Mason Jennings @ MHoW

If there was an over-arching theme to tonight's concert I would say stand-up-for-your-rights-angry-love. Love mostly. Even the songs protesting the war and the previous president were really about love. And the angry ones had love within them too. He encored with "Ballad for my One True Love," cracked on the same note twice, laughed at himself, v cute. No "Nothing," nor "I Love You and Buddha Too," but "Big Sur," "Your New Man," and "Duluth" made up for it. His new songs were great, went over really well with the crowd, opened with "Pittsburgh" and "The Field" (accompanied by a shout from the audience: 'that's the best song ever!'). Closed with "Blood of Man" before the encore. A wonderfully cathartic evening.

Ballad for my One True Love

Hot damn. The weekend in October that I've been looking forward to just got even MORE fantastic. Mason Jennings will be playing on the 9th, and darn straight I'm going to see him again. Then Mirah. Then Placebo. Mirah and Mason are more than enough for me, but we'll see. AND he'll have a new album come September, 'Blood of Man,' excited! I'm really happy he's coming back to NY, for I knew he'd be playing in Portland but also knew I would not be around to catch that show, so yay!

His music gives me chills. It makes me move and groove, makes me cry, makes me happy and smile the day away. Oh, his chords, his strumming, it's all too delicious not to get goosebumps when I listen.


(This gives me the giggles) Mason on I love you and Buddha Too:
"It's also in the key of Bb, which I found out there's a black hole super deep in space that's hitting the earth with a Bb at all times but it's really really low so you can't hear it but it's really loud so a lot of the songs that open up your heart chakra I found out later are often Bb...I looked back through all these different songs throughout history and there are so many love songs written in Bb and I just think is that a coincidence? I don't think so."

Black hole hums B flat

Nothing

Make yourself at home, 'cause I'm going out
Across the street to get us some water
'cause this water's brown, and I'm so embarrassed
To have you here but I want you around

Usually I'd sing, or play you my guitar
But I know it won't get very far with you
'cause you like music that makes you move
And mine has a groove, but it's nothing I can prove

Please know what I mean
When I say, nothing

When I say, nothing

When I say, nothing

When I say

Things that I buy and things that I think
Haven't made this a better place to be
Drugs that I try and drinks that I drink
Haven't made this a better place to be

It's still just a room with the drums in the middle
A couch along the wall that works as my bed
I still have a phone that rings all day
I still have things I wish I woulda said

Please know what I mean
When I say, nothing

When I say, nothing

When I say, nothing
When I say

This whole thing's been hard on me
It breaks my heart, do you know what that means

My new place seems strange to me
It breaks my heart, do you know what that means
It means nothing

So make yourself at home, 'cause I'm going out
Across the street to get us some water
'cause this water's brown, and I'm so embarrassed
To have you here but I want you around

Usually I'd sing, or play you my guitar
But I know it won't get very far with you
'cause you like music that makes you move
And mine has a groove, but it's nothing I can prove

Please know what I mean
When I say, nothing

When I say, nothing

When I say, nothing

When I say

This whole thing's been hard on me
It breaks my heart, do you know what that means

My new place seems strange to me
It breaks my heart, do you know what that means
It means nothing

Fighter Girl

I cannot get you out of my head, Mason Jennings.

The concert was great, and I'm glad I arrived late as he didn't go up until 10:45 and otherwise I'd have been trapped in the Roseland Theater for two hours (no re-entry policy = poopers). He opened with 'California II' followed by 'Nothing,' much to my joy and sorrow. Joy because I love his music ('Butterfly' and 'Be Here Now' were played as well as a couple songs off the upcoming album, including 'Fighter Girl' and 'Your New Man' - the latter was absolutely hilarious), and sorrow because his lyrics and his music (and obviously 'Nothing') remind me of...absolutely no one in particular...

But it was great, even though it was disgustingly hot and I couldn't even take in a bottle of water. I can't wait for the new album.

The weather has been splendiferous all weekend, and for the last two nights I've slept outside under the stars. No tent, just the sleeping bag. And my star chart. I didn't sleep at all the first night, couldn't sleep, and the sun rose so early (at 5:30) that the sun made it impossible, so I went to sleep in a bed at around 7 or so. Last night I did actually fall asleep under the stars, and it was wonderful - if I could I would move my bedroom outside. But, owing to the sunny sunny spot I slept in I awoke with a sunburn on just the left side of my face (nose and cheek) and neck. Who woulda thought to go to sleep with sunblock!