I almost didn't make it to see
my favorite band in concert yesterday! I had the date wrong, then there was a nasty storm with tornado warnings, and when I finally did arrive, I forgot the tickets! But once I got there, everything was perfect (I landed early, left my friends behind in the back and stood in the front row, like the ultimate geeky fan!). The highlight for me was
Books Written for Girls. Performed live, it is absolutely stunning.
Prior to the concert, I did lots of reading about the band. All of the members seem incredibly humble, sort of in denial about their talent and quite unwilling to toot their own horn. Although
Camera Obscura has been around for over a decade, it was only in the last few months that some of the members were able to quit their day jobs! And,
Traceyanne (lead singer) has only recently overcome her horrible stage fright.
The latest album,
My Maudlin Career, is a collection of songs Traceyanne wrote during an awful break up. She puts it all out there and doesn't deny that it's based on her personal life, like so often musicians do.
In this little documentary, Camera Obscura's music is described as "both melancholy and blissful." I think that's exactly why I like it!
P.S. Excuse the ramblings but I find behind-the scenes stories of artists, etc.. to be incredibly inspiring and for some reason I felt like sharing these little tidbits! If Camera Obscura pops into your town, be sure to catch a show!
