Maroon 5 at the Delta Center

I randomly heard the song "Harder to Breathe" on the radio in my car late at night more than twenty years ago and I loved it but I didn't hear the name or the artist.  As hard as it is to believe in 2025, I had a really hard time finding out this information because none of my friends or students had heard it (kids today will never know the pain of listening to the radio for hours just to hear a particular song).  When I eventually figured it out, I bought Maroon 5's debut album Songs About Jane and listened to it incessantly (the CD survived the massive purge I did before moving into my current house).  I was so obsessed with the song and album that I went to see a band I didn't especially like (Matchbox Twenty) just because Maroon 5 was opening for them.  I've been a huge fan ever since and have seen them headline several times (go here and here).  I was absolutely thrilled when they announced a tour in support of their latest album, Love Is Like, and I had so much fun at the concert last night.  Midway through the show Adam Levine thanked the audience for supporting them for so long and mentioned that the concert with Matchbox Twenty was the first time they performed in SLC.  Almost all of the people sitting around me had been there!  They sang "California" from the new album but they mostly played the hits which made the crowd very happy!  They began the show with "Harder to Breathe," which made me very happy, and also played "She Will Be Loved," "Sunday Morning," and "This Love" from Songs About Jane.  Other highlights included "Lucky Strike," "Animals," "One More Night," "Misery," "Won't Go Home Without You," "Maps," "Love Somebody," "Don't Wanna Know," and "Girls Like You."  These songs brought back so many memories and I remembered the words to every one even though I hadn't heard them for a long time!  They performed a very heartfelt rendition of "Memories," which they dedicated to their agent Jordan Feldstein who died in 2017, and included photos submitted by the audience of people they wished to remember on their giant screen.  They concluded their main set with a rousing rendition of "Moves Like Jagger" and then performed "Payphone" and "Sugar" for the encore.  Levine, who spent most of the night strutting down the long runway into the crowd, sounded great (he can still hit those high notes) and he was incredibly energetic and engaging!  It is always great to see a band who evokes a specific time in your life (I felt like that girl singing "Harder to Breathe" in her car at the top of her lungs once again) and I loved every minute!

Laufey at the Delta Center

I recently discovered Laufey and now I am completely obsessed with her music because she has such a unique sound that blends jazz, pop, and classical elements.  I love her voice because it is so expressive and her orchestrations because they are incredibly lush.  I found out about her concert at the Delta Center quite by accident and was thrilled when I was able to get a ticket at the last minute.  The show was last night and it was incredible!  It is very theatrical with an elaborate set that is a cross between a fairy tale castle and a Busby Berkeley musical with a curved runway to a secondary stage shaped like a clock complete with moving hands and the glamorous costumes are inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood.  The show is divided into five different thematic acts with an introduction on the screen reminiscent of a silent movie and an encore featuring a surprise song specific to each city.  The first act is inspired by romance and fantasy and Laufey wore a sparkly gown with a tulle skirt while performing "Clockwork," "Lover Girl" with the requisite claps from the audience, "Dreamer," "Falling Behind," "Silver Lining" (my favorite Laufey song), "Bored," and "Too Little, Too Late."  The second act is meant to mimic an intimate jazz club so she moved to the secondary stage wearing a 1920s-inspired beaded dress.  She performed a cover of "Seems Like Old Times" and then sultry versions of her songs "Valentine," "Fragile," "While You Were Sleeping," and "Let You Break My Heart Again" with a trio of musicians. The third act is billed as an enchanting interlude and included "Carousel" "Forget-Me-Not," and "Cuckoo Ballet" (featuring ballet dancers in tutus) with whimsical images on the screens.  The fourth act represents vulnerability and heartbreak and she performed "Mr. Eclectic," "Castle in Hollywood," "Promise," "Goddess," "Tough Luck," "Snow White," and "From the Start" (another favorite) in a costume with lots of sequins and fringe inspired by the Ziegfeld Follies.  The fifth act is about self-acceptance and growth so she performed a dramatic version of "Sabotage."  She returned to the secondary stage for the encore and the surprise song was "Street By Street" (she told the crowd that she picked this song specifically for Salt Lake City because she performed her first live show here and she was so surprised that people actually knew the words to it) followed by an emotional performance of "Letter to My 13 Year Old Self."  She sounded amazing live (I would love to hear her in a venue like Abravanel Hall with a full orchestra backing her) and played guitar, piano, and even the cello (during the instrumental "Cuckoo Ballet").  Her interactions with the large and enthusiastic crowd were charming and she was incredibly appreciative of them singing along to every word.  She even commented on the many Laufey-themed costumes (I did not get the memo about wearing bows and felt crowns).  I thoroughly enjoyed this concert and I am so glad that I was able to go!

Note:  Suki Waterhouse was the opening act.  I didn't know anything about her (beyond being Robert Pattinson's girlfriend) or her music but I really liked her set.

