Needtobreathe.
We saw them in concert tonight.
They played at Meijer Gardens. It's a beautiful venue, outside with terraced lawn seating. We went with our friends Jason and Chandra (you'll remember we went to the Tigers game with them two weeks ago).
This concert was the last one for this tour. The tour was promoting their recent album, "Rivers in the Wasteland". You'll recall Bill bought me their album and I blogged about it here.
It was a great night. It was a little breezy, a partly cloudy sky, and a beautiful setting. I did keep track of their set list. They played new songs and a few from older albums (but the most recent, not from the two oldest albums).
They closed the night with three encore songs. The last one being a song called, "More Heart, Less Attack". Bear, the lead singer, explained that after their last album and tour he and his brother, Bo, weren't speaking. They finally worked it out and made this album (it may have been during the making of this album, I don't remember exactly). At any rate, this song speaks volumes about their experience and as the title says, can teach us all about being more kind.
It's not that they just sang this song, but it was the three original band members; Bear, Bo and Seth standing around a microphone with just their instruments. The entire audience got quiet. It was so quiet I could hear the birds chirping.
It was amazing.
They have ended other concerts doing the same thing with other songs. But it has never been so quiet. I was especially impressed because we were outside. At previous concerts, indoors, there has still been some kind of noise usually talking. But not last night.
I'm thankful for musicians and their talent especially Needtobreathe.
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Happy Birthday Skylar
Skylar turned fifteen today!!! Wow, where has the time gone?
I was there visiting last week and I took more pictures. Guess where they are? Still on my camera! And now I'm not home to retrieve them. I'll get them posted. This one is pretty sad or at least pathetic. Skylar hurt her knee last Sunday playing soccer. She is waiting to schedule a MRI to see how seriously hurt it is. It could be a torn meniscus. In the meantime she has a brace and crutches.
Mom, Dad, Bill and I gave her a sweet pair of headphones. They are not Beats, they are better than those. These are high quality. She let me listen to them. They are really amazing. She had the music turned up and I could not hear any outside noise once I put them on. When she was wearing them, you could not hear the music coming through the headphones. We had a dance party. Okay, she did not dance, but Spencer and I did. It was fun.
At any rate, she is a pretty amazing and special person and I'm very thankful that she is my niece!
Mom, Dad, Bill and I gave her a sweet pair of headphones. They are not Beats, they are better than those. These are high quality. She let me listen to them. They are really amazing. She had the music turned up and I could not hear any outside noise once I put them on. When she was wearing them, you could not hear the music coming through the headphones. We had a dance party. Okay, she did not dance, but Spencer and I did. It was fun.
At any rate, she is a pretty amazing and special person and I'm very thankful that she is my niece!
Saturday, April 26, 2014
soundtrack of our lives
It now involves a ukulele.
That was the birthday present I gave to Bill. Well, since we were in Las Vegas (technically Henderson) visiting his parents, I couldn't exactly pack a ukulele. Plus I wanted him to be able to pick out the one he wanted.
I gave him a hand-painted watercolor of a ukulele. It was extra special because I was the painter.
Somewhere there's a picture of it.
In the meantime, Bill started looking online at actual ukulele's. Our friend Sami suggested we go to Guitar Center so Bill could hold one and try playing a couple of them.
Good suggestion! I had no idea there was more than one type of ukulele. Of course there's soprano, concert, tenor and baritone. Bill thought he wanted a tenor. Turns out, he liked the concert best.
He's learning chords and technique from the internet.
This morning, we were out cleaning up the yard. We rented a power rake. Then Bill edged the sidewalk. He had his earbuds in the entire time. At one point he was singing along. Our neighbor was also out working in her yard. When Bill started to sing, she asked what he was listening to. I replied, "the soundtrack to his life".
As I type this, I have the sweet sounds of a ukulele playing in the background. It's the soundtrack of our lives. And I like it.
That was the birthday present I gave to Bill. Well, since we were in Las Vegas (technically Henderson) visiting his parents, I couldn't exactly pack a ukulele. Plus I wanted him to be able to pick out the one he wanted.
I gave him a hand-painted watercolor of a ukulele. It was extra special because I was the painter.
Somewhere there's a picture of it.
In the meantime, Bill started looking online at actual ukulele's. Our friend Sami suggested we go to Guitar Center so Bill could hold one and try playing a couple of them.
Good suggestion! I had no idea there was more than one type of ukulele. Of course there's soprano, concert, tenor and baritone. Bill thought he wanted a tenor. Turns out, he liked the concert best.
He's learning chords and technique from the internet.
This morning, we were out cleaning up the yard. We rented a power rake. Then Bill edged the sidewalk. He had his earbuds in the entire time. At one point he was singing along. Our neighbor was also out working in her yard. When Bill started to sing, she asked what he was listening to. I replied, "the soundtrack to his life".
As I type this, I have the sweet sounds of a ukulele playing in the background. It's the soundtrack of our lives. And I like it.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Leaves, Toads, and Bugs oh my (but really none of those things are in this post)
Part 2
This post has nothing to do with leaves, toads or bugs.
