Electric Picnic & My Hair Dilemma.

So, as part of Trinity Orchestra (plays Daft Punk), I'm lucky enough to be playing on the main stage at Electric Picnic at 12:30pm this coming Saturday.  To anyone who will be attending the festival, it would be great to see you there!

(this is just us doing my favourite song off the album; 'Something About Us')

The second thing I planned to write about in this post is my ongoing dilemma about my hair.

My hair, at this moment, is probably the longest I've ever had it.  Though I do enjoy having longer hair, it is in terrible condition.

This leads me to believe that there's no point in having my length of hair if all it does is crack/look dry.

This is why I've half decided to cut it off.  Nothing too drastic, but something like this; 

This way my hair will grow more healthily, as I haven't had a good haircut for ages.  

I love the look of this length (might get the colour too), I just hope and pray that it will suit me.

What do you guys think?

MY FAVOURITE YOUTUBERS; The Best Of A Bad Bunch

As most of you are probably painfully aware, YouTube is absolutely packed to the brim with crap.

Self-proclaimed "gurus" pumping out sponsored videos, blurry makeup tutorials and pointless hauls.

However, amongst the rubble lie a few absolute gems.

Here are a few videos of interest from some of my favourite YouTubers.

For Fashion;

CLOTHES ENCOUNTERS

Sarah and Jenn, the girls of Clothes Encounters, are probably amongst my top three favourite YouTubers. With their videos detailing their thrift shopping excursions, these girls actually show you what they've bought by modeling it as part of an outfit, which is, in my opinion, much more useful than just holding it up to the camera for a split second.  

These girls have enviable style, and their videos always have a great soundtrack to boot.  

Check them out!

For Food;

WORKING CLASS FOODIES

I love cooking shows so much, I don't even know why.  When I'm using TV as a method relaxation, I always find myself flicking to the food channels to try and find some Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall or something along those lines.  However, seeing as I don't actually have a TV in my apartment yet, I end up watching cookery shows on YouTube instead.  One of my favourite YouTube food channels is Working Class Foodies, because most of the things they cook are actually quite attainable, and they are always interesting to watch.

For Music;

VIVAHATE33

Obviously, music on YouTube is a little bit different, because there isn't really one channel I revert back to again and again.  Some of my favourite videos to watch on YouTube, however, are interviews with Morrissey and VivaHate33 is a channel dedicated to this.  As most of you probably already know, I am a huge fan, and I find Morrissey absolutely fascinating.  I love his old interviews, so here's just one as a sample.

FARIS BADWAN; A Male Style Post.

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to get to go to Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, where I saw bands such as Foals, Metronomy, Pulp and Yuck.  Though all the bands I saw were amazing (minus the Pretty Reckless, which I won't get into now), the one band who really stood out to me in a fashion sense, and who have done for the past few years, were The Horrors.
(Faris came on stage with a cup of tea rather than alcohol.  Who else could pull this off?)

I've been a fan of The Horrors for quite some time now, and it was great to finally get to see them live.  While most of the other bands appeared on stage in a rocker-esque shirt or jeans, frontman Faris Badwan and his bandmates really took it to the next level, as always.

For this post, I'm going to focus on the constant sense of style possessed by Mr. Faris Badwan, formerly known as Faris Rotter, and the main characteristics of his look.

#1; Insanely Skinny Jeans.


I know that a lot of girls don't like a guy in drainpipes, but I have to admit that I am quite the opposite of this, as I love a guy in skin tight jeans.  Faris doesn't leave much to the imagination with his jeans, which he completely pulls off, as his legs are so long and skinny (bearing in mind, Faris is about 6'5")

#2; Winklepickers.


There's nothing like a smart, pointed men's dress shoe, and Faris Badwan knows this better than anybody.  The combination of his jeans and footwear is a perfect one, and Faris seems to don this look at every occasion.

Paolo Vandini winklepickers (as worn by Faris)

#3; Black, Black, Black.


I think it's fair to say that Faris rarely ventures outside of his signature black monotone unless it's to add in a little bit of grey, though I do remember him having a great red leather jacket at one stage.  Personally, black is probably my favourite colour to wear, and I sometimes have to stop myself buying more.  I think black is a really easy colour to pull off, and it's also very flattering.

#4; Big Hair.


When I saw Faris in person, it seemed to me that he had quite a small face.  In reality though, I think it's just that he has quite big hair which seems to dwarf his face.  Faris' hair hasn't changed much since The Horrors began, perhaps because it's what suits him best.

