Music and Theatre 101, Entry Numero Neuf

In September my sister and I attended the Def Leppard concert with special guests Heart.  This was the 3rd time I have seen Def Leppard and they never fail to disappoint!

"Rise up! gather round, rock this place to the ground.  Burn it up let's go for broke, watch the night go up in smoke.  Rock on! Rock on!  Drive me crazier, no serenade, no fire brigade, just Pyromania!"

Whatever era of Heart you enjoy most, you got the best of both the 70’s and 80’s with this sister act. Ann and Nancy Wilson, the driving force behind the band since their heyday, still lead the ship, and a rocking one at that. You sing along no matter if it’s “Magic Man “or “Alone” because they are great, iconic, rock songs that helped define their particular eras.

Def Leppard has a similar connection with their classic hard rock songs from 81-83 with releases High N’ Dry and Pyromania and then a more commercial rock sound with Hysteria from 1987 and onward that produced a ton of hit singles and made them one of the biggest band on the planet. Again you catch yourself singing along to all of their hits regardless of which era you prefer, at least this is how this show ended up for me.  It was a huge sing-a-long of fun, power ballads, and air guitar playing along with Phil during “Animal”

Music and Theatre 101, Entry Numero Huit

In August, as opposed to seeing a Musical or Concert, I had the privilege of being IN a concert.  Music and Hope - The Chelsea Chiala Benefit Show for SIDS, was put on by my voice teacher's (Gayle Greenbrook) tap dancing group called Tap Explosion.  I was one of the lucky few asked to be a guest singer.  Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexpected, sudden death of a child under age 1 in which an autopsy does not show an explainable cause of death.  Chelsea passed only having been on earth for 9 short weeks.  In honor of Chelsea we put together this show in which 100% of the proceeds went to The American SIDS Institute in memory of Chelsea.  We ended up raising over $5,000!!  It was so exciting to be a part of something so wonderful.  RIP Chelsea.  We love you and miss you...  



Music and Theatre 101, Entry Numero Sept

Since in July I Couldn't attend any concerts or musicals, I saved up the Tim McGraw concert for the month of July!  I had SUCH a blast at this concert!  I sang along to every song and re-lived some great childhood memories!

"Just to see you smile I'd do anything that you wanted me to.  And all is said and done, I'd never count the cost, it's worth all that's lost.  Just to see you smile"

The bar was set pretty high for Tim McGraw:  From what I heard, his 2010 tour was a nearly perfect example of a seasoned artist at the top of his game. This years "Emotional Traffic" Tour definitely didn't dissapoint.

Popular newcomers The Band Perry opened the three-act bill, rushing through a set that sadly varied little in tempo or feel.

Storming the stage next with flashing strobe lights and random AC/DC riffs, was Luke Bryan,  who specializes in the kind of frat-boy country that makes you feel naked if you don't have a have a beer in your hand.  Let's just say I wasn't the biggest fan...

Tim McGraw finally appeared on a small riser in the middle of the packed amphitheater, and kicked off the show with some of his hits: "Something Like That,"  "Where the Green Grass Grows"  and "Last Dollar."  It is easy to see why he has been voted entertainer of the year so many times.  Tim sounded great and looked great and won me over.  He is by far one of my favorite artists I have seen live, and despite the somewhat pitiful opening performances, this show has moved up into my top 3 favorite concerts I have been to.  For country music lovers, Tim McGraw is definitely a must-see!

Music and Theatre 101, Entry Numero Six

In June, Brett and I attended the Forever The Sickest Kids Concert.  The crowd was small, but the quantity didn't matter because the quality of the audience was epic!

 "I candy-coat and cover everything, but I'm still hiding underneath.  It's been a long time, it's been a long time.  A thousand faces looking up at me.  Hands all pointed to the ceiling, oh, what a feeling!"

