a seed of inspiration: Ryan Adams in concert

by Amy on March 9, 2012

A couple weeks ago, Andrew and I both took a Friday night off and WENT ON A DATE!

This is huge, people.

We are let’s-save-money-by-getting-take-out-and-watching-Netflix-at-home kind of people.

But one of Andrew’s friends/clients gifted us with tickets to see Ryan Adams in concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, so we used this perfect opportunity to wear nice clothes and go out together.

First of all …. I had no idea what to wear. Yes, it’s Ryan Adams so I could wear jeans and a t-shirt. But it’s also the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Where the L.A. Philharmonic play occasionally. I ended up doing a business-casual look and didn’t make a fool of myself. I’m not all that stylish, after all.

Plus making the effort of getting a little more dressed up made the evening a little more special somehow.

Second of all … we were *almost* late. Andrew didn’t realize that it’s the kind of place that if the ticket says 8p, you actually have to be there a little before 8p to be seated. Plus we live in L.A., were driving to the downtown area on a Friday night. It took us more than an hour to go about 20 miles.

But, we made it; we were seated; and then the opening act showed up (I didn’t realize that you could have an “opener” at the Walt Disney Concert Hall).

The venue is “in the round” … meaning that the stage is in the center at the bottom of the building, and the seats are on all 4 sides. Which means that “back stage” is actually a door that goes under a section of seating.

So the lights go down … and there’s just a little table in the center of the stage with what looks like some kind of drink and a few books. No instruments. No monitors. No microphones. I really couldn’t figure out what was happening….

… and then from off stage you hear this old-man-southern-voice singing “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” … slightly drunkenly. A really low rumbly voice… and slowly it gets louder as the singer stumbles on to stage….

Mark Twain.

Seriously.

For the “opening act” we were treated to about 45 minutes of a tipsy Mark Twain monologue (he explained he was a bit drunk because he had a cold and his friend William Dean Howells prescribed brandy).

It was strange and funny and completely unexpected.

I loved it.

Once the act was finished and “Twain” stumbled off stage again, the announcer called him back for a curtain call: “Ladies and Gentleman, Mr. Val Kilmer!”

WHAT? Yes. Exactly my thoughts. And then Andrew said, “Oh yeah, I thought it sounded a bit like Doc Holliday from Tombstone.”

From this review:

Which reminds me: Val Kilmer. Yeah, so … straight at 8 some guy shambles out singing “Swing Lo, Sweet Chariot” in a Twain disguise (white suit, shaggy wig and mustache), spouting observations (“What kind of name is Rudyard?”) and bon-mot asides (“I have been drunk before, but this is a masterpiece!”) and generally attempting a gently caustic, occasionally chuckle-inducing impersonation of Samuel Clemens for 30 minutes. After which, the house announcer revealed it was the former Batman.

Then intermission … and on to the main event.

I am not a HUGE Ryan Adams fan. I mean, I like everything of his that I’ve heard. But I’m not the kind of fan that can recognize a song by just the first couple guitar strums.

But I really (really) enjoyed the concert.

I adore music. I love talent.

And this show was JUST Ryan Adams and whatever 1 instrument he was playing at the time…..

Very bare bones, very intimate…. He did a bunch of his standards (kind of country, acoustic guitar-y), plus an ad-lib song about his cat on the piano (man, that guy loves his cat), and a couple covers (including ‘Wonderwall’ as his encore).

I always forget how much I love music – just because Andrew always has SOMETHING playing. And it is usually not anything I would choose or have even heard of.

But with the opportunity to just SIT AND LISTEN in the dark theater for a couple hours…. totally reminds me how much I love the magic of music. (Sidenote: I have an Associate’s degree in music. So I know just enough to understand what a songwriter has to do, but not enough to do it myself).

It was just such a lovely night to see live music, in a NICE setting (not a warehouse that smells of spilled beer and pot) and spend time with Andrew….

