Music Monday: 4 Knots Music Festival

Just in time for Music Monday,

I happened to go to an all day free festival/concert this weekend at the Southstreet Seaport.

It was the Village Voice's answer to having cancelled Siren Fest for good...so they were kind enough to bring NYers:

The 4 Knots Music Festival

There were a few bands I wanted to see!
(check them out if you want something new, or maybe you've already heard of them if you're in the know...I am soooooo not "in the know"; I used my San Fransisco friend's music knowledge to find out about one of these bands, then some other friends told me about a few others...but a free show is a free show, and I'm all about free shows and discovering bands I didn't know existed.)

One such band I went to see was Davila 666 (this is the SF friend's suggestion from a few months back, Thanks Kristine!...they did not disappoint; although then again I watched from a balcony overlooking the stage because $5.00 pitchers of beer were calling my name in the hot summer heat, its rare when I stick around front and center for a band if $5 beer is available nearby)


Another band I happened to catch, actually as soon as I walked up they were already playing, was Eleanor Friedberger.  
(Now I'll admit I didn't even know who this was, let alone go to see her, but I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed her sound!  Further research told me she's 1 part of Fiery Furnaces, I wish I knew this kinda stuff beforehand...duh!)

This girl has some fun style, she's quirky and pretty (look at google images!)...what any girl strives for, right?  ummmmm Ok maybe just me.

After a few more songs of hers, my buddy Jess and I walked down to the end of the Pier to check out the sights.  You see, Southstreet Seaport is not an area of Manhattan I usually tend to frequent...um NO!  Not my scene, just my scene for that day...mostly populated by the likes of tourists, sorority types (sorry girls if this is you, but its not my thing), and other douche-y characters I'd rather not deal with.  (yes, I'm stereotyping the Southstreet Seaport "set", but I'll be you 9x out of 10, I've got it nailed!)

With that being said, I won't lie...its pretty nice; beautiful actually...breezy, sunny, and oh-so-nautical!

If only there was a Jack Sparrow on one of these ships, my little heart would've gone " pitter-patter! "
Bummer, no such luck!

After our little jaunt around the pier, a few $5 pitchers of beer, we went back down to face the masses that had joined the crowd since we were last down in the pit.  We weaseled our way up front, just as any experienced cute concert goer should be able to do, and we had a great view for the band we came to see,
TITUS ANDRONICUS!

Holy hell...an electric violin...they were pretty darn good.  A bit of a stupid mosh pit broke out but really what's that; like we can't hold our own ground when jabs are being taken and people are crowd surfing? Actually I just laughed while I shoved back, seriously ...people still do that?  Maybe I'm old, but maybe I held up just fine against the youngin's...YEAH!

Oh geez...what a hot day in the sun, full of free music and cheap beer.  It was just as I imagined it to be...and now I hope you go and listen to some of these bands, or the ones listed on the 4 Knots flier and tell me what you think.  Good, bad, just not your cup of tea???

What about the Seaport, you think you'd hang out here?  Yikes! um, sure you want to read my blog if you answered "yes"?  Something about the financial district, going that far downtown, ewwww just BORING in my world.  But to each his own right?  I don't expect you to like my things, and you should not expect me to like the Southstreet Seaport enough to really go back.  (oh wait, I spoke too soon...darn, I have to go back on 7/31 'cause the Raveonettes are playing for free down there...looks like I've got one more trip to get in under my belt before I call it quits w/the Seaport.  wish me luck!  It could be worse...I mean it could be TIMES SQUARE--eeek!)

Oh, just FYI, it was hot, I wanted to be comfy, that's about all I know with this outfit--short skirt, see through loose fitting top, Yep...cool and comfy (and somewhat questionable as always!).

Wearing: (lots of H&M, whoopsies)
*Black tank-H&M
*Beige skirt-H&M
*Leopard Print booties-F21
*Black purse-H&M
*Whistle necklace-Brooklyn Charm
*Rock necklace-F21
*Sunglasses-Foster Grant

Oh and of course on our way out we couldn't leave without tagging up a graffiti wall w/some gang paraphernalia!  yay for leftover stickers in Jess' bag!  We're nerds of the best sort what can I say!?!

Obviously by the time we were leaving and off the subway we worked up a hunger and were again thirsty...free pizza with every beer just called to us!
Yummy...dinner time!

We shoved our faces then we went home.
This has nothing to do with music, just the pizza is really good for being FREE!  It looks gross, it is gross, but for free--its delicious!

