The Black Keys

The Black Keys have been around since 2002... why i have not known about them until now, i don't know?!?! As my new obsession of the month.... I'm purely addicted to their awesome mix of this classic bluesy sound and new age retro/indie tone. Their first album "The Big Come Up" is most definitely my favorite! I just drive in my car and almost don't wanna get out till the last song has played! I would categorize them in the Blues-rock genre along with some of my favorites...Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Cream, Jimmy Reed, and Muddy Waters. Dan Auerbach's voice is so different and unique! So as of right now with my insufficient funds i haven't been able to purchase all their albums like I'd want to at the moment but I'm in love with their new album "Brothers" so if you have been blessed to have already been a follower of this band then rock on! If you don't know who I'm talking about... do yourself a favor, educate yourself on The Black Keys!

The Gulf....

I've finally had enough! I can't stand watching the news, weather channel, reading articles and seeing countless pictures on the BP oil spill that just can't seem to be stopped!!! It's sooo sad and before we know it the whole East Coast will be affected. It's been 49 days and over 53,000,000 million gallons have already been spilled. Within seconds of the Hati disaster Americans were all ready to donate money, throw fundraisers, have concerts and even fly there to help the people of Hati. I support that totally but when it comes to helping our own country we can't seem to be bothered! Where are all the stars and their telethons now? Well I wanna help! I don't know where to start or what to do so I'm looking for ideas - and anyone that wants to help, any friends or family - anyone! please let me know. Anything to raise money to send to organizations that help in wildlife rescue, Gulf support, etc. Give me feedback!
~Penny Lane

Dire Straits/Money For Nothing

Money For Nothing and Your Chicks For Free!

You know what song i discovered on my I-Pod this morning while driving..... "Money For Nothing" Dire Straits! I haven't heard this little diddy in sooooo long! Forgot how much i love it and how it makes me want to sing extremely loud and look like a fool while driving and dancing! HaHa The music video is so retro and classic 80's style! Love it!!! So here's a little Friday treat for everyone! Let's rock out with 1985! HaHa
~Penny Lane

Band of Horses

I found out that one of my favorite groups, Band of Horses, just came out with a new album last week!!! This third installment to their collection is called "Infinite Arms." First thing i noticed was the big change in this album compared to their last two. The new album shows more of the bands retro side compared to their normally mellow, indie, easy listening tunes. One of the original band mates Rob Hampton, left the band before they started recording the current third album. Bridwell, Ramsey, Reynolds, Barrett and Monroe appear on "Infinite Arms." Lead singer and my personal fav Ben Bridwell still has that soulful voice I'd recognize anywhere, which was one of my initial draws to the band when i first heard them. The new album has more upbeat, rock 'n' rollie sounding tracks. As a steady follower, I must say the new sound kinda threw me for a loop.... I definitely believe that the new album will grow on me but any true Band of Horses groupie would agree that there's always that one album you get hooked on where all you want is for the proceeding albums to sound exactly the same with some new twists! lol That's how i feel about their first album "Everything All The Time." Two songs on the album I've already fallin' in love with are "Blue Beard" and "On My Way Back Home." So to all fellow Band of Horses fans - give the new album a try, you'll for sure grow to love their new direction as I have.
~Penny Lane

The Brooklyn Bowl... and a cat named Brooklyn

Hello All!
So I know its been a week and all since the April Smith and The Great Picture Show concert my friends and I went to in Brooklyn, but it was so amazing that I'm gonna talk about now anyway!
Soo... I'd never been to Brooklyn before (awesome by the way!!) We were so excited to see April Smith, we went all that way just to see her!! The Brooklyn Bowl is THE coolest place, It's this gigantic old warehouse built in the 1800's with 3 bars, a stage area and bowling lanes! Anyway, the show started off with Shayna Zaid & The Catch - They were really good. Shayna's voice was unique with sort of a bluesy, indie type sound. Definitely made us want to dance. The second band was Motel, Motel. They were cute and all but we were not really feeling them as much. Not much you could dance to, a little mellow. Just seemed like they needed to work on their sound a little bit, kinda all over the place. Once April Smith came out the place was packed! I was sooo pumped! The whole show was broadcast on LiveStream which was sweet! She played pretty much every song on the band's album "Songs for a Sinking Ship", they totally rocked the house!!
Now about the cat named Brooklyn....
During the show April said that while walking her dog in Brooklyn one night she came across this stray Persian cat. She took it home with her to give it a home but couldn't keep her because her husband was really allergic. She basically said anyone interested in adopting a cat see me after the show. Well my friend Mary raised her hand and said she would take it!
So long story short.... we got to meet and hang out with April Smith and her band!!! Totally made my night!!! She is soooo sweet and so are her band mates! We ended up taking in the lost kitty and named her Brooklyn... quite fitting huh? haha random/amazing night!
If you haven't already, check out April Smith and The Great Picture Show on itunes and do yourself a favor... BUY THAT ALBUM!!! I can't stop listening to it!
~Penny Lane