Here’s a write-up of the concert with a great back-story of where Ryan Adams has been the last few years

Seeing Ryan Adams in concert plants a seed of inspiration to:

  • Quit my job and write music. Whenever I hear a GREAT songwriter it makes me want to write songs myself. (Note: I have never actually written a song)
  • Get a piano! Now that we have a house we actually have a spot for it. Obviously, I’m going to need a place to write my songs.
  • hang out with our friend Justin Hunter … because man-oh-man does Ryan Adams remind me of him! Build, hair, speech pattern…
  • Practice my clever banter to entertain fans in between my songs. For when
  • Spend more time just sitting and listening to music. I am such a multitasker I never do this
  • Punch people in the face. Particularly people who yell what they think are clever things at the performer but are really just idiotic. Or people that TAKE PHONE CALLS in the middle of a song. Ugh.
  • Listen to more James Taylor. For whatever reason, Adams’s acoustic set reminded me of Taylor.
  • Go to the theater. The concerts that Andrew usually goes to are at houses or in warehouses and you just show up whenever. The concerts at the Walt Disney Concert Hall remind me of going to the theater. 5 minute warnings before curtain and if you’re not in your seat you’ll have to wait before they’ll let you in.

Have you ever seen Ryan Adams in concert? Or been to the Walt Disney Concert Hall?

1 comment

a seed of inspiration : Andrew in the studio

by Amy on November 18, 2011

You may remember that my husband Andrew is a recording engineer.

Well, actually, he’s a runner in a mixing studio full time and a recording engineer freelance on top of that.

Which basically means his recording projects most often fall in the middle-of-the-night time frame when he’s not working at the ‘day job’ …

But last week he had a session that actually started *relatively* early (say, 10p or so). So of course I took advantage of it and went to visit him at the studio and take photos!

I love love love watching Andrew work.

I kind of love that he never has the time to hang out with me – that he’s always going going going and if I want to be there I just need to stay out of the way.

The fact that he’s such a hard worker is one of my favorite things about him.

It’s amazing to see the difference in his confidence, too. He got out of recording school and started his internship almost 4 years ago. And in those 4 years he’s gone from basically nervous and hesitant and apologetic in his recording sessions to …. totally on top of it, offering suggestions to the band and booking clients back to back.

So proud of him!

This particular session last week was to record 2 songs for 1 side of a 7″ record. ….. and the artist was Charlyne Yi (who you may recognize from House or Knocked Up) and her band-mate Miles. (It occurs to me, I don’t actually know what the band’s name is.)

Andrew met Charlyne through another band he records … who he met via a friend from high school.

All of this just makes me so grateful we live in L.A. where Andrew A) already has connections like this friend from high school and B) can really have a wide and varied recording career. I genuinely love living here. I would like the *option* of living someone else, but in all I’m just glad that Andrew’s job has so much potential here.

I love being able to meet musicians and other crazy arty-types. I miss that from doing theater and all. Those are my kind of people :)

(Andrew was so excited to get to record a musical saw!)

It had been a long time since I had visited Andrew at a recording session …. and now I remember how much I love it.

He’s recording my dad in a few weeks, so I’ll *definitely* be there then!

Watching Andrew in the recording studio plants a seed of inspiration to:

  • Visit his sessions more often
  • take lots of photos – how else am I going to become a rock’n'roll photographer?
  • take video of Andrew working
  • finalize the song listing for my album. Andrew will be producing it and I can’t wait!
  • help Andrew save $$ for more recording equipment. He mostly borrows a friend’s right now
  • start brainstorming and organizing for when Andrew gets his own recording space (a real dream of his)
  • do what I can to support his new record label – Ghostbot Records! Details soon …

If any of y’all live in L.A. and want to record an album or song let me know! Andrew’s rates are *super* reasonable…. He’s pretty booked up through the end of the year but always open to new clients!

3 comments

a seed of the inspiration : Linda McCartney

by Amy on November 4, 2011

Just recently bought myself a big fat coffee table book of photos by Linda McCartney.

I love coffee table books. I love photography. I love the 1960s. I love rock’n'roll – especially rock’n'roll history. I love the Beatles. How could I turn down this book?

