Life is Beautiful - Night #2

Who: Lionel Richie, Outkast
When: Saturday, October 25, 2014
Where: Downtown Las Vegas, Fremont Street
Accompanied by: Juls & Gabs
Genre: R&B, Hip Hop



A gorgeous Saturday morning in Las Vegas... While we let Juls lounge in bed, Gabrielle and I took advantage of the time and headed out for our own jaunt along the city streets.  I'd love to say that we went for a run together, but there's no way I could keep up with her, so we parted ways once the cool air hit our faces.  

The goal was to get a few miles in, since I had a half marathon coming up in early November and being in Vegas was no excuse to stop training. Fortunately, the previous evenings excursions didn't hinder my performance and I was able to knock out an easy 3+ miles.

For the evening's festivities, we decided that we would take in the main stage with Lionel Richie and Outkast.  

Now, if anyone would have told me that the highlight of the weekend would be seeing Lionel Richie, I would have been a bit skeptical. And while he may have been the senior citizen listed on a weekend bill of youthful artists, that man can still dance on the ceiling all night long!!  His 90-minute performance was able to string together the best of the 70s and 80s in a way that was pure magic. His reference to buying music and listening to your favorite song on "CD, record album, cassette tape, or 8-track" touched upon every generation in the crowd. And not surprising, Juls knew the words to pretty much every song. We danced. We sang. and there were a few moments of daftness.

Following Lionel's performance, we had a little bit of break waiting for Outkast to take the stage.  Enough time to regain our energy and find a spot to get our groove on.  Going into this festival, I knew I wasn't terribly familiar with the music of Outkast, but I also knew that they were on my list of acts to see. And just like with Lionel, I was not disappointed. The energy this group exerted upon the crowd was addictive and with every song, we wanted more. 



Night #2 was a success....good friends, music, pretty lights and Vegas. It really doesn't get much better than this!!

Life is Beautiful - Night #1

Life is Beautiful Night #1

Who: Neon Trees and Panic at the Disco
When: Friday, October 24, 2014
Where: Downtown Las Vegas, Fremont Street
Accompanied by: Juls & Gabs
Genre: Alternative

The drive to sin city was filled with silliness and fun. Lots of singing along to bad 80s music and a few pit stops along the way, but we made it there without any major traffic issues or hold ups. The Four Queens was perfectly located in the middle of Fremont Street, within minutes walking distance of where we would be spending the next three days and nights.

Certainly, there was a lot going on even on this first day/night. We decided that we would relax a bit, eventually go out and grab a bit, a few cocktails and then make our way to the main stage to catch 2 of the acts that were on our list to see.

We were not all that familiar with Neon Trees, but since they were the act before Panic!, we decided to get situated and check them out. And by the end of their set, we were glad we did!  Absolutely fabulous with the perfect amount of glam energy needed to start our weekend off right.

Neon Trees @ Life is Beautiful Festival, Las Vegas Night #1

Neon Trees Setlist: Lessons in Love (All Day, All Night), Your Surrender, Animal, Love in the 21st Century, Text Me in the Morning, Mad Love, I Love You (But I Hate Your Friends), Sleeping with a Friend, First Things First, Everybody Talks

Then came time for Panic! Who just freakin' killed it. Brendon Urie exudes deliciousness that cannot be denied. And when they broke out into Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, it proved that he has the pipes that even Freddie Mercury would approve of.  This is one of those bands that I will definitely see again if and when the opportunity arises.

Panic! at the Disco @ Life is Beautiful Fesitval, Las Vegas Night #1

Panic! at the Disco Setlist: Vegas Lights, Time to Dance, The Ballad of Mona Lisa, The Only Difference Between Martyrdon and Suicide is Press Coverage, Let's Kill Tonight, Girls/Girls/Boys, Ready to Go (Get Me Out Of My Mind), Nicotine, New Perspective, Casual Affair, Miss Jackson, Nine in the Afternoon, Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen cover), Lying is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off, Collar Full, Nearly Witches (Ever Since We Met...), This is Gospel, Positive Hardcore (Good Clean Fun cover), I Write Sins Not Tragedies

Maceo Parker

When: Friday, October 10. 2014
Where: Catalina Jazz Bar & Grill
Accompanied by: KJ, Marvin & Robert
Genre: Jazz, Funk


Any show at Catalina Jazz Bar & Grill is a guaranteed good time!!


Crappy cell phone photos...but  you an tell that the man is still going strong and loves what he does. 