 

 FTSK released their new album just a few months ago. The recent departure of their former keyboardist Kent Garrison, left me uncertain as to whether they could go on with their electronic sound without him.  Their new songs proved that they can.   FTSK’s energetic music shook the floor of Slim's in San Francisco and the fans did nothing to help it stay still. Their set consisted of a perfect combination of hits from all of their three records including “Whoa Oh!” and “She’s a lady” from Underdog Alma Mater, “She Likes” and “Hip Hop Chick” from The Weekend: Friday and “Keep On Bringing Me Down”, “Life Of The Party” and “I Guess You Can Say Things Are Getting Pretty Serious” from Forever The Sickest Kids. Live, their music sparked off some crazy crowd-surfing and pretty loud sing-along.  This band loves their fans, therefore the excitement continued after the concert was over.  FTSK came outside to do a short meet and great with their fans, and four FTSK concerts later my dreams came true.  I finally got to meet the band's lead singer Jonathan Cook.  

Music and Theatre 101, Entry Numero Cinq

In May, Brett and I attended Sunnyvale Community Player's (one of my second homes) production of "Cabaret".

"I used to pretend I was someone quite mysterious and fascinating. Then I grew up and realized I WAS mysterious and fascinating"

Set during the decadent final days of the Weimar Republic, and based on Christopher Isherwood’s Berlin Stories, Cabaret tells the interlocking stories of a cabaret singer, Sally Bowles; the American writer, Cliff who takes her in; a malevolent Master of Ceremonies; and the other locals who are mostly oblivious to the looming threat of Nazism. This dark, daring, and provocative musical offers a hard look at why life is most definitely not a cabaret.

Leanne Payne, as both director and choreographer brought together a well oiled cast of talent and strength.  The show was clever and impeccably smooth.  The cast as a whole sounded like a professional cast, which made me quite warm and fuzzy inside to know that a community theatre program was working hard at bringing exceptional performances to the audience.  Overall this show was one of my favorite I have seen at SCP.  Each performer was quite talented with unique strenghts and together the actors brought a real backbone and power to the show that has been lacking in past productions I have seen.    

Music and Theatre 101, Entry Numero Quatre

In April, my sister Taryn and I attended the 30 Seconds to Mars Concert....I came home with nothing but bruised arms, a bloody scalp and complete and utter disappointment.

 "I tried to be someone else, but nothing seemed to change.  I know now, this is who I really am inside.  Finally found myself, fighting for a chance.  I know now, this is who I really am."

I have found that I don't have much to say about this concert other than it was by far the worst concert I have ever been to.  The band's fans are a bunch of aggressive rude people that view the band as a religion.  Jared Leto is an absolute tool.  The band didn't sound great live and couldn't even come close to redeeming the egotistical pig that is their lead singer.  Jared Leto was awkwardly vulgar and the rest of the band members were a complete drag to watch onstage.  I still want my money back.

Music and Theatre 101, Entry Numero Trois...Part Deux...

Later in March I attended the Broadway tour of "Rock Of Ages" for my sister's birthday.  The show proved to be very different...not your typical Broadway musical.  It was rowdy, cheesy and sleazy...everything 1980's. 

 "back in the day if you had a dream, a fifth of jack, and a decent amount of hair there was nowhere else to be!"

"Rock of Ages"

"Rock of Ages," A Broadway jukebox musical spins the time machine dial back to the 1980s. It's a shamelessly silly and refreshingly self-amused ride for a good deal of the way. But it helps to have your nostalgia ticket punched in advance.  If the power chords of "We Built This City" or "Don't Stop Believin' " don't ring at least some kind of bell, you may feel left out of the "Rock of Ages" party. The music, freely cut, spliced, reorchestrated and repurposed, is by several arena-rock titans of the decade.

Chris D'Arienzo's book, set on L.A.'s Sunset Strip, is intentionally lightweight, occasionally clever and sometimes lame. The charming Constantine Maroulis plays a shy aspiring rocker who falls in love with a fresh-faced girl from Kansas (the vocally vibrant Elicia MacKenzie). True love behaves according to form, by not running smooth. Meanwhile a nasty developer and his son (did they have to be German?) are trying to wipe out the nightclubs and strip joints and replace them with strip malls. The performers, working on high octane in Kelly Devine's blunt, hip-heavy choreography, regularly break the fourth wall and invade the house. A narrator ( Patrick Lewallen) wears out his welcome with commentary about the other characters and the musical they're all in. Peter Deiwick delights as the preening but insecure rock star Stacee Jaxx.   

