18 posts tagged “concert”
Must be start of my social season. Current plans...
May
- Sat 3 - Miss Kitty's monthly party
- Sun 4 - Pick up Julie at airport
- Sat 10 - Master's Degree graduation party for Riley (of the FGNs)
- Sun 11 - 2 hr private pole class
Fri 16 - LB Pride Pre-PartyI realized "party on the rooftop" just means the 2nd floor open balcony, which is lame- Sun 18 - LB Pride Disco Night / Concert: Sheena Easton and KC & the Sunshine Band
- Fri 30 - Concert: Flight of the Conchords @ the Orpheum
- Tue 24 (or so) - Lucha VaVoom (pending - haven't purchase tix yet)
- Note to SF-ers: Lucha VaVoom will take place at The Fillmore on June 29 (maybe I'll go to that one!)
- Fri 11 - Concert: YAZ (aka: Yazoo, aka: Vince Clarke & Alison Moyet) reunion @ the Orpheum
- Sun 13 - Pole Star Competition @ the Music Box (spectator only)
- Tue 22 - Concert: Stray Cats @ Pacific Amph (only US appearance in 2008)
My seat was suhweeeet (2nd row behind pit... which was only 1/2 full.. and the seat next to me was unsold - so I had lots of room). Audience was boring - not much dancing; LOTS of young kids who seemed bored. The band was FANTASTIC!!
Marily Manson is touring small venues.
Handy reference chart for my west coast fiends:
- Feb 16, Vancouver, Orpheum Theater
- Feb 18, Seattle, Paramount Theater
- Feb 20, San Fran, Warfield Theater
- Feb 22,/23, Los Angeles, The Wiltern
- Feb 25, San Diego, House of Blues
MM in a small venue? I'm thinking I'll try to score a ticket. Anyone up for a meetup?
ps: Don't forget to give me presents!! (I have no problem being greedy when it's virtual!!)
I think this is the 5th day... it is if you count Xmas itself. I dunno. Doesn't matter. All it gave me was a slightly warmer office and a little bit of rain (which I've thoroughly enjoyed). I keep asking guys for diamond rings but, so far, no takers.
S Factor workout last night was another mixed bag. I had major trouble with warmup - mainly due to my bad knees, sore back (I should have seen the chiro weeks ago), and a sore spot (of unknown origin) on my hip (HOW old am I again? Cause my body seems to think it's about 150). But we had an instructor taking our class and, being last class anyway, Megan (our instructor) had us pretty much freestyle for the whole warmup so I spent a lot of time stretching. Michelle, who is normally my fav student to watch, was having a bad night too... she seemed to be channeling me and spent almost the entire warmup just laying in one position. I'm proud of her for it - it takes a lot to do what your body needs when everyone else is doing something different.
Pole trick time was short & sweet. I actually WENT UPSIDE DOWN - ON MY OWN again... TWICE. That was major - even though I couldn't hold it long enough to get into the full, correct, position. But, after about 20 attempts that involved slamming my toes (HARD) into the steel, I finally had another breakthru (lower my grip by about 3"), got inverted with BOTH feet on the pole (I typically only get 1 up, then I fall back down), and held the position for a few seconds. HURRAH!!
My personal goal was to CLIMB the pole. Unfortunately, as always, my left leg refused to participate. It gets on the pole, holds one position, and refuses to move - no matter what I try or what I tell it. The right leg climbs - it's ready to go to the top of the pole. The left leg is apparently afraid of heights.
The free-dance portion of class, where Megan mimicked us, wasn't bad but I feel that I blew it. I went into some kind of "performance" mode, not at all moving like normal (didn't help that I had moves from the X-Pole DVD in my brain and was trying some of that [FAIL!]). But now that I've completed the assignment once, I think I'm going to ask Megan if we can do it again - I'll be less self conscious if we repeat it. I might even ask her to combine it with the blindfolded assignment (since she was only focused on our wall/floor work anyway).
It wasn't till much later that I realized her post-dance comment of, "You have a VERY powerful walk!", wasn't based on observation but on duplicating me. The SanFran instructor said the same thing, based on observation only, when I took a class up there (October). Since the walk I did last night was actually pretty "meh", I'd love to have Megan sample my REAL power walk sometime and see what she thinks of that!! She'll probably make me work on developing a softer walk - to allow me more variety - but that's fine, I could use some lesson in "soft & sweet".
At the end of class we got word that a former student (who everyone, but me, remembers) is returning - which means we've met our min enrollment for next session and our class will NOT be cancelled. HURRAH!!
At work, my big documentation project hit today. I was expecting about 50 documents. The list turned out to be 352 docs. Holy hell! Apparently our boss has decided that we'll be in charge of revising everyone's docs rather than just our dept's. Whatev. I need the busy work.
Only 2 more social plans for me before the non-holiday: On Thurs night I'm heading up to El Cid, in Silverlake, to see the Hollywood Pinup Girls' Super Sexy Burlesque Christmas Show. I LOVED it last year and am looking forward to it again. Wish I could think of someone to go with me, it would be a really fun event to share, but 10p-mid on a Thurs is too much for everyone I know. (pussies!)