Paul McCartney in Las Vegas

I have loved Paul McCartney since I was in 5th grade.  It was then that I discovered a song called "Coming Up" and, even though I didn't actually know who sang it, I played it incessantly.  My dad said it was Paul McCartney and if I liked that song I should listen to the Beatles.  He presented me with his copy of Rubber Soul (he eventually gave me all of his Beatles records) and thus began my obsession with McCartney and the Beatles.  I have been lucky enough to see him in concert several times by now so I really debated whether or not I should get a ticket for his latest North American tour, especially since I would have to travel to get to a show.  I ultimately decided that I would be so sad to miss seeing him again and got a ticket for the show at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (an incredible venue!).  I took a quick road trip this weekend (I had to drive in a torrential downpour for half of it) and, as is usually the case, I am so glad I did because the concert was amazing!  One of the reasons for my hesitation, besides the cost, was McCartney's voice.  He seemed to really struggle the last time I saw him but I think he sounded great Saturday night!  His voice was obviously not what it once was but I realized that it didn't really matter because he and the songs are so iconic.  He played for close to three hours with his usual band (Paul "Wix" Wickens on keyboards, Rusty Anderson on guitar, Brian Ray on bass, and Abe Laboriel, Jr. on drums) as well as an incredible horn section (Mike Davis on trumpet and fugelhorn, Paul Burton on trombone, and Kenji Fenton on saxophone and clarinet) and I was so impressed with his stamina because he sang and played either guitar or piano for every song (even when the band took a break).  He opened with "Help!" which whipped the crowd into a frenzy because this is the first time he has performed it solo.  He played quite a few other Beatles songs, including "Got to Get You Into My Life," "Drive My Car," "Getting Better," "I've Just Seen a Face," "Love Me Do," a beautiful acoustic version of "Blackbird," "Lady Madonna," "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite," "Something" while playing the ukulele as a tribute to George Harrison, "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" with lots of audience participation, "Get Back," and "Let It Be."  The older gentleman sitting two seats down from me was openly weeping for most of these but what reduced me to tears was when he played the new Beatles song "Now and Then" because it reminds me of my dad.  He played the usual Wings songs "Let Me Roll It," "Let 'Em In," "Jet," "Band on the Run," and "Live and Let Die" (complete with the most extensive pyrotechnics I've ever seen) but he also played "Letting Go" which I had never heard live before.  I loved hearing his solo songs "Coming Up" (obviously), "Come On to Me," "My Valentine" which he dedicated to his wife Nancy who was in the audience, and "Here Today" which he dedicated to John Lennon but my favorite moment was when he played "Maybe I'm Amazed" because I love this song so much (I also love watching Rusty play the guitar solo).  He ended the main set, as he often does, with a rousing rendition of "Hey Jude" and this was a lot of fun!  For the encore, he sang "I've Got a Feeling" with John Lennon using footage from the rooftop concert (this was really cool), "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," "Helter Skelter," "Golden Slumbers," Carry That Weight," and "The End."  Seeing an artist that I have loved for most of my life was such an incredible experience and I will be on a high from it for a long time.

Aaron Tveit at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre

I am a huge fan of musical theatre so I could not have been more excited for last night's concert at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre with Broadway star Aaron Tveit! It was a beautiful night (the temperature was perfect) filled with beautiful music and I loved every minute! Tveit was backed by the Utah Valley Symphony under the baton of Cheung Chau and he told the crowd that he specifically picked the songs in his setlist in order to take advantage of singing with an orchestra. It was an eclectic program as a result but I really enjoyed it! He began with a beautiful version of "Fly Me to the Moon" which I loved because I went through a Frank Sinatra phase when I was in my twenties (it was a strange time).  He continued with "Younger Than Springtime" from South Pacific and then returned to music made famous by the Rat Pack with performances of "What Kind of Fool Am I?" and "The World We Knew" (this was a highlight for me because it is one of my favorite songs by Sinatra and I still remember every word!). Next came "You Can't Tame Me" and "Doorway to Where" from Schmigadoon (I am so sad that we didn't get a third season of this show). Another highlight came next when he performed "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" from Les Miserables. He played Enjolras in the movie adaptation but he told the crowd that he auditioned for Marius and so he wanted to sing one of his songs for us. This always brings a tear to my eye and his arrangement was amazing! He originated the role of Christian in Moulin Rouge on Broadway so he ended his first set with "El Tango de Roxanne" and this made all of the theatre girlies in the audience lose their minds! Just kidding. I lost my mind. I am theatre girlies. Tveit took a short break while the orchestra played "Polovtsian Dances" from the opera Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin. The audience got a bit restless during this number but I really enjoyed it (you know I love the Russian composers). He returned to the stage for a medley from West Side Story, featuring "Maria," "Something's Coming," and "Tonight," and joked that he had never played Tony in a professional production but he did play him in eleventh grade! Next came the Sammy Davis, Jr. version of  "As Long As She Needs Me" from Oliver (he really likes the Rat Pack). He continued with "Johanna" from Sweeney Todd. He played the role of Sweeney on Broadway but I am glad he sang Anthony's song from the show because his version was beautiful!  He told the crowd  that he was inspired to sing his next song, "What Was I Made For?" from the movie Barbie, when he saw Billie Eilish perform it with a full orchestra at the Oscars and this brought another tear to my eye! He ended this set with an incredible version of "Being Alive" from Company which gave me goosebumps! For the encore, he sang "Your Song" from Moulin Rouge which brought the crowd (one of the biggest I've seen at the SCERA Shell) to their feet! Not only does Tveit have an incredible voice, he is also very charming and I enjoyed all of the anecdotes interspersed between the songs. I have been looking forward to this concert all summer (I bought a ticket they day they went on sale) and it was thrilling to hear him perform live after being a fan for so long!

Note: I love SCERA because, among other things, they brought both of my theatre crushes, Aaron Tveit and Jeremy Jordan, to town for amazing concerts!  The couple next to me argued over which concert was better and they wanted me to be the tie breaker but I couldn't possibly choose!

