Let the music extravaganza begin...

Hi There.

Saturday 2/25
Magnet/Stars Webster Hall, NYC

The train ride to new york was uneventful and I was able to sit by myself the entire time, which was nice. I reread my proposal and was generally happy with I, though I found some grammatical errors. I also finished reading the book “Against Gravity” which I thought was a decent book, though I wouldn’t recommend it with the same kind of enthusiasm as I had with The Kite Runner. I’m taking a small break from Pride and Prejudice because you have to be in a certain mood to deal with Austen’s prose. Anyway, got to nyc on time, and was on my way to meet Yetta at 12th and 2nd ave where she parked. Of course I had all my shit with me, and the L train decided not to run. So I ended up walking from 8th ave to 2nd, which isn’t so bad, except for the fact that I had a shload of crap on my back. When I finally reached the car, Yetta and I doubled back to meet up with Robyn and seven of her friends at Pioli on 12th and University. It was a fun little restaurant with colorful décor and waitresses wearing bunny ears. Yetta, Diana, and I got there first and told the manager that we were “Robyn party of 10.” Then the manager said, in his thick Italian accent, “weds betmin?” And he kept repeating it over and over because we were all standing there with dumbfounded looks on our faces. “Weds betmin?…Weds betmin?”

I look at Yetta. I look at Diana. I look at the manager, and I’m finally forced to say, “I’m sorry. What?”

“Weds betmin? You know, Robyn and betmin? Weds betmin?”

“Oh. Batman.” It was the first time in my life where someone else’s name was made the butt of an idiotic joke besides mine. But of course, the guy thought that MY name was Robyn, so I still had to make the “oh you think you’re funny, but you’re not” face at him until he said “Uh, let me show you to your table.”

Robyn and her cast of merry men and women showed up and we had a ball eating and trying to understand why Robyn’s friend CJ was speaking in tones that only dogs could hear. After dinner Yetta and I headed over to the famed Webster Hall, where I first saw J. Lo filming a music video. One of my favorite musicians Norwegian-born Even Johansen a.k.a. Magnet was opening for Canada’s best (imo) Stars! Yetta planted us down in front of the stage and we were there for about ten minutes when the man himself, Magnet came out to adjust his guitar equipment. In all the times that I’ve met musicians and given them small gifts (usually bootleg cds or dvds of their favorite artists) I’ve never written a letter. But Magnet is special. If you’ve ever heard his music, then you know this to be true. His “On Your Side” album is one of the best albums I own, and it is purely timeless. Anyway, like a big freak, I wrote Even a letter while I was on the train. I wouldn’t say that it’s the best letter I’ve written, but I think that it expressed all the things that I feel about his music.




When the show began, Magnet just blew me away with "Everything's Perfect," which also happens to be my favorite song. I was just so happy to be there, especially with Robyn, who is by far, Magnet's biggest fan ever. But I have to say, and I hate to say it, the crowd was so disrespectful. Of course, one can't expect everyone to be a major Magnet fan, especially when he's the opener for a 'fun' band like Stars. But the man is amazingly talented, and the least you can do as an audience member is speak quietly. Most of Magnet's set was comprised of songs from his first album, which was good for me. But we all came to the conclusion that he cut his set short because people were being so rude. Despite that, he was wonderful and I love him. As he packed his guitars up, I handed him the note that I wrote to him and felt like a big dork. But he did put the note in his back pocket, where it remained safe and snuggly.

Next up, the main act, Canada's own Stars. I love this band. I love their new album, love everything about it. But I wasn't sure what to expect of the live show. I wasn't disappointed in the least. This show was downright exciting. Torquil and Amy are incredibly talented people, and the band as a whole is solid and intense. I loved all the quiet numbers, especially "One more night."



Yetta's signed Stars setlist













Torq impressed me most. He has a dynamic personality on stage. The strange thing is, Amy and Torquil have no physical chemistry, but their voices have sex with one another. It's crazy. And twice during the show, Torq made me tear up. Maybe I was just feeling emotional that night, but there was something about the way he sang-with such emphasis and passion...this leads me to the weirdest discovery of today-Torquil Campbell's IMDB page. And the discovery that he was a guest star on the famed shows Sex and the City and Law and Order: SVU. Permit me to show you his 2 minutes of fame from SVU(and yes I just so happen to own the first season, and have, in the past hour, freaked out at the fact that he was on the show and I didn't even know it.):







Here he is on Sex and the City, which just happened to come on tv tonight. Fuckin' freaky that it happened to be on television, don't you think. (Why can't I win the lottery???) He only has one line, and Alanis Morrisette kisses Sarah Jessica Parker, which is strange. But you don't get to see that part. Too bad all you lesbian lovers or straight men...