Rod Stewart; forever young / Some Guys Have All The Luck

College Graduate

As i sit here posting this blog, eating my toasted bagel with butter while enjoying a cup of coffee on a beautiful morning... It's finally hitting me that today is the day i finally graduate college!!!! It only took me 5 years at a community college lol.... but.... I've done it! I'm feeling very accomplished right now like I actually finished one of the many chapters in my life. Sure i may be one of the oldest people graduating today but i can feel it, today is my day. Looking forward to a happy day filled with friends and family all around. Totally at peace today ;) I know this is totally cheesy like I'm accepting a Oscar but..... Thanks to my family and friends that kept believeing in me and supporting me to finish after all this time - love you all! ~Forever Young~

Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame

Soooo... back in March 2010 Jimmy Cliff was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame! I just came across the video of him performing at the Ceremony and OMG AMAZING!!! Please go to this website and watch the video!!! http://vimeo.com/10294387, sooo cute! Love Him!
Songs like "You Can Get it if You Really Want" and "Many Rivers to Cross" sounded exactly like they did when they first came out around '72. His voice never sounded better! Everyone there looked amazed, even Jackson Browne was dancing and singing along lol. Jimmy Cliff is now the second Reggae Artist to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, with of course, my favorite, the legend....
Mr. Marley himself!!! Congratulations Mr. Cliff I Love You! HaHa

3 Little Birds

As i was driving to work this morning enjoying the beautiful Spring weather and getting really excited for Summer, Bob Marley's "3 Little Birds" came on my I-Pod. It made me think about how certain songs can just come on the radio while in your car, at a bar, or even with friends at a party and just make you smile ;) This song makes me happy every time I listen to it! Since it brightened my day i thought I'd share it with everyone to bring smiles to your day as well! Enjoy!! "Don't worry about a thing, cuz every little things gonna be alright"
~Penny Lane

Bob Marley- Three Little Birds (With Lyrics!)

Yesterday i read an article in Rolling Stone Magazine about Jimi Hendrix and his last days and lost music.
It got me thinking... music's just not made how it used to be. Jimi Hendrix is by far the greatest guitarist of all time, a true Voo-doo child of his era. While having such following and success while alive, he became even more popular after his untimely death in 1970. A great loss to the world of Rock 'n' Roll for sure.

In the article it says a CD has just been released in 2010 called "Valley of Neptune," a collection of all his unreleased material. Even though he died more than 30 years ago his music still lives on strong. I wasn't even close to being alive in 1970 but my friends and I still listen to his music all the time as if he were in town, still alive and we were gearing up to see him in concert. I was brought up on all Classic Rock (which, by the way, i think is what music is really all about.. haha). It brings a smile to my face to still hear his music played on the radio and to see articles about him in magazines.
Hopefully Rock 'n' Roll artists of today can take a page or two from Hendrix's book and become a 2010 version of the Voo-doo child himself. Hendrix once said, "Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music." Personally, I couldn't agree more Jimi!
~Penny Lane

All Things Doobie

So as I sit at the restaurant I work at I hear all these people talking about going to the local Doobie Brothers concert tonight...I'm very jealous! The Doobie Brothers remind me of my dad, they are one of his favorite bands. I can still remeber the first time I heard them while out driving with my dad. The first song I heard was "Listen To The Music" GREAT song! It's funny how thinking of a band or hearing a song can remind you of a moment in time. Doobie Brothers music is soo feel good! It puts me in a good mood every time I hear them. Have fun for me tonight all local Doobie fans!
~Penny Lane

April Smith - Movie Loves a Screen live at Mercury Lounge 10/3/2010

Hellllooooo!

Hellooo To All Who Reads This.....

I'm not sure where to start or in what direction to go in but I'm gonna try it anyway. Hope whoever reads likes and enjoys it!

I can't seem to get enough music in my life!!! I need to listen to it wherever i am. Every morning while commuting to work i like to "rock out" to my so called band/artist of the week, which by the way sometimes changes daily depending on what mood I'm in. I had just recently downloaded some new music on my I-Pod and was very excited to listen to it. My cousin and I have just discovered this group called April Smith and The Great Picture Show. I don't know who else out there has heard them but.... AMAZING!!! Just got their album "Songs for a Sinking Ship" and i have a new song that I will probably listen to on repeat for the next few days but thought I'd share it with y'all!!! Enjoy fellow music lovers! Song is called "Movie Loves a Screen"
~Penny Lane