Gentri Sings Broadway at HCT

Bradley Quinn Lever, Brad Robbins, and Casey Elliott met each other in 2014 when they were cast as Enjolras, Marius, and Jean Valjean, respectively, in a production of Les Miserables at HCT (I don't remember if I saw them then but I definitely remember seeing them reprise their roles in HCT's 2021 production). The three of them have beautiful tenor voices and, when they realized how well they harmonized together, they formed The Gentlemen's Trio (or Gentri as they now refer to themselves). I love them (especially when they sing Christmas music) so, when I heard that they were performing a series of concerts at HCT in honor of their 10 year anniversary as a group, I immediately got a ticket! I had just enough time to get cleaned up from my camping trip for the concert last night and I enjoyed every minute, especially since the program featured all of the songs from their latest album, Broadway. They began with their original song "Dare" and then continued with "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha. Their Music Director, Stephen Nelson, writes beautiful arrangements for them and I especially loved their version of "Edelweiss" from The Sound of Music because the harmonies gave me goosebumps! They dedicated their song "Lullaby" to all of their children and then performed an incredible cover of "Let It Be" by The Beatles (sigh). They performed an emotional rendition of "Home" and then the crowd went crazy when they sang "A Million Dreams" from The Greatest Showman. One of my favorite moments came next when they sang a medley from The Phantom of the Opera including "Think of Me," "The Music of the Night," and "The Phantom of the Opera" and then they blew the roof off the theater with a powerful version of "Defying Gravity" from Wicked to close out their first set. After the intermission, they performed stirring renditions of their original songs "Soldier" and "On the Outside" and then they let the audience vote on the next song ("Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts won but I really wanted to hear "Make You Feel My Love" by Bob Dylan).  Next came "Out There" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame and a moving version of "Somewhere" from West Side Story. To finish the set, Lever sang "Do You Hear the People Sing?" as Enjolras, Robbins sang "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" as Marius (this brought a tear to my eye), and Elliott sang "Bring Him Home" as Valjean. I absolutely loved hearing these songs from Les Miserables and this was definitely the highlight of the show for me (and the rest of the audience judging from the reaction). For the encore, they sang "Make You Feel My Love" and I think it is because I screamed so loud for it when the audience was voting for the next song! They were so charming and had some hilarious interactions with the audience. The Jewel Box Stage is very intimate (I was sitting on the front row) and Lever, my favorite, actually did look at me several times and smile (sigh) but during "Think of Me" he gave a rose to the woman sitting two seats down from me (so close!). They all spoke about the power of theatre to connect people and I loved seeing photos of them from various shows they have been in (even from high school). I really had to rush to get to the show on time (I even left all of my camping gear in my car) but it was worth the effort because it was an amazing concert! They will be in residence on the Jewel Box Stage until August 23 and, if you want to see them, you need to act quickly because most shows are sold out (go here). I also highly recommend getting a ticket for one of their Christmas shows at the Eccles Theater on November 28 & 29 (go here).

Disney in Concert with the Utah Symphony at Sandy Amphitheater

I really enjoy Sandy Amphitheater as an outdoor venue so I always like to see a few shows there each summer.  Last night I went to see Disney in Concert featuring the Utah Symphony under the baton of guest conductor Ron Spigelman and Broadway stars Lissa deGuzman (known for playing Jasmine in Aladdin and Elphaba in Wicked), Nasia Thomas (known for paying Anna of Cleves in SIX), Susan Egan (the original Belle in Beauty and the Beast and the voice of Meg in the movie Hercules), Noah J. Ricketts (the original Kristoff in Frozen and Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby), and Adam J. Levy (known for Moulin Rouge) in a program celebrating the music from the Disney and Pixar movies released in the 1980s and 1990s.  The concert began with a fun medley featuring "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast, "Prince Ali" from Aladdin, and "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid with all of the vocalists.  Thomas and Ricketts continued with "Reflection" and "I'll Make a Man Out of You," respectively, from Mulan and then Egan performed "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" from Hercules with Thomas and deGuzman as the Muses.  The orchestra played a medley from A Bug's Life then Ricketts and Levy returned to the stage for "You've Got a Friend in Me" from Toy Story.  Tucker sang "God Help the Outcasts" then Levy sang "Out There" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame and both were incredibly powerful.  All of the vocalists performed a medley from The Disney Afternoon featuring songs from the TV shows DuckTales, Goof Troop, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, TaleSpin, and Darkwing Duck. This was followed by "Part of Your World" and then Egan continued with a hilarious version of "Poor Unfortunate Souls" from The Little Mermaid.  The first set ended with "Santa Fe" and "Seize the Day" from Newsies (these were crowd favorites).  After the intermission, the orchestra performed a medley called "Mickey's Imagination" and then Ricketts and Thomas thrilled the crowd with renditions of "Go the Distance" and "Zero to Hero," respectively, from Hercules.  My favorite moment came next when deGuzman sang "Colors of the Wind" from Pocahontas because it was so beautiful.  Thomas, deGuzman, and Egan sang "I Put a Spell on You" as the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus and then were joined by Levy for "Once Upon a Time in New York City" from Oliver & Company.  Egan gave an incredibly moving rendition of "When She Loved Me" from Toy Story 2 and then the other vocalists performed a romantic mash-up of "Beauty and the Beast" from Beauty and the Beast and "A Whole New World" from Aladdin.  The second set ended with "Circle of Life" from The Lion King and then Ricketts sang "Stand Out" from A Goofy Movie (Thomas told the crowd that this is her favorite movie of all time) as an encore.  I loved hearing all of these unbelievably talented Broadway stars perform and it was a lot of fun to see the movies referenced in the songs shown on the screen above the orchestra.  It was the perfect temperature for an outdoor concert and I am really looking to a few more this summer (go here for the remaining concerts in the Deer Valley Music Festival and here for the line up at Sandy Amphitheater).

