Some changes are happening to the GRN blog in the very near future. In the meantime, we’ve decided to take a short writing hiatus to the enjoy the summer sun.

See you soon!!

It’s early August and we’re at the point where summer love is in the air. Most of us have taken our vacations from work, traveling locally or perhaps globally. It also means the fall semester is around the corner, but who wants to think about another 12 units of dreadful classes? There’s still so much time left to explore in music and in life. Let’s take a trip.

Looking back on an already memorable summer, the 2010 edition started in June with Story Structure 250, a six-week creative writing course at Cal State Fullerton. To my surprise, this class was not only entertaining and pain free, but it inspired yours truly to get back on the proverbial horse of writing (such as this blog) and crank out a 20-page treatment of my Coachella 2007 experience. It may turn into a movie one day, who knows!

July was eventful, starting with a Kings of Leon concert at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. My one time seeing them previously was at the aforementioned Coachella…back then they had a small fan base, mostly die-hards from the Midwest and South region of the country. Now, they’re literally the “kings” of alternative rock. The first single, “Sex on Fire” was a smash hit, whether you love it or hate it. The band went on to win three Grammy’s this year for “Use Somebody,” the second single off their album Only By The Night.

Side note: this album was released in late 2008, yet still is pushing copies every week…CD’s are still alive!

The Irvine show was packed with 15,000+ in attendance which was a pleasant surprise considering how the “experts” have declared the touring business to be on the decline. It shows if you make quality music, the people will pay and come out in support. The Kings’ set was a mix of all their work, starting with “Crawl” and personal favorite jam “My Party.” Singer/Guitarist Caleb Followill crooned all night as the ladies screamed for his attention. The old school black and white video projections on the jumbotron gave it a vintage feel. Early on Caleb said, “Are you guys doing good? We got a lot more for you” and he wasn’t lying. Nearly two hours later the encore concluded with “Black Thumbnail,” their first single from Because of the Times. Safe to say no one went home disappointed.

Next on the tour schedule was none other than prog-metal veterans TOOL. Set to perform on back–to-back nights in LA, I scored orchestra tickets to the latter. Utterly blown away by their stage visuals and clarity of the Nokia Theatre sound, this was a special evening. There are not many venues I’ve yet to visit so this was a double bonus; seeing a killer band and scratching off Nokia from the list. Inside this magical palace you will find two giant LED screens placed on each side of the stage. They grab your attention immediately, measuring 16 feet high by 29 feet long (I did my researched). The screens played an integral part for the bands special effects.

TOOL have a sound unlike any band out there, the loud intense riffs by Adam Jones thuds through the speakers as singer Maynard James Keenan leads on an epic metal voyage. Ranging from five to sometimes ten minutes in song length, the rhythm section keeps the pace moving while the crowd eats it up. Everyone started the night in his or her seat but when the lights go dark, we’re all on our feet in chaotic anticipation.

“Jambi” was one of the tracks I enjoyed most, the visual eye candy was in full effect. A large screen behind the band projected twisted images of aliens, humans, the sun and moon…a little of everything from our universe. Maynard, the anti-rock star stood in the back with almost no lighting, prodding his boxed area. Screaming to the heavens and daring us to chant back it felt like a release on life with 7,000 of my closest metal heads. The band hasn’t release new material in over four years but they sound as relevant today as the next. While they rocked songs from 10,000 Days like “Vicarious” and “The Pot,” it was older gems such as “Schism” and “Lateralus” that had people going insane. Feeling the bass lines rattle my core can hardly be reenacted, let alone described. I highly suggest seeing a rock show at this venue if you couldn’t tell already.

The summer is cruising by a rapid pace, don’t get stuck at Disneyland or the beach like everyone else…get out there and explore what a live show has to offer. Music makes the world go round, I truly believe that. Good mood, bad mood…it doesn’t matter. Music can change ANY mood.

