Breaking Up is Hard to Do....

I have a confession to make. Last night I got together with my ex. I know I know, not a good thing on most accounts, but actually this was fine,see the hook up was with my musical ex Josh Groban. Now for those who don't know me, my musical taste runs slightly all over the place. Favorite bands growing up The Who and Queen. Also loved Barry Manilow even enjoyed Hurricane Smith singing "Babe, What would you Say" (I dare you to remember that one!). The 80's were ruled by Duran Duran. Currently a 5 ft. 4" Brit named Matt Bellamy (he of Muse fame- I'm not talking about the whole Kate Hudson thing "lalalalala I can't hear you!") holds my heart in his hands, but the Grob, well, his voice does things to me. Ever since I came across his cute little 18 year old self talking to Larry King "So, Josh, this singing thing, you like it?" and saw a clip of him on Ally McBeal (never really watched the show-honestly-dancing baby puhlease)I just have been amazed by the beauty of his voice. Yes, he sings schmaltzy songs but I honestly have to say voice wise, his baritone, vibrato, control and depth of sound is brilliant. Well all was right in my Josh world, except I kept missing him in concert early on. So stints at the Wang Center and Great Woods (or whatever the hell it's called now) were missed. That said I made up with in it what about '07 by seeing him twice (Boston and CT at Mohegan Sun), then an appearance with the Pops performing on a PBS Chris Botti Special (Botti not so much interested in-but did also see Sting and John Mayer (and Steven Tyler who should have stopped at singing Cryin' instead of also doing "Smile") -so that was cool for the most part!-but I digress. Well what's the verdict. He was lovely in concert. Great voice, totally likable, if I were 25 I would so go after him, but honestly he seems like a good guy. Now I wasn't that thrilled with some of his music on his Awake album (Josh note to self Paul Simon already did Graceland, stop with the world music influence stuff) but I liked a good number of cuts on it. Then came his recent work "Illuminations" (I think) Heard it streamed on line and hated it everything...thanks Ric Rubin Mr. Producer of everyone. Sometimes folks should just sing, not write music, but you know what hey Josh do what you want and if you keep singing like you do, sure I'll find a cheap tkt to see ya but I may not buy your albums.

As far as the concert itself, personally certain artists should remain in smaller venues. I believed this with him in '07 and still do today after last night. The thing is is that regardless of offering an "intimate stage" in the middle of the floor, there really is not way to create intimacy at venues like the TD Garden. It was so funny but when the concert started all I could think of was how strange it was to come back to see a show maybe 1/2 to 2/3 full with a small stage compared to the sold out sweating and head banging crowd at Muse (sigh-you spoiled everything else for me boys). The Grob should play here in venues like The Wang or The Opera House. Two three nights and you'd have the audience size you had a the Garden (then again one night vs. two or three in one place). And honestly you could have saved yourself 15 minutes of jogging from one stage to the other which translates to at least 3 more songs to sing. Also if you're in a bigger venue, even if you say you want to be intimate you're selling seats in balcony far away seats (yes there were folks there), so you MUST have some type of video screen that will help the audience see you up close. At this concert and his past concert I saw he's had awful and I mean AWFUL visuals, ballerinas dancing, machines marching during a song called "Machine" well you get it Literal to the point of ridonculus! Then again why do I think Machines marching during "Supermassive Black Hole" is cool...ok I'll stop mixing musical genres.

So Josh when all is said and done, thanks for the one nighter...I miss you, and was happy to have you for a bit, but now you go about your business and I'll go about mine. I'll love ya but won't always like your music and when the next tour comes, if you're playing greatest hits from your first three albums, count me in....

I've lost the plot....and boy am I glad I did

On March 6, 2010 at approximately 8:30 pm I lost the plot and have yet to get it back. Let me explain, I innocently had agreed to join my sister a few months before in seeing Muse. She liked their album "Black Holes and Revelations", I enjoyed it too, and hearing Adam Lambert (ok-shut up) sing Starlight, made me revisit the rest of their songs etc. Anyway, I figured sure, why not. Little did I know I would fall under the spell of a 5'5" 100 lb. wet Englishman named Matt Bellamy. I don't know if it was a combo of amazing singing, ridiculously fabulous guitar playing, brain burning from all of the lasers used in the show, or having my head bashed by the wall of sound that assaulted me throughout their show but I didn't just enjoy the concert, I became obsessed with Bellamy, and his bandmates and the wonder that is Muse. Since then I have not been able to let my obsession go, and yay say I. I guess it just had been a long time since I had felt that amazing oneness that music or a huge sports event (like the Sox in 2004, or Patriots in 2001) can sometimes bring to a crowd of people. And despite the fact that I was sharing Muse with 16,999 others at the TD Banknorth Garden I felt that they were playing only for me. And when I was able to get tkts to see them in California in Sept. thanks to a good friend of my best buddy Gina, well it was the same thing. I mean how much more glee can one get than sharing your amazement with someone about music that blows your mind either in the bathroom line (I love that at concerts!) and even more so with someone sitting next to you that you don't know but grabs you in the middle of a song and shouts, "This is the best F#$%ing Concert I've been to!!!", a riot. So thank you Muse and Matt Bellamy. You made me believe in rock again, you've helped keep me sane in crazy times, and most of all thank you for so far, one year later, for putting a bit of the sparkle back in me. Things can indeed go crazy, but if anyone sees a smile come on my face at work, at home or on the T know more likely than not know it's caused by the boys from Teignmouth Devon!

