Showing posts with label concerts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label concerts. Show all posts

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Encore: A Musical Review at the Eccles

Even though I just saw him in concert last summer at the SCERA Shell, I was so excited to be able to see Jeremy Jordan again, this time with fellow Broadway stars Kara Lindsay and Jessica Vosk, yesterday at the Eccles Theater.  I went to the matinee with my friend Wendy (we have had Broadway at the Eccles season tickets next to each other since the theater opened) and we had so much fun (we were practically screaming like thirteen year old girls during Jordan's entire set).  Voss took the stage first and began with a stirring rendition of "Don't Rain on My Parade" from Funny Girl which got the crowd cheering (not for the first time).  She continued with "Almost Like Being in Love" and "Both Sides Now" and then Lindsay joined her for the beautiful duet  "I Will Never Leave You" from Side Show.  She followed this with a fun version of "Gimme, Gimme" from Thoroughly Modern Millie and then told a funny story about having to go on as Golde in Fiddler on the Roof unexpectedly in Act 2 (she told lots of stories) before singing an amazing mash-up of "Do You Love Me?" from Fiddler, "I Don't Know How to Love Him" from Jesus Christ Superstar, and "Everybody Says Don't" from Anyone Can Whistle.  She ended her set with a powerful version of "Heart of Stone" from SIX with everyone in the audience singing along (this was a really cool moment).  Lindsay took the stage next with "Not for the Life of Me" from Thoroughly Modern Millie.  She gave a hilarious performance of "Adelaide's Lament" (complete with props) and then the crowd went absolutely crazy when she sang "Watch What Happens" followed by "Something to Believe In" with Jordan (she originated the role of Katherine Plumber and he originated the role of Jack Kelly in Newsies).  I saw Lindsay as Glinda in Wicked when the Broadway touring company came to SLC (she is one of the best Glindas I've seen) so I was really excited when she sang "Popular" next.  She ended her set with lovely renditions of "My House" from Matilda and "Goodnight My Someone" from The Music Man.  Jordan began his set, as he did when I saw him last summer, with "Something's Coming" from West Side Story and then gave us a preview of the upcoming musical The Great Gatsby by singing "For Her."  He continued with "Broadway Here I Come" from the TV show Smash and "Movin' Too Fast" from the movie The Last Five Years.  Voss joined him for an incredible version of "You Matter to Me" from Waitress and then he had an audience member play Audrey II for his amusing rendition of "Grow for Me" from Little Shop of Horrors.  I was hoping for "Santa Fe" from Newsies and he obliged me with a performance that gave me goosebumps!  He was such a goofball on stage and I loved it so much!  This was a wonderful show and I'm so glad Wendy offered me the ticket!

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Nathan Pacheco Christmas Concert

I first heard Nathan Pacheco sing when he was a guest vocalist for one of Kurt Bestor's Christmas concerts.  His rendition of "O Holy Night" at that concert is one of the best I've heard so, when I found out that he would be performing a Christmas concert at Abravanel Hall, I bought a ticket hoping that I would get to hear it again. The show was last night and I was not disappointed! He was backed by the Lyceum Philharmonic, which is led by Kayson Brown and features talented high school students from the American Heritage School, as well as his music director and pianist Leo Z and cellist Nicole Pinnell. They began with "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "Carol of the Bells" and then Pacheco came to the stage singing one of his original songs, "Don't Cry." The concert was an eclectic mix of Christmas songs, original songs, covers, and songs from the classical repertoire and one of my favorite moments came next when he sang "Nessun Dorma" from the opera Turandot (it gave me goosebumps when he hit all of the high notes). He continued with "Silver Bells" and "Winter Wonderland" and then said that he had never performed the next song in front of a crowd before and brought Clara Hurtado Lee and a children's choir to the stage to sing "Adiemus" which was incredibly beautiful! He performed a really cool cover of "Take on Me" by a-ha and then "From Now On" from the movie The Greatest Showman. He told the audience that he had just written an original musical called Beloved and then gave us a sneak peak by singing "What You Become" from it. Emma Nissen joined him on stage for a lovely version of "The Prayer" and then he continued with the Christmas songs "Gaudete" (I loved this), "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," and "Silent Night." He performed an acoustic cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Star Carol" (accompanying himself on guitar) and then a powerful version of his song "Forever." He concluded his main set by singing "O Holy Night."  I had been waiting all night for him to sing this and it was definitely worth the wait because he just about blew the roof off Abravanel Hall! For the encore, he brought his sister to the stage to sing the duet "Time to Say Goodbye" which was another favorite moment for me! I don't know if this was spontaneous or not because all of the musicians were prepared to play it but she seemed really hesitant to come up to the stage! He concluded with "God Bless Us Everyone" from the movie A Christmas Carol. This was an amazing show and Pacheco was incredibly charming and continually expressed his genuine gratitude to the crowd for supporting him. He said that he hoped to be back for another Christmas concert at Abravanel Hall next year and, if he is, I will be there, too!

Note:  My sister also had tickets to this show with her friend so we ended up going together!

Monday, December 18, 2023

Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir 2023

Whenever I am unable to get a ticket to the Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir concert, I go to the Music and the Spoken Word broadcast the following Sunday because it usually features the guest artists and a portion of the program.  It is actually quite nice because the parking situation is a bit easier on an early Sunday morning than it is in the evening with so many other events going on.  The guest artists this year were Michael Maliakel, who is currently starring as the title role in Aladdin on Broadway, and Lesley Nicol, who is best known for playing Mrs. Patmore on Downton Abbey.  The concert began with choir members in a procession down the aisles to "Sing We Now of Christmas" with the Orchestra at Temple Square and the Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble.  It was beautiful and incredibly dramatic!  Michael Maliakel joined the choir for "Joy to the World" and I really loved his voice and his rendition of this song.  I wasn't very familiar with him but now I will pay attention because he is extremely talented and charismatic!  Next, the choir sang "To The Cradle Run," which I was unfamiliar with but definitely enjoyed, and then Richard Elliott performed "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella" on the organ with fanfares played by the Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble (this gave me goosebumps because I love this song).  The choir performed another song I was unfamiliar with called "O Little One Sweet" and then Lesley Nicol read the Christmas story from the Bible.  The program concluded with a stirring version of "Angels from the Realms of Glory" by Michael Maliakel and this also gave me goosebumps.  After the broadcast concluded, the audience got to hear another portion of the concert when a story about Victor Hugo's Christmas fetes for the children on the island of Guernsey was told by Lesley Nicol.  A replica of Hautville House, Hugo's home on Guernsey, was featured with performers acting out the story while Nicol narrated (she was delightful).  It was so inspiring and I especially loved the use of Hugo's quote, "To love is to act."  It was a lovely concert and I'm glad I made the effort to get up early (and put on a skirt) to attend!