I wanted to give you time to digest the last one and take it all in.
Was two and a half weeks enough time?
I thought so.
This post goes back to band. I thought it would be nice to mention that Mrs. Noble, our band director, retired after 33 years working in the Hamilton Heights schools.
Back in May, Mrs. Noble directed her last spring concert. Let me back up to before that.
In 1997 students asked if they went on a band trip, did they have to participate in Contest? (The full concert band prepared a few pieces to play in front of judges and were scored against themselves, it wasn't a competition against other bands.) Mrs. Noble decided that if the students didn't want to go to Contest, she wouldn't make them. They would still play a spring concert; they would call it Pops Fest. It included the middle school bands. A spaghetti dinner was added as a fundraiser.
It was so popular the first year, that they continued Pops Fest every year since.
After 9/11 they began the tradition of playing the Star Spangled Banner as their first piece.
They have played different arrangements over the years. Mostly from movie/Broadway scores. Everything from Pirates of the Caribbean to Phantom of the Opera.
Last year, Mrs. Noble's father passed away. She has since been taking care of her mother and found it to be more work than she anticipated with her full time teaching job. In early 2013, Mrs. Noble (I still can't call her Chris, she is and always will be Mrs. Noble to me) made the decision to retire so that she could care for her mom. That is honorable and I'm sure was not an easy decision.
Mrs. Noble actually left the band program, right before I entered, to become the Assistant Principal at our elementary school. The band program suffered for three years (under two different directors) before Mrs. Noble felt called back when the position opened up in 1991.
I had seen the work and dedication that Mrs. Noble gave to the band when Cyndi was in high school (and in band).
It was all I wanted to do, was to be in band under the direction of Mrs. Noble.
We worked hard in marching band. We never competed in that category, but performed for home football games with Husky Pride.
You can call me a band geek and I'm proud of it.
I have many fond memories of band and the friends I had. Including this one.
I don't have a clue why Aaron was wearing a dress. I don't know where the dress came from, and I'm sure he was supposed to be in uniform like I was. I seem to recall this was before a parade. But it could have been before a football game.
Aaron deserves his own post. He was my best friend in high school and I owe him so much. He listened, he cared, he always gave me a shoulder to cry on and good advice. I guess I should write that post...
Back to Mrs. Noble's last concert.
A former student, Brian, started a group on Facebook for a farewell at this concert. We would surprise her and play the last piece with the high school band.
We didn't have the music until a week before the concert. Mrs. Noble always waited to put the concert order together based on how well the band performed each piece.
This time it was the Lion King.
The alumni would arrive while the jazz band and guard were performing in the gym. The alumni would meet in a classroom on the other end of the school. From there we would enter the stage behind the curtain and wait.
It all went according to plan. We actually had to wait in the back hallway before entering the stage. There were forty alumni who were going to play and another ten or so who were there for support, to surprise Mrs. Noble or because they no longer had instruments to play (I ended up not taking my flute because I didn't think I was going to stay to play, I had to drive back to Grand Rapids that night so I could be at Sunday school the next morning because it was the last one of the school year and it was Teacher Appreciation Sunday).
During the second to last piece, a tribute to Lionel Richie, we quietly filed in behind the curtain. Before the high school began playing the last piece, my dad went up on stage to present Mrs. Noble with an official proclamation claiming that May 19th was Christina Noble Day in Cicero. This is what he said,
"My family moved to the Hamilton Heights area in November of 1985 and I first met Mrs. Noble at the Christmas concert that year. We really got to know her when my wife and I became active in the Booster organization in 1986. We witnessed her dedication to her students and the instrumental music program at Hamilton Heights.
In 1988 Mrs. Noble had an opportunity to become an administrator and moved to the elementary school as the Assistant Principal. After three years in that position and watching the band program go downhill, Mrs. Noble returned as Director when the position came open in 1991. When we went to Tipton Pork Festival Parade that year we took the entire high school band and guard on one school bus and the equipment went in a parent's mini-van. Now, we take four buses and an equipment bus!
In 1994 the high school band and guard took their first spring trip to Washington DC and also the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival Parade. Two years later, we took the first Disney trip. These trips were dreams that Mrs. Noble had for the program and they were finally coming true. Along with Mr. Bill House, I have been privileged to have made all of the band trips to date and to share in those dreams. Pops Fest is the result of a dream that Mrs. Noble had, to have all of the bands come together for an evening of music.
Mrs. Noble's love of music, love of her students, and dedication to the band program is very evident in the classroom, during performances and on these trips. No one sits on the bench in band. Everyone must contribute what he or she can to produce the music that is before them. She expects the best from each musician and will settle for nothing less. Mrs. Noble has made our band program inclusive, not exclusive. If you play sports at Hamilton Heights, you can still be in the band program. I dare say that Mrs. Noble has touched more students for more years than any other teacher within the system. Our daughters, Cyndi and Emily, are just two of her many students who hold the highest respect and admiration for Mrs. Noble and what they learned under her direction - not only about music, but about teamwork and about life in general.
