Remembering the Encores

Who: MuteMath When: September 8, 2007 Where: Toronto Island Park/ Toronto, ON  With: Ryan  Of Note: the man made a key-tar sexy; I lost my mind  So, in addition to all of the other awesomeness that the Virgin Festival brought, the experience with the longest lasting impact was definitely seeing MuteMath to close out Day 1.  I had done a little bit of homework - checked out some of the music prior to going - but had absolutely no idea what a treat I was in for.   Warning: This is mostly gushing because this show was really just that awesome. I am probably not going to do this justice; I'm not sure there are words for to properly describe the emotional arc this show took me on - it felt like so much more than a concert; it felt like a transformation or participation in a communal awakening or like witnessing greatness.  For those of you who have read   my previous entry on MuteMath , the basic elements of the show were the same - amazing musicianship, awesome stage a

Who: the artists of the Virgin Mobile Music Festival  When: September 8 & 9, 2007  Where: Toronto Island Park/ Toronto, ON  With: Ryan  Of Note: I will never love anything as much as that guy loves the Stars; THE KILLERS  I desperately wanted to see The Killers, because 'Hot Fuss' rocked my world.  Then 'Sam's Town' came along and rocked it even harder.  The only time The Killers were going to be anymore remotely close was at the Virgin Mobile Festival in Toronto.  And so, via facebook, I said, "Ryan, light of my life, would you like to go to a music festival with me?"  And, we were on our way.  Day 1 Paolo Nutini  Fun story about Paulo Nutini - because I am a narcissist, when I heard a song called 'Jenny', I wanted to buy it.  I did a bit of googling and ended up purchasing Paolo Nutini's album, mistaking his 'Jenny Don't be Hasty' for what was actually the Click Five's 'Jenny'.  In some respec

When Beth & I were introduced to the Buffalo Chips, it started a chain reaction of a cappella obsession - an interest and enthusiasm that would last for many years.  I had over a gig of collegiate a cappella on my computer sophomore year.  I can tell the difference between the Beelzebubs and the Whiffenpoofs.  I know to listen to the syllables, because sometimes there are hidden puns.  I have read 'Pitch Perfect'; I have YouTubed the SoCals and Divisi and Ithacapella.  I know all the words to 'Good Old A Cappella' and I can do the opening perc sequence of 'Africa'. I am, as with most things that I like, a very enthusiastic fan. So, every February, I head back to the hallowed halls of the University at Buffalo to see the Buffalo Chips V-Day show - an honored campus tradition where a bunch of (usually) cute college boys can be your Valentine, even if you are six years out of school and it's now vaguely age inappropriate.  This week's repeat so

Who: American Idols Live! Season Six  When: August 23, 2007 Where: Blue Cross Blue Shield Arena/ Rochester, NY  With: Jenn  Of Note: Sometimes, I’m a 17 year old girl? As is consistent with my six months ahead of or six years behind pop culture trends, I didn’t watch American Idol until its sixth season.  This is also possibly because the sixth season was the first one that I was not in school for, and therefor had time to watch terrible TV.  I had been peripherally aware of AI, because I read Entertainment Weekly and listened to the radio, but I didn’t realize quite how much of a phenomenon it was until I started watching. I was riveted – the auditions were like watching people’s dreams come true (or be crushed); the live shows were like seeing the best karaoke bar ever on TV.  When they announced that tickets to a live show would be on sale, I checked tour dates, saw that they were coming to Rochester, begged Jenn to go with me and got really pumped.  It’s worth

Who: Better Than Ezra    When: June 18, 2009 Where: Thursday at the Square/ Buffalo, NY With: Zak Of Note: Snarky rock stars, such a good night I have loved Better Than Ezra for a long time; dating back to the Ben era.  I’m not sure why, but we all decided that we were obsessed with BTE.  Mike & Ben both worked BTE covers into their open mic sets frequently.  The boys all loved ‘Porcelain’ best, but the softest spot in my heart was for ‘Circle of Friends’ (perhaps because it references a ‘checklist on the wall’?  I do love a good checklist).  Thursday at the Square (TATS) is a Buffalo institution; every Thursday of summer, there’s a free concert downtown, in Lafayette Square.  They bring a good mix of acts – those who are just about to explode and a fair number with a strong nostalgia factor.  Every spring, I wait for the TATS schedule to be released and mark up my calendar accordingly.  When I saw that BTE was coming, I was super pumped.  I think that Becky wa

So, I have a certain birthday that shall not be named coming up.  To be honest, I am freaking out about it. Perhaps that's why this song has resonated so strongly.  It doesn't matter what's going to happen at the end of the month or the end of the year..."tonight, we are young so let's set the world on fire."  It's become my 2012 anthem and life motto. I cannot wait for their album release on 2-21!

Who: The Superstars of Kiss the Summer Hello When: May 26, 2003 Where: Darien Lake Performing Arts Center/ Darien Center, NY With: Beth Of Note: So much wonderful, wonderful terribleness.  So much terrible, terrible wonderfulness. In addition to its many other accolades and distinctions, the prestigious University at Buffalo is also home to the world’s largest mud volleyball tournament.  Taking place in mid-April, Oozefest is a heralded tradition where everybody buys clothes to destroy with mud  at Salvation Army, duct tapes their shoes to their feet and tries not to die from either a (very slow moving ball) to the face or hypothermia.  As a fan of anywhere it’s socially acceptable to be drunk before 11am (if it contains milk or juice, it’s a breakfast drink!), Oozefest was always an event to forward to.  The team evolved over the years, as did our ability to dress appropriately for the event.  Junior year’s rag-tag team didn’t have a chance of winning (one member

Who: Langhorne Slim with Rayland Baxter When: January 11, 2012 Where: Ninth Ward/ Buffalo, NY With: Katie, PJ, PJ’s roommate who has a name that I don’t remember Of Note: Stay classy Buffalo! Katie shot me a note to say, “Let’s go to this.  It’s $12.”  I said, “Okay.”  I’m not entirely sure I was prepared for what was to come.  It was an unseasonably warm night so we walked down to the Ninth Ward.  None of us knew anything about the band but, for $12, you couldn’t really go wrong.  We grabbed some beers and a spot on the floor and waited for the show to start.  The opener, Rayland Baxter, was very tall, a fact that was accentuated by his rolled up high water pants and enormous bright orange Chuck Taylors. He also had a porn-stache, a homeless man cardigan and a skull cap.  I’m going to make him the same offer I made the lead singer of the Leagues: let me take you shopping?  I am more than willing to do some pro bono stylist work, because building a personal