The show is full of gloriously awful hair and clothing. Teased, kinked, coiffed, brutally straightened or freely flowing, the tresses onstage are a wondrous phenomenon. So are the miniskirts, studded vests, the glam-rock and boy-band get-ups. You may get tired of the characters before you lose interest in how they look...

 

Music and Theatre 101, Entry Numero Trois

It's been a while, but I have been sticking to my New Years resolution!!  So here we go for March...

In March, Brett and I planned on going to the Good Charlotte/Forever The Sickest Kids tour.  It wasn't until we got to San Francisco that we found out FTSK and dropped out of two weekend shows and our just happened to be one of them.  We figured we would go re-live our jr. high years by attending the GC concert, however found ourselves a tad concerned.  Would GC have a terrible set with new music we didn't know?  Will they take themselves way to seriously?  Have they completely sold out and become major tools?  

...SURPRISE!!  

Out of all the concerts Brett and I have been to together, this still holds the #1 spot for best concert we have attended together.

"And if I make it through today will tomorrow be the same
Am I just running in place?
If I stumble and I fall
Should I get up and carry on or will it all just be the same"

So the GC concert started off rough...three absolutely tragic opening bands.  Painful and redundant. HOWEVER!! Good Charlotte was a most delightful surprise.  The band played their first two albums in entirety minus about 4 songs.  Only one song was played which Brett and I did not know.  Hearing "Emotionless" was a real treat because they almost never play that song live.  We also got another fun surprise when during the middle of their set the broke out into a cover of Blink 182's "Dammit".     From time to time when band members pause to talk to the audience one would pay whatever they had in his/her pocket just to shut the band up.  GC wasn't that way in the slightest.  They were funny, smart and very clean.  All in All it was a super fun show coming from a super fun and down to earth band that loves life, music, and mostly their fans.  We didn't quite realize how great the show was until walking back to my car.  When we realized we had almost lost our voices from singing so loud we felt a little lame, yet realized what a great time we had.  It looks like Good Charlotte was just as fun when we were 12 and 13 as they are now :)

Aaron Gillespie "We Were Made For You" (Official Music Video)

I love this video. I thought it needed to be shared.

"Foxy Teylor"

Forever The Sickest Kids...

NEW ALBUM COMING 3/1/11

So my sister made the highest donation to the Invisible Children organization.  In return I recieved a personalized video from 2 members of one of my favorite bands.  Best Valentines gift ever!!  Love my sister!!

Music and Theatre 101, Entry Numero Deux

Thank you to my wonderful boyfriend Brett for buying me tickets to see this musical.  One of the best birthday presents I have ever received.  This show was absolutely mesmerizing.

"Valium is my favorite color"

"Next To Normal"
This is one show that definitely has the ability to tug at your heart again and again...

Asa Somers, who plays Ripley’s onstage husband, Dan, held his own remarkably against the powerhouse, Tony-winning performance by Alice Ripley. Somers’ vocals were incredible and they blended perfectly with his son’s, Gabe (Curt Hansen), vocals.  Somer’s performance added an intensity to Dan that was just breathtaking.  And then there’s Emma Hunton who plays the jaded, sarcastic daughter, Natalie. Her crystalline vocals never stopped being impressive. Her rendition of “Superboy and the Invisible Girl” was spot-on. Hunton raised the stakes in a way that created a beautiful arc to Natalie’s character.  Henry (Preston Sadleir), Natalie’s boyfriend, also rounded out the fiercely talented cast. Sadleir did a marvelous job with the role and complemented Hunton’s intensity with his calm/easy-going personality.  At points, Ripley struggled vocally to get every note out but you don’t care because her dramatic intentions are so intensely motivated. There’s never a second on stage when you don’t believe that she’s not actually struggling with bi-polarism/schizophrenia.

Memories: October - December 2010

Here is a continuation of my memories from 2010...I finally have a free day to blog about it!!  Now where did I leave off?  Ahh yes!!  The Aunts game to visit....Onward ho!!!!!

BUT FIRST!!  I skipped a huge part of my summer in my last memories post...