Faris as an Inspiration;


Ever since I saw Faris, all I've wanted to wear is black.  I've wanted to drop five stone and sprout a pair of legs which resemble beanpoles, and I've wanted to backcomb the hell out of my hair.
I think the reason that I am inspired by Faris is because he is so different from many of the other frontmen of the bands I listen to on a daily basis.  Faris' look embodies the very essence of The Horrors' music.

(the most recent single from The Horrors; Still Life.)

SUFJAN STEVENS.

On Wednesday night, I went to the Olympia to see Sufjan Stevens.  I might as well just begin by saying that it was the best gig I've ever been to, and was worth battling through the hundreds of Gardaí that were present for the Queen's visit.
Honestly, I can't even begin to describe the performance.  It really was breathtaking, and he played for two and a half hours.  I really can't recommend listening to him enough.
Sufjan- I love you.

all pictures via weheartit.com

5 Songs I Love At The Moment.

As anyone who follows me knows, I am completely obsessed with music.  It is because of this that I love making playlists and sharing them with you all.

I could probably make a new playlist every day, but to ensure that I don't bore you all to death, I keep it to every few months.  It's definitely high time for a new one.

This time I've decided to make a kind of mini-playlist, just a few songs I love at the moment.
Not all of these tracks are necessarily new, or ones I've found recently.

1. Sufjan Stevens- I Walked.

2. Grizzly Bear- While You Wait For The Others.

3. Morrissey- You Know I Couldn't Last.

4. Wild Beasts- Plaything.

5. Arcade Fire- The Suburbs (continued).

SUMMER 2011; A Brief Overview.

With my exams having just started yesterday, I can assure you that I am already well and truly exhausted.  Like many bloggers, my time is currently limited and I'm finding it difficult to squeeze in posts.  This overload of academia (ugh) leaves me fantasising about the long summer days to come, and the hours I can fill doing pretty much whatever I please.
Here are a few of my ideas:

Working at Office;

I just found out on Wednesday that I got a job at Office on Grafton St., which of course I am very pleased about.  Obviously it means I won't get to see my family as much as I would have liked, but my job is only part-time which means that I'll hopefully still have time to pop down to Cork and visit them.  My first shift is this Sunday from 12-3.

Spain with Peter;
This year I really wanted a relaxing holiday, and Spain sounds absolutely perfect.  I'll hopefully be staying in the Costa Brava area which is quite close to Barcelona.

Moving into my first apartment;

Though I'm still hunting for the perfect apartment or house with two of my friends, I'm really excited at the prospect of moving in in the next month or two.  I can't believe I'm actually old enough to be looking at properties!

Taking driving lessons;
I'm a pretty good driver, but I feel that I should take some lessons before I attempt the big test.  It would be great if I could pass my test this summer before all these disgusting new rules start applying to me (my provisional license runs out in August.)

My little car

Going to a lot of gigs;

If you're a regular reader, you know by now how much I love live music.  This summer, I hope to go to a good few concerts.  This will begin with Sufjan Stevens (I love him) on May 18th- the tickets were my year anniversary present from Peter, and I cannot wait.

I'll also be playing in Forbidden Fruit festival on the Sunday with Trinity Orchestra which I'm really excited about.

Reading lots of books;

I'm usually a huge bookworm, but this year I really haven't gotten the chance to be.  First on my list?  Finish Brighton Rock.  I'll continue from there, I have volumes of unread books to enjoy.

Clearing out my wardrobe;
I have so many things in my wardrobe which I never wear.  Most of it is quite good quality however, so I'll be donating it to charity.

Spending time with my friends;

Many of my close friends live in Cork, and I don't get to see them as much as I would like.  Hopefully this summer I can have people to stay all the time, as I will have a spare room in my apartment.  I'm really looking forward to catching up and having a few good nights out.

I'm really looking forward to summer, even if it is comprised of a lot of relaxing, with a couple of nice things here and there.  It will be a refreshing break after eight months of college.  
Roll on May 16th!

PATRICK WOLF at The Sugar Club.

Last night I went to see Patrick Wolf play at The Sugar Club, Leeson Street, Dublin.  I wrote this article for The University Times, so I'm just gonna go ahead and put it up here too!

Despite the fact that the doors of The Sugar Club were scheduled to open at 8pm, it was at least nine by the time anyone stepped foot inside. The queue was gargantuan considering the restricting size of the venue, and by the time we actually did get to go inside, it had extended around the corner of Leeson Street and I could no longer see the end. Apparently there had been some sort of mishap with Wolf’s monitor and a replacement had had to be shipped down from Belfast (when they discovered at 7pm that it wasn’t working).

