January 17 : NFL Playoff Game

February 19 : Bonerama in Chicago

March 6 : John Mayer in Omaha

April 11 : John Mayer in Chicago

June 6 : New Kids on the Block in Hammond, IN

June 27 : Bonerama in Omaha

I also saw John in St. Louis, Conan O’Brian and the GLEE tour in Chicago, as well as visiting with this guy again:

Instead, I suggest you listen to the new John Mayer song, ‘Say‘, because its awesome.

Or look at my sleeping cat (who isn’t dying anymore than normal):

And for one last time this season: Go Hawks! Please? Just one more game to win and then we can go to a bowl game we don’t really deserve that probably won’t even be aired on a channel most of us can watch.

On Sunday, I’ll move on to basketball season. And wrestling. I did get a ticket for the Iowa v. OSU basketball game in Columbus in January when I’m there for training. Probably the only game I’ll get to see this year. Stupid cable companies and tv channels. *grumble*

I haven’t been listening to my iPod today. Today I’ve been indulging in a little early Christmas music by listening to Sujfan Stevens’ Songs for Christmas albums online. Jeff got me the boxed set for Christmas last year. [Read more about it here.] There are originals, classic Christmas tunes, and other hymns. Its very folksy and homemade and brilliant. I love it so much, but had been good and hadn’t listened to it since probably February. Today I gave in and started listening to it online, as I don’t have my Christmas music on my iPod yet. Highlights include O Come , O Come Emmanuel on Vol. I, Come Thou Font of Every Blessing on Vol. II, and That Was the Worst Christmas Ever on Vol. III. Sujfan has some of the most entertaining song titles you’ll see.

I will now take a break from the Christmas and put my iPod on shuffle and see what comes up. I have 12,561 songs on my iPod right now. I bet I haven’t listened to half of those, so I doubt my list is going to be filled with specific NOLA fabulousness (it would if I just used my NOLA or Harry playlists), but this could be entertaining or very dull.

[List after the jump]

1. Someone to Watch Over Me as performed by Gertrude Lawerence from the musical ‘Oh, Kay!’ on the Best of Broadway: The American Musical album – This is from the big PBS mini-series about the history of the American musical. I know I enjoyed the mini-series a lot. I need to see more musicals. Obviously this song is a classic, Gershwin, part of the American Songbook and everyone and their cousin has recorded or performed it.
2. Overture from Man of La Mancha – I have a large collection of movie soundtracks and broadway cast recordings. I haven’t seen this show, but I know I got the album from Doogie because I think it is one of his favorite musicals. I know some of the music in the Overture because it is classic. Everyone knows ‘The Impossible Dream’, even if they don’t think they do. We also performed ‘Don Quixote sails the Volga’ in marching band one year. I remember the sousies having this great musical line and also forming a boat and rowing themselves across the field. Such are the random memories of my life.
3. Rat A Tang Tang by Papa Grows Funk from the City Life 2005 Local Music CD – PGF is a popular NOLA funk band. The track is groovy, but I’m not a huge PGF fan. I know I got the CD, that was in a NOLA magazine, from Stacey. I think Bonerama was on the same disc.
4. A Thousand Autumns on ‘The Dark Keys’ by Branford Marsalis – I have a lot of Branford tracks that I’ve never given a proper listen to. I’ve seen him perform with Harry once, but I don’t know if I’ve seen him on his own and I should sometime. Harry is on Branford’s label and they work together a lot, especially now with the Musicians’ Village. I remember the first time I was really exposed to Branford’s playing was on the Sneakers soundtrack. He plays mostly soprano on that album, but it is divine. Being a tenor sax player myself, there is always a special place in my listening heart for artists like Branford.
5. Autumn in New York by Frank Sinatra – Another classic song. I have so many Sinatra ‘greatest/classic hits’ albums, I can’t even keep them straight. I love Sinatra. I hate the comparisons of Harry to Frank.
6. Wannabe by The Spice Girls – How timely, how funny, how great. This song came out the summer after my freshman year at college. It was everywhere. How many times did I dance to this at the Fieldhouse? The other Spice Girls memory is that I was living in Wales when Geri left the group in 1998. The UK takes their pop music really seriously (for three weeks at a time) and it was like someone had died. It was everywhere. Like people were in mourning. So bizarre. I know Kristy got tickets to see their reunion tour in Vegas next month, now I see they’re coming to Chicago next year. I have to check if Scott wants to go to that. I think it would be a scream! Zig-a-zig-ahhh!
7. Sinking by Jars of Clay on their self-titled debut album – Love this album. I recently dug it back out for my car CD player. This came out my freshman year in college, but where I know it from is my last full summer working as a counselor at Summer Games, we listened to that album all the time. Used it in worship services. Performed songs from it. Its such a great album from top to bottom. The lyrics are great, the music is beautiful. I saw them in concert once. I know I have a Jars of Clay t-shirt somewhere in my vast collection. I have some of their follow-up albums, but I didn’t think they captured the same musical spirit as the first one, but I see they’re still putting out records, including a new Christmas album, I may have to check them out again.
8. The Girls, The Prince, and the Painting from the Ever After soundtrack – Like I said before, I’m a big collector of movie soundtracks, musical scores, the instrumental parts, especially. It took me awhile to find this one originally. I’m not usually a fan of romantic movies, but Ever After is really delightful and lovely without being too sappy. The music by George Fenton reflects that well.
9. Everything About It Is a Love Song on ‘Surprise’ by Paul Simon – Paul Simon is in my top five of favorite singers. Obviously he’s a living legend of the music industry. I started listening to him with the classic ‘Graceland’ album, several years after it came out. ‘Surprise’ is his latest studio album from a couple of years ago. What I love about Paul Simon is that for someone who has been putting out music for over forty years, is that he’s not resting on his laurels. I was really amazed at how great this last album was. I listen to it all the time. He’s on my short list of musicians I need to see live.
10. What If by Kate Winslet – And here’s the example of a completely random song I thought I would pop up earlier. Listening to it, I realize I’ve heard it before in my iPod listening, but I have no idea where it came from. I didn’t even knew Kate Winslet (yes, Rose from ‘Titanic’ Kate Winslet) sang. Looking at wikipedia, apparently this was her one released single on a soundtrack album. Its not bad, just nothing special. She has a lovely voice.

