Willo O'Brien

I have a gift certificate for Dreamhost (the best host EVER) – contact me if you’re looking to sign up for new hosting & I’d be happy to give you this gift certificate for a discount!

Note: You can always find my hosting/dns referral links on my links page.

hey hey! so guess what? today marks my 1 year anniversary of blogging… uhh… *again*. See, I blogged a few years back – back when I knew no other bloggers in person and had somehow stumbled upon blogger.com and thought it seemed cool, so I started one up! I think it’s [update: no longer around here] somewhere, but I’ll warn you it’s so outdated, I’m sure all the links & images are broken. I decided to let that one die.

And then a year ago, I decided I couldn’t take it anymore, I needed to blog again!! So, here it is. And I’ve gotta say, as I’ve said before… Writing like this has been so cathartic for me. It’s honestly become a really fun, expressive and creative outlet for me. Yay for blogging!!

Not to mention this last year I was delighted to finally meet other bloggers! I know it sounds funny, but before when I was blogging I was the only one I knew – and consequently I sorta felt like everyone around me just didn’t “get” it – and so when I finally met other bloggers, I felt quite at home :) I’ve talked at length with Jane about this – as she’s been a long time blogger and knows a ton of people in the “blogging community”. We literally went to a party of all bloggers!

This last year’s been soo fun and I’m really psyched to have it all documented! :) I’m a documenting freak, if you haven’t noticed. Rick even said today as I was snaphappy in some store on Polk St, something about how I’ll never have to worry about not having photos from when I was 28! That’s for sure. And I LOVE IT!

Ok – I owe you a review of lastnight’s kick ass show – but I gotta shower now, hit the fabric store w/ Rebecca & then go pick up Kat & Jee & go to Ashley’s Housewarming party in the East Bay! The last few days have been a WHIRLWIND!

Tonite is The Stills show with openers: The Stratford 4 / Elephone / On The Speakers

I’m *really* excited… but I gotta say, I’m having NoisePop anxiety!! I want to be at 4 places at once tonite! ak!! I actually really wish I could be at the British Sea Power show – but I know they’ll be back. Patience!!

On The Speakers is exciting to me, just cuz I’ve been waiting to see them again since I saw them last September and tonite I *will* be buying their EP!

The Friday fun starts tonite a mi casa! Con Margaritas y Tacos! Arriba!!! Jem & Rick will be over for the pre partay fun. WoohoO!!

I have SOO much to do in the next couple hours, so I’m off. Happy Friday everyone!!

Wow, I feel GREAT!!!! Let’s hear it for DayQuil!! This sh*t is AWESOME!!!!! My whole body is numb! wooohooo!!!!

Seriously though, I am high on life today. Things are good. Let’s see – what have I been up to?

Yesterday was crazy… I had the morning to get some things finished up & then by 2:30 had to head out the door for an appointment downtown, which took so long that by the time I got home I only had maybe but another hour before I had to head out again.

I hit this Ryze Designer Dinner thing at Destino. I think it went alright… but it was somewhat of a tough environment to really get to know anyone. It was kinda a whirlwind, as we all sat down for dinner and just ate and introduced ourselves and made small talk… and I actually only had an hour, so I even had to leave early. But I suppose it’s just good to place names to faces and see where the networking goes from there. I just think everyone has different motives at those things. Is it to meet new people? Get new business? Exchange tricks of the trade? Make new friends? Networking is weird like that.

From my standpoint and for WilloToons and my web biz, atleast they got to get to see me in person and maybe get a feel for who I am… and that if they have a web, flash or custom illustration project come across their desk, they’ll think of me! I’m just not very super stuffy serious with my marketing and stuff right now. I actually like not trying to be just another “Web Design company here to serve you”… I am who I am and can do the work well. And clients I work with value my communication skills, knowledge of the web and usability and my design/maintenance efficiency. So if that’s what you’re looking for, give it a whirl and see for yourself!!

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The Detroit Cobras show was fun – the first 2 openers (Salem Lights / Demons) didn’t do it for us at all really… but the Starlite Desperation were entertaining… the lead was very Mick Jagger/Iggy Pop/Bon Jovi – ish (but mostly the Mick) – and I wasn’t too into his voice, but it was their drummer was GREAT. I was just clapping and woohooin for the drummer.

Seeing the Detroit Cobras was great – but the truth is they just weren’t “on” or as tight as they could be (which Rachel (lead vox powerchic) painfully pointed out waaay too many times, dissin the poor sound man, etc) BUT she’s a “dont take no shit” kinda woman, and pretty cute – and damn is her voice amazing!! That is when she was successfully singing right into the mic and beltin it out. A friends’ friend had seen them before and said that yes, definitely they’d had better nights. Ah well – just fun to see them play live whats been playin in my CD player. And I felt great through the whole show (thanks to DayQuil) woohoo!!

Get em while they’re hot: Super Furry’s – Friday Night

The Unicorns ROCKED SO HARD lastnight it _WAS_ FUNNY!!!!!!!!

They had the whole audience crackin up. Not only did they come out on stage w/ these awesome outfits on – the keyboardist (slash vox/guitar/bass/funnyman) in this total pink polyester bullfighter lookin outfit… moppy hair all over his face… and the lead Unicorns man, curly blond boy (who cut in front of us while we were in the will call line to put his friend on the list) was shirtless with a funky pink tie (slash belt?) and brown pants, with not one, but two belts (maybe I should do that too now?) – but the DRUMMER!!! I want to marry his goofy ass. He was CRACKING us up. I just love goofy people. Not to mention cute goofy people who make me laugh AND can play the drums – TALK TO ME!

