RIP Big Man

Not too long ago, I wrote about attending a screening and meeting both Clarence and Bruce. It really was an amazing experience for me. To be in the presence of both of them at the same time brought me to tears literally. I thought I would cry today at The Stone Pony. I didn't.
I danced, I sang, I celebrated, I reminisced. I am left speechless and silent for now. To try to give words to this day, to this feeling would put it out there for commentary. Unwelcome for sure. Ironically, I publicly acknowledge and reference this death and this day. However privately, I want to think, I want to remember, I want to be in this moment. It is all I have. Now.

Cake, Music Hall of Williamsburg

While my friends were dutifully attending or hosting Seder meals, I was eating a veggie hot dog and drinking a Lovin' Cup brew at The Lovin' Cup in Williamsburg. Not my best pre gaming times but time was short, I was in a hurry. Cake was about to go on...no opener!
For the lucky 500 or so of us (that is my very unofficial guess at capacity for the venue) who got to see Cake in such an "intimate" setting, we did not want to miss a minute. Cake came at us right out of the box. While they did make us wait in the semi darkness with very bad dramatic music playing, they started with a string of favorites in the first few songs many of which encouraged the camp fire sing a long participation we have all come to know and love.
My personal favorite came when I got to ponder the question aloud with the lyrics "How do you afford (that) rock and roll lifestyle?". A lone t shirt was thrown into the eager crowd right after that song. Did anyone realize he was just singing about buying t shirts and the threw one out?
No worries, we all had a civil rest time to ponder this and many other pressing questions posed by Cake lyrics. After a quick bathroom break, unless you are a dude and needed to stand on the long line, we were back on the dance floor. There we enjoyed choral sing alongs and tree trivia. One lucky guy walked away with a tree after answering the question "What is parchment made out of?" since he was quiet and did not attempt to use the smart phone, he was deemed worthy to answer the question. The answer is of course SHEEP SKIN. Hopefully Cake switches up the q for the T5 show. Not all of us are tree worthy.

Bruce Springsteen and Clarence Clemons 4/2/11

Where does the story begin? Was it when I was a young teenager holding my copy of "Greetings From Asbury Park", night after night? Or a 20 something rockin it at one of the countless concerts? I know where, if push came to shove I could end my story. I "met" Bruce Springsteen and Clarence Clemons at an after party last night.
After years of trying to orchestrate a close up chance to see the boss, maybe even see him play, it happened....and all by accident. It was meant to be. Last night was the night.
So maybe the story can have a shorter timeline. Let me go back to the afternoon. A spur of the moment decision to go to Asbury Park happened around 4 pm. I thought I might walk the boardwalk instead of going to the gym. Plan set in motion was sidetracked upon discovering the film festival.
The nice volunteer asked me if I know Clarence Clemons. I think she was an angel. In my head I thought of course and immediately could have engaged in a lengthy conversation about my Springsteen adoration and my teenage crush on The Big Man as well as my being moved to an alternate state of being at the sound of a sax...especially his, so I simply say yes. She tells me about his movie and says he will be there and get here early it is very popular with the locals she says.
What do you do with time to kill? Have a beer in The Wonder Bar of course. There my Springsteen Spidey sense went up. People were just a little too interested in buying tix to a doo wop band. They knew something.

Would Bruce go to the movie? Would he go to The Wonder Bar? Would he go to both? I had to decide where I would go. I knew I was going to see him tonight. I felt it. Like a bad script, as I got in my car to drive down here, THUNDER ROAD came on the radio as I drove down the parkway. I was feeling it. I did not want to blow it. How many times did I just miss him? Too many damn it. Not this time, fate brought me here. I was going to listen, be aware, discern.
I went with the movie choice. As I was sitting in the movie, I heard a photographer behind me get a call. He leaned over to his friend and said Bruce is at The Wonder Bar but I stayed put. I watched the movie, got to ask Clarence a question, made it to the after-party and there it came....my face to face with BRUCE.