I can blather on about anything, can’t I?

And because I was curious, here are the next ten songs that my iPod served up, sans commentary:

1. The March of the Siamese Children from ‘The King and I’ soundtrack
2. Honorable Hong Kong Rock by The Out-Landers from Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 8 : Cocktail Capers
3. An Introduction for the album ‘Simply Mad About the Mouse’
4. Attacking A Star Destroyer from ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ soundtrack
5. Stoic Revolutions on ‘Beyond’ by Joshua Redman
6. Honey Suckle Rose by Duke Ellington
7. Perhaps by Charlie Parker from ‘The Complete Savoy & Dial Master Takes’
8. Self-Portrait with Hair Down from the ‘Frida’ soundtrack
9. Mal Fights Niska / Back Home from the ‘Firefly: Original Television Sountrack’
10. Edwardo The Barber from the ‘Edward Scissorhands’ soundtrack

There are all the random soundtrack tracks I had been expecting. Nice to know my iPod was accommodating for my first ten shuffles.

Source: my ex-band geek co-worker who has a son who plays the saxophone. ]]> http://www.wendydecora.com/2007/11/06/sad-sign-of-the-times/feed/ 0 http://www.wendydecora.com/2007/09/21/continuing-my-trend-of-no-actual-content/ http://www.wendydecora.com/2007/09/21/continuing-my-trend-of-no-actual-content/#comments Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:30:02 +0000 admin http://www.wendydecora.com/2007/09/21/continuing-my-trend-of-no-actual-content/ I give you this video of John Mayer that made me laugh:

We certainly hope you all enjoy the show. And remember, people, that no matter who you are and what you do to live, thrive and survive, there’re still some things that makes us all the same. You. Me. Them. Everybody. Everybody.

If anyone’s looking to pick me up a little something for my birthday next month, somehow I don’t have The Blues Brothers on DVD. Oh the horror!

Three orange whips anyone?

mmmMMMmmm…. chocolate chips.

Where was I? Oh yes, I was being productive. No really, I am. But I am not a machine and I needed a few moments break from thinking of SELECT site_names FROM locations statements. I hopped on the tubes and ended up reading one of John Mayer’s Esquire magazine columns from February. Entitled “Music Lessons with John Mayer”, it is about B.B. King on the occasion of his 80th birthday. The end of the short column reads thusly:

But legends are legends for damn good reason, even if they eventually help sell soda and lottery tickets. Ray Charles was taken for granted much the way B. B. King is now. But if Ray were to have one more night on this earth to play a two-hour set, we would all pay big money to pack the largest stadium and stand rapt with attention for the entire evening.

