Third Eye Blind at USANA

There was a time when Third Eye Blind was my favorite band and I listened to their music almost nonstop.  In the mid-1990s I was a little bit wild and a whole lot messed up. I considered Stephan Jenkins to be my own personal poet laureate and the song "God of Wine" to be my anthem.  Third Eye Blind has been to SLC several times but, for one reason or another, I never got to see them live until last night.  It was not the best concert I have ever been to but I had so much fun singing along to every song (I still remembered every single word).  They played a few songs from a forthcoming album that will be released later this summer but they mostly played all of the hits such as "Never Let You Go," "London," "Graduate," "Wounded," "I Want You," "Slow Motion," "Motorcycle Drive By," "Jumper," and "Crystal Baller."  They ended their set with my favorite Third Eye Blind song, "How's It Going To Be," which got the entire audience singing along.  It was definitely a highlight!  For the encore they played "Losing a Whole Year," the crowd favorite "Semi-Charmed Life," and "God of Wine" which, to me, was the perfect way to end the concert.  I love attending outdoor performances in the summer and last night the weather was absolutely perfect for a concert.  It made me so happy to be sitting under the stars listening to all of these songs from my past.  I felt twenty years younger (without the angst!).

Snow Patrol at The Depot

I love the band Snow Patrol!  I have been a fan for a really long time and I try to see them whenever they come to town.  The last time they came to SLC was, however, quite a while ago.  Last summer they released a new album called Wildness and I absolutely love it.  It is one of those rare albums where I love every single song and I play the whole thing on repeat, especially on long road trips.  I really hoped that Snow Patrol would tour with this album and I was cautiously optimistic when they started playing dates in Europe and around the world.  I was thrilled when they announced a U.S. tour and I got a ticket for the SLC show before they even went on sale!  The show was last night and I was able to join my friends Bobby and Esther (ironically I met Esther for the first time the last time Snow Patrol was in SLC).  They played quite a few songs from the new album, including "Empress," "Don't Give In," "Life on Earth" (which is my favorite from the album), "Heal Me," and "What If This Is All the Love You Ever Get?"  They played my very favorite song, "Run," in the middle of their set and Gary Lightbody dedicated it to their two opening acts, Ryan McMullan and Billie Marten, and joked that the song was older than they are!  He also joked about all of the phones during the song and that he would watch all of the videos on social media later and hear all of his mistakes.  I loved it and I didn't hear any mistakes!  They played a nice variety of their earlier hits, including "Chocolate," "Take Back the City," "Crack the Shutters," "Open Your Eyes," "Set the Fire to the Third Bar" (which they rarely play live), "Make This Go On Forever," "Shut Your Eyes," "Called Out in the Dark," "The Lightning Strike," "Chasing Cars," and "You're All I Have."  They ended the evening with "Just Say Yes" which is one of their most upbeat songs and it got the crowd jumping.  They had some great lighting effects and video projections like you would see at an arena show, particularly with "Life on Earth" and "The Lightning Strike," but their performance felt intimate and Lightbody was very engaging with the crowd.  I really love Lightbody's voice (it is so haunting) but I also find him to be strangely appealing in a slightly nerdy and spastic sort of way.  It was a fantastic show!  I loved seeing them again and it was so much fun to hang out with Bobby and Esther!

Howard Jones at the Eccles Theater

I love Howard Jones and I have seen him in concert more times than I can count.  When I heard that he was coming back to SLC I decided that I probably didn't need to see him yet again.  Then my friend Cyndi mentioned that she had an extra ticket to the concert and asked me if I wanted to go.  Of course I said yes!  The show was last night and it was so much fun!  This time he performed at the Eccles Theater, which is a great venue for a concert, and he was joined by Nick Beggs and Robin Boult for an acoustic set.  He started things off with "Pearl in the Shell" and then proceeded to play all of the hits, including "No One is to Blame," "Like to Get to Know You Well," "You Know I Love You, Don't You," "Don't Always Look at the Rain," "Everlasting Love," "Things Can Only Get Better," "Life in One Day," "Hide and Seek," and "What Is Love?"  It was amazing to hear stripped down versions of these instantly recognizable songs and my favorite was a really bluesy rendition of "Don't Always Look at the Rain."  He also played a few Beatles covers, including "Oh, Darling," "Come Together," and "Twist and Shout" which were fabulous.  For the encore, he played a new song from his forthcoming album called "Hero in Your Eyes," which I really liked, and he ended the evening with "New Song," which is the song that turned me into a Howard Jones fan all those years ago!  In between songs he told lots of stories (he mentioned that we probably knew all of his stories because he's been to SLC so many times!).  He said that watching Bohemian Rhapsody made him really nostalgic for Live Aid before he sang "Hide and Seek" (which is the song he sang at Live Aid) for us and that made me love him even more.  I loved every minute of this concert because it brought back so many memories of my youth and I am so glad Cyndi asked me along!

