I Heart The Birchmere

Hello my friends,
I am still blissed out after another fabulous night at The Birchmere.  I bought tickets to see Kasey Chambers the moment her new tour was announced.  Originally I thought my bestie Betsy was going with me but she made plans to visit her family at the beach (and who could blame her) then I thought I'd force Miles to join me, he's my child he has to do what I say right?  Well he made other plans as well...so then I invited EVERYONE I could think of including broadcasting it on Facebook, but NO ONE could/would go.  So you know what I did?  I went all by myself!!!  I had a blast.

The Birchmere is my favorite venue, it relatively small and intimate and it has open seating, so it doesn't matter when you buy your ticket, it only matters what time you line up at the door the night of the show.  I have a system and a favorite seat and so far I have not been disappointed, since I started my system I have always sat at the same table with the same fabulous view of the stage.  Last night was no different.  I showed up at 4:30pm last night which is actually late for me, I've been known to get there as early as 3:30 and been first in line!  Last night I was #20 in line.  I sat on the ground with my back against the building and read my book until 5pm when they opened the door and gave me my tickets and line number.  Then I sat in the bar and read my book (really good book btw) until 6pm when they opened the Music Hall door and called my number.  I sashayed my way right to my favorite table, a 4 top, and sat down and opened my book again.  Within a few minutes a gentleman walked up and asked if I was alone and if he could sit with me.  Well of course you can!  Turned out he was an education professor at Towson University, one of my alma maters!  Also turned out he was a big fan of Kasey and folk/bluegrass music so we had a great conversation about music and we each made a list of acts and albums to check out.  Also turned out that he is married.  Sigh, the story of my life.  Shortly after Mr. Professor and I dove headfirst into conversation two more guys walked up and asked if they could sit with us.  We said SURE.  They sat down and talked to each other.  All three of these guys were age appropriate, tall, handsome and obviously had good taste in music.  I figured the other two were gay.

The opening act was a young guy I had never heard of although this didn't bother me in the least because I have discovered both Red Molly and Justin Townes Earle when they opened up for someone bigger at The Birchmere and they are two of my favorites.  This kid's name was Owen Danoff and he just graduated from the Berklee School of Music.  He did an excellent job, he was funny and self deprecating and he and his partner (who's name was Adrian something) were terrific at the guitar and at harmonizing.  Turned out that his mother was sitting at the table right behind me so I got to talk to her as well.

I talked to all three of my table mates during the break between acts.  Mr. Professor went out to the merch table and the other two and I compared notes on what we thought about Owen.  Turns out they were brothers although they looked NOTHING alike and one of them is a Lighting Guy on Broadway!!!!!!!  Needless to say I SWOONED at that!  His brother was the local of the two and when we had a discussion about the best pizza, he actually named Melting Pot before I could!!!!  We were each suitably impressed that the other knew about our favorite pizza.

Then Kasey and her band came out and brought the house down.  She is amazing and last night she was 6 months pregnant which makes her even more amazing in my book!  She had her dad with her on stage as always and this time she had another girl and a young guy as well.  She did a great job as always but I think my favorite part of her shows is her storytelling between songs.  She played my two favorites "Not Pretty Enough" and "The Captain" but I think my favorite song of the night was a bluegrass primer for Aussies.  She said that they don't really know bluegrass in Australia so she is trying to introduce them to it gently.  And then she played the funniest medley I have ever heard!!!  All four bandmates stood up around one microphone and started playing bluegrass sounding music and then began singing Not Pretty Enough followed by The Captain followed by Stayin Alive followed by Beat It!!!  I thought I was gonna fall on the floor laughing.  It was priceless and I only wish I had video of it!

When the show was over Mr. Pizza and Mr. Broadway waved and left before the lights even came up.  Mr. Professor said how glad he was to meet me.  I turned to Owen's Mom and told her what a great job her son had done and then I made my way to the parking lot where I read my book for another 15 minutes while the traffic jam cleared off.

All in all it was one of my best concert experiences ever and other than the fact that I had to eat a ticket, it may be my favorite one so far.  Definite proof that I don't need a date to have fun!!!

My Michael Jackson Soundtrack

I tried not to do it, but I just can't stop myself. Here is the MJ soundtrack of MY life:

