My favorite part about Exile on Main is that they always seem to be selling something you didn’t know you wanted.

(The vinyl is bright orange, by the way. Totally badass.)

My roomate’s high school brother and five of his friends stayed here this weekend and took over the entire living room.
They just left. I have a new appreciation for silence.

Thank you, Pitchfork. Solid suggestion. I dig this band.

(Ironically, Fleet Foxes and Vampire Weekend, both dubbed “Best New Music” are playing on the same night in The Fork’s hometown city, Chicago. Wonder which show the staff will see, and what color American Apparel deep V they’ll wear.)

Happy Unofficial, kids.

I didn’t partake in any festivities today. But, I am getting my lowdown on it from the News-Gazette, which is informative, but oh so pathetic on my part.

According to them, as of 7:15 pm, no one had been taken to the hospital for “overindulgence.”

…What?
Are you kidding me?

Now, my first thought was, “Good job guys! Way to not be idiots!” But, then I realized…does this mean that our school’s big huge drunken festival party holiday is…tame? More people most likely go to the ER on a Sunday night on average compared to this, I bet.

Could Unofficial be officially harmless?

This is all I have left in my pocket, because the Chase ATM on Green Street ATE MY DEBIT CARD.

Great, the one night of the year when almost everyone is out on Green Street, a free pass to all of my money will most likely pop out of an ATM at any time.

Aren’t debit cards supposed to make life easier?

If you weren’t here, you missed out. That’s pretty much it.

Canopy was packed, the crowd was crazy and the boys were so energetic that I could barely get a picture of them that wasn’t a blur wearing a vest. I can’t write too much of a review because I’m pressed for time, but the amalgamation of musical genres that these boys mix is incredible. And yes, I just used the word amalgamation and was serious about it.

Their music is non-irritatingly catchy, and — weird, but I can’t help it — they make me want to jump up and down and cry my eyes out at the same time. (Hey, I’m a sucker for a banjo and depressingly sweet lyrics.) Want to see what it’s like to be moved more ways that one? Listen HERE before I ridicule you more for not being a fan yet.

From the second episode of America’s Next Top Model:

“Today, we’re actually going to put a spotlight on a major issue, and that is homeless youth. You’re going to be posing with homeless partners. But here’s the deal - you’re going to be in street clothes, and the other girls will be in high fashion.”

Putting homeless girls in designer clothing for the sake of reality television? Now THAT’S not trivializing or anything…

If you’re a UIUC student, you received the mass e-mail sent out by the Chancellor this afternoon regarding Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day, which starts tomorrow morning. Below are some excerpts from the letter:

“While we know that the majority of students do not participate
in “Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day” activities, the students who do
participate warrant my writing. During Unofficial, the drunken demeanor of
many students endangers the lives and safety of participants and community
members and blemishes the reputation of the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign and the surrounding communities.

We urge all students to take pride in our University community. Start by
discouraging your out-of-town friends from coming onto campus to
participate in this event on Friday, February 29 for the day or the
weekend…Keep in mind the importance of your own health and safety, as well as the
health and safety of others, and remember, too, that inviting people from
off-campus to participate in this event only encourages the possibility of
more health- and safety-related problems. And finally, don’t drink and
drive or ride with someone who has been drinking, and obey traffic laws
even when walking.”

Thanks for the advice, Dad, but who do you think you’re fooling? It’s obvious that anything the University does besides threatening punishment for drunk students coming to class is strictly a PR move to save their asses, and the fact that it lands in my inbox makes it harder to ignore.

Take a look at the first week back at school each fall - every frat is open, seducing new members with their free beer and houses packed with decent looking girls who are only there for the aforementioned beverages. The amount of people out drinking is comparable if not practically the same as on Unofficial, but where’s my “stay safe and be healthy” email from Herman to preface the welcome week binging? Why doesn’t he outwardly care every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night about the drunk drivers, obnoxious visitors and alcohol poisoned students? Just because the number of hospital visits stack up over a stretch of nights instead of on one day doesn’t mean its not happening.

Stop trying to thinly veil your fear that the public will know you can’t squash a drinking celebration, because in a town of newly minted 21-year-olds, you can’t. If you were really this concerned about the amount of alcohol students are drinking, you’d put a little effort in every day of the year, not just when you know Chicagoland news media are watching. And hey, while you’re at it, maybe we should try using mass e-mails for things like telling me about how two students were diagnosed with meningitis this week, instead of that tons more will drink beer while the sun is still up.

GO SEE THE AVETT BROTHERS AT CANOPY TONIGHT.

They are fantastic. Check them out Here. I listened to their CD all the way through FOUR times yesterday. I can’t emphasize how much you’ll be missing if you skip it.

Buzz’s Best of CU results are out today in our special issue! Make sure to grab a copy or check out the wonderful layout on the Best Of CU page.

(I may or may not recommend you read the “Best Public Bathroom” blurb, as it’s written by yours truly.)