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...