December already?

Rachel waited exactly one day after Thanksgiving to go and buy Christmas decorations for the apartment. The living room is now complete with dangling, white Christmas lights and a real tree. We didn't have a star, so Rachel capped the tree with a little pirate flag. Thanksgiving was actually really nice. Rachel, after an impressive night of losing at her own drinking game entitled 'Traps', awoke (with some assistance) and cooked the entire meal. Brock and I, er, supervised. This wasn't my first Thanksgiving away from the family, but it was the first time since moving here that I wished I could have been home, if only for just the afternoon. I'm not homesick. But there are certainly moments that I wish home wasn't quite so far away.

The job hunt is still on. I'm feeling better about it, and I anticipate that something will work out soon. Most importantly, I got a brand new attitude about the whole thing. I was riding the 28 over to the Marina to watch the Tarheels whup up on Indiana last Wednesday, and it re-occurred to me just how amazing this whole moving thing has been. I passed through the park, then did a loop at Golden Gate Bridge and saw sailboats in the bay. I walked down Union Street and laughed at just how incapable I was of buying anything in those windows. But, I couldn't help but smile because living here, there was possibility. Anything could happen and everything could change tomorrow.

Fortunately, this has not put a kink in concert-going. Pinback at Bimbo's was a nice way to spend a Sunday night, but the Album Leaf... Man. I was blown away. I'm yet to see Mogwai, and its been awhile since I've seen Trans Am, or really any band that is completely instrumental yet doesn't fall under the genre label of Jamband or Jazz. But the Album Leaf. It was the first time I've seen visual footage so tightly and accurately tied to the instrumentation. It was like watching the soundtrack to an indie rock epic. Count me in on these guys. Pinback was good, as expected, but I couldn't help but feel I was too old to be there. It reminded me of a Toad the Wet Sprocket show. I wonder if indie rockers look at Pinback the same way jamband fans look at Dave Matthews. That was actually the first of two shows I caught at Bimbo's, the second being Neko Case. I will agree that Neko has one of the best female voices in country music. But her backing band, the Sadies, were what impressed me the most. I had been a little put off by the overly western influences found on 'Stories Often Told'. But, watching them perform the songs with such a seemingly authentic fervor for the style (they are from Canada, mind you), it was tough not to like them. Two thumbs up. And to cap off the week, there was a last minute dip into 12 Galaxies for Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey. Now, I won't bore you with MMW comparisons, as I'm sure there are many in circulation. My impression was that it was a little avant-garde for my taste, but I bet that after listening to some of their shows and having a little more exposure to what they are all about, I would enjoy them more. I would definitely see them again, but I think I'd like to get more acquainted with their music before the next show. So, all in all, it was a good week in music world. I think the Album Leaf gets my Most Recent Jaw-Dropper award. December looks to be another stellar round of music with a few Steve Kimock appearances, Charlie Hunter, and possible Particle and Joshua Redman shows.

Only nineteen shopping days left...