On Sat, the 22nd, I'm going to have a rockabilly holiday at the annual Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Extravaganza - which has always looked fantastic (and I have an awesome seat - not that I expect to spend a single minute sitting once they get onstage!). Are you envious? Oh, yes, you definitely are!!
And I give it a C. Maybe a C-.
The holiday concert by "Men Alive Chorus" (aka: gay men's chorus of Orange County) was... uhhhmm... yeeeah {said ala Office Space}.
They sang okay - not great but also not bad. Definitely not anything I'd rave about. For me, their production left a LOT to be desired. I felt like I was watching an episode of The Little Rascals, when they get that "let's put on a show" wild hair and do a production in the barn. Parts were good(-ish). Parts probably seemed good on paper, or in rehearsal, but were painful with a live audience. Basically, I was expecting something more polished & professional... and couldn't seem to snap out of that expectation in order to just go with the flow of it being amateurish. As a result, I spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to figure out if the person in the middle of the chorus was a woman (I'm pretty sure it was - they're non-discriminatory that way - but I really couldn't tell).
It was also another instance of it being TOO FUCKING COLD IN HERE for me to enjoy ANYTHING.
THANK GAWD I got my tix through GoldStar, for less than 1/2 price. I thought it was a bit of a ripoff at $20; I'd have been PISSED if I paid full price ($45). Lesson learned.
The South Coast Chorale (aka: Gay & Lesbian Chorus of Long Beach) is doing a holiday show in 2 weeks. Maybe I'll give them a try. I'm likely to know some of the singers (due to brunch bunch) and, even if not, now know to have realistic expectations. But I know at least 1 thing, and maybe 2, is already on my calendar for that night - so I need to find out what's already booked - and how that compares to the $35 ticket charge for the SCC.
Highlight of the night: It was still raining (18 hours of rain - I can't believe it!!) and the UCI campus had lots of good puddles on the path back to the parking structure. By the time I got to the elevator, thanks to my zealous puddle stomping efforts, I was soaked from socks to knees. TOTALLY worth it!!
2nd Highlight of the night: Got a email that Justin is looking for some extra volunteers, without dogs, to march in the parade with him. 2 people to carry his Grand Marshall banner and about 6 more to hand out candy & HauteDogs info cards (the parade's theme is "Dog Days of Christmas"). I might be too late but, if not, I might be in a holiday parade (my favorite holiday parade - it's tiny but fun) Saturday night!!
Good company (my bosses, Bill & Nancy) from a prior job. Bill bought the show tix (seats almost exactly where I was for Max Raabe) and Nancy bought dinner (4 plates of high fat appetizers - cause both of them are skinny bitches). And the parking lot was open when we left. The night didn't cost me a dime!! And I wrangled an invite to Thanksgiving dinner at Bill's.
It was a very mellow but very good show... lots of variety... jazz, blues, funk, her song from Hairspray, covers of classics. Queen Latifah repeatedly said she wasn't feeling well but she sounded great. And she has excellent rapport with the audience (including a moment where she re-applies lipstick on stage - 3 times in a row - then makes a comment about Cover Girl. As light as the moment is, I still wonder how much she's paid to do it - cause you know she ain't dumb enough to do it for free!!).Note: I plan to send each of them extravagant bouquets, as thank you's, next week - so they have them for Tday.
This was the tour for "Travelin Light" (her newest album) but I think she did more music from The Dana Owens Album. As Bill said, this music is giving her a chance to become a lifelong music legend. The woman in front of us looked like a slightly younger Eartha Kitt and I found myself singing, "Where is my man" in my head all night (just that line cause I can't remember any more of the song and I can't find it as an MP3). However, watching the predominantly white upper-middle class, to upper class, audience try to 'get funky' was a sight unto itself.
This song stuck in my head during the show (enough for me to remember to buy it). I might use it for S Factor next week (40's siren is the theme... though none of us really pay any attention).
Hey... cool.. Amazon.com mp3 files come already tagged with their art!
All in all, a very nice out.
Ooops... gotta go... major catfight outside and at least 1 of them is mine.
I missed "The Start". Saw "Kenna" - who I found confusing. He was all hip-hop look/attitude but singing music similar to She Wants Revenge (SWR). The sound system was totally f-ed up (even during SWR) so all of Kenna's songs sounded like "mmmggbbbbmmm.... ooooohhhh". I thought his band was good but that he wasn't.
At the break, I moved from the 2nd level - right side of stage - to 1st level, directly in front of Adam's keyboards (about 3 people between him and me). Turned out to be a great spot - good people and awesome view. I didn't bring in my cellphone so that, for a change, I'd WATCH the show, instead of taping it.
SWR went on at 11pm. It was a good show - though, after seeing them so many times it's kinda hard for me to be an impartial judge. The music sounded great. But, again, the lead vocals mic was f-ed up so if you didn't already know lyrics to a song, you probably weren't going to be able to make them out. Justin (lead vocals) and Adam (keyboard & vocals) were clearly VERY happy to be back in SoCal and interacted with the audience a lot. We learned that Justin has a baby who, due to touring, he saw for the first time in a month today (must have been hard to leave to put on a show!). And Adam is the baby's godfather... new info to me.