Weezer @ Fingerprints Records

When: Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Where: Fingerprints Music, Long Beach
Accompanied by: Tiffany, Jazz, Mark
Genre: Alt Rock

Set List: The British Are Coming, Da Vinci, Go Away, Foolish Father (?), Eulogy of a Rock Band

The following videos are the property of Live Rock Gig

DaVinci



The British Are Coming



Eulogy of a Rock Band




Weezer Wednesday in LB... yup, pretty much love my city.  Fingerprints Music continuously provides our community with the most amazing opportunities to see live performances in a tiny ass venue. What's not to love, right?  Thanks to FP, I've had the opportunity to see Foo Fighters on RSD 2011 and NO! (who now go by Black English).  I even got to meet John Densmore for a book signing in 2013 thanks to the Fingerprints crew.  And just last week, my friend Tiffany saw Chrissie Hynde.  Big ups to the small independent music establishment. They help keep the rock n roll dream alive in every way

Here is what Fingerprints had to say about what last night was all about:

WEEZER – LIVE IN-STORE PERFORMANCE

Wednesday, October 8th  8:00pm  Holiest of wows, Weezer is coming to Fingerprints. I’m kind of losing my mind right now, this is going to be legendary. Rather than blather on about how amazing Weezer is, and the legions of bands they’ve influenced, I’m just going to say Weezer’s new record, Everything Will Be Alright in the End, comes out on October 7th, and to celebrate, Weezer will be coming in to play a very special acoustic set.Produced by Ric Ocasek, who produced both The Blue Album and The Green Album, Everything Will Be Alright in the End is not a collection of songs or singles, it’s a classic album, designed to breathe some life into the idea of playing a record all the way through. Rivers describes the process as being much more collaborative and open, and speaks about the value of letting the recording process happen over time, saying “”I have an instinct to move slowly and a belief that a record only gets better the longer you let it grow, it becomes more complex and layered”. After four years of letting the flavors marry, as they say on the cooking channel, Everything Will Be Alright in the End is ready for it’s first public tasting.

Just another middle of the week... hanging with friends, enjoying some grub and a hard cider at Beachwood BBQ & Brewing before making out way over the sold out show.

Once we had full bellies, we waddled back up a few blocks and claimed our spot among the masses inside the store. Shortly after 8pm, we were entertained with an acoustic set of three songs. The band asked fans to come up on stage to help sing. It was pretty exciting for everyone. After the short set, we were given a cool poster and the opportunity to have it signed. That little extra personal touch that makes events such as these an absolute treasure.

Yeah, I love my city. I love everything about living in Southern California. If my love of music didn't run so deep, I think I'd be okay living somewhere else, but since music is what feeds my soul, this is exactly where I need to be. Life is good. And I am happy.

Sam Smith

When: Monday, September 29, 2014

Where: The Greek, Los Angeles
Accompanied by: Me, Myself and I
Genre: R&B, Pop

Setlist: Nirvana, Together, Leave Your Lover, I'm Not the Only One, I've Told You Now, Like I Can, Restart, How Will I know (Whitney Houston cover), Good Thing, Berlin (RY X Cover), La La La (Naughty Boy Cover), Lay Me Down, Money On My Mind/Finally (CeCe Peniston)

Encore: Latch (Disclosure cover), Make It To Me, Stay With Me

Back on March 29, 2014 I was watching Saturday Night Live. The musical artist that night was Sam Smith. I had no clue who he was. By the end of the show, I was hooked. I wanted to know more. I needed to know more. I had to have more. And so began the obsession. Much like the rest of the world.

I went online and watched every video I could find of him. I plugged his name into my Spotify and since his "In the Lonely Hour" wasn't coming out until August, listened to these 7 songs over and over and over again.

Over the next few months, Sam Smith was heavy in my rotation of what I needed to hear each and every day. His voice, the music, the lyrics...they just washed over me like emotional silk. 

And then IT happened. His US tour was announced and he would be in Los Angeles. I couldn't be any happier. Except that the tickets went on sale in May and the show wouldn't be until the end of September. I don't like to wish time away, but waiting for this event felt impossible.  What was almost even more impossible was purchasing tickets the day they went on sale. But I pulled it off and my life would soon be complete.  


One front row ticket for night #1... as hard as I tried for a pit ticket, this was the best I could do. And I was okay with that.



By August, I had downloaded In the Lonely Hour" to my music player and purchased the CD for the car... had to make sure I could listen to Sam whenever possible.

And the days rolled on...September arrived and my date with Sam underneath the stars of The Greek Theater was finally going to happen. And I knew it would be everything I wanted. This was a night just for me. My emotional catharsis. To share it with anyone would not have been right. As much as it would have been nice to have a shoulder to lean on, there was a sort of cleansing that went along with being there on my own. Even with thousands of other people around me, there was only me and Sam. 

You lift my heart up when the rest of me is down

You, you enchant me even when you're not around

If there are boundaries, I will try to knock them down

I’m latching on, babe, now I know what I have found

I feel we're close enough

Could I lock in your love?

I feel we’re close enough

Could I lock in your love?

Now I’ve got you in my space

I won’t let go of you

Got you shackled in my embrace

I’m latching on to you

I’m so en-captured, got me wrapped up in your touch

Feel so enamored, hold me tight within your clutch

How do you do it? You got me losing every breath

What did you give me to make my heart bleed out my chest?