Sunday, December 17, 2023

A Kurt Bestor Christmas at the Eccles 2023

I really love hearing Christmas music performed live, especially Kurt Bestor's arrangements, so I always try to attend his annual Christmas concert.  The show was last night (along with tons of other Christmas events downtown which made driving and parking a lot of fun) and, as always, I thoroughly enjoyed it.  He began with "Suite de Noel," "Il Le Ne Le Divin Enfant," and "Good King Wenceslaus" before telling a funny story about performing "What Child Is This?" (many songs were prefaced with amusing anecdotes).  Next he played "Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella," which I loved because it is one of my favorites, and then "I'll Be Home for Christmas," which he dedicated to all veterans in the audience.  Then he featured his insanely talented band on a calypso-inspired version of "O Tannenbaum" with extended solos from Michael Dowdle on guitar, Carlitos del Puerto on bass, and Eric Valentine on drums.  It was very cool!  Next came a beautiful rendition of "Carol of the Bells" dedicated to the people of Ukraine and then his special guest for the evening, David Archuleta, came to the stage to perform a breathtaking version of "Prayer of the Children" (Kurt Bestor's best known song which is celebrating its 30th Anniversary) that brought the audience to its feet!  After the intermission, Bestor performed "Coventry Carol," another favorite of mine, and then a fun arrangement of "Christmas Time Is Here" complete with a Charlie Brown Christmas tree!  Next, he dedicated a lovely version of "All Through the Night" to one of his close friends who recently died.  David Archuleta returned to the stage for an incredible performance of "Pat-A-Pan" that gave me goosebumps and then gave a very heartfelt rendition of "Grown Up Christmas List" after telling the audience that his list included kindness and understanding for those who are different (he received thunderous applause for this).  Then he performed Bestor's arrangement of "I Wonder as I Wander" (at Bestor's request) and the audience leapt to their feet once again!  Bestor lamented that it would be impossible to follow such an amazing performance but his version of "O Holy Night" was definitely a highlight for me (it was the second time that I have heard my favorite Christmas song this season).  As is tradition, he chose someone from the audience to narrate "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" while he performed his amusing arrangement of songs to go with it.  He concluded the concert with "Joy to the World" and a lovely audience sing-along to "Silent Night" led by David Archuleta.  I always love this concert every year but I think this one might be my favorite!

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Lower Lights Christmas Concert 2023

I really love hearing Christmas music performed live so one of my favorite traditions is attending the Lower Lights Christmas concert every year.  I went to their first show of the season at Kingsbury Hall last night and I absolutely loved it!  The Lower Lights is a supergroup of amazing musicians, many of whom are popular in their own right, who periodically come together to record and perform folk and bluegrass renditions of hymns and Christmas songs (Sarah Sample called the group a band of misfits last night).  I really love their sound and I especially love all of their arrangements of Christmas songs (any Christmas song that features steel guitars, mandolins, and banjos is automatically great in my opinion).  The concert began with "I Saw Three Ships," "Angels We Have Heard On High," and "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem."  Then Kiki Sieger sang a beautiful version of "Pretty Paper" (which is new to their set), Dominic Moore and Paul Jacobsen performed an incredibly poignant acoustic rendition of "Happy X-Mas (War Is Over),"  and Debra Fotheringham (who is back with the group this year) sang "A Cradle in Bethlehem" while accompanying herself on electric guitar.  The crowd last night was one of the most subdued I've seen at a Lower Lights concert but they got a lot more animated during the next set which featured "Trouble the Water," "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder," and "Just a Closer Walk With Thee." Cherie Call sang a lovely version of "Away in a Manger" and then she was joined by Kiki Sieger and Marie Bradshaw for "Still, Still, Still" which was a highlight of the show for me because the three of them harmonize so well together and they always give me goosebumps!  Next came an instrumental version of "Carol of the Bells" and then Dustin Christensen, who has a beautiful voice, performed "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."  There was an incredible violin solo by Megan Nay during "Maybe This Christmas" and then the crowd was on their feet once again for rousing renditions of "Go Tell It On The Mountain" and "Children, Go Where I Send Thee."  Sarah Sample asked the audience to dance in the aisles during "White Christmas" and then sang a tender version of "I'll Be Home For Christmas."  The whole group continued with "Mary's Boy Child," "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful," and "The River Jordan."  Another highlight was when they got down with an epic performance of "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel" with lots of extended solos from everyone in the band!  They ended their main set with "Calling You" and "May The Circle Be Unbroken" featuring lots of audience participation.  During the encore they performed a hilarious version of "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" (which is a tradition), "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," and "Once in Royal David's City" (one of their best known Christmas songs).  They concluded, as they usually do, with an audience sing-along to "Silent Night."  This concert never fails to give me a huge dose of Christmas cheer and I loved every minute of it!  There are three more shows and I highly recommend getting a ticket to one of them (go here).