Linda McCartney: Life in Photographs

I’ve flipped through the book twice now, and all I want to do is learn more about Linda McCartney!

From the Amazon description of the book:

In 1966, during a brief stint as a receptionist for Town and Country magazine, Linda Eastman snagged a press pass to a very exclusive promotional event for the Rolling Stones aboard a yacht on the Hudson River; her fresh, candid photographs of the band were far superior to the formal shots made by the band’s official photographer, and she was instantly on the way to making a name for herself as a top rock ’n’ roll photographer. On May 11, 1968, when her portrait of Eric Clapton was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone, she entered the record books as the first woman to have that honor. During her tenure as the leading photographer of the late 1960s’ musical scene, she captured many of rock’s most important musicians on film, including Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Simon & Garfunkel, The Who, The Doors, and the Grateful Dead. In 1967, Linda went to London to document the “Swinging Sixties,” where she met Paul McCartney at the Bag ’o Nails club and subsequently photographed the Beatles during a launch event for the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Paul and Linda fell in love, and were married on March 12, 1969. For the next three decades, until her untimely death, she devoted herself to her family, vegetarianism, animal rights, and photography.

From her early rock ’n’ roll portraits, through the final years of the Beatles, via touring with Wings to raising four children with Paul, Linda captured her whole world on film. Her shots range from spontaneous family pictures to studio sessions with Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson, as well as artists Willem de Kooning and Gilbert and George. Always unassuming and fresh, her work displays a warmth and feeling for the precise moment that captures the essence of any subject. Whether photographing her children, celebrities, animals, or a fleeting moment of everyday life, she did so without pretension or artifice.

This retrospective volume—selected from her archive of over 200,000 images—is produced in close collaboration with Paul McCartney and their children. As such, it is a moving personal journal and a lasting testament to Linda’s talent.

She must have been some kind of something to have had the career and marriage that she did!

I honestly don’t know much about her. I vaguely remember when she died (1998) and remember all the talk about how she was the love of Paul’s life …

(sidenote: just realized that the church in London where her memorial service was held is the same church I visited for a lunch-time concert when I went to London a few years ago. I love to travel!)

But other than that – all I know is what was included in the Beatles biography I read a few years ago.

There’s a bit about how they met, that they got married, and the little bit Linda’s presence affected the band (clearly not like Yoko Ono). Interesting, yes. But hardly comprehensive.

I want to learn all about how she became a professional photographer for such fascinating assignments! Jealous? Why, yes I am.

Flipping through this book reminded me that I really need to start going with Andrew to more concerts and to more of his recording sessions…. His clients aren’t rock starts YET, but how much fun would the photos be?!

Her website is pretty to look at but impossible to link to.

If you’re interested in checking out her work, go to LindaMcCartney.com and click on ‘Study Archive’ … there seem to be several galleries of images that are just lovely.

Turns out Linda McCartney was also a vegetarian and activist …. Andrew and I spent several years as vegetarians, so I have quite a few veggie cookbooks. But I might have to add Linda McCartney’s vegetarian cookbooks to my shelf!

I am just loving going through this book …

More photos of and by Linda McCartney:

And for your viewing pleasure, here are some photo highlights from the book Linda McCartney: Life in Photographs:

I’m totally in love with the cover image

I included a pen in this photo so you can REALLY see how large it is …. large and luxurious….

Reading this Linda McCartney coffee table book plants a seed of inspiration to:

  • curate some of my own photos and make a big, pretty, coffee table book
  • make friends with a rock star or 2
  • hang out at Andrew’s  recording sessions more often so to make friends with said rock star (more like future rock star)
  • re-read my Beatles biography
  • learn more about Linda McCartney
  • find/buy a vintage SLR film camera
  • use a vintage film camera … SO much fun :)
  • buy film for the vintage camera I do have …
  • spend more time in Scotland (there are so many amazing family snapshots taken in Scotland in this book)

1 comment

a seed of inspiration: Book of Mormon (Broadway musical)

by Amy on August 12, 2011

(first a disclaimer: This is in no way meant as disrespect to the LDS church. In fact, the creators of The Book of Mormon (the Broadway Musical) are surprisingly sweet and reverent when dealing with the church. Don’t judge it til you see/hear it)

Y’all know I love me a good musical. New ones. Old ones. I’m not picky.

