My new music addiction..

Last Saturday I had the most excellent pleasure of seeing Zoso, an awesome Led Zeppelin cover band, play at Foellinger Theatre.  If Led Zeppelin is your favorite band and you didn’t catch them in the 70′s or are too young to have seen them like me, I HIGHLY recommend you check out this band.  It seriously is the next best thing to seeing the real Led Zeppelin.  If you want to check them out, here is their website: http://www.zosoontour.com/

I was highly impressed not only with their musicianship, but how well each member of Zoso portrayed each member of Led Zeppelin.  It was honestly the best concert I’ve ever been to, and it was totally worth the $15.  It was truly the Ultimate Zeppelin experience.

The reason I tell you about this awesome concert is not only to tell you of my love for Zeppelin, which could be a post in itself.  By going to this concert, I didn’t only get to see the best portrayal of my favorite band:  I have acquired a new music addiction in the process.  This band is called Moser Woods, a local act to Fort Wayne.  They were the opening act for Zoso. 

Previous to the concert, I had never heard of Moser Woods.  I expected that the opening act would be some hard rock or even blues type band, which would have been fine with me.  It was a pleasant surprise when I saw two guys walk on stage, one to the drumset and the other to a set of keyboards.  The vocal mic was deserted.  No guitar was in sight.  At that point the only thing I could predict was that they were a duo without vocals or guitar.

When they started playing, I was truly amazed.  I immediately loved their progressive rock sound.  These two guys produced a better quality and fuller sound then I’ve seen out of bands over twice their size.  The drummer, Rick Kenney, was one of the best drummers I’ve ever seen play live.  I would even go as far as comparing him to Neil Peart (for those who don’t know, Neil Peart is the drummer of Rush, another awesome band that could take up a post).  I was equally impressed by keyboardist Lance Hoeppner.  He played some of the most interesting melodies that I’ve ever heard, and the fact that he could produce such a full sound of chords and melodies was amazing.  These guys played extremely complex music, but they were perfectly in sync with each other.  It was almost like they were using telepathy while they were playing. 

So lesson learned:  when you go to a concert, really open your mind to the opening bands.  Just because they are there as a supporting act does not mean you should disregard listening to them at the concert; they just might blow you away.  In fact, back when Led Zeppelin was an opening band they often amazed the audience to the point that they liked them over the headlining band.  Every band has to start somewhere, and just because a band is opening for another does not mean they aren’t any good.  I would advise anyone to stick around for the opening bands and really listen to their sound; you just might get a new music addiction like I did.  If you want to check out Moser Woods, visit this website:  http://www.moserwoods.com/index.htm 

So if you get anything from this post, I hope that you not only check out these bands, but really open your mind to new music, especially when you encounter opening bands at concerts.

 

Music Addiction of the Week

Okay, I’ve got a confession to make.  I have an addictive personality.  When something genuinely interests me, I get into it to the point that you could call it an addiction.  As a music tech major, I’m obviously highly addicted to music.  When a song gets stuck into my head, I could honestly listen to it for hours if I had the time.  It takes awhile for me to get tired of that song, but when the addiction ends a new one is reborn.  It’s an endless cycle that I’m probably going to have to deal with for the rest of my life and the one to come.  If anyone suffers from the same problem and wants to start a support group, let me know.

This week’s addiction hails from Liverpool, England.  They literally invaded America with their signiture sound and were part of the cultural epitome that was the 1960′s.  Ladies and Gentlemen, please put your hands together for the Beatles!!

Now I’m sure most (if not all) of you have surely heard of this band.  If you haven’t, we need to have a serious discussion.  This addiction of mine started over the summer after I played the Beatles Rock Band with one of my friends.  I’ve always been a fan of the Beatles, but I hadn’t heard too many of their songs until that night.  I’ve been addicted to them ever since, which means this has been going on for a few months! 