Saturday, November 25, 2023

Gentri Christmas at the Eccles 2023

Last night I went to my first Christmas concert of the season and I definitely picked a good one!  The Gentlemen Trio, or Gentri as they are more commonly known, was established when Casey Elliott, Bradley Quinn Lever, and Brad Robins were cast in a production of Les Miserables at HCT (they recently reprised their roles of Jean Valjean, Enjolras, and Marius, respectively, in another HCT production) and then continued singing together after the run was over.  My sister Marilyn is a huge fan so we went to their Christmas concert last year and we loved it so much we decided to make it a tradition!  This year's show at the Eccles Theater was amazing!  They began with "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and the arrangement included snippets from "Carol of the Bells" and I really liked it.  They continued with "Little Drummer Boy," "Gesu Bambino," and an incredible arrangement of "Still Still Still" with snippets from the score of the movie The Mission (I love this song because I sang it in choir in college).  They were joined by vocalist Yaphet Bustos for "Angels We Have Heard on High" and by the Rise Up Children's Choir for "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and "What Child Is This?" (which featured the Christmas story acted by several members of the choir in costume).  The first set ended with a bluesy mashup of "Go Tell It On The Mountain" and "Joy To The World" with Brad Wheeler on harmonica.  After the intermission, they performed "We Three Kings" with another guest vocalist, Ellie Barry, and then "I Saw Three Ships."  Next they had their music director Stephen Nelson arrange a piece on the spot from a movie score and a Christmas song suggested by the audience (they did this last year as well).  Our audience picked the score from The Lord of the Rings trilogy and "Mistletoe" by Justin Bieber and, believe it or not, the result was really good!  Next they performed an original song called "Somewhere In Your Silent Night" which is very moving.  A mashup of "Coventry Carol" and "Poor Wayfaring Stranger" with dramatic themes played by a cello was definitely my favorite of the night but a close second was their arrangement of "O Holy Night," which is my favorite Christmas song, featuring the Rise Up Children's Choir.  The concert concluded with a powerful rendition of "O Come All Ye Faithful" with Bustos, Barry, and the children.  Both Marilyn and I loved this show and it was the perfect way to begin this holiday season.  There are a few tickets available for both of the shows today (go here) and I highly recommend getting one!

Note:  I always hope that I will hear "O Holy Night" performed live at least once during the holiday season and I am so happy that I got to hear it last night!

Saturday, October 14, 2023

U2 at the Sphere in Las Vegas

When I found out that U2 was doing a residency at a cool new billion dollar venue in Las Vegas I had a really stern talk with myself about how much money I had already spent on concerts this year and maybe, since I have already seen them seven times, I could skip this one.  That went over about as well as you might expect!  I ignored responsible Phaedra and immediately registered for the Verified Fan Presale and, when I was selected, I took it as a sign that I needed to see this show!  Amazing doesn't even begin to describe what I experienced last night!  The Sphere, as the name implies, is a giant sphere-shaped structure with both interior and exterior LED screens (the largest of their kind) and seating areas that cover two-thirds of the interior with an area that can be configured as a stage in the remainder.  U2 has a small square stage with a circular platform that is meant to mimic a turntable (Bono would frequently spin around on the circle).  This particular concert showcases the album Achtung Baby and U2 performed it in its entirety with a side one set and a side two set.  It was great to hear the hits from this album, including "Zoo Station" (which opened the show), "The Fly," "Even Better Than the Real Thing," "Mysterious Ways," "One" (sigh), and "Until the End of the World," but I also really enjoyed hearing the deeper tracks that I've never heard performed live before, such as "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses," "Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World," "So Cruel" (my favorite of the show because Bono's vocal performance was so passionate)," "Acrobat," "Ultra Violet (Light My Way)," and "Love Is Blindness."  Each of these songs has an incredibly immersive visual display on the state-of-the-art LED screens.  My favorite visuals were for "The Fly" because they feature rows and rows of random numbers and letters that keep climbing up the screens and, when they reach the top, they actually collapse on each other and it looked like they were three-dimensional and coming towards the audience (it is hard to explain but it was pretty much the coolest thing ever).  Not only are the images three-dimensional but they also surround the audience!  Sometimes the images would include a live feed of the band and, because I was sitting in the cheaper seats at the top of arena (my one concession to responsible Phaedra), they were eye-level as if I was watching Bono from the front row (sigh).  In between the two Achtung Baby sets, the band performed a more stripped down acoustic set featuring "All I Want Is You," "Desire," "Angel of Harlem," and an incredibly emotional rendition of "Love Rescue Me" which Bono and The Edge sang as a duet (goosebumps).  For the encore, they performed their new song about Las Vegas, "Atomic City," as well as "Elevation," "Vertigo," "Where the Streets Have No Name," "With or Without You" (which included amazing visuals featuring different animals), and "Beautiful Day." Bono is one of the most charismatic performers that I've ever seen and he was in fine form last night!  He struggled a bit with some of the higher notes but he was so engaging it didn't even matter (at least not to me or anyone around me).  This concert reminded me of how much I love him and, between his performance and all of the high-tech gadgetry, I felt like I was in sensory overload all night (in the best possible way).  It is definitely something I will never forget and I am so glad that irresponsible Phaedra won the argument!