I know you are probably saying to yourself, when will this guy shut up and let us get on with the final piece and I will do that in just a minute. During a temporary lapse of memory six years ago, I was elected to the Cicero Town Council. I am here this evening representing the Council and to make this presentation:"
He then presented her the award.
Then, Mr. Perkins came up on stage. Mr. Perkins is retired from teaching 5th grade and he directed every musical the 5th grade performed as well as musicals performed by the high school. My 5th grade musical was "The Wizard of Oz". In high school, I played in the pit for, "Mame", "Music Man" and, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat".
Mr. Perkins was basically just delaying and was the cue for the surprise. He told Mrs. Noble he found a rose from when they performed "Beauty and the Beast" and gave her a lovely, red rose. Then he said, since it was her last performance that we should do something different. What would happen if we opened the back curtain and saw what was behind it...
The curtain was drawn and there were fifty alumni standing there with instruments. Her mouth made an "O" and she was shocked to see all these people. Then she started recognizing people. That was when the tears really started to flow. (As you will see in my shaky video, hopefully it won't make you seasick.)
Mr. Perkins (or maybe it was Brian, it's all a blur now) said that not only were we here to send her off, but that we were going to play with the band in the final piece (this still chokes me up).
She went into "Mrs. Noble" mode and got down to business. It was mass chaos for a minute while the high school band moved around to make room for those alumni with instruments. (Yes, the high school band knew about this, they had been told only a few days beforehand.)
At one point, Mr. Perkins (or someone) asked if anyone in the audience, who had been a part of the band/guard program, to please stand. From what I could see, there were easily thirty or so more people who were there!
Then it was time, the band was ready. Mrs. Noble lifted her wand for the last time (okay, the last time for a spring concert, the band still had to play at graduation) and directed the Lion King. Like my dad said, the band has grown. With the alumni on stage there was barely room for everyone.
The sound filled the auditorium. It was the best performance I have ever heard. Everyone played from their heart. After the standing ovation, Mrs. Noble started making her way through the sea of musician to hug and thank each of us for coming.
I'm so glad I stayed. Even if it meant driving home late. Mrs. Noble was, and still is, an inspiration, a leader, a positive role model, an amazing teacher, a patient director and the best teacher I had in all of my school history.
Even after all that is said, I still feel like I'm not giving her enough kudos or praise for all that she gave me. But I'm going to stop now, otherwise I'm going to run out of tissue.
This is dedicated to Mrs. Noble, for all her years of teaching us the magic of music. Thank you Mrs. Noble!
This post has nothing to do with leaves, toads or bugs.
I wanted to give you time to digest the last one and take it all in.
Was two and a half weeks enough time?
I thought so.
This post goes back to band. I thought it would be nice to mention that Mrs. Noble, our band director, retired after 33 years working in the Hamilton Heights schools.
Back in May, Mrs. Noble directed her last spring concert. Let me back up to before that.
In 1997 students asked if they went on a band trip, did they have to participate in Contest? (The full concert band prepared a few pieces to play in front of judges and were scored against themselves, it wasn't a competition against other bands.) Mrs. Noble decided that if the students didn't want to go to Contest, she wouldn't make them. They would still play a spring concert; they would call it Pops Fest. It included the middle school bands. A spaghetti dinner was added as a fundraiser.
It was so popular the first year, that they continued Pops Fest every year since.
After 9/11 they began the tradition of playing the Star Spangled Banner as their first piece.
They have played different arrangements over the years. Mostly from movie/Broadway scores. Everything from Pirates of the Caribbean to Phantom of the Opera.
Last year, Mrs. Noble's father passed away. She has since been taking care of her mother and found it to be more work than she anticipated with her full time teaching job. In early 2013, Mrs. Noble (I still can't call her Chris, she is and always will be Mrs. Noble to me) made the decision to retire so that she could care for her mom. That is honorable and I'm sure was not an easy decision.
Mrs. Noble actually left the band program, right before I entered, to become the Assistant Principal at our elementary school. The band program suffered for three years (under two different directors) before Mrs. Noble felt called back when the position opened up in 1991.
I had seen the work and dedication that Mrs. Noble gave to the band when Cyndi was in high school (and in band).
It was all I wanted to do, was to be in band under the direction of Mrs. Noble.
We worked hard in marching band. We never competed in that category, but performed for home football games with Husky Pride.
You can call me a band geek and I'm proud of it.
I don't have a clue why Aaron was wearing a dress. I don't know where the dress came from, and I'm sure he was supposed to be in uniform like I was. I seem to recall this was before a parade. But it could have been before a football game.
Aaron deserves his own post. He was my best friend in high school and I owe him so much. He listened, he cared, he always gave me a shoulder to cry on and good advice. I guess I should write that post...
Back to Mrs. Noble's last concert.
A former student, Brian, started a group on Facebook for a farewell at this concert. We would surprise her and play the last piece with the high school band.
We didn't have the music until a week before the concert. Mrs. Noble always waited to put the concert order together based on how well the band performed each piece.
This time it was the Lion King.
The alumni would arrive while the jazz band and guard were performing in the gym. The alumni would meet in a classroom on the other end of the school. From there we would enter the stage behind the curtain and wait.
