Although we've had the tickets for the last few months, Wendseday, August 28th finally rolled around and the fun. concert was upon us! Michael, Abbey, Jon, Matt, Nicole, and I all met at Michael's house to gather together our food contributions, pack up Bruce the truck, have a drink or two, and then headed down to the Botanical Gardens. Kelly, Matt's girlfriend, was there with her family and she saved us a seat which was quite lovely of her since there were a lot of people there. We ate our meal, snacked, chatted, took some fun pictures, did a lot of people watching (there was a couple in front of us who were much older and played cards until fun. showed up and then they danced the night away). Tegan and Sara were the opening band and they were great, although I honestly didn't know much of their music.
Fun. were fantastic though. They had such incredible stage energy and there were so many songs that I know (luckily- I don't like being at concerts where I can't sing along!). They had great lightings and graphics and honestly, their energy was fabulous. They seemed to love Boise (although sometimes I feel like they say that _________ is the best town no matter where they are so whatever) and I'm pretty sure Nate, the leader singer, wanted to say something about the cross on Tablerock but refrained. They had a huge burst of confetti at one point and for most of the concert, Nicole and I were right up there, only a few people away from the front. I was quite astonished at how many children (like little children!) were there at the concert. I mean, fun. isn't family UN-friendly, but they're also not really family-friendly so that seemed a bit odd. But who am I to judge.
After waiting for so long for the concert, it was definitely worth the wait!
Jars of Clay's newest record "Inland" comes out TOMORROW and I am stoked! I've gotten to listen to the CD streaming off of Billboard so I know what's in store and it's amazing. Once again, they have managed to make a fantastic album with heartfelt, emotional, exciting, thought-provoking music. In anticipation, I thought I'd go through my favorite songs from their previous 10 albums, along with some other special songs.
Jars of Clay "World's Apart"- If you thought I was going to pick "Like a Child", you
were wrong. I love World's Apart. I love how it slowly, slowly, builds
up to the end. The "bridge" has some of the most wonderful lyrics. "More and more I need you/I owe you more each passing hour/the battle between grace and price/I gave up not so long ago/so steal my heart and take the pain/and wash the feet and cleanse my pride/take the selfish, take the weak/and all the things I cannot hide." It gives me chills!
Much Afraid "Hymn"- This is the CD that I'm least familiar with but the last song is wonderful. It's got such a simple accompaniment and it has the added bonus of a gorgeous cello line. It encompasses the simple worship of a hymn but does it in such a modern way. "I'll pirouette upon my grave/for in your path I'll run and hide" is my favorite line.
If I Left the Zoo "Collide"- This song is just so fun. I love how the beginning makes you think one thing (and the humming and yawning!) and then they just dive into the rock sound with the great drum lick. I don't know I can just picture Dan singing this with a bit of a smirky smile, especially the verses.
The 11th Hour "Fly"- OK, this is my favorite song on the CD and I did not know the backstory. Wow. I love it even more.... The chorus is absolutely my favorite except for the "Shed your heart and your breath/And your pain and fly/Now you're alive." Ugh, it just gets me every time!
Who We Are Instead "Lonely People"- This CD came out when I was going through kind of a rough time, with lots of transitions, uncertainties, unknowns and changes. There were definitely some good times but also some unknowns and this CD came out at the most perfect time. The songs encouraged and uplifted me but this song especially always made me smile and reassured me. And yes, I know it's a cover but I can't help but love this version.
Redemption Songs "Jordan's Stormy Banks"- Let's be honest, I can't sing you the original hymn version but that's what I love about Redemption Songs. The hymns have the original meaning but a new sound and feel. This one has the most amazing harmonies that I can't get enough of.
Good Monsters "Smoke and Mirrors"- I can't necessarily pin-point what it is I love so much about this song. The harmonies are great and the meshing of Dan and Leigh's voices are wonderful. I guess if you held a gun to my head, my favorite thing about this one are the lyrics. "Love's a hard decision to risk impending choke/But love will keep you wishing/ And my heart will keep me broke/Love's a contradiction/Many mirrors and smoke/Love will keep you wishing/My heart will keep me broke." Bang.
