After much anticipation, myself and a close group of friends headed out to the Newport Music Hall to see the first of two sold out Girl Talk shows in Columbus this weekend. Doors were at 7 P.M. and when we pulled into the parking garage across the street at the OSU Student Union, the line already stretched down the block.

The crowd was interesting to say the least. Think lots of hot pink tights and silver spandex accentuated with blatant panty lines. Young boys in old t-shirts reppin‘ their nonexistent days of Steve Erkel and Pac Man and metallic headbands across the forehead like something out of an MGMT video. Some went for the club kids look while others sported the high neon stilettos and mini dresses that scream “I had to put this on in the parking lot cause mom would kill me if she saw what I bought with her credit card.”

After checking out the crowd the plan was to start drinking and at a rather alarming speed. Average wait for a drink: 42 seconds. It’s not like any of these kids were legal. Potato salad container beers for $7 and Smirnoff Ice bottles (cause Candice rolls high class) for $4.50, $4.25, $5 or whatever other varying amount the bartender wanted to charge you.

The first band stepped out onto the stage at around 7:30 P.M. Some rap group whose name I didn’t even catch muffled under their ski masks and the apple they were eating and spitting out on stage. It was a little ridiculous. Something out of a seventh mile rap battle featuring white dudes who want to tell it like it is while picking out two random chicks from the audience to dance on stage. To all aspiring artists out there, please do not ever do this. Not even Snoop Dogg can make this look cool and lord knows he’s tried. Not only is it pathetic but it’s so awkward that even the crowd can help but feel embarrassed watching young white college girls trying to hype the crowd by shaking their Jo Jeans and silk cami’s. No. Sorry. Try again.

If that wasn’t bad enough, out came a band called Hearts of Darkness. I would hyperlink to them however they don’t even have a website. I even have a website. Think screamo indie wannabes performing at their high school talent show that had no tryout requirement. Not even these tweaked out youngsters thought they were worth a decent ovation. We went outside a good three times to join the smokers in the bitter cold just to avoid the terrible sounds this band let out. While out there we planned making money in our own band. Hey… if these guys can score a gig, we should be able to pull it off too. I can surly hit a tambourine better than this jabroni.

After they moved off stage the crowd began to chant for Girl Talk. But not too fast, kiddos. Gregg Gillis was going for a THIRD opener. What a diva! This was getting a little irritating, yet luckily the white rap duo from Pittsburgh, Grand Buffet, albeit quirky and odd were actually halfway decent. Lyrics were a little out there with the closing song titled My Cream Cheese Money, but they were there to hype the crowd and they definitely seemed to get the job done.

Finally around 10 P.M. Girl Talk takes the stage. Gregg comes out and stands post at a simple table with a Toughbook computer and some other electronic equipment I won’t pretend to know anything about. He opens up the stage and people jump right up. Now I see the point of the eccentric outfits. The goal is to be seen on stage by everyone else, which was never more apparent than when girls spent the entire concert not enjoying the music and dancing, but rather fighting for their spot next to Gregg and along his table. (I’m talking to you red head girl in white tee and wrap scarf. That bouncer only tried to get you off ten times. You’re a persistent – and obnoxious – one, aren’t ya?)

The crowd was moving. People were sweating. Some even tried to crowd surf which never really turns out that well; Leave that to the Primus fans – at least they practice in their basement first. A slew of drunk girls holding onto the sides of the stacked speakers just trying to hold themselves up and look sexy doing it (FAIL). Toilet paper on paint rollers attached to leaf blowers and buckets of confetti kept the crowd looking up, which was necessary in order to dodge the glow sticks flying through the air. If you weren’t there to dance, you needed to leave and some did just that.

If you expected to hear some of your favorite songs from Feed the Animals or Night Ripper, you would have been sorely disappointed. While many of his song combinations were ones that he used before, his live mixes don’t incorporate nearly as many songs as those on his album.

