I present to you one of my favorite musicians of all time, Jens Lekman. To me Night Falls Over Kortedala is a series of everyday experiences set to music. It’s honest, it’s a bit tongue-in-cheek, and it’s beautiful. I’ve added the track A Postcard To Nina to the music player at the bottom.  I hope you like this album as much as I do, but I don’t think that’s possible.

Official Jens Lekman Website
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When I was in Spain I got to know this band called Fito y Fitipaldis. First of all, they’re amazing people. Second of all, they’re so hot right now. I’m pretty sure I heard there music every ten minutes on the radio.  I’d added their title track Antes De Que Cuente Diez to the music bar at the bottom of your screen.  Enjoy, and I hope you like it.

Their official web page.

Their CD on Amazon.

With about a week’s notice I bought a ticket and jumped a plane to Spain to see – and photograph – my favorite band of all time.  This I’m pretty sure you’ve heard.  Yesterday I met up with Victoria, their road manager, who told me on the way to the concert that she and Lichis, the songwriter and lead singer for La Cabra Mecánica have been dating for 2 years.  Then, after 4500 miles traveled and 7 years of obsessively listening to his music, I walked in to the camerino and he was standing right there, cool as a Spanish cucumber.  Turns out he’s about the nicest and least pretentious guy you could imagine.  I don’t even think he knows he’s a genius.

Then the rains came.  And then there was talk of having to cancel the concert.  Lichis said in all of his touring, over 500 shows, he’d only had to cancel 1.  After about 45 minutes we were told that no habrá show.  There won’t be a show.

What are the chances?

The group headlining this tour, Fito y Fitipaldis, still played and Lichis made an appearance, but I would have loved to see the entirety of La Cabra in action.

Entonces…  We went out after the mini show, and just like every weekend night of my study abroad trip, I wandered the streets at 5am looking for a bocadillo (sandwich).  The only place that I could find was closed and was prohibited from selling sandwiches until 6am, so I made some other hungry friends and when we proposed an additional donation for a sandwich, they obliged.  All their sandwiches have funny names.  My “Britney Spears” was delicious.

“Ok.  Les pongo unos sandwiches pero tienen que esperar en el otro lado de la calle.”

“Bueno.  Le paso el dinero a la cuenta de 3.”

“Vale.  Uno, dos, tres.”

“Si pregunte alguien, yo nunca estaba aqui.”

When I came down to breakfast this morning, everyone asked where I went, because apparently I trap-doored last night.  Apparently saying goodbye was cutting into my bocadillo time.

It’s always weird when I arrive in Europe because I miss a night of sleep and all of a sudden everything is way older.

I studied in Segovia during college, and it hasn’t changed much, but there’s a lot more diversity.  When we were here in college we stuck out like crazy because we were pretty much the only non-Spaniards.  At 6’4″ I’m basically two Spanish people stacked on top of each other but still, I think I’m getting less stares than I used to.

I’m off to the Cabra Mecánica concert…  WITH THE BAND!!!!  We’re meeting up at 6:30 in the lobby which means I need your prayers around 2:30 MinnTime so I can make sure I don’t faint.  I’m going to try and give up a chill vibe and not let them know that I know every lyric to every song they ever wrote.  Wish me luck.

Check out a little of Segovia.

I just got this CD and I LOVE it. I think you will, too. Click the audio bar at the bottom to hear Nothin’ On You.

Artist’s Website
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