Upcoming shows worth your time and money:

-Long Beach Funk Festival – Sat. August 7^th

-HARD Summer Music Festival – Sat. August 7^th

-KCRW’s World Festival at the Hollywood Bowl w/ Chemical Brothers & Yacht – Sun. Aug 22^nd

-Sunset Strip Music Festival – Sat. August 28^th

-Pacific Festival OC by Steve Aoki & Friends – Sat. Sept. 4^th

There’s always a story behind a good show. Thanks for reading my adventures. If you would like to chat it up about all things music/sports/politics/life related…or whatever is on your mind…hit me up on the web. Twitter.com/BigEastSilver

Peace and Love.

Today is a quick message to go check out 118 Degrees in Costa Mesa – it’s a true ode to health. Learn to cook raw food with Jenny Ross, owner of 118 Degrees, at the Art of Raw Living Food event on Saturday, July 24^th. For more information check out the restaurant’s event calendar.

I love camping – late nights around the bonfire roasting smores, hiking through the wilderness, days without a real shower – but when my friends suggested going glamping for the weekend in Santa Barbara, I was totally game. I’d heard the term “glamping” thrown around before but I had yet to experience it for myself. I have to say, glamorous camping is pretty awesome!

Just past Santa Barbara on Highway 1 is El Capitan Canyon, a picturesque collection of log cabins and tents nestled in a valley across from the Pacific Ocean. During our weekend trip, we stayed in a secluded tent next to a small creek that ran through the resort. Inside the tent we had a bed, two chairs, a nightstand, and even electricity. So yes, we weren’t exactly roughing it, but with the beautiful scenery and private fire pits for your favorite camping activities, it definitely didn’t feel like the Four Seasons.

El Capitan Canyon has dozens of tents and cabins to choose from , so whether you’re a couple looking for a romantic weekend of seclusion, or you’re traveling with a large group, there’s a perfect spot for you. Around the area enjoy beautiful hiking trails, horseback riding, and the beach literally across the street. We chose to spend our Saturday at Refugio State Beach where I finally learned how to surf! The small waves that day made it perfect for the beginner, but advanced surfers looked like they were having a great time too. That evening we decided to take a drive into wine country for dinner at the Ballard Inn, a world renowned restaurant with dishes made with some of the freshest, local and organic ingredients I’ve ever had. (FYI: The Watercress Soup is to die for!) With a bottle of Pinot Noir bottled just around the corner from the Inn, our glamping adventure was definitely complete.

Call me funny but, I have a love/ hate relationship with shopping for food. First of all, I love to cook; but I hate running around the store looking for all the ingredients like I am on a scavenger hunt,  then usually standing in line for at least 30 minutes… even in the “express” lane or self-check out (where there is always a new convert to self-service who doesn’t know how it works)!  To make shopping even more hairy I use to get looks from the store check-out clerk when they would ask “Paper or Plastic” and no matter what choice I made I often would get a groan, especially since I shop at either Whole Foods or Henry’s both stores – both are big on being green. So finally last year in Orange County I started bringing my own shopping bags to the store.

Lots of stores try and push you to buy their logo shopping bag for $1.99 to $3.99 a bag, but if you like to be unique and you like stylish things I suggest getting your own bags that make a statement. My favorite shopping bag is one that I got from a friend that has really cute pink and green dragons on it. Since I believe we should all shop in style I am giving you a list of my favorite five stylish shopping bag websites:

1. Re-usable shopping bags have taken a turn for the stylish.  Make Love Not Trash carries a line of handbags, accessories, and re-usable shopping bags made out of natural or eco-friendly materials and decorated with non-toxic printing technique.
2. Ella Vickers Recycled Sailcloth Collection is the most refined & quality built on the market.
3. It’s hard to do a top 10 handbag story without including one of the trends that started it all…recycled candy wrappers.  Check out Ecoist.
4. Get in the groove with Shagbag… be a stylish hipster as you shop till you drop
5. Want to create your own stylish design? Go and order one at GoGreen-bags.com