Overall it was a great show. I would have showed up three hours later had I know that there was going to be three separate opening acts, but if the point was to get us drunk before GirlTalk took the stage, they succeed as we only had time and beers to kill.

I have to give much respect to the man himself. Mr. Gillis has the body of a marathon runner which comes from his strenuous performances. It’s just him up there running the show and it’s his job to keep the crowd going. He is in a constant state of trashing and clapping that has him working up an unbelievable sweat. Aerobics on speed, if you will. After attending a Girl Talk concert, I can’t think of a better name than Feed the Animals. That’s certainly what he does.

I can’t think of too many other bands I would rather see live than My Morning Jacket. I saw them for the fourth time on December 27th at the Chicago Theatre and just like the three previous concerts I attended, I was left utterly amazed. MMJ rocks out bringing their country-folk sound (from Louisville, Kentucky), adventurous psychedelic rock, and extended jam sessions all into one distinct genre that is My Morning Jacket. The great thing about this band is that there is something for everyone. Few people can attend a My Morning Jacket show and not appreciate their unique sense of rock and get personally involved with the performance.

Many of us Chicagoans were waiting over two months for this show as it was rescheduled from its original October date. The band has been on break since a night in October in which the lead singer Jim James fell off the stage. Luckily, he wasn’t seriously hurt and the folks at the Chicago Theatre looked out for him by placing red tape along the edge of the stage for this performance.

You couldn’t tell that Jim was injured or that they had taken a mandatory two month break. This set of Chicago shows was close to the end of the Kentucky-based quintet’s Evil Urges tour.

I attended the first of two nights and witnessed a twenty-four song set list. While this doesn’t compare to the four hour long Bonnaroo set in a rainstorm, it lasted a good two and a half hours and was enough to satisfy. The show was dominated by many of the songs from their new album Evil Urges, but of course included a variety from their entire catalog. The show opened with the new album titled single Evil Urges and followed the album order onto Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Part 1. This served as an intro into the high energy rock anthem and crowd pleaser Off the Record. Also, in the early end of the expansive set list I was pleased to hear I’m Amazed, my favorite song off of the new album. Other personal highlights for me included the epic song Mahgeeta and the beautifully moving Where To Begin. The slow song, Librarian, was performed with Jim under a solo spotlight on the side of the stage. The relatively rowdy crowd relaxed for a bit on this and let Jim have his moment and his vocals shine.

The second half of the set included an old tune, War Begun, with a long extended jam session to please the veteran fans. Followed by a couple of songs I am in love with: Phone Went West and a longer version of Gideon. On stage throughout all the songs was a full-spectrum light show that had more variety between each of the songs than I imagined, but still had the My Morning Jacket smoky fog that I expected. Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Part 2 closed the set before a four song encore.

The classic song Wordless Chorus opened up the encore and was followed by the highly robotic standoffish track Highly Suspicious. I will be the first admit that I am not a fan of this song on the album and that the quirky squeals get a little under my skin. But I didn’t hate this song live, it was full of energy, deep bass and brought a different element of surprise to the show. The night ended with Anytime and One Big Holiday, arguably two songs that showcase the band’s best talent and when heard live have the power to freeze time and give you a rush throughout your body.

With 2008 coming to an end, I wanted to take a moment and reflect on what music I have most appreciated this year (or really just copy the idea from every other music blog that comes up with year-end lists). Anyway, here is mine. I’m not going to justify every single ranking because I am basing this list on what albums I appreciate as being well executed or just simply what I listen to for pure enjoyment (see my six year obsession with Eminem).

And without further ado:

1. TV on the Radio – Dear Science (Shout Me Out): No surprise here. I’ve been in love with this album for months. It’s completely solid from start to finish. The songs are unexpected, complex and still yet very catchy.

2. Fleet Foxes – Self Titled (White Winter Hymnal): For anyone who likes the southern reverb style of My Morning Jacket and Band of Horses. This album is chillingly beautiful and full of emotion.