I feel we're close enough

Could I lock in your love?

I feel we’re close enough

Could I lock in your love?

Now I’ve got you in my space

I won’t let go of you

Got you shackled in my embrace

I’m latching on to you

Now I’ve got you in my space

I won’t let go of you

Got you shackled in my embrace

I’m latching on to you

Guess it's true, I'm not good at a one-night stand

But I still need love 'cause I'm just a man

These nights never seem to go to plan

I don't want you to leave, will you hold my hand?

Oh, won't you stay with me?

'Cause you're all I need

This ain't love it's clear to see

But darling, stay with me

Why am I so emotional?

No it's not a good look, gain some self control

And deep down I know this never works

But you can lay with me so it doesn't hurt

Oh, won't you stay with me?

'Cause you're all I need

This ain't love it's clear to see

But darling, stay with me

Oh, won't you stay with me?

'Cause you're all I need

This ain't love it's clear to see

But darling, stay with me

Oh, won't you stay with me?

'Cause you're all I need

This ain't love it's clear to see

But darling, stay with me

My date with Sam Smith @ The Greek 9/29/14

Tears for Fears

When: Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Where: The Wiltern, Los Angeles
Accompanied by: Gabrielle
Genre: Alternative Rock


Set List: Secret World, Sowing the Seeds of Love, Pale Shelter, Call Me Mellow, Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, Change, Mad World, Memories Fade, Closest Thing to Heaven, Ready to Start, Floating Down the River, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Advice for the Young at Heart, Woman in Chains, Badman's Song, Break It Down, Head Over Heels

Encore: The Working Hour, Shout

They are still selling out shows!!

I had the opportunity to see Tears for Fears a few years back at the OC Fair w/ my friend, Kerrie. They were amazing then...and they certainly did not disappoint this night either. In fact, there is just something to be said about seeing any band at a venue as amazing as The Wiltern. 

Tai & Gabs
I luffs her so much!

Gabrielle spoiled me with picking up tickets for this show as a birthday gift....yup, leave it to me to milk my August birthday all the way into September!!  I won't lie though, I really wanted to go to this concert but with all that has been going on in life, this was one that I figured I'd have to miss. Thank you, Gabs, for making sure that didn't happen.

For whatever reason, my emotional state has been a bit off the charts lately. Chalk it up to getting older, reevaluating life, trying to determine what is in store for the 2nd half of my life..so, music as always speaks to me on various levels.  I knew tonight would most likely bring about a few tears... possibly even tears for fears?  *sorry*

And I knew without a doubt that once they performed this one, that there would be no holding back (although the Gary Jules version destroys me much worse).  It's just one of those songs that will always take me back and propel me forward like a slingshot - reminding me that I am and always will be a little bit broken.



Oh, and let's not forget this one...



And of course, any song from Songs From the Big Chair were going to be embraced wholeheartedly... that is the album that certainly instilled my love for this band. As it did for many, I'm sure.

Between the company of my amazing partner in crime, memorable music, stunning venue and one too many cocktails, I place this evening up there at a high 9.5.  The only way it could have been a full 10 is if there weren't taller people in front of us. And if the person behind us didn't accidentally knock the margarita out of Gab's hand. Although, I will give them props for offering to compensate the loss with a few dollars. That was decent.

Tear For Fears
The Wiltern - Los Angeles
September 23, 2014

Meshell Ndegeocello w/ King

When: Sunday, September 21, 2014

Where: El Rey Theater, Los Angeles
Accompanied by: KJ
Genre: Funk, Soul, R&B, Hip Hop, Rock, Jazz


Set List: Unknown

Can't say a whole lot about this show. Unfortunately, I was not well and we had to leave about an hour into things. It was one of those nights where I was determined to ignore my illness until it got to the point that I could no longer enjoy myself.

Fortunately, he who endures my madness was completely understanding. After a quick stop at Rite Aid, I took a shot of sleepy cold medicine and was long knocked out before arriving home. 

Guess I'm not much of a rock star after all.

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Meshell Ndegeocello 

@ El Rey Theatre

By Falling James Sunday, Sep 21 2014

Meshell Ndegeocello has so many ways of getting through to you. She's an utterly sublime bassist who can seamlessly cover the waterfront of jazz, funk and soul before floating off into pure psychedelia. She's an enchanting vocalist who can soothe with her tone while startling you with her frank yet poetic lyrics. She's bold enough to stand her ground against her former champion, Madonna, and flexible enough to have collaborated with John Mellencamp, Basement Jaxx, The Rolling Stones and The Blind Boys of Alabama. From the soul-deep entreaties of her 1993 debut album, Plantation Lullabies, to the spaced-out jazz-reggae idylls on her latest release, Comet, Come to Me, Ndegeocello always manages to be confrontational and fearless, even as her music shape-shifts through various layers of dreamy hypnosis. 

LINK