Eric's Metamorphosis

I could potentially turn this post into some agenda of my last couple weeks, but instead, I’ll do a digest of things that have come to my attention lately: for better or worse.

My classmate Laura’s boyfriend Lance has ownership in both Urban Lounge and Kilby Court. In the past couple weeks I’ve seen several bands at Urban Lounge and while I’ve rarely sought out indie rock, the groups I’ve seen there aren’t the avoiding kind. First and foremost, Band of Annuals is now one of my favorite bands of all time. I realize I’m late to the game on this one, but Salt Lake culture is still new, but ultimately exciting. Make sure and listen to Don’t Let Me Die on their MySpace page; when it was played, the whole crowd seemed to be singing a long and a highly enebriated couple was falling in love before my very eyes. The band actually reminds me of the now defunct Everybodyfields I once saw in concert. Coming up at Urban Lounge will be Yo La Tango and Blind Pilot, two bands I’ve been falling in love with in recent times.

A lot of experiences in the past six months of so have thrust me into adulthood quicker than I would have liked and one of the most difficult pieces has been student loans. The system is jacked up and there’s no other way to put it. At one point this week, a website told me my federal loan was ‘denied’. This sent me into a bad state of mind, and it very realistically took a toll on my schoolwork. During studio presentations of a study of walls, it was hard to even get out my explanations and settled for blunt words. Luckily my professor is understanding, albeit politically incorrect and powerful, but the way he handled my display of disdain for the world was surprising and helpful. A trip to the financial aid office and a 45 minute wait in line told me that my loan wasn’t actually denied, but rather was ‘in process’ and it’s just protocol to put denied. To this moment, I’m still baffled how it was chosen to use a word that means the exact opposite of what it’s supposed to mean when dealing with my ability to pay tuition and have enough money to pay for rent and living expenses. Horrible, horrible system. And I know many can relate to this.

To end this post on a positive note, I emailed Band of Annuals and got permission from a band member to take pictures at their next concert in October. I haven’t been using my camera much lately, although anyone who knows me is aware that I’ve taken thousands upon thousands since I got it in December. So be looking for some certainly high ISO pictures of bands in the near future.