3. Of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping (Beware Our Nubile Miscreants): If you can past all of the sexual innuendos and general weirdness, this is a really captivating indie pop album. I’ve never seen Of Montreal live, but judging by this song, it looks like it would be a real trip.

4. Sigur Ros – Meo Suo i Eyrum Vio Spilum Endalaust (Inni Mer Syngur Vitleysingur): One of the best albums from the ambient Hopelandic (Sigur Ros’ made up language) singing group. Sigur Ros is difficult to describe, but they always move me and take me to a surreal place.

5. Vampire Weekend – Self Titled (Oxford Comma): It’s easy to criticize these guys, but impossible not to sing along to every song. If you live under a rock and subsequently have not heard these boys yet, you’re doing yourself a great disservice.

6. She & Him – Volume One (Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?): She, Zooey Deschanel (actress from Almost Famous, Failure to Launch and Weeds) and Him, M. Ward (folk-friendly singer and songwriter), made their first record together which has turned out to be nearly every one’s new favorite.

7. Drive By Truckers – Brighter Than Creation’s Dark (A Ghost to Most): This southern rock/country album actually got me listening to some country this year. A great feat all in itself.

8. Santogold – Self Titled (Lights Out): Santogold is best friends with M.I.A. so basically I’m just really, really jealous of her and so I put her new hit album on this list. Obviously, I’m abnormally obsessed with M.I.A. I love the energy of this CD and apparently so does everyone else which is why you’ve heard this song on Bud Light commercials.

9. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago (Skinny Love): This album has a quiet acoustic production with extremely emotional vocals. It’s very inspiring and this song will blow you away.

10. Hot Chip – Made In The Dark (Ready For The Floor): Hot Chip is an electronic dance pop band. Made In The Dark is super energetic and will get you ready for anything.

11. Girl Talk – Feed the Animals (Still Here): A prefect party mix; Greg Gillis is back mashing up your America’s Top Forty favorites.

12. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours (Lights & Music): This album is addicting! It’s a dance inciting electronic pop album with a really cool 80’s vibe.

13. The Hold Steady – Stay Positive (Sequestered in Memphis): While not my favorite album by The Hold Steady, it’s still worth the hype. I can never get enough of Craig’s crazy stories.

14. M83 – Saturdays =Youth (Kim & Jessie): M83 is a French electronic band that has a nostalgic, soft spoken feel to them. They have an extensive use of instrumental effects that create music that encompasses you.

15. The Cool Kids – The Bake Sale (Bassment Party): The only hip-hop album on my list so you know this must be the shit.

16. Sun Kil Moon – April (Lost Versus): April is packed with extended acoustic ballads. You will find the songs to be very soothing and if you listen carefully enough, you can even hear Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie in there.

17. The Raconteurs – Consolers of the Lonely (Old Enough): This is the sophomore CD for Jack White’s second project (first being the White Stripes, obvi). It’s exciting to listen, not to mention, the guitar hammers will put you in awe.

18. Okkervil River – The Stand Ins (Lost Coastlines): I read in a magazine article once that Okkervil River was for your grandpa. Whatever. I just hope this means more grandpa driven wheel barrel rides around the house.

19. Animal Collective – Water Curses EP (Water Curses): There are only four sounds on this EP, but I’ve always been one for quality over quantity. Some people get the Animal Collective and some people don’t so just go ahead and judge for yourself.

20. Mates of State – Rearrange Us (My Only Offer): The best album to be released by this married duo yet. Catchy enough for your mom. Cool enough for you.

21. MGMT – Oracular Specatcular (Time to Pretend): This single turned out to be the anthem of the summer making it’s way onto every one’s iPod. Time to Pretend and the nine other tracks added a fresh alternative sound to this year. This gets Ashley’s vote for best album too.

22. My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges (I’m Amazed): Yet another classic album by these Kentucky rockers. I still can’t stand the freak out song, Highly Suspicious, but the other songs make up for it plenty.

23. Conor Oberst – Self Titled (Sausalito): The lead singer of Bright Eyes is out with his first solo CD. Stretching more of his folk influence here, he remained even more true to his magnificent song writing ability.

24. Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs (Grapevine Fires): This isn’t my favorite Death Cab album by any means, but it is very easy to listen to. As a whole, and what you have come to expect from this veteran band, it’s pretty damn good and more of what you love.

25. Wolf Parade – At Mount Zooner (Fine Young Cannibals): Fun Fact – this CD was recorded in the church owned by Arcade Fire in Quebec, Canada. Wolf Parade does experimental rock and while I wish it were a bit punchier, I find this album to be really interesting.

She’s baaaaaaaaack. Britney Spears has decided to embrace her 27th birthday by announcing that she will be kicking off a new tour this coming March down in her home state of Louisiana – New Orleans to be exact. [Insert your own train wreck analogy here]

Projections for ticket sales are high due to the fact that Brittany hasn’t toured in over three years. Really? I wonder why? Even still, are brokers really expecting there to be a high demand for tickets? Seriously?

That’s basically all I have to say about that. Oh, and you’re a womanizer, womanizer, woman, woman, womanizer. Yeah, you heard me.

The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival will be holding a ticket pre-sale for the 2009 summer festival. The festival will run from June 11 to June 14. The pre-sale will begin on Thursday, December 4th and run until Wednesday, December 31st. Can’t decide if you should go in early? Here’s pretty much the breakdown of whether to make that commitment now or wait on it:

PROS:

• SAVE MONEY. Tickets typically start off at $275 for the first tier batch and go up into second and third tiers. Price per tier usually ranges between $10-20. Should you catch the third tier you could essentially expect to pay a little over $300 for your ticket. For the past two years, I logged on to the site the moment the tickets go on sale and have never gotten first tier. PRE-SALE TICKETS WILL BE SOLD FOR $250 plus applicable fees and sales tax.
• No worries about making it into that first tier by logging in at exactly noon on a Saturday afternoon and praying the server doesn’t crash.
• Have your tickets way ahead of everyone else and avoid the risk of a sell-out situation. In all reality, a sell out is not likely, but you never know what kind of line up they will announce. A rumored performance by Led Zeppelin would certainly be capable of causing this type of situation. If you’re serious about going, why risk it?
• You have the option of an interest free payment plan of five monthly payments of only $50. Pretty great for those on a tight budget.
• Surprise someone early with a set of tickets to the best summer music event around.
• VIP tickets which sell out EVERY YEAR are also available during the pre-sale for five monthly payments of $285. Personally, I don’t think VIP is worth it, but I also don’t have money falling from my pockets. If there is no way you can baby wipe it for three days, this might be your better option.
• Ticket sales for Bonnaroo are pretty direct. Unless you plan on driving all the way down to Manchester, Tennessee and take the chances of scalping along the roadside (which I’ve actually had a friend do) you’re not likely to find a below face value ticket.

CONS:

• Tickets are NONREFUNDABLE so if you aren’t 100% sure that you can attend, you might want to wait on it.
• The lineup won’t be announced until the Spring. Purchase of tickets is on the blind faith that it will be a sweet lineup and you’ll just be rocking your face off regardless.

No surprise here that I’ll be buying my ticket on Thursday. BONNAROOOOOOOOOOO.

I’m not huge on the holidays. Well, I take that back kinda… I’m huge into Thanksgiving because I LOVE to cook so Thanksgiving has been my marathon of perfectly executing several dishes over the course of six hours while my family drinks in front of the TV. It’s one of my favorite days of the year without a doubt. But Christmas has never been a big thing for me. Now that all the kids in my family are older, we have skipped the gift giving and gone straight to the wine drinking. I haven’t done any legitimate holiday shopping in over four years and don’t really intend to until I have kids of my own. That’s a good solid decade of spending my money on myself.

With that being said, it has recently come to my attention that Girl Talk will be coming to Columbus and so I decided to use the holidays as an excuse to treat some of my greatest friends to what will inevitably be an insane dance party.