Here are some obscure but fun facts about the Beatles (taken from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_some_facts_about_the_Beatles):

• The Beatles are the first and only recording artists to occupy all of the Top Five spots on the American Billboard pop singles chart.
• George Harrison’s favorite candy was Jelly Babies.
• John Lennon had a cat named Jesus, and another named Tim, while George Harrison had two Siamese cats, named Rupert and Jostick.
• Ringo Starr wanted to be a hairdresser when he was younger.
• Paul McCartney got the tune of “Yesterday” from a dream, but not the words. He just sang “Scrambled eggs, oh my baby how I love your legs” until he wrote the lyrics.

Now here is my favorite Beatles song called “I want you (She’s so Heavy)”, which is on their last album Abbey Road.  Enjoy!

 

Welcome Back!

I can remember myself this time last year.  I was in a new place 3 hours away from home and did not know anyone.  To put it plainly, I was just totally lost.  But it was a different kind of lost.  It wasn’t the awkward “first day of high school” lost.  It was more of a coming of age type of moment where I finally had the chance to fend for myself and become independent.  It was exciting, to say the least.

Anyway, welcome back to USF!  Because I’m a nerd, I highly looked forward to coming back.  I know some of you are just waiting to get out of here, but I can honestly say that I’ll miss it here when I leave.  And to all incoming freshmen, I would like to personally welcome you to University of Saint Francis (USF).  I hope everything goes well for all of you.  And to the high school seniors, I highly suggest that you check out our university.  It’s not that I want to force anyone to come here, I’m just saying that it’s pretty great here, and the only way to see if you would like it here is to get information or visit, right?  There are tons of other colleges out there just like people, and they all have something unique to offer just like each of us do.  So if you are the person that would like a smaller college, I highly recommend you check us out.  And if you like music technology, of course I would recommend it here! (not to be too biased or anything…)

If you are a freshmen who feels overwhelmed about this whole college thing, you are not alone.  In fact, I felt a little overwhelmed at the start of the semester as a sophomore!  The cool thing about USF is that your professors really legitimately care about you.  In my classes, I’m Sarah Morton, not student #126.  In fact, I was really worried about one of the classes I’m taking this semester and arranged to meet with my professor.  After talking to him today, I feel a lot better about the class.  If you ever feel like you are having problems with any class, I HIGHLY recommend you meet with that professor and talk to them in person, because they really will help you.  The professors here are really good about telling you their office hours and being open to talking with students.

I wish all of you the best of luck in your college education.  I think it’s going to be a great year.  Most importantly, have fun and make these years count!

School’s Out

For those of you who frequently read my blog, this is my last post before the summer, so drink in the moment now!  Okay, maybe that was a little dramatic, but in all seriousness the year definitely came to a close faster than I expected.  I thoroughly enjoyed my freshmen year of college.  I honestly don’t want it to be over, which is weird because high school was exactly the opposite. 

Any high school seniors that are within their final days, congratulations!  This is a great time in your life and you should enjoy every second of it, because pretty soon it will be over and you’ll be rapidly progressing through life.  For those of you who are planning on attending University of Saint Francis, let me just say you are going to get a great education and you made a great decision.  The professors here are awesome, and you are treated as a student instead of just a number.  Most, if not all, of your professors will remember you by name at least by the end of the semester if not sooner.  The professors legitimately care about how you are doing and are always there if you need help with anything.  Although I can’t judge whether or not this school is the best for every person, it is definitely a wise choice to choose to come here if this college fits you.

For those of you who are moving away from home and are living on campus, enjoy the transition!  I honestly was ready to move on and get out in the world, but on move-in day I was still pretty nervous and stressed.  No matter how excited you are to leave home for a while, you will probably experience similar feelings.  It really is hard to move away, expecially if you don’t know anyone where you are going.  I had no friends that were going to this school when I first came here, so I can identify with anyone who is experiencing that.  No matter how tough or independent you may present yourself to be, you will experience some degree of homesickness or missing your friends.  These feelings are completely normal.

