Who: Darren Criss with Theo Katzman
When: June 10, 2013
Where: The Varsity/ Minneapolis, MN
With: So. Very. Many. Children.
Of Note: This is among the more ridiculous things I've done, so there's that.
Okay, so, sometimes I'm kind of ridiculous. Like, there was no real reason to fly halfway across the country to see Darren Criss in concert. But, I was peeved that he was in SFO when I was in Ohio and... I guess there's no real reason not to fly halfway across the country to see Darren Criss in concert? And, in fairness to me, I got my geography all mixed up so I thought Minnesota was, like, where Montana is. Whatever, I had a free flight. So off to Minnesota I went.
It's worth noting that this was exactly the long week-end I needed - I shopped, I ate frozen yogurt, I read books, I went to the movies, I became kind of obsessed with the Mall of America, I got a pretty big work promotion when I talked to my boss Friday when I landed. It was an awesome week-end. And then, on Monday night, I went to the show.
First up was Theo Katzman. I had never heard any of his stuff before, but he blew me away. His set was really fantastic. His opener was a song where he kept saying, "I'm too busy trying to write a pop song." Theo, my friend? You have pretty much perfected the art of writing a pop song, because this one? It's amazing. It was fun, lyrically witty, did that awesome thing where it references turns of phrase from other iconic songs... it was phenomenal. I also like that by the end of the first time hearing it, I could sing along with the chorus. Other stand-out moments included when the whole room screamed at the phrase "birthday suit" (so scandalous!) and closer 'I Feel Love'.
I meant to stop at the merch table on my way out to grab a CD but the line was long and I was sweaty. As I debated waiting, I checked iTunes and saw the album was available there. I purchased it on the spot and am not exaggerating when I say that I have not stopped listening to it. Like, I listened to it on the plane, in my apartment chopping vegetables, at work, during my morning and evening commutes, while I brushed my teeth, etc. I could literally write ten thousand words about how much I love this album - it's a little James Morrison, a little Justin Nokuza, a bit of funk, that fun jam band effect where the guitar solo melody is sung with the guitar, the most delightful break between his full voice and his falsetto, and brilliant lyrics. Like, one of the quickest ways to my heart is discussions of personal finance, allegorical or not (Passion Pit's 'I Take A Walk'? I'm looking at you.). Katzman talks finance & the surrounding politics AND buying shoes as well as crafting songs that make me want to run right out and fall in love immediately. I cannot say enough good things about this album. Seriously, go listen to it now.
(Okay, Jen, we get it. Quit rhapsodizing about a recording and get to the live music. This thing is titled "Remember the Encores", not "remember how many times you played that song over and over like a crazy person". Geez.)
So, Darren Criss. I come to Criss mostly through Glee, though I have a very, very vague recollection of YouTubing 'A Very Potter Musical' in MBA school, at the recommendation of Entertainment Weekly. I think his story is an interesting one - his success could have only happened the way it happened in the time period that it happened. He was on the right side of all the technology/social media trends in the last couple years and I'm assuming there's going to be case studies about him for years to come, by artists and labels trying to figure out how to capture the same sort of lightening in a bottle. Plus, he seems like such a good dude in any press I've seen on him and I love the 'Human' EP. Additionally, I mean, he plays a capella dreamboat Blaine Anderson.
Things I liked about Darren's set:
- He does what he does incredibly well. When he did his acoustic/coffeehouse set, it was amazing. You could exactly see him as that kind of artist. Over and over again, I talk about specific lines of music that kill me, that burrough into my soul and take root. In his song 'Don't You', the line is, "After all we need sweets every now and then"; live it was magic. I also love that he said that was his take on writing a standard.
- He does what he does incredibly well. When he kicked it up to "pop star" mode, it was amazing. You could exactly see him as that kind of artist. New songs 'Pheremones' and especially 'Once Upon a Time' could go on the radio tomorrow and be massive hits. Lyrically clever, melodically powerful - both were great.
