New Year’s Eve 2011!

Featured Artists: Great Big Sea, Barenaked Ladies, Kardinal Offishall, Running Red Lights and Comedian Calwyn Shurgold

When I saw the announcement that one of my all time favorite bands GREAT BIG SEA would be performing a FREE New Year’s Eve concert in Niagara Falls, Ontario I had NO CHOICE but to go…of course! Lucky for me, my friend Melissa loves the boys as much as I do and wanted to come along. Oh Canada!

We arrived quite early because we needed to get a decent space near the front (stage Murray) for the band. After a bite to eat we sauntered down Clifton Hill only to discover rain clouds opening up in the skies above. Boo. Neither one of us brought rain appropriate wear, so Melissa ran into one of the gift shops quickly to see if they had any cheap plastic rain ponchos.

And they did! (No these are not feminine products…)

Check out those Maple Leafs! Excellent! And we are ready to rock!

Or at least stand in the rain for the next 7 hours…

We were only standing around for a few minutes when a tall, dark, handsome glasses wearing man asked the two of us hotties if we wanted to stand in front of him since he was taller and could see over us. Quite nice!

Hi Adam! Turns out our new friend Adam drove up from Connecticut to see Great Big Sea! Very cool.

The evening was hosted by ET Canada hosts Rick Campanelli and Cheryl Hickey. Rick wore wonder pants, super stitching to accentuate his…um…yeah. And Cheryl was very pretty and sparkly and furry and had um, a skirt on maybe?

Oh Canada!

I wish I could have seen the Global Broadcast of this event. Being so close to the front and wearing an awesome poncho and penguin hat I’m SURE I made my Canadian National TV debut. However I can’t seem to find an online stream of the event, so I’m left wondering. Oh well.

The first band to play was called Running Red Lights they won some sort of contest…and were pretty good. The lead singer had on a houndstooth cropped jacket and SEQUIN black hot pants and a sequin beret which made me smile.

Next up…a hip hop band called Kardinal Offishall. Again, I enjoyed the music. Although I am not good at putting my hands in the air. Nor do I know any *new* music from 2010 that plays on 98.5 (and I don’t ever want to…) so the set was one that I felt a little out of place with since everyone else seemed to at least know the covers they played. Of course I DID know the Old Skool medley “Down with OPP…” “Hip Hop Hurrah, Ho…” Felt just like being back at the Frat Parties at Allegheny. One of their songs was a rap that mentioned  Eskimos. (I kid you not.) AND they performed a cover/twist/ripoff of Blondie’s “The Tide is High” which is called “Numba1.”

Next up…ugh, I don’t even want to mention it was THAT BAD. A comedian got on stage to do a little 5 minute act and it was SO BAD that NO ONE in the audience basically made ANY NOISE. No laughter no cheers nothing. Which is NOT GOOD when taping for a New Year’s Eve Nationally Televised Program. So, about 2 minutes into the horrible, horrible sketch the sound guy stopped the act and said to the audience that there was something wrong with the “microphone” and he was going to start over and we were to CHEER AND LAUGH reminding us it was being TAPED FOR TELEVISION. Yeah, um…THAT pathetic. Embarrassing.

Our band friend Adam found a youtube link to the actual act which makes me shiver. “People talking bout me, talkin, talkin bout me.”

Make. It. End.

NEXT! BARENAKED LADIES!!!

BNL? At 8pm? Really? Is this what happens when Steven Page leaves the band? Poor Ed Robertson. Poor adorable, handsome Ed…

Turns out that the first BNL set was basically a warm up for the same exact set they would be playing LIVE two hours later. Grrr. Ok, not EXACTLY the same but pretty darn close. Plus, they weren’t um…(shhhh) that good. Sad.

FINALLY! GREAT BIG SEA! Who played a great set…both for US and for LIVE television. Whoooo! Totally worth standing in place in the rain for hours to see that smile of Alan’s up close…

BNL came back out for the LIVE portion of the concert, which was the same set for the most part (snooze) and then…

2011 and fireworks!

All the bands came out at the end of course for Auld Lang Syne and champagne from the stage landed all over the first few rows (me!) of the audience. A few short minutes later I started moving my legs again for the first time in about 6 hours and oh.my.goodness did I feel OLD! Also, where did these 1000′s and 1000′s of people come from? Melissa braved the bridge traffic and we got home…late (early?) in the New Year safe and sound and smiling.

Good times. What a way to ring in a New Year!

Bon Jovi, huh?

Who’da thunk it?

Bon Jovi Top Concert Earner

Apparently we can add stadium-show rock star to the list of jobs going overseas. Bon Jovi, the world’s top-earning concert act, made half its $201.1 million in ticket revenue from shows outside North America. AC/DC and U2, the second- and third-highest earning shows, made all their money overseas.

Celebrate the Sounds of the Holiday Season with the BPO!