Grammy Recap

I've never really trusted the Grammy's since I was 10 and Boston lost Best New Artist to "Starland Vocal Band". Yup, you read it right, Boston loses to one hit wonderkings of "Afternoon Delight". So really Grammys haven't had cred in over 30+ years. I've never really gotten into watching the Grammys, and mostly because it seems artists are awarded not for great recordings but for #'s sold I mean "Wind beneath my Wings' Best song, whatever, ug. This year I watched since my boys (that's Muse to anyone who doesn't know me) were up for three awards. They've never been nominated before and though old fans argued that The Resistance (the album they were nominated for etc.) is not their best, I figured screw it, another chance to see them before they go off on a much deserved rest. So did I watch all of the show? Hell no, but from what I watched here are some comments:
1) Lady gaga, honestly Madonna wants her outfits and songs back. Oh, and you should find Sally Field to discuss how much people really really like you. When you're finished talking to the flying nun, I have a suggestion for you. Get over it, you were picked on, now you're rich, good for you. Move on.
2) Group dancing pretty much ended with Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation" video. Unless your last name is Jackson, don't do it. That means you Gaga, you Usher and anyone and everyone else
3) Um, there is a point when fiddles on the Grammy stage need to stop...it was an overabundance this year
4) Bob Dylan, I never got you, and can't say you've aged well like fine wine. Actually my ears begged me to change the channel once you started singing with the dueling banjo group and I did.
5)Um grammy producers, whoever thought dancers invoking "riot" moves during Muse's performance of Uprising was a good idea, as Mr. Trump would say "you're fired".
6) Matt Bellamy thanks for dousing my joy of you and the boys winning a Grammy (best rock album) by mentioning that blond slut in the audience, I'm talking to you Kate Hudson. Business vs. personal keep it separate. Freakin' Chris W's wife has had five kids and you don't see him having to thank her in public....
7) Babs...(forget this comment if you can't figure out who I'm talking about) Um, should have thought about that outfit a second time before putting it on
8) Michael Buble's shitty album won for best traditional pop-What? I mean I like this guy I saw him at Berklee years before he made it, but his last album was at best, great elevator music.
9) Finally.....can someone puhlease explain to me why G. Paltrow has to keep on trying to sing....your married to the guy in Coldplay. Sing to your kids at home, seriously....that's it....

Oscars next Sunday, and since I've seen about 1 1/2 of the movies nominated my comments will be fashion related.....

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

In the face of recent Hollywood breakups, I feel compelled to clear the air with the following announcement: Rumors at TMZ of the separation of musical admiration by Stephanie T. for Josh Groban are confirmed. The official statement follows: "Outside of Rick Rubin being a shitty producer for Josh based on the two released singles from his upcoming album, over the past few years, awaiting the new album, we've grown apart. I no longer find the continued use of falsetto as awe inspiring, and the "Bridge Over troubled water" wanna be compositions are tiresome. I wish nothing but the best for Josh and his seeming desire to try and revisit Paul Simon's Graceland years. I will always look back with fondness on my IPod sleep mix featuring his work through Awake. I hope to use this time to reflect on happier years." Confirmation on Groban's playlist being overtaken in # of times played by Muse's H.A.A.R.P. on ST's Ipod was not forthcoming.

The Song Remains the Same....or Does it?

I've just finished reading "Love is a mix tape; Life and Loss, One Song at a Time" by Rob Sheffield. I highly recommend it. It's a wonderful (and sad yes) exploration of the power of Music and how it can define/earmark important times in your life. It was great to read the list of mix tapes at the beginning of each chapter, and how can you not love a book that includes The Blow Monkey's "Diggin Your Scene" in one of the mixes?

After finishing the book, I began to think about some of the mix tapes I've had in my life, and a lot of what I remembered were "sleep tapes" featuring songs from The Blue Nile, Japan, The Lover Speaks, Marillion, good lord stop me or I'll start listing every single British Band I listened to in the 80's. And by the way, no sleep tape would ever be complete w/out The Who's "Love Reign O'er Me". In thinking about this, I have to say, I've realized I'm not so much a mix tape but an "in for the penny, in for the pound" gal. What exactly does this mean? Well, once I find a song I like-I play it to death, what do I mean by death? A few month's ago, in a matter of days, after I bought Muse's incredibly campy, kitchy, wonderfully bombastic "Neutron Star Collision" on Itunes, I had listened to it 1,567 times (this of course included nights that I put the Ipod on repeat and let it run all night). Songs by Keane, Sissel and Espen Lind (don't even ask about that one right now) and The Killers have suffered the same fate. I could listen to '39 by Queen gadzillions of times. My former work colleague Scott was a good sport always, he put up with lots of song "overkills".

