else

Olly Murs – “Dance With Me Tonight”

Yellow Ostrich – “Won’t Fade Away”