Lady Gaga in Las Vegas

I love Lady Gaga and, even though I was able to see her Jazz & Piano show a few years ago, I have always wanted to see her in concert performing her own music.  I didn't think I would ever have an opportunity because she mostly does big stadium tours so I was beyond excited when she announced an arena tour in support of her latest album MAYHEM (which, in my opinion, is her best album since The Fame).  I was able to get a ticket to the opening show at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas last night and took a fun road trip to cross another item off my bucket list!  The concert was absolutely amazing and I am still on a high from it!  Every performance was very theatrical (the stage was even configured as an opulent opera house) with elaborate costumes, lighting, visuals, and choreography for each song.  The show was structured into four acts and a finale during which Lady Gaga periodically confronted a character called the Mistress of Mayhem (she is the personification of the inner chaos created by her trauma and fame as revealed in the opening manifesto, "The Art of Personal Chaos").  Act 1, Of Velvet and Vice, began with Lady Gaga inside a towering red Tudor gown singing an operatic version of "Bloody Mary" after which the skirt opened to reveal a steel cage filled with her backup dancers.  She emerged to perform "Abracadabra," with shortened versions of "Judas," "Aura," and "Scheiße" as an outro, and "Garden of Eden” with her on guitar.  This set concluded with "Poker Face" as Lady Gaga and the Mistress of Mayhem played a game of chess with dancers as pieces on a chessboard of lights on the runway jutting into the audience.  During Act II, And She Fell Into a Gothic Dream, Lady Gaga cavorted in a burial ground while performing dramatic renditions of "Perfect Celebrity" and "Disease" with skeletons all around her.  She then climbed out for "Paparazzi" (so symbolic) with an iridescent veil trailing her down the runway and then "LoveGame."  This set ended with atmospheric versions of "Alejandro" and "The Beast."  Act III, The Beautiful Nightmare That Knows Her Name, featured Lady Gaga dressed in a long black frock coat covered in black satin roses and a large headdress singing "Killah," "Zombieboy,"  and "LoveDrug" with a giant skull on stage and concluded with a burlesque performance of "Just Dance" with "Applause" as an intro.  Act IV, Every Chessboard Has Two Queens, included "Shadow of a Man," "Kill for Love," "Summerboy," and a very powerful performance of "Born This Way."  The Mistress of Mayhem pursued her during "Million Reasons" (also very symbolic) and then rowed her in a gondola down the runway for a solo version of "Shallow" (my favorite moment in the show because it was so cool).  She stayed on the secondary stage at the end of the runway to perform a solo version of "Die With a Smile" on piano and then gave a heartfelt thanks to her fans for supporting her throughout her career before going out into the crowd for "Vanish Into You."  For the Finale, Eternal Aria of the Monster Heart, Lady Gaga had her backup dancers perform surgery on her heart (her costume had a bloody incision that was stapled together) while she sang "Bad Romance" and this was followed by a recorded speech called "Monsters Never Die" which signified her victory over the Mistress of Mayhem.  For the encore, Lady Gaga sang "How Bad Do U Want Me," which is my favorite song from MAYHEM, starting from backstage.  I loved both the storytelling and the theatricality of this show and I was beyond impressed by Lady Gaga's incredible vocals (she is the ultimate performer).  I also liked her selection of songs because she sang almost everything from MAYHEM but also included the hits and a few deeper cuts that haven't been performed in a long time.  This is one of the best concerts I've seen and I am so glad that I was able to go!

MJ Live at Sandy Amphitheater

I love outdoor concerts at Sandy Amphitheater in the summer and my sister is a big fan of Michael Jackson so we were both really excited to see MJ Live last night.  This show, featuring Jalles Franca as the King of Pop, is one of the best Michael Jackson tribute concerts in the world (it is performed nightly at Harrah's in Las Vegas) and it was fantastic.  Franca looks and sounds like Jackson but, more importantly, he definitely has all of Jackson's iconic moves and they were a lot of fun to watch.  It was also fun to see all of the familiar costumes, especially the red leather jacket from the "Beat It" music video, the white pinstripe suit and fedora from the "Smooth Criminal" music video, and the black sequin jacket, black fedora, white sequin glove, and white sequin socks from the performance of "Billie Jean" at the Motown 25th Anniversary special.  In addition to the songs mentioned above, Franca performed "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," "Bad," "Another Part of Me," "Dirty Diana," "She's Out of My Life," "I'll Be There" with lots of audience participation, "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Human Nature," and a medley of "I Want You Back," "ABC," and "The Love You Save" by the Jackson 5 with the backup dancers performing with Franca in some fabulous costumes and wigs.  After an epic performance of "Beat It" with backup dancers as rival gang members, Franca invited a group of kids on stage to show their best Michael Jackson choreography.  Some of them were really good!  Then Franca performed "Thriller" and this was a highlight because he replicated the choreography from the music video (I vividly remember when the video premiered on MTV because it was so groundbreaking) with the backup dancers as the undead!  He continued with "Jam," "Man in the Mirror," "Black or White," "Can You Feel It," and a rousing rendition of "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" that got everybody up dancing!  This was such a fun concert and the weather was perfect!  I highly recommend checking out a show at Sandy Amphitheater (it is a great venue and my sister was very impressed with how fast the attendants got everyone out of the parking lot) this summer.  I have a ticket to another concert but I am thinking about two more!  Go here to see the lineup and to purchase tickets.

Nathan Pacheco Christmas Concert 2024

I tagged along with my sister Marilyn and her friend Kelli to Nathan Pachecho's Christmas concert at Abravanel Hall last year and I loved it so much I got a ticket for this year's concert and tagged along again (although this year I was one of the cool kids and was invited to dinner at Little America before the show). The concert was last night and, once again, Pacheco put on an amazing show. He began with "God Bless Us Everyone" from the movie Scrooge and "Hark! The Herald Angel Sings" and then told the crowd that it would be an eclectic evening with both Christmas songs and other songs he likes to perform. Then he proceeded to sing "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's opera Turandot, "Questa O Quello" from Verdi's opera Rigoletto, and "Time to Say Goodbye" just because he can (he is a classically trained tenor with an incredible voice). He called the next section the musical theatre portion of the concert and sang "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables (this gave me goosebumps) and "Who We Become" from his own musical Beloved. Next came emotional renditions of "Come As You Are" and "Forever" from his album Higher. He returned to Christmas songs with a beautiful performance of "Mary, Did You Know?' and then continued with "Angels We Have Heard on High," "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" (this was a dramatic arrangement featuring the cello and I loved it), "White Christmas," and "Silent Night." He sang a powerful version of "I Believe in Christ" which brought everyone at Abravanel Hall to their feet. I first learned about Nathan Pacheco when he was a guest vocalist at one of Kurt Bestor's Christmas concerts and he sang one of the best versions of "O Holy Night" that I have ever heard. I was really hoping that he would sing it last night and I was thrilled when he ended the concert with it. I have been so lucky to hear this performed live four times this season (this was my final Christmas concert this year) and I think I saved the best for last because I had goosebumps through the whole thing. For the encore, he performed "The Prayer" which is one of his best known songs. I thoroughly enjoyed this concert because every song he sang was beautiful and he was so charming with the crowd! I hope that I will be able to see him again next year.

