If I ever manage to trick some pretty lady into marrying me, hopefully she'll be the type of gal who digs on shopping because I'm terrible at it. Some of you already know this through experience. While engaging in our beautifully democratic capitalism, I get nervous and can't make decisions. This is why I usually take a trusted friend along with me. Lately Christie and Dana have come to my aid, but last night I braved the isles of J Crew on my own. After work I stopped by the Apple store to say hello to Michael, but he was a busy body so we only got a quick chat before I popped into the Soho J Crew. Thankfully the regular, sharply dressed clerk was there to help me out. I'm trying to get some smart gear for the new job. I went as far as buying a pair of chords, but after wearing them last night my thoughts on them have soured.

Sorry, my mind is bouncing off the walls. I didn't mean to bore you with my shopping routine. Around 7:30pm I walked over to Juanita's to meet Dana, Gigs and Cap't Pulled Pork for some dinner and margaritas. My plan was to have one drink which quickly turned into a half dozen before 10pm. By the time we finished at Juanita's my belly housed an awesome mix of nachos and frozen goodness. I was supposed to meet a friend for a drink, but she canceled due to jetlag (or some lame excuse - I kid) so Gigs and me went over to the Mercury for a drink.

Around 9:30pm, Beach, Gigs and I headed over to Annex to catch a set by Fields who were flown in by Atlantic to play a special showcase. It was my first time in the space since it was went under new management, but I was also told it was the space's first show. It was evident by the lacquer smell that crowded the air. The room has the dimensions of Rothko in that it's a long space, but it is narrower than its Suffolk Street counterpart. There is a nice long bar that makes for an easy drink, but traffic flow could definitely be a problem for over stuffed shows. I can't imagine what The Editors show might have been had the Annex been ready. We didn't venture upstairs, but it seemed like a decent sized space. All and all I'd say it would be a good spot for something like 250 folks, but you could definitely squeeze more in there.

The stage is near the front of the venue (read: street). It is a tiny stage, but the five members of Fields managed to look comfortable. After saying hello to the lovely Nora and her friend Jessica, I slipped into the back to snag a beer and a better sound spot with the kids. We were treated to some indie rock that is unique in the sense that it doesn't really adhere to one set of influences. Fields takes a bit from various indie genres including (but definitely not limited too) electro, shoegaze, post-punk (only a bit), psyche and even some ambient rock. Though they didn't have a song that completely blew me away, I'd say the most memorable track was "Songs For the Fields". At some point I overheard someone say they sound just like Stars which is easy to agree with. They look to stir it up in the UK when they do dates with The Editors and Mystery Jets in early March. Look out for them. Maybe the word "Fields" will become the UK equivalent to North America's "Wolf".

The show was the end of my night as my head begged for a pillow. My apologies for not taking a shot with Yeti on the Sabbath aka Tequila Tuesday - soon my friend.

** FYI: Stranded in Stereo is giving you the chance to win a FREE trip to SXSW. You might as well sign up. It would be a lot cooler if you did.