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Sting at USANA

Yesterday may have been the official first day of fall but I still had one more summer concert left!  Sting at USANA Amphitheatre was a great one to end on (even if it was really cold).  His setlist last night spanned his nearly 45 year career, both as a member of the Police and as a solo artist, and included both his biggest hits and a few deeper cuts.  The latter included "Heavy Cloud No Rain," "If It's Love," "Loving You," "Rushing Water," "Why Should I Cry For You?," "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying," and a fantastic version of "So Lonely" which turned into "No Woman No Cry."  The hits from his prolific solo career included "Englishman in New York," "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free," "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You," "Fields of Gold" (one of my favorite moments), "Brand New Day" (with an incredible harmonica intro by Shane Sager), "Shape of My Heart" (with a soulful solo by backup vocalist Gene Noble), "All This Time," "Mad About You," and "Desert Rose" (another favorite moment).  I have to admit that I really loved it when he sang the songs he wrote while he was a member of the Police because they brought back so many memories for me (this was yet another concert filled with nostalgia).  He began the show with "Message in a Bottle," which got the crowd up and cheering, and continued with "Everything Little Thing She Does Is Magic," "Invisible Sun," Walking on the Moon," "King of Pain" (which he sang with his son Joe Sumner who opened for him), then he ended his main set with "Every Breath You Take."  I sang every single word to these old Police songs and it was so much fun!  For the encore, he came back to the stage and asked the crowd what they wanted to hear and then played a sultry version of "Roxanne" (it was the overwhelming response from the crowd and I may or may not have screamed it myself).  He ended the show with "Fragile," like he did the last time he was at USANA with the Utah Symphony, because he likes to give the crowd something to think about on the drive home.  He didn't play "Fortress Around Your Heart" (my very favorite Sting song) but I forgave him because I've heard it live before and this show was so amazing!  I was really impressed with Sting's performance because, at 71 years old, he sang and played bass for close to two hours without a break and his voice sounded great!  He wasn't quite the raconteur that he was the last time I saw him (he had a lot of songs to get through) but he was very charming and had some humorous interactions with the crowd.  I loved every minute of this show (even when I got cold).

Note:  My friend Tony and I saw him in concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver and then drove home the next day to see him again that night at the Maverick Center.  It was awesome!

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Lady Gaga Jazz & Piano in Las Vegas

I have always thought that Lady Gaga is an amazing performer with a flamboyant persona that is fun to watch but I began to respect her as a singer when she sang a medley of songs from The Sound of Music as a tribute to Julie Andrews at the Oscars.  I was absolutely blown away by her performance and since then I have really wanted to see her live.  When I found out that she was doing another residency in Las Vegas this fall featuring her Jazz & Piano Show I spontaneously bought a ticket and, even though I have spent way too much money on concert tickets this year, I am so glad that I did because it was an unbelievable experience!  The concert was last night in the Dolby Live Theatre at the Park MGM Resort and it is an incredible venue!  Lady Gaga had an insanely talented band backing her (like the big band singers in the glory days of Las Vegas) and the setlist included selections from the Great American Songbook as well as jazz and piano arrangements of some of her most popular hits.  The show was divided into five sets and each featured a different costume (and sometimes an elaborate headdress).  For the first set she sang an acoustic version of "Orange Colored Sky" while walking out on stage and then "Luck Be a Lady," "Steppin' Out With My Baby," "The Best Is Yet to Come," and "Call Me Irresponsible" with some hilarious interactions with a couple sitting at a table on stage.  She ended this set with a naughty (naughtier?) version of "Poker Face" on piano (she joked that she hoped no one was foolish enough to bring their children to a Lady Gaga show).  The second set featured "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)," "If I Had You," "Do I Love You" (one of my favorite moments in the show), an incredibly powerful rendition of "Born This Way" on piano, and a jazz version of "Stupid Love" with extended solos from Brian Newman on trumpet and Steve Kortyka on saxophone.  Next came "Sway," "Rags to Riches," "Mambo Italiano," and an impressive vocal performance of "'O sole mio."  This set concluded with a jazz arrangement of "Paparazzi" which was another favorite moment for me.  The fourth set included "La vie en rose," "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes," and a piano version of "Bad Romance."  For the final set she sang "Lush Life" and then spoke about her friendship with Tony Bennett before giving an emotional performance of "Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)."  As an encore she sang "New York, New York."  I loved all of her interpretations of these standards because, not only does she have the vocal chops to sing them, she also really respects these songs and all of the all of the singers who performed them before her (there is an ode to the songs and singers in the playbill).  Lady Gaga was also hilarious in her interactions with the crowd.  She is almost larger than life and there were several times when I wanted to pinch myself because I couldn't believe that I was actually in the same room with her!  This was definitely a bucket list moment for me and I loved it so much!  There are eight more concerts in this residency (although she hinted that she would be back with a new setlist) and I highly recommend this show!

Friday, September 1, 2023

Jeremy Jordan at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre

As a huge theatre nerd I actually squealed out loud when I found out that Broadway star Jeremy Jordan was coming to the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre and I have been looking forward to the show all summer! The concert was last night and to say that it was amazing would be a understatement! He was accompanied by the Utah Valley Symphony under the baton of Blanka Bednarz and the program, much to my delight, consisted mainly of songs from the Great White Way! He began with "Something's Coming" from West Side Story and then continued with "Broadway Here I Come" from the TV show Smash (in which Jordan stars as Jimmy Collins, a composer who writes the Broadway musical Hit List). Next came a really cool arrangement of "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" from Oklahoma and one of the best renditions of "Soliloquy" from Carousel that I have ever heard. After this Jordan took the first of two breaks while the orchestra played a beautiful medley from Les Miserables. My first introduction to Jordan was in the movie The Last Five Years (which I love) so I was absolutely thrilled that he sang "Moving Too Fast" when he came back to the stage.  One of my favorite moments of the concert came next when he sang "She Used to Be Mine" from Waitress (he played Jim on Broadway but he said Jenna had all of the best songs so he wanted to sing one of hers).  I love this song so much and I've heard Jessie Mueller, who originated the role of Jenna on Broadway, and Sara Bareilles, who wrote the musical, sing it but I have to say that Jordan's rendition gave me goosebumps! He told the crowd that he was required to include a Disney song so he gave a stirring performance of "Out There" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Next came a medley of songs originally arranged by Oscar-winning composer Johnny Mandel for Andy Williams which included "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing," "Mona Lisa," "On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe," "All the Way," and "Moon River." He told the crowd that he included this medley because he wanted to take advantage of having an orchestra backing him and it was incredibly lush and romantic. Jordan took another short break while the orchestra performed a medley from The Phantom of the Opera and when he returned he brought me to tears with "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables and "Why God, Why?" from Miss Saigon. When I first found out about this concert, I really hoped that he would sing "Santa Fe" from Newsies. He originated the role of Jack Kelly on Broadway and I listen to the soundtrack all of the time so I was incredibly excited to hear a live version of this song and he did not disappoint! He ended his main set with an amazing version, another favorite moment of the concert, that brought the crowd to their feet! For the encore, he performed "Being Alive" from Company which, once again, received an enthusiastic standing ovation! Not only does Jordan have a beautiful voice, he is so charismatic and he had lots of funny and spontaneous interactions with the crowd. His setlist was everything I could have ever wanted as a Broadway fan and I loved every minute! It was definitely worth waiting all summer for!