- His insistence that the audience use this experience as a gateway to consume more performing arts. He says, "Live music is groovy." I say, "Live music is medicating to the soul." We are in agreement and I dig that he gets his audience enough to know that him promoting that message means something.
- He supports his friends - apparently he went to college with one of The Voice contestants and he gave her a big shout out.
Things I was not crazy about during Darren's set:
- The song 'Picture Perfect Girl' - too electronic, not my jam.
- The stupid checkered shirts the band wore. Dunno, just didn't dig them.
- His self-deprecation. Now, I don't know the dude, but his "Aw shucks, I'm nobody and I don't know why you're all here to see me," seemed maybe just a touch disingenuous? Perhaps I just like my pop stars with a bit more swagger? Or, if he really feels that way, I want to sit him down and have the conversation that I've had with all my marketing interns who have said, "I'm sure this isn't what you're looking for but..." That conversation is: "Nobody cares more about your work than you do. If you diminish your contributions, you allow others to diminish your contributions. You would not have been hired if I didn't think you had something valuable to offer." This is possibly just me being old and cranky.
Things that I LOVED about Darren's set:
- The encore, holy mother of God, the encore. Sometimes, I forget that 'Teenage Dream' is not his song. I was at a karaoke bar and could not for the life of me figure out why it was in the wrong, too high key. Oh. Right. This version... the deluxe, protracted, rock opera version of it was fantastic - serious without taking itself too seriously and flawlessly delivered. He closed with 'Stutter' which is another song that could go to radio tomorrow and be this year's summer jam. It's angry, sexy and with a driving beat that you cannot help but dance to. Love it!
- Seeing all the audience members (mostly female, and mostly several years my junior) absolutely lose their shit. Like, there are few things I adore more than an enthusiastic super fan. Criss has cultivated a legion of enthusiastic super fans. I can totally respect the high school seniors at their first show who are almost too excited to breath. I've been that girl; I appreciate those girls. That they were far more well-behaved than your average concert-goer was an added bonus.
I'm super interested to see what Criss does next - he's a hell of a live performer.
And, per tradition, here - have some crappy pictures:
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.JPG)
When: June 10, 2013
Where: The Varsity/ Minneapolis, MN
With: So. Very. Many. Children.
Of Note: This is among the more ridiculous things I've done, so there's that.
Okay, so, sometimes I'm kind of ridiculous. Like, there was no real reason to fly halfway across the country to see Darren Criss in concert. But, I was peeved that he was in SFO when I was in Ohio and... I guess there's no real reason not to fly halfway across the country to see Darren Criss in concert? And, in fairness to me, I got my geography all mixed up so I thought Minnesota was, like, where Montana is. Whatever, I had a free flight. So off to Minnesota I went.
It's worth noting that this was exactly the long week-end I needed - I shopped, I ate frozen yogurt, I read books, I went to the movies, I became kind of obsessed with the Mall of America, I got a pretty big work promotion when I talked to my boss Friday when I landed. It was an awesome week-end. And then, on Monday night, I went to the show.
First up was Theo Katzman. I had never heard any of his stuff before, but he blew me away. His set was really fantastic. His opener was a song where he kept saying, "I'm too busy trying to write a pop song." Theo, my friend? You have pretty much perfected the art of writing a pop song, because this one? It's amazing. It was fun, lyrically witty, did that awesome thing where it references turns of phrase from other iconic songs... it was phenomenal. I also like that by the end of the first time hearing it, I could sing along with the chorus. Other stand-out moments included when the whole room screamed at the phrase "birthday suit" (so scandalous!) and closer 'I Feel Love'.
I meant to stop at the merch table on my way out to grab a CD but the line was long and I was sweaty. As I debated waiting, I checked iTunes and saw the album was available there. I purchased it on the spot and am not exaggerating when I say that I have not stopped listening to it. Like, I listened to it on the plane, in my apartment chopping vegetables, at work, during my morning and evening commutes, while I brushed my teeth, etc. I could literally write ten thousand words about how much I love this album - it's a little James Morrison, a little Justin Nokuza, a bit of funk, that fun jam band effect where the guitar solo melody is sung with the guitar, the most delightful break between his full voice and his falsetto, and brilliant lyrics. Like, one of the quickest ways to my heart is discussions of personal finance, allegorical or not (Passion Pit's 'I Take A Walk'? I'm looking at you.). Katzman talks finance & the surrounding politics AND buying shoes as well as crafting songs that make me want to run right out and fall in love immediately. I cannot say enough good things about this album. Seriously, go listen to it now.