It all went according to plan. We actually had to wait in the back hallway before entering the stage. There were forty alumni who were going to play and another ten or so who were there for support, to surprise Mrs. Noble or because they no longer had instruments to play (I ended up not taking my flute because I didn't think I was going to stay to play, I had to drive back to Grand Rapids that night so I could be at Sunday school the next morning because it was the last one of the school year and it was Teacher Appreciation Sunday).
During the second to last piece, a tribute to Lionel Richie, we quietly filed in behind the curtain. Before the high school began playing the last piece, my dad went up on stage to present Mrs. Noble with an official proclamation claiming that May 19th was Christina Noble Day in Cicero. This is what he said,
"My family moved to the Hamilton Heights area in November of 1985 and I first met Mrs. Noble at the Christmas concert that year. We really got to know her when my wife and I became active in the Booster organization in 1986. We witnessed her dedication to her students and the instrumental music program at Hamilton Heights.
In 1988 Mrs. Noble had an opportunity to become an administrator and moved to the elementary school as the Assistant Principal. After three years in that position and watching the band program go downhill, Mrs. Noble returned as Director when the position came open in 1991. When we went to Tipton Pork Festival Parade that year we took the entire high school band and guard on one school bus and the equipment went in a parent's mini-van. Now, we take four buses and an equipment bus!
In 1994 the high school band and guard took their first spring trip to Washington DC and also the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival Parade. Two years later, we took the first Disney trip. These trips were dreams that Mrs. Noble had for the program and they were finally coming true. Along with Mr. Bill House, I have been privileged to have made all of the band trips to date and to share in those dreams. Pops Fest is the result of a dream that Mrs. Noble had, to have all of the bands come together for an evening of music.
Mrs. Noble's love of music, love of her students, and dedication to the band program is very evident in the classroom, during performances and on these trips. No one sits on the bench in band. Everyone must contribute what he or she can to produce the music that is before them. She expects the best from each musician and will settle for nothing less. Mrs. Noble has made our band program inclusive, not exclusive. If you play sports at Hamilton Heights, you can still be in the band program. I dare say that Mrs. Noble has touched more students for more years than any other teacher within the system. Our daughters, Cyndi and Emily, are just two of her many students who hold the highest respect and admiration for Mrs. Noble and what they learned under her direction - not only about music, but about teamwork and about life in general.
I know you are probably saying to yourself, when will this guy shut up and let us get on with the final piece and I will do that in just a minute. During a temporary lapse of memory six years ago, I was elected to the Cicero Town Council. I am here this evening representing the Council and to make this presentation:"
He then presented her the award.
Then, Mr. Perkins came up on stage. Mr. Perkins is retired from teaching 5th grade and he directed every musical the 5th grade performed as well as musicals performed by the high school. My 5th grade musical was "The Wizard of Oz". In high school, I played in the pit for, "Mame", "Music Man" and, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat".
Mr. Perkins was basically just delaying and was the cue for the surprise. He told Mrs. Noble he found a rose from when they performed "Beauty and the Beast" and gave her a lovely, red rose. Then he said, since it was her last performance that we should do something different. What would happen if we opened the back curtain and saw what was behind it...
The curtain was drawn and there were fifty alumni standing there with instruments. Her mouth made an "O" and she was shocked to see all these people. Then she started recognizing people. That was when the tears really started to flow. (As you will see in my shaky video, hopefully it won't make you seasick.)
Mr. Perkins (or maybe it was Brian, it's all a blur now) said that not only were we here to send her off, but that we were going to play with the band in the final piece (this still chokes me up).
She went into "Mrs. Noble" mode and got down to business. It was mass chaos for a minute while the high school band moved around to make room for those alumni with instruments. (Yes, the high school band knew about this, they had been told only a few days beforehand.)
At one point, Mr. Perkins (or someone) asked if anyone in the audience, who had been a part of the band/guard program, to please stand. From what I could see, there were easily thirty or so more people who were there!
Then it was time, the band was ready. Mrs. Noble lifted her wand for the last time (okay, the last time for a spring concert, the band still had to play at graduation) and directed the Lion King. Like my dad said, the band has grown. With the alumni on stage there was barely room for everyone.
The sound filled the auditorium. It was the best performance I have ever heard. Everyone played from their heart. After the standing ovation, Mrs. Noble started making her way through the sea of musician to hug and thank each of us for coming.
I'm so glad I stayed. Even if it meant driving home late. Mrs. Noble was, and still is, an inspiration, a leader, a positive role model, an amazing teacher, a patient director and the best teacher I had in all of my school history.
Even after all that is said, I still feel like I'm not giving her enough kudos or praise for all that she gave me. But I'm going to stop now, otherwise I'm going to run out of tissue.
This is dedicated to Mrs. Noble, for all her years of teaching us the magic of music. Thank you Mrs. Noble!
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
fa la la la la
I love listening to Christmas music. I have been known to listen to it during the off-season and not just because my iPod hasn't been updated in four years, but because that is how much I like it.
