Holidays Schedule Announcement

Dear readers and passersby,

In the spirit of the holiday season, I will be posting my take on the classic "25 Days of Christmas."  There will be a twist though, so tune in to find out!

Happy Holidays 💗

- Lauren

November Set List

November Set List

1.  Blue on Black

2.  Nothing But the Night

3.  Dark Road

4.  Criminal Mind

5.  Arrival*

*Calm break from electric energy

6.  Planet Earth

7.  I Wish

8.  Cosmic Monkey

9.  Girls on Film

10.  Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough

Do you have any favorites from this list?  Would you add any songs?  What would be your set list?

Let me know by leaving a comment at the end of this post!

zZounds Saturday - Guitar Shop

Due disclosure - This post contains affiliate links and I may be compensated on any purchase made.

In this edition of zZounds Saturday, I am featuring a guitar shop - from electric guitars (including Epiphone, Gibson, Fender, and many more) to acoustic guitars (noted for beginners and highly recommended) to essential accessories to guitar amps and so much more!

Are you a pro looking to add to your collection?  Are you a beginner looking for the perfect guitar to practice what you are learning, hone your growing skills, and launch your desired career as a guitarist?  Are you shopping for a travel companion?  Are you in need of a left-handed guitar?  Or are you simply in need of accessories?

Bonus question - What is your take on folk instruments and folk instrument accessories?

My answer to all of your questions can be found in the link below -

https://www.zzounds.com/a--3960264/cat--Guitars-Amps-and-Effects--2543

On Set List, zZounds primarily revolves around guitars and drums.  

On this last day of November, the zZounds guitar shop seems fitting to cap off the month.

Explore and enjoy!

Set List Special - The Fast Camels Review

Set List offers a daily theme -

Mondays are Astronaut2005 Drummer cover v. Original Performance.

Tuesdays are duets.

Wednesdays are Reader zZounds Favorites.

Thursdays are Fashion Sense.

Fridays are Reader Top Pick.

Saturdays and Sundays are devoted to zZounds affiliate promotions.

Let's focus on today - Reader Top Pick Friday...with one exception - the top pick is a review of the Scottish band, The Fast Camels.

Question - Who are The Fast Camels?

Answer - The Fast Camels are a Glasgow, Scotland-based band heavily influenced by 1960's U.S. and UK Psychedelic Rock, Freakbeat, and Powerpop.

Side question - How are these genres defined?

Answer - 

- Psychedelic Rock is inspired by psychedelic culture and the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs.

- Freakbeat is a sub genre of rock and roll with origins in UK rock, beat, rock and roll, psychedelia, and freak scene.  The freak scene genre has an interesting and extensive background, so read further on Wikipedia.

- Powerpop is a form of pop rock reflected early on by The Who, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Byrds.  A full background can be found on Wikipedia.

Let's go back to The Fast Camels.

The band made their debut in 2007 with the album, The Magic Optician.  They performed locally before landing gigs throughout the UK.  The album quickly landed airplay in the U.S. and Canada.

The current members include -

Drew Sturgeon - Vocals, Guitar

Mark O'Conner - Guitar, Vocals

Andy Rennie - Bass, Vocals

Joe Smith - Drums, Vocals

Craig Jenkins - Percussion

Fast forward to the present and my reason for review - the band's fourth studio album - Full of Strange is due for release on December 2, 2019.

Let's stay with Full of  Strange for review.

Track Listing

1.  Blissful Serenity

2.  Caught In A Dream

3.  Full of Strange

4.  Storyteller

5.  Misty

6.  The Wedding

7.  Don't Know Where To Begin

8.  Sordid Dreams

9.  Family Tree

10.  The Curious Tale Of Peeping John Foley

11.  Honeymoon

12.  Statue On The Hill

My initial impression of The Fast Camels is 1960's British invasion sound with a blend of modern day edgy and psychedelic instrumental.

Although some musicians leave song meaning up to listeners, most suggest meaning behind lyrics.  This is my sense behind the Full of Strange album.  For example, "Blissful Serenity," "Storyteller," and "The Wedding" tell stories of  one-off romance or romance not meant to be.

"Don't Know Where To Begin" is a defining song in the Psychedelic Rock genre with instrumental offering a feel of drug trip.  The vocals in "Family Tree" offer the same sense.  

"The Curious Tale of Peeping John Foley" is rather deceptive - while the song maintains a calm pace, I find the lyrics to be rather dark.

"Honeymoon" is by far the most intense in instrumental and perhaps in response to "The Wedding."

The songs described above stand out the most.  

The genres that The Fast Camels fit into are, honestly, unfamiliar to me.  All three relate directly to 1960's West Coast America and England.  I am one generation removed and am set with the genres I have grown up with.

With that said, The Fast Camels as a band and the Full of Strange album set for release on December 2nd should in no way be dismissed.  

I take occasional detours on Set List to promote my Avon business and fashion blogs.  However, I maintain always that Set List is fundamentally about music - all genres and in all formats.  I maintain always that Set List taps into one common global interest - music.  

I may not be familiar with Freakbeat and Powerpop, but perhaps someone else in the United States or in another country is and enjoys the unique sound.  

Global unification - this is the power of music.

In conclusion, I am giving The Fast Camels a positive review and recommendation.  

Fashion Sense Thursday

In this edition of Fashion Sense Thursday, I am blending royalty and fashion as the ultimate fashion sense, leaving fans worldwide desiring to copy her look.

An excellent example of royalty and fashion - The Givenchy Fashion House in Paris is a highly regarded preference for the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle.

Meghan did stay local to London with British designer, Stella McCartney, designing her reception dress.

On May 19, 2018, Meghan Markle shined in two upscale preferences   HRH has since gone on with further interest in Givenchy.

An example of Givenchy style -

In this Fashmates look book - the V-Neck Shift Dress, Suede Pointed-Toe Pumps, and Dahlia Divin Le Nectar De Parfum are by Givenchy.  (The leather bag is by Roland Mouret.  The earrings are by Isabel Marant.  The royal hat is by Philip Treacy.)

A precise Givenchy style worn by Meghan Markle is -

Givenchy cream sheath dress with capelet

Custom made by Clare Waight Keller (Meghan's wedding gown designer)

(Accessories and jewelry worn with this dress can be found on the blog, Meghan's Fashion.)

Meghan's Fashion also offers "Shop Meghan's Closet" and "Meghan's Makeup."

In the end, the Duchess of Sussex perfectly blends royalty and fashion.

Reader zZounds Favorite - Yamaha Folk Acoustic Guitar

Due disclaimer - This post contains affiliate links and I may be compensated on any purchase made.

In this edition of Wednesday Special - Reader zZounds Favorite, your choice is the Yamaha JR2 3/4-Size Folk Acoustic Guitar (with Gig Bag).

zZounds offers two approaches to this Yamaha Folk Acoustic Guitar - for novice beginners and for compact road trips.

If you are a beginner with serious interest in growing your skill set toward professional status, the cost of this guitar - $169.99 - is worth the investment.

As a refresher, follow the link below to explore and shop or simply enjoy out of curiosity!

https://www.zzounds.com/a--3960264/item--YAMJR2

Duet Tuesday

In this edition of Duet Tuesday, I am featuring a unique take on duet - Joe Piscopo as Frank Sinatra and Eddie Murphy as Stevie Wonder.  Their version of "Ebony and Ivory" is a classic on 1980's Saturday Night Live.

As the iconic quote goes -

Live from New York, it's Saturday night!