Knock me senseless, just a scar of all the things I have done wrong.

When I first landed the volunteering job, I had the pleasure of starting the night the band Elsinore was set to perform.

When I entered and walked down the ramp, I noticed that this band was a pretty average bunch of guys, actually extremely average. The lead singer, Ryan Groff, stood out the most to me. It was his extremely long and dark brown curly hair.

Their music could be classified as many things. A wonderful combo of rock, folk, americana, and indie. A song called "Landlocked" was all about living in the Midwest. The band is from Champaign/Urbana Illinois, so they definitely know all about it.

They gazed at the signed photographs on the wall and whistled to the tunes being played by Pandora. They smiled and patiently waited for their chinese food. I remember Ryan's cheery face when he found out that Andrew Bird, an obvious influence, had played here in the past.

In fact, one of the first songs they played was Bird's Spare-Oh. It was absolutely beautiful as Groff whistled the solo. They also played many tracks - sadly they had only recorded an EP with three tracks, all of which were played. They played many others including Lines, my favorite, "I don't wanna fight around you anymore, I want to be loved." When Ryan sang that line -- a full set of chills shot through me. I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff.

They mentioned that they were going to get a full album out soon, and God, I really hope so! I am anxiously awaiting it.

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After the gig, they were extremely happy and awesome. They wanted us to go and bowl with them, and so I took that chance and had a great time. In fact Ryan got me a strike through encouragement.

When it was my bed time and I needed to say goodbye, Dave Pride, the drummer took my hand in both of his hands, looked me in the eye, and gave me the most heartfelt "Thank You" I have ever gotten. They all shook my hand and made me want to play another game.

Needless to say, these guys were completely appreciate sweethearts. I cannot wait for their album and to see them again!

Testing the timber of my heart...

[November 1st, 2008]

{Pieta Brown w/Joe Pug}

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PIETA BROWN {Folk / Roots Music / Rock}

Walking into the doors to where I volunteer, I saw Pieta Brown, (pronounced Pee-etta) a beautiful woman, a dark grey patterned bandana around her brown ponytail, dressed in a cute pair of jeans and bohemian top.

I also saw who I found out was Bo Ramsey, Pieta's "best friend in the whole world," dressed in mostly black, but I noticed around his neck a peace sign attached to leather. He also sported a straw cowboy hat. Pieta had met him through her dad, and he is from Iowa City, where the two of them are currently living. Bo They also played with bass guitarist, Jon, her "good friend".

Pieta sang with such a warm, smokey tone, and you could tell she spent a while in the south. Alabama to be exact. She grew up in Iowa, then moved to Alabama, and now she's back. "Are You Free?" and "Remember the Sun" were two of my favorites but she also did an outstanding cover of a Muddy Waters tune Rollin' Tumblin'.

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JOE PUG {Rock / Roots Music / Americana}

Then a while later, in walked Joe Pug in a pair of taupe working boots, and jeans with a blue bandana hanging out his back pocket, which later he used to clean off the fretboard of his acoustic guitar. He immediately reminded me of Benicio del Toro. He mentioned how his directions got him lost, explaining the time he arrived.

He says that he's from Chicago, but that is just where all of his music started. You really don't get that feel in his vocals or lyrics for that matter. Later, I found out he was from Maryland. He has such a sense of surroundings, he takes it all in, and sings it for everyone to hear.

Funny thing happened. It turned out that we both ordered the same dinner, Low Mein, from the local Chinese place, but his was ordered incorrectly, when it came time to decide, he left it completely up to me and let me have the one I wanted. Later he told me "my mom would be ashamed... I didn't eat my vegetables," - he took the vegetable lo mein. I asked him if he was a big fan of chinese food, and he replied something like "I never used to care for it, until I started dating this girl from Bejiing, and she really liked to cook it."

Joe stumbled down the stairs a few minutes to 8:00, the scheduled showtime, wearing a blue flannel shirt, and brown cowboy boots. He introduced himself, and joked about being in Milwaukee, Wisconsin the night before, and how he was treated. He clicked on a harmonica to a headpiece he wore around his neck, and started strumming his guitar and completely unleashed the tune of Nation of Heat, an instant favorite of mine, sure to be a classic. When he was singing, his lyrics just poured out his soul like a poet. I was instantly struck by the lonesome tune of his beautiful harmonica and the way he played it so powerfully - like it was sending a message.

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At the end of the gig, when I asked him to sign my cd, he asked "you didn't buy this did you?" I told him 'yes', and he responded "no, no, no, this is on the house." He signed it - To Michelle, Joe Pug, and with the happiest expression I gave him my thanks.

Then Pieta noticed also, and realizing that I bought her LP Remember the Sun, (because of songs like West Monroe, Are You Free?, and Remember the Sun), she also gave me her new EP Flight Time. I was so pleased. Their performances were so moving and heartfelt, and I'm the one who's getting thanked?

I will always remember this night, and not only how sweet and soft their acoustic performances were, but how sweetly appreciative and how lovely they were.

Arizona

I thought I would kick off my first post with ARIZONA, a new psychedelic rock band I saw perform just last night.

[Lead singer, Ben Wigler]

The band Arizona is actually from NYC and Ashville, NC., and they are some of the truest people I have encountered.

Arizona was just supposed to be the opener for Amy Ray, but as it turns out her van completely shit out on her in MN and she wasn't able to make it, and as a result a member of Arizona, Alex (the bassist), had to leave to go retrieve her trailer so they could be on schedule for the next night. As a result they got to play nearly every song and their new album, Glowing Bird, and then some.

So myself and a few dozen others were able to see Arizona: Acoustic for the first time ever. Although they joked that the only difference from their rock sound and their "acoustic" was that they were sitting down in chairs. But really, the whole night had a great chill atmosphere to it. We set up couches in the front of the stage and they performed a sort of Storytellers version.

The band was very excited to be playing a concert of their very own, and they weren't afraid to experiment around. There were quite a few laughs on stage and off. During one song, the drummer left them to do a duo and came back on stage doing some funny hand shows to the music, then lightly hammering the cymbals to give a chilling effect.

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THE MEMBERS

The lead singer and also a guitarist, Ben, was one of the sweetest guys I've ever encountered, dressed in a very unique outfit of dress shorts, a t-shirt supporting the Cement Workers of America, black running tights, and a non-matching pair of toe socks - one red, the other rainbow.

The main guitarist and also vocalist, Nick Campbell, sported a Metallica shirt and jeans. The song "Balloon" from their newest album, is based on an old man Nick became aquainted with while working at a Balloon factory in Brooklyn.

The drummer who also chimed in some background vocals, James, was simply dressed in a white tee and jeans. After the concert, I was just sitting around and he came over to talk to me about my favorite bands, as I was wearing a Kooks tee. I showed him some of my favorites and he really enjoyed them. It was such a cool experience.

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After the gig, I was able to get a little closer to the band, and purchased a CD and had them sign - they were so grateful, one of my favorite attributes of a new band. They are so sweet and take the time to get to know you. In fact, the lead, Ben, took some photos of our group of workers with him and the band. It was a really special evening.

I really suggest you check them out at their Myspace, my favorite tracks from their new album include Glowing Bird, You Were Right, and Heath, and their older albums are available on iTunes.