The show ended around 12:30am. There was an announcement for an "after party in the lobby" which was a "hella lame" idea on a work night. As expected, no one stuck around. The DJ guy looked a little sad/lost/pathetic.
I made it out of the concert for just the $8 parking fee. $27 still in my pocket...woohoo!
Then I saw the Tshirts. Only $20, so I bought this one:
All good. Still made it out with $7 left. But something kept drawing me back to the shirts. Then I finally saw it:
Still a very reasonable night out... $75.50 = concert ticket ($25), parking, 2 shirts (both of which I'll wear), and a signed ticket. Still less than I would have dropped on booze alone in the past.
Annnddd... I got to my car around 12:45am and had a txt from C. But he had sent it 2 hrs earlier and didn't return my response. I suppose all bad little boys had already found comfy beds for the night.
Going to the She Wants Revenge concert at The Grove of Anaheim tonight (and Henry Fonda theater, in LA, on Sat) - but it doesn't start till 9pm, and they have 2 opening bands. WTF?? Most venues have an 11p weekday closing time so that's, what, 3 songs each? I'm not, at all, in the mood for the show right now but I'm sure that will change when I get to the venue (provided I avoid the bitchy OC "we're so rich and we're so cool and you wish you were us" kids. My buzzed tolerance for them is zero; my non-buzzed tolerance will be scary). (Where did I put those anti-anxiety meds??) I don't feel like standing through 2 opening bands (there's no seating), especially with my cricked up neck (will she, unlike today, actually wake up and see her chiropractor tomorrow?!?) so I'm killing time (aka: "secret" track 66 on their first CD. See how I tied that in to the post title? See how clever I am?!?).
There are no opening bands listed for Sat but I'm sure someone is performing... especially given the 8pm show time and Hollywood venue.
Semi-related:
I'm jazzed to realize that, because I'm still not drinking booze, the $35 I have on me will suffice for the night (parking & waters... and maybe even some food before I go). In the past, it would be a trip to the ATM for $100 - which, along with the $35, would be gone before the show was over. I won't be able to get a tshirt but, if they have a new design and I like it, I can snag one on Sat.
Related to the no booze "diet": I've lost 2 more pounds (for a total of 15 in 39 days). My ultra-skinny jeans are now my comfy jeans. And my fav work pants now need suspenders (I have some and really am going to adapt the pants for them). WooHoo!!
I'm still surprised to see a big fat woman looking back at me in the mirror and photos - but I need to just ignore her and hope those images catch up with the skinny one inside my head sooner rather than later. If I ever develop some freakin ab strength, things should progress rapidly.
Speaking of which: Last night I was obsessing on the fact that no matter what, my left leg absolutely will not move when I try to climb the pole. Not if I switch the order of which leg is on the pole first; not if I scream at or will it to move; not if people try to push it to move; probably not even if it was hanging from a pulley system and an elephant were pulling the rigging. So I, temporarily, had myself completely convinced that something (other than a lot of fat & a lack of muscle strength) is wrong with it. Perfectly logical at 4:30 in the morning!! (I love temporary hypochondrias!!)
Gawd, I'm bored-boring-bored.
Thanks to Firefox/Vox formatting issues, I've managed to kill 45 min. Guess I'll head toward the show. g'night peeps.
Thanks to SixBucksAMonkey's posts, I jumped on this offer the second I saw it:
German Crooner Max Raabe and His Palace Orchestra in Concert
| Title: | Max Raabe and His Palace Orchestra in Concert |  Seating Chart |
| Venue: | Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center (Costa Mesa, CA) | |
| Date: | Sunday, Oct. 28 @ 7:00pm |
| Offer | Full Price | Our Price | Service Fee |
| Assigned at Box Office | $35.00 | $15.00 | $5.00 |
More Details About This Event:
With a perfectly fitting tuxedo, hair slicked back, and a cheeky look, German singer and bandleader Max Raabe dishes up the best of the pre-Big Band/Roaring Twenties era, such as Singing in the Rain, Cheek to Cheek, Dream a Little Dream, and more.
With an elegant sense of self-irony he presents his audience with the musical crème de la crème of the Weimar Republic, but also with international pieces: Cuban rumbas, English laguage hits, hits which the renowned orchestras of the day had in their repertoires. Pieces such as "Dein ist mein ganzes Herz" or the tang "Schoener Gigolo" as well as classic hits by great American composers can be enjoyed on the concert.
Raabe was awarded the Paul-Linke-Ring of the city of Goslar for his “great contribution to the German entertainment industry.” Most recently, his two "Super Hits" collections of humorous interpretations of pop songs like "Oops! ... I Did It Again" have introduced his music to a wider audience.
Intimate venue... Hollywood Paladium.
Oct 1-through-Oct 13 (except the 3rd, 7th, and 10th)
Should be all General Admission/standing only (push your way to the stage)
Tix go on sale this Saturday. No info on pricing.
More info at House of Blues website.
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