The Long Fall Back to Earth "Scenic Route"- I've mentioned this song before but it's worth mentioning again but it is AMAZING. For some reason, my ipod clearly knows I love it because it always plays this song when it's on shuffle. Drive that car all the way around the moon- sometimes I wish I could do that so I can put off whatever is facing me that I don't want to face. I could, no joke, drive around for hours in the dark just listening to this song. The only reason I don't is because gas prices are too dang high. Otherwise I would. Come and join me.
The Shelter "Lay It Down"- I actually have no idea that this CD was a thing (shame on me!) but about a week before I was meant to see Jars in concert, I found it at the Record Exchange. What luck! I proceeded to listen to it a good ten million times before the show. I also based my entire Winter Camp seminar after the ideas mentioned. But "Lay It Down" is my favorite for two reasons: 1) Dan and Dawn's harmonies (again....) and 2) the lines "Why carry on our own what's coming to all men? Why drag your bag of bones to hell and back again? Why carry on our own what's coming to all men? Look around, lay it down."
Christmas Songs "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"- I think I've mentioned this song before as well but it deserves repeating as well. This obviously isn't an original but the way that the song builds and builds and then suddenly gets quiet is so beautiful. I get chills when I hear Dan sing "Then pealed the bells more loud and deep/God is not dead, nor doth He sleep/The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail/With peace on earth, good-will to men."
Inland "Fall Asleep"- So, true story, I kind of wrote a story about how the songs in The Long Fall Back to Earth connect and out of all the songs on Inland, I feel this one TOTALLY fits in as a sequel or an epilogue for that story. The crickets at the beginning are GENIUS and man, the lyrics are gorgeous. I've listened to this a dozen times so far and I can't decide if I think this song is sad or hopeful. Oh well, I have no problems listening to it ten million more times. The simplicity of Dan's voice and Charlie's piano is perfect. I'm praying that they play this one at the concert. I would love to see it live.
A few additional favorites. "This Land Is Your Land" is a fun take on a Guthrie class and I dare you to not cry when listening to "Fly Farther". I double dare you.
And finally, I love that Jars of Clay has gone from songs about "Tea and Sympathy" to "The Coffee Song" to "Loneliness and Alcohol." It's like we all have been growing up together.
And as a fun added bonus, here are some pictures from the numerous times I've seen Jars of Clay in concert. Guess which one is one me hearing them in concert from the first time???
I've always been interested in doing some hiking in the Owyhees, especially on those days when I don't want to drive all the way out to Boise and do the same hikes. I did a bit of research, talked to some friends, and eventually decided to try out Jump Creek/Jump Falls. Wanting a friend to come along with me, I called up Becky, who had one more day before she had to be back in the classroom officially. We drove out past Marsing and down Hwy 95 and then off onto some gravel roads until we found the Jump Creek parking lot. Poor air conditions (mainly because of the fires) as well as the HEAT made our hike a bit shorter but you could really hike in either directions for miles. It wasn't incredibly steep where we were but the hills just went on and on and on. The stark desert beauty was incredible and to look down into the ravine and see the green trees and bushes that grew around the stream was a bit surreal for the middle of the desert. Next time I need to get better bearings of directions so I can figure out where Lizard Butte and the the foothills are.
The best part was after the hike, when we walked through the ravine o get to the waterfall. Again, a waterfall and large pond in the middle of the freakin' desert is just surreal and the water was so cool and perfect after the hot hike. I jumped in to go underneath the waterfall (which is so much fun, and totally not deep at all) and I was probably dry four minutes after getting out of the water. I can't wait to go back and explore some more and then reward myself with another dip underneath the water fall. I love Adventure Tuesdays!
I just love weddings, especially weddings where you know so many people. The College of Idaho make up probably more than half of Katie and Jake's wedding guest list. That made for a lot of dancing, laughing, jokes, shenanigans and overall fun. I'll just let the pictures tell the story, because it's pretty much self-explanatory.
the happy couple introduced
my date for the night
my favorite
photo-bombed by Alexis
"what are you doing!?!!?!?!"
with my older friends (they took me to lunch/made me coffee when I was a freshman)
Alexis and Adan
a candid shot
more posed with Tiff and Alexis
with the happy couple
so sad no beer
V2 reunion with Sherman and Rifer
typical with the bffs
classic Yosh
me and Jon
double-fisting the wine and the beer
me and Becky
standard
and angry
non-selfie of me and Becky
Erin and I rocking the orange
usual cake-cutting picture
me and David and the drink he bought me after nearly getting me kicked out of the bar
