I am tickled pink to announce that I will be guest blogging on MTV Buzzworthy for the next three weeks or so. If you haven’t already bookmarked the site, be sure to add it to your favorites so you can read all my hilarious musings on Gaga, Ke$ha and a poop-ton of your pop-tastic guilty pleasures. Woo-hoo!!
It’s one of the most often-asked question in rock ‘n’ roll: Why do hot chicks always fall for the most fugly band dudes? Oh, right… they’re dudes in bands, which trumps any potential facial or body deformity that he may have. (Plus, don’t even get me started on how guys think having a musician pedigree somehow gives them permission to have THE worst personality on the planet. Oh, the stories I could tell and the names I could drop…)
Check out my latest gallery for Metromix.com to see who I consider to be the hottest/grossest couples in recent history*.
* For those with weak stomachs, please wait 30 minutes after eating in order to view this gallery. Some pairings may induce vomiting—or at least a wicked case of acid reflux. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
The first time I talked to Chris Carrabba, I think I was still the office manager at Alternative Press. Most of my days were spent sorting mail, cleaning up after our gastrointestinally challenged cat Ogre and dreaming of writing pieces for the magazine that were more than 50 words. It must’ve been late 2001 or early 2002, and the whole editorial staff was prepping for AP’s “100 Bands You Need To Know” issue. I had been trumpeting Dashboard Confessional’s awesomeness for months and I’m pretty positive that I got the assignment mostly because Jason Pettigrew was tired of me nagging him everyday.
Hypothetical-yet-completely-possible conversational reinactment:
Me: “Hey, Jason! I’ve seen the future of music and it’s all about a lil’ punim named Chris Carrabba!”
Jason: [Growl.]*
Me: “No, really! I saw him play with his band Dashboard Confessional a couple weeks ago at the Beachland Ballroom and the place was packed. Plus, all the kids were singing along. It was like Children Of The Corn—but in a good way.”
Jason: [Annoyed snort.]
Me: “C’mon… I can do this! Let me do this!”
Jason: [Snarl.]
Me: “Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it. Lemme write it.”
Jason: “Fine.”
And… Scene.
(Note to future journalists: Never give up when you believe in your pitch! Just make sure your pitch is on-the-money.)
I remember Jason let me borrow his office for the interview and I sat perched on a wobbly stool—which, if I’m not mistaken, Jason still uses to this day—and waited for Chris to call from his Florida HQ. He had just stopped teaching full-time but had gone back to school to visit his former students for a holiday pageant or something. (Swoon, right?) I had what felt like a million butterflies swirling around my stomach and about 30 seconds into the interview, I knew the convo would change the course of my professional life. It sounds hokey, but I just knew in my gut that Dashboard Confessional was on the verge of exploding and I was about to capture the swell before the storm.
I’ve been lucky enough to talk to Chris a bunch over the years and the two of us have even become bros, which still causes me to pinch myself on a regular basis. Now, any good writer knows that you shouldn’t write for anyone else but you—not your editor, not your audience and especially not your subject. I try to live by that guideline as much as humanly possible but I have to admit, I squealed just a smidge when I got the following text from the beau of the boulevard:
Here’s the interview Chris is talking about. Let me know if you agree!
* Oh, it should also be noted that despite the above depiction, Jason has always been my biggest cheerleader. He’s been a mentor, a bestie and a constant source of wisdom and unfathomable humor. So what’s with the ‘tude? Oh, he just hates “pussy emo music.” For a man raised on Revolting Cocks, can you blame him?
When I was contacted by Dave at Oklahoma Lefty about doing an interview for him and his bitchin’ blog, I was stoked beyond words. Two of my dearest bros are from the lovely city of Edmond, so I feel like I’m kind of an Okie by association. I think the Q&A turned out awesome, especially because I heart being called “ultra-hilarious.” Score!
