Mandala

*amazing digital art / collage by Sonny Kay, though I wish I could convince them to let Mason paint their next cover.

The new Rx Bandits album, Mandala, comes out in a few weeks. For those of us not as well-versed in Buddhism as we'd like to be, here is the definition from the Encyclopedia Brittanica:

Mandala: In Tantric Hinduism and Buddhism, a diagram representing the universe, used in sacred rites and as an instrument of meditation. The mandala serves as a collection point for universal forces. By mentally "entering" the mandala and moving toward its centre, one is guided through the cosmic processes of disintegration and reintegration. Mandalas may be painted on paper or cloth, drawn on the ground, or fashioned of bronze or stone.

On July 14, my mandala will be made of round, reflective plastic, and I can't WAIT until it is delivered to my doorstep via the wonders of pre-sale.

For old time's sake, here's a picture of me, Matt Embree, Annan, and Mason in Vegas on my 21st birthday...yes, that is over 7 years ago, people. OG.

Rx's music sure has changed since then, as well as the musicians that make up the project, but their live show is just as dynamic and engaging as it ever was. Mason is holding a drumstick from The Exit, who opened for Rx at that show, as well as Yellowcard (giggle). "I like music not backflips." - Matt Embree

Speaking of OG, the band is working on releasing a book with fan photos, memoirs, ticket stubs, etc. I don't think their PR people realize the Rx archive gold mine that is Carly Fetzer, but I'm going to type up some stories and email them some photos to hopefully round out their collection.

Viva Rx.

I can spot one from 23 miles away.

Utah girls. [Spoiler alert: major stereotyping coming up.] They have bleached blonde hair, Whitestrips teeth, acrylic nails, golden tans from bottles and / or beds, and when they say a phrase like "Utah's real deals," it comes out sounding like "Utah's rill dills." Dill pickles? Rilly? Now I know not all girls from Utah are like this, obviously, but I think ya'll know EXACTLY the type I'm referring to.

My in-laws are obsessed with So You Think You Can Dance, a show that we haven't really watched despite their continual insistance. So last night while dining on a sumptuous feast of FIVE GUYS (Barack Obama eats there, people, it must be cool), we stumbled upon an episode of SYTYCD (yes, it's actually called this colloquially, and is pronounced "citycad"--go figure). However, this wasn't just any episode, but the episode where they pick the highly anticipated Top 20. Like, this is a rill rill important episode, people. So we decided to watch. And the cajun fries with fry sauce were so delicious that even if the television was bad, I knew I would have a fabulous time regardless.

At this point, we have no background on the contestants, we haven't seen their performances, we don't know their professions, locations, backgrounds, etc. Yet, when contestant Randi Evans gymnast-walked her unitard-covered self up to the judges and I heard one sentence out of her mouth, I turned to Mason and said, "Oh, she's totally from Utah." And she made it in to the Top 20.

Next commercial break, cue Hope Woodside and Bob Evans' little song-and-dance about what's coming up on the news. Sure enough, it's a story on Utah's newest reality show contestant: Randi Evans on SYTYCD.

I win. It's kind of exhausting being right all the time.

And I also predict she will work wonders for the currently non-fashionable genre of dance unitards. I mean, ANYTHING'S got to be an improvement on this flattering ensemble, right??