Note:  I went with Cyndi the last time I saw Howard Jones at Red Butte Garden.  I decree that we must always see Howard Jones in concert together from now on!

Sarah Brightman at Abravanel Hall

I love Sarah Brightman (she originated the role of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera) and I have had the chance to see her twice at the Delta Center.  When I found out that she would be appearing at Abravanel Hall I couldn't wait to see her in a more intimate setting with better acoustics.  I went to the concert last night with my Dad and my sister Kristine and it was every bit as theatrical as the big arena shows but the sound was absolutely amazing!  She had a band, an orchestra, and a choir backing her with lots of lights and other visual effects.  She had nine different costume changes (the sponsor of her tour is Swarovski so you can imagine what her costumes looked like) and every move, look, and gesture was intricately choreographed!  I loved every minute of this concert and I am pretty sure that it will be one of the highlights of this year!  Favorites from the first act include "Stranger in Paradise," "Anytime, Anywhere," which is my favorite Sarah Brightman song, "Misere Mei," and "Figlio Perduto" from Beethoven's 7th Symphony (which was almost unbearably beautiful).  She sang an ethereal rendition of Queen's "Who Wants To Live Forever" which brought a tear to my eye.  I've heard her sing it live before but it was especially poignant for me after watching Bohemian Rhapsody so many times.  She wore a flowing white gown which made her look like an angel and at the end of the song she was enveloped by a cloud of fog.  It was quite emotional. After the intermission she sang several songs from her latest album Hymn, including the title track, "Sogni," my favorite song from the album, with Vincent Niclo, "Better Is One Day," "Fly to Paradise," "Canto Per Noi," and "Tu Che M' Hai Preso Il Cuor."  She also sang "Pie Jesu" from Requiem, which is a piece I love because I sang it in choir when I was in college, and a simplified more intimate version of "Time To Say Goodbye" with her on piano.  The choir sang "Masquerade" from The Phantom of the Opera and then she and Niclo performed "The Phantom of the Opera" which brought the audience to their feet (not for the first or last time)!  She ended the set with a beautiful rendition of "Running."  For the encore, she performed "Deliver Me," "Ave Maria," and a rousing rendition of "A Question of Honour."  The show was simply spectacular and I am so glad that I got to see her in such an wonderful venue (especially with my Dad and sister)!

Note:  Over the years I have been lucky enough to see many powerful singers grace the stage at Abravanel Hall, including Rosemary Clooney, Betty Buckley, Elaine Paige, Sissel, Audra McDonald, and Renee Fleming.

Muse at the Vivint Arena

I have seen Muse perform live many times and every show is a light and sound extravaganza.  Last night, when the band was in town in support of their latest album Simulation Theory, was certainly no exception.  It was an awesome concert!  I really love Simulation Theory and I was happy that they played quite a few songs from it.  They began the show with the Alternate Reality version of "Algorithm" and then played "Pressure," "Break It to Me," "Propaganda," "The Dark Side" (my favorite song from the album), a rousing version of "Thought Contagion" which got the Vivint Arena rocking, and the Acoustic Gospel version of "Dig Down."  Every song was accompanied by incredibly theatrical lights, lasers, visuals, and choreographed performers in various LED light up suits.  I loved it!  They also played the hits, and some more obscure tracks, including "Psycho," "Uprising," "Plug In Baby," "Supermassive Black Hole," "Hysteria," "Madness," "Mercy," "Time Is Running Out," and an epic version of "Take a Bow."  They ended their set with "Starlight," which is my favorite Muse song, and the obligatory confetti and streamers.  For the encore they played "Algorithm," a kick-ass medley of "Stockholm Syndrome," "Assassin," "Reapers," "The Handler," and "New Born" complete with a giant cyborg skeleton looming over the stage, and "Knights of Cydonia."  Matt Bellamy was in full rock-star mode wearing leather pants, neon shutter shades, and a variety of leather jackets (including several with LED lights) and he spent much of the evening shredding while on a runway extending into the crowd.  It was quite the spectacle and I absolutely loved it!

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real at the Commonwealth Room

I became a fan of Promise of the Real when I saw them perform with Neil Young on tour.  I thought they had a really great rock-country sound.  Then I found out that Lukas Nelson co-wrote some of the songs for the movie A Star is Born with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga and that Promise of the Real performs in the movie as Jackson Maine's band.  I loved these songs and I bought the movie soundtrack and listened to it over and over.  Then I discovered Promise of the Real's latest self-titled album which I also love.  When I found out that they were coming to SLC I bought a ticket as soon as they went on sale (which was a good thing because the show sold out very quickly) and I've been looking forward to it for so long!  I had never been to the Commonwealth Room before last night and now I think it is a great venue because it is so intimate.  I ended up right in front of the stage which was fantastic because Lukas Nelson is pretty easy on the eyes.  The older woman standing next to me said that if she was my age she would be chasing after him!  Not only is he good looking but he is very talented and charismatic and he and his band certainly know how to put on a good show!  They played their songs "Find Yourself" (which is my favorite), "Fool Me Once," "Just Outside of Austin," "Carolina," "Four Letter Word," "Little Girl," "Start to Go," "Forget About Georgia," "Turn Off the News," and "Something Real."  They also played a few songs off their forthcoming album, including "Save a Little Heartache" and "Where Does Love Go When It Dies" which I really liked.  I loved hearing all of these songs live because Lukas sounds so much like his Dad (who just happens to be Willie Nelson).  They also performed a few covers including a super sultry version of Tom Petty's "Breakdown," "Sympathy for the Devil" by the Rolling Stones, and "L.A. Woman" by the Doors.  The highlight for me came during the encore when they played an amazing version of "Shallow" from A Star is Born.  It was incredibly powerful and it gave me goosebumps (even though it didn't include Lady Gaga).  This was my first concert of 2019 and it was definitely a good one!

Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir

Last summer Kristin Chenoweth was going to perform a concert with the Utah Symphony at the Deer Valley Music Festival.  I bought a ticket immediately but, sadly, she had to cancel because of an injury (Sutton Foster replaced her so it was still an amazing concert).  I was a little bit disappointed because I really wanted to see her so, when it was announced that she would be the special guest for this year's Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir concert, I was so excited!  This might be my favorite one yet because Kristin Chenoweth is absolutely adorable!  The Choir, Orchestra on Temple Square, Bells on Temple Square, and the Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble began with "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" which was just lovely.  Chenoweth appeared from the audience (after interacting with some lucky audience members) and sang "We Need a Little Christmas" while flirting with Mack Wilberg!  She said her goal was to make him blush and he certainly did!  The highlight of the concert for me came next when she sang a beautiful arrangement of "O Holy Night" which is my very favorite Christmas song!  It gave me goosebumps (and a few tears).  Then the Choir sang "For Unto Us a Child Is Born" from Handel's Messiah which is always very stirring.  Next, Chenoweth sang an almost bluesy rendition of "Mary, Did You Know?" and a rousing rendition of "Come On, Ring Those Bells."  The Orchestra played selections from The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky, which is a favorite!  Chenoweth then sang "The Christmas Waltz" and pulled a member of the Choir to dance with her (did I mention that she is adorable?).  The audience joined in on a fun arrangement of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and Chenoweth appeared with the Choir wearing one of their costumes.  Then she appeared with the Bells on Temple Square in one of their costumes carrying a bell that was bigger than her for "Carol of the Bells," another favorite of mine.  She then narrated "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, sang "Angels Among Us," "What Child Is This?," and concluded with "Angels from the Realms of Glory."  I loved this concert so much and I am so grateful and happy that I got to go again this year!

Note:  I have seen Renee Fleming, Sissel, Natalie Cole, Sutton Foster, and, now, Kristin Chenoweth perform with the Tabernacle Choir during their annual Christmas concert.  Chenoweth is my favorite guest...so far!

Maroon 5 at the Vivint Arena

When I learned that Maroon 5 would be returning to SLC this fall, I had a stern talk with myself and decided that I probably didn’t need to see them again.  However, as the date of the concert approached, I felt really sad that I wouldn’t be there.  I love Maroon 5 and they always put on such a great show so, in a fit of madness, I got a ticket!  Best decision ever!  Aside from some parking issues downtown, it was a fantastic night.  Their 90 minute set included some songs from their latest album, Red Pill Blues, including "What Lovers Do," "Cold," "Don't Wanna Know," and "Wait."  They also performed a fun cover of Michael Jackson's "Rock With You" complete with a gigantic disco ball.  But most of the night was devoted to the hits and they played them one after the other to the delight of the crowd.  These included "Payphone," "This Love," "Misery," "Sunday Morning," "Animals," "One More Night," "Love Somebody," and "Moves Like Jagger."  My favorite moment came midway through the show when they played "Harder to Breathe."  I became a huge fan of Maroon 5 the very first time I heard this song on the radio so hearing it live is always amazing!  For the encore they played "Girls Like You," from the new album, with a cool intro and outro of "Forever Young" by Alphaville.  Then they played acoustic versions of "Lost Stars" and "She Will Be Loved" which were incredible!  They ended the show with a rousing rendition of "Sugar."  I always love Maroon 5 concerts because Adam Levine is such a showman!  With a guitar strung on his back and frequently dragging a microphone stand, he would strut along the V-shaped runway into the audience like he owned the Vivint Arena!  It was an incredibly high energy performance and I was very impressed with how great he sounds live!  I loved this concert and I am so glad that I caved in and bought a ticket!

Note:  The best part is that I didn't have to get up at the crack of dawn for school the next day!