(Okay, Jen, we get it. Quit rhapsodizing about a recording and get to the live music. This thing is titled "Remember the Encores", not "remember how many times you played that song over and over like a crazy person". Geez.)
So, Darren Criss. I come to Criss mostly through Glee, though I have a very, very vague recollection of YouTubing 'A Very Potter Musical' in MBA school, at the recommendation of Entertainment Weekly. I think his story is an interesting one - his success could have only happened the way it happened in the time period that it happened. He was on the right side of all the technology/social media trends in the last couple years and I'm assuming there's going to be case studies about him for years to come, by artists and labels trying to figure out how to capture the same sort of lightening in a bottle. Plus, he seems like such a good dude in any press I've seen on him and I love the 'Human' EP. Additionally, I mean, he plays a capella dreamboat Blaine Anderson.
Things I liked about Darren's set:
- He does what he does incredibly well. When he did his acoustic/coffeehouse set, it was amazing. You could exactly see him as that kind of artist. Over and over again, I talk about specific lines of music that kill me, that burrough into my soul and take root. In his song 'Don't You', the line is, "After all we need sweets every now and then"; live it was magic. I also love that he said that was his take on writing a standard.
- He does what he does incredibly well. When he kicked it up to "pop star" mode, it was amazing. You could exactly see him as that kind of artist. New songs 'Pheremones' and especially 'Once Upon a Time' could go on the radio tomorrow and be massive hits. Lyrically clever, melodically powerful - both were great.
- His insistence that the audience use this experience as a gateway to consume more performing arts. He says, "Live music is groovy." I say, "Live music is medicating to the soul." We are in agreement and I dig that he gets his audience enough to know that him promoting that message means something.
- He supports his friends - apparently he went to college with one of The Voice contestants and he gave her a big shout out.
Things I was not crazy about during Darren's set:
- The song 'Picture Perfect Girl' - too electronic, not my jam.
- The stupid checkered shirts the band wore. Dunno, just didn't dig them.
- His self-deprecation. Now, I don't know the dude, but his "Aw shucks, I'm nobody and I don't know why you're all here to see me," seemed maybe just a touch disingenuous? Perhaps I just like my pop stars with a bit more swagger? Or, if he really feels that way, I want to sit him down and have the conversation that I've had with all my marketing interns who have said, "I'm sure this isn't what you're looking for but..." That conversation is: "Nobody cares more about your work than you do. If you diminish your contributions, you allow others to diminish your contributions. You would not have been hired if I didn't think you had something valuable to offer." This is possibly just me being old and cranky.
Things that I LOVED about Darren's set:
- The encore, holy mother of God, the encore. Sometimes, I forget that 'Teenage Dream' is not his song. I was at a karaoke bar and could not for the life of me figure out why it was in the wrong, too high key. Oh. Right. This version... the deluxe, protracted, rock opera version of it was fantastic - serious without taking itself too seriously and flawlessly delivered. He closed with 'Stutter' which is another song that could go to radio tomorrow and be this year's summer jam. It's angry, sexy and with a driving beat that you cannot help but dance to. Love it!
- Seeing all the audience members (mostly female, and mostly several years my junior) absolutely lose their shit. Like, there are few things I adore more than an enthusiastic super fan. Criss has cultivated a legion of enthusiastic super fans. I can totally respect the high school seniors at their first show who are almost too excited to breath. I've been that girl; I appreciate those girls. That they were far more well-behaved than your average concert-goer was an added bonus.
I'm super interested to see what Criss does next - he's a hell of a live performer.
And, per tradition, here - have some crappy pictures:
.JPG)
.JPG)
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