Saturday, August 19, 2023

Foreigner at USANA

I have always really loved Foreigner!  I played my vinyl copy of 4 so much I scratched it in several places (now whenever I hear "Urgent" it sounds strange without the skip at the beginning).  They were one of the first bands I saw in concert when I was in high school (the University of Utah a cappella choir backed them on "I Want to Know What Love Is") and I drove to Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver just to to see them in a double bill with Journey.  I was really excited to see them again last night at USANA Amphitheatre during a stop on what has been billed the Farewell Tour.  Mick Jones is the last remaining original member of the group and, because he has had some health problems recently, the band has decided to quit touring.  He has performed very sporadically on this tour because of these ongoing health problems and he was not with the band last night.  They were, essentially, a cover band without any original members but it didn't seem to matter because there was a huge crowd who sang along with every song!  They performed all of the hits starting with "Double Vision," "Head Games," and "Cold As Ice."  Then came "Waiting for a Girl Like You," which is my favorite song by the band, and it was amazing.  After such a beautiful ballad, Kelly Hansen joked that it was time for something a bit nasty so they sang "Dirty White Boy" which got the crowd cheering.  Next came an acoustic set featuring several lesser known songs including "When It Comes To Love," "Girl on the Moon," which I actually really love (see above comment about the album 4), and "Say You Will."  They continued with "Urgent," another favorite of mine, and "Feels Like the First Time" followed by extended keyboard and drum solos and then an epic rendition of "Juke Box Hero" to finish the main set.  For the encore, they performed "I Want to Know What Love Is" with everyone holding up their phones (I always love it when the crowd does this because it looks so cool) and "Hot Blooded" with some awesome pyrotechnics!  Hansen doesn't sound exactly like Lou Gramm but I thought he did justice to the songs and I liked his banter with the crowd.  He was funny at times but was also quite poignant about the legacy of the band.  I really enjoyed this concert because these songs are filled with a lot of nostalgia for me (a recurring theme this summer) and I'm glad I made the effort to go even though I was tired from my camping trip!

Note:  The opening band was Loverboy (another band from my youth).  I had never seen them before and I enjoyed their set, especially "Lovin' Every Minute Of It," "Turn Me Loose," and "Working for the Weekend."

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

The Smashing Pumpkins at USANA

The last time I saw The Smashing Pumpkins it was an absolutely amazing concert so I was really excited to get to see them again at USANA Amphitheatre last night.  I was definitely not disappointed!  The setlist was an eclectic mix of the band's biggest hits, deeper tracks from their extensive discography, as well as a few songs from ATUM, their latest release which has been billed as a rock opera in three acts, so I spent half the time screaming and singing along to my favorite songs and the other half just listening to the shredding guitars and Corgan's signature voice on some of the more unfamiliar (to me) songs.  I really enjoyed "The Everlasting Gaze," "Doomsday Clock," " Perfect," "The Celestials," "Purple Blood," and "This Time," despite the fact that I didn't remember all of the words, and the new songs "Beguiled," "Empires," and "Spellbinding," even though I wasn't familiar with them, because the band sounded as good as I've ever heard them.  However, it was when they performed "Today," "Disarm," "Ava Adore," "Bullet With Butterfly Wings," "Jellybelly," and "Hummer" that I really came alive because these songs took me back to the 1990s when I would listen to Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and Siamese Dream almost continuously on repeat!  They also played several covers and I have to admit that their version of "Once in a Lifetime" by Talking Heads was really cool but almost unrecognizable!  My favorite moment of the show was an incredibly beautiful acoustic version of "Tonight, Tonight" by Corgan and James Iha.  Corgan dedicated it to SLC because of the lyric about a city by the lake.  The crowd was incredibly chill (almost everyone around me sat for most of the show) but the final three songs, which were "1979," "Cherub Rock," and "Zero," got the crowd up on their feet and it was the perfect way to end the concert!  The stage featured interesting (if somewhat strange) visuals and included dramatic lighting that was almost mesmerizing.  Corgan is such a weirdo and he was in fine form with white makeup on his bald head and face and a long black tunic featuring Masonic symbolism.  He was very tentative with the crowd at first and delegated all of the usual frontman duties to Iha (who favored us with a hilarious rap) but he eventually warmed up.  I had such a great time at this concert because it was filled with so much nostalgia and it was the perfect summer night for an outdoor show (not too hot with a nice breeze as the evening wore on).  I even got out of the USANA parking lot within 10 minutes!

Monday, July 31, 2023

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real at Sandy Amphitheater

 
I am a huge fan of Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real!  I have seen them at USANA (backing Neil Young), at the Commonwealth Room, at Red Butte Garden, and at Sandy Amphitheater.  Last night I went back to Sandy Amphitheater to see them again and I absolutely loved the show!  They were in town promoting their latest release Sticks and Stones (it is so good) and the majority of the songs in their main set came from this album.  They started the show with "Alcohallelujah" and continued with the title track, "Every Time I Drink," "If I Didn't Love You," "Overpass," "Icarus,""All Four Winds" (my favorite from the new album), "The View," "Lying," "Wrong House," and "Ladder of Love."  I really enjoyed hearing these new songs performed live because Nelson and the band looked like they were having such a great time playing them and they sounded really tight despite the fact that they haven't played them as much as the older songs.  However, I was thrilled to hear so many of my favorites, including "Fool Me Once," "Four Letter Word," "Just Outside of Austin" (with a really cool piano intro), "Carolina," "(Forget About) Georgia," "Die Alone," and "Find Yourself" (with lots of participation from the crowd during the chorus).  They also sang a cover of Willie Nelson's "Bloody Mary Morning" which was awesome!  I was really hoping that they would play "Set Me Down on a Cloud," which is my favorite Promise of the Real song, so I was absolutely thrilled when I heard the opening notes!  It was the perfect song to end their main set with!  For the encore, they performed a rousing rendition of "Something Real" with an extended intro featuring the drums.  I am not a big fan of country music but I absolutely love this band (they do have more of a rock-country sound) and I love Nelson's voice (he sounds like his dad Willie Nelson but a bit edgier).  Nelson wasn't as talkative as I have seen him be but he and the band gave a really energetic performance with very little down time between the songs.  They had a stripped down stage filled with lots of instruments and, since I was sitting on the fifth row (he definitely made eye contact with me), it was fascinating to watch Nelson playing the guitar.  There was a major thunderstorm near the end of the show but even the rain couldn't dampen my enthusiasm (the rain stopped just before "Set Me Down on a Cloud" which made me very happy).  I had so much fun and I hope they come back again next year!

