I had the privilege of seeing Ben Folds in concert back in March, which was even more incredible that I had always imagined. I’ve been a fan ever since the first time I heard Brick on the radio and to get Ben Folds with just a piano for couple hours was awesome! Not only did he jam out on some crowd favorites but he explored current technology by breaking out a disguising hoodie and a laptop with video for several rounds of Chatroulette (visit at your own risk – its the latest online sketchy-social networking craze). He not only tried the sessions once, but twice – in his encore! It was the funniest thing I have ever experienced at a show. He broke out improvised numbers to try and get actual chatters to interact and even had some successes (thank goodness – one can only take so many dark screens and unexplained fleshy areas). Overall … I hope this is a staple in Ben Folds tour, because the crew I went with certainly enjoyed it!

Tell Me Tell You Boots

You can spot a pair of Louboutins from a mile away by their signature red soles (something most fashionista’s drool over). Well now not only can you flash firey shoes, but offer reading material too. The latest Louboutin’s - Tell Me Peep Toe Pumps and Tell Me Tell You Ankle Boots – use leather and cut outs to make a design out of typography on the shoes. Brilliant! As a designer, I’m always looking for new and creative uses of fonts, but this one takes the cake recently. I’m hoping this is one trend that will trickle down the fashion line and prompt other designers to start using type as a sculptural element in shoes. If only these shoes weren’t too high (I have a 3″ heel cap) and too expensive … sigh.

Also, because spring means the start of “wedding season” keep in mind that the Essie line has you covered there too with their new Wedding Collection. Consisting of the bridal classics and a few new twists, any hues from this line would be a perfect present for any girlfriends you have getting hitched!

Coyne Living Room (or pod?)

I present to you the Wayne Coyne Residence in Oklahoma City, OK, the coolness I would expect from the front man of the Flaming Lips. Take a tour of the renovated home, which is slowly being turned into a rockin compound complete with a custom white shower room!  See more and read more about this one of a kind project by Fitzsimmons Architechs here.

*sidenote – some of the content on SModcast is explicit and not for the prude, judgmental or sheltered, you have been warned. I personally listen to it for the movie reviews, news editorials, humor, and Gretzky stories ; )

Phew … well the artists in itallics are ones I’m pumped to see. The Flaming Lips and The Black Keys were both big ones on my Bonnaroo 2010 wishlist. Tori Amos and Blues Traveler were some unexpected that let me check off people I’ve always want to see in concert. However, there are definitely some “where the heck are theys” – like Vampire Weekend, Massive Attack and STS9. I’m hoping some of these “missing” will be included in the weeks to come, we shall see. They could definitely be used to make up for headliners I’m marginally excited about (Dave Matthew excluded – always awesome). Kudos to CoTweet for surviving the past several hours of twittering every 6 minutes and to whomever updated/ coded the Bonnaroo MySpace page. I know you all are probably with the rest of us wishing that Bonnaroo will NEVER do the lineup release that way again, we can’t take it! Now to ask for time off and start counting down the days until the festival … can’t wait!