On The Road.

Simply driving through California is an adventure on its own. I always love peering out the windows and discovering what kind of places we'll be making our way through next. Everywhere is different and has its own little culture. Not only is the Golden State highly diverse in its inhabitants, but also especially different when it comes to its terrains. It's majestic, really. And highly overlooked, if you ask me. California is so much more beyond Hollywood and the cliches and stereotypes people tend to associate with it.

Here are a few examples of what two hours of driving can look like from inside a moving vehicle weaving upwards California:

Sunporch Cha-Cha-Cha.

In lieu of graduation, we had a dinner party last night to celebrate. It was wonderful having plenty of my family and friends come and enjoy the evening with me. Some of them I hadn't seen in years, some I won't be seeing as often as I'd been used to, and some I could never see enough. The crowd was fantastic, and we all reveled with fantastic food and conversation. Quite a success, if you ask me. I can't wait for more dinner parties this summer.

Aren't my best friends such babes? I'm lucky to have such excellent people in my life.

Tomorrow, early in the morning, my annual summer road trip shall commence. The ultimate destination is San Francisco, but we'll be making stops at Sequoia and Yosemite before we head further north. It's going to be such a marvelous, breathtaking trip. I'm already sure of it.

In Other Words.

Anybody that knows me knows that I am a complete sucker for a good read. Aside from records, my favorite things to purchase are books. In fact, it's just as dangerous to put me in a book shop as it is for me to be in a record store. Much thanks to a fantastic aunt of mine, above are the most recent additions to my shelves and summer reading list. I've been meaning to read these for some time now, and I can't wait to finally check them off one by one soon. I decided to go for The Secret Lives of People In Love first, and while I'm only less than twenty pages into it, I'm already rather smitten.

It's A Sight To Behold.

Aside from visits to Disneyland, I normally don't take trips to Orange County. However, ever since I found out that one of my most favorite musicians ever, Mr. Devendra Banhart, would be making an appearance at The Observatory in Santa Ana, I knew I had to make an exception. I hadn't seen a show there in years; in fact,  I believe I was 13 the last time I stepped foot inside. I even tend to still call it by its old name, The Galaxy Theater, so I wasn't certain what to expect. Though they should probably double check the correct spellings for their guests' names...

First up.. Hecuba from Los Angeles. Also Devendra's "favorite band in the world". I'd known about them, but my interest was never piqued enough for me to actually give them a listen. But wowza, they played one hell of an opening set. Yes, they're very sexual. Yes, some were freaked out. And yes, most of the audience just didn't seem to get it. Had the show been in L.A., I'm pretty sure they would have been welcomed by a more appreciative audience. But they made me and Hailey boogie and kept me watching closely the entire time, so I definitely dug it. While their style and music may not be for everybody, I gained massive respect for this band simply from witnessing that set.

As for the man of the evening (along with The Grogs' Noah Georgeson and Josiah Steinbrick), I'm not sure I'm capable of properly explaining how beautiful his set was. Though he had two of the Grogs with him onstage, they delivered a very stripped down set. It was very intimate and so lovely. It was a real treat getting to hear his songs performed the way they were. I loved every second of it. He also shared a number of his new tunes, which I'm already itching to hear on record as well. Without a doubt, he's incredibly talented, and last night's performance further confirmed why his music means enormously to me. In fact, now it means much more.

I don't think I want to return to The Observatory for many shows in the future (except for one next month that would be atrocious to miss), but I genuinely had a fantastic time. I can't think of a more perfect way to kick off the summer. Next week? I'll be off on a road trip to San Francisco.

watch this: Father John Misty - "This Is Sally Hatchet"

Father John Misty takes the art of the music video very seriously. And by seriously, I mean, he isn't one to simply mess around and deliver anything less than entertaining. In his third single, "This is Sally Hatchet," he and director Grant James do not disappoint. Blood, guns, pizza galore. Quite the incentive, huh? Watch the video after the jump.

Where Do My Bluebirds Fly.

Things have been busy lately. I mean, when I'm not napping my afternoons away, that is. Unfortunately, as productive as I have been, I've been equally lazy. It's more difficult to catch up with posting when half the time, there's so much going on. As for the other half? It's when I'm too exhausted to do anything at all. I'm in the process of figuring out how to completely cut my awful, lazy habits. God knows I have too many I need to kick. Like I said, it's a process. One step at a time, I say. Anyway, enough words, here are a few photos I've been meaning to share.

Ah, the great delight of receiving show tickets in the mail!

Life has been all over the place. As usual. It's been full of farewells and hellos, happy tears and bittersweet tears, warm fuzzies and sinking feelings. I graduate from high school tomorrow evening, which is strange and fantastic and about damn time. As much as I haven't been enjoying the awful heat, I'm very much looking forward to the new beginnings this summer and beyond will bring. I'm determined to make some changes and to simply make things better. There's a lot of me to work on and plenty of adventures to be had. It can only get better from here, I think. I hope.

listen to: The Tallest Man On Earth's new single, "1904"

The Tallest Man On Earth is one of my most absolute favorites. Not only do I hold his records very near and dear to my heart, but he's also a true wonder to behold live. Imagine my glee when I discovered that on June 12th (11th in the UK), Kristian Matsson will be releasing his third effort, There's No Leaving Now via Dead Oceans. I know that that's merely weeks from now, but I'm having a difficult time containing my excitement. Luckily, the new single, "1904", has been tiding me over in the meantime. The track is classic Tallest Man: grand, yet simple; effortless, soaring vocals intertwined with Matsson's beautiful strumming. Listen + download after the jump.

Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out.

Guess what I did this afternoon? After nineteen months of having metal hugging my teeth and scratching the insides of my mouth, I finally had my braces removed. Groundbreaking news, I know, but I'm quite pleased about it, so that's that. 

Since I'd been starving all day, the folks and I decided to go for some In-N-Out. I have to say, it was/is total bliss not having to clean my teeth every bite or so. It's an underrated pleasure, to be honest.

A satisfying afternoon, indeed. Although I really can't wait to get this week over with.

listen to: Milo Greene

photo by Liza Boone

Listen up and watch out, folks. I see big things for L.A.'s Milo Greene. If Local Natives and Of Monsters and Men musically procreated, I would certainly imagine the offspring to be this lovely new band. Their debut album on Atlantic doesn't drop until July 17th, but in the meantime, feast your ears on some lovely tracks after the jump.