After I saw Crowded House in concert last year, and it was one of the best experiences ever, I decided that I needed more live music in my life. In particular, I needed to see more of my favorite bands. At the top of my list is Guster. Here are a few reasons why:
- I have been a fan since I heard Goldfly in 1998.
- Aidan and I tried to see them in March of 2020, but ugh, COVID!
- Guster is almost always in my top three artists whenever I check my Spotify profile.
- They seem like genuinely nice people 😁
So me seeing Guster is long overdue. When I heard they were coming to NJ, to the very same theater where I saw Crowded House, I shared the happy news with Aidan, only to find out he had to work and he had classes that night. So disappointing! So I resigned myself to sitting this one out.
Periodically, I’d check the ticket site, and send the kid a Discord message, “they still have tickets, are you sure you can’t go?” His usual reply, “you should just go by yourself, you’d have a good time!”
I didn’t think I would have a good time alone. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I should do it. I don’t have a lot of adventures by myself, but why the heck not? So I bought a ticket. My only regret is that I waited so long. I could have had a seat in the single digit rows if I’d acted when I first knew about it. But that’s ok. 26 rows from the stage is better than sitting at home, wishing I had gone, right?
So YAY! I’m going to see Guster in concert next week! (You might say I’m “Doin’ it By Myself” 😜)
There’s a reason why I’m posting about this in my artsy little blog, though.
See, they recently announced listening parties for their new album (it’s called Ooh La La and it’s coming out in May), happening at coffee shops before the concerts. Oh, yes, do sign me up for a spot at “Ooh La Latte!” There’s a random drawing for potential attendees, and I hope they pick me. Because in the time since I learned about this listening party, I have gone somewhat off the deep end, creatively. I’ll show you what I mean:
These are magnetic toppers for my glasses. The bottom one is based on the concert tour poster, and the top one is based on the cover of their new album. I’m definitely wearing the bottom one to the concert, but if I get picked for the listening party, I’m wearing the top one to that.
That’s silly and fun, but I didn’t stop there.
I’ve also made some polymer clay jewelry in colors that I pulled from the album cover. I figured I’d wear a few pieces with my funky glasses.
My first plan was to make a Jubilee Cane which, unfortunately, didn’t turn out right. (Pro tip: when the colors have to match an inspiration piece, don’t mix them at night without proper lighting!) The cane just didn’t have Ooh La La vibes at all. So for my second try, I didn’t get fancy. I just mixed a bunch of custom colors (in the daylight, LOL!) to match those in the album cover, and then I made a simple striped cane out of them.
That was cool, but by giving the minor colors as much stripe time as the major colors, it wasn’t clear the design was inspired by the album cover.
So, I made a Strata cane, this time using the same batch of colors, but in proportions that roughly matched those of the album cover. I still am not sure that you can tell this design was inspired by the album art, but I do like it just the same.
I did a Retro cane, too, but I think that ended up looking even further from the greens and reds and fluorescent pinks and oranges of the album cover than the other designs.
Still, I really like these finished pieces. They complement the silly glasses without being obvious. And while they were totally inspired by the album cover, I won’t look like “that weirdo who made Ooh La La jewelry” if I wear them to this listening party. (Though if I’m honest, I’m not opposed to being a bit of a weirdo in the company of other big fans, you know?)
Anyway, after I figure out which of these earrings, rings, necklaces, and/or bracelets I plan to wear, the rest of this stuff will go in the shop. You don’t need to be listening to Guster to wear them, but go for it, if it makes you happy 😁
I’ve gone to an awful lot of trouble to make pieces for a party I may not get picked to go to, but that’s ok. You know me, I have fun with this kind of stuff. And these colors will look nice with lots of outfits.
As for the concert itself? I haven’t made any custom jewelry to go with the concert poster glasses, and I don’t think I will. I like the way my favorite Rainbow Jubilee earrings and ring look with them, even though the colors aren’t perfect matches. (Though I reserve the right to change my mind and spend all of this weekend frantically mixing more custom clay colors if I so choose 😜)
Update
I finished sanding, buffing, photographing, and listing everything. Feel free to have a shop, if you like!
Here are a few things in the new color scheme. I’m calling it “Cozy” because despite where the inspiration came from, it actually reminds me a lot of the colors that Alicia Paulsen uses in her quilts and crochet blankets 😁. Click here to see everything in these colors.
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Bangle Bracelets
$28.00 Add to cart
Channel Width: 3/16″ (5mm), Design: Cozy Stripes -
Pendant Necklaces
$36.00 Add to cart
Shape: Donut, Cord: 18-inch Black Wire Choker, style: Single, Design: Cozy Strata -
Bangle Bracelets
$32.00 Add to cart
Channel Width: 5/16″ (8mm), Design: Cozy Strata -
Bangle Bracelets
$38.00 Out of Stock
Channel Width: 1/2″ (12.5mm), Design: Cozy Retro
And here are a few things in the color scheme that didn’t work out. I’m calling it “Flamingo” and even if it doesn’t go well with the album cover, the colors are still nice! Click here to see everything in these colors.
Update 2
I did not, in fact, get randomly chosen to attend the listening party. So, no chance to wear my Ooh La La glasses and jewelry. (Though, like I said, I really like the way these pieces came out, and I intend to wear the earrings and rings anyway. No listening party required. Not sure about the glasses, though – they might have been a one-event thing 😀 )
I did end up making new jewelry to go with the the tour t-shirt. Earrings and a ring. I was first in line at the concert to buy a t-shirt, and I put it on in the bathroom before the concert. I made a few extra pieces that are now in the shop 🙂
Read about the concert here.
I’m so pleased to hear that you’re embracing the solo concert going. It can take a while to get into the groove of being by yourself and wishing you could show/share what you’re experiencing with someone that you know. But there’ll be an entire room of people enjoying the same thing – share a smile, say hello, sing along. You’ll have a blast!
Thanks 🙂 I expect to have a great time! And then I can talk everyone’s ears off about it when I get home, LOL!
Are those Wanda toppers? I’d love to buy an Ooh La La topper!
Yes, they are Wanda toppers 🙂
I would love to sell you one, but I have to warn you that I really don’t know how well they will hold up long-term. I’ve only recently started making these toppers for myself. They’ve been fine for several months so far, but the top layer is essentially paper. It’s sealed, but I still can’t guarantee that they’ll last forever, you know? If you’re ok with that, I can make you a pair for $12 plus shipping. Let me know!
P.S. I’m loving this new album, are you?