1. ROCK WITH YOU: was the first song I ever danced to in public. My friend Edwina Binaca, (the blast that lasts all night) and I used to go to a club in Front Royal called JB's to dance. I had a huge crush on one of the dj's and would hang out with him while Edwina Binaca danced. I was way to chicken to dance. After a time, guys started asking me to dance, but I kept refusing. The dj didn't share my feelings, so he started encouraging me to dance as well. He helped me choose a song for my big debut. I honestly don't remember the actual dance, but every time we were there the dj would play the song and Edwina would send over guys to ask me.
2. BILLIE JEAN: Edwina and I went to visit her older brother Chuckles in Washington, DC one weekend and saw this new thing called MTV. We didn't have cable or MTV in our small little town. We were fascinated and mesmerized.
3. PYT: At 18 I started dating a man in his 30's. He lived in Baltimore and I was completely over the moon. I went to visit him one weekend and he put this song on the record player just for little ole me. Yes, I am old. When I was 18 cd players didn't exist. People still bought those big vinyl circles that warped and scratched and sounded like chipmunks if you played them on the wrong speed.
4. SHE'S OUT OF MY LIFE: This was the song that I always wanted guys to listen to and cry when they suffered with broken hearts over me, but in reality I mooned over it and cried to it a lot, and I'll bet none of them ever gave me a second thought!
5. GONE TOO SOON: When I met my ex husband he and I were both 24, his sister was 16, mine was eight. Five years later his sister was killed on her 21st birthday which is another story for another day. At the age of 28 while literally days pregnant, having never lost anyone close to me who was younger than 80, I had to plan her funeral. Her parents and brothers were too devastated to make any decisions. One night driving from my fil's house to our apartment this song came to mind as the perfect song to play at the funeral. Needless to say everyone agreed with me.
6. MAN IN THE MIRROR: I'm a Mama. What mama doesn't look down into her sleeping baby's face and wonder how she can let the world continue to spiral out of control? This song spoke to that need to make whatever change I could. It is something I try to live by every day of my life.

Bye Michael. I'm glad you are not suffering anymore. Sleep well.

Moving is a drag...but that's not why I was crying.

I hate moving and I speak from experience. I have moved a lot. I haven't moved very FAR mind you, just often. In fact, I have been in my current condo for 11 years and it is the longest I have lived anywhere in my entire life. I was born in Roanoke, Va moved to Toms Brook, VA when I was 4, moved to Strasburg, VA when I was 12, moved to Fairfax, VA for college when I was 19. During my college years I moved an average of every 5 months and not because I was moving in and out of dorms. I never lived in the dorms. George Mason was (and still is to a point) a commuter school and very few people lived on campus. When I left school (without graduating) I moved to Baltimore, Md. (I had an adorable one room apartment there that only cost me $280 a month!!!!) Then I met the X. He and I moved to VA Beach, Strasburg and Leesburg within a year. The next year we moved to Harpers Ferry, WV. The next year we moved to Winchester, VA. The next year we moved to Chantilly, VA where I have lived ever since. I have been in the same neighborhood in Chantilly for 15 years, but this is the third unit I have lived in there.

Moving sucks, but that being said, this is probably the easiest move I've experienced. Neither Sheldon or I have to be out til the end of the month so we have plenty of time. The furniture is all being moved by professionals, so we don't have to do any heavy lifting. We have had time to paint and unpack boxes as we go. Well, he painted, I unpacked boxes. So at this moment, the upside is that my kitchen is clean and put away. My closet has my clothes all sorted by type and hung neatly. My shoe boxes are all neatly stacked. The bathrooms all have toilet paper and the sinks all have soap. The bad news? Well a minor inconvenience is that I can't do laundry at the new house yet, but all my dirty laundry is already there. I'm sleeping at Sheldon's house, but my clean and dirty clothes as well as my shoes are at the new house. Last night as I was leaving the new house to go to his house I realized that I had nothing to wear, so I doubled back and grabbed a skirt, top and jacket that I love and the boots that go so well and help keep me warm in my freezing cold office. Only it wasn't the skirt I usually wear with the outfit and I didn't realize until I was at Sheldon's that the boots were not gonna go with the changed skirt...so I had to dig through a trashbag of rumpled but clean clothes and find an outfit that would go with the shoes I left at work and throw it into his dryer for de-rumpling. Cause I'm not gonna iron!

Are you tired? Or is it just me?

I am proud to say that so far there has been no yelling or tears. Not that yelling or tears are a normal part of our relationship, but moving can be stressful. Moving in together can be stressful. Blending two entirely separate households into one can be stressful. Yelling and tears seemed to be on the horizon. I did cry in the car driving between houses last night, but it wasn't because of yelling, it was because of this beautiful song...



See! Even that poor guy is crying! Tim McGraw kills me when he gets sappy. I am old enough now that I am not losing peers in Iraq but three people I know have lost sons over there.

This song also made me cry this week.



Darius Rucker, you kill me.

I believe in you!

I am absolutely having the best birthday ever! My darling Sheldon is sitting at the settlement table at this very moment buying me a house for my birthday. My co-workers have given me flowers, cards, breakfast and lunch today. I have gotten calls, emails and facebook posts from all over the country and all over the world today. It is a beautiful day. I was reminded of this song and looked up this video and it almost made me cry. So here, I'm sharing some happy birthday tears with all of you!

All Concerts All The Time

Since Sheldon and I have been going to so many concerts lately I thought I'd better find my list of concerts I have attended to update it. Woo, some of these I had forgotten. I'm sure I've left some out, so I will update this as I remember more.

