I had the wonderful fortune of seeing Matt & Kim open for Cut Copy at the Music Box earlier this year. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and they were great fun to see live.

Turns out they’re playing another show in LA in August, this time headlining The El Rey. The world needs more of their music – it just makes you happy and want to jump up and down, and how in the world could that ever be a bad thing?

You can get tickets via Ticketmaster here (warning: the $13 ticket turns into a $25 ticket – but totally worth it to see these guys).

I’ve mentioned my long history with Third Eye Blind before, but this was the first time I had the opportunity to see them play live. LA was their last show of the tour, and I’m so, so glad I went.

I don’t care what anyone says about them, they’re seriously one of my favorite bands: Stephan Jenkins is a classy dude (still a bit of a rock star, but classy), and their tunes are generally pretty awesome (and have some insightful commentary to them).

Don’t believe me? Just check out “Motorcycle Drive By” and “Slow Motion” (full song, not the instrumental version that US record execs made them put out).

I can’t wait to hear their new album, Ursa Major — it hits store shelves August 18th.

For more photos from 3EB’s last show of their 2009 tour, check out my Flickr set. And don’t forget to follow the band’s Twitter for up-to-date info and general randomness.

I just got back from the 2 day conference and lobbying event, “How It Ends“, in Washington, D.C.

Day 1 we heard from a variety of speakers from Resolve Uganda, Enough Project, Invisible Children, and even the Ugandan government. We were also joined by director Tom Shadyac, actress/activist Melissa Fitzgerald, and many others. We learned more about the crisis in central Africa, how we can stop it, and how this can be only the beginning to preventing tragedies such as the LRA from happening again in the future.

Day 2 we hit Capitol Hill to speak with our Senators and Representatives about what is happening in central Africa, and ask for their support of the Lord’s Resistant Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act.

Michael Poffenberger of Resolve Uganda said it — it’s all about the math.

46 states were represented at the event, which means we met with the offices of 92 senators. We also had 350 House meetings scheduled with representatives for our districts. The morning of Day 2, Resolve Uganda had 20 phone calls from offices we were not scheduled to meet with, requesting a meeting with our group, so the final total of House meetings was closer to 370 by the end of the day.

And two days after How It Ends, as of right now, the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery act already has 55 House Rep and 13 Senate cosponsors.

Those two days in D.C. were absolutely exhausting, but worth every minute. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

During all the excitement, I managed to take a couple of pictures, including the one in this post – you can check out the rest of them here.

I’ve been very quiet since the AIDS/Lifecycle ride, but realized if I was going to break radio silence, it was now or never (or at least, now or “not for another two weeks”).

AIDS/Lifecycle 8

The ALC ride was amazing. It’s hard for me to articulate the experience, actually. I made some amazing friends, but I also became friends with nearly 3,000 other people – 2,100 cyclists and 500 amazing volunteers.

The week was physically exhausting, but emotionally rewarding. I got used to waking up at 4:30am, and going to bed by 9pm. I got teary eyed when we heard stories from the people we’re helping — people who would not be alive today if not for the AIDS/HIV health services that both the LA Gay and Lesbian Center and San Franciscio AIDS Foundation provide. I learned to take everything in stride, with a smile and a thank you — mechanical failures and injuries alike. I high-fived a class of 8 year olds as I biked by their school. I was moved and inspired by the kind souls who stood on the side of the road cheering us on for hours in the middle of nowhere. I talked about butt tape and cream with complete strangers.

It was one of the most amazing weeks of my life. And I’m already signed up to do it again next year.

Living A Car-free Life

I’m still enjoying the freedom of a car-free life in LA. It has in many different ways dramatically changed my life (for the better), and has certainly allowed me to see Los Angeles in a different way. It has also caused me to slow down my life and to savor everything I do more. It’s not a race. Stop and smell the roses. And LA public transportation can really drive that home — if you’re not ready for it, it’s like a smack up side the head.

Becoming More Useful

I picked up a bicycle repair book at Coco’s Variety Store this past weekend, and intend on getting at least one additional bicycle in the next month or two and learning how to wrench them myself. I also think I’ll finally manage to follow through with my intention of spending time as a Shadow at the Bicycle Kitchen finally.

I’ve also signed up for CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) classes this summer with a couple of friends. I’m really, really excited about this. Once a week for 6 weeks we’ll learn how to be prepared in the event of an emergency, and how we can help our community during that time. At the end, we get a snazzy green CERT helmet and vest.

Finally, at some point before the summer is up, I’m determined to take the California Motorcyclist Safety Program basic rider class and get my motorcycle license. Whether I will then get a motorcycle or not is questionable, but it is something I would love to learn and might be a useful skill to have at some point.

I’m also playing around with the idea of starting to take classes again at the college right by my office in the fall.

