Maroon 5 @ Bayfront Park

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Third time’s a charm!

I fell in love with Maroon 5 INSTANTLY. I heard the album ONE time and I was a head-over-heels fan. It was 2004 when I finally jumped on the bandwagon.  I had just moved to Chicago, and it was my first time living by myself.  Songs About Jane helped me fight a serious case of loneliness as I belted out every word during my ultimate empty living room performance.

Of course, in true fashion, I looked for tickets to any upcoming concert they had in Chicago. They were performing soon, and I bought tickets and got stuck in another city and missed the concert! I was passed pissed. My friends gloated for months about what I missed.

The SECOND time I went to see them was in Miami. But as luck would have it, the concert was scheduled the same date I was scheduled to be out of town. Boo.

So this is my third attempt at seeing the band, and nothing was going to come between me and this concert!

Black Eyed Peas @ American Airlines Arena

Saturday, February 6, 2010
The Energy Never Dies Tour

We all know the open history of the Black Eyed Peas. Yeah yeah...they were a dyed-in-the-wool hip-hop group going nowhere fast. Then they injected this pretty white girl with the big voice and Boom Boom Pow...SUPER GROUP!

Because I say they were going nowhere fast, doesn’t mean I think they were talentless – but commercially........they were going nowhere fast! Their albums were more for self-proclaimed “Hip-Hop Heads” and featured artists like Les Nubians, De La Soul and Macy Gray. It’s to no surprise that when Elephunk dropped, the general population was confused about it being their THIRD studio album. If you’re anything like me, you had the screw face the first time you say the “Where is the Love?” video. “They sure look like the Black Eyed Peas...is that Justin Timberlake singing?? Who’s the white chick??”

Arguably, a complete 180% from Bridging the Gap, Elephunk brought them to the masses, and began their onward spiral of catchy beats and popular tunes. I was not sold on Elephunk. It was just OKAY. Now having two other albums, listening to Elephunk reminds me of how awkward their transformation was at this time. “Hey Mama” and “Shut Up” were big hits, but you still had to wonder... “Who’s the white chick?!?”

BEP’s official crossover album, Monkey Business was a BIG success for them. It pushed them into the limelight with Fergie riding high. The album got average reviews, but I was feelin’ it. It was just enough up-and-at-em pop music I needed in 2005!

I, like many, have slowly become regular fans of BEP. I feel like their music has its own lane. It’s not really pop...but it’s not really hip-hop either. But for them...it WORKS! I admittedly didn’t jump at the first sign of ticket sales, but I begrudgingly decided to go (thanks to Loriann!). I am SERIOUSLY glad I did. They put on a S-H-O-W!!!!!!

I was impressed from beginning to end! Three parts of the show stood out for me:

1. Will-i-am did this DOPE freestyle to BBM messages from the audience. They asked people with blackberries to text anything to the number they provided, and they showed up on the screen. From that, he used those texts to do a freestyle. HOOOOT! That gave me a newfound sense of respect for him.
2. Will-i-am’s DJ set. A DJ stand emerged from the floor and then lifted in the air over the crowd. Visually it was spectacular. Albeit I don’t consider Will-I-am anywhere NEAR my top 10 DJ list, his song selections were great!

• In The Ayer

• Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit (one of my FAVS!!!)
• American Boy

• Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough

• Don’t Stop the Music

• Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’

• White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It)

• Thriller

• Jump Around

• Otherside

• Smells Like Teen Spirit (Another all-time favorite!)

• Don’t Stop Believin’

• Right Round

The crowd went bananas!! A little something for everyone.

3. “I Gotta Feeling”: It was the last song they performed and it was incredible! It had all the energy and drama you would expect this song to have in a live performance. Best way to end the show!

They seemed comfortable on stage. Will-i-am, being the biggest character of the group. They worked around each other flawlessly. One drawback was Fergie’s microphone. At points in the show, you could barely hear her. I couldn’t tell if you was a technical issue or she was singing extra soft. She didn’t lip-sync which made me happy, but that sound drove me crazy. She was cat-walking up and down the stage, which was awesome because her dancing (which she didn’t do much of) leaves a lot to be desired. She looked amazing tho! Her body makes me want to eat, sleep and shit on a treadmill! She perform three singles from The Dutchess; “Fergalicious”, “Glamorous” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry”.