Now that my freshmen year is complete, it feels bittersweet.  I’m glad that classes are over and I don’t have to do homework for a while, but I will definitely miss the new friends I made this year.  I’ll also miss the beautiful campus, my professors, and of course, my job here at the admissions office!  Four months is a long time to be away from here, but I’ll be able to see my family and friends again, some of which I haven’t seen since I left for school. 

Congratulations high school seniors, good luck high schoolers on deciding what to do after high school, and to all USF students and high schoolers, have a great summer! 

Because I couldn’t high jack the PA system in high school and play this song over the intercom for a senior prank, I will now post the video in honor of school being out for the summer.

Have a great summer everyone!

End of the Year Randomness

I’m not going to lie, I’m not really sure what to blog about at the moment.  There really isn’t anything exciting going on in my life at the moment, but I guess that could be a good thing considering the stress I was under a few weeks ago.  So in celebration of this time of temporary calmness, I am going to create the infamous random list blog.  Here are some random thoughts and happenings that may or may not be intriguing:

1.  Professors seem to love assigning papers at the end of the same semester, and at around the same due date none the less.  There was one point when I had 5 papers due by the end of April (although this number has shrunk down to 2 because I had a very productive weekend).  Did I mention how exhilarating my life has been?

2.  For those of you who get bored easily with doing papers, driving long distances, or even just walking around campus, I HIGHLY recommend that you listen to your favorite action movie or video game soundtrack.  It makes the simple task of doing the seemingly boring everyday tasks so much more exciting.  As I sit here blogging I am listening to the Tron Soundtrack, so this also could be applied to your job as well (not that working in Admissions is boring or anything).  There is nothing better than listening to the Final Fantasy 7 boss theme while walking to class (and yes, I am fully aware of how much of a nerd I am).

3.  Because there really hasn’t been anything exciting going on in my life, I will take this moment to congratulate Taylor, another employee in admissons, on her 102% on the last anatomy test.  So for those of you struggling with that class, the studying does pay off!

4.  Spring Fling Week is going on right now here at USF, and I will be attending my first formal dance this Friday.  I did not attend prom in high school and even worked at Bob Evans on the night of my senior prom, so this should be an interesting experience.  I’m sure my friends are going to be very entertained when they see me wearing a dress.

Alright, I can’t resist any longer.  Here is the Final Fantasy VII boss theme for those of you who are questioning my walking across campus music.  Enjoy!  I told you this was going to be a random post!

What’s the buzz?

For those of you who did not get the reference I made in the title, it is from Jesus Christ Superstar.  The reason I randomly mention this is because Jesus Christ Superstar is this year’s spring musical!  I’m especially excited about this because I’m one of the keyboardists in the pit orchestra.  The cast, crew, and orchestra have worked really hard on this, so come out and see it!  You even get in free with your USF ID!  As broke college students, awesome free events should be exciting.

If you are not a USF student, admission is $10, which isn’t a bad price for how awesome this musical is.  Here are the showtimes:

• Friday, March 25  8:00pm
• Saturday, March 26 8:00pm
• Sunday, March 27 2:00pm
• Friday, April 1 8:00pm
• Saturday, April 2 8:00pm
• Sunday, April 3 2:00pm

The show takes place in the North Campus Auditorium.

To give you a sneak preview of Jesus Christ Superstar, it was first performed on Broadway in the 1970′s.  The music was done by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice.  Ian Gillian, the singer of Deep Purple, sang the part of Jesus on the original studio recording.  This musical stands out from others for several reasons.  First of all, it is a rock opera.  There are no breaks for dialogue in traditional musicals, just continous music.  Second of all, the music is quite different from other musicals.  It has a very classic rock feel most of the time, but it is also very orchestral as well.  The plotline focuses on the last week of Jesus’ life and the struggle between Jesus and Judas Iscariot.  It has a lot of feeling and emotion in it, but it also is very thought provoking.  This article takes an interesting perspective on theology and Jesus Christ Superstar:  http://www.theocentric.com/culture/music/jesus_christ_superstar.html 

To get you all pumped for the musical, here is the opening song from the 2000 revival version:

Enjoy!

More on Transitions

Isn’t this a cool picture?