Musically Speaking

I realized I still have posted on the amazing show put on by the Greycoats at the Knitting Factory. Don’t let their MySpace fool you… they might sound average at best, but live they are absolutely amazing.

I also was lucky enough to make it to The Lemonheads at Spaceland last week. Evan Dando is certainly talented, but it’s also sad to see him so whacked out of his mind on drugs that he’ll blindly take random pills handed to him by an audience member. He did put on a killer show, though.

Also, because I can be a huge dork… Third Eye Blind is playing LA next week. I’ve been a fan of theirs since I was 13. So, yes, I’m going. And I’m really excited about it.

How It Ends

This Sunday night I’m taking the red eye to Washington D.C. for the How It Ends conference to lobby my government representatives to help the people of Uganda and help end the 23 year war that has destroyed their lives. There will be a number of speakers at the conference on the first day, and the second day we will actually be meeting with our representatives to discuss the issues with them. I’m a little nervous, but also really excited to spend two days with like-minded individuals, trying to change the world in our own small way.

Iran Elections

Unless you’ve been in a cave since Friday, then you’ve heard about the elections in Iran and the subsequent protests over the election results. Things have on occasion turned bloody, and several protesters have lost their lives in their fight for fair elections and democracy. It’s a fight for freedom of information and honesty, and I only wish I could do more to help the millions protesting the current government regime.

The best sources have been through Twitter, and there are a number of ways that those outside of Iran can help in their own small way. Check out the Boing Boing Cyberwar Guide For Iran Elections for some information.

Photos

Finally, there are a ton of new photos up on my Flickr page from the last Prop 8 Protest, ALC ride, The Lemonheads, cherry picking outside Palmdale, and more. As they say — a picture is worth a thousand words.

When I’m nervous, I tend to make jokes.

This morning I dropped off my bike to have it shipped to San Francisco for the ALC ride. I joked that there was no backing out now since I at least have to go to San Francisco to pick up my bike, and then I don’t have a return ticket so I would probably have to ride my bike back to LA anyway. Not entirely true, but…

I’m taking tomorrow off from work to take care of last minute things. Pay rent, buy more socks, buy more energy goo and blocks, do laundry, do my dishes, pack… and hopefully chill out before flying to San Francisco on Friday.

The good news is, I’ve hit my minimum (and then some!). I have my tent assignment. My medical forms have been submitted. Day Zero — Saturday — is when you’d normally spend the entire day in various lines taking care of all of that. I really just have to get my gear tags and bike/helmet number at this point, and try to distract myself from getting overly anxious.

I know I probably won’t sleep — or at least sleep well — the night before. My friend Mike and I have to be on the shuttle at the hotel at 4am that morning. And then we have to bike almost 80 miles to our first campsite that night.

It’s just insane.

But it’s going to be awesome.

If you want to follow along during the week, your best bet is to check out my Twitter and Flickr for updates and photos. And if you want to donate, it’s not too late… I can accept donations even after the ride.

This is how you change the world: one dollar and one pedal at a time.

It’s mostly official: I’m car-free now.

I ended up selling it to my friend TH, rather than CarMax, but the important thing is, ignoring the delayed paperwork coming through from the bank and DMV, the car is no longer mine. By July, I should be officially clear of it.

This is both exciting and kind of terrifying. I’ve happily lasted two weeks without a car already, but how will I feel 2 months from now? What about 6 months from now? I guess we’ll wait and see. In the meantime, I’m continuing to get more comfortable with the bus system, and as soon as I’m back from the ALC ride, I’ll be getting a second and third bike (I want a couple of beaters for at home and at work that I don’t have to worry about as much as my current bike).

I’ll definitely be writing more about my new found freedom (and I do consider it a freedom/experiment, much like when I cancelled my cable), so if you’re interested, stay tuned. Should be a wacky adventure!

Just a little over a week to go till the AIDS/Lifecycle 8 ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, so I’m doing my best to get all my ducks in a row and be ready. Though I don’t think this is something you can ever be ready for.

I just sent this email out to everyone I hit up for donations, and figured I’d share it with anyone who stumbles across my site as well.

Hi all,

Here’s my latest update on my ALC ride, which is just a little over a week away.

Next Friday I’ll head up to San Francisco. Saturday I’ll go through the check-in process and get my rider number for my helmet and bike (#1590). And Sunday, May 31st, I’ll set off with 2500 other people on probably one of the craziest and most awesome things I’ve ever done.

I want to give a tremendous thank you to everyone who helped me make this happen. At this time, I’ve raised over $3,300! While a portion of that helps cover the cost of the ride, the majority of that money is going directly to providing health services to those living with AIDS/HIV — more important now than ever due to sever cuts in funding.

I’m still accepting donations still accepting donations, so if you can donate, please do! This is a great cause and it would mean a lot to me. Even better, perhaps consider donating to my Twitter-friend Mark, as last I knew, he was still short on meeting his $3k minimum.