The Smashing Pumpkins at the Vivint Arena

The last time I saw The Smashing Pumpkins, I was in the pit at the Great Saltair and it was absolutely epic!  I was considerably younger then.  Last night when The Smashing Pumpkins made a stop at the Vivint Arena, I may have been sitting in a comfortable chair but the concert was no less epic!  Not only did they play for over three hours but they dug deep into their vast catalog and played every one of my favorite songs and then some!  To begin with Billy Corgan took the stage alone for a haunting rendition of "Disarm" and then, when the rest of the band joined him, they played every song I wanted to hear (which is very rare):  "Rhinoceros," my favorite Pumpkins song, "Siva," "Drown," "Zero," "Eye," "The Everlasting Gaze," "Stand Inside Your Love," "Landslide," "Tonight, Tonight," "Cherub Rock," "1979," "Ava Adore," "Today," and "Bullet With Butterfly Wings."  They played covers of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" and Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven," both of which were fantastic.  They also threw in "Rocket," "Thirty-Three," a psychedelic version of "Soma," "Blew Away," "For Martha," "To Sheila," "Mayonaise," "Porcelina of the Vast Oceans," "Try, Try, Try," "The Beginning is the End is the Beginning," "Hummer," and "Muzzle" for good measure.  I loved it!  Every song featured a dazzling light show and visuals ranging from religious iconography to showgirls in Busby Berkeley type productions.  Corgan was in rare form with multiple costumes that were shiny and oh so bright!  This concert is definitely in my top ten of all time even though I did leave before the encore (it was almost midnight!).  I'm clearly not the same girl who danced in the pit over 20 years ago!

Amy Grant at the Sandy Amphitheater

It may surprise some of you to learn that for a time in my early twenties I was really, really into Christian rock.  One of my roommates when I was a counselor at a summer camp in college played Christian music all of the time and I gradually came to love it, especially Amy Grant!  I think I listened to her album The Collection non-stop for almost a year and I particularly loved the song "Everywhere I Go" because it made me feel like God was always with me no matter what I was doing or what I believed.  I still feel the same way about that song to this day.  When Amy Grant gained more mainstream popularity, everyone in my family became fans and we have seen her in concert together several times, including a concert at Abravanel Hall that was amazing!  My Mom, my sister Marilyn, and I were able to see her again at the Sandy Amphitheater last night and we enjoyed it so much!  Luckily she played "Everywhere I Go" early on in the show and it was such a wonderful experience to hear it live!  She played for almost 90 minutes straight and included a really nice selection of her hits: "Find A Way," "Big Yellow Taxi," "Saved By Love," "Takes A Little Time," "That's What Love Is For," "Baby Baby," "Lucky One," "Every Heartbeat," "Our Time Is Now," "House of Love," and "Better Than a Hallelujah."  In the middle of her set she played acoustic versions of "El-Shaddai" and "Thy Word" which were absolutely lovely.  She closed the concert with covers of "Turn! Turn! Turn!" by the Byrds and "Put a Little Love In Your Heart" which got the audience up and dancing.  For the encore she sang a touching version of "I Will Remember You."  She was so down to earth and told lots of anecdotes between every song.  She was really excited for the full moon and told the audience to let her know when it came up from behind the mountains.  She was ecstatic when the crowd pointed it out to her and told us that we should all take a moment to appreciate it!  I love her!  Marilyn and I sang just about every word (we also sang her songs at the top of our lungs on the drive home) and my Mom had a huge smile on her face through the whole show.  It was a perfect summer night and a wonderful concert!

Sam Smith at the Vivint Arena

I briefly considered the advisability of seeing a concert during the first week of school but I love Sam Smith so much that I decided to get a ticket any way!  I knew that I would be really tired today but the concert was so fabulous that it was worth it.  The stage was a large triangle that jutted out onto the floor and there were multiple platforms for his amazing band (not only were they great musicians but they also had some epic choreography, too) and back-up singers.  He entered and exited the stage through some of the platforms several times during the show (often when there was some misdirection going on with the large pyramid at the back of the stage).  I really enjoyed his interactions with the audience because he seemed so sincere and genuine!  I love him for the same reason that I love Adele.  He is unabashedly himself and he doesn't conform to anyone's stereotypes about what a pop star should be.  It also doesn't hurt that he can belt out a song, which he did all night to the delight of the crowd!  He sang quite a few of his hits including "I'm Not the Only One," which got the crowd singing, "Lay Me Down," "Nirvana," "I've Told You Now," "Latch," "Money on My Mind," and "Like I Can."  He also performed a dramatic rendition of "Writing's on the Wall" from the Bond movie Spectre with an extended piano and cello intro and, even though I don't really love that song, I loved his performance of it.  He devoted a large portion of his setlist to his latest album The Thrill of It All which made me very happy because I love this album even though, as he acknowledged, it is filled with very depressing songs!  He began the concert with "Burning," and continued with "One Last Song," "Say It First," "One Day at a Time," "Baby, You Make Me Crazy," "Midnight Train," my favorite song from the album, "HIM," with a great message about love, and "Too Good at Goodbyes," another favorite which ended the set.  For the encore, he sang "Palace," "Stay With Me," which definitely got the audience singing, and "Pray."  I loved this concert and I’m so glad that I decided to go!