So this is how it went down: the whole group wanted to meet Magnet, but I honestly think that Robyn and I would have been torn to shreds if we didn't get to see him and say hi. Robyn, naturally knows him already, like really knows him, though she would never admit to it. Even though the man thanked her in his LINER NOTES. I mean, damn, you open up the cd, and there's her name-RIGHT THERE, in the thank you section. But I had never met him and yeah, I would have been so disappointed. Yetta and I canvased the perimeter of the building and discovered no real stage entrances. The front door was it. So we waited there, when all the sudden someone said "Wait isn't that him?" And there he was just walking out the front door. Mixed in with the Webster Hall boozer crowd who could have cared less. So we booked it and basically cornered him against a car. All I rememeber is that I started talking and then I started doing something else.

I started crying. Not the ugly cry, but the snotless cry, with a little loss of breath. I just couldn't believe that this man was standing in front of me. I worship his music. And I told him that. And there he was, just listening to what I had to say. It was awesome. I think I actually shocked Yetta a little bit, because she's never seen me do that around anybody else. I didn't even cry when I met Matt Bellamy, and I probably should have cried then. But there's just something about Even that is wonderful, quiet, sincere. So we took a picture together. And then I hugged him. Because I love him. He signed my cd. I told him "Everything's Perfect" is my favorite song. He said that he kind of liked it too. And then I told him that Robyn wanted to talk to him and of course she had her back turned to him, so I grabbed her by her bag strap and basically dragged her over to him. When he saw her his face lit up. Literally, it lit up. (Robyn don't even try to deny it. I was there.) He asked her about how school was going and just talked with her like they were old buddies. It was fantastic. I want that with Bono. I want Bono to ask me about how school's going.

One for One.

Robyn and her friends left, and so Yetta and I waited outside for Stars. It was really cold by this time and we were freezing. But everyone came out and was so wonderful to us. We were the only ones there, so we had the chance to chat with everyone for a bit.


Pat-who knew drummers could be so yummy? Although he did have a mohawk, and (according to Yetta) he shaved his eyebrows off, only to draw in new ones in the shape of X's. That's a little strange. But he smelled good.





Torquil, so nice. I told him that he made me cry a little. We think the woman he was walking around with was his wife.







Evan, also sweet and super down to earth. He looked really different to me though. I think he should shave the beard so we can see the nice face.




And Amy, who is so damn friendly. She was the last to come to the bus and yelled out to us "Ladies! If I knew you were here I would have come out sooner!"

Two for Two.




Thursday 3/2 (Chris Martin's Birthday!)
Coldplay MCI/Verizon Center Washington, D.C.

Intro!

So the plan was to attack from behind. Catch Coldplay when they least expect it. Unfortunately we got to the venue a bit later than we expected to, because of all the "fucking roundabouts" in this "stupid city" called Washington D.C. Why can't the Metro (Our subway) run later? Don't they realize that we need ample time to stalk people after the show as well? We forked over 20 bucks for parking so that we could be sure we wouldn't get stuck. Anything for Johnny Buckland...I don't know whether it was Yetta constantly telling me that she loves Johnny, but the man definitely started to become more appealing as the night wore on. Not that we don't have love for our Bono wanna-be Chris Martin. His voice was in fantastic form Thursday night.

Our seats weren't in front of the stage this time around, but I'm almost glad, because we had an amazing time. Could it be possible that this concert was better than the last? We were so close the last time that we weren't really aware of the amazing visual graphics. Everything looked epic and each song was like watching a music video-in a good way. In my opinion the Coldplay visuals rival U2's show. U2's technology is much more advanced (and expensive), but I feel like Coldplay did a hell of alot with a giant curved screen. I was able to capture some stuff, but the most moving song for me was definitely "The Scientist," a song that I didn't tape. I was so engrossed in the song that I couldn't bring myself to take my eyes away. On the screen you see the wide Universe, gradually closing in on our galaxy, our solar system, the earth, and all the way onto a man's hand, and then inside his cells. It's a very simple idea, but combined with the song, it came across so thoughtfully. Other great moments include (well, everything) Square One Intro, Politik, Yellow (with great big yellow/sparkly balloons falling from the ceiling), Kingdom Come, In My Place (especially when Chris ran out into the audience near where we were sitting), and of course, Fix You.


