Austin's Music Scene: A Daunting Task For Even An Avid Music Lover

As many of you know, in July I ventured back to my charmingly diverse hometown of Minneapolis. Though the goodbyes were hard and the transition has proven to be a bit more difficult then I was expecting, Minneapolis is a gem in the summer and I have taken advantage of my time off to do a bit of exploring with family, friends and loved ones.

It didn’t take me very long to leave again. At the beginning of July, I ventured out of the state to visit my friend Angela, who relocated to Austin some time ago. Though I was there for a week, we jam packed that week with as much Austin food, fun, and music as we stomach (and then some….). We even managed a trip to Houston in there. It was an exhausting, but fulfilling time spent exploring a city that my best friend has come to love so dearly.

While in Austin I had the chance to bask in many live music performances, and I love live music, so this was definitely one of the best things we had the chance to partake in. The night after I arrived we had the chance to enjoy some live music and local brews from a cozy picnic blanket at Unplugged at the Grove, where we swayed to the acoustic sounds of Jonathan Tyler. For my Milwaukee friends, think Jazz in the Park, but much more intimate and without sneaking in a bottle of wine. My favorite part was the twinkle lights hanging in the trees creating a rustic ambiance near the stage. But if I had to chose a favorite musical performance it would hands down be Tahoma with special guest Drew Davis.

If I thought Unplugged at the Grove had an intimate vibe, The Cactus Cafe was the definition of intimate. Cute tables meant for two to three people filled this 50 person cafe located on the University of Texas campus, and made for the perfect date night. Angela and I decided to take a trip back in time, and relive our college days, considering that Marquette never had anything nearly as cool as The Cactus Cafe (besides maybe the once a year concert that came to the AMU Ballroom). I stumbled upon this band called Tahoma on Spotify while exploring things to do in Austin and saw they were playing at a venue near where Angela lived, so it was must to check out. Tahoma captures tangy bluegrass with earthy sounds and Brandon Aguilar’s hip, laid back charm. Combine that with Sarah Oermann’s smooth harmonies and you have the perfect mix of Austin and Texas twang.

What came as a surprise though was jazzy blues singer, Drew Davis, coming along for the ride. She played a stripped down show, just her keyboard and two vocalists providing back up harmony. As much as I enjoyed Tahoma’s performance, Davis stole the night with her soulful voice and honest lyrics. It was quite obviously the girl was meant to be a songwriter, even displaying her skills by performing a song about a brick. Though the song may have been about an inanimate object, Davis brought life to the object with strong vocals and catchy chords. It almost was my favorite song out of her set, but it is hard to pick just one.

The evening was complete with a stroll through UT’s campus and walk back to the apartment. Nothing better then being able to rehash the night’s events with your bestie (and making a quick stop to grab a cinnamon roll at a local co-op).

Austin’s music scene will forever mystify me. How they manage to pack this city with so many new and talented artists, I will never understand. But I will most certainly continue to enjoy it.

Taylor Swift Stepped Out and Shined Brightest in 2014

Taylor Swift owned 2014, with her epic Red tour coming to an end and her devastatingly amazing 1989 becoming the soundtrack on everyone’s radios, in headphones, and at parties. Though she has created mass hysteria across the airwaves and social media with her catchy tunes and lovable dorky personality, Swift more than anything this year asserted herself and exploded onto the pop scene with fierce determination.

She has been featured on numerous magazine covers and has truly made the world her oyster. After reading an article in the November issue of UK Vogue that featured her on the cover, I had developed a mad amount of respect for the young women on the brink of 25. She spoke in brutal honesty, but had this elegant, warm and confident demeanor throughout the interview. I remember at one point reading “dating or finding someone is the last thing on my mind, because I can’t picture how it could work with the way my life is.” It was invigorating to finally see her coming to terms with her life and it was motivational to me as a young women on the cusp of 25 and feeling rather lost in terms of friendship, relationships and jobs. I admired her earnestness and feel like many people are finally starting to appreciate Taylor for Taylor.

When 1989 dropped it spoke volumes to where Swift was at in her life and was her most relatable album to date. My roommate and I spent countless nights with the CD (yes, they still make those charming little compact discs) playing on repeat over and over again, dancing in the living room and belting out these creatively addictive tunes. It was like hearing all of my twenties on one album and finding a long lost friend. The album left me feeling surprisingly calm through synthesized pop beats, but also gave me the insatiable urge to dance my heart out. I applaud Swift on creating something so perfect, it changed my view on pop music today.

