Yeah it’s a shame the US is still keeping up the whole embargo thing going, the cold war is over and they already trade with other communist countries, maybe it’s just a matter of time. Is it somewhere you’ve wanted to go then? I’ve not been before but it has been high on my list for some time and now seemed the best time to do it. I’m staying for just under 2 weeks and visiting Havana, Trinidad and Santa Clara. I completely missed that Trwbador single but I think the album is out next week so hopefully I’ll get it on that.

I was considering the Marnie Stern Toronto show but it’s the day before I fly to Cuba and I should be saving money really for all of the travels I have planned after leaving here. What’s the Trwbador single? I’ve just got the Sun In the Winter EP which is ace, looking forward to the album though. I see what you mean about the Joanna Newsom comparison. I’ve always known Sweet Baboo from the Cardiff music scene but I think the 2 tracks I’ve heard from his new album are his best yet, hope the rest of it is as good. Looks like you might have been onto something regarding Foxygen's fragility, they've cancelled all their European dates to 'preserve the creative health of the band'. Hmmmm.

Yeah I was extra disappointed as I wanted to see Foxygen too. I was surprised Veronica Falls didn't play more of the new album, bands usually love to play stuff from the new one. I think I prefer the new one slightly more than the first too. As for album recommendations I always have plenty but you've usually already discovered them, however.....the new Phosphorescent record is really good, also the new My Bloody Valentine was better than I thought possible after all this time away. New records from David Bowie, Marnie Stern, Youth Lagoon, Yo La Tengo and Phoenix are all good too. And in an effort to recommend some more obscure things that you may not know, there's a couple of French indie-pop bands I'm liking at the moment, 'Granville' and 'Concrete Knives' and a couple of bands from back home in Wales who have albums out soon that sound very promising and they are 'Sweet Baboo' and 'Trwbador'. If you struggle to find any of them let me know and I can always send you a few tracks.

Oh hey! How were the Chicago shows? I missed UMO as it caught me off guard and sold out. Veronica Falls were very good though.

Ha! We're going to see the same bands as each other again! Just thought I'd let you know I've posted my top 100 albums list for the year, if you happen to fancy a look it's here... http://www.last.fm/user/jaaam/journal/2012/12/19/5p6hc0_top_100_albums_of_2012

Ahhh see I try to limit how much I listen to an album no matter how much I like it for fear of getting sick of it. Although the new Bat For Lashes record is currently making me struggle with this policy. Enjoy the xx tomorrow!

You know it's really hard to discover new bands from you if we keep listening to the same things.

Well i'm moving to your continent in a couple of weeks which i'm pretty excited about. Maybe I'll find more gigs there.

Pretty similar by the sound of it. It was a great show. She played loads off the new record which was absolutely fine with me. Not much in the way of gigs coming up for me at the moment but there's plenty of good records around which I would be recommending to you had you not seemingly already found them yourself.

Did you enjoy the St. Vincent gig?

It was pretty spectacular! Definitely lived up to expectations. Would have liked a couple of older tracks thrown in too but that was a minor afterthought. I see we're both seeing St. Vincent soon too but I get to go first this time.

Michelle - Great list of music you have. If you like Ximena Sariñana Carla Morrison, you might like Austria - http://www.last.fm/music/Austria.

Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it. I'm really looking forward to the London show.

That's always the way. Nobody ever explores their own country as much as they do others. How was the gig then?

It's my third time over here but first time on the west coast. I don't mind the wait too much for the gig, i've been pretty gig starved living in New Zealand so i'll be grateful just to have gigs to go to again. Hope it's amazing tomorrow and you enjoy it if you do go.

All's well with me. I'm currently exploring the west coast of your country but travelling in the opposite direction to the M83 tour (just missed both the Portland and Seattle gigs) so I have to wait until February to see him. Yeah i'm enjoying the record too, I kind of expected it to be longer, it is pretty short for a double album but it makes it more accessible I guess. It has a little influence from all his other records I think but its definitely more instant than Saturdays=Youth.

Hey, hows it going? What do you think of the new M83 record?

I got here a month ago, I was looking for some upcoming shows, maybe I'll see you there?

I was looking through upcoming shows in Chicago and I noticed you're going to the Natalia Lafourcade one! I just moved to Chicago, are you living here?

How was the Love is All gig?

Hello there. You have amazing taste so yes I gladly accept your add. Jealous you're going to see Love is All but i'm hoping they tour over here again soon.

Haha, I'm with you man!

I'm with Coco too. : )

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