Note:  During dinner we talked about the song we each hoped that he would sing.  I, of course, wanted to hear "O Holy Night," Marilyn wanted to hear "Nessun Dorma," Kelli wanted to hear "I Believe in Christ," and Teri (Kelli's daughter-in-law) wanted to hear "The Prayer."  All four of us got to hear our favorites so the night was a complete success!

Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir 2024

Whenever I am not selected in the lottery for tickets to the Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir concerts (which is often), I do the next best thing and attend the Music and the Spoken Word broadcast on the following Sunday because the guest artists usually perform a shortened version of the same program.  This year the guests artists were Ruthie Ann Miles (known for her Tony Award-winning performance as Lady Thiang from The King and I on Broadway) and Dennis Haysbert (known for playing David Palmer on the TV show 24) and they joined the choir, the Orchestra at Temple Square, the Bells at Temple Square, and the Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble yesterday morning at the Conference Center.  The choir began with a beautiful arrangement of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" while standing in the aisles holding lights and then they marched to the stage (it was perfectly coordinated and I was quite impressed) singing "'Twas Midnight in the Stable."  Miles joined the choir for a stirring rendition of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" which was followed by performances of "Welcome Christmas Morning!" by the orchestra and "Good King Wenceslas" by Brian Mathias on the organ.  The choir continued with "What Shall We Give?" which I had never heard before but found very moving.  Next, Haysbert read the Christmas story from Luke 2 (he has such a distinctive voice so this was very dramatic).  The broadcast concluded with "Angels From the Realms of Glory" with Miles and this was spectacular (I had goosebumps).  The Christmas concert usually features an uplifting true story and this year's was called "A Season for Shepherds."  After the broadcast ended the audience was able to hear this story, recounting the experiences of Dr. Charles Mulli and his family in helping generations of disadvantaged children in Kenya, narrated by Haysbert who was quite emotional.  I found Mulli's story incredibly inspiring, especially when he came to the stage and challenged the audience to care for the poor.  This was another wonderful Christmas concert and I particularly loved the overall message about service this year.  I'm glad I made the effort to attend.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas at the Eccles 2024

I have seen the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas concert many times but I just can't resist getting a ticket whenever they come to town.  Even though I originally decided not to go this year I ended up getting a ticket to the matinee yesterday and I really loved the show!  Musicians Mark Agnor on violin, Tali Rubenstein on percussion and recorder, Tom Sharpe on drums, Christopher Forte on guitar and bass, Anna Lackaff on keyboard, and Zachary Adamson on harpsichord and keyboard, along with the Mannheim Steamroller Orchestra, performed music originally arranged by Chip Davis featuring a unique fusion of classical, medieval, and contemporary sounds.  This concert mostly featured music from the group's many Christmas albums but there were also a few selections from the Fresh Aire albums including "Pass The Keg (Lia)," "Toccata," and "Come Home to the Sea" (which is a favorite of mine).  Since I really love Christmas music, I enjoyed hearing "Hallelujah," Renaissance and rock versions of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Traditions of Christmas," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," "Christmas Lullaby," "Catching Snowflakes On Your Tongue" (snow fell in the Eccles Theatre during this number), "Fairies" (which is a fun arrangement of "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies" from the Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky), "Little Drummer Boy," and "Winter Wonderland."  They ended the first set with "Cantique de Noel (O Holy Night)" which made me so happy because it is my favorite Christmas song (I bet you didn't know that!) and this particular arrangement is especially beautiful.  After the intermission they continued with "Feliz Navidad" (which I had never heard before), "Do You Hear What I Hear," "Joy to the World," "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow," and "Good King Wenceslas" which is one of their most popular songs.  The concert concluded with a festive rendition of "Carol of the Bells."  It was so much fun to watch the musicians play because they are very theatrical.  I loved it when Tom Sharpe would twirl and toss his drumsticks in the air and I don't think I've ever seen anyone play the triangle more dramatically than Anna Lackaff!  I also liked the different lighting effects and the laser shows (which replaced many of the usual videos shown year after year).  My only complaint is that they didn't play "Pat-A-Pan" which is my very favorite Mannheim Steamroller song but I thoroughly enjoyed this concert and, as always, I am glad that I changed my mind and got a ticket!

Leslie Odom, Jr. at the Eccles

Last night I was able to combine my love of Christmas music with my love of the original cast of Hamilton.  I went with my friend Wendy to see Leslie Odom, Jr. in a Christmas concert at the Eccles Theatre and it was absolutely amazing!  I am still on a high from it!  He took the stage dressed all in black with his insanely talented band, including Chris Cadenhead on piano, Steven Walker on guitar, Eric England on bass, and David Chiverton on drums (all of whom had extended solos all night which thrilled the audience), and played selections from his two Christmas albums, Simply Christmas and The Christmas Album.  I really love his jazz interpretations of Christmas classics and I enjoyed hearing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "My Favorite Things," "The Christmas Waltz," "The Christmas Song," "First Noel," "Please Come Home for Christmas," "Last Christmas," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," and "O Tannenbaum" (sung in German).  He also sang a beautiful rendition of "Christmas" by Pete Townshend as well as his own original songs "Snow," "Winter Song" and "Cold" (which was one of my favorites).  He was joined by his band members all around him for some stirring a capella versions of the Sam Cooke songs "Jesus Gave Me Water" and "He's So Wonderful" and these got the audience cheering as if we were at an old-fashioned gospel revival!  He then recited "Twas The Night Before Christmas" which was absolutely mesmerizing and I was reminded that he is not only a beautiful singer with a velvety smooth voice but he is also a talented actor!  He continued with an exquisite performance of "Ave Maria" and then ended his set with "Heaven & Earth" (which was another of my favorites).  For the encore he sang acoustic versions of "Merry Christmas Darling" and the Sam Cooke song "I Wish You Love" which was a lovely way to end the concert.  In between those songs he performed an acoustic version of "Wait For It" from Hamilton (he apologized that it wasn't a Christmas song but I can assure you that no one in the audience minded) and it was incredible!  It was so thrilling to be able to see Leslie Odom, Jr. again and I loved every minute of this concert!

