Remembering the Encores

That is a really shiny gold jacket, sir.  I feel like this song gets sung on singing competitions a lot.  I adore this soloist from Vocal Rush; she seems so much older than a high school student.  Oooh, the perc-ist from Ten!  He continues to be able to get it.  Yay, huge hair girl!  I don't know who that guy dancing in the crowd was but that was kind of amazing.  It also dawns on me that if this is the finale, there's no voting.  Did they really just record all this over the summer and keep it until now?  Crazy.  YAY!  Street Corner Renaissance! Nick Lachey just explained what a capella was; take a shot. Aww, that's right; The Filharmonic were eliminated.  Bummer. Most fun search term that's brought someone to RTE this week?  "Where does Shawn Stockman buy his suspenders" I feel like Nick is kind of phoning in these judge's descriptions tonight.  "Piano playing a capella aficionado?"  I could have done ...

Who: The Goo Goo Dolls with Matt Nathanson When: August 24, 2013 Where: Darien Lake Performing Arts Center / Darien Center, NY With: Steph &Gary Of Note: Oh, well you're a Ford. That's okay. (Author's Note: This was supposed to be my BIG SPECIAL 100TH POST in honor of one of my biggest blog fans.  Then I got distracted with Sing Off "live" blogs.  So, this is my BIG SPECIAL 106TH POST.) Okay, so. After a scant five months in San Francisco, it was time to head back to the Rough BUF for some fun time with friends, a wedding, and...well, let's be honest here - a complete and total shitshow. It was glorious. So, on Saturday (after a particularly extra large evening on Friday, ahem), I met up with Steph & Gary for lunch and a trip to the Elmwood Art Festival. Gary and I had gone to MBA school together and then I met Steph when they started dating. I quickly appropriated Steph as a friend of my very own. And, while the two of them are each...

It dawned on me after I finished last night's post that they eliminated both teams from the weakest Ultimate Sing Off. Oh, 'Shake It Out'.  This song makes me cry about 35% of the time.  Man, remember when I saw Florence + the Machine and it was incredible ?  Good times. This is really pretty - I like all the different voices being featured.  The "band" on this is gorgeous; the harmonies are so pretty.  Man, the girl from Ten with the enormous hair has some pipes.  I always enjoy her.  Oh, the girl from Vocal Rush was really good too!  I like that this one isn't a medley; that song is so gorgeous and I loved the arrangement.  Good job, final four groups! "The boy band with the screaming fans."  "The crowd-pleasing country crooners."  "The dean of a capella university."  I'm pretty sure I could write for this show.  Holy crap, Jewel's boobs look pretty amazing in that dress. Oooh, Nick gets to be the mentor this we...

Why is this starting in black & white?  Oooh, the bass guy and the girl from VoicePlay do not sound great together.  The girl from Ten and guy from acoUstiKats do sound good together.  That is some pretty intense choreography...with the kicking.  Awww, that was nice.  I like that Jewel & Shawn Stockman sang to each other throughout it. Ah, it's movie night.  That's why it was in black & white. Oh no!  Two teams going home?!  Why must The Sing Off go so quickly?  (Well, I know why.  It's because when they did the extended season ratings plummeted.)  Dude.  Shawn Stockman is jacked, apparent even under his plaid shirt. I have to say, I was sad to see Sara B. leave but Jewel has been a pleasant surprise in her capacity as judge/mentor.  Good for her. Home Free - "Pretty Woman" The Good, The Bad, The Beard.  Ha!!  I think Mr. Smarm Face has a little crush on Jewel.  I approve of that. ...