I have a friend from high school who lives in NYC and does some entertainment reporting …. so I always pay attention when he starts tweeting about new musicals he has seen.

Enter this year’s biggest hit: The Book of Mormon:

It was nominated for some ungodly amount of Tony Awards – 14! And the weekend of the Tony’s Amazon had the digital download of the soundtrack on sale for $1.99

Um. Yes please.

I have woken up SEVERAL mornings over the last few weeks with these songs in my head! (I wonder what I’ve been dreaming about….. )

The Book of Mormon is a religious satire musical with a book, lyrics, and music by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone.[1] Best known for creating the animated comedy South Park, Parker and Stone co-created the music with Lopez, who co-wrote and co-composed Avenue Q. The show lampoons organized religion and traditional musical theatre, reflecting the creators’ lifelong fascination with Mormonism and musicals.[2]

The Book of Mormon tells the story of two young Mormon missionaries sent to a remote village in northern Uganda, where a brutal warlord is threatening the local population. Naive and optimistic, the two missionaries try to share their scriptures—which only one of them knows very well—but have trouble connecting with the locals, who are worried about famine, poverty, and AIDS.[3]

My one gripe with this musical is there is no part for me!

Boo! But, really …. with a story about Mormon missionaries (exclusively male) going to Uganda (Africans) …. What’s a white girl to do?

Articles and interviews:

So much of this show is just …. What’s the word? Heart-warming….

Even the song that opens with “No, Jesus dug down deep, knowing what he had to do. When faced with his own death Jesus knew that he had to …. MAN UP!”   … Because, I mean. Obviously. Those of us who still remember Sunday school, can we all agree that Jesus totally manned up when he “crawled up on the cross” to die?

hahaha!

 

Some favorite lyrics:

  • “I’ll do something incredible – that blows God’s freakin’ mind!”
  • “and I believe that in 1978 God changed his mind about black people”
  • “Don’t forget what you told me: You are AWESOME!”
  • “Wow! So the Bible is actually a trilogy?! And the Book of Mormon is Return of the Jedi?! I’m interested!”
  • “No, Jesus dug down deep, knowing what he had to do. When faced with his own death Jesus knew that he had to …. MAN UP!”

Random little tidbit that I love:

Josh Gad (the actor playing the goofball, less-than-shiny-perfect-Mormon) is pretty much my age. … And (apparently) when he was in high school he competed in Speech & Debate tournaments (just like me!) …. And (apparently), he WON the National competition for OPP in Speech (the same year as I got as far as the State tournament for a different event) …. For those of you who are not as nerdy as me: OPP stands for Original Prose & Poetry (an event I never competed in, but several of my friends did. That alone makes me LOVE him…. and I wish I could have seen his OPP piece!

I love musicals that my husband can get into …. so far, I’ve got him on Wicked, In the Heights, Book of Mormon and *maybe* a couple others :)

P.S. The show is sold out in New York til January or something ridiculous like that! Awesome :)

Listening to The Book of Mormon plats a seed of inspiration to:

  • Go to NYC and see REAL Broadway shows. Not that there’s anything wrong with the National touring shows that come to L.A., but I’ve never actually seen a show ON BROADWAY
  • dig out my Speech-Tournament photos … There are some stories that need to be recorded, for sure!
  • Get The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee soundtrack. Josh Gad was a replacement in that and I’ve never heard it!
  • Listen to my Jersey Boys soundtrack. Andrew Rannells was a replacement in that…. I have it but have only listened to it 1x all the way through!
  • watch South Park. Maybe. I never watch the show, but since I like this musical, maybe I’ll like South Park? I dunno.
  • Go to Africa. Really. I’ve actually been wanting to for awhile (since I listen to Rick Steves’ podcast)…. and this show actually just reminds me :)

1 comment

a seed of inspiration: Songs for a New World

by Amy on June 17, 2011

I love musicals. Obviously.