Ray’s gone, but B. B. King’s still here. He’s playing your town any day now. Go see him.

I know Jerry & Sara got to see Ray Charles somewhere in Iowa a year or two before he died and I’ve always regretted not seeing him when I had the chance. I then remembered that recently Hancher had announced some late additions to their 2007-2008 season and upon checking the website I saw that B.B. King was one those additions. So I listened to John and bought a ticket for the show in February.

Now I must get back to being productive, bolstered by the happiness of the prospect of live music, no matter how far off it is.

For the last six weeks or so I’ve been really honestly busy at work. Its good and yet really stressful. I’m under a lot of deadlines and its a lot of change. I’ve been dealing with this by escaping into movies and music when I don’t have to be at work.

It feels like it was months ago, but way back at the beginning of June I got in a time machine and went back to 1999. My favorite band from college, 3 Minute Hero, had a reunion weekend in Minnesota, so I joined Brandon & Jenniffer, Josh, Jeff, Frosty & Margaret, BC, and other assorted peeps who dropped in during the weekend for a lot of good times. We danced and partied and ate for three days. It was soooo much fun. See: pictures and videos.

On the movie front, I saw Ocean’s 13 and really enjoyed it. It was the sequel that should Ocean’s 12 should’ve been if only the cast and director had spent more time making a movie rather than hanging out at George Clooney’s Italian villa. Ocean’s 13 was hip and cool and full of great eye candy.

My next musical treat was on June 18th when I went to my first John Mayer concert in Des Moines with Julie and Kelly. Kelly had seen John once before, but she was almost more excited than Julie and I because she knew what she was going to get to see. But it could’ve just been the second row floor seats that I scored that were really the exciting part, I’m not sure. Ben Folds opened and that was great. I’ve liked Ben Folds for a long time. He’s so funny and he puts on a great live show. He did this great I-made-this-up-backstage-tonight song based on a flyer for some march in central Iowa later this summer. I got some decent video of the world premiere performance of “March! To Re-Energize Iowa”:

After Ben finished his fun and amusing set, it was finally time for John to take the stage. Yay! It was a great first show experience. Our seats were great. The way the acoustics were, I could never really tell if the crowd was into it or not, which was ok because I was afraid there would be way too many screaming girls. It was actually a really mixed crowd from families with young kids (like 9 or 10) to couples in their 60′s, with a lot of 20 and 30-somethings in between. John did not fail to impress. He played a great mix of all his songs and while he never really stretched out on any massive guitar jams, I know they’re just out there to be experienced at another show. I was really pleased when he did the acoustic version of ‘Slow Dancing in a Burning Room’ during the encore. That was all I really wanted to hear. See pictures and videos.

Back on the movie front, I decided one trip to Des Moines in a week wasn’t enough as I headed back to DM for a special screening of one of my favorite movies: Serenity (which I have now seen five times in the theater.) It was showing one night only as part of the worldwide Can’t Stop the Serenity charity screenings in support of Equality Now and celebration of Joss Whedon‘s birthday. I met up with Kristy VanderWall (nee Phipps) and we had a lovely geek evening. Its been fun getting to know she shares the love of the Whedon oeuvre.

Meanwhile, back at the music ranch, it was Jazzfest time in Iowa City. I volunteered again this year, though my motivations for working backstage security on Saturday were a little more selfish than last year. The reason was that Stanton Moore, a New Orleans drummer of Galactic fame, who also has his own trio, and who also plays with Bonerama on occasion (he’s performed on their last two albums), was playing on the main stage on Saturday. It was the best weekend for Jazzfest as the weather was amazing. Usually its either 100 degrees or its raining, but not this time. I had a great time getting to hang out close to the stage and hear all the great and different acts and just watching the crowd from the side of the stage. Stanton’s set was so good and people were really into it. (Though I did have to fight the urge to go out and tell every single one of them about the upcoming Bonerama show in Iowa City.) Here’s some video I took from backstage:

After getting my music fix for the weekend, I had to get back to the movie theater as I was quickly falling behind with all the summer movies. Taking my duty very seriously, I saw four movies in the theaters in three days (Transformers, 1408, Live Free or Die Hard,, and Ratatouille), then watched the four Harry Potter movies on DVD in a little over 48 hours and then went to the midnight screening of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I must admit, I was a little dazed and felt like I didn’t know what to do with myself after I got done watching the fifth one.

