Carmet Beach

It's been getting colder and colder everyday. It really bums me out, I am a cold blooded person and love sunshine. Saturday I awoke after getting the pleasure of sleeping in to a very hot sun. It seemed only logical to head to the beach on such a beautifully warm day.

As we drove further and further west the temperature dropped with every mile. Looking over the hills we saw what my friend Emma called the "fog monster" creeping over the peak. By the time we reached the Carmet beach we were surrounded by thick layer of heavy fog. We were slightly disappointed at the sight of the frigid beach but determined to make the most of it. We were at the beach and that alone was enough to keep us happy.

This is a really nice beach. This is a great beach for children or “adults” such as my friends and I with childlike tendencies. This beach is something out of Pirates of the Caribbean. I want to come back someday, fog or shine. I want to come with a bag of food and my wetsuit. Even though the water was 0 degrees there was still something inside me that was tempted to go in. We had a great time sitting in the sand with blankets , enjoying eachothers company and the scenery. There was a fair amount of other people at the beach but not enough to disturb us. Plus they had cute dogs so it was okay.

The girls I went with were pretty into rap so we mostly listened to rap on the beautiful drive. Some highlights include this Tyler the Creator song Jamba. I for some reason just really like Tyler. I think hes a talented rapper and just really hilarious. His interviews are ridiculous and addicting. Thurnis Haley, great character. Plus I have a weird crush on him so that doesn’t help. Anyways this songs dope.

Musical Highlights from Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending my favorite FREE music festival Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, in the heart of Golden Gate Park. I got to see some artists that I love and see old friends all while soaking up the ridiculously warm San Francisco weather. Although bluegrass is not my favorite type of music, I did find myself grooving to some bluegrass jams. The name of the festival is right in that its hardly strictly JUST bluegrass, it’s all types of music! Here are some of the musical highlights of the weekend:

• Father John Misty: Their set consisted of lead singer J. Tillman alone on the stage, sitting on a chair playing an acoustic guitar, inside a huge cardboard cut-out of an iphone. The last time I saw them perform was with the whole band so this came as a surprise to me. J. Tillman is a very funny guy and was being very ironic by sitting in a giant iphone. His witty banter never fails to entertain the crowd in between songs. The music was way mellower than it usually is. It was different and good at the same time. His voice was very well heard and the songs seemed to have more meaning when you can really hear the lyrics. I really enjoyed seeing Father John Misty this way, stripped down to the basics which really showed J’s talent and songwriting abilities. Of course it was not nearly as fun but I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless.
• Connor Oberst: Amazing. I have loved Bright Eyes (Connor Oberst’s band) since I was 12 years old. He has a unique voice and his lyrics are hauntingly poetic. Him and his band were great, very energetic and a lot of fun. The performance was flawless and beautiful. His band was vast and included a violinist, two guitarists, a keyboardist, and a drummer. The sound was very full and diverse; it was hard not to dance the entire time. I can’t wait until next year where I’m sure he will be back.
• The Devil Makes Three: This band always calls for a good time. Fun songs, lots of instruments, and great vibes. Their sound is a lot of fun and their performance was perfect. Their stage was bombarded with people and it seemed everyone wanted to see them. It was a blast.
• Gogol Bordello: What exactly is gypsy-punk rock music? It’s one hell of a good time that’s what it is. Gogol Bordello has got to some of the weirdest music ever (in the absolute best way possible). They are known for their most popular song entitled “Start Wearing Purple.” Need I say more? They are so fun, so rowdy, and so talented. Everyone as far as I could see was dancing and rocking out. The music and their energy was so contagious, everyone was enjoying themselves. I need to see them in concert again at a smaller venue and I need to be in that mosh pit. We watched them as the sun set behind them with the most beautiful San Francisco sunset. It was the perfect way to conclude a perfect weekend.
  

Live Blogging Harldy Strictly Bluegrass Festival

The Golden Gate transit, so useful, easy, so inexpensive. Every time I take this bus to this city I question why I don’t do it more often. This way I don’t have to deal with driving my huge car around the city. Parking is always a nightmare, and the last thing I want is to be stuck being designated driver. The bus was a very good choice. Here I am sitting next to an old man who seems to be sleeping. I am well rested and jittering with excitement for today marks day one of my favorite weekend of the year, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival. The closer we get, the more anxious I get. I’m worried about how exactly I’m going to get to Golden Gate park, but with Iphone in hand and bountiful public transportation at my disposal, I’m certain I’ll make it there.

The Muni bus pulls up to the curb at my destination, Golden Gate Park. There at the bus stop stands my adorable best friend Autumn. She gives me a big hug and hands me a flask full of Jack Daniels as we head into the flow of people following the current that leads us to the center of the park. There are people everywhere. Homeless people, clean hippies, dirty hippies, people in suits (who presumable just got off work), eco friendly stuck up pseudo-hippies, weird teenagers wearing tails and animal ears, weird teenagers wearing tutu’s, old bearded men in overalls, clean cut couples indulging in wine and cheese, families with children running around, and of course the 20 something college student looking for a good time with good music. I wouldn’t expect anything less from a free music festival in the heart of my favorite city. Everyone around me is either in a really good mood, really drunk, or both. Autumn and I rush to the stage that Father John Misty is playing at. We take a seat in the grass and quickly start meeting the outgoing and enthusiastic man sitting next to us. We indulge in conversation about the band we are about to see, and soak up this uncharacteristically warm San Francisco weather.

This is the beginning of day one and I’m already having a blast. Father John Misty plays a mellow acoustic set. While watching we run into some friends and end up hanging with them for the rest of the set. Immediately after, Autumn and I head to a different stage to see Connor Oberst. Man, it is HOT! I was not expecting this, this is not the San Francisco I know. The sun is bright and there is not a cloud in sight. It’s almost 5 and it’s this hot?! Inconceivable! Autumn and I make it to the front of the stage with no problem at all. Connor comes on and I am filled with excitement. Him and his band are phenomenal and I sing along with the poetic lyrics I love so much. Everyone is having such a good time. Something about the generosity of a free music festival, it rubs off on everyone in attendance. The guys behind us offers us some beer and of course we happily comply. Everyone is being so friendly and having so much fun.

Halfway through Connor Oberst’s set we climb up the hill to find my other best friend Sam, who goes to Chico State. We are now watching the show from up on a hill in the woods a bit. It is so beautiful here. I feel like I’m in a festival in the middle of a forest. Connor Oberst brings the ladies from First Aid Kit (the band that played before him) to accompany him for a few songs. Their voices are beautiful and their harmonies perfect. I am in a blissful daze being with my two best friends (which doesn’t happen often since we all three go to different schools) listening to music I love, all while not spending a penny! According to this cheap-ass, this is perfection. The sun is setting and beaming through the woods. We start making our way out of the park during Connor Obert’s last song. We do this kind of dance-walk type movement until the music is out of earshot. This might be the end of day one, and the best part of it all is knowing I get to do it again for the next two days. Hardly Strictly, I love you.