Note:  Rather unusually, I didn't go to any concerts over the summer but I have quite a few coming up this fall!

Sutton Foster at Deer Valley

One of my very favorite summer activities is to see a Utah Symphony concert up at the Deer Valley Mountain Resort.  I love packing a picnic, heading up to the mountains where it is a lot cooler than the valley, and listening to some fabulous music.  I try to see at least one concert during the summer and this year I picked one featuring Kristen Chenoweth.  Unfortunately, she had to cancel because of an injury but then I learned that Sutton Foster would be replacing her!  I saw her when she performed a Christmas concert with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and she was amazing.  I knew this would be a wonderful concert and it was.  Sutton Foster is known for her many roles on Broadway and the program featured songs from the Great White Way.  She began with "Cockeyed Optimist" from South Pacific and then a lovely medley from Thoroughly Modern Millie, Annie, and Little Women which showcased her most famous roles.  She continued with "I Get a Kick Out of You" from Anything Goes.  Next she performed three songs from her most recent album Take Me to the World: "C'est Magnifique," "Give Him the Ooh-La-La," and "Stars and the Moon."  My favorite moment of the concert was when she sang "It All Fades Away" from The Bridges of Madison County.  This was absolutely beautiful and it gave me goosebumps!  She closed the set with the title song from Anything Goes.  After the intermission she sang a really fun medley of "If I Were a Bell" from Guys and Dolls and "Singing in the Rain."  She continued with "The Nearness of You" and "Down With Love."  Next she was joined by Megan McGinnis, her co-star from Little Women, and they performed "Some Things Are Meant To Be" from that show which was another favorite moment because it was so beautiful!  She dedicated "Sunshine on My Shoulders" to her mother like she did at the Christmas concert.  She continued with "Being Alive" from Company and the ended the set with "Take Me to the World" from her new album.  For the encore she sang "Gimme Gimme" from Thoroughly Modern Millie which left me saying gimme gimme some more!  I loved this concert so much!  It was really windy at Deer Valley Saturday night but it was Foster's voice that blew us all away!  Not only was her performance amazing but she was just so charming and personable.  I'm so glad I got to see her again!  Go here for more information about the remaining Utah Symphony concerts at Deer Valley.

The Eagles at the Vivint Arena

When I heard the sad news that Glenn Frey had died, I was really glad that my family had the chance to see the Eagles the last time they played in SLC because I thought that they would never tour again.  Then I heard that the surviving members of the Eagles were going to tour with Vince Gill and Glenn's son Deacon and I knew that I had to get a ticket!  I love the Eagles so much because their music has been such a big part of my life.  The Eagles' album Greatest Hits (1971-1975) was my Dad's favorite road trip music and we would sing every song at the top of our lungs!  This concert was amazing!  They began, as they often do, with "Seven Bridges Road" which gave me goosebumps with the beautiful harmonies.  Then, in an emotional moment, Don Henley talked about Glenn Frey and introduced Deacon (he sounded so much like his Dad) who sang "Take It Easy."  I was so impressed with Deacon!  It had to be emotional for him to sing these songs and a bit overwhelming to be on stage with so many veterans but he definitely held his own.  He also sang vocals on "Peaceful Easy Feeling" and "Already Gone."  Vince Gill was also a great addition to the lineup and he gave me goosebumps with his rendition of "Take it to the Limit."  I also loved his vocals on "Lyin' Eyes," "Tequila Sunrise," "Heartache Tonight," and "New Kid in Town."  They let Joe Walsh off his chain and he provided much entertainment for the evening with "In the City," "Life's Been Good," and "Funk #49."  Even if his vocals aren't what they used to be, he can definitely play the guitar!  Timothy B. Schmidt was seated the entire evening due to surgery on his foot but he performed one of my favorites, "I Can't Tell You Why," as well as "Love Will Keep Us Alive" from the Hell Freezes Over album.  I have always really loved Don Henley and I was thrilled when he performed a fabulous version of "The Best of My Love," which is a favorite of mine.  I also really enjoyed a very sultry version of "Witchy Woman."  They got the Vivint Arena rocking with "Those Shoes,” “Victim of Love,” and  "Life in the Fast Lane."  The Eagles played for over two hours and I was really sad to see this concert come to an end because I enjoyed reliving my youth so much!  Despite being one of the youngest in my section I sang the words to every single song!  For the encore, they performed "Hotel California," with an incredible trumpet solo introduction, "Rocky Mountain Way," and "Desperado" complete with strings!  An awesome night!

