music - Lili on the Loose

13 03, 2017

Travel Missteps: On the Wrong Foot

By Lili|March 13th, 2017|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2009, Abbey Tavern, at the heart of it Ireland 2009, dancing, Dublin, Europe, Ireland, jig, music|0 Comments

On our last night in Ireland we went to a tavern for "traditional" Irish music and dance. It was a long banquet hall, with tables facing the stage area. While we ate we listened to ballads and music. Then it came time to watch the dancing. They whirled and jigged about. After a few songs they then went out into the crowd and grabbed volunteers. Of course my family pushed me up. Me: klutzy and injury prone and not graceful. Everyone laughed as I struggled to keep up with the dancers. Although I felt like a fool, I played along.

20 05, 2016

Isaac Slade of The Fray at Boulder’s Fox Theater

By Lili|May 20th, 2016|Categories: Concerts, Local, Photography|Tags: 2011, Boulder, Colorado, Concert, Fox Theater, grand piano, Isaac Slade, music, North America, Photo Friday, piano, The Fox, The Fray, USA|0 Comments

I've gone to some four dozen The Fray shows starting all the way before they were signed with Epic and were considering quitting. I've enjoyed being their unofficial fan photographer, and organizer of the first The Fray fansite (which at some point I'll get around to putting it back online.) In May 2011, I saw a small concert at Boulder's The Fox Theater for two little known bands. But I knew they were a code-word for The Fray! So gathering up my friends we scored front row and I got this great photo of Isaac Slade singing his heart out on top

22 08, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Bodhrán

By Lili|August 22nd, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2009, at the heart of it Ireland 2009, Blarney Castle, Bodhrán, drum, Europe, instrument, Ireland, Irish drum, music, Tamborine|0 Comments

Bodhrán, an Irish Drum with a "tipper" to play it. I remember in middle school, my dad found his old drum set. I had fun watching him play, and even attempted some beats myself. So when I saw this drum in Ireland I brought it home so I'd have my own little drum. It is a Bodhrán, a drum that is opened at the back, and is nicknamed the "poor man's Tamborine". You can hear how it is traditionally played. I found this drum in the shops near Blarney Castle. The back of the drum. Souvenir Saturday

4 04, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Bagpipe Practice Chanter

By Lili|April 4th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2002, Backpacking it in England and Scotland, Bagpipe, Bagpipe Practice Chanter, castle, Chanter, clarinet, drums, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Europe, guitar, instrument, music, piano, Practice Chanter, Scotland, UK|0 Comments

I grew up learning to play many instruments from piano, drums, guitar, and the clarinet. Which is probably why this Practice Chanter to help learn how to play Bagpipes caught my eye in Scotland. Scottish Bagpipe Practice Chanter I bought it right after seeing Edinburgh Military Tattoo right outside Edinburgh Castle. It is a double reed instrument that feels like a cross between a clarinet and a recorder. But the sound is much closer to a Bagpipe/recorder hybrid. This particular Chanter...is very cheap. It is hard to play the notes, and the reed isn't the best quality. But

7 02, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Sukiyaki

By Lili|February 7th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2004, Asia, Japan, music, music box, Sister Cities Japan 2004, song, souvenir, sukiyaki, Tokyo|0 Comments

Sometimes the best part of the souvenir is the memory about buying it. In high school I was studying Japanese and our teacher assigned us a project to go to a local university's Asian culture week. I was obsessed with all things Japan, and so had a great time. One of the panel sessions that I went to was on the history of the song Sukiyaki. In 1963 this song reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US and is the only Japanese language song to do so. It is also one of the best selling singles

21 01, 2013

Travel Missteps: Punks on a Train

By Lili|January 21st, 2013|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2011, Bavaria, beer, cannibal, Christmas, Christmas in Germany 2011, Europe, Germany, locals, Munich, music, Punks, Rothenburg, train|0 Comments

Travel is all about the journey and sometimes that journey is unexpected. In December 2011 I was traveling through Germany with my family. I am the navigator in my family, it is my duty to plan out all methods of travel to make sure we get where we need to go. After spending Christmas in Munich we were making our way to the Medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber by train. Our first train was packed and so we had to spread out. My mother sat next to an old German woman who spoke quick German to my very confused