Sooooooooo, ok...go listen to some music!  Hope you like something I talked about...if not, what are you listenin' to???
 I want to know...as I said, "I'm soooooo not in the know", so help a girl out musically wouldya!?!

Daily Wear: To See a Show

I snapped these outfit photos last week right before I headed out to see the Raveonettes.  The outfit is a little different for me as far as my typical show outfit goes.  Generally when seeing a band I opt for the skinny jeans and black or white tshirt combo with my leather bomber.  It just seems like something that that would be "show appropriate"...or maybe its because I sometimes have to go see bands by myself and an outfit like that will make me seem less approachable (not that strangers are approaching me anyhow, but you know what I'm saying).

So I figured, why not give something a little more girly a try for once.  Plus I was going with 3 of my gf's so I didn't necessarily need to hide my insecurities behind the "tough girl" outfit :) haha.
In the end, this outfit faired just fine for me.  It worked out well and was a welcome break to my usual show attire.

I am kinda stoked to wear this dress this summer actually.  Without a jacket to be exact.  It's a nipped in elastic waist with a ruffle detail at the neckline.  It's very cute and short and girly...all things I like to take for a spin from time to time.  Plus its floral and I have been wanting some more floral #'s in my wardrobe for summertime; so pefecto!

By the way...the Raveonettes were awesome!

Wearing: 
*Green jacket-F21
*Black floral print dress-Target
*Brown vintage Coach purse-Thrift store
*Brown vintage woven belt-Thrift Store
*Brown scarf-H&M
*Beige boots-Jessica Simpson 
*Black tights-unknown
*Gold tassle necklace-my own creation
*Brown leather bracelet-H&M
*Gold hoop earrings-F21

Weekend Rewind: Never Too Late for a Lil' Nashville (October 2-3, 2010)

Ok, so internet connections are still extremely spotty and far and few between at my place of residence; Its really putting a damper on my blogging, eh?

I mean, I've been back from vacation for nearly 2 wks now and I'm only now able to give you my first weekend rewind from my Nashville holiday...and that went down at the beginning of October!

Ok kids, let's forget the dates and just go with it...at least I can get this post up...now sure about the next one or when that might occur.

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So, as you know in my last post, I did nothing Friday (October 1st) but sleep.  Nice one Nickie!

So needless to say, I was up at the buttcrack of dawn--3am...then back to sleep for a nap...then up bright and early at 7:00am come Saturday morning.

Saturday: October 2nd, 2010

The sun comes up in Nashville and I rise with the roosters. 

I started my day with 3 plates of biscuits and gravy

(needless to say, weight gain was inevitable on my lil' getaway...we'll touch on that later in the vacation).

And as this would come as any surprise, I couldn't resist wearing the jean shorts.  Try as I might to have stored them away now that summer is over...well they just didn't stay packed up for long. 
Look out, now I'm probably going to wear them all winter too.
(Let's face it, I want to be a cartoon character-you know how they always wear the exact same outfit all the time?  well the jean shorts are going to become my staple item whether we like it or not, in fact I think they're already my staple item...the only time I'm not sporting the cutoffs these days is when I'm at work.  And God knows I would do that if they were a little more office appropriate.)

So with the promise of meeting up with AlysonIsNeat, I chose my outfit--got ready for the day--and I was ready to go.  Oh............wait, by this time it was only 8:30am.  Too early to call Alyson, but man was I rarin' to go. 
(This is what happens when you sleep thru the prior evening Nickie-you wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed!)

(Thanks a-man-duh for snapping these outfit shots)
Wearing:
*Black t-shirt, Kensie
*DIY cut-off shorts, Gap
*Black leggings, Uniqlo
*Black booties, Steve Madden
*Black printed scarf, Express
*Black sunglasses, Kensie
*Silver leather bag, Cole Haan

Finally a few hours later its a decent time in the morning that I can call Alyson and not fear waking her up out of a deep deep sleep.  We make final plans to meet up and check out some vintage sales going on around town.

First stop, I find a table full of the most affordable, cutest-coolest vintage jewelry.
And well, who else does it turn out to be?
Why, its Vested Bee Vintage!
(Now, at this point, I admitted to her in the most crazed fan fashion, well that I follow her on twitter and I know her goods.  Then I get really giddy because she has forgotten her camera and I offer to snap a few shots of her and my purchase.  Too bad the internet has sucked so bad that I cannot get her the pics for 2wks.  Why'd I even offer if I can't follow-through, right?)

And tell me...how undeniably awesome is this clipboard necklace I purchased?  She really did have some of the coolest jewelry around!  It's actually functional! 