A Kurt Bestor Christmas at the Eccles 2024

 A Kurt Bestor Christmas has become one of my favorite holiday traditions (I absolutely love his arrangements of Christmas music) and I thoroughly enjoyed this year's concert at the Eccles Theatre last night.  He began with his versions of "Deck the Halls," "Joy to the World," and "I Wonder as I Wander" (a favorite of mine).  Then he brought his first guest, thirteen-year-old soprano Lillian Breeze Manning, to the stage and she sang an incredible arrangement of "Pie Jesu" which brought the audience to their feet!  She continued with "Mary Did You Know?" which was also very beautiful.  Next came a fun arrangement of "Christmas Time Is Here" with snippets of other Christmas songs (and a Charlie Brown Christmas tree).  Bestor continued with "Prayer for the Children" which is probably his most well-known song and then "O Holy Night" which is what I was most hoping to hear (it is my favorite Christmas song and I really love his arrangement of it).  He finished his first set with "Suite de Noel" which highlighted every section in his band and orchestra.  After the intermission, he performed "Ode to Joy" from his forthcoming album Etches which features classical pieces reimagined for the solo piano.  Next came "I Saw Three Ships" and then he performed a medley of three pieces, "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella," "We Three Kings," and "Feliz Navidad," which featured a Caribbean-inspired beat and extended solos from Michael Dowdle on guitar, Carlitos del Puerto on bass, and Eric Valentine on drums (it was very cool).  He brought his next guest, violinist Caroline Campbell, to the stage for a mashup of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Carol of the Bells" which was amazing!  She continued with "In the Bleak Midwinter" and then a rousing rendition of a Celtic-inspired arrangement of "Ding Dong Merrily on High" which I really loved!  He continued the tradition of having someone from the audience narrate "Twas the Night Before Christmas" while performing amusing songs to go with it.  This year he picked a man named Steve who looked like Santa Claus and, when he accidentally skipped a page in the story, he said it was because Bestor didn't give him a chance to rehearse!  The concert concluded, as it often does, with a beautiful performance of "Silent Night" with Manning and Campbell.  As always, this was a beautiful concert and I loved every minute of it.  There are three more performances and I definitely recommend getting a ticket (go here).

Gentri Christmas at the Eccles 2024

I love hearing Christmas music performed live so I was really excited to go to my first Christmas concert of the season with Gentri at the Eccles Theatre.  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 and then continued singing together when the run was over because their voices blend so well.  This was the third time I've seen their Christmas show and I think this one was my favorite because it was just them without any other guests.  They began the concert with an arrangement of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" with snippets from "The Carol of the Bells" and then performed a rousing rendition of "He Is Born The Heavenly Child" which I had never heard before but really loved.  They continued with "I Saw Three Ships" and then a beautiful version of "Still, Still, Still" which is one of my favorite Christmas songs because I sang it in choir when I was in college.  Next came their arrangement of "Noel" (which also contained snippets of "The Carol of the Bells") followed by a very moving version of "I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day."  I always hope that I will hear "O Holy Night" (it has been my favorite Christmas song ever since I was a little girl) and their version did not disappoint because, while most singers build to a powerful crescendo at the end, they sing it very softly and it is so beautiful.  They ended their first set with "The Little Drummer Boy" which is one of their most popular songs.  After the intermission they performed a mashup of "Coventry Carol" and "Poor Wayfaring Stranger" with dramatic themes by the cello (this was my favorite song at last year's concert) and then "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella" which is another favorite from my college choir days.  Next they had their music director Stephen Nelson arrange a piece on the spot from an iconic movie score and a Christmas song suggested by the audience (they do this every year).  Our audience picked the theme form Raiders of the Lost Ark and "I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day" and it was actually amazing!  My favorite moment came next when they performed "Defying Gravity" from Wicked (I have now seen the movie three times) to the absolute delight of the crowd!  Their version was so good!  To conclude the concert they performed "Mary Did You Know," "Away in a Manger," "Love Is Alive" (with audience participation), and "O Come, All Ye Faithful" while narrating the Christmas story in between them.  I loved this concert and it was the perfect way to start the holiday season!