U2 in Las Vegas

Yesterday I took a much needed day off from school to drive to Las Vegas to see U2's Experience + Innocence Tour.  I have been looking forward to this concert for a really long time and it was absolutely amazing.  The stage was configured the same way it was for the Innocence + Experience Tour with a rectangular stage at one end of the arena, a circular stage at the other, and a runway connecting them.  Above the runway were giant screens with a catwalk between them.  I really love U2's new album Songs of Experience and I was glad that they began the concert with two songs from this album, "Love Is All We Have Left" and "Blackout," which were performed in between the screens with some really great effects.  Then Bono went to the circular stage to perform my very favorite song from the album, "Lights of Home," and I think he gave a great vocal performance.  This was definitely one of the highlights for me.  Bono returned to the rectangular stage for "Beautiful Day" and then the band played some of their early hits, including "I Will Follow" and "Gloria," which I've never heard live before (another highlight).  They continued with "Red Flag Day," another new song, which I think sounds a lot like their early hits.  Then Bono gave a heartfelt rendition of "Iris (Hold Me Close)" with home movies of his mother projected on the screens and, like he did for the Innocence + Experience Tour, he sang "Cedarwood Road" with an image of the actual street on the screens while he walked in between them.  It looked like he was walking up and down the street where he grew up and, once again, I really loved the effect.  They played an acoustic and edgy version of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Raised By Wolves" while highlighting the troubles in Ireland on the screen.  They ended their first set with "Until the End of the World."  In between sets there was an animated superhero video depicting the history of U2 while "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" played and I thought it was hilarious.  The second set began on the circular stage with Bono wearing a top hat and white face paint (this is a stage persona called MacPhisto that hearkens back to the Zoo TV concerts).  They played "Elevation," "Vertigo," "Desire," and "Acrobat."  Next they performed an acoustic version of "You're The Best Thing About Me" which sounded very different from the album version (I heard them play it last September in Phoenix) but I really liked it.  They got a bit political with "Staring at the Sun" and a performance of "Pride (In the Name of Love)" that was quite emotional.  They returned to the rectangular stage for "Get Out of Your Own Way" and "American Soul," both from the new album.  They ended with "City of Blinding Lights" with, appropriately, images of Las Vegas on the screen.  For the encore, they performed "One" which just about made me cry because the entire audience sang along!  Another highlight was an incredible vocal performance by Bono of "Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way," another favorite from the new album, and "13 (There Is a Light)."  Sigh!  I thought there were some sound issues in T-Mobile Arena but it didn't really detract from the experience.  I love seeing U2 live (this was my seventh U2 concert) and I love watching Bono strut around the stage.  I think he is one of the most charismatic performers that I've ever seen and he certainly put on a show last night!  It was just amazing!

Foo Fighters at the Vivint Arena

I honestly don't know how I made it through the school day yesterday because I was so excited for the Foo Fighters concert.  I could hardly stand it because I absolutely love the Foo Fighters!  I have seen them several times in concert but I have to say that last night was probably the best one yet!  They played for over three hours!  They got the night started with "Run" from their latest album, Concrete and Gold, and that got the crowd screaming along with Dave Grohl.  They played a few other songs from the new album, such as "The Sky is a Neighborhood," "Sunday Rain," and "Dirty Water," but they mostly played the hits!  My favorite moment came early on when they played "The Pretender," my favorite Foo Fighters song, with some fabulous extended solos.  In fact, almost every song they played featured epic solos which was just fine with me.  They played "All My Life," "Rope," "My Hero," which included a lot of audience participation, "These Days," "Walk," "Times Like These," "Breakout," "Monkey Wrench," and "Best of You."  Throughout their set they played a few covers, such as "Under My Wheels," by Alice Cooper, "Another One Bites The Dust," by Queen, "Blitzkrieg Pop," by the Ramones, "Let There Be Rock," by AC/DC, and "Breakdown," by Tom Petty (another highlight!). During a cover of "Under Pressure," by Queen, Dave Grohl got behind the drum kit (sigh!).  They also played an awesome rendition of "Dear Rosemary" with Bob Mould, who opened for them.  They ended the evening, as they often do, with "Everlong."  I think Dave Grohl is just so damn cool and he kept up a steady stream of wisecracks at the audience ("I've been playing for two and half hours!  Get up off your asses!").  It was an amazing concert!  Did I mention that they played for over three hours!  The show didn't end until after midnight so I honestly don't know how I will make it through the school day today!

Bob Dylan at the Eccles Theater

I first saw Bob Dylan in concert many years ago at Deer Valley and I was really disappointed.  I literally couldn't recognize what song he was singing because he performed most of them with very different arrangements and different phrasing.  I suppose he has earned the right to do as he pleases but it is something you have to understand in order to enjoy his show.  When I found out that he was coming to SLC again, I decided that I could listen to "Mr. Tambourine Man" any time I wanted on my iPod and this concert would be an opportunity to see an unbelievably talented musician, a rock and roll icon really, jam with a group of equally talented musicians in a live show so I bought a ticket.  This time around the fact that nearly every song was virtually unrecognizable mattered not because it was Bob Dylan on the stage!   He can jam.  With a mane of unruly hair and a permanent scowl on his face, he spent as much time behind a baby grand piano as he did standing with a microphone in one rock-star pose after another.  He played for over two hours and his set featured an eclectic mixture of hits and covers of the old standards.  Of the former, my favorites were "Things Have Changed," which is how he opened the show, and "Blowin' in the Wind," which he played as part of the encore.  Of the latter, I particularly enjoyed "Melancholy Mood" and an incredibly atmospheric rendition of "Autumn Leaves" (which rivaled the version performed by Leslie Odom, Jr.).  Dylan performed with a five member band, each of whom played multiple instruments, and they sounded amazing.  He did not acknowledge the audience in any way but, again, it simply didn't matter because he is pretty much the coolest dude around.  If there is anyone cooler than Bob Dylan, I have yet to see him!  This same concert will be performed again at the Eccles Theater tonight (tickets may be purchased here) and I recommend it if you want to see an incredible live show.  Stay home and listen to your iPod if you want to hear the songs the way you remember them from your youth!

