HELLO SUMMER...

Feelin' in a great mood today, it's the first day of Summer, and there is magic in the air.

I think I've decided that Summer is the season of all seasons...

and while I live in California where it seems to be the land of the endless Summer, there is still something extra special about this time of year...

I love how the my bedroom fills up with light early in the morning, and doesn't fade till after nine pm. 

I live for these long days... as long as the sun is shining I feel like I can conquer the world!

I can't get enough of seedless watermelon with a little sprinkle of salt.

I love when Dave fires up the BBQ and grills burgers with pineapple after work... and I think it's deliciously awesome that we eat corn on the cob with nearly every meal.

I love Sunday drives down the PCH to the beach after church.

I get a rush rolling down the 101 with the windows down while blasting Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys and amber by 311, or anything from Pete Yorn's music for the morning after with the warm wind blowing my hair into a big gnarly knot.

I feel free with no coats and liberated in a dab of lip-gloss and no make-up.

I look forward to quick trips to the carwash, my favorite place to sit out in the sunshine and eat a strawberry shortcake ice cream bar while oldies blare over the intercom, songs like smokie's tears of a clown

I long for the smell of sun screen and Banana Boat suntan oil.

I love evening bike rides through the hood, seeing kids playing outside and people walking their dogs

I'm talkin' Flip flops, family vacations to San Diego, saturday home improvement projects, fireworks and the Fourth of July!

And this year, a lot of time spent with our Londy Loo, watching her grow, taking her on early morning walks, pushing her on the swings and watching her chunky roley poley legs walkin' and waddlin' in a soggy diaper and swim suit of red white and blue with her sweet little belly hanging out... splishin' and a'splashin at the Splash Pad amongst happy kids.

Life is good in the Summer time.

"I HOPE HE DIDN'T GET BITTEN BY A LION"

So I've been wanting to post this for quite some time. This is my cousin Chase, he had surgery a while back this year... I watch it when i'm bummin' out and need a lil' bit, or big bit of laughter.

a tiny bit long, but oh so worth it. 

you're welcome. 

AND THE GIVE-AWAY #3 WINNER IS...

 Yay! Sarahkingx you win!

Send us an email to thejackandwhite@gmail.com

Hope you dig your new Sol Angeles t-shirt, Vinyl Copy of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours and a signed copy of "Undercover"! 

Woo to the Hoo!

THE LOWER LIGHTS...

HAVE A NEW CHRISTMAS RECORD!! You might remember a while back when I blogged about this amazing super group of musicians and listed their first album as one of my top five records of the year...

I was so obsessed with the record that I couldn't stop tweeting my brains out about them... well they noticed, and instead of thinking I was just a giant wierdo fan (and i am) they extended a warm invitation to me to come join in the jubilee of creating their Christmas record... and therefore I accepted with a spastic and enthusiastic YES tweet followed by an excessive use of exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!

So, I jumped on a plane for a quick 48 hour stop in Provo, UT to be a lil' fly on the wall and what a serious treat that was! Intensely musical dudes in thick rimed glasses and ladies with delicate voices of angels that harmonize like nobodies business, gather round pianos, guitars, drums, bells, glockenspiels, fiddles and microphones and outpours the sound of heaven!

The even said I could jump in on a few tunes and sing a bit on the mic with my foghorn-ish voice, nice of 'em. Oh and not only were they recording the Christmas album, but also a second hymn revival record set to release in the coming year, also got to take part in that... particularly on this one favorite tune of mine that we would sing in primary as kids, it was me and three dudes singing in harmony with a couple of guitars in a stairwell during a thunderstorm... MAGICAL! We'll see if the song makes the cut, hope so, cause it may be on the top of my list of fave recordings i've gotten to be in on... just sayin'

Anywho, you should really jump on this lovely holiday record OH COME LET US ADORE HIM by the Lower Lights... you won't regret it. They're just really really good... oh and here is a lil' behind the scenes vid to give ya a vibe...