Celebrate the sounds of the Holiday Season with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra featuring First Niagara Holiday Pops: Deck the Halls with JoAnn Falletta, Music Director joined by the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, Doreen Rao, Music Director, the Buffalo Niagara Youth Chorus, Neil Garvey, narrator, American Idol’s John Stevens and singer Michele Ragusa.
Join the BPO for

Holiday Pops on Friday, December 18 at 8 pm, Saturday, December 19 at 8 pm and Sunday, December 20 at 2:30 pm at Kleinhans Music Hall for favorites including Suite from The Nutcracker, Opus 71a, Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah, Carol of the Bells, Christmas Carol Sing-A-Long and many, many more!

Also, don’t miss the BPO Classical Christmas with Matthew Kraemer, Associate Conductor at Kleinhans Music Hall, on Friday, December 11, 10:30 am and Saturday, December 12, 8:00 pm sponsored by Independent Health.

And for the kids in your life, celebrate the season with the BPO with A Visit From St. Nick on Sunday, December 13 at 2:30 pm with guest conductor Paul Ferington, the Buffalo Jugglers, South Buffalo Dance Academy and special guest Santa Claus!

Tickets for Holiday Pops and Classical Christmas start at just $30 and A Visit with St. Nick kids tickets are $8 and adults only $12! Call the box office at 716.885.5000 or www.bpo.org to purchase your tickets today,

CAKE

Cake is coming to Buffalo Town Ballroom on September 4th!

Oh how I love Cake. Would love to see this band live…

$40 (Cue wah, wah…)

All Things Jennifer: Favorite Live Concert Moments

I’m sitting in front of the computer over the weekend…listening to the Phil Collins station on Pandora. What song plays? In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins.

And all I can think of is seeing that drum solo live in concert a few years back with my Auntie Carroll. Ah….one of my favourite concert moments, ever. Boom Boom, Boom, BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM.

What other moments top my list?

I think Number #1 would have to be (wait for it) Ron Hawkins playing at Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor a few years ago—maybe 4? (I’m not one of those people who can say June, 2003 without going back to my blog to check on a date. I have no idea what year it was, it’s the story that counts…)

Ron Hawkins. At Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor. I was front and center. Ron came out during the first encore and played Black Monday. Only Ron had GLASSES on at this show. Dying… I love glasses. I love Ron. A win-win. And it was the FIRST TIME I heard Ron so deliciously sing those last few lines of Black Monday without guitar. Only that voice…that voice…slowly dripping…heaven.

My friend Kate, you are sad and beautiful
And the way I am has never been too good for us
‘Cause I’m too blind to hear, and I’m too deaf to see

But I still have a voice that can call out your name
With a gut full of beer and a head full of pain
I can lie in your arms and be lovers again
And thank God Tuesday morning is just hours away

Do you know, I won’t let you down?
Rest your head when I come around
Do you know, you can count on me?
Laugh out loud, I see what you see

Start at 4:15. This clip is not from the show I mentioned above, but Ron started singing it that way from that point on. I actually have tears right now watching this video because it was from the Lows *last* show in December. Exceptionally bittersweet.

*Aside: I hate it when people shout and sing when Ron starts this part of the song. Let. Me. Hear. RON.*

The only other Ron moment that sticks out from, so so so many was when I heard Rumours and Whispers for the first time live, sitting (front and to the right) at the Tralf.

Always remember June or December carries within its womb
These intimate wishes conceived between kisses to be born in your grey-lit room
Wishes lost like pebbles down wells if they’re left to fend for themselves
Without faith, without passionate plan
Without breath between sheltering hands
Bracing limbs entwined in the sheets, pressing lips in the snow-covered streets
Hungry hands and a traveler’s heart
Held entranced from the end to the start
‘Til it feels like it’s always been this
Infinite, all-encompassing kiss
Just we two in the whisperingness

Oh God. There’s nothing in the world better, live…

Oh and I must not forget the time Stephen Stanley (front and left of center) handed me his guitar pick. And at the same show at the encore, Stephen rocked out on Dogs of February (he was on fire that night!) and Ron turns to me and shrugs his shoulders and says TO ME “I can’t control him.” And flashed that undeniably, mischievous adorable grin. Ah…

Ahhh All this was because I had met the band that weekend and told Stephen I loved it when he played Dogs of February. I was pretty speechless around Ron and I think Ron thought I had a crush on Stephen instead…

Oooh. I also lovedlovedloved every moment of the LIVE July 4th concert of the Goo Goo Dolls in the pouring rain. Which clip to choose? I love all three of these songs equally. *Heartbreaking.*

Sympathy
Acoustic #3

My all time favorite is probably Name.
“Grew up way too fast, now there’s nothing to beleive…reruns all become our history…”

I forget just how much I love them…it’s been a while since I’ve seen them live. Damn you Goo Goo Dolls why do you always play your concerts at the casino? Grrr.

