Avett Brothers add to Their Genius Collection

As you may know, the speedstump staff recently saw the Avett brothers preform live at the meadowbrook in Gilford NH. Despite still being numb from the experience it has recently come to my attention that the Avett Brothers will be releasing a new album in early 2012...hopefully. The article states late 2011 but unconfirmed sources (wikipedia) says early 2012. My fingers are crossed. To tide you over, here is one of their newest tracks.

The Once and Future Carpenter

Future Wife

Somehow it took me a month to find out that Florence Welch from Florence + the Machine had come out with a new song, but now that I've heard it I've become a bit obsessed, both with the song and the singer. She may not know it yet but we're going to end up together and have singing tall strawberry-blond children. Check out the video for her song What The Water Gave Me and then tell me she's not insanely cool, adorable, quirky, and beautiful. But maybe I'm just impartial cause she's a read-headed Brit... Regardlesss her music's sick and so is this song. Get prepared for her second album, Ceremonials, to drop at the end of this month. I'm expecting great things.

Avett Brothers Show

Last night Ben, Ben, John, Josh and I saw these fellas live in New Hampshire. See them!

Can't Wait

DayTrotter

Hey y'all. Happy Summer! I found a great website for not only discovering new music but also downloading songs from your favorite artists. The site is called Daytrotter and is actually the name of a recording studio in Illinois. Artists stop at the studio and record a (usually) stripped down version of a couple songs and do an interview. Then, the recordings are put on the website and can be downloaded FO FREE. Check the site out, they also have shweet portraits of the artists.

http://www.daytrotter.com/

Back From Assignment: Bonnaroo 2011

Morning ladies and gents, faithful readers of nationally acclaimed blog Speed Stump. I just returned from my biggest assignment yet as a blogger -- BONNAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

It took two days and a stop at Billy Collins horse farm for me and my crew (including Brina!) to arrive in Manchester, TN. The first day of the festival lacked any huge headliners so we took some time to acquaint ourselves with our new location and meet our neighbors. We then went into the stage area and heard some great music -- my faves included River City Extension, Band Of Skulls, Best Coast, Twin Shadow and Beats Antique.

I took enough drugs to ensure the next three days of the festival are nothing but a foggy hazy memory, haha but seriously....

I do remember the sun pounding down, dust and dirt everywhere, and a scare about running out of water. Someone wrote on a car near our campsite "Bonnaroo = Somalia WTF?!?!" that reminded me of our dreadful conditions each time I passed it.

The only way I can remember which concerts were on each day is by looking at the schedule but here it goes. On Friday my favorites were Phosphorescent, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, The Decemberists, PRIMUS, and (a big reason I went to roo) RATATAT!!!!!!!!! Saturday had an unbelievable line-up beginning with Hanggai, an unknown but awesome Mongolian rock band. The day continued with Old Crow, Alisson Krauss, MUMFORD AND SONS (who played new songs!!!!!!), THe Black Keys, Buffalo Springfield, and some Eminem's to top the day off. Sunday really brought me back to when I grew up in the 70s, hearing Robert Plant and Gregg Allmann, man I miss the good old days. I also heard Explosions in the Sky, The Strokes (kinda sucked), G. Love, Neon Trees, and Widespread Panic to close the festival.

I'm glad to be home now, between short term and Bonnaroo, I've only had one mode "GO!!" On the real though, Bonnaroo was an unreal experience. It reminded me of walking around campus on a saturday night looking for parties when you're really f--ked up, except at roo it's 4 days and you're hopping between concerts instead of parties. It felt weird being the only one reporting fpr Speed Stump, I think next summer it would only be proper if the whole team made it to the roo.

Chris Sharma at Smith Rock

On Tuesday and Wednesday a few buddies and I decided to go to Smith Rock for some top quality rock climbing. While we were there we saw Chris Sharma, regarded as the greatest climber (perhaps) of all time. Usually the man spends his time with his spanish girlfriend in Europe, it is a rarity for him to be in the United States let alone Smith Rock. Now that I am finally back in civilization for a little while this encounter has hit me in full effect.

These are the best pictures we could take without being too forward.


Chris Sharma working on the classic Smith climb "Chain Reaction". Taken by Chris Eden


Chillin with his beautiful mediteranian girlfriend