whoa moment: suddenly wishing i was a trekkie, what? what?

Last semester I took a class called “The Social Ethics of Earthlings and Others” on a whim because I like most science fictiony/fantasy-ish things. Though I was not prepared for the extent to which my science fiction awareness would blossom, I was slightly surprised at how well my body reacted to the five or so episodes of star trek that we watched to analyze their political-philosophical standpoints. Though, undoubtedly, much of the acting/sets/special effects were hokier than the hoky poky, I could see how some people could get so into it as to call themselves “trekkies.” However, as always having been a Star Wars girl myself, I did not wander down that newfound sci-fi road. Yet, when Star Trek came out this weekend I decided it was necessary that I see it, because, well, it’s a phenomenon and, with J. J. Abrams behind the wheel (Alias, Lost, the production company, Bad Robot) it couldn’t be half bad. Here is what I discovered:

1) Damn, trekkies can clap at EVERYTHING.

2) THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD MOVIE. With action every minute, a great plot, alarmingly good acting (for roles so worn in and cheesed out, its really impressive how these actors brought such a new feel and quality to the roles), an awesome mix of old and new, great special effects, and a great score, this blows the newest additions to Star Wars WAY out of the water.

3) There are some crazy-hilarious actors (and I’m not talking about Leonard Nimoy, original Spock): Winona Ryder as Spock’s mommy, Eomer from LOTR as Dr. McCoy (I KNEW I recognized him), Eric Bana as the evil villian.

4) Chris Pine is hot. On his motorcycle on earth, in his jet suit, bundled in a parka, or even in the gear of the captain of the USS Enterprise…HOT. Did I mention the motorcycle thing?

5) I’m still not sure if the Spock-Zoe Saldana thing works though as original Vulcans only get, um shall we say, sexual urges every seven years. And its Spock…and Zoe Saldana

6) The writers of this movie are brilliant! Creating an alternate universe in the plot which makes any changes in future movies (and whatever spins off of it) totally feasible and acceptable…BRILLIANT TACTIC.

7) You don’t have to know anything about the original series to appreciate the awesomeness of this action movie which has already surpassed the” Dark Knight” in opening revenue, making a new record. Likewise, you can know everything.

8 ) Seriously, is hard to feel dorky about going to see this Star Trek. God, I’m going to see it again!

9) If more Star Treks are released like this, I predict we will all become trekkies by the year 2025.

10) LIVE LONG AND PROSPER.

(oh yeah, I did just say #10)

oldschool throwback: shins concert at the hollywood palladium

The Hollywood Palladium-where the Shins performed May 10, 2009 on Sunset Blvd.

Its hard not to walk through the doors of the Hollywood Palladium into the main atrium and not feel the whirr of bands’ ‘past and pending’ spirits swirling about you: everyone from the likes of Bob Dylan, to the Cure, to Madonna, to Nirvana, to the Decemberists. Created in the 40s on the grounds of the original paramount studios, designed by the architect of the L.A. Times building/ Cal Tech Dorms (for you, Ka), the Hollywood Palladium was originally created  as a dance hall. Since its creation, however, it has been used to host Presidential Speeches, the Grammy Awards, and, obviously, concerts. Today, I had the most exhilirating experience of seeing a) the shins, b) The Shins, c) THE SHINS set against a venue that the musical equivalent of a Smithsonian.

Despite a horrible opening band (Delta Spirit, ick), amidst a crowd thicker than peanut butter and as mellow as the music itself (even I had a contact high from all the pot being passed around), I swayed and sang along to the Shins best stuff: a set made up of many songs from ‘Wincing the Night Away,’ some from ‘Chutes to Narrow’ and ‘Oh, Inverted World,’ and a few AWESOME covers. They mixed their most upbeat songs “Australia,” “Sleeping Lessons,” “Kissing the Lipless” with some smooth, floating-in-water melty songs “Red Rabbits,” “New Slang,” “Caring is Creepy” absolutely perfectly.

The most poignant point in the set was when they performed “Those To Come” at mega slow pace, which was the most beautiful song of theirs I have heard to date and somehow the lyrics just seemed to fit this most painful time in history:

“myriad lives like blades of grass
yet to be realized, bow as they pass

they are cold,
still,
waiting in the ether,
to form,
feel,
kill,
propagate,
only to die.”

Also: they debuted a new single which they are calling Double Bubble, which, much like its name, is very bubbly and different than songs on “Wincing the Night Away.” Their next album should be just as revolutionary (evolutionary?) as their last three.

Sorry for the bad picture quality: my camera's battery died so le phone camera had to suffice.

They also covered a Beach Boys’ tune in reverence to their one gig in L.A. and gave a beautiful encore-cover of “Helpless” by the beloved Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. Mixing the vibe of old and new in the style of their unusual modern harmony was absolutely perfect–it fit the venue, the crowd, even their fluid set up of changing-colored strips of light. The Shins’ excitement to be back on stage was more than palpable after their year hiatus from the spotlight. Somehow this humility and excitement to be reaccepted by their fans made them all the more personable and had me wishing that I actually knew them in person.

If you are a Shins fan, I highly recommend getting to one of their concerts. Their set is over two hours long with the encore included and they give a performance worth every penny and aching foot from standing to see them. Though the songs are slightly different, this only makes them more real, and seeing the personalities behind such quirky music makes it all the more ingrained in the soul. Bringing back old memories of when I first fell in love with the Shins, creating new ones of being just as caught up in the beautiful meaning of their ambiguous lyrics with 700 other people, wishing the moment could last…it was a concert fit for the halls of the Palladium playing to the past, the present, and the future.

LONG LIVE THE SHINS!