However, I am finding that the commercials this holiday season are ruining Christmas songs. There is one retailer in particular which historically has had clever marketing in their commercials. Instead they've chosen the annoying route and it's ruining my favorite type of music.
I just thought I'd share. 'Tis the season.
However, I am finding that the commercials this holiday season are ruining Christmas songs. There is one retailer in particular which historically has had clever marketing in their commercials. Instead they've chosen the annoying route and it's ruining my favorite type of music.
I just thought I'd share. 'Tis the season.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
welcome spring, Michigan style
Last night did not disappoint. Have you heard of Leahy? Check them out here. Their performance was amazing. I don't think that describing them would do justice. The energy that they brought to the stage through their music (so, so talented) was pure foot-stomping, hand-clapping, head-bopping fun. I only hope that Bill will write a little bit about them since he was not thrilled to go and afterward was seriously happy that we "dragged" him with us. Their music is a mix of classic Irish with Scottish roots and what even sounded a little Mediterranean/Greek mixed in. Did I mention that they're Canadian and they're all brothers and sisters?
Amazing.
Today is the first day of spring. And typical Michigan, it's back to the chilly air and cold gray skies. The crocus and bird songs are all that bring the hope of spring today. Bill and I will be braving the cold to go take a walk. You see, we went out after the concert and while I wasn't hungry at all, I divulged in the appetizers we decided we had to have. Since I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, I must walk as much of it off as I can. I wouldn't normally be so concerned if I hadn't weighed three more pounds this morning!! sigh that's what overindulgence will do to you. But the company was fun and we had a good time. Chandra and Jason are wonderful friends!!
Amazing.
Today is the first day of spring. And typical Michigan, it's back to the chilly air and cold gray skies. The crocus and bird songs are all that bring the hope of spring today. Bill and I will be braving the cold to go take a walk. You see, we went out after the concert and while I wasn't hungry at all, I divulged in the appetizers we decided we had to have. Since I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, I must walk as much of it off as I can. I wouldn't normally be so concerned if I hadn't weighed three more pounds this morning!! sigh that's what overindulgence will do to you. But the company was fun and we had a good time. Chandra and Jason are wonderful friends!!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Vacation! part two
In between our two trips we were home for two nights. On the 25th we went to the last outdoor concert of the season at Meijer Gardens. We were there to hear Brandi Carlile. You can take a picnic so decided to use our picnic basket for the second time in ten years (the first time doesn't exactly count because we got rained out and had to eat in the car). Thanks again to the Osborn's who gave us this picnic basket as a wedding present! We really do like it!!
It was chilly that night, but the sky was clear and the music was good. I have to admit I didn't realize that much plaid existed, but we had fun and enjoyed the performance.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Another Needtobreathe concert
It was September 16, 2008 the last time I saw Needtobreathe in Grand Rapids. They released their new album on August 25th, 2009. I am not a critic and cannot pretend to write like one. I love their new album as much as the last, which I love as much as their first. Their sound is fresh, it's southern but not country. They share their roots (listen to Washed By the Water, which Bear wrote about their father) and I find their lyrics to be honest. If you haven't heard them before, check out the video from the concert. It's the last song of their encore, "Something Beautiful" or go to their website and listen to the featured song. I hope you enjoy it at least half as much as I do!!!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
ACLFest
ACL Fest
I went to visit Alisha and Brad in Austin, Texas last weekend. It was the weekend of the ACLFest (Austin City Limits Festival). I will blog about the time with them in another blog. I took so many pictures, I had to split them up!
130 bands, eight stages, three days.
Here I am at the main entrance. It's my first time! This was the 7th year for ACLFest.
Here's the top of the "info" station.
This is looking towards the AT&T stage with the skyline in the background. How cool!
All weekend long, you saw people carrying around a bag for cans and bottles. You got a free t-shirt when you filled one up. "Keep Austin Weird" is one of the slogans, Keep Austin Green should be another. There were barely any chain restaurants anywhere in the city. During the festival, instead of the vendors you see at other festivals in their little trailers, ACL hosts local restaurants. It's called A Taste of Austin. Each restaurant has a few choices from their regular menu. It was great food!
Friday:
Here I am sampling some BBQ brisket! Yum! It's bigger in Texas.
Saturday:
This was a group called Band of Heathens. They all had their own bands, but would fill in for one another when band members were missing. Soon they created their own sound and joined together to create the one band. They were from Austin.
We hung out at the Austin Kiddie Limits tent with Maddy. (who's birthday was also on Saturday. When I asked her, on Friday, what tomorrow was, she replied, "ACLFest." I had to prompt her to tell me it was her birthday. She knows what's important!) This was the Q Brothers. The brother in the sleeveless shirt is the bass drummer from the movie "Drumline". They were fun!
Here's a group that I had read about in the program, Yonder Mountain String Band. They played at the small tent. It turns out, they were awesome!
Saturday was the hottest day of the three. The temperature was in the 90's the entire time I was there. (I came back to 50 degree weather!) We took a dip in Barton Springs where the water temperature is 68 all year round! I am exlaiming that it wasn't cold. Not compared to Lake Superior, which at it's warmest is only 50 some degrees! I really wasn't cold at all! I was prepared for chilly water, but it was most refreshing!