I'm in the midst of watching the Patriot's first pre-season game against the Saints. The second quarter is about to start and they're already on the second stringers. Even so, I'm about to head back in to watch, so I will continue my dissertation on types of songs another day. But I'll give you a preview, next up "the couple song", and for me it features a heterosexual life partner and a 70's story song.....start guessing (no it's not Wildfire for the love of god.)

¡feliz cumpleaños!

Okay short and sweet today. Happy Birthday to Raul Malo, former lead singer of The Mavericks, a totally misunderstood band that was categorized as "Country" but so much more. Mr. Malo has one of the most beautiful tenor voices in the business. He is comfortable singing ballads, swing, rock w/ a bit o' country, as well as Latin influenced music, plus he has a great Christmas CD out! His control, timbre and pitch are amazing. He loves playing and plays most anywhere, which is great and a curse, because most of the time now it's small places where the crowd can sometimes drown out the wonder of his vocals. A good friend and I saw him at the Paradise in Boston a few years back and wondered why he wasn't playing to a bigger audience, and really why he's still not necessarily well know. It's a shame because his talent is amazing.

Because he sings such a variety of styles I bet you can find a song of his you'll enjoy (he's even sung Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual"). There are plenty of clips out there of him. I'll leave you with one of my favorite.

Across the Pond...........

Tonight I'm going to see Keane at Bank of America Pavilion. I was lucky enough to catch this band on SNL a few years back (at least SNL is still good for something considering their skits continue to be way hit or miss extravaganzas, and can someone please pull Seth Meyers out of the News-god awful-never found him funny, never will). If you don't know Keane they're a Brit band whose first album here Hopes & Fears rose up the charts on the strength of great melodies, piano as the featured instrument on its tunes, and the wondrous pure vocals of Tom Chaplin. Three recordings later, the band is experimenting a bit more with their sound, and while to me the results have been mixed, they put on a great show, (I've never seen someone work the piano as hard as Tim Rice-Oxley, primary composer for the band). How can you not like a band who sites Depeche Mode, a-ha, The Beatles, U2, R.E.M., Radiohead, Simple Minds, Queen, and the Pet Shop Boys as major influences. Incidentally, Tom Chaplin has always reminded me of a Hobbit, which has stuck with me as his nickname. I honestly have no idea why I call him that since he's actually a tall Brit, but I've been told, indeed from the side, and with his older, longer hair cut he does indeed bear a passing resemblance to Billy Boyd (Pippin). Right now he's sporting a rather too short, unattractive hair cut. Only Matt Bellamy of Muse beats him for bad hair right now (Bells- stop getting hair cut with a Flowbie will ya!) As far as I know there are some tkts left for tonight's show ($10 I think), so give yourself a treat and check them out.

PS, I can't resist, Happy B-Day to Tom Brady. Kraft, sign him already will ya!!!!

Musical Theater Manna From Heaven....

Oh My God.... Today I just read the following on the TheaterMania website that a new Broadway musical based on the Pedro Almodovar movie Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown is scheduled for previews this October. And why should this be of importance? I'll tell you why, its going to star F'ing Patti LuPone & Brian Stokes Mitchell that's who, along with other great folks such as Sherie Rene Scott and Danny Burstein. But I mean, La LuPone AND Stokes in one musical. My good lord I can't take it!

How can I write about Muse one day (well okay not really write, but reference) and Musical Theater the next? Well that's how crazy I am. I mix it all up baby! I'm so giddy with this news, I really can't relate more.

For those unfamiliar with Musical Theater let me just say this is like an Ali & Frazier fight bill! If you do not know the work of Stokes or Ms. LuPone, know that they are by far and above some of the best actor/singers on Broadway. Stokes can make the phone book sound good, and Patti, well she's plain electrifying in everything she does. I could go on about seeing Stokes' last performance in Kiss Me Kate (truly a "raise the hair on the back of you neck" moment) or LuPone's command of the stage in the revival of Cole Porter's Anything Goes but for now, I just want to bask in the wonder of this news, and figure out when I'm going to NYC in the fall.

Here are a few videos to explain my wonder:

Monday Morning Blues

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life

Berthold Auerbach....

Sometimes there's just no help for it. You think a day is going to be great, especially when the weather is lovely, but then it's one of those where you wish you hadn't gotten out of bed. In those instances Music is what gets me through the day. Over the years many artists and many music genres have worked to keep me sane, happy and off the 10 most wanted list. Maybe I'll think about making a list of my favorite music pick me ups through the years, but for today I'm just including a bit of what's currently rockin' (or keeping steady) my world. I'd write more, but Music is a funny thing. It can instantly create a bond between a huge amount of strangers or it can speak specifically to an individual in some way that really can't be described or explained, it just is. Today is a "no words day for me"....so here goes.... More about the music on another day definitely!