Not only has she given my roommate and I something to bond over, but she has inspired numerous artist to be innovative with her tunes. Swift has an astounding talent for songwriting; one that many will never match, and it is wonderful to see so many people singing, dancing, and mixing her music. One example that recently has splashed onto the social media scene is the acoustic cover by Louisa Wendorff and Devin Dawson, who have created a superb mash up of “Blank Space” and “Style.” It is beautiful and I command everyone check it out, now, if you can of course. Swift has paved the way for aspiring artists and musicians, which makes her a true artist.

Lastly a video came out within the new year that truly expresses the love and appreciation Swift not only has for life, but her fans. MTV news reported that Swift created an “End of the Year” video that showed her showering fans with gifts and beautifully personal handwritten notes. The video is heartwarming and sincere, as it features Taylor becoming Santa Claus and wrapping boxes with delightfully bright and cheery wrapping paper. It also features fans opening these gifts and sharing extreme appreciation for a musician that has become an inspiration in their lives. It is a video filled with profound joy and can bring a tear to even Scrooge himself.

So, Taylor, thank you for being a constant reminder in my life to chase after your dreams and make the world your oyster. Your album will continue to shape not only my life, but millions of others in the world. You should be proud of the impact you are having. Please, continue to be you, and my roommate and I will continue to spend evenings dancing to the genius you have named 1989.

Five Reasons to See "Theory of Everything" This Season.

1. It is a raw, emotional, and triumphant love story.

The Theory of Everything explores the intensely supportive and remarkable love story of Stephen and Jane Hawking, the famed Cambridge physicist and his first wife. It explores the the romantic high points and devastating low points of their other worldly love. Many know Stephen Hawking, the professor, but what came as a surprise to me was this incredibly strong and determined women who made Hawking’s world a possibility. I had not heard anything about Jane until I saw the movie, and afterwards I had this insatiable desire to fly to Cambridge and meet her personally. The movie may not follow their relationship to a chronologically tee, like is depicted in Jane’s memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, but it captures the raw emotion and strong desire of two brilliant people and their passion for life and each other.

2. Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones give performances of a lifetime.

I am certain every major newspaper, online news source, and anything that can print words for people to read are raving as much as I am about the performances that Redmayne and Jones fulfill. There are no other words to describe it except “embodiment.” From Jane’s sturdy and quiet demeanor to the chronicled deterioration of one of the world’s most brilliant minds, I was swept into the Hawkings’ world for 2 hours, and left feeling like I had made two new friends. Their sheer embodiment led me on a roller coaster of emotions from happiness to love to disappointment to joy to anger to frustration to the utmost sadness and longing. They very much deserve every award they are nominated for in this upcoming season.

3. Director James Marsh took it and owned it.

Not only did he cast two of the best leads, he beautifully wove together a magical love story that made most people in relationships question their love. Marsh’s use of vibrant, yet different color palettes along with the theme of circles throughout the film make my heart leap with joy. It is so aesthetically pleasing that you almost want to weep the entire time at the pure beauty of it. Though I have not had the opportunity to see anything else he has directed, I can only expect that the themes will wrap up just as nicely as in Theory. By far my favorite thing is his use of a Super 8 camera to capture what are quaint and delightful family moments shared by the Hawkings’. They weave in and out of the film, connecting the past with the present, the Hawkings with the universe. It is beyond lovely.

4. Johann Johannsson’s score though…

Almost like Marsh’s use of the Super 8, Johannson’s score captures the spirited highs and painful lows of the Hawkings’ life together and tells their story through strong, uplifting strings and melancholy piano riffs. The music starts off cheery, bright to depict the feverishly intelligent and still healthy young Stephen Hawking, but as the music moves throughout the film we get slower, deeper tones to show the deterioration Stephen’s health as well as their marriage. The score is stunning and rightly captures these two incredible people and their heartwarming story.

5. Not your typical Romance film.

Though I keep ranting and raving about how romantically enlightening this tale is, it is in no way your typical romance. As we all know now, Jane and Stephen are no longer married. They did stay together for 26 years, but alas their marriage crumbled under the weight of fame and a desire for something more. Both remarried, Stephen to his nurse Elaine Mason (later divorced) and Jane to choir director Jonathan Hellyer Jones. At first thought this was incredibly heartbreaking to me. I wanted these two individuals to be triumphant in all aspects of life. But that was me fictionalizing two very real people. I think the lines that hit me the hardest where when Jones’ said, “I have loved you. I did my best,” because it slapped me back to reality. These characters are real people, with real challenges and real emotions. I can’t put them into my neat box and hope they stay together for romance sake. This movie showed us real people and how they tackle tough issues. It was refreshing, heartwarming, and devastating all at once, but above all it was a satisfying journey into the mind’s of two phenomenally “out-of-this-world” people.

The Theory of Everything is playing now in the U.S., click here for trailer.