One of the recent ones I got from Amazon is actually a musical I have known and been singing for YEARS but never actually owned.

When I was in high school I took private voice lessons (and LOVED it), and my super-star voice teacher was one of my favorite people ever….

(Her name is Linda Williams and I love her and I would totally recommend her)

In addition to helping me with my choir songs, my theater audition pieces and other odds and ends, she was always finding new, gorgeous, wonderfully-fun-to-sing songs that are perfect for me.

One of them was from this new but completely-unknown-to-me musical called Songs for a New World.

The song is called Stars and the Moon: You can hear it here on the composer’s website

I love (love) singing that song. I think I’ll sing it when I record my album (one day) and knock it out of the park :)

It’s one of my favorite songs to sing … and even though I haven’t really heard it in the last 10 years (at least), I still remember ALL the words.

I love the way the human brain works.

(I’m not Afraid of Anything is another song from the album I love to sing)

This is one (of many) shows that I have heard the soundtrack to but never seen performed.

Based on the songs (and the cover art of the CD <– ) I’m not sure it’s a cohesive story, but possibly more like a collection of songs by the same composer.

Jason Robert Brown – also the writer/composer behind The Last 5 Years and Parade – is amazing. His songs are a) beautiful b) fun to sing c) touching and insightful.

I will buy everything he releases. I have no idea what he’s working on now, but I can’t wait to hear it!

Finally getting this album on CD has brought back so many memories of singing in high school …. I miss it.

Listening to Songs for a New World plants a seed of inspiration to:

  • Listen to Parade and The Last 5 Years and every single thing Jason Robert Brown ever writes.
  • brainstorm what songs I want to sing on my one-day album
  • learn to play said songs on the piano
  • look up my old voice teacher and send her a thank you note for being awesome
  • go for long drives with the windows down, stereo blasting and sing at the top of my voice
  • quit my job so I can join a choir. MAN oh man, I miss singing on a regular basis.

4 comments

a seed of inspiration: 21 from Adele

by Amy on June 3, 2011

Yes, that’s right. I’m doing a whole post just on her second album … so when I get around to REALLY listening to her first album I can have the chance to gush all over again.

I’m in love with Adele

I want to be her when I grow up.

First of all, isn’t she just gorgeous? (She reminds me a bit of Christina Hendricks who I am also in love with) … I wish my hair had a red hue like that.

For the last several months, all I’ve heard on the internets is how amazing Adele is…..

I don’t listen to the radio, I hardly ever hear current music and I’m not a trend-chaser.

So I just figured I would hear Adele when I heard it and I could decide if I liked her then.

And, oh boy did I.

My first exposure to this album was the a capella version of Rolling in the Deep that was on Glee a few weeks ago.

I thought, “Holy Cow, this song is good!” … and then I looked up the artist … and it was all downhill from there.

I found the ‘Rolling in the Deep’ music video and watched it about 5x in one morning …. Then bought the album w/o hearing any more songs.

(I have this thing where I like to buy the full album of artists I like – you know, paying them for the awesome job they are doing. I know. Revolutionary.)

I love the R&B feel of so many songs…. The 2nd track (Rumour Has It) makes me want to go buy gogo boots!

I love LOVE the background singers on Take It All (and Rolling in the Deep) Love. …

I sang in a backing choir on a friend’s album once and it was awesome.

When I (someday) record my own album I totally want to have at least 1 track with a backing choir.

My second favorite song on the album is Someone Like You. LOVE love love (p.s. that link includes a little interview clip at the beginning).

THAT is the kind of song I would love to be able to write.

Adele has officially made the shortlist of songwriters whose work will inspire me when I get around to writing music (oh yes, writing music is on my ‘one day’ list)

I love this sweet quote from her – Just an amazing testament to how seriously and professionally she takes her craft. Love that she’s in it for the music – not the rich-and-famousness.