Girl Talk has been around for a few years now, but has really gotten popular with club kids and music festivals since the release of his newest album, Feed the Animals. The one man DJ, Gregg Gillis of Pittsburgh, spins up some incredible combos with classic tunes that everyone recognizes and some newer underground tunes that will open you up to new artists. The mixes and mash-ups are quick to turnover making this music perfect for that A.D.D. music listener who has a hard time making it completely through even their favorite song. My current favorite is Play Your Part – Part I for its inclusion of Sinead O’Conner’s Nothing Compares To You. Click on the link and listen to it NOW… you will love it. I’m sure it will make it into the set list in January.

Girl Talk will be coming to the Newport Music Hall on the OSU Campus on Saturday, January 17, 2009. Doors open at 7PM. Tickets are currently only available through TicketMaster for $16 each or $18 at the door, but I would bank on this show selling out. Better get these fast.

Since I’ve come across Girl Talk this past summer, I’ve passed him along to a few of my friends which have now become obsessed with his beats and bumps. I picked up five tickets today, emailed my friends letting them know to clear their calendars, received praise touting me as the best friend ever (clearly), and now we wait to hit the dance floor. Nothing too bah humbug about that!

I was originally going to wait to release this list around New Years as a great way to kick off 2009, but I simply cannot wait nor help myself. Besides, what better holiday present than to surprise someone with tickets (or made up tickets until the actual ones are released) to their favorite band or festival? As more tours and festivals are announced, I will be sure to bring them to your attention, but for now, Happy Holidays from me to all of you.

TOURS:

• AC/DC: already kicked off their tour this past fall, but will be carrying it well into 2009.
• U2: I will be traveling for this one. U2 is one of my “must see’s”.
• The Eagles
• Billy Joel: Shows in Florida in February and additional Vegas dates
• Elton John & Billy Joel: tour starts in March and continues into May with a possible 20+ shows
• Kenny Chesney
• Phish: Reunion shows in Virginia in March with expected additional traveling shows to be announced soon
• The Jonas Brothers: a few spring dates to be released on top of a summer tour
• Il Divo: Full World Tour
• Rascal Flatts – Bob That Head Tour
• Nickleback: apparently people are willing to pay to see them…
• Andre Rieu
• Celine Dion: She came to Columbus and I would LOVE to see her. I saw her Vegas show on an HBO special and was completely captivated. Hopefully she comes around again.
• Michael Bublé
• Metallica
• Dave Matthews Band: I wouldn’t be summertime without Dave Matthews touring.
• Fleetwood Mac: Think I’ll be taking mom to this show for her birthday :)
• Cher in Las Vegas: My gay boys should be going out for this one!
• Bette Midler (Las Vegas)
• Neil Diamond
• John Mayer
• Motley Crue
• Neil Young
• Tim McGraw
• Tina Turner
• Toby Keith
• Widespread Panic: Sure to make an appearance at Bonnaroo to appease all their hippie followers.
• Wilco
• Brad Paisley
• Taylor Swift
• Aerosmith
• Tran-Siberian Orchestra Non-Holiday Tour
• Keith Urban
• American Idols: I can’t believe these shows sell out at $150+ a ticket. Insane.
• So You Think You Can Dance: See American Idols note
• Dancing With The Stars: See So You Think You Can Dance note
• George Strait
• Steve Winwood: BRING ME A HIGHER LOVE! Candice and I are going to this. She just doesn’t know it yet.
• Snow Patrol: Love, love, love them! Another one on my list! Think I will take the new roommate to see them.
• Eric Clapton: Touring the United Kingdom in early 2009
• Coldplay: Another UK tour, you know… just in case you happen to be over there
• Oasis
• The Pretenders: They’re still around?
• Bloc Party: Would love to see them team up with The Killers
• Kings of Leon
• Alan Jackson
• The Killers: Would love to see them team up with Bloc Party
• Def Leppard
• Foo Fighters
• Guns N’ Roses: About time they came out for another tour. They canceled a lot of dates with their last tour and pissed off a lot of fans including my good friend in Dallas who had been waiting forever to see them.