I spent a couple of months over the summer playing on a co-ed softball team with my besties.  I wasn't too great, but I have some of the best memories!!  Got to hang out with church buddies every saturday over the summer, what could be better?

Columbia Saloon

Old Columbia School House

Angels Camp

Columbia Saloon

Creek at Murphy's

Old Columbia school house

Found at an antique shop.  Anyone who is familiar with The Music Man will understand why this made my sister and I laugh so hard.

So my family took a weekend of vacation and stayed in a little house in Columbia.  We love the old Gold Rush towns and visit them often.  The highlight of the trip for me was getting to see Big River.  This was the second time I saw the show, but it was a very special experience.  The Fallon House Theater in Columbia is one of the oldest in California, so this obviously has much sentimental value to me.  It was so amazing getting to see a show there.  I hope to perform there one day!

OK!  Now back to October...

The pictures above are that from Luke and BreAnne's wedding, as well as one of Bre's bridal showers!  Such a lovely wedding in San Francisco, and a fun time to dress up and be with friends.  Celebrating the marriage of two beloved (678) leaders was such a blast and an honor.

Why yes that is me dressed up as a chicken...
So Brett, Nicole and I wanted to do something fun for the (678) Costume party this year.  Nicole already had a cow suit, so I hand made my chicken costume and Brett dressed up as a farmer.  Unfortunately Nic couldn't make it to the jr. high party because she was at the hospital with her dear friend who was suffering from complications after giving birth to her beautiful little daughter.  So Brett and I were a farmer and his chicken.  This picture has been Brett's facebook profile picture for 3 months now...while I was an adorable chicken I'm a little tired of seeing myself all feathery.

Mini Kickers coaches at costume party

Over the beginning of Autumn I did a program with the church called Mini-Kickers.  We play around and teach the basics of Soccer to little kids.  Nicole directed the program this year, while Brett and I were coaches for the 3 year olds along with Nic's fabulous sister Rachel.  Our last day together we threw a costume party for the kids.  Brett and I finally got to reunite with our little miniature cow!

In October the girls of our Venture (678) middle school ministry took a girly trip to KOA for a weekend.  We stayed in little cabins, had movie nights, painted nails, laughed, told stories, but most importantly got to hear God's word from our wonderful speaker, fellow staff member and friend Leanne Gibson-Manzo.  I had a cabin of girls to myself and we stayed up late every night playing games, singing and telling stories.  It was one of my favorite weekends throughout all of 2010.

In November I got to meet Kat Von D the star of the hit TV show LA Ink.  I went to her book signing in San Francisco.  I had been counting down the months til I got to meet her, but started getting nervous.  I had heard so many terrible stories about how mean she was.  Luckily she wasn't.  She is such a sweet person and it wasn't a fake sweet.  She was 100% genuine.  I also got to meet Dan Smith, one of my two favorite tattoo artists working at High Voltage Tattoo.  Rooftop (Mike Escamilla) was also there.  He's a famous BMX rider and one of Kat's dear friends.  I also found the signed pair of headphones Rooftop had hidden in the bookstore.

With Miriam, Taryn, Tanya and the cover band inside the Hard Rock Hotel

This past November I took my first trip to Vegas.  As part of my early Christmas gift from my sis and brother in law they bought me tickets to see Viva Elvis, one of the newest Cirque Du Soleil shows.  It was absolutely amazing!  I also had the joy of having a whole set dedicated to me by a cover band in Vegas.  It was quite a memorable trip...came home with a new nickname.  From now on just call me Biscuit.

Taryn and I with our cousins Rylie, Noelle and Trevor!

Christmas 2010 was one of my favorites.  John came home from school in San Diego and was able to meet Brett for the first time...let's just say I ended up being the 3rd wheel.  Numerous Yahtzee, Catchphrase, Monopoly, and puzzle building games took place that Christmas break.  Was blessed with some great Christmas gifts and just had the greatest time celebrating Jesus with my friends and family.  Everything felt right with John being home.  It doesn't feel like Christmas without him because he is such a huge part of our family.  I really wish he was my brother by blood.

This concludes our journey through 2010....stay tuned for more amazing memories during 2011!