The staging was elaborate and fanciful. They obviously spared no expense with the production technology to appeal to the audience.

This was their second stop on the North American tour. LMFAO and Ludacris (why...I don’t know) opened for them. The concert was the Saturday before Superbowl, and traffic was STUPID, we I missed LMFAO. We came in the middle of the last song them performed. Womp.

Ludacris was enjoyable. I’ve seen him perform a few times on other tours. There wasn’t much to the set, and since the crowd was pretty mixed, some of his songs were a littttttle lost on them. Lol “Back seat, windows up...” Still love that song!!

Bottom Line. THAT was concert. These are the reasons I LOVE concerts. Pure and absolute entertainment. If there are tickets still available for you to see this concert. PLEASE do. You won’t be disappointed.

Love.
Peace.
Music.

Mariah Carey @ Hard Rock Live

Thursday, January 21, 2010

One of the first CDs I ever bought myself was Mariah Carey, Mariah’s debut album.  I turned eight years old the day before the album was released in the United States.  With however much money you give an eight year old for their birthday, I bought that CD with that money (along with New Kids on the Block's Step and By Step and A Tribe Called Quest's People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm.) I was IN love. Her voice was so beautiful to me. Naturally, I played that album OUT for months, to the point that I think my mother threatened to ground me for playing the album too much (no lie!).

Fast forward 20 years, and the purchase of every album she’s released (yes even Glitter!), I suppose I would be considered a “fan”.  However, funny enough – Mariah does not land in my Top Five Favorite Artists list (which I intend to write about at some point...but it’s such an internal struggle!).

This was my first time experiencing Mariah's live performance. I was looking forward to hearing any song from my top three favorite MC albums, which are:

3. Butterfly

2. The Emancipation of MiMi

1. Vision of Love

Let’s start with the venue...

Typically, venues generally prohibit cameras during concerts.  Although I understand the logic to some degree, I feel that if I paid money to be there, I should be able to commemorate that adventure without having to purchase their overpriced paraphernalia!  I post videos on YouTube quite often, so I understand that it can killed the surprise element of a show, but that rule still drives me crazy! To make a long story short – Hard Rock Live had camera fascists to make sure no one was taking pictures! They were strategic about who they hired.  They didn’t hire high school and college kids to check tickets and walk around the venue, instead, they hired grandmas.  You know what...it WORKED! Those were the snoopiest old women ever and don’t think you could take pictures and video on the sly, because they could see EVERYTHING! Needless to say, I didn’t get much footage of the show! The footage I DID get is extra choppy and fuzzy because I was trying not to get thrown out by the mean fascist camera ladies!!

Even that didn’t deter my excitement for the show...let’s get on Mariah.

The show started an HOUR late...not a huge deal, but it ended exactly ONE hour and FIFTEEN minutes from the start time! UM, EXCUSE ME!???!!?!? You have an average of 11 songs on each of your TWELVE original albums Mariah...that’s about 132 songs, and you only chose to do 17 songs?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Yes...only 17. There were so few, I can tell you exactly what they were:

"Fantasy (Def Club Mix)"

"Touch My Body"

"Make It Happen"
"Angles Cry"

"Fly Like A Bird"

"It’s Like That"

"Always Be My Baby"

"Honey"

"My All"

"Hearbreaker"

"Shake it Off"

"Mine Again"

"Obsessed"

"It’s a Wrap"

"The Impossible"

"We Belong Together"

"Hero"

That’s a little more than the equivalent of ONE album! The tickets to her show weren’t particularly expensive, but I don’t feel like I got my money’s worth. From the list above, four of the songs were from The Emancipation of Mimi. While I understand that the album was well received and her most successful album in years (and one of my favorites), It is not what made her a star.  I understand not performing songs from Glitter and Charmbracelet but she didn’t perform ANYTHING from Mariah Carey. I would have at LEAST taken the older songs in a medley! 

Although the concert was shorter that I would have liked, she sounded great! It is well known that Mariah battled with severe stage fright and in recent years, a strained voice from overuse.  She sounds a little shaky sometimes on her televised performances, so I didn’t really know what to expect, but I was quite impressed. One thing she absolutely doesn't do is dance! She barely moved on the stage, and her backup dancers gave the show a vegasy appeal.

I had some disappointments, but I don’t regret buying tickets to the show. You can’t talk about it, without being about it first!