Note:  I have loved every Promise of the Real concert but if I had to pick a favorite it would be the show at the Commonwealth Room.  This was right after the movie A Star Is Born came out (Promise of the Real portrayed Jackson Maine's band) and they played "Shallow."  It was sans Lady Gaga but it was epic!

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles at the Eccles

I love the Beatles and, even though I never had the opportunity to see them live, I have seen many tribute bands.  One of the best is Rain and I was so excited to be able to see them again last night at the Eccles Theatre.  It was an amazing show and I sang every single word (so did everyone around me).  Steve Landes (John Lennon), Paul Curatolo (Paul McCartney), Alastar McNeil (George Harrison) and Aaron Chiazza (Ringo Starr) look and sound a lot like the Beatles so it really feels like you are actually seeing them and the background images turn the concert into an incredibly immersive experience (the crowd even screamed as much as the early fans).  The concert was divided into different sets (or eras!) and it began with the Beatlemania set.  The lads were dressed in their signature black suits and Cuban-heeled boots and they performed "All My Loving," "Please Please Me," "This Boy," "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "Roll Over Beethoven," "A Hard Day's Night," "If I Fell," "You Can't Do That," and "Yesterday" with background images from the Ed Sullivan Show.  The next set was Shea Stadium featuring "I Feel Fine," "Day Tripper," and "Twist and Shout" (which got the crowd up and dancing) with costumes and background images from that epic concert.  Next came the Revolver & Rubber Soul (my favorite albums by the Beatles) set with performances of "Drive My Car," "The Word," "Eleanor Rigby," "In My Life," and "Nowhere Man."  During this set they were dressed casually with video footage of the Beatles from that period projected on the screens.  After the intermission came the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band set with the iconic uniforms and lots of psychedelic images on the screens.  I really loved this set because it included "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," "With a Little Help From My Friends," "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," "She's Leaving Home," "Lovely Rita," "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)," and "A Day in the Life" which was brilliant!  Then came the Rooftop Concert set which mimicked the concert the Beatles performed on the roof of their Apple Corps headquarters in London.  They wore the same outfits the Beatles wore then (including John Lennon's fur coat) and the images on the screen made it seem like they were really on the roof.  They performed some of the setlist from this show, including "Get Back," "Dig a Pony,"and "Don't Let Me Down," with a bonus performance of "Let It Be."  The final set was Abbey Road and the costumes were based on what the Beatles wore on the cover of this album and the images on the screen were from the famous recording studio.  They performed "Come Together," "You Never Give Me Your Money," "Mean Mr. Mustard," "Polythene Pam," "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window," "Golden Slumbers," "Cary That Weight," and "The End."  Of course they performed "Hey Jude" for the encore and the entire crowd sang along which was really fun!  I'm so glad that I decided to see this show again because it featured a completely different setlist so I got to hear quite a few songs that I have never heard performed live before (I can't believe I still remember the words to "She's Leaving Home" and "Lovely Rita").  Due to popular demand another show was added tonight and there are still a few tickets available (go here).  I highly recommend it to all Beatles fans.

Sunday, July 16, 2023

Taylor Swift at Empower Field

I saw Taylor Swift when she was in SLC for the 1989 Tour and it was one of the best concerts I've ever seen so, when the Eras Tour was announced, I really wanted to go.  Even though I ended up on the waitlist for the Verified Fan presale, I was still hopeful until the entire Ticketmaster site crashed.  Such was my mania to see this concert that, even though everyone was up in arms over the outrageous prices charged by scalpers (It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me), I resorted to StubHub and convinced my sister Marilyn to get a ticket as well.  We both spent the equivalent of the GNP of a small country for these tickets but it was absolutely worth it!  We drove to Denver for the show last night at Empower Field and it was an amazing three hour set celebrating all of Taylor Swift's studio albums, or eras, with pyrotechnics, intricate choreography (I love that she has backup dancers of all ethnicities and body types), multiple wardrobe changes (my favorites were an asymmetrical black catsuit embellished with red snakes for the Reputation era, a sparkly while and gold sequined princess gown for the Speak Now era, and a flowing white gown for the folklore era), a runway that extended across the floor of the stadium with a diamond-shaped stage in the center, and wristbands that lit up in sync with each song.  The Lover era was first and included "Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince," "Cruel Summer," "The Man," "You Need to Calm Down," "Lover," and "The Archer."  For the Fearless era she sang "Fearless," "You Belong With Me," and "Love Story."  Next came the evermore era and she performed "'tis the damn season," "willow," "marjorie," "champagne problems," and "tolerate it." The reputation era featured "...Ready for It," "Delicate," "Don't Blame Me," and "Look What You Made Me Do." Marilyn's favorite era is Speak Now and Taylor played her favorite song "Enchanted" and "Long Live" which was recently added to the set.  Next came Red, which is my favorite era, and she sang "22," "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," "I Knew You Were Trouble," and "All Too Well."  For the folklore era she included "the 1," "betty," "the last great american dynasty," "august," "illicit affairs," "my tears ricochet" (one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs), and "cardigan."  The 1989 is another favorite era of mine and I loved hearing "Style," "Blank Space," "Shake It Off," "Wildest Dreams," and "Bad Blood."  Next came the surprise songs (which are exclusive to each show).  I have been paying attention and, after seeing a lot of my favorites get performed already, I was really eager to see what the Denver songs would be.  On the drive Marilyn and I decided that we wanted to hear "Back to December" and I about lost my mind when she actually played it (she also played "Starlight").  The show concluded with the Midnights era including "Lavender Haze," "Anti-Hero," "Midnight Rain," "Vigilante Shit," "Bejeweled," "Mastermind," and "Karma" (another one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs).  Swift is a consummate performer and every song felt like an elaborate theatrical production (my favorite performances were for "willow" because she and her dancers wore green velvet cloaks and carried orbs of light while cavorting in a circle like druids, for "the 1" because she was lying on the roof of a moss covered cabin while patterns of trees appeared in the crowd from the lights on the wristbands, and for "Vigilante Shit" because she and her dancers executed stylized Fosse-like choreography with chairs).  Marilyn and I both really loved this show (and so did the tens of thousands of appreciative fans all around us).  The tickets were ridiculously expensive and we had to drive eight hours but this experience is one I won't soon forget (and I would do it again in a heartbeat).