In my Place, Chris running the audience near our section


Their new songs were also nice. I loved how fans (not me though, I'm a bad fan) remembered that it was Chris Martin's birthday. The entire floor section held up signs and everything. Very sweet. I wish that we could have all sung to him, but it wasn't meant to be. The cutest moments of the show included big-man drummer Will Champion singing with Chris and then briefly by himself. All you heard was this little, adorable voice come out of Champion. I think I actually said "aww!" I also enjoyed when Chris led Johnny to the middle of the stage and then laid down next to him on the floor-Johnny playing guitar, Chris singing sweet nothings in his ear and generally being cuddly.

You think I'm making that part up don't you? Well, it's true. Just ask the other twenty thousand people that were there.

Chris redeemed himself with this "Talk" giving his song its proper due. I was so disappointed by the Grammy performance, I felt that I might never recover from it. Man alive that sucked. All sung and spun, the Coldplay concert was a completely flawless spectacle of British love and talent. I wish they played a few more of my favorites, but you can't have everything. Even that Fiona Apple was good, and I was shocked. I was especially shocked at her enthusiasm for Coldplay. "Have fun guys!" was what she said to us at the end of her set, complete with the exclamation point. And she seemed to mean it. As if that's what she planned to do. Have fun. Doesn't really fit the Fiona persona.

Fix You Outro

After the show we made a move for the back entrance, but after about half an hour we were told that Coldplay had left the building. The guy that told us was a hottie British roadie dude who flapped his arms slightly to signal that the band had 'flown awaayyyy.' We made him swear that he was telling us the truth and he did. But we should have made him swear on his momma.

Two for Three.

Do you think that Gwynnie talks to Chris in her fake British accent just for the hell of it? Discuss.

Friday 3/3
Michael Buble Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C.

Still recovering from Coldplay action, we headed back into the depths of D.C. for the Michael Buble show. I saw David Gray there last Fall. I graduated from high school in that place. When Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune come to town they tape the show there. It's a weird, old place, where they probably held town-hall meetings, back in the days when politicians were required to care about what the masses had to say. It only seats about 3,000 people so it's significantly smalled than Wolf Trap, the venue that I saw Buble at last summer. Our seats were in the balcony section this time, but the view is pretty great from most places in the venue. His really annoying opening act was the same comedian as the last time, and of course, he told all the same lame jokes.

But soon after, Buble hit the stage with a fury, singing "Feeling Good":

Feeling Good

His voice was just as strong as the beginning of the tour, which means that he must take good care of it. This man has so much charisma that it's surprising that he can even sleep at night. He really appeals to so many different age groups, and he's incredibly sexy. I was such a doubter at first, but no longer. I'm completely sold on him. His voice is one of the strongest I've ever heard, and he's quite hilarious. He's a real joker and ham. Very playful and witty. Did I mention sexy?

Michael Jackson Spoof


He ran out into the audience again (this must be the new trend) all the way up into the center balcony and everyone freaked out. He even did a little mocking of Michael Jackson, which you can watch in the video above. And then he made fun of James Blunt during one of his own songs, which was hysterical. You can watch that below.



Anyway, Buble higlights included Feeling Good, Home, Fever, Moondance, and his entire ending -Save the last Dance, where we watched as he turned a happy, but subdued crowd into a crazy, dancing club. People ran down from the balconies to the front of the stage to dance, and the whole place lit up in collective joy. He's sensual, fun, sweet, sarcastic, and powerful. He proved that power on his last song (Song for You) when he belted out the last few verses. It was completely inspired. Watch that below:

"Song for You" awesome Buble belting

After the show we, of course, booked it to the stage entrance to catch up with the Buble. There was a whole crowd of people waiting, but after about 30 minutes some 'people' told us that Buble had left through the FRONT door. We didn't believe that for a second. It makes no sense for an artist that popular to leave out the front door where everyone and their momma is filing out. But as people in the waiting group began to leave (Yetta kept yelling "Quitters!") we found ourselves alone. He never came. And it sucked. But the night was still young, and the concert was amazing.