(I plan to clip my name to it and wear it to the bars sometime so I don't have to talk to any of the moron meatheads that ask me my name.)

While at the same vintage local, I also purchased a sweet little pin for my gang vest.  I didn't take a picture of it, but I'm certain at some point it will make an appearance. 

It says, "World's Greatest Swinger" on it...now this is so not true, but so very cool!

Afterwards, Alyson and I headed over to the Gulch-which just so happens to be a very nice area of Nashville. Their Urban Outfitters is located there and they were having a little pop-up vintage sale of their own outside the front doors.

Within seconds upon arrival, Alyson had scoured the racks and convinced me I needed to buy a 1980's drapy sequined blouse she has found.  Probably not necessary, but how could I say NO?

Ironically enough, I ended up loving it so much after purchase, I wore it out later that evening.

(although no photos were taken of this lovely number-sometime in the future kids, patience...)

So thanks Alyson, I suppose for living vicariously thru my shopping habits that weekend considering you're in your last few weeks of no shopping (you can do it!)

Oh--here's the proof you're looking for...I really did hang out with AlysonIsNeat...see!  She's on the left, and that's the nice girl behind Closet Case Vintage on the right.

So as shopping drew to a close, Alyson took me back to the hotel where I awaited the arrival of my friend Amanda (actually my BFF's little sis, but I suppose we're friends at this point in our lives)

-A little shout out, Amanda is 1/2 of the duo behind Concocting with Cocktails.

Once Amanda showed up around 2pm, we decided it was high time we head downtown and get our afternoon dose of cocktails!

Downtown is sort of like being in Times Square in NYC.  It's the tourist trap!  So I know its annoying to go there if you're a local...but this was MY TURN to be the tourist, usually its the other way around.

So I took in the touristy fun for all it was worth!

I took an extreme likin' to Paradise Park.

It reminded me a lot of the Trailer Park Lounge here in Manhattan.

Amanda and I began harrasing the band, and hoping our $1 tips would coerce them into playing our requests.  Some were denied, ignored,what have you (er,.....Rocky Top--to which this blog gets its namesake...wtf guys!).  Others were embraced and played immediately (Conway Twitty!)

Even Lil' Homie got into his Nashville travels....He digs Paradise Park as much as we do!

And then...with the afternoon coming to a close, our friend Jaima met up with us and we had a few last minute beers before it was time for dinner.

Good ol' Alyson met me again--2x in one day!  She must like hanging out with me...or vice versa!

True true.

After dinner, we went to see my friend's band, HeyPenny at Exit/In.

Unfortunately we missed HeyPenny...boo!

And no, we are not at the world famous Wild Horse Saloon!

This is a little prop leftover from the craziness of a band by the name of Peelander-Z

All I can say is, "MAD TIGER-MAD TIGER"

that one's for you Amanda!

We rounded out the night by watching the last of the bands, The Protomen...I enjoyed them immensly and hope they come to NYC sometime soon.  (I wonder if they're here for CMJ actually? I should look this up.)

And a few more drinks with the girls at a jazz-y/funk place before we called it a night

(and Phew!  Was I tired...)

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Sunday: October 3rd, 2010
The following day, it was my BIRTHDAY!
We met up with Alyson and her BF at the Germantown Cafe for brunch--Delicious!

Then, we said our goodbyes--promised to visit again, and I told them to come to NY.
And then the rest of us went onward to the Vanderbilt area where we did a little boutique shopping, and more boozin'
We had some birthday cocktails for obvious reasons, and to take it easy--afterall it was Sunday.

Jaima, Above, had sangria which looked quite tasty.

But Abbey, my bff from highschool (below), had the best drink of us all--an alcoholic Root Beer Float.

Being the Bonne Belle chapstick conniseur that I am, I immediately pinpointed the drink as tasting just like their Rootbeer flavored lipgloss-YUM!

And I've since forgotten what Amanda was drinking, it doesn't matter-apparently she just chose to shoot it out of her nose instead--well let's face it, I'm a funny girl and I have this effect on the Wolf family.

Unfortunately kiddies, I was not photographed on my bday.  Not a big deal really considering 31 is a stupid age.  Nothing exciting happens when you're 31, nor do I care to really celebrate such an age-- especially after the crazy bday party I had the year prior, I mean could anything really come close to an Elvis Impersonator?  Definitely not!

And this is how I rounded out my birthday weekend in Nashville.

Next Up:

Onward to Indiana!!!!!!!

