Next Big Nashville, Nosebleeds and 30 Rock

Last week, from Wednesday to Saturday, Nashville hosted the "Next Big Nashville Summit," where all things music were happening constantly. My friend Sarah got me a free wristband for the entire summit; on Thursday, I saw local artists Keegan DeWitt and Madi Diaz @ The Basement (one of my favorite venues in Nashville).

Then, Friday, I saw Yeasayer. Their new album has received mix reviews, but whatever. I love it.

I regret that I didn't go to more concerts, to take full advantage of the free experience. Yet, due to the my work schedule, poor time-managment, lack of a car and hangovers, I didn't see more. Here's what I missed that I wish I could've attended: 

 1) Caleb Followill as the Keynote speaker @ Belmont

2) rjD2 @ The Cannery Ballroom

3) The Bridges @ 12th and Porter

4) Mikky Ekko @ 12th and Porter

5) Heypenny @ The Exit/In

Sprinkled into that whole music-filled weekend were beautiful nosebleeds (Welcome Autumn! woohoo!). Yeah, I was that feeble kid who had to go to the nurses office in elementary school while seasons were changing. During one of the concerts at NBN, I had to bolt to the bathroom.  Maybe Madi Diaz was rockin' so hard that my nose just couldn't handle it. I don't know about you, but I think this tissue is a nice garnish to my outfit:

 

Besides melodies and nosebleeds, I've been spending a lot of time with my little sister lately, perhaps bonded by the new season of 30 Rock ? We are both quite obsessed and often incorporate "Liz Lemonisms" into our everyday vocabulary (see the following two pictures). I don't know if I've professed my love for that show and Tina Fey on this blog yet, so here it goes: 30 Rock keeps me sane. That show along with Arrested Development are my coping mechanisms/ sleeping pills in life. I fall asleep every night to an episode of 30 Rock. Pitiful? Most likely. Parasocial interaction with the characters? Maybe. 

But at least I fall asleep laughing.

P.S. ALL concert photos on this post are from NBN summit photos because my camera SUCKS.

Doctor's Orders

"Yes, my job is stressful, very stressful. But in the end I get paid to make people laugh. We have a saying that laughter is the best medicine. So I’m kind of like a doctor here. Like you were in Poland." --Tina Fey on 30 Rock.

 

A bunch of guns , testosterone, and a keg= not the brightest idea.

 A painting by Lee Price (above).

 

3 photos above from The Selby.

Red Lip Magic

So, I haven't posted much recently, because I am working at restaurant now that I am back in the USA. In France, I was only contractually allowed to work 12 hours. Yeah, TWELVE hours=endless blogging time. I have officially worked more in the past week and a half at the restaurant then I did the ENTIRE month in France. Therefore, NO blogging time and NO inspiration. I dream about black bean salads and my nightmares are of messing up orders. Yet, waitressing has proved one of my theories to be correct: the magical powers of red lipstick.

 Growing up, red lipstick was only allowed for theater performance and ridiculous Halloween get-ups. Yet, the recent fad of red lips inspired me to buy a lovely color from MAC last August, and I began sportin' the red lipstick. Slowly, I noticed things happening. Free Eiffel Tower key chains in Paris. Heads turning as I walked down the street. I pulled a "Liz Lemon" from 30 Rock, thinking, "Do I have food on my face or lettuce in my hair?" Well, friends (of the blogging category), I now believe it was the magic of red lips. I have been wearing red lipstick as I wait tables and the proof is in the Calypso-cuban-black-bean  pudding. The tips have increased.

 As one of my favorite French bloggers Garance Doré said,  
"Red lipstick equals a thousand cocktail dresses."

(Photos of Keri Russell {when she was promoting Waitress} by Ellen von Werth for Interview Magazine.)
Yeah, so what? I may have grandma-esque lipstick stains on my straws and have lipstick on my teeth like Ms. Geist from Clueless every now and again, but, hey;  
 MAGICAL THINGS HAPPEN WHEN YOU WEAR RED LIPSTICK.

SEE for yourself.
Wanna know a great song about Red Lips? "Your Lips Are Red" by St. Vincent. I like the version on the album A LOT better, but here's a video anyway:

Other than that, here are a few fun things that happened this week:

1) I was in a boutique, in my own world, and someone said to me, "Oh, I like your dress. It's sooo pretty." As I was turned and said thank you, I then realized it was Kelly Clarkson! The French have a saying, "Jamais deux sans trois (everything comes in threes)." The French are right, because I waited on 2 other celebrities this week.

2) I karaoked to Salt 'N Pepa's "Shoop." Yep, I did, and that song stands to be one of the best rap songs of ALL TIME.

3) The Season Finale of 30 Rock. Tina Fey is my hero. You must watch it if you haven't already.  Two words: Matt Damon.