As far as the entire summer movie offerings are going so far, I’d say this is the order I’d recommend them in:

1. Ratatouille
2. Waitress
3. Transformers
4. Pirates 3
5. Harry Potter 5
6. Ocean’s 13
7. 1408
8. Live Free and Die Hard
9. Shrek the Third (sucked)
10. Spiderman 3 (really really sucked)

Ok, that’s it. My mind is now free to catch up on everything I need to be saying about Bonerama tomorrow.

While I was enjoying my new laundry facilities last night, I was chatting with Jeff. We were discussing if we’d seen Sunday’s episode of The Sopranos yet. Neither of us had, but were both working to remedy that situation. I finally got around to watching it at about 9:30pm. Holy crap! I won’t spoil it for anyone because I know a lot of people watch it in a very time-shifted manner, but man, it was crazy! I immediately called Jeff thinking he would’ve seen it by now too. But he had not, and at this point it was 11:30pm eastern. However, my excitement and astonishment meant that he was going to cave and stay up and watch it. He then informed me that he was going to call me when it was over. So I did what any good TV watching friend would do: I turned my phone off and went to bed. Heh.

However, I wasn’t rewarded with a peaceful nights sleep. I read for awhile and then it took me a bit to get to sleep. Once I did I had a very vivid dream. The beginning of the dream was so blissful. In the dream it was a lovely summertime and I was living in this great old house, doing nothing much in particular. The best part? John Mayer was my next door neighbor. Oh yeah. Good times. He was just taking some time off to relax and work on some new music. We’d hang out. I’d listen to him play guitar. He was the sarcastic, intelligent, and amusing friend I’m sure he’d be.

[An aside back into the real world: He has an EP out on iTunes called 'The Village Sessions' and there is a bonus video with it. A 20 minute piece on how he created/wrote the song 'In Repair' in one day with no plans before he hit the studio was astounding. Serious musical genius at work there. Its what draws me to his music more than anything. Nothing more attractive than true musical talent.]

Unfortunately, my lovely dream world couldn’t last forever. Eventually John had to go back out on tour and he packed up and left. But before he went, he gave me his cell number and told me to call whenever if I ever needed anything. Aw. How sweet.
The next thing I know, people are breaking into my house and chasing me. I’m being hunted by the mob. (This is where my mind is getting me back for ignoring Jeff.) And I’m running all over the place. And it wouldn’t be a good dream if the surroundings didn’t constantly shift. One minute I’m running down an alley, the next I’m out in a windswept field, near a dirt road watching a few people be bludgeoned to death. It was very Miller’s Crossing. And then there is more fleeing on my part. I’m hiding in office buildings, I’m running suburban streets. My cousin Audrey (who lives in Holland?!) appears and takes my mom to safety. More running. More locations.

I finally get myself hidden away and I realize I can’t call my family or I’d put them in danger. What is a girl to do when she’s running from the mob? She calls John Mayer, obviously. I call. He answers. I describe my situation. He completely freaks out and hangs up on me!

And that’s when I wake up. Its 2:45am. The moon is shining in my window into my eyes and I’m sweating. Great.

On my way to work this morning I contemplated my dream, even though I know its pointless. I was wondering where the John Mayer aspect of it came in. The mob stuff was obvious from watching The Sopranos right before bed. I’ve been listening to a lot of his music lately, though I have been for months and I’ve never had a dream about him.

Then I opened my email this morning, the very first message I saw was the notification that my tickets for the John Mayer concert I’m going to in a few weeks had shipped… This is where you’d cue the creepy music if you believed in those kind of premonitions. *chuckle*

At least I haven’t had my recurring dream of Mark Mullins being murdered lately. Those really freak me out.

Harry Connick, Jr. has two new CD’s out today. I have them both at work with me now. They are superb big band albums. Harry’s talent for arranging never ceases to amaze. All of the members of the big band sound amazing. Everything is great. Even the liner notes that Harry wrote are gems to read. I’ll have a more detailed breakdown coming soon, but first I must completely absorb every note.

I cannot wait for the tour in March to get to hear these songs live!