To start off, it seems like Indiana has been experiencing an identity crisis lately.  First we were enticed with warmer weather and sunshine, and then we got a winter storm warning a few days later.  Today as I am typing this we are back to slightly warmer weather and sunshine.  This is nothing new; if you’ve lived in Indiana for a while than you could probably pick up on how the weather sporadically changes.

I absolutely love the transition of the seasons.  Even though summer is my favorite season, I feel like I wouldn’t be able to appreciate warmer weather if I experienced it all year round.  The moderate seasons of Spring and Fall are great because they prepare us for the hot and cold seasons.  I love the first days of spring when the flowers are just starting to bloom and I can take off my winter coat.  I also love the changing leaves of fall, and the cooler weather is a great relief from the hot summer.  Winter is great because of the snow and the activities that you can do outside because of it.  Although this winter seems to drag on and on, I couldn’t imagine living somewhere without the changing of the seasons.  I wouldn’t have the pleasure of experiencing these transitions.  Not to mention, there wouldn’t be any snow days!

Although spring is on its way, I had an ulterior motive for talking about the weather.  These transitions that happen in the weather also happen in our lives.  Some days are more chaotic than others, just as some days are more sunny and relaxing.  No matter what stage you are at right now, try to find something that you enjoy about it.  Transitions can be really frustrating at times, especially if you are clueless about what is coming ahead.  However, these experiences help prepare you for what is coming, which is similar to how Spring and Fall prepare us for Summer and Winter.  To those of you who are seniors in highschool, you are going through a transition that can be very exciting and nerve-racking at the same time.  Keep pushing through and work hard to the end; it will pay off.

And to USF students: although the week before midterms is like a thunderstorm, Spring break immediately follows!

Times of Stress

I don’t know what everyone else has been going through lately, but I’ve been pretty stressed.  I have been wishing that there were more than 24 hours in a day a lot lately (the extra sleeping time would be nice).  There have also been moments when I’ve felt pretty down and have been more of a pessimist than I usually am.  For anyone who is stressed out, you are not alone; I completely empathize with you.  As a music technology major, I can relate because learning and perfecting music in a short amount of time can be a seemingly long and stressful process.

So let me offer you a new perspective on stressful situations.  Although stress can lead to health problems, it also can be beneficial.  Having the pressure to get something done can be a good incentive to keep working (especially if it is hard for you to get motivated in the first place).  Having a lot of things to accomplish in a short amount of time is not only a headache, but a chance to learn how to manage time wisely.  Most importantly, times of stress can be experiences that make us grow as people.  Overcoming obstacles make us stronger and able to handle even greater challenges.  If you are stressed, take a deep breath and try to relax.

Without times of stress, life would probably be pretty boring.  We wouldn’t appreciate the simple things like relaxing outside on a warm summer day or gazing at the stars.  There would be no action or resolution for the action.  Just try to picture your favorite story without the internal conflict and you’ll get the point I’m trying to make.  The difficulties in life help shape us and be thankful for what we’ve been given, including the concept of time.  Instead of dreading your life right now, think of it as a learning experience and a process of growing.

When I’ve seen people blog about stress in the past, they usually provide the typical advice.  I would recommend some form of meditation.  I tried it a few times last week and it really helped me get through the week.  It’s amazing what a little reflecting and relaxation can do.

To those of you who are having summer withdrawal symptoms, I deeply apologize.  At least spring is on its way soon.

The Pianist

I hope you all survived the blizzard from last week.  I can remember just last week when I got the call from security about classes being canceled (while doing data entry).  I hope it wasn’t too boring if you were stuck in your home or dorm room.  I personally had a great time playing in the snow and sledding with my friends.

Another thing I did last week was watch an excellent movie called “The Pianist.”  This movie is about a Jewish pianist that lived in Poland during WWII.  The storyline follows his and his family’s struggle to live as Jews during WWII.  It is very similar to the novel Night because it follows the progression of terrorizing events that the Jews had to go through.  The music is excellent throughout the movie, and you might recognize a few classical pieces depending on how familiar you are with that genre of music.  Since this movie is about the holocaust, don’t expect it to be light hearted.  It’s a very sad movie, but it is also very thought provoking and the production is excellent.  The best part is that this movie is also based on a true story, so keep that in mind.