The Lower Lights: Come Let Us Adore Him from The Lower Lights on Vimeo.

http://thelowerlights.bandcamp.com/album/come-let-us-adore-him

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE (THRIFTED) THINGS...

I scored some major pieces while thrifting over the summer and intended on blogging about them and just never got around to it... but since my last post was upon the subject, I figured better late then never! 

Here are a few of my favorite thrifted gems! Photos by this talented lady

mendipixel.com

KEEP YOUR HEAD UP, KEEP YOUR HEART STRONG...

My brother sent me this music video to check out by this artist I had never heard of before, Ben Howard...
I watched and listened and felt, cried a happy tear and really wanted to share it with everyone, it'll probably make you smile will make your soul feel awesome, I can almost guarantee it. Happy Thursday!

Keep your head up, Keep your heart strong...

Keep Your Head Up - Ben Howard from mickey smith on Vimeo.

ps- how cool was that water slide?

pss- oh and I went to itunes and bought the record too... if this song hits you like it hits me, support him, here's the link to his record on itunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/ben-howard/id456822495

RECORD RECOMMENDATIONS...

There is almost nothing more that I love then sharing new music... well, actually that's not true, there are many things I love just as much and more, like pizza and family and projects. But I just wanted to give emphasis and drama to how much I love it. However, by now I have over-used the word love, as I always do, which then dilutes it's emphasis and meaning. But please believe me, it is with out dilution, my love, and the use of the word, for many people, places and things... and new music.

I have found a softer place in my heart for modern music. Everyone who knows me, knows that I have a "love" and or obsession for the classics, the oldies, the best songs of all time. And though I adore all music from each and every decade new and old, I always go back to my Eagles records, Rumors, Tapestry, Carpenters, James Taylor, America, ELO, Beach Boys, Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Bee Gee's, Hall and Oats and the list goes on. But in the last year I have decided to give the newbies more air time on the iPod and I've come to realize that there is some remarkably good artists, bands and records of our day out there that I have found to influence me musically and add some spicey spice to my old trusty playlists. 

Here are just a few records that would be worth adding to your library:

ELLIE GOULDING - LIGHTS: This girl is beyond talented, a Brit and brilliant. Though her fellow UK artist,  Adele is taking the world by storm, and rightfully so, Ellie shouldn't be too far behind her. Her sound is a beautiful hybrid of melodic singer-songwriter-esque lyrics atop dancy pop beats. It is super fresh and her unique voice has the emotional fragility and vibrato of a humming bird, but the control of a German sports car. The songs are solid, hardly a mediocre track on the record. I have gotten several friends hooked to this record, you will be too, trust me. 

DANIEL TASHIAN - ARTHUR: Frontman of one of my favorite indie modern bands The Silver Seas, he is with out a doubt one talented son of a gun. Though it is his solo record, these songs feel like an extension of The Silver Seas last record released last summer, Chateau Revenge, containing quite possibly my favorite song ever "what's the drawback". With carefully crafted melodies and arrangements bursting with delicious ear candy, his songwriting style is very classic, but delivered with such a modern pallet of sounds. Everything sounds familiar but never cliche. You need to hear "swimming against the tide". I dare you not to play it over and over. Actually, I double dare you.

MUTE MATH - ARMISTICE: This record isn't brand new, actually it dropped in 2009, but I'm late to the party and just discovered it recently. My band mate Jack and producer Danny introduced me to it and I have to say that contrary to what my previous perception was of Mute Math, I am blown away by their stunning sonic sound. Though it has an edge, It isn't as heavy as I expected, it is much smoother, glassy and warm then I anticipated. There hooks are instant, the lyrics are crafty, but then when it gets to the chorus they keep it simple. I love that though they know how to get cool, they refrain from getting too cool for school. I'm currently addicted to "Goodbye". It's romantic and upbeat all at once. Solid band, I'm a fan.