Anyway, like I said. I’m completely in love with her. I have her first album now too. And I have every intention of buying future albums immediately upon release.

Because she is a goddess.

Listening to 21 by Adele plants a seed of inspiration to:

  • buy a house. So we have room for a piano
  • Get a piano
  • carve out time to practice said piano
  • attempt to write a song. Just one.
  • get back into singing somehow
  • record an album (Andrew is set on recording/producing for me)
  • dye my hair red. Maybe.
  • I would LOVE to take portraits of her … gorgeous girl

Have you heard any of Adele’s music?

8 comments

Giveaway: Mix CDs from Andrew Schubert

by Amy on January 1, 2011

Our next GIVEAWAY for today comes from none other than my amazing husband Andrew Schubert!

ALSO: Today he is launching his website for his audio engineering

Andrew works in a mixing studio here in L.A. and is quickly growing his freelance audio work …. I am so proud of him.

Check out some of his engineering credits here from AllMusic.com

And a little announcement from ME – I designed his website!!

I put the whole thing together (with his input) and provided all the images and design.

Please check it out and let me know what you think (and leave Andrew comments :) )

SO so cool. I can’t wait to do it again soon!

Tell us a little about yourself/blog/business:

I am a graduate of CRAS (Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences) and I am completely obsessed with music and sound of all types.  My blog will focus on engineering projects current and upcoming, incorporating pictures of the sessions and some audio samples and field recordings of studio life.

What was your inspiration for the music you are helping create?

I’ve been an avid vinyl/music junkie for as long as I can remember.  Part of the inspiration for the music/bands I work with is to be a part of a community and create rather than solely being a consumer.  Although I’ll never not be a consumer of music.

What do you do when you’re not working on engineering/work-related stuff?

I love to read and hang out with my wife.  I’m working on a couple of electronics projects, which will be featured on the blog.  Mostly I listen to records and enjoy sipping Maker’s 46 and annoying my wife.

What can we expect from you/blog/business in 2011?

You can expect features on a few of the bands I’ll be working with in the new year (God Equals Genocide, Pangea, Jamie Haugen, Danny Heat) as well as features on building a compressor (Mix LA 1176) possibly the start of building my first guitar (Jazzmaster) and maybe other types of workshops or Q&A sessions.  I look forward to your feedback and participation.

For Lemon and Raspberry readers – Andrew has put together a Mix CD….

Actually THREE CDs!

Andrew loves music, what can I say? He kept coming up with more and more songs to add, so finally it’s a set of three.

He’s named it ‘Getting Carried Away’ … for obvious reasons….


ONE LUCKY COMMENTER will win the package pictured above – the hand-painted packaging (by Andrew) with 3 mix CDs curated by Andrew. That is a robot attacking a city, if you can’t tell!

He even *intentionally* put some instrumental songs on the mix because he thought those songs would be good to craft or paint to.

He’s so thoughtful :)   …

If anyone is looking for some new music, I HIGHLY recommend ‘Getting Carried Away’ – Andrew is a master at crafting mix CDs.

Some songs include:

  • I love the Sound of Breaking Glass – Nick Lowe
  • Over Time – Lucinda Williams
  • Rene and Georgette Magritte – Paul Simon
  • Little Green Apples – Roger Miller
  • Needles and Pins – The Ramones

THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Visit Andrew’s NEW blog and FOLLOW Andrew on Twitter

12 comments

a seed of inspiration : Harry Connick Jr

by Amy on September 3, 2010

I love Harry Connick Jr.

With all my heart.

I’ve loved him since the moment I first heard his voice.

And that was a Christmas album, back in 1998 or 1999 or so.

My senior year, high school choir Christmas concert. One of the boys did Harry’s arrangement of ‘Let it Snow’ … so so so so good :)

Ever since then I’ve been hooked.

Since then I’ve purchased (I think) ALL his albums.

Even the crazy jazz piano ones that I never listen to.

And seen him in concert 3 times.