Saturday evening for dinner I tried the sloppy nachos. They were smothered in cheese and beef! Delicious!
Sunday:
Alisha and I sat and listened to the South Austin Jug Band. Another local band, much like the Yonder Mountain String band, but no jug! They were great! We walked over to hear the Raconteurs, but ended up coming back to SAJB because we liked their style of music better. (The Raconteurs were screaming when we walked over to hear their "music".)
While Alisha and Brad sat over in Austin Kiddie Limits listening to the Jimmies again (we heard them Saturday) Anil, Scott and I headed over to the AMD stage and listened to Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. We were about to head back to the Kiddie tent to hear Nicole Atkins, when Gillian said she had a special guest (they did this quite often during the festival) so we waited to find out who it was. It was Alison Krauss. They sang "Go to Sleep Little Babe" from "O Brother Where Art Thou". It was great! The entire audience started clapping along.
Here is Nicole Atkins over at Austin Kiddie Limits. She said we were the most attentive audience she had ever had, which also made us the most terrifying. We were giving her our full attention. It was also the most crowded that tent had been!
The Sunday night headliner/festival closer was the Foo Fighters. There was no other band (like Friday and Saturday nights) so EVERYONE was over at the AT&T stage (I wouldn't mind a new phone for all this free advertising I'm giving AT&T!). We were about a quarter of a mile away from the stage. It was crazy! But fun!
Alisha and me posing for a photo shot!
It was also very dusty! The first day I wore flip flops and my feet got a little dirty. We decided we didn't get sunburned because the dust was a natural sunblock!
Look for my post about Austin!
I went to visit Alisha and Brad in Austin, Texas last weekend. It was the weekend of the ACLFest (Austin City Limits Festival). I will blog about the time with them in another blog. I took so many pictures, I had to split them up!
130 bands, eight stages, three days.
Here I am at the main entrance. It's my first time! This was the 7th year for ACLFest.
Here's the top of the "info" station.
This is looking towards the AT&T stage with the skyline in the background. How cool!
All weekend long, you saw people carrying around a bag for cans and bottles. You got a free t-shirt when you filled one up. "Keep Austin Weird" is one of the slogans, Keep Austin Green should be another. There were barely any chain restaurants anywhere in the city. During the festival, instead of the vendors you see at other festivals in their little trailers, ACL hosts local restaurants. It's called A Taste of Austin. Each restaurant has a few choices from their regular menu. It was great food!
Friday:
Here I am sampling some BBQ brisket! Yum! It's bigger in Texas.
Saturday:
This was a group called Band of Heathens. They all had their own bands, but would fill in for one another when band members were missing. Soon they created their own sound and joined together to create the one band. They were from Austin.
We hung out at the Austin Kiddie Limits tent with Maddy. (who's birthday was also on Saturday. When I asked her, on Friday, what tomorrow was, she replied, "ACLFest." I had to prompt her to tell me it was her birthday. She knows what's important!) This was the Q Brothers. The brother in the sleeveless shirt is the bass drummer from the movie "Drumline". They were fun!
Here's a group that I had read about in the program, Yonder Mountain String Band. They played at the small tent. It turns out, they were awesome!
Saturday was the hottest day of the three. The temperature was in the 90's the entire time I was there. (I came back to 50 degree weather!) We took a dip in Barton Springs where the water temperature is 68 all year round! I am exlaiming that it wasn't cold. Not compared to Lake Superior, which at it's warmest is only 50 some degrees! I really wasn't cold at all! I was prepared for chilly water, but it was most refreshing!
Saturday evening for dinner I tried the sloppy nachos. They were smothered in cheese and beef! Delicious!
Sunday:
Alisha and I sat and listened to the South Austin Jug Band. Another local band, much like the Yonder Mountain String band, but no jug! They were great! We walked over to hear the Raconteurs, but ended up coming back to SAJB because we liked their style of music better. (The Raconteurs were screaming when we walked over to hear their "music".)
While Alisha and Brad sat over in Austin Kiddie Limits listening to the Jimmies again (we heard them Saturday) Anil, Scott and I headed over to the AMD stage and listened to Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. We were about to head back to the Kiddie tent to hear Nicole Atkins, when Gillian said she had a special guest (they did this quite often during the festival) so we waited to find out who it was. It was Alison Krauss. They sang "Go to Sleep Little Babe" from "O Brother Where Art Thou". It was great! The entire audience started clapping along.
Here is Nicole Atkins over at Austin Kiddie Limits. She said we were the most attentive audience she had ever had, which also made us the most terrifying. We were giving her our full attention. It was also the most crowded that tent had been!
The Sunday night headliner/festival closer was the Foo Fighters. There was no other band (like Friday and Saturday nights) so EVERYONE was over at the AT&T stage (I wouldn't mind a new phone for all this free advertising I'm giving AT&T!). We were about a quarter of a mile away from the stage. It was crazy! But fun!
Alisha and me posing for a photo shot!
It was also very dusty! The first day I wore flip flops and my feet got a little dirty. We decided we didn't get sunburned because the dust was a natural sunblock!
