5 posts tagged “music”
THE George Michael is finally doing a U.S. concert tour! I AM SO EXCITED! I love him! (Seriously--he's here and here and here if you don't believe me.)
From childhood memories of Wham! pop fun to his amazing and beautiful first solo album that became my how-to-get-over-heartbreak bible, his music has featured strongly in the soundtrack of my life. (And if you didn't ever hear his later work that was barely supported in the U.S. airplay, but is lovely and innovative and, god forbid, different than the usual pop trash that was popular at the time, go out and get you some George! You don't know what you were missing.)
And I might be broke, but I'm going to get tickets to at least one show if I have to sell plasma to do it. I HOPE they will be fabulous tickets and I'm putting out faith and good vibes into the world to help me find those wonderful front row babies that are waiting for me somewhere. (I'm also putting the word out to all my family and friends, and yes my blog reading neighborhood too, to see if anyone has connections they're willing to work for me.)
I'd love to see him on my birthday at Madison Square Garden, but nearby in Dallas or Houston would be good too. I can't decide...but tickets go on sale April 6. I guess that means I'll be selling blood sooner rather than later. Oh well.
Join me in celebrating the return of George. Music for your listening pleasure on the right and tour dates (from vh1.com) below.
Made it back from San Antonio later than planned (that story will have to wait for another time...too much reality for a Sunday), so I missed most of the day parties and even some of the evening concerts. A co-worker friend and I met up at Auditorium Shores to see Ice Cube, then left early to catch Paul's last set at the Irie Bean. [Cube was good, but the sound setup was of lesser quality than I've experienced at the Shores before.]
Unfortunately, Paul's lead guitarist was MIA and the set was, well, the last set of many over the last several days...he's the first to admit it didn't go very well, BUT Mister Paul has a great voice with lots of range over different genres and I can definitely see him standing up well to some more back-end orchestration. I think keyboards and a horn might be in order...
Anyhow, we got there just after 9, thinking we were late, but the brother didn't go on for another hour and a half during which time the temperature dropped considerably and my friend and I were left to curse our couture. Lucky for us, I remembered I had some jackets and a fleece blanket in my car...so we ruined our look by bundling up, draping the blanket over our laps, and staying through all but Paul's last song when the wind got the better of us.
There were still a couple of shows we could have hit up, but we opted for food, conversation and relative warmth instead, ending the night at Magnolia on Congress.
I'm going to do absolutely nothing today except yoga and laundry, and food and water. I only had a glass of wine and a latte last night, but I think I'm still recovering from Friday...I feel kind of grungy and cotton-mouthed. Ick.
It's SXSW time again. I was out of town last year, but I'm all primed and ready to make up for lost time. And no, I don't do the badge thing--puh-lease, those things are expensive with a capital FU.
Luckily, a friend of mine introduced me to all the side shows a couple of years ago, and that's how I'm hoping to get into the action again this year. Plus, one of my co-workers' has a band that's playing some shows too. So hopefully this coming week will have lots of music and the occassional free drink thrown in for good measure.
l culled my list of possible events from the larger list at austin360.com (this link is now fixed). Pay attention to the venues that say "Free, Open to the Public, Free Drinks."
And if you're in town for this or any other event I HIGHLY recommend a trip to Homeslice Pizza on South Congress. I was there again tonight, and it is just tasty goodness that should not be missed. They have a walk-up by-the-slice window open till 3 am on weekends--a much welcome alternative to the traditional pizza dives on 6th street and in the warehouse district.
"long ago, and far away.." she sings on, my late a.m. gold songstress. bittersweet to hear her voice, but the sun is shining and i'm looking out the windshield at a cloudless sky, so i smile and sing along.
moments later she fades out and the next song comes up. my mouth gapes and i give the radio a reproachful look, but i love the song and i go with it. "maybe i think too much, but something's wrong...maybe i shouldn't think of you as mine..."
the perfect oldies mix rolls on and on, past rudy's barbecue and the turnoff to gruene, down highway 46 - one of many memory lanes - a long and winding road. i could be sobbing, but i'm not...i'm dreaming and i'm hopeful. i have to trust that love and god will find a way.
i drive on in the bright white of midafternoon blazing down on the hill country, goat farms and pet resorts slip by and the radio signal dips for a moment, and then...
"i'm going where the sun keeps shinin', through the pourin' rain..."
and the sun keeps shining...