I’m feverishly trying to do a million-and-a-half different things before I get on a jetplane tomorrow and fly to St. Louis, where I’ll be meeting up with Paramore on Wednesday. Eek!! I feel like I’m really breaking out of the retirement home for this piece because I haven’t written anything like it in what seems like a coon’s age. Truth be told, I’m nervous. There… I said it. In fact, I’m nervous, excited, anxious and eager. Howev, most of all, I’m looking forward to a juicy dish sesh with Hayley & Co.
(Fingers crossed!)
Be sure to add me on Twitter—in case you’re not already doing so—because I’m sure I’ll be unloading all sorts of finger-lickin’-good deets when I’m on the road. Get into it!!
The radtastic Miss Lauren Becker over at Shooting Stars Magazine did a lil’ Q&A with lil’ ol’ me. The online zine is super kick-ass and there are some amazing author interviews on there. You should most def take some time and check it out—if for nothing more than to read my deep and eloquent thoughts on Gilmore Girls and Angels & Kings!! I’m talking about ground-breaking revelations, people.
Also, if you aren’t already following me on Twitter, GET WITH THE PROGRAM!! You can find me at http://www.twitter.com/redpatterndress. I’m leaving next week to spend some QT with this really small, unknown band. You prolly haven’t heard of them. They’re called Paramore and I think they’re gonna be HUGE one day. I’ll be hanging with them for a couple days so you won’t want to miss a moment!
I can’t tell you how flattered I was when the lovely Martina Butler from the Emo Girl Talk podcast asked me to be on her show. I must’ve been blushing for a week straight! We gabbed all about how babe-a-licious Jesse Lacey is and the best way to break into the book biz. The interview is live and streaming so take a trip over there and hear me pretend to know what I’m talking about.
In other news of self-promotion, one of my besties was in NYC last weekend and she sent me the most amazing pictures from Urban Outfitters. I mean, I knew they were selling Wish You Were Here online but I had NO idea it was hitting store shelves. Take that, Chuck Klosterman!
Thankfully, my friend Jessica was able to spot the spine. Here she is, maxing and relaxing while showing off that Stanford education. Isn’t she a beaut? Sorry, fellas… She’s taken!!
All in all, it’s been a pretty hectic week. I just got back from Cleveland last night, where I drowned myself in bridal awesomeness (for my bestie Lesley) and parental hangs. The trip was way too short, but it was super-nice to get a break from the Los Angeles June gloom. As soon as I landed, I hoofed it back to my apartment just in time to book it to see A Camp at the Troubador. It was amaaaaaaaaazing!! I have, like, the biggest girl crush on Nina Persson and just being in her presence made me feel like a “Lovefool.” (Yeah, I totally went there.)
The band just put out their second album, Colonia, not too long ago and it’s super-fantastic awesome. Here’s one of my fave songs, “Stronger Than Jesus.” Take a listen and let me know what you think! (Warning: Nina Persson is so pretty, it might be hard to look at her for more 30 seconds at a time. If this is the case, feel free to close your eyes and zone out.)
Just had the bestest interview with the talented Don Edwards from Your Daily Emo. Little did I know thatI was appearing on the last episode of the show. What an honor! Fear not, emo fans. Don’s starting a new podcast called Diamond Boy’s Automatic Soundtrack, which should appear on iTunes in the next couple weeks. More deets can be found on Don’s blog.
PS… You can also download the interview on iTunes, just in case you want to listen to my musings at your leisure. Just do a podcast search for “Your Daily Emo” and it will pop up as the “4/14/09″ episode. Oh, and in case you were wondering, my voice isn’t really that low—or trebly. Apparently, Skype lowered my vocal level so I sound slightly like a robotic Kathleen Turner.
I was recently asked by the lovely Leigh Belz over at Teen Vogue to scribble up some must-haves for the upcoming summer music festival season. Here’s what I came up with. Click the pic to take a better look at the feature—and pre-order a fancypants new spork!
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