Illinois Concert

So it all started with:
and wanting to work there. Through them I found these guys:

This awesome band, Illinois.

Who inspired me to make this for them:
Which I subsequently sent to the singer, Chris Archibald, letting him know I wanted to intern for his label, Acefu. He responded and let me know that Ace Fu went under, and their new label was these guys:

http://www.plusonemusic.net/

I researched the place and fell in love with it and planned on applying since December.

Then around April, Ian Wheeler, founder of Partisan Records, came and spoke to my New Media class:
(hehe. I made this above image).

SO. I decided to email him BEFORE he came and spoke, asking him about interning at a record label. He wrote back and asked me what places I was looking at, so of course I mentioned +1.

"My good friend Jonny owns +1, so that one would be easy. I don't know too many folks at those other companies. We'd also love to have you at our office this summer... Maybe we can work out something where you can do both? Both offices are in Williamsburg. Anyway, look forward to meeting you and discussing this tomorrow."

And that's how I landed my internships, in a nutshell.

You can see what a critical role Illinois played in this chain of events. I'd been trying to see them live for months, and I finally got the chance last week. It was super shitty weather out and I couldn't find anyone to go with me, so I was starting to feel like I didn't wanna put the effort into going and chit chat with people, be all awkward by myself, etc.

BUT. I went.

BEST DECISION EVER.

I meant to get there only in time for Illinois, but caught a good chunk of the band before that, called "Drink up Buttercup." Click the link for a free mp3 download. They had this very unique sound. The vocals were grungy and raspy yet when 3 of the members sang together in harmony I would say it was almost angelic! They also had intense percussion stuff happening all over the place, including the drummer putting a tamborine around his neck and hitting himself and the piano player using two old school tin trashcans to bang about. And they were just so INTO it! I love seeing performers like them. Check out a video I found from that night.


AND THEN.
ILLINOIS.

The set was PERFECT. They had just come out with a new CD, and I was afraid it would be all those songs, but it was a perfect mix of old and new. They rocked out so hard, I loved the music even more live. I stood in the front and just danced, man. They crowd was older and not too many people were moving around, but I didn't care.

THIS is why I want to work in the music industry.
THIS is what I'm inspired by.
I don't know if I've ever had a better feeling than knowing I work for the people who've helped this amazing band play awesome music. Definitely got that, coming full circle feeling.

AND Jonny (my +1 boss) gave me a hug, and I chatted with Ashley for awhile.
Then I introduced myself to Chris as the girl who sent him artwork who's now interning for +1.

And he said, oh yea! awesome! welcome to the family!

and that's why I don't want to stop working at +1. Or in the music industry in general.