Ok, I think that completes my list…And now you know.

So what are yours? (Post on your blog and leave the link in the comments.)

Thursday at the Square Lineup!

The Thursday in the verycrowdedcan’tbreatheneedtoexpandspace Square Schedule has been released.

AND GREAT BIG SEA IS PLAYING BUFFALO PLACE ROCKS THE HARBOR! August 15th!

Since the other GBS date this Summer I was briefly excited about is July 12th…I am SUPER EXCITED TO HEAR THIS NEWS! YIPEEEEEEE!

And now for the rest of the lineup…

At the end of the day, you just got to say it’s alright.

I am tired off my ass. But GOOD tired. Witty, punchy tired. The best kind. 2.5 hours of sleeeeeeeeeep will do that to a person. Oh and a good dose of Great Big Sea!

More when I get home and upload the few decent pics. I did get the …do do do do!
SET LIST though

Nerdy stalker fan. Yes indeedy!

Ay, me boys.

Let the Irish Festivus begin!

Of course most of the people in Rochester last night…had outfits of black instead of green, oh yeah because NIN played at the arena.

THURSDAY NIGHT KITCHEN PARTY!!!!

Rochester, NY baby!

The HARD and the EASY Tour!!!!

All I need to put a smile on my face is Great Big Sea. And the music. Happy. Love. Drinking. Friendly. Canadian Pride. And. Oh. God. Sooooooo HANDSOME! And talented. And it’s almost St. Patty’s Day! (One year I had The Old Black Rum on my answering machine during the festivus week) Alan Doyle is just about the most exuberant musician one could EVER see live. Throws himself, and that voice, and hair, and eyes, and dimples and all of his spirit into every show. Witty banter. Sexy men. Who could ask for anything more? A permanent smile on my face. I CANNOT WAIT!

I do not own the new disc yet (for shame for shame) but tis my goal to purchase. And get the boys to sign for me. Hey, I need to round out the trilogy of meeting my favorite bands! Lowest of the Low. Check. Carbon Leaf. (Who I discovered via a GBS show!) Check. GBS…NEXT!

This time I am seeing one of my favourite bands with my Mark and his best buds Paul and Melissa. Go figure, they are fans too! Currently, I am devouring the fantabulous CD Mr. Paul made for me…LIVE from the Something Beautiful tour HENCE THE WAAAAAY TOO EXCITED BLOG POST! Road Rage (their live CD) is one of my all time must haves to cheer me up. And now this live mix…pretty darn close! THANKS Paul!

And when I hear the words “threw me naked on the bed” come from Mr. McCann. (pictured above) Breathing. Stops. Mmmmm. Aside: Marky you are in for one good night…ahem.

So goodbye. Farethee well. Update tomorrow! Hopefully a good enough review to make it on their website!

Smiley Smiley Smiley day!

I had a very smiley day!

Woke up. Smiley.

Went to work, realized my fantasy football team for work autodrafted overnight. I have a very nice team. McGahee on my side. Smiley. The stakes are high with the work team. There are 5 men and me. Winner gets $ and pizza and case of beer. LOSERS #2-6 have to share a 12 pack of Genny Cream Ale, with the *asshole* last place position drinking the leftovers. Yum.

Went to see GREAT BIG SEA at the square. SUPER SMILEY. Such happyhappyhappy music. I need a GBS alarm clock. (Or Alan Doyle waking me up every morning singing in my ear…) Aaaah. FANTASTIC SHOW. It has been a while…and I was quite smiley to see them tonight!

And then? On the way home? Erin and I picked up a lost kitten. I would say about 5-6 months old. Blond. And SWEET as can be. We saw him running after these two girls that were walking up the sidewalk, BUSY CITY street. Crying. Following the girls “look at me….” crying. And baby kitten crossed the road and almost got hit. The girls didn’t bother to turn around. Erin’s heart melted, and she pulled over, and I brought the more than willing infant into my arms. So sweet, the baby HAS to belong to someone. So very very very kind and sweet and grateful. And surprisingly? Not even a little bit scared of SIMBA Cat or Sasha Kitten. I am going to call the shelters around town tomorrow to see if someone is missing a baby. Soooo sweet.

Anyone want to adopt the sweetest baby ever if no home is found?

(NOT the lost kitty (who I am NOT calling Lukey because I can not give a lost kitty a name) ….but a close picture!) No, I am NOT adopting the baby…I can’t have 3 cats.

And now off to bed. Good night!

“Wouldn’t it be great, if the band just never ended?”

GREAT BIG SEA tomorrow night at T.I.A.T.S.!

This is the OTHER band from Canada that I LOVE LOVE LOVE. I am overjoyed that they are playing at the Square!!! ANOTHER fantastic show, for FREE! Thank you Buffalo Place! Erin and I will be right up front! (Erin, who will be celebrating her *NOT 30th* birthday this weekend! Woo hoo!