A man of many talents

The pacifying promise which was hastily made to us by the management was fulfilled however, and the minute we entered, the rather…er…flamboyant support act took to the stage. Complete with pink war paint, sequin trousers and clean-shaven armpits, Rowdy Superstar and his “Hype Girls” were certainly a sight for sore eyes. Dominating the club’s miniature stage, which was already chock-a-block with Patrick Wolf’s abundance of musical paraphernalia, Superstar broke into his tune “Tick-Tock”, which is how he claims he met Patrick Wolf in the first place. With his array of interesting props (at one stage The Hype Girls were “playing” some sort of silver Styrofoam object) and choreographed dance routines, Rowdy Superstar certainly did what he was there to do: entertain.

For those of you who have never attended an event in The Sugar Club (I hadn’t before last night), it’s quite an intimate setting, with tiered seats reminiscent of a 1920’s cabaret—I later discovered that the venue is used for burlesque performances on a weekly basis. Last night though, it was absolutely jammed, and everyone was here to see the somewhat intriguing Patrick Wolf. Now 28 years old, Wolf was born in South London to what is described as a “creative family.” Using his natural talent to escape the harsh realities of the bullying he faced at school, Wolf began experimenting with his own compositions as early as eleven years-old, and by age fourteen he was performing with pop-art collective Minty. He filled up book upon book with poems, lyrics and short stories before eventually dropping out of school and leaving home to pursue his dreams at the tender age of sixteen. About to release his fifth album on the May 30th of this year, Patrick Wolf is no novice in the music industry, and his romantic-folk and electronic music is definitely unique.

After quite an acceptable wait, which was complimented by an accessible bar and the laid-back atmosphere of the venue, Wolf’s musicians emerged, followed by Patrick himself in what appeared to be a crimson three-piece suit (one would later discover that it was actually a jumpsuit and blazer). Backed by a black curtain, his name etched across it in a font which for some reason reminded me of the Roald Dahl books I read as a child, Wolf’s 6”4 frame towered above his band. As an orchestra member, I found the sheer amount of instruments in use to be astounding. There was a flute, a clarinet, a saxophone and an alto saxophone, a drum kit, a keyboard, various synthesizers, a guitar and a bass guitar, an electric violin and viola and a harp. In a haze of smoke and light, Wolf opened the gig with his track “Armistice”, accompanied by keyboard, before moving on to “Bluebells” on the harp.

"his shock of burgundy hair"

From the beginning, there was absolutely no ambiguity surrounding his talent. His beautiful, clear vocals resonated around the room, accompanied by intricate melodies on various instruments as he switched fluidly between keyboard, viola, harp and ukulele. Next came “Time of My Life”, as Wolf went on to prove his status as a charismatic performer. One of his more popular tracks, “Tristan” was probably the climax of the performance, as the crowd erupted into cheers and wholeheartedly joined in, not missing a beat. Mid-performance, Wolf decided it was time to vacate the stage in favour of some crowd immersion, and in between landing in a girl’s lap and flirting with an unsuspecting bald man, Wolf introduced us to his Irish family, who had all come along to the show to support him- how endearing. The set-list came in the form of a jumble of the older tracks, integrated with some brand new ones. Interrupted momentarily by a mishap with the batteries in his viola, Wolf came back with crowd favourite “Damaris”, to which, once again, nobody wasted any time throwing themselves into.

As Wolf thanked us all for being there, he pranced off the stage to tones of the typical Irish “one more tune, one more tune,”- some things never change. Soon though, the stage was once again occupied by a green-suited Patrick Wolf, martini glass in tow, as he launched into a lively encore encompassing “The City” and last but certainly not least, “The Magic Position”, exiting the stage on a positive note. Though I was not quite sure whether or not I enjoyed some of the newer tracks, I was glad I had made the effort to come out and see Patrick Wolf live, as with his shock of burgundy hair and genuine musical prowess, he really is one of a kind.

Rating: 3.5/5

Also, don't forget to enter my giveaway; who could say no to free stuff?

So suave it HURTS.

So, last Monday night I went to see Hurts in The Academy on Middle Abbey Street.  I've liked the band since I heard their catchy single 'Better Than Love' last year, and jumped at the chance to see a live performance.  As I've already written a review of my concert experience for Trinity's student newspaper, The University Times I'm not going to just write a repeat review here.  Instead, seeing as this is primarily a fashion blog, I'm going to write a post inspired by the fashionability of Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Anderson who comprise Mancunian synth-pop duo, Hurts.