Mark is also a great photographer, and in exchange for donations of a certain amount, he’ll happily give you a print of one of his photos. It’s a win-win situation.

And that’s pretty much the update. If you’d like to keep up with my crazy adventures on two wheels during the week, be sure to check out my Twitter) and Flickr) accounts during the ride for updates. I’ll also be writing about the adventure afterward on my website (my website.

For general information about the ride, you can check out the Route Map as well as keep tabs on photos, Twitter updates, and more from all 2500 riders on the ALC 8 blog.

If you’re in LA, and would like to come to the Closing Ceremonies on June 6th, you can find detailed info on the ALC website.

Otherwise, thank you again for all of your support and I’ll see you around.

Peace out,
Bronwyn

In the spirit of the double-or-nothing Middle of the Week Music picks, I offer up two tracks from the previously mentioned Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse Present: Dark Night of the Soul collaboration with David Lynch — which at this point may never see the official light of day.

The first track on the album, “Revenge”, features Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips. Hauntingly beautiful, this song feels a little like a rainy day in the city. Not sure how to describe it beyond that… just give it a listen.

“Revenge” – feat. Wayne Coyne – Dark Night of the Soul (right click to download)

The second track on the album features Gruff Rhys who you may know from Super Furry Animals. In contrast to “Revenge”, “Just War” feels more like a summer day. Upbeat in tempo, but not obnoxiously so, it has enough spring in its step to successfully carry itself in the footsteps of “Revenge”.

“Just War” – feat. Gruff Rhys – Dark Night of the Soul (right click to download)

Like what you hear? Buy the book or poster… and do what you have to to get your hands on the full album. It’s worth it

I’ve been discovering a number of hidden gems thanks to Netflix Streaming.

And no, I’m not being sarcastic or ironic — certainly, I’ve discovered my fair share of bad movies, and I have an unnatural love for bad movies — but there are genuinely fantastic little movies about various subjects that are largely ignored or looked over. They’re not high art, they’re not big budget, they’re not action packed. But they often have heartwarming stories with genuine characters and sometimes even touch upon important topics.

Mozart and the Whale falls into this category.

So what’s so special about it?

It’s a love story about two people with Asperger’s Syndrome, loosely based on a real-life relationship.

Stumbling across this movie on Netflix, I was intriuged by the idea, and delighted by the execution, largely for its accurate portrayal of people living with Asperger’s. According to Wikipedia, there’s been some criticism about perpetuating the myth that autisim = savant abilities — but that aside, the film does a terrific job.

The trailer isn’t the greatest, but hopefully you’ll be endeared as I was and take the time to check out the film. If you have Netflix, it’s available for instant streaming so it won’t cost you anything beyond the time it takes to watch it.

Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse, and David Lynch have cooked up something amazing with help from a variety of other musicians who’ve contributed to Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse Present: Dark Night of the Soul.

But it’s not just 13 amazing tracks by amazing musicians. Accompanying the album is a “limited edition art book containing 100+ pages of original photographs by celebrated film director David Lynch.” The book will be limited to 5,000 copies, and due to legal reasons (EMI being jackasses — sorry, EMI, but it’s true), the album cannot technically be released for fear of lawsuit — but they’re including a blank CD-R with the book in its place and what you do with that is up to you.

The whole “can’t release the album” doesn’t mean you can’t get your hands on it, of course. NPR has the entire album available streaming on their site, and a few enterprising folks have made this available via other means as well. I would happily fork over $20 for the album alone, but if that’s not possible, I’ll try to buy one of the limited copies of the book or the poster (which also comes with a blank CD-R) and be happy with that.

Here’s the track listing via the Wikipedia entry:

All songs written and composed and produced by Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse

1. “Revenge” (featuring The Flaming Lips) – 4:52
2. “Just War” (featuring Gruff Rhys) – 3:44
3. “Jaykub” (featuring Jason Lytle) – 3:52
4. “Little Girl” (featuring Julian Casablancas) – 4:33
5. “Angel’s Harp” (featuring Black Francis) – 2:57
6. “Pain” (featuring Iggy Pop) – 2:49
7. “Star Eyes (I Can’t Catch It)” (featuring David Lynch) – 3:10
8. “Everytime I’m With You” (featuring Jason Lytle) – 3:09
9. “Insane Lullaby” (featuring James Mercer) – 3:12
10. “Daddy’s Gone” (featuring Mark Linkous and Nina Persson) – 3:09
11. “The Man Who Played God” (featuring Suzanne Vega) – 3:09
12. “Grim Augury” (featuring Vic Chesnutt) – 2:32
13. “Dark Night of the Soul” (featuring David Lynch) – 4:38

If it was obvious enough and you haven’t yet, I highly recommend listening to this as soon as you have the chance to. Definitely an amazing collaboration. And don’t forget to buy the book and poster by visiting the Dark Night of the Soul website.