Look for my post about Austin!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Downhere for free!
Check this out, Downhere is giving away their album "Wide Eyed and Mystified" for free! Here's the link
http://www.downhere.com/splash/
Go and check it out. I downloaded it, and added it to my iTunes, only to discover I have their self-titled album from 2001. I have no idea how we got it. I don't remember ever borrowing it and I'm pretty sure we don't own the actual c.d. Oh well, we do indeed have it.
I'm listening to them right now. Spread the word, share the love!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The list of songs so far...
Here is my list so far. I actually went over them last night with Heather (the Jr. High youth leader) so she's been warned.
What it Feels Like for a Girl -Madonna
True Colors -Cyndi Lauper
Do You Wanna Dance -the Beach Boys
Goodbye Earl -Dixie Chicks
We Belong -Pat Benatar
Linger -Cranberries
Perfect -Alanis Morissette
She Is - the Fray
Sisters Are Doin' it for Themselves -Eurythmics
My Little Corner of the World -Yo La Tengo (from Gilmore Girls)
Sweetest Little Thing -U2
Dancing Queen -ABBA
To Love Somebody -Bee Gees
Otto Titsling -Bette Midler
White Wedding -Billy Idol
She's Always a Woman to Me -Billy Joel
Do I need to defend any of them? Are you confused as to why I chose some of them? There are three leaders who are all pooling their songs together. Not all of mine will be chosen. I told Heather, if I had to pick one off this list "What it Feels Like for a Girl" is my number one choice.
The irony of some of my choices is this: Sunday night we had a band play at youth group. Several other church youth groups were invited (the band was the Sr. High leader's husband's band). All the other youth were up; dancing and clapping and jumping up and down. Our Jr. Highers sat there. They looked like they'd rather be having surgery. I am very curious to know why they were insert word here (afraid, scared, shy...)? There were other Jr. High kids there. But our group didn't know any of them. Are they that afraid of having fun?
I, blessedly, have never been like that in front of strangers. My friends, yes. However, in front of a group of strangers, I will dance, I will boogy, I will twist and shout! Well, at their age, I may have been a little reserved, but I remember getting up and at least trying to look cool (and was probably VERY unsuccessful at it). Finally in college I realized that I should dance like no one's watching all the time. Now I dance because Ellen tells me to. I dance because I feel like it. I dance because I want to. I dance because it's fun!
Afterwards, one of the kids said to me, "You know how you were crazy dancing? I have a bumper sticker on facebook that I'm going to send to you." He sent it to me yesterday. It says, "I often bust out with random dance moves." I love it! The kids all said they had a good time. I don't know how you can have fun, just sitting in your chair at a mini concert, but okay!?
Do you dance like no one's watching? Or are you afraid?
What it Feels Like for a Girl -Madonna
True Colors -Cyndi Lauper
Do You Wanna Dance -the Beach Boys
Goodbye Earl -Dixie Chicks
We Belong -Pat Benatar
Linger -Cranberries
Perfect -Alanis Morissette
She Is - the Fray
Sisters Are Doin' it for Themselves -Eurythmics
My Little Corner of the World -Yo La Tengo (from Gilmore Girls)
Sweetest Little Thing -U2
Dancing Queen -ABBA
To Love Somebody -Bee Gees
Otto Titsling -Bette Midler
White Wedding -Billy Idol
She's Always a Woman to Me -Billy Joel
Do I need to defend any of them? Are you confused as to why I chose some of them? There are three leaders who are all pooling their songs together. Not all of mine will be chosen. I told Heather, if I had to pick one off this list "What it Feels Like for a Girl" is my number one choice.
The irony of some of my choices is this: Sunday night we had a band play at youth group. Several other church youth groups were invited (the band was the Sr. High leader's husband's band). All the other youth were up; dancing and clapping and jumping up and down. Our Jr. Highers sat there. They looked like they'd rather be having surgery. I am very curious to know why they were insert word here (afraid, scared, shy...)? There were other Jr. High kids there. But our group didn't know any of them. Are they that afraid of having fun?
I, blessedly, have never been like that in front of strangers. My friends, yes. However, in front of a group of strangers, I will dance, I will boogy, I will twist and shout! Well, at their age, I may have been a little reserved, but I remember getting up and at least trying to look cool (and was probably VERY unsuccessful at it). Finally in college I realized that I should dance like no one's watching all the time. Now I dance because Ellen tells me to. I dance because I feel like it. I dance because I want to. I dance because it's fun!
Afterwards, one of the kids said to me, "You know how you were crazy dancing? I have a bumper sticker on facebook that I'm going to send to you." He sent it to me yesterday. It says, "I often bust out with random dance moves." I love it! The kids all said they had a good time. I don't know how you can have fun, just sitting in your chair at a mini concert, but okay!?
Do you dance like no one's watching? Or are you afraid?
Monday, February 18, 2008
soundtracks of our lives
I had such great success with asking for opinions on photographs, I'd like to ask your opinions on music. What are some great songs that you enjoy? What song has had a great impact on your life? What might be your theme song, or has been in the past? For those who are married, what song did you dance to for your first dance? With your mother/father? (Bill and I cannot remember that one... we know our song. But we do not have written down ANYWHERE the song that we danced to, he with his mom and me with my dad. Does anyone out there know???)