*swoon*

Here’s what I really love about Harry Connick Jr : He has GENUINE talent.

Yes, he covers standards in some of his CDs, but he doesn’t RELY on other songwriters.

Yes, he stretches the boundaries of his range, but he doesn’t rely on autotune.

Not only can he sing and play the piano, he can also act, dance, play other instruments, write music and arrange music.

Dude. He even wrote a musical (and we all know how I love musicals)

Plus he’s HILARIOUS :) (take a minute – or 5 – and watch that video of Harry on Ellen…. you will laugh OUT LOUD)

I want to befriend Harry Connick Jr and have him over for dinner more than I can say …

We recently went to the Hollywood Bowl to see Harry Connick Jr play – with both his big band AND the L.A. Philharmonic.

My third time seeing him. Andrew’s 2nd time seeing him.

Soooooo fun.

Like I said, he has some SERIOUS talent …

The first act was mostly more standard-y standards, a lot with the LA Phil, a lot of songs my 86-year-old grandmother knows all the words to (she came out from AZ to see the concert …. cute!).

Harry was charming and smooth and fantastic.

The second act was a LOT looser. A lot more improvisational, a lot more New Orleans jazz-ish. He even brought out a whole different piano for a more down home (‘white trash’ as he called it) sound…

Again: played piano, sang, tap danced (!!) AND played a bit of trumpet.

Show off.

All in between his delightful charm, joking and just all over endearment.

Also, he totally made a boob joke. I LOVE that he is not afraid to make fun of himself AND his fans. He doesn’t take the whole ‘celebrity’ thing too seriously.

All kinds of fantastic … .

Harry puts on a GREAT show … you really should see him if you get the chance!

Harry Connick Jr plants a seed of inspiration to:

  • see him perform anytime he comes to town
  • sing more
  • play the piano (I *theoretically* know how, but my hands can’t do what my brain thinks)
  • write music
  • not take myself too seriously
  • watch Will and Grace (I never watched the show while it was on, even though HCJ was in a few seasons)
  • um …. MEET him? Can I plan that? Take photos of his gorgeous face :)

P.S. I think my all-time favorite song/album is Come By Me … God bless him. LOVE it… What’s yours?

6 comments

a seed of inspiration : Hollywood Bowl

by Amy on July 16, 2010

Hollywood-Bowl 014

Have you ever been to the Hollywood Bowl?

The Hollywood Bowl has been one of my favorite venues for years!

If you have never been, or don’t live in the L.A. area, the Hollywood Bowl is an outdoor music venue (amphitheater) in Hollywood (I know, surprise!). …

The Bowl officially opened back in 1922 (much much smaller) – you can read more about the history of the venue on Wikipedia.

Attending a concert at the Bowl is ALWAYS an experience …

#1 it’s down in Hollywood. When I was growing up in Southern California, we would attend a concert at the Hollywood Bowl pretty much once every summer …. It was always such an event. Took close to an hour to get there, one the big L.A freeways. The venue is up against a hill with big trees, in an old part of the city …. I love L.A. For reals.

#2 it’s a whole-afternoon experience. The grounds of the Hollywood Bowl is ALL over this hilly area. Even the parking is in levels. This allows the venue to be spread out all over a larger area. It’s a tradition to go to the Hollywood Bowl several hours before the concert with a picnic dinner. The fancy schmancy seats at the venue are box seats with a table for your wine and dessert over music, but the rest of us slum it on benches, picnic areas and even blankets on the cement ground. But it’s so fun!

Hollywood-Bowl 005

#3 the L.A. Philharmonic plays there. I love the strings. I have an Associate’s degree in music, so I’ve a little bit of experience in music (the non-pop brand).  I love seeing orchestras even though I am not an expert.