Here is a video of the opening song:

I just returned my copy that I rented from Family Video, so run to the store and rent it before it’s too late!

2010 Recap

It’s the start of a new semester and a new year.  Instead of being completely original and blogging about the goals I want to accomplish this year, I’m going to do a little reflecting.  Instead of visiting past events (some of which would be rather boring to recount), I will revisit some of my funniest facebook statuses from 2010 to make it a little more interesting.  If any of you think I’m absolutely crazy by the end of this post, you have good reason to.  So let me welcome you to Sarah’s USF blog, crazy facebook status edition.

Status #1: March 19, 2010 @ 5:48 pm

“Classic poems are like men; I will never understand them.”

This was around the time in my AP English class when we had to analyze 25 classic poems, none of which I could completely understand.  I guess I decided to use a semi-clever simile in there as well, which I’m sure all the women out there can identify with (and men vice-versa).

Status #2: July 25, 2010 @ 6:09 pm

“I’m on break and need more cowbell because Don’t Fear the Reaper just came on the Bob Evans radio.”

For those of you who did not catch the reference, it’s from SNL.  I think this must of came from my Sunday night shift I worked at Bob Evans over the summer.  Although working in a restaurant can be hard at times, I did like most of the music that was played.

Status # 3: September 3@ 5:38pm

“Apparently USF likes long walks on the beach and candlelit dinners…”

This came directly from the USF page on facebook.  I don’t quite remember the context of it, all I remember is it was at the beginning of the school year and I laughed at it.

Status #4: October 14 @ 12:35 am

“I am laying in my bed being lazy and listening to Kingdom Hearts music while my roommate is studying 2 feet above me like a good college student.  I am such a slacker!”

I recall that this status was from the week of midterms.  My midterm the next day was Iconnect, and I had all ready got all of my harder midterms out of the way.  I guess I figured I deserved a nice break…  Either way, I do remember getting a lot of comments on this status from my other fellow college friends who were slacking as well (although they might not of been listening to Kingdom Hearts music).  If you think I’m a nerd based on this status alone, your assumptions are correct.

Status #5: October 29 @ 11:50 am

“According to my dear friend Hannah, there are 649 pokemon in the world right now.  How the heck am I supposed to be a pokemon master now?  That is way too many to keep track of.  GAHHHH!”

My dear friend Hannah is a friend from high school, and her status had something to do with the fact that there are 649 pokemon in the world.  I became outraged and responded with this.

Status # 6: November 19 @ 3:57 pm

“Do you have your wand.. I mean wallet?”

This was actually a quote from another friend.  It took place on the day Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 came out.  My friend was finishing up the last part of the first half so that the first part of the book wouldn’t be ruined for him.  Apparently he was reading a little bit too deeply because he asked me this question when we were figuring out who would drive.  This was an epic ROFL moment for me and one of the few times in my life I could say that I fell on the ground from laughing.

Status #7: December 14 @ 11:51 pm

“I JUST BEAT FINAL FANTASY X!!!”

This is pretty self-explanatory.  I don’t think it was necessarily funny, but I put it on here because it was an epic moment for me.  And if you are wondering, the original status was also in all capital letters.

Status #8: December 23 @ 4:08

“Best way to celebrate Christmas Eve Eve: build an anatomically correct snow woman with your sister.”

My cousin in Louisiana wanted my sister to build a snowman because she didn’t have the pleasure of experiencing snow.  My sister decided that we should build an anatomically correct snow woman together and put a bikini on her.  It took us 3 hours, but it was totally worth it.  It was also on Christmas Eve Eve, which for all those who are confused is two days before Christmas (or one day before Christmas Eve).

So that’s the list…  I hope you all enjoyed it.  If not, there is always next year.  Maybe I will be more funny this year.