The Felice Brothers: The Last American Act

So I'm in Nashville for a long weekend and one of the main reasons for visiting is catching The Felice Brothers with my brother's girlfriend. Of course it's the night of the day I arrive and although the car ride is a breeze, just 3.5 hours from Atlanta, we go on this extensive bike ride, checking out East Nashville and cruising around the neighborhood. Nashville is known for music, and surprisingly, not all country music. The Felice Brothers hail from upstate New York but certainly exert a Southern, folkish-Bob Dylan-esque fiddle and guitar musical style. They grabbed the honky tonk flavor of Nashville by the horns and blew the crowd away with pleasers like Whiskey In My Whiskey, Frankie's Gun and Run Chicken Run. The quartet, the 3 Felice brothers, Ian, lead singer, James, piano and Simone, drums are accompanied by bassist, Christmas, a childhood friend and every now and then they add on an extra string man, Farley, a rare oddball who's goofy dance moves are sided by his amazing fiddle playing. Singing about guns, the woods and just old country ways, this band is going to make it far, already touring across the nation this summer, even making a stop in Atlanta tonight at Smith's Olde Bar. I will be going again in lieu of witnessing the last great American act. 

"Well my head is in pain, but I can't complain / Cause my sweetheart waits down the line / And I will be in a house by the sea / Or even if just in my mind.."

- Roll on Arte, Tonight at the Arizona - The Felice Brothers

The Age Of Innocence

Hi Friends,

I'm sorry I've neglected this blog for so long, today is the day to put a stop to it. I guess as far as most of you know, I got a new job at Beacham and Company, a luxury real estate company in Atlanta. Even though it's not quite my most desired job, it is in fact one, and as they say, the grass is always greener, no matter where you are in life. So it's good for now, and I've already learned so much of the "corporate" fascade, I think I can walk away with a good (still moderate, leaning towards liberal) head on my shoulders. 

Today was a great day. After many long and sleepless days and nights working on the Beacham Series, a magazine we produce 3x-year, I decided to take a "work at home" day. What fun it's been! As much as I was supposed to start working at 8am, I laid about in bed till 10, then kicked my feet around a bit, got up, brushed my teeth, then my hair and wrote in my journal until 11 rolled came. Then I had some toast and decided it was time to get dressed for a 12 o'clock appointment later that day. And in the meantime during all these things, I had the chance to catch up with three very special friends who are all in New York City. Each had stories of cold and rain, while I gingerly sat looking out at the green and bright blue sky, noticing Atlanta reaching into the 60s. 

I also got a freelance job today! woo. Woo is one of my favorite words to text. It's easy and it means exactly how you say it. Have you noticed how if you type "woo" on the iphone it always autocorrects it as wool. It's hilarious. For example, "hey cristina! congrats on the job, that's awesome. wool!" Too funny. I've had too many friends comment on my overused context of the word wool. If they ain't got an iphone, they don't know. Anyway, back on the freelance gig - it's for a family friend, but it's actually 2 jobs in one. The first is an ad in a magazine, not so exciting, but the second, I can hardly keep in... my first website coding! I bought a book today on java, titled appropriately, java for dummies. I plan to do my first design this weekend. Needless to say, luckily my client wants a very simple clean navigation, so I hope I will make her happy. Can't wait to get that on my job description too.

Well, as for the rest of my day, one thing's for sure, Gossip Girl SUCKED. For a 3 week hiatus, it was not strong as a comeback at all. But since I'm on the topic, a little bit of Edith Wharton for you to ponder about as the day becomes night... and a little something about my life too.

"Life is always a tightrope or a feather bed. Give me the tightrope."

- E.W.