Two for Four.

Sunday 3/5
KT Tunstall Rams Head Tavern, Annapolis, Maryland


We headed to Annapolis, the capital of Maryland, and a place I've probably been to about three times in my life. It's a sleepy little bay town about 45 minutes away from Silver Spring. We pretty much found the venue right away, save another lovely roundabout that Yetta had to drive around twice. We had a few hours to spare so we spent our time walking up and down this "main street" which actually had a "general store." The center of town sits right on the water and it was a beautiful view. Yetta spent most of her time enjoying the water, thinking about the Edge, and worrying about the seagulls flying at her head, aiming to snap it off with their beaks. So naturally, I took a picture of the bird so that she would always remember.

Rams Head Tavern is the kind of place sleepy town adults frequent. It's a nicely decorated establishment, with pictures of musicians on the walls, lined up in neat little frames in neat little rows. They weren't really letting people in on time, so Yetta and I waited outside near the tour bus, hoping to catch up with Ms. KT herself. I, being the pessimist that I am, thought that KT was inside already. But lo and behold, the tour bus door opened and this tiny little hot woman stepped out, surrounded by three band/crew people and they all appeared to be way too cool for this town. After about 30 seconds of back and forth "Is it her?" "I'm not sure..." "I think it's her" "Damn, she's so short," Yetta moved in for the stalk. Of course you could find me standing about 10 feet away from the situation, out of fear that KT, all 5'2" of her, would somehow hurt me with her possible rejection. She turned to us and we both spoke to her at a mile a minute telling her things like: you're amazing...I came all the way from New Jersey to see you, although that's not as far as you...congratulations on all your awards and beating out U2 and Coldplay, even though we love them too!...oh my god 'Heal Over' is my favorite song...'Silent Sea' is mine!...



Her manager took a picture with both of usand signed our cds. She was very down to earth, and Yetta and I were two very grateful girls. We unfortunately sat at a table with the two most annoying talkers in the place and I wanted to punch them in their necks. Fortunately, they shut their traps when KT hit the stage in a blue sparkly dress, cowgirl boots, and a scottish accent. The girl had to keep it real.

From the first to the last song, I was mesmerized. Each song was better than the last. She played with a full band, but still used her loop machine thingamajiggy to add her own background vocals and effects. Her voice was so strong and evocative - she's a chick rocker like no other. She sang my favorite song "Heal Over" in a different way an it was positively haunting. I taped some of it for you to see:



I would have taped more, but I didn't want to be completely conspicuous. This show was fantastic and I know from this mometnt on that I'll never be able to see a KT Tunstall show for 12 dollars ever again. This woman is a rock star.

We tried to speak to her after the show but weren't able to. Yetta managed to find setlists and KT's picks for both of us, which was awesome.



As you can see on the setlist, KT replaced Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees" with her own 'heal over.' Did she make the last minute replacement because I told her it was my favorite song?? Perhaps....

More likely, she saw the kind of crowd that was there and realized that they probably didn't know who Radiohead were. Anyway, the night rocked. And when we got dinner later in the night, the waiter was cute and flirty. We finished off the night watching the Oscars on tape. They sucked. And I can't believe Crash beat Brokeback Mountain.

Three for Five. Not too shabby!!!

-***************--

In other news, I'm totally depressed by what happened on 24 last night. Why Edgar? Why, for the love of god, why? You made Chloe cry! How hot was the Tony Almeida crying? I think I rewound that part at least ten times. What was the dealy-o with Aaron and the first lady? Hubba Hubba. Bring that shit on. I want Jean Smart to get some.

House is still awesome. I love Hugh Laurie.

Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Walk the Line, Jarhead, and Lady and the Tramp are out on DVD. So who's buying me what?

Listening to: Magnet, Stars, U2, Coldplay, KT Tunstall, Mute Math, John Mayer, Kelly Clarkson, Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Death Cab for Cutie

Thanks for stopping by. Please come again. I missed you!

Bon Voyage Ava! Be safe.