So ya, we had a great time. We got there a little late, cuz I didn’t leave BAM early enough, thinking the show started at 9, but it actually started at 8:30 – so by the time I picked up Becca & met Rick at the show, we missed one of the openers. We grabbed drinks (I got a hot totty, oh yaa!) and saw the tale end of the band: Irving, who I thought were pretty good… they definitely were getting me psyched up for a good night of music, and they were 3 indie boys who sang in unison at one point and I just love that. And the one guy had an argyle sweatervest on… COOL!!!

Ok – so then Why? came on – and it was pretty interesting….. I think I’d prefer listening to them on CD a bit more… Live I was a little caught up in the anger and rage of the performance a little… however it may have just been cuz he got all impatient with the guitar getting all wrapped up – and easily coulda laughed it off, but you could tell it just irritated the f* outta him, and we all felt it too. But the guitar dude was good – and the DRUMMER!!!! The drummer was like a beaver going into cardiac arrest or something…. it was AWESOME! His facial expressions were HILARIOUS and he literally played the drums in convulsions. It was great. I love spastic drummers.

Ok – so that leads us back to right before the kick ass Unicorns went on. (I’m writing in circles, are you following?) By this time, Willo (yup, that’s me, talking in third person cuz I’m CRAAAAAAAZY!) was feeling pretty illin’… a good ol’ stuffy head/headache and some major fucked up lower back pain. Two thing you really want to have when you’re standing at a show with a bunch of loud music. woohoo!!! But I remain with a positive outlook because I know THE ROCK WILL HEAL ME!!!!! That, and my concert buddy, the Rickster, was *awesome* enough to lay his healing hands on me and give me a back massage right there. God damn have I got it good with that boy by my side :)

So today I’m not only more in love with the Unicorns, but I’m more snotty than yesterday too! WAHOO!!!

It just hit me, I’m going to be 29 years old this year!! 29!!!!!!!!! Jesus, how did that happen!!?!??!?! Wasn’t I just like 23 a little while ago? Aren’t I only maybe just shy of 26 or so right now? My gawd. It just sounds so… adult!

Wow… 29. That is just so weird.

Indie geeks & Music freaks are all abuzz this week, because here in San Francisco we have the extreme pleasure of hosting Noisepop!! And although it’s hard to surpass any previous year’s bills, this years lineup is OUTSTANDING!

I keep wishing I could break out a magic duplicating machine because literally several nights in a row I wish I could be at 2, sometimes 4 places at once!!

Tonite is our first show: The Unicorns! I’m really excited to see this band live. They toured w/ Hot, Hot Heat and are apparently just kick ass live. WOOOHOO!!!
My duplicate would hit the 50 Ft Wave/Loquat show – because I’m way into Throwing Muses and would love to see what Kirsten Hersh is doing now!

Note: links to all these artists are in my events listing on the homepage

Then tomorrow night we’ve got The Detroit Cobras to hit. Rick turned me onto this band and the lead singer’s got this awesome musky voice, sorta a cross between the Distiller’s Brody Armstrong and Neko Case. We’re way pumped for that show. My duplicate(s) would hit the Low / Jolie Holland / The Decoration show AND The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players w/ Call and Response show!! If you haven’t seen the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players yet, go see them – they’re a kick! I saw them last year – see?

Friday night is a DOOOOOOZIE!!! Look at the lineup!! I actually TRIPLE booked myself before realizing it. I literally had bought tix to British Sea Power, Super Furry Animals AND The Stills before realizing THEY’RE ALL ON THE SAME NIGHT!! Not to mention, Neko Case & Friends – AND Pedro The Lion w/ John Vanderslice!! oy! oy! oy!! ALL of those bands are TOTALLY worth going to see. Man if they were only on seperate nights!!

So what did we decide?

We’re gonna hit The Stills show. (kick ass line up of openers: The Stratford 4 / Elephone / On The Speakers) woohoo!! Now I actually almost would go to the British Sea Power show, because I’ve been listening to them & love them…. BUT I’m pretty psyched to see On The Speakers & Stratford 4. And we actually *might* even try to do a double header & hit the tale end of The Super Furries show & skip out on The Stills. Crazy huH!? :)

CRAZY FUN!!!!!

Ok, off to BAM – and then it’s off to a show! Lets hope I don’t cough to much!! BYE!

I’m finally posting a bunch of stuff on Craigslist that I’m getting rid of… anyone want these old magazines?

Nothing like waking up the sound of rain just *coming down* like crazy outside… the wind blowing so hard you can hear it bustling throught the trees and pelting the rain against the windows, pattering and pounding to be let in. I literally lied in bed thinking it very well has flooded the city so much that it might start seeping into my windows like a sinking ship.

Only a few hours into the morning I’ve spoken with three different people who have floods in their homes!

update: Wow – check out these photos from today on SFGate!

Speaking of rain – here’s a video (starring kazoobie, too!) I took of it raining hard a couple weeks back…. that’s pretty much what it was like this morning.

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Appropriately for this horrible weather, I have a total chest cold goin on. I think it is literally from that cold I had about 2 weeks ago, that maybe was just dormant in my system – cuz I usually never just come straight into a chest cold w/o going through the build up phase (sore throat, stuffy head) first. This just hit me and all of a sudden I’m coughing up a storm. Total bummer considering all the shows I have this week! But I’m determined to kick it. Lucky for me “my boss” lets me sleep in & come into work late ;)

Here’s to cuddling up all cozy, turning the heat on & making some hot tea!