The Eagles at the Sphere

Seeing U2 at the Sphere was an incredible experience so when I heard that the Eagles would be doing a residency there I knew I had to get a ticket.  I took a road trip to Las Vegas for the first show Friday night and it was absolutely amazing!  I ended up sitting by some people from Virginia who were big fans but had never seen the Eagles before and they were so excited.  While we waited for the show to start we tried to guess what the first song would be and they suggested "Take It Easy" because it was their first big hit and I thought it would be "Seven Bridges Road" because they often start with it but it was actually "Hotel California" which they usually perform during the encore!  I tried to prepare them for how immersive the three-dimensional images would look on the state-of-the-art screens but they just about lost their minds when a car on a dark desert highway appeared to drive right into the audience!  The images also take the audience through a dark corridor with burning sconces to check in and then to a courtyard for a feast.  It was seriously so cool!  I also really loved the visuals for "Witchy Woman" (the band performs in a haunted forest), "Tequila Sunrise" (the sun slowly appears through the clouds), "In the City" (apartment buildings get bigger and bigger until they surround Joe Walsh during an epic guitar solo), "New Kid in Town" (filmstrips featuring archival photos and videos of the band are configured and reconfigured into 3-D cubes), "Life's Been Good" (archival photos and videos spin around the band as they play), "The Boys of Summer" (a couple runs on a beach then they swim underwater), and "Life in the Fast Lane" (a car races along the Las Vegas strip).  They also performed "Lyin' Eyes," "Take It to the Limit," "Peaceful Easy Feeling," "I Can't Tell You Why," "Seven Bridges Road," "Those Shoes," "Already Gone," "Take It Easy," and "Rocky Mountain Way" with a live feed of the band performing on the screens (there is not a bad seat in the venue because all of the images appear at eye level).  The encore included an incredibly emotional version of "Desperado," with silhouettes of an orchestra performing behind a curtain, and "Heartache Tonight" (dedicated to JD Souther), with animated images of gambling.  Vince Gill is such a great addition to the band because, even though he doesn't necessarily sound exactly like Glenn Frey or Randy Meisner, it just somehow sounds right when he sings their songs.  I was also glad to see Deacon Frey back with the band (he looks so much like his dad and sounds a lot like him in the songs "Peaceful Easy Feeling" and "Already Gone").  Neither of them spoke to the crowd but they were heavily featured on the screens.  Don Henley provided most of the commentary (although Joe Walsh was predictably hilarious) and he joked that they were just the house band for all of the high-tech wizardry!  Just like with U2, this was another mind-blowing concert and I recommend getting a ticket (go here) during the residency (they keep adding more shows due to the overwhelming demand).

Note:  Hearing the audience singing along with "Hotel California" gave me goosebumps because it was so loud!

Ben Platt at the Eccles

I love Ben Platt's latest album Honeymind but I especially love the song "Andrew," which was released as the first single several months before the album dropped.  I listened to this song over and over and, every time I did, I would imagine how amazing it would be to hear it live!  So I was absolutely thrilled when the tour was announced and, even though the ticket was more than I wanted to spend, I bought one during the presale (my plan to be more frugal this summer is not going well).  Last night's concert at the Eccles was my first time hearing him live and it was incredible!  He performed quite a few songs from Honeymind including "Right Kind of Reckless" (which opened the show), "All American Queen," "Shoe to Drop," "Monsters," "Cherry on Top," "Before I Knew You" (which ended his main set), and "Andrew" (which definitely did not disappoint and was the highlight of the show for me).  He also performed some of his favorite songs from his previous releases Sing to Me Instead and Reverie (both of which I also love), prefaced with some highly amusing anecdotes, including "Ease My Mind," "Rain," "Share Your Address," a brilliant rendition of "Grow as We Go," and "I Wanna Love You But I Don't."  His covers of James Taylor's "Your Smiling Face" and Joni Mitchell's "River" were fantastic but he blew the roof off of the Eccles Theatre with "Maybe This Time" from Cabaret (his homage to Liza Minnelli was complete with an *ahem* appropriate costume).  For the encore he sang a beautiful medley of "When You Wish Upon a Star" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" which was unique to SLC audiences!  Platt is quite the performer and he, and his talented band, put on an amazing show that I won't soon forget.  He was so funny and he sounded even better than his recordings!  I had so much fun because all of the theatre girlies sitting around me were pretty much losing their minds screaming, crying, and singing every single word of every single song at the top of their lungs! Just kidding. It was me. I am theatre girlies!

Note:  I love the song "Andrew" so much because, to me, it is the perfect description of what unrequited love feels like when you are young (even though it is from a queer perspective, many of the feelings evoked are universal).

Hootie & The Blowfish at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

I have been a huge fan of Hootie & The Blowfish ever since their debut album Cracked Rear View was released because I love Darius Rucker's voice.  The first time I saw them in concert I was with both of my sisters and what I remember most is that Rucker kept breaking his guitar strings and a tech would bring him a new guitar every time it happened (even in the middle of songs).  I got to see them again last night at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre with one of my sisters and I am happy to report that Rucker didn't break any guitar strings!  They began the show with my very favorite song by the band, "I Go Blind," and then proceeded to play all of their hits.  I especially loved "Time," "Let Her Cry," "Hold My Hand," and "Old Man & Me" (which was a cool mashup with "Mo Money Mo Problems" and "Big Poppa").  They did a really cool acoustic set featuring "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?/ Desert Mountain Showdown" and a cover of "I Hope I Don't Fall in Love With You" by Tom Waits.  These songs had a bluegrass sound that I really liked and I especially enjoyed the mandolin.  They performed quite a few covers and my favorite was "Hey, Hey What Can I Do" by Led Zeppelin (I've heard this live before and it is so good).  Other covers included "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield, "Interstate Love Song" by Stone Temple Pilots (I loved this), "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M., and a rousing rendition of "Wagon Wheel" by Old Crow Medicine Show.  They brought Edwin McCain, who opened for them, back to the stage to perform McCain's song "Solitude" with them (I didn't recognize McCain's name when the tour was announced but I knew all of the songs in his set, especially "I Could Not Ask for More" and "I'll Be").  I also really enjoyed their performance of "Alright" which is one of Rucker's songs from his country solo career.  The night ended with an epic performance of "Only Wanna Be With You" and I was honestly sad for this concert to end because I enjoyed it so much.  I was so happy to be with my sister because she loves the band as much as I do and we sang all of our favorites!  We kept talking about how good Rucker's voice sounded (we think he might be getting better with age) and how tight all of the musicians were.  It was incredibly hot but it cooled down once Hootie took the stage so it was a perfect summer night listening to music that I love!

Note:  The other opening act was Collective Soul.  Other than a stirring rendition of "The World I Know," I was a bit underwhelmed with their set (especially when they played "Shine" twice in a row).  I really wanted to hear "Tremble for My Beloved."

