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Traipsed down to Dalston on Tuesday evening to see The Neighbourhood play a free gig at Birthdays. It was much too short a set (they didn't play 'Leaving Tonight') but amazing nonetheless. I can't remember ever seeing such an enthusiastic and infectious performance. Cannot wait to see them again in November.

They are such an unassuming band. Half the audience didn't realise who they were when they took to the stage. After the gig Jesse Rutherford was happily handing out hugs like a toddler that was never warned of stranger danger and Jeremy Freedman walked straight over to the bar without being approached or ambushed once.

Such cool and talented kids.

They closed the show with Sweater Weather:

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I am completely in love with MSGM at the moment. Classic 1950s meets present day flashiness. Timeless pieces in modern floral prints and sexier silhouettes--topped off with a bit of grunge styling. A particular favourite (and I know with Miu Miu, Sonia Rykiel, et al it's nothing new) is the blinged out oversized cat eye sunglasses.

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Metric is my favourite band. I've loved them since high school, will always love them. They're one of the few musical heroes that have never let me down. Kings of Leon went from being bawdy and dirty to a radio friendly sanitized version of themselves. Bloc Party detoured into being too alternative and went on an extended hiatus. The xx can't be called a favourite until they have another album under their belt.

Metric, however, has always been a constant. Emily Haines the object of the biggest of girl crushes.

I finally managed to see them live last night and the long wait was more than worth it. I don't think I can accurately explain my euphoria.

The playlist was heavy with the newer songs which I don't love as much as their older tunes. But it was still such an electric show. 

Emily Haines prances around the stage as if she were a pre-teen playing at being a rock star in her bedroom with her friends--this is the best thing ever. Her and James Shaw play off of each other beautifully. For a packed venue it felt so incredibly intimate. 

My highlights were: 1) the audience and the band losing their shit and dancing their asses off to 'Dead Disco'--like one heaving body 2) Mel getting to hear her favourite song, 'Monster Hospital' 3) the closing song--an acoustic version of 'Gimme Sympathy' that everyone sang along to.

I think this is one of the few times something will wildly surpass my often great expectations. I've loved Metric so long because they make such thoughtful music, if it's possible I love them even more because they share it with such abandon.

Such a happy-making night.

*Important side note: I want to go on an Emily-Haines-I-fully-intend-to-be-rocking-hot-pants-in-my-thirties-and-owning-it-diet. Leather jacket, white button down shirt, denim hot pants, black ankle boots.

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Vagabond's GAGA flatform is currently the object of my most ardent affections. I've been jonesing for a pair of flatforms since last spring and on the hunt for work appropriate attire for the last month or so. I'm determined to pick pieces I'd be happy to wear on my own time as well. These shoes definitely fit the bill--they put the FUN in functional. Excuse both the cliche and bad pun. 

I'm half tempted to go for a more exciting colour but I see the black pair doing a lot more for my wardrobe than wine (lovely though it is).

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Frank Ocean's first proper studio release, Channel Orange, is out next month and he's given away the first single, Pyramids (click the album art for the link). It's worth a listen and than five repeats...I may have been listening to the same song for an hour.* It's an epic 10 minutes full of sheer awesomeness--possibly the best thing I've heard this year.

*By may I mean definitely.

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I was remiss in not mentioning Best Coast when it came to my summertime soundtrack.

Lo-fi dreamy So-Cal pop with healthy heapings of longing, yearning and angst. It's perfect music for summer adventures. Their new album, The Only Place, came out a couple of weeks ago and I've had it in heavy rotation since.

I can't help thinking of my little sister while listening to them. A tiny bit because she's California bound come fall and in my head I imagine her life there being scored to Best Coast. But mostly because I can see so much of her echoed in the lyrics.*

"I don't wanna be how they want me to be..."

"And even my own mother asks me a lot of questions/I tell her I don't want to talk but she doesn't stop/She's just wondering..." 

"We wake up with the sun in our eye/It's no surprise that we get so much done/But we always, yes we always, we always have fun/Yes we always, yes we always, we always have fun..."

"Why would you live anywhere else?/Why would you live anywhere else?/We've got the ocean, got the babes/Got the sun, we've got the waves/This is the only place for me..."

*Chloe, this is an incredibly non-subtle way of saying I strongly feel Best Coast should become the soundtrack to your life.

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Jackie popped back to London this weekend for a visit--queue me stalking her, traipsing around Oxford Circus and East London.

The spoils of the adventure were some great vintage finds from Beyond Retro and some perfect summer staples I nabbed in Topshop's midseason sale.

1. Kristen high waist jeans in blush. I don't believe in any jeans that aren't high waisted and skinny. I just find the cut super flattering. I'll be pairing them with my gold Dr Martens, button down shirts, new vintage Tupac muscle tee, and countless other things. I think the colour is perfection--just the thing for summer and spring.

2. Velvet bow Baroness court heels. I was badly obsessed with Louis Vuitton's Beauty heels a few years ago so I've had my eyes on these Office shoes for a long while--they're like a twee re-interpretation. They'll go well with a variety of dresses.

3. Animal print shirt dress. I adore the classic silhouette of this dress (and the way it nips in at the waist), the obscene number of buttons, and of course the leopard print. Already planning on wearing it with my brogues and loafers.

4. Moto camel hotpants. Despite the name I'd hardly call these shorts hotpants. They're high waisted and a great neutral colour. Planning on throwing these on with vests and muscle tees.