Chromeo, Kids, and the Downtown Dolls

Sorry, too busy for weekend outfits...that's what happens when you officially start up your girl gang, The Downtown Dolls!
(get a jumpstart on what's good, and start following The Dolls HERE)

And you take your gang to a free Chromeo concert!!!  Darn good performers, I tell ya!  I couldn't stop with the Fancy Footwork

Doesn't hurt when there's special guests like Kid Sister too...now I'll admit I never had listened to her, but I always meant to.  I read and hear a lot about her in the likes of Bust and Nylon magazines.  Pretty OK stuff, I will admit I was scufflin' my feet a little to her too.

And of course, most of my weekend was spent with Lil' Man and his mama...watching a kid is some pretty tough stuff.  I don't know how you moms do it 24/7...he wore me out!


So yep, no Weekend Rewind--this IS the weekend in a nutshell.  I've got high hopes and big plans for the Downtown Dolls' though...lots of tough girl fashion statements to be made for sure.  Lots of sneers, lip curls, and fire being spit from our tongues--because yeah, we're just that tough!

Ok ok, back to Wild as a Mink now...its feeling like Fall outside, maybe cause there's something like 29days left till Autumn!  Woot Woot!  So maybe I'll whip up some sorta summer/fall hybrid of an outfit this week and toss it on up on this here bloggy blog.  Come back soon.

I'm With the Band

Ok, that's a lie...I'm not really "with the band", more like just "following the band".  I've been a little preoccupied the past few days running here, there, everywhere--taking in 3 concerts in less than one week's time.  Phew!  I'm no rockstar like I wish it were, so needless to say I'm a little worn out.

First up, last Wednesday night I was at Madison Square Garden.  And what's not a lie is that
"She grew up in an Indiana town, had a good look'n mom never was around"
(ok that's a lie, my mom was always around)

"But she grew up tall, and she grew up right...w/'em Indiana boys on 'em Indiana nights"
(true story, they do grow up pretty tall and right in Indiana...we're cornfed and European descent, what can I say?)
I'm guessing by now you might've figured who I saw at MSG.  Free Fallin'?  American Girl?  ummm...YES PLEASE!  Tom Petty and the Eff'n Heartbreakers!!!!!  (my friend just told me the other day that her boss said only white trash from the midwest like Tom Petty...fine by me, I'll be white trash and I'm completely MIDWEST  if that's what it takes because that was one good concert I'll tell you what!)



Then, last Saturday, in case you missed our tweets--my friends and I headed to Prospect Park to claim our spot in line for an 8:40pm show...we're the REAL DEAL-considering we were there to be in line at 3:30pm!

And this is the only documentation of an outfit I have in over one week's time...and eeek!  That's No Outfit!  That's just me in my regular weekend attire these days, Cut-off shorts...
(silk dress-Urban Outfitters, DIY cut-offs-GAP, Vintage Owl Necklace-gift from Leprouse Vintage, vintage belt-Thrift Store)

But who cares about outfits when we're talking a FREE SONIC YOUTH show!!!  It was pretty rad and well worth the long long wait we endured in line.  We were probably about the 75th people to enter the stage area, so it was not too shabby of an idea that we parked our butts in the queue when we did.

And then last night, I rushed outta work-hit the subways-found myself somewhere in the middle of Brooklyn to take in a night of some of hip-hop's finest (and I'll admit, I'm such a white girl-laugh now, but least I wasn't called "Snowflake" like Mel was!  I'm sorry but it was pretty funny!)

Another FREE concert--I'm so there!  And who wouldn't want to go to this if given the opportunity?  I got to see Slick Rick (evidence shown above--I bypassed the security so cunningly as I snuck my camera into the "no cameras allowed" concert-yeah!)

And NAUGHTY BY NATURE!!!!!

And when the night was goin' good...they brought out a "special treat" for us:
BUSTA RHYMES!

But girls...get ready for this one:

Are you ready....ready for this fierce little duo (because sadly, breaks my heart...but they're missing the cool one-Spinderella)?  SALT N PEPA!!!!!!!!!!

So tell me now who wouldn't seize this opportunity to see this show?

So yeah....I've been taking in the concerts, soaking up what it is to live in NYC during the summertime.  It's one fine place to live, I'll tell you that much....FREE CONCERTS GALORE-and those that aren't free are pretty bigtime dudes in the music industry, and well worth every penny!  So while I merely wish to claim,  "I'm with the Band" (sometimes Pamela Des Barres style), I can really just tell you I'm watching the band.  And I'm rather quite liking the view!

Outfit posts to resume shortly....like when summertime is over and my social agenda sucks.