Imagine Dragons at USANA

Last night I had the opportunity to see Imagine Dragons perform at the USANA Amphitheatre and it was absolutely amazing, definitely a night I won't forget for some time.  I love Imagine Dragons (their album Night Visions is rare in that I can listen to it on repeat for hours without skipping any songs) and they always put on a spectacular show.  Last night was no exception!  They began with a song from their latest release, Evolve, called "I Don't Know Why" and continued with almost every song from this album throughout the night, including "Whatever It Takes," "I'll Make It Up to You," "Mouth of the River," a rousing rendition of "Yesterday," "Start Over," and "Rise Up."  I was really happy that they played "Gold," one of my favorite songs from Smoke + Mirrors but I have to admit that I especially enjoyed "This Is It," "On Top of the World," and an incredibly powerful version of "Demons."  Dan Reynolds was effusive in his love for Utah and the impact that the state had on their development as a band.  He dedicated "This Is It" to the crowd!  He also gave a heartfelt speech about depression before performing "Demons" and the audience held up their phones to light up the amphitheatre.  It was amazing!  After their main set, the band walked to a small stage in the middle of the crowd and performed an acoustic version of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" which they dedicated to him.  This was another high point of the concert for me.  Then they performed acoustic versions of "Bleeding Out" and "Dream."  I especially loved the cello on both of those songs.  Once they returned to the main stage, they finished their set with "Thunder," "I Bet My Life," and "Radioactive" complete with smoke and lasers.  It was thrilling to stand in a crowd with everyone singing every word to "Radioactive," the song that made me a fan of the band!  For the encore (which was really not an encore because they decided that it was too cold to make the crowd wait for them to return to the stage) they performed "Walking the Wire" and "Believer."  I can't describe how much I loved this show!  Dan Reynolds is such an enthusiastic performer and he seems so genuine in his interactions with the crowd!  At one point he mentioned that the rest of the tour would all be downhill from this point on because he loved the Utah crowd so much (sorry Denver!).  I will always try to see this band whenever they come through SLC!

Note:  It was really cold!  Last year I seem to remember making a vow that I would never see another outdoor show this time of year ever again...

U2 in Phoenix

I was nineteen when U2 released their seminal album The Joshua Tree and to say that it affected me would be an understatement.  I had been a U2 fan already but this album rocked my world, literally and figuratively.  I was wide awake, for maybe the first time in my life, and I was deeply passionate about history, philosophy, literature, politics, and activism.  Bono was my guru and I worshiped at the altar of his poetry.  So when U2 announced a tour in commemoration of its 30th anniversary, I was really bummed when I noticed that SLC (or even Denver) was not on the schedule.  The closest city to me was Phoenix and since it is completely crazy to drive ten hours just for a concert I tried to put it out of my mind.  After all, I had seen them in concert so many other times.  I held out until mid-August and then, in a moment of madness, I bought a ticket.  You see, whenever I do crazy things like drive ten hours just to see a concert I am always so glad that I did it when it's all over.  Experiences like this become some of my best memories!  The concert was absolutely amazing!  Bono's voice is definitely not what it was but I've never really considered him to be a virtuoso.  Rather, I have always thought of him as an incredibly passionate performer and he gave an epic performance on Tuesday night!  Bono somehow has the ability to make a venue like the University of Phoenix Stadium feel intimate and that, out of a crowd of 50,000, he is singing just for you!  I love Bono.  I love him unabashedly!   The stage featured a massive panoramic video screen with an outline of a Joshua tree and a runway leading out to the floor with a smaller stage that also looked like a Joshua tree.  When the house lights dimmed, it looked like someone was walking along the runway and it turned out to be Larry Mullen, Jr. who began the instantly recognizable militaristic drumbeat of "Sunday Bloody Sunday."  The Edge and Adam Clayton soon joined him on guitar and bass and then the crowd went into a frenzy when Bono started singing.  They continued with "New Year's Day," "Bad," and "Pride (In the Name of Love)" out on the small stage.  Then the the screen turned red with the giant Joshua tree in black and I had goosebumps when I heard the opening notes of "Where the Streets Have No Name."  U2 played The Joshua Tree in its entirety track by track, in order!   The videos accompanying each song were shot by Anton Corbijn, who did all of the iconic photography for the album.  The images were dazzling.  My favorite songs were "With or Without You" because it is my favorite song on the album, "Bullet the Blue Sky" because it always gets me riled up, and "One Tree Hill" because it is rarely performed and Bono gave such an emotional performance of it (it was written for his friend Greg Carroll who died in a motorcycle accident and Bono dedicated it to him before singing it).  Honestly, it was worth the ten hour drive just to hear that song!  For the encore, the band sang "Miss Sarajevo," "Beautiful Day," "Elevation," "Vertigo," "Ultraviolet," and their new song "You're the Best Thing About Me."  They ended the evening with a mind-blowing performance of "One."  All of the lights were turned off and the audience used their phones to light up the arena.  I will never forget that!  It was a crazy thing to do but I am so very glad that I drove ten hours to see this concert!