I think it is safe to say that there are no other British bands today who take such pride in their appearance as Hurts.  As Harry Wormwood in Matilda said; "well oiled hair, clean shave, snappy suit"; I think this phrase sums up the band's aesthetic pretty damn well.  Hurts simply epitomise 'suave'.  They are never seen sans their trademark, impeccably tailored suits, and never, ever allow a hair to fall out of place.  Following a Frank Sinatra-esque tradition of old glamour, Hurts appear cool and collected at all times, and throw beautiful white roses off the stage at their concerts.  Individuality?  I certainly think so.

a photo my boyfriend took at the gig.

as you can see, they're both quite attractive and certainly manage to pull it off.. ;D

Also, here's a link to a video that we took of the encore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7beLeO6I6YA&feature=player_embedded#

"There's a storm on the streets, but you still don't run

Watching and waiting for the rain to come.

And these words wouldn't keep you dry

Or wipe tears from an open sky,

But I know, but I know, but I know I'm right.."

-from 'Silver Lining' by Hurts.

SUBLIME STYLE; Sarah Assbring.

Oh woe, my much extended Christmas holidays will soon come to an unwelcome end.  The days of having endless time to throw away on detailed blog posts will soon cease to exist as Hilary Term kicks off at Trinity, and I actually have work to do..  But for now, I attempt to make the most of it. 

Sarah Assbring isn't a girl I would expect many people to have heard of, and this is precisely why I'm posting about her.  Since 2003, Assbring alone has made up 'El Perro Del Mar'- which translates directly as 'dog of the sea'- a "melancholic lo-fi indie pop" act from Gothenburg, Sweden.  Often placed incongruous to other buzz-bands of the day, I find that Assbring provides a completely different sound with her sweet, melancholic lyrics and consistently chilled-out vibe.  I first began to listen to El Perro Del Mar when I stumbled across the song "Change of Heart" as part of a free Urban Outfitters playlist.  I absolutely love this song, albeit my constant listening drives my boyfriend crazy..

Anyway, moving onwards to my point..  Not only does Assbring have a lovely voice, but she's got wicked personal style to boot.  I first realised this when I saw the cover of third album 'Love Is Not Pop' which features Assbring in a nautically striped boat-neck top, under a cute cropped leather jacket.  Her hair slicked back, I thought it was quite reminiscent of Twiggy, and I fell in love immediately.

Her short, choppy hair (which she somtimes wears with a full fringe) and kohl-rimmed eyes add an endearing quality to Assbring's overall appearance, and her quirky style sets her apart from other females in the music industry nowadays.

Rather like myself perhaps, Assbring seems to like to wear a lot of striped and checked patterns in high contrast black and white.  She has a clean-cut side to her style which is in stark contrast to the more vintage/thrown together look for which she sometimes opts.

I could find little to nothing about Assbring's fashionability when I searched online.  Plenty about her music, of course, but not a lot about her appearance, or her concert get-up.

Cute little blouses and light colours also seem to comprise a large chunk of Assbring's wardrobe.  These work perfectly with her wide-eyed, 'dear caught in the headlights vibe', and play up the innocent aura she seems to epitomise.  Perhaps she's been overlooked.  Perhaps people feel it's something that's been done before.  Who knows?

All in all, I think I've found myself a new style crush.  Simple, yet effective, Assbring's look definitely works for her, and seems to go hand-in-hand with the brooding, understated music of her alter-ego; 'El Perro Del Mar.'  Definitely check this one out- she's worth it.

 "Sweet talk for hours, 'bout things we're gonna do,

And sometimes I lose track of my heart, but this could never work out, oh.."

Welcome New Year, here's A PLAYLIST to get you off to a good start.

Unfortunately, the situation with my laptop has not yet been rectified!  For this reason, I'm quite slow to write a blog post.  But it's high time I did write one, I believe, so here goes, all the way to you from iPad notes is LAURA'S NEW YEAR 2011 PLAYLIST.  My music taste is a real mixture of new and old, and this will definitely be reflected in the compilation.  Prepare for a hearty helping of buzz bands, respectfully peppered with some oldies to maintain balance.

Anyway, enough of my mindless chatter, and time for the PLAYLIST to welcome the new year with some great tunes you may or may not have heard!

1. 10 Mile Stereo- Beach House.*

2. In The Flowers- Animal Collective.

3. Surprise Hotel- Fool's Gold.

4. Rebel Rebel- David Bowie.*
5. Air War- Crystal Castles.

6. King's Crossing- Elliott Smith.*

7. Always Wrong- Jaill.

8. Substance- Girls.
(let me recommend their newest EP- Broken Dreams Club.)

9. Wonderful Life- Hurts.

10. In Your Heart- A Place To Bury Strangers.

11. William Powers- Maccabees.

12. Chelsea Girls- Nico.

13. Hoppipolla- Sigur Ros.

14. Burgundy- Warpaint.

15. Galapogos- Smashing Pumpkins.*

16. Dear God I Hate Myself- Xiu Xiu.

17. Where Do My Bluebird Fly?- Tallest Man On Earth.

And I cannot come up with a more perfect way to leave you than with my namesake, my favourite and the most beautifully written artist I know,
18. Glamourous Glue- Morrissey.*

(the * refer to the songs which are some of my all-time favourites)

THE ULTIMATE PLAYLIST; September - November 2010.