Check out the pics and flicks!

Love.

Peace.

Music.

Beyonce @ Bank Atlantic Center

BEYONCE!!!!!

Check the Pics & Flicks!

I only have one word for that show: AMAZING!!! I LOVE Beyonce...LOVE LOVE LOVE, but even my bias couldn't taint the show - it was THAT good. I was sick, and if this were anybody else, I would have sold my ticket to stay in bed...but I got up for B! lol...I'm SO glad I did...it was well worth it!!

If you've never seen her perform live, it's easy to think of her as your average pop or r&b star, but homegirl puts on a show!! This wasn't my first time seeing her. I've been to pretty much every concert since her Destiny Child days, but I would have to say this one was the best. She brought the theatrics...I'm talking numerous costume changes, live band, flying though the sky, two stages, countless dancers, background videos, and no auto-tune or lip-syncing! The audience was on their feet for the entire show!

I've always loved how she incorporates other songs into her live shows (except for Sarah McLaughlan's "Angel" with her "Ava Maria"....me no likey) - so I was excited to see what she pulled out. She sang Alanis Morrisette's "You Outta Know" with "If I Were A Boy". I basically lost it!!! Jagged Little Pill is a dope album, and I was totally surprised to hear her bust that out!! She also did a rendition of Dawn Penn's "No, No, No" - as shown in one of the videos above.

My favorite dancer, Melanie wasn't there :( But she had very talented dancers, including the two girls from the "Single Ladies", "Diva" and "Ego" videos.

Before the I Am... album, I think her major ballad was "Dangerously in Love", which she didn't perform. She performed "Halo" as her heavy hitting ballad - which it was. It was beautiful.

Our seats were decent. They were on the floor, but weren't particularly close. HOWEVER, there was a part of the show that she performed in the middle stage, and we were SUPER close for that...so after that, I could say our seats were magnificent! The majority of the video footage I took was from that segment.

After performing "Single Ladies", this dude proposed to his girlfriend, who seemed to be a L'Oreal worker. It was super cute!! Jennifer Hudson and her cute pregger belly were in the audience, and apparently Kelly was there too, but who knows where she was!!

Seriously, the show was awesome. She definitely went all out. The best part about her shows is that she SINGS...she sings, she sings, she sings. There's nothing like a live performance with a live voice!! If she is or has come to your town, and you don't plan on, or didn't see her...SHAME ON YOU!!!

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

You're just another part of me...

So, this is completely out of purpose of my blog, but I must address.

Yesterday, earth lost one of it's living icons, Michael Jackson. As I mentioned in the very first post of this blog, the 1988 BAD Concert is the very reason why I love live music. That concert opened my heart to the beat, and allowed me to experience how POWERFUL music is. I was six year old, had to stand on the seat just to see, but honestly, that remains one of my most favorite memories to date. My father passed a few weeks prior to that concert, and going to the concert literally changed my life.

As an 80's and MTV baby, Michael Jackson played such an integral role in my childhood. In more recent years, Michael's life has been unfortunately marked more with controversy than with music, but back then...it was ALL about the ICON. Michael was the epitome of a star, and was a legend in the making. He wasn't a man, but an era. The moonwalk, the glove, the smooth criminal lean...some of the most recognizable things - all from him.

I lived in Costa Rica for the summer of 1995 through CISV (amazing experience BTW). Right before I left, HIStory came out, and I rocked that album EVERY DAY. MJ helped me feel at home when I was in a completely foreign land.

His style and music have influenced today's biggest stars. And his very being has touched the lives of countless people across the world spanning generations past and future. I feel like he was wasn't always happy and had to sacrifice not only a childhood, but of ever having a shot at a normal life, but he was placed on this earth for a clear reason, and that will never be in vain.

I'm a fan. His songs will ALWAYS be in my regular everyday rotation. So since this blog is about the music...let's talk about it:

My top 5 MJ Songs (this was pretty impossible to do!):

5. "Man in the mirror"

Doesn't this song just amp you up to go out and save the world?! He was so feelin' that second verse!! LOVE!

4. "Ben"

The little boy with the big voice. This song always chokes me up a little. Really listen to it. It's the beautiful heartfelt song of a kid about his BFF

3. "Off The Wall"

 

This song is basically how I live my life! Listen to the words. Don't you think?!?