Who: The Goo Goo Dolls, Matchbox Twenty When: July 23, 2013 Where: Sleep Train Pavilion/ Concord, CA With: A Pavilion full of old people gone wild Of Note: You don't cry at concerts? Just me? Someday I will stop talking about being homesick. Today is not that day. So, the Goo Goo Dolls are a BIG DEAL in Buffalo. Seeing them in Buffalo is like seeing the Beatles or something, people go crazy  and that's part of the fun. When I got tickets to see them in California, I figured it would be like having a little piece of home in California. I was wrong. First, though the show was billed co-headlining, it seemed a lot more like the Goos opened. Which, what on earth? They don't open for people! And, as such, they started playing before sundown, which, again, what the heck? Then, there was the crowd. I'm not sure if it was because the show was way out in Concord or because these are big 90s bands or what, but the crowd was really old. This gave me a mild p...

So, let's just point out I'm still a little salty about the fact that Street Corner Renaissance went home.  Especially because this group of four seems so sub-par to the first group of four. I liked the 'My Generation' open.  Not thrilled with the 'We Will Rock You' interlude but am digging the Imagine Dragons cover.  That was solid.  I think they maybe overused the bass guy a little - he's so jarring to hear. "Man with a PhD in R&B".  Whoever is writing for Nick Lachey is really on top of their game this year.  The high tenor from VoicePlay is appropriately excited to work with Ben Folds.  I approve. I feel like for this group of four, they're putting a lot more emphasis on it being "historical" than for the first group.  Plus, the DVR descriptions seem weird.  I think there was monkeying with the schedule. Home Free - "Ring of Fire" I would not have pegged Ben Folds as bass guy's biggest influence.  Can...

HOLY CRAP THEY'RE STARTING WITH "IN YOUR EYES".  And it's my favorite Filharmonic!  Oooh, this is amazing.  These first three guys sound so good.  I love that Shawn Stockman is singing along. I literally have goosebumps right now.  KEY CHANGE.  I can't even.  That was so, so,so good.  I will be YouTubing that clip a lot. "Master of the do-re-mis and master of the 88 keys."  I love the camaraderie between Nick and the judges.  Me & you both, lady from Ten.  "I watched them go from boys to men."  The hat guy from Street Corner Renaissance is hilarious. Ten - "Chain of Fools" "Stank face."  Noted.  I like their count-off cheer.  I like that this is set up like a traditional band set up.  Fun staging.  I really don't understand wedge sneakers.  They are not cute like heels and are not comfortable like sneakers.  The beginning feels just a little slow - or a little out of pocket?  T...

I love these big all group opening numbers - they're so big and there's so much energy.  Ooh - it's a medley!  I know a kick ass dance fitness routine to "Die Young", if anyone is interested.  I'm not sure I'm in love with the country twist to the Ke$ha song.  Okay, I am so into anything that the Filharmonics do - how adorable!  That was SO FUN.  Also, imagine how challenging it is to keep that many people on pitch at the same time. Nick Lachey doesn't age, does he?  He also wants us to know that a capella means "without instruments".  Shocking.  I like the notion of Ben Folds as a "musical mad scientist".  When did Jewel have a dance hit?  BYO-Pitch Pipe.  Oh Nick Lachey. Vocal Rush  - "Gonna Make You Sweat" The girl doing the CeCe Peniston part can wail!  What a strong start!  They're dressed like a Old Navy ad.  This is really high energy.  The choreography is showing their youth.  I like...

Okay so this isn't really "live" because I'm in PST and I'm watching on a slight tape delay.  I just... felt like I had a lot to say, so I'm saying it here.  And, away we go! THE SING OFF IS BACK!!!!! Three notes in and I already have chills because I pink puffy heart fun. so very much. What's that?  It's a medley?  Love it!  Oh, they're from Oakland?  That's very close to here. I have a feeling I'm going to like Home Free, from that 2 seconds. BEN FOLDS!!!  SHAWN STOCKMAN!!! I am literally tearful with joy already. NICK LACHEY!!!  Oh, I have missed you. I wonder how many ways Nick Lachey will come up with to describe a capella this season.  Do we think he gets a kickback of some sort every time he says "with no instruments". Oooh, Ben Folds with the "hey we weren't on the air last year" self-deprecating joke.  I didn't expect them to acknowledge the gap in seasons.  Good on them. Jewel gener...