Bacon Brothers x4

Billy Joel

Bon Jovi

Bonnie Raitt

Brian Setzer Trio

Bruce Hornsby

Danni Leigh (went to high school with my brother)

Eddie from Ohio

The Fixx

Fountains of Wayne

Garth Brooks x2

Goo Goo Dolls

James Taylor x7

Jeffrey Gaines

Jewel

Justin Townes Earle x2

Kasey Chambers

The Kennedys

Kenny Chesney

Kenny Loggins

Kenny Rogers

Lovell Sisters

Marc Anthony (met him before the show)

Maroon 5

Martina McBride

Moody Blues

Nanci Griffith

OAR

OJays x2

Paul McCartney

Poco

The Police

Pure Prairie League

Red Molly x2

Roberta Flack

Rick Springfield x2
Ricky Skaggs

Sammy Kershaw

Shane Nicholson

Temptations x2

Toby Keith (met him before the show)

Tom Petty

Whispers x2 

 

Red Molly Tonight!!

Sheldon and I are going to see Red Molly tonight. Can't wait! Hoping they play this for us again!!!!!



Oh and this one too!!!

Fountains of Wayne

Sheldon and I went to see Fountains of Wayne at the Birchmere last week. I really didn't know what to expect as the only song I had ever heard of theirs was Stacy's Mom. Sheldon had actually bought 2 tickets for himself and his son Jack, I went over to the venue when I got off work because it is open seating and an early slot allows a much better chance at a good seat. I was only planning on getting their line number and then waiting for them to show up but listening to the people in line around me I decided to try for a ticket myself. The concert was sold out, but the Birchmere releases any seats that the band doesn't use at 5pm on the day of the show. As it turned out the woman behind me in line had an extra ticket when one of her friends didn't show, so I got a seat no problem. The show was really good. Sheldon had already bought the new album so he loaned it to me the next day. I have listened to it a LOT already. The video above is one of my favorites. Enjoy!

Spring Awakening

I am betting that you have never heard of this show before unless you heard about it from me. I am a lifelong theatre lover. My dad was an actor when I was a child and I was exposed to the theatre from toddlerhood. I have even done a turn or two on stage myself. All that being said, I didn't see my first Broadway show until I was in my 30's. I have only seen one Broadway show twice and it was Spring Awakening. To say I love this show would be a complete understatement. I was completely mesmerized the first time I saw it and bought the soundtrack on my way out of the building. I made my date play the cd all the way home to Virginia. That was two years ago. I still listen to it often. The music was done by Duncan Shiek and it is so fabulous. The play was not originally written as a musical, it was in fact, a very dark controversial play that was banned for more than 80 years! It was written in Germany in 1891 and that is where the story is set. The twist that this show has brilliantly done is bring the story to the present through the use of rock and roll. The fact that the themes are still present in our modern day high schools is almost scary. The story involves teenage sexuality, pregnancy, abortion, suicide, drug use, homosexuality...all the same things our society still struggles with.

The cast on Broadway was magnificent, especially for such a young ensemble. I know the same cast won't be on the road show, but I hope they can do as good a job. This video from youtube will give you a better taste of it...





The second time I saw the show I knew all the songs by heart but was still moved to tears and laughter, maybe moreso because I knew what was gonna happen this time. The show has closed on Broadway now which I think is a shame, but luckily it is now on tour. I have every intention of forcing Miles to go. He is horrified as he wants to pretend like I don't know a thing about sex or about being a teenager. I really want him to see it though, I think it will show him a lot about how he is no different from the teens of every generation.

I hope you go see it too! It is so so so wonderful!!!

It has been a musical weekend.

Sheldon and I went Swing Dancing on Friday. There is a swing dance with a live swing band every Friday night at a ballroom in a local hotel. This is one of my favorite forms of exercise but unfortunately it is not one of Sheldon's. He was a good sport and went with me just this once. He did enjoy the band and liked the fact that I was having such a good time. I won't make him go again, although he assures me I can go whenever I want and dance my little heart out, as long as I come home to him. I actually did dance with 5 or 6 other guys who were great dancers and were throwing me all over the floor. I had a great time and I'm sure I worked off a lot of calories. If I start going every Friday or every other Friday I will kick my weight loss up a notch AND have fun!

Last night we went to the Birchmere to see Eddie from Ohio. Sheldon loves this group and was really looking forward to the show. I love any show at the Birchmere so although I had never heard any of their music I was pumped. I did enjoy the EfO show, but even better, we were both introduced to a new group that we both loved. They were three young girls from New York named Red Molly and they were marvelous. They had beautiful harmonies and one song that they sang a capella was enough to give us goosebumps. It was called "May I Suggest". Sheldon bought the CD and we even got the girls to sign it. They are coming back to the area to play at Jammin' Java next month and we are hoping to see them again!

This was our third concert in a month! We saw OAR and the Bacon Brothers before xmas. We both love live music and luckily this area is a goldmine!