Saturday, July 8, 2023

Bryan Adams at the Maverik Center

I was a huge fan of Bryan Adams (he's Canadian!) back in the day so I pretty much lost my mind when I saw this concert announcement because the last time I saw him was for the Waking Up the World Tour in 1992 at the Delta Center!  That concert was one of my very favorites so I have been counting down the days until I could see him again and he certainly did not disappoint!  He was in town in support of his latest album So Happy It Hurts and he played several songs from it, including the title track, "Kick Ass," and "I've Been Looking For You," but he mostly played his biggest hits for close to two hours and I sang along to every word!  I especially loved "Somebody," "Please Forgive Me," "One Night Love Affair," "Heaven," "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You," "Summer of '69," and "Run to You," which is my favorite Bryan Adams song.  He gave a heartfelt performance of "It's Only Love" and dedicated it to Tina Turner (who recorded the duet with him).  In the middle of the set he said that he liked to take requests from the audience.  I screamed "Cuts Like a Knife" as loud as I could and I don't know if he heard me (everyone in my section turned around to look at me when I did it) but it was one of the songs he sang along with "I'm Ready" and "Kids Wanna Rock."  He ended his main set with a cover of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by Frankie Valli and he dedicated it to the crowd in appreciation for supporting him throughout his career.  For the encore he came back to the stage alone and performed acoustic versions of "Straight From the Heart" and "All For Love" which were amazing!  I really love the distinctive rasp in his voice and he sounded great, especially during all of the big power ballads.  He was also really funny in his interactions with the crowd.  He said at the beginning of the show that he would be playing a lot of songs because he has 16 albums but not every one of them because he can't remember half of those albums!  The stage was very stripped down with just a piano, a drum kit, and rows of guitar racks and amplifiers in front of a large screen.  He didn't need any pyrotechnics or other effects because he came to rock!  I have to admit that I was a bit twitterpated seeing him again after all of these years and I had so much fun revisiting my youth at this concert!  Nostalgia seems to be the theme for many of the concerts that I have seen (Shania Twain, Duran Duran, and The Cure) and will be seeing (The Smashing Pumpkins, Foreigner, Sting, and U2) this year and it all started with buying a ticket to this show!

Note:  The opening act was Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and it was a fantastic set!  I especially loved "Cherry Bomb," "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," "I Hate Myself For Loving You," "Crimson and Clover," and "Bad Reputation."

Monday, June 5, 2023

The Cure at the Vivint Arena

Last night I was at the Vivint Arena once again to celebrate my birthday with The Cure. I have seen them twice before but it has been a while so I was really excited for the show.  It had a completely different vibe than the Duran Duran concert did the night before but it was equally amazing.  The Cure played for almost three hours, with a main set, an encore, and a second longer encore, featuring a career-spanning mix of their biggest hits, deeper tracks, and even a few new songs (including "Alone," which opened the show, "I Can Never Say Goodbye," about the death of Smith's brother, and "And Nothing Is Forever").  My favorites were "Pictures of You," "Lovesong," "Plainsong," "Disintegration," "Lullaby," "Let's Go to Bed," "Friday I'm in Love," "Close to Me," "In Between Days," "Just Like Heaven," and "Boys Don't Cry."  All of these crowd favorites, except for "Pictures of You" and "Lovesong," were performed during the encores so the audience got more and more frenzied just as the concert concluded!  Another noteworthy moment came during "Burn" in the main set because drummer Jason Cooper gave an unbelievable performance that was featured on the screen behind him.  Robert Smith was in his usual black (although he did have a bit of red on his shirt) with wild hair, red lipstick, and eyeliner but, compared to other times that I've seen The Cure, he was positively ebullient!  He interacted with the crowd quite a bit, often walking over to the corners of the stage to make eye contact with people in the upper bowl, and he was even dancing at one point (the last time I saw The Cure at USANA he didn't move away from the microphone and didn't talk to the crowd at all).  He also sounded great with the same expressive voice that he is known for. The stage was very stripped down with just a riser for the drum kit and rows of amplifiers and guitar racks.  However, it was bathed in a wall of lights that looked really cool changing from one color to another and there was a large screen which alternated between a live feed of the band and curated images (my favorite was a large spider web during "Lullaby").  Like most of the capacity crowd, I was wearing the requisite eyeliner and Doc Martens and I had an absolute blast.  It was a great way to spend my birthday!