#4 the BEST shows come to the Hollywood Bowl. I’ve seen SO many fun fun shows here. In the last few years, Andrew and I have seen:

Visiting the Hollywood Bowl plants a seed of inspiration to:

  • attend more concerts. I love the L.A. Philharmonic.
  • re-read the Beatles biography we have – The Beatles: The Biography
  • go on more picnics, even if just eating outside on our balcony
  • listen to my Ragtime soundtrack (Brian Stokes Mitchell sang at the Beatles tribute last weekend)
  • make sure I check the schedule on a regular basis. I would have totally missed the Harry Connick Jr concert if we hadn’t attended last weekend and seen the poster!
  • sing more (seeing the tribute concert reminded me it’s OK to do covers. I don’t HAVE to write my own songs to sing)

Have you ever been to the Hollywood Bowl?

3 comments

a seed of inspiration : In the Heights

by Amy on July 2, 2010

Holy geez.

In the Heights
Y’all already know that I love musicals.

With all my heart.

So you can imagine my seriously PURE joy in seeing In the Heights at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood last weekend.

Not even an exaggeration: I all but cried because of how much I really really loved being there ….

Last year I got to go to 2 (TWO) musicals at Pantages — because my mother-in-law wanted to go and needed a date, I guess :)

Then, for Christmas she gave me a gift certificate for the Pantages.

And I hyperventilated a little bit…..

And then strategically planned how I was going to get to see one of my top choices on a weekend (since I work nights) that Andrew could also go.

No small feat, I assure you.

But !!  We did it!

In the Heights is playing right now and it was HIGH on my list of shows to see …. One girl I went to high school with (and understudied) was in the original cast, it won all kinds of Tony awards AND I recently got the soundtrack so was at least moderately familiar with the music ….

Thursday of last week we drove down to Hollywood (had to buy directly from the box office rather than online) …. consulted a bit with the theater employee helping us. …

We had originally planned to go to the Sunday matinee (cheaper), but he told us that Lin-Manuel Miranda wasn’t performing in the matinee.

In the Heights

I don’t know how much more we paid to see him, but it was SOOO worth it!

Lin-Manuel Miranda is the creator and STAR of the show In the Heights….. And I’m a *little* bit in love with him …

SO, Sunday night we got all gussied up and drove down to Hollywood to see In the Heights ….

And, honestly, I cried.

I *felt like crying* just from the pure joy in seeing a real, live, professional musical (oh yes, a professional production is MUCH different than community theater) …. But I was able to hold back those tears. I got a rep’ to protect. (10 points if you know what that is quoting).

But *did* cry at a certain moving point in the show … because it was just so fantastic.

In the Heights

I can’t say it enough : I don’t know if there’s much that I love more than seeing a musical …

And In the Heights was fantastic.

It’s contemporary AND traditional. The music is a mix of hip hop and soul, but still with the belt-it-out broadway foundation.

I’m such a “white girl” but this show seriously makes me want to rap.

Makes me want to dance — and I am NOT a dancer ….

Um, ALSO : they’re developing a movie version of In the Heights and Lin-Manuel Miranda is rumored to be reprising his role.

For reals, y’all. I listened to the (2-disc) soundtrack about 3x on Monday.

So glad we got to see it …. So glad Andrew loved it (almost) as much as I did …. So glad Lin-Manuel will be reprising his role in the still-in-development movie of In the Heights.

I can’t afford to buy my own tickets, but if anyone needs a date, I am more than willing to go again!

P.S. Next year we want to see Avenue Q!! Or Hair. Or West Side Story. Or Spring Awakening.

seeing In the Heights plants a seed of inspiration to:

  • sing. A lot.
  • dance. Take dance lessons. Dance for fun in my living room.
  • wish I was Latina so I could be cast in the show. Sigh.
  • practice my Spanish
  • worship Lin-Manuel Miranda from afar
  • see more Broadway
  • visit NYC

3 comments

Previous Posts
amytwittermailinstagramfacebookpinterestrss work with Amy T Schubert shiftbloglovinemailprojectlifememorykeepingbloggingphotographysmallbiz 5easyways

A year of brave DO - productivity workshop

This is a FOR PROFIT blog. Please assume any and all links are affiliate.

Please support Lemon and Raspberry by purchasing through these links.