The Magic of Queen at Sandy Amphitheater

I think Sandy Amphitheater is a great venue (it has a similar vibe to the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre but without all of the hassle of getting in and out) for summer concerts and the one there last night was so much fun!  The Magic of Queen is an amazing show featuring Brody Dolyniuk and his band performing the music of Queen (they also have shows featuring the music of Led Zeppelin and Elton John).  I have seen this show before and I enjoyed it so much I immediately got a ticket to see it again as soon as they went on sale!  They began with "One Vision" and the older gentleman sitting next to me was really impressed that I knew the words to this because he didn't recognize it!  He obviously had no idea who he was dealing with because I love Queen and I sang along to every single song!  They continued with "Tie Your Mother Down" (my neighbor told me that he definitely recognized this one), "Play the Game," "Keep Yourself Alive," "You're My Best Friend" (a highlight for me), "Killer Queen" (one of my favorite Queen songs), "Now I'm Here," "Somebody to Love," "Under Pressure," and "Love of My Life."  Then the crowd got to their feet for rousing renditions of "Another One Bites the Dust" and "Fat Bottomed Girls."  Next came "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," "Radio Ga Ga" (complete with clapping), and an epic version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" (which was another highlight of the night for me).  They ended their set with "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions" with lots of audience participation!  Dolyniuk sounds so much like Freddie Mercury that you might be fooled into thinking that you are really listening to Queen but he doesn't try to imitate him.  He has his own charismatic stage presence and I really enjoyed all of his banter with the audience.  It was a perfect summer night for a concert because, while it was hot when I got there, it cooled off a bit and it was wonderful listening to music as the sun went down!  Go here for a schedule of concerts at Sandy Amphitheater this summer.

Note:  I ran into a couple of people who said they knew I would be at this concert!  Have I mentioned that I really love Queen?

Sarah McLachlan at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

During my mid-twenties I had a very dark period in which I had a serious bout with depression.  I used to lay on the floor of my living room in my tiny apartment in the dark and listen to music for hours instead of doing anything productive.  One of my favorite albums during this time was Fumbling Towards Ecstasy by Sarah McLachlan.  I bought it because I was obsessed with the song "Possession" but there were many other songs that resonated with me, especially "Fear," "Good Enough," and "Hold On."  I listened to it over and over and I really think it helped me find my way out of that hole I was in.  I can't believe that it was released 30 years ago (now you can work out how old I am)!  Sarah McLalchlan is touring in honor of this milestone so I definitely had to get a ticket to hear her perform it in its entirety at the Utah First Credit Union Ampthitheatre last night!  It was an incredible show and it made me feel quite emotional to hear these songs again track by track in order.  She began with a Greatest Hits set, including "Sweet Surrender," "Building a Mystery," "I Will Remember You," "Drifting," "Song For My Father," a sultry version of "World on Fire," "Adia," and "Beautiful Girl."  She performed "Answer" on piano with all of the members of her band singing backup around her and it was quite dramatic!  She finished this set with "Witness" and, while the band played an extended outro, she left the stage to change outfits for the Fumbling Towards Ecstasy set (her daughter insisted that she change outfits and she did even though she told her that she wasn't Taylor Swift).  I have seen U2 and Alanis Morissette perform albums in their entirety to commemorate their anniversaries (The Joshua Tree and Jagged Little Pill, respectively) and I really like this concept because you get to hear songs that are rarely, or even never, performed live!  I especially loved hearing "Wait," "Mary," "Elsewhere," "Circle," and "Ice" because, even though I have seen her in concert several times, I had never heard them live before.  Of course "Possession," my favorite Sarah McLachlan song, was a highlight but her performance of "Fear" gave me goosebumps because she sounded amazing hitting all of those high notes!  For the encore, she performed a new song from a forthcoming album called "Gravity," which she wrote for her daughter, and then a beautiful interpretation of "Angel."  She sounded better than I have ever heard her and she was full of stories about her songs (I loved her explanation of how "Adia" came to be written).  I really loved this show because, even though it reminded me of a difficult time in my life, I am glad that I am still around to hear these songs!

James Taylor at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

I really love James Taylor so I usually try to see him whenever he comes to town.  However, I decided that I would try to spend less money on concerts this year (that is going about as well as you might expect) but I just couldn't resist getting a ticket to his show at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre last night and I'm so glad that I did!  Taylor's voice is not quite what it once was but it was good enough and he had an amazing band with him including Steve Gadd on drums, Luis Conte on percussion, Jimmy Johnson on bass, Michael Landau on guitar, Walt Fowler on keyboards and horns, Lou Marini on horns, Larry Goldings on piano, Andrea Zorn on fiddle, Dorian Holley on backing vocals, and Kate Markowitz on backing vocals.  He played, without an opening act, for over two hours and divided his sets into "Deep Listening," which featured lesser known songs, and "Greatest Hits" with an intermission in between.  During the first set he played "Something in the Way She Moves," "Everyday," "Never Die Young," "October Road," "Secret O' Life," "Anywhere Like Heaven," "Country Road," "Sweet Baby James" (with a cool fiddle intro), "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" (a highlight of the first set), and "Sun on the Moon."  I really enjoyed the first set but I have to admit that I absolutely loved the second set and sang every word to every song!  This set included "Carolina in My Mind," "Mexico," an epic rendition of "Steamroller" with extended solos," "Fire and Rain," "Up on the Roof," "You've Got a Friend," and "Shower the People" (my favorite James Taylor song).  He ended this set with a rousing rendition of "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) which got the crowd up and dancing!  For the encore he performed "Shed a Little Light," Your Smiling Face" (another highlight of the show for me), and "That Lonesome Road."  Taylor is incredibly droll and interacted with the audience by telling jokes (which he says he is recycling from tour to tour) in between each song and signing lots of items before the second set.  My favorite moment happened when someone yelled that they loved him and he answered that he loved them back but they should both see other people!  I had so much fun last night and I think this was a great way to start the summer concert season (even though I was a little bit cold by the end of the night).

Note:  The first time I saw James Taylor live was at this venue (when it was USANA Amphitheatre) years ago and I've been a fan ever since!