Sunday, June 4, 2023

Duran Duran at the Vivint Arena

I have loved Duran Duran since I was a sophomore in high school but I had never seen them live before last night's concert at the Vivint Arena!  I was so excited I could hardly contain myself!  Even though they didn't play "Union of the Snake" (boo!) I loved every minute and I know I will be on a high for a long time because the show was amazing!  They began with "Night Boat" and played quite a few other songs from their debut album Duran Duran, including "Careless Memories," "Friends of Mine," "Is There Something I Should Know," "Planet Earth," and then "Girls on Film" to end their main set.  They also played "Give It All Up" and "Anniversary" from their latest album Future Past and, even though I wasn't very familiar with these songs, I really liked them.  The rest of the concert consisted of an eclectic mix of their hits, such as "Come Undone," "Lonely in Your Nightmare," "A View to a Kill," "The Wild Boys," "Notorious," "The Reflex" (which was the only song they played from my favorite album Seven and the Ragged Tiger), and "White Lines (Don't Do It)."  My favorite songs in the main set were "Hungry Like the Wolf," because it made me feel so nostalgic, and "Ordinary World," because Simon Le Bon gave such a lovely and heartfelt vocal performance after dedicating it to the people of Ukraine. As I mentioned, I was a little bit disappointed when they didn't play "Union of the Snake" because it is my favorite song by the band but I forgave them because they played "Save a Prayer" during the encore. I also really love this song and it was so cool to hear the crowd singing along and see all of the lights from phones!  They ended the show with a rousing rendition of "Rio" and this was another fun and nostalgic moment!  Simon Le Bon looked really good (sigh!) but, more importantly, he (and the band) sounded great!  I couldn't believe that I was actually so close to him (I splurged on a lower bowl ticket) and every time he interacted with the crowd I would scream like the fifteen year old girl who once had the biggest crush on him!  Compared to other shows I've seen lately they had a very traditional stage but there were giant screens behind them with lots of dynamic visuals.  My favorite was a montage of all of the magazine covers they appeared on during their heyday (I think I had all of them on my bedroom walls back in the day).  I am so glad that I finally had the chance to see one of my favorite bands after all of this time!  It was definitely worth the wait!

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Shania Twain at USANA

I am not a big fan of country music (it is probably my least favorite genre) but there are a few artists that I like and Shania Twain is definitely one of them.  I love her and I always try to see her whenever she comes to town.  She was at USANA Amphitheater last night in support of her latest album Queen of Me and I had so much fun at this show!  She sang quite a few songs from the new album, starting with "Waking Up Dreaming" while she traveled through the audience in disguise wearing large sunglasses and a wig.  She also performed "Giddy Up!," "Inhale/ Exhale Air," "Number One," "Pretty Liar," and then "Queen of Me" to end her main set.  However, the crowd really wanted the hits and she sang them, too, including "Any Man of Mine," "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?," "Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)," "From This Moment On," "Honey, I'm Home," "Rock This Country," "You're Still the One," Party for Two," and a really sultry version of "Roll Me on the River."  The crowd sang every word of these songs!  Most people really love the album Come On Over but my favorite is Up! because this album was my first introduction to her music.  I was so happy that she played "Up!" (which is my favorite Shania Twain song), "I'm Gonna Getcha Good," and "Forever and for Always."  She also played a medley of songs from Up! including "Nah!," "She's Not Just a Pretty Face," "Waiter! Bring Me Water," and "Thank You Baby! (For Makin' Someday Come So Soon)."  She played her two biggest hits for the encore, starting with "That Don't Impress Me Much," while wearing the same leopard print outfit from the music video (there were many people in the audience also wearing leopard print), and ending with a rousing rendition of "Man! I Feel Like A Woman!"  Twain does not have the voice she had in her heyday because she sang many songs in a lower key and relied heavily on her backup singers but her performance was enthusiastic and she certainly hasn't lost any attitude!  She had the most stripped down stage I've seen at one of her concerts and she wore the same red mini dress until the encore but the show itself was dynamic with lots of cool visuals.  It was obvious that she was really happy to be back on stage because she repeatedly thanked the sold-out crowd and, at one point, she even brought a fan on stage to sing with her.  She is definitely still the one!

Note: The night got off to a rough start with heavy rain while I was standing in line (for over an hour) but it eventually stopped and I ended up really enjoying this concert!

Friday, April 21, 2023

Muse at the Vivint Arena

I am a huge fan of the band Muse and every time I've seen them live the show has been a sound and light extravaganza.  Last night's concert at the Vivint Arena, my first of 2023, was no exception and I had so much fun!  They began with "Will of the People" and played quite a few more songs from their latest album of the same name, including "Compliance," which is my favorite from the album, "Verona," "We Are F***ing F***ed," "Won't Stand Down," and "You Make Me Feel Like It's Halloween."  They also played the hits and some more obscure tracks, such as "Hysteria," "Interlude," "Time Is Running Out," a really sultry rendition of "Madness," "Plug In Baby," an instrumental version of "The Dark Side," "Thought Contagion," "Resistance," a rocking performance of "Uprising" that got everyone in Vivint Arena up and dancing, "Psycho," and "Supermassive Black Hole."  They ended their main set, as they often do, with "Starlight," which is my favorite Muse song, and I loved it!  For the encore they played "Kill or Be Killed," from the new album, and an epic version of "Knights of Cydonia" with a really cool harmonica intro.  Songs were accompanied by incredibly theatrical lights, lasers, visuals, pyrotechnics, streamers, confetti, and large animatronic figures looming over the stage.  The stage itself was made of clear panels with colored lights shining from below with a runway extending into the crowd and a smaller stage at the end of it.  It was really cool.  Matt Bellamy was a bit more subdued with his attire than usual (although an LED light-up jacket did make an appearance late in the proceedings) but definitely not with all of his antics.  He spent most of his time running and jumping around the stage and shredding on the runway!  Like every other Muse show I've seen this was a complete spectacle and I loved every minute of it (I think I will be on a high from it for days).

Note:  The opening acts were Highly Suspect and Evanescence.  I was not familiar with Highly Suspect but I was beyond excited for Evanescence because I love them and had never seen them before.  They played for over an hour and I especially loved "Going Under," "Call Me When You're Sober," "Imaginary," "My Immortal," and "Bring Me to Life."
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