Two posts in a day, you say;  has she ditched her 'lazy' vibe?  Has she embraced that 'go-get-it' attitude she always knew she was capable of?  No.  Quite frankly, sitting home all day and attempting to read sociology journals has begun to lose it's sheen, and so I decided to search for something else to write about.

A playlist is something I still haven't done on this here blog, and something it's that I always intend to do.  Music is one of my main interests, and so it would be way to hard to compact all my favourite songs/artists into one primitive list, in one restricting blog post.  For this reason, I have decided to make a list of all the songs which I've had pretty much on repeat since I arrived at college in September.  I will also attempt to limit myself to 30 tracks (I tried 20.. I tried 25..)  They're not all new songs, but they are all great.


LAURA'S ULTIMATE PLAYLIST; September - November 2010 (in no particular order).

1.  Life Is a Pigsty- Morrissey.
2. Change of Heart- El Perro Del Mar.
3. Roslyn- Bon Iver & St. Vincent.
4. Gila- Beach House.
5. Life on Mars- David Bowie.
6. Heartbreaker- Girls.
7. Love You Better- Maccabees.
8. Sunday- Hurts.
9. Cheerleader- Grizzly Bear.
10. Piccadilly Palare- Morrissey.
11. Will It Be This Way Forever_- The Courteeners.
12. The Wrote and the Writ- Johnny Flynn.
13. Watching the Detectives- Elvis Costello.
14. Librarian- My Morning Jacket.
15. Only One- The Cure.
16. Suffocation- Crystal Castles.
17. Wanted- The Cranberries.
18. Nothing Rhymed- Gilbert O' Sullivan.
19. Billie Holiday- Warpaint.
20. This Night Has Opened My Eyes- The Smiths.
21. King's Crossing- Elliott Smith.
22. The Bears Are Coming- Late of the Pier.
23. Veiled In Grey- Mystery Jets.
24. Phantom Limb- The Shins.
25. Graveyard Girl- M83.
26. Under Control- The Strokes.
27. Boyfriend- Best Coast.
28. It's My Life- Talk Talk.
29. Under My Thumb- The Rolling Stones.
30. Underwear- Pulp.

BEACH HOUSE GIG- and Victoria Legrand as a style icon.

Many of the gigs I go to, I go to because I’ve heard the band are really good live, or because I’ve heard one or two of their songs, liked them, and decided to tag along to hear more.  Beach House, however, are a very different story.  Around Christmas last year, I heard my first Beach House track; ‘Norway’, and I have never looked back. 

Glued to the barrier, I waited in anticipation for Beach House to take to the stage.  Hailing from Baltimore, MD, the duo is comprised of the lovely, French-born Victoria Legrand and her cohort Alex Scally, along with their band. 

Beach House, well.. glittered on stage.  They sparkled, they shimmered, and it was magical.  The steady stream of Victoria Legrand’s velvet vocals flowed from the stage and enveloped every corner of the room in a hazy, dream-like aura as they floated through such beautiful songs as ‘Gila’ (my personal favourite), ‘Walk In the Park’, ‘Used To Be’, ‘Norway’ and ‘Ten Mile Stereo’.

So.. I could write an absolutely glowing review of Beach House, because they deserve it, but that’s what I always seem to be doing, isn’t it?  So today, I’m going to focus on Victoria Legrand, vivacious and charismatic front woman of the band, and her inspirational style (in my opinion anyway.)

I immediately noticed, and admired, what Legrand was wearing when she graced the stage with her almost mystical presence.  A simple black collared shirt which was worn buttoned up all the way, a tailored black blazer, black ankle-grazing leggings, and black boots which sported a small-ish heel and Victorian style button hooks.  It was perfectly complimented by her mane of unkempt curls, which dominated her face, and fitted right in with the general ambiance of Beach House.  I loved it.  She looked rather like the love child of Faris Badwan and Morticia Adams; a look which I had never before seen her embrace, as it lay in stark contrast to her usual bright coloured and prettily textured tops look.

When I got home from the concert, I began to trawl through the volumes of Legrand photos which are scattered all over the WWW, and was amazed at what I found.  Call me oblivious, but never before had I looked on her as someone to consult for fashion advice, but little did I know..