 

2. "The Way You Make Me Feel"

This is my Mom's favorite MJ song. She played this song OUT. This is such a great feel good love song! It reminds me of Moonwalker the most. I know that movie word for word! "REMEMBA DAT! REMEMBA DAT!!"

1. "Smooth Criminal"

 How can you NOT move when this song is on? Like my body can't stay still. That drop at the beginning of the song is awesome. So many songs have reproduced that intro. Thriller is undoubtedly his best music video, but the long version of Smooth Criminal is my personal favorite! That lean does me in EVERY time I see this video! I just love this song...Michael was a genius!
 Michael, thank you for allowing us to witness your talent, and thank you for sacrificing so much to bring people together through your music. We love you and you will truly be missed.
Rest.
In.
Peace.

Toy @ Miami Improv

Wednesday, May 20, 2009
B Side Entertainment presents Taurus Affair III

The Taurus affair went down to celebrate the birthdays of Ingrid and Rahsaan (Birthdays on May 17th and 8th respectively.) The evening featured mostly poets: M Reld, and Tommy Bottoms were the headlining poets, with Cheezraz, Georgia ME, Filthy McNasty, Real Proper Like, Anomaly (love her!), and Talia.

Toy was the headlining musical act of the night, and hit the stage after all the poets had done their thing.

Check the pics and flick. (Click the pictures for larger images).

(Me and the birthday girl, Ingrid)

Toy performed like 4-5 of her songs, but apparently there was a problem with the band - they weren't playing her music like it was supposed to be played, which I didn't know until after the night was over!

She seemed extra nervous and hesitant to start the first song, but if her music was phucked up, that would explain why she seemed that way! I think she lost a lot of people at the beginning because of this, because when she started rockin' out, most of the crowded had cleared out. I'm feelin the hip-rock vibe she was givin', but I'll have to hear her live again before I make a final judgment on her voice. I wasn't completely blown away, but she definitely has potential to make a name for herself in the music industry.

Ne-Yo, Musiq Soulchild, & Jazmine Sullivan @ American Airlines Arena

Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Ne-yo's Year of the Gentleman Tour

Even though I have all three of Ne-yo's studio albums, I wasn't completely sold on going to see him in concert. But once I heard Jazmine Sullivan and Musiq were going to be there, I pretty much had to go! Electrik Red, Def Jam's 2009 version of Destiny's Child, opened the show...

Check the pics & flicks. (click the picture for larger images)

Electrik Red: They were OKAY. I have extremely high standards of girl groups, especially for live performances. Destiny's Child gives a great show, PCD...Spice Girls (yes...the Spice Girls!! They have crazy energy!). I understand that Electrik Red is just starting out, so I'll let them slide on the lackluster choreography, although apparently they're all former backup dancers. They're pretty girls, and they have pretty decent voices, but I wasn't blown away. They cursed a LOT, which I found surprising for some reason (yes I found it surprising!) I'll keep watching out for them thought...they have potential.

Jazmine Sullivan: Her voice never gets old. I remember back in 2006, my girl CC told me to listen to her version of "Resentment" that was posted on Jazmine's Myspace page back then. The song is obviously more popular because if Beyonce, but Jazmine absolutely did her thing...gave the song a completely different feel...I feel like her version might have came out first, but don't quote me on that. I've been a fan since then, and I LOVE the album. This was my first time seeing her live...WELL worth the wait. What she lacks for in elaborate set-ups, dance routines and costume changes, she completely makes up for with that voice! LOVES her!!

Musiq Soulchild: Been a fan since Aijuswanaseing when he had that crazy lookin' hair! lol...but for real, I respect musical artists that continue to work on their craft. I can definitely tell a difference in his voice from then until now. His range is ridiculous! I was surprised that he was even on the tour with Ne-yo...they have really different sounds, but he ROCKED the house...the crowd loved him...he was really killin' it!

Ne-yo: So the headliner (who on my list was after Jazmine and Musiq on my reasons for being there) gave an AWESOME performance! I was completely entertained! I loved the "rat-pack" style theme he's rollin' with for his album, and he carried that theme throughout the show seamlessly. I was really impressed. I always go into concerts wishing artist would play my favorite songs, this was no exception...I really wanted to hear "Say It" (If you haven't heard it...please), but that probably wasn't appropriate for a semi-family oriented audience! lol.

Really good show overall...