He was not on stage, not holding a guitar, he was just coming into the party to take some pics with Clarence. While I did miss the chance to see him play, I got something much, much better. I was in the presence of both Bruce and Clarence outside the traditional stage jam. All I could do was babble and cry. I was overwhelmed. I still am,
Now the story can continue. One day, when I least expect it, Bruce will walk into a bar in AP and grab his guitar and sing. And if I am very, very blessed, Clarence will be in town that day too.

Lady GaGa Atlantic City

"She was the source of all my insecurities; she has no ass," Lady GaGa growled as she ripped the head off a Barbie last night in Atlantic City.

Mine too. Except Lady GaGa grew up to be able to flaunt her amazing Barbie like body. Suffice it to say, I did not. But that is ok because all the little monsters who put their claws up were in it together last night. Mother Monster would encourage us to put our claws up and be proud of who we are and not let anyone label us. Although ironically, we were the anti-freaks so to speak. Lady GaGa proclaimed "All the freaks are outside and I've locked the F#@King door!
Traditional wisdom would say indeed the freaks were out last night and in fact were on the inside of the door. I sported my perhaps not age appropriate glitter blue nail polish and zipper themed outfit. Fellow little monsters wore dresses that perchance did not suit their body types.GaGa welcomed us all with a special pied piper calling.
The lure of GaGa for many may be in her not so unique ability to speak to the outsiders. The world tells the not so perfect, the not so traditional, the not so politically correct folk that they don't belong. They may in turn seek refuge and they find it. Often that place is music and with the others who feel the pain and equally feel the pleasure.
The musician, in this case Lady GaGa, is like a mother. Telling us it is ok, she loves us just the way we are because she knows...
"We were born this way"

Presale Password Elvis Costello

Elvis and The Imposters will be taking the stage for the 10th Anniversary of the Rochester International Jazz Festival.

6/17/11 - Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre (Rochester, NY)

The presale will begin tomorrow, 1/19/10 at 3pm EST at the site below:


http://tixx1.artistarena.com/elviscostello

Username: elvis
Password: costello

Tim Fite and O'Death at The Bell House

At the risk of losing my hipster status (by the way you can gladly take it), I must confess I have never been to the The Bell House. There exists no line in the sand or "I don't go to that part of Brooklyn" philosophy behind it. I just have never been there, plain and simple.
One of the only artists that could take me out of my comfort zone on so many levels is Tim Fite. He indeed forced me to go to The Bell House. I was disappointed that Sexy Leroy was via satellite however. Sexy Leroy is of course Tim's DJ of sorts. Yet the show went on to great success. Audience participation was encouraged. We all held up our hands in unison to indicate that we all make one big mistake as one of his well known songs exclaim. I did miss Sexy Leroy jumping out into the audience and Tim did not leave the stage to replicate the Sexy Leroy experience at all.
If physical contact with the audience was on your agenda as a show goer, you just had to hold on till O'Death took the stage. Very early on in the set the mosh pit began. As mosh pits often do, it grew. No one was hurt, it was all in good fun. It was hot and smelly. Some band members started to disrobe. Shirts flew off and the energy fueled an encore. The above pictured set list may or may not include the encore. I was too busy moshing to pay attention.

Sting PR/Concert Contest

" Win Tickets To A Special Performance In Moscow

On 14 December, Sting, accompanied by an orchestra, will record a TV special in Moscow to broadcast on New Year's Eve on Channel One.

We have secured ten audience seats for Sting fans to attend the taping.

To get your name in Sting.com's prize draw for one of these tickets, all you have to do is tell us:

The name of the Moscow venue that Sting performed at on September 15, 2010 during the Symphonicity tour.

Email your answer to daveandwendy@sting.com no later than midnight on 9 December and please remember to include your name and postal address in your email for your entry to be valid, and... no multiple entries please!

The first 10 names drawn after the closing date will each win a ticket to the show. Winners will be notified on 10 December.

Good luck!

AND PLEASE...
Consider carefully whether you can actually be in Moscow on the afternoon of on December 14 before entering. This contest is for a ticket only - no hotel or travel costs are included, all of which need to be met by you if you win. "