RUMORED TOURS:

• Rolling Stones
• The Grateful Dead: Aren’t the rumored every year?
• Faces with Rod Stewart & Ronnie Wood
• Rod Stewart solo if the Faces reunion fails
• Jimmy Buffett: How is this even rumored? He tours every year.
• Shakira
• The Kinks
• Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
• Whitney Houston: If she’s not totally coked out, I would LOVE to see her!
• No Doubt: ugh… yuck.
• Pearl Jam: Count on this one.
• Peter Gabriel
• Beyonce
• Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band: One of my favorites. Bet mom would like to go to this one too.
• Roger Waters
• Zeppelin (Led Zeppelin without Plant): This has been the big Bonnaroo rumor year after year, but Robert Plant always makes an appearance at ‘Roo so we shall see if they all come together under the Tennessee stars for an epic show.
• Prince
• The Smiths: Add them to a line up with The Killers and Bloc Party and I’m in heaven

FESTIVALS:

• 10,000 Lakes Festival – Detroit Lakes, Minnesota: The biggest mid-west festival on the scene. If you’re up for a serious road trip, this would certainly be worth it.
• All Good Festival – Masontown, West Virginia: for the true potheads.
• All Points West – Jersey City, New Jersey
• All Tomorrow’s Parties – New York, New York: This is a Australian festival that comes over for a stint in the US every summer.
• Austin City Limits – Austin, Texas: Always a solid lineup proving that not all of Texas sucks.
• Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival – Manchester, Tennessee: This will be my third year going and we expect to have a big caravan coming down from Ohio equipped with both veteran and first time Roozles. This is my most favorite place in the whole world and I just can’t wait until June.
• Bumbershoot – Seattle, Washington
• The Burning Man Project – Black Rock City, Nevada: I’m still not really sure what this is but I’m sure there’s a lot of peyote involved.
• CMA Music Festival – Nashville, Tennessee
• Coachella Valley Art & Music Festival – Indio, California: California’s big one. Always an epic festival.
• Country Concert - Fort Loramie, Ohio: This is really big in Ohio, but I think I’ll skip it. I’ve lived here my entire life and have never even heard of Fort Loramie.
• Download Festival – San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia: Not to be confused with the much larger and heavier UK Download Festival.
• Essence Music Festival – New Orleans, Louisiana: Your R&B and Soul summer hot spot.
• Farm Aid – most likely in Vermont this year: For all you Willie Nelson lovers out there.
• Langerado Music Festival – Miami, Florida
• Lollapalooza – Chicago, Illinois: I’m determined to make it out to Chicago this summer for this. I’ve passed it up the last two years and have been kicking myself ever since.
• Monolith Festival – Boulder, Colorado
• Movement: Detroit Electronic Music Festival – Detroit, Michigan: For all you techno and club kids out there.
• New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – New Orleans, Louisiana
• Pitchfork – Chicago, Illinois: Meg went last year and raved about it.
• Popped! Philadelphia Music Festival – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Rock the Bells Music Festival – Traveling: top notch hip-hop performers.
• Rothbury Music Festival – Rothbury, Michigan: The big new competitor to Bonnaroo. Had some friends that went last year and loved it.
• Sasquatch Music Festival – George, Washington
• South by Southwest – Austin, Texas
• Stagecoach Music Festival - Indio, California: Same place as Coachella, just for all those country fans.
• Summerfest – Milwaukee, Wisconsin: A Wisconsin tradition with popular but not necessarily main stream Midwest bands. My parents went to this when they were in college and my brother went last year. Maybe one of these years I’ll actually make it up there for it.
• Virgin Mobile Festival – Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Changes locations every year.
• Voodoo Music Experience – New Orleans, Louisiana: Why does the Crescent City get all the cool stuff?
• Wakarusa – Lawrence, Kansas: Known for a solid and diverse lineup year after year.