Our Jr. High are going to have a separate guys/girls day retreat, and we're looking for fun songs to have playing while we're talking with them. Songs that they might not know. I have a pretty eclectic mix right now. I'm wondering if I'm missing anything important. Here's another chance to add your two cents worth. After I get a few responses, I'll share what I've got so far. I'm leaving it wide open....
Friday, September 28, 2007
NEEDTOBREATHE
This is NEEDTOBREATHE. Heather O. and I saw them last night. I would say "in concert" but it was more like in our living rooms. I have to tell the whole story...
We went to the Intersection where they were playing. Of course there was a line so we were standing there for about ten minutes and Heather said, "dude, I don't think this is the right line". Just then I heard a woman calling a very young girl saying, "this is the line for [mumble, mumble]." I looked at Heather, "did you hear that?" She did not, I repeated what I just heard the woman saying. We decided one of us should go to the door and ask, so I ended up going. Sure enough, that line was for sum 41... So we left the line and went right on in.
I got carded, the security guy was shocked when he saw my birthdate. He looked up at me and said, "I really thought you were under age. No, that's a compliment, isn't it?" I had to laugh. Heather left her i.d. in the car, so he asked if she would be drinking (of course not) and he marked her with the "M"'s. She was a minor for the night! We bought our tickets (they were $10, this has been the year of $10 concerts. I will be sad when I have to pay real money to see all these guys) and walked through the door where NEEDTOBREATHE was going to play. Seriously, think Central Perk from Friends. The stage was bigger then what Phoebe played on, but the room wasn't that big. So we went and sat in two big, comfy chairs right next to all the equipment cases, just left of the stage, not more then five feet away... The first band was a local band from Grandville. They were... local. The one guitar player reminded me of Paul from the Wonder Years (before he turned into Marilyn Manson -j/k) and the bass player reminded me of Jared Leto from My So Called Life. No matter what "Paul" did, he looked like a nerd. No matter what "Jared" did, he looked cool. I digress. They only played for about a half hour. Then came NEEDTOBREATHE. Heather took a picture of their set list. But they mostly played songs off their new album. Bear (they're from South Carolina...) explained that when they showed up at 3:30pm they realized there weren't enough channels, they decided to go acoustic.
I have never heard anything so amazing, it still makes me giddy thinking about it. For their last song, they unplugged and had everybody come gather around the piano and they played their last song. Never, in my life have I ever seen something so cool. Of course, they hung around afterwards and we were able to talk to them. We had our pictures taken with Bear and Bo (the brothers). And I have Bo's autograph.
I'm hoping Heather will e-mail me the pictures. For now, I will post their picture from March (excuse the guys in front of me and their big heads...)
Pictures from March (above) Pictures from last night (below)
Bo & Emily
Heather, Bear, and Emily
Monday, May 21, 2007
Here's my excuse
Oh gosh. Lots going on still. I was so sad last week. If you don't understand, let me explain it like this, imagine your best friend suddenly having to move. You get one weeks notice. Then they're gone and you never hear from them again. That is what happened with Gilmore Girls.
I too, had a difficult time coming out of the funk. But a little H.P. always helps. And I was actually a little under the weather.
I know I'm not keeping up very well, but every time I go to post, I want to add a picture. Well, then I need to be on the other computer. That means that I'm not working. So I wait, and then time goes by and I realize, oops. I never posted anything. Today, is just a written post. No pictures. I tried attaching the Unleashed video, so you could see and hear me. But I can't do it. I'm wondering if I can post one of the David Crowder Band videos I took Friday night. The concert was awesome! What a great band. And, yes. They broke out in a hoe-down. I loved it!
So until I get my lazy (sore-from-gardening-all-day-Saturday) butt into the other room, there won't be any pictures. But you never know when I'll get them on! So don't forget to check back!
:D
I too, had a difficult time coming out of the funk. But a little H.P. always helps. And I was actually a little under the weather.
I know I'm not keeping up very well, but every time I go to post, I want to add a picture. Well, then I need to be on the other computer. That means that I'm not working. So I wait, and then time goes by and I realize, oops. I never posted anything. Today, is just a written post. No pictures. I tried attaching the Unleashed video, so you could see and hear me. But I can't do it. I'm wondering if I can post one of the David Crowder Band videos I took Friday night. The concert was awesome! What a great band. And, yes. They broke out in a hoe-down. I loved it!
So until I get my lazy (sore-from-gardening-all-day-Saturday) butt into the other room, there won't be any pictures. But you never know when I'll get them on! So don't forget to check back!
:D
Friday, March 2, 2007
In like a Lion
March is coming in like a lion. Yesterday, we had thunder and lightening. Today, it's snowing. Bill said his drive to work yesterday was everything except locusts. I haven't had enough coffee this morning, but I wanted to give you one last post before I leave. I am excited about our trip. I'm still debating as to whether or not I want to take our camera to take pictures...
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