Note:  The opening act was Beck.  I have always wanted to see him so this concert killed two birds with one stone!  He also put on an amazing show because he is just so damn cool!  My favorite songs were "Loser," "Where It's At," and "Wow."

Depeche Mode at USANA

Last night Depeche Mode brought their Global Spirit Tour to the USANA Amphitheatre and it was a fantastic concert.  Depeche Mode was one of my favorite bands in high school so I try to see them whenever they come to SLC.  My inner fifteen year old was so excited!  They played quite a few songs from their latest album, Spirit, including "Going Backwards," "So Much Love," "Cover Me," "Poison Heart," and the anthem "Where's the Revolution" which had the audience singing along with fists in the air.  Of course, I really loved it when they played the hits because these songs brought back so many memories for me!  I sang every single word to "Barrel of a Gun," "In Your Room," "World in My Eyes," "A Question of Lust," "Everything Counts," Stripped," and "Enjoy the Silence."  Whenever I see a band in concert there is always one song, usually an obscure one, that I hope they will play.  I was hoping that Depeche Mode would play "Blasphemous Rumours" but I wasn't too upset that they didn't play it because it is pretty depressing.  I think my favorite moment was when they played "Everything Counts."  I remember listening to the live album 101 on the bus to and from debate meets in high school and on one particular night, when we had a long way to travel back home, we all sang "Eveything Counts" at the top of our lungs.  The band had the audience sing an extended version of the chorus and it gave me goosebumps because I remembered that night long ago!  They ended their set with "Never Let Me Down" which featured another extended chorus with audience participation.  For the encore, they did an acoustic version of "Somebody" and the audience sang every word!  Sigh!  They continued with "Walking in My Shoes," a really amazing cover of David Bowie's "Heroes," "I Feel You," and "Personal Jesus."  The stage was pretty cool because it had a giant screen with a platform so Dave Gahan could strut in front of it and he can certainly strut!  He gave a very energetic performance and I found him just as appealing as I did when I was fifteen!  This concert was so much fun!

Note:  A big fight broke out in my row!  This guy just started punching the guy next to me for seemingly no reason.  He clipped my shoulder when they guy next to me tried to get out of the way!  Security came and they removed several people involved.  It was really scary but what irritated me most was that all of this commotion happened during the song "In Your Room" which is one of my favorites!

Incubus at USANA

It was a windy and rainy night at the Usana Amphitheatre last night but it didn't really matter at all because Incubus!  Incubus is a band that is extremely nostalgic for me and I have been anticipating this concert for a long time.  It was my second concert of the week and it was another great show.  Brandon Boyd was as comfortable and relaxed as Billie Joe Armstrong was frenetic, rarely speaking to the crowd, but he sounded great!  Quite honestly, I could watch him all night long no matter what he did!  They got the night started with "Quicksand" and "A Kiss to Send Us Off."  I really like their latest album, 8, and they played quite a few songs from it including the hit "Nimble Bastard," along with "State of the Art," "Love in a Time of Surveillance," "Loneliest," and "Throw Out the Map."  As much as I enjoyed the new songs, I was really happy that they played my very favorites because they brought back so many memories for me.  "Love Hurts" pretty much got me through a very difficult time and I loved their rendition of it last night.  They combined another favorite, "Wish You Were Here," with Pink Floyd's song of the same name and the crowd just about went crazy!  I also enjoyed "Drive" and "Stellar" but I think my favorite moment of the night was an incredibly passionate rendition of "Here in My Room."  I loved the piano!  They rounded out their setlist with "Anna Molly," "Megalomaniac," "Pardon Me," "Dig," "Pantomime," "Sick Sad Little World," "Pistola," and they ended with "Nice to Know You."  For the encore, they came back with a mesmerizing version of "Aqueous Transmission."  It was a great evening, definitely worth sitting through lots of wind and rain!

Note:  The opening acts were Judah and the Lion and Jimmy Eat World.  I only knew one song by Judah and the Lion, "Take It All Back," but they put on an energetic show which included frontman Judah Akers running through the crowd.  Of course Jimmy Eat World played their two biggest hits, "Sweetness" and "The Middle," but I also really liked one of their new songs called "Pass the Baby."