Woolly Mutts

Latest musical obsession

Adele.  People, have you heard this girl?  Give yourself a gift and do so.  I'm including a youtube video, and there are more where it came from.  Absolutely amazing.

Last Train Home

Last week Trina and I went to see P.S. I Love You.  It was an afternoon (4:00 ish) showing and there were exactly four of us in the theater, which was nice since I cried through the ENTIRE film.  Good movie, but sad to the max. One of the things I especially loved about it was the soundtrack, so I headed over to itunes and downloaded it.  I was pleased to see some old favorites; Paolo Nutini, who I've spoken of here before, James Blunt (nobody does sad songs like James Blunt), AH, but the new happy surprise was Ryan Star's Last Train Home.  Kind of edgy, but with some lovely creative lyrics, Last Train had me hooked, so I went back to itunes (itunes how I love thee) and downloaded his new (to me) album "Songs from the Eye of the Elephant".  Good stuff, all.  Last Train isn't on the new album, so if you want it you'll have to go with the PS soundtrack.  I found this little clip on youtube that has a portion of Last Train on it.  Enjoy!!

the snow turned into rain

Dan Fogelberg died yesterday at age 56 from prostate cancer.  I feel like I just lost a friend.  I honestly cannot remember a time when Dan's music wasn't a part of my life.  There isn't a single recording of his that didn't reach some part of my heart.  He was born here in Illinois and I saw him in concert several times.  I just can't believe it.  He will be deeply missed.

Who is your "stand in line" performer?

I got a nice comment from Wenders yesterday that got me to thinking.  She mentioned that Bono was her stand-in-line performer and I completely agree.  Bono is the kind of guy that I want to run into at a cocktail party (that alone is hysterically funny) and have the chance to ask him about all the things that he finds important in life.  He is such an inspiration, such a be-the-change person.  It would be awesome to see him live.

Then, I was watching all my recorded shows for the week and James Taylor was on Ellen.   Geez, I love James Taylor.  His music is like the musical score of my life. 

So finally to the thinking part.  Musical taste is a really diverse and personal thing.  I'm curious to hear who your "stand in line" performer is.  Maybe, as I've discovered about myself, you have more than one.  This might also be a chance for me to have my musical horizons broadened a bit.  So come on, this is the perfect time to come out of lurkdom and leave that comment.  Who is the performer you would be willing to stand in line to see live?

Garth on the big screen.

I have somewhat diverse taste in music.  Eclectic would be the polite description.  A little weird would probably be more accurate.  I took seven years of classical piano and still really enjoy Bach, Mozart, etc.  I also dig everything from oldies to some of todays new voices, but I gotta tell you, I love me some Garth.  I always said that the only performer I would stand in line to get tickets to see was Garth Brooks.....and then he went into retirement.  Back in the old days I could sing harmony for just about every song he recorded, cause you know if he ever was in a pinch for a back up singer, I was there for him.  Oh yeah.

So Wednesday I get an email from Garth - uh, his newsletter- telling me he was doing a series of 9 concerts in Kansas City (oh you lucky folks) and 90 minutes of the last one was going to be simulcast all over the world.  AND, shock of all shocks, it was going to show locally.  I got my little self right on over to Fandango, but the live cast was sold out.  Bummer.  They were, however, going to show the concert again the next night and we were able to get tickets to last nights show.  We arrived about 20 minutes before show time and I have to admit I was surprised to see that the only seats left were near the front.  It was kind of a strange experience watching a high energy concert in a movie theater, but we were encouraged to treat it like a concert venue and people did clap and sing along....at least I think so cause it was sort of hard to tell from the front.

In 9 sold out concerts 159,000+ people showed up in Kansas City to see Garth perform.  I would be curious to know the stats on the theater attendance.  He's older ( I got a chuckle out of his fuzzy gray hair), but in good shape, although he joked about his gut a few times, and the man has seriously still got it.  I was so tickled for him and the response he was getting from the live crowd, cheering and singing along. The man is a legend.  At the end of the concert he told the crowd, in a choked up voice, that if we were willing to wait for him, he WOULD be back.  Hallelujah.  I may get the chance to stand in line for concert tickets after all.

I got the feeling that these concerts were perhaps Garth testing the water to see if there was still any interest in a come-back, so to speak.  It would appear that any fears he might have had were loudly put to rest.  I hope he doesn't cave on his plan to stay a "dad" until his girls grow up, but I'll be thrilled to see him back on the front lines of music again.  There is no question that he is a force to be reckoned with and I say bring it on!   

Lovestoned

   I must admit that every year around this date I start to get a little melancholy.  The holiday magic is nearing the end, the nights are long and dark (Happy Winter Solstice today!!), and I'm a little exhausted.  This year I have a little secret weapon; Justin Timberlake.

   Yes, I know, I'm just a little old for this, but this kid has talent, regardless of what boy band he started out in.  (Proof of old: I really have no idea what boy band he started out in.)  Earlier this month I was flipping channels and came across the Victoria's Secret fashion show just as he began his performance.  I was going to just flip on by, but the beat sucked me in.  If you have itunes, go over and do a search and just have a little listen.  Every song has this really creative percussion line that runs through the whole piece. Ok, the lyrics are....um....a little sexy, but the beat is even sexier.  Lovestoned is my particular favorite.  If that song can't get you moving, nothing can.

  So thank you Justin Timberlake for being a talented musician and helping this olderish woman get her groove on when she's feeling a little blue.  Oh, and dumping Britney Spears?  Really good decision on your part.