So I stayed up late like Mau said. Not as late as I can, just till 1am, but nonetheless, still late. I've been wanting to paint my backpack since high school, but I didn't want to just paint anything, I was waiting for something that felt natural. A lot of my art is inspired by music, after all music was and still is my first "art". It's how I express small ideas and notions I see in the world, people, and myself, and a way in which I like to get people to listen to those small things.
Iron and Wine, incase you didn't know, is by far one of the most musically and poetically talented artists I know. Samuel Beam's whispery harmonies and light finger picking intrigue me in a way where I have to listen closely, as if I'm sitting by him while he's jammin' in a dim lit room sitting on a couch, and I'm listening to every lyric like it's a secret. Our Endless Numbered Days is an album you must listen to. I have my favorites on that album, but believe me, that alone took years to figure out. Every song is so crafted and so chiseled, it's impeccably beauitful. Iron and Wine is not for everyone, I know the mellow folk can be depressing sometimes, believe me, but Samuel Beam makes you listen so closely to every word, every chord, as if he's whispering it in your ear. If I wanted to be tatted up, the poetry in that entire album would be all over my freakin' body, but I like leaving some purity to this latte skin of mine. If you have yet to hear his music, listen to Naked As We Came and Love and Some Versus. In my head I'm really telling you to listen to everything he's ever written, including his cover of Postal Service's "Such Great Heights", but I'll leave that choice up to you.
I couldn't be more happy with my finally painted backpack. It just feels so right. A toast, to Samuel Beam, who is literally at the moment performing at the Wiltern in Los Angeles, but I'm not there. My friend says I think about fate too much, but here I'am coincidentally writing about my love for Iron and Wine whilst he plays a show 30 minutes away. If I'm such a fan how come I'm not there right now? As per use, I waited much too long to get tickets, thinking Santa would graciously wrap them in an envelope, but if the stars have it aligned, I will hear Sam sing "eyes wide open, naked as we came" in person, and till that day, I have his vinyls and cd's.
