Michael Buble at the Vivint Arena

I have always wanted to see Michael Buble in concert but, for one reason or the other, I never had the opportunity.  When I heard he was coming to SLC last year, I bought a ticket for the concert immediately but, after Covid upended everything, the show was postponed a number of times.  It finally happened last night and I can't remember when I have had so much fun.  I had a huge smile on my face the entire time!  I love Buble's voice and I really enjoyed watching him perform because he is the ultimate showman.  He is also just a little bit irreverent and his interactions with the crowd were hilarious.  He performed, along with an insanely talented group of musicians and back-up singers, some lovely arrangements of quite a few standards, such as "Feeling Good," "My Funny Valentine," "I Only Have Eyes For You," "Such a Night," "When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)," and "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You." He talked about growing up in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, mentioning that it was famous for producing a bunch of hockey players that most people in the audience wouldn't know (this made me laugh because I know a quite a few of them, including my favorite player Joe Sakic), and he spoke lovingly of his grandfather's support of his singing career before dedicating "Lazy River" to him.  He dedicated "When I Fall In Love" and "To Love Somebody" (one of my favorites of the night) to all of the couples in the audience before quipping that if the singles felt left out they could join a couple in a threesome to spice things up!  He sang a snippet of "Everything" with a delighted audience member (after bragging about the long microphone he invented to comply with social distancing requirements).  He also performed the original songs "Haven't Met You Yet" and "Home," which are favorites of mine, as well as a beautiful rendition of "Forever Now," which he wrote for his son after a long illness (this brought tears to my eyes).  He turned the Vivint Arena into an intimate club by moving to a smaller stage at the other end of the floor with a few of his musicians to sing "Buona sera," "Just a Gigolo," "I Ain't Got Nobody" and "You Never Can Tell" and then ended his set with an exuberant performance of "Cry Me a River."  For the encore he performed "Where or When," "Everything" (I was so happy he performed the full version of this because it is one of my favorites), and an emotional rendition of "You Were Always on My Mind" after expressing his gratitude to his musicians, crew, and the audience.  Buble was brimming with energy and enthusiasm the whole evening and his show was everything I hoped it would be!  It was definitely worth the wait!

Note:  This was the first of several concerts I have this month!  Yay for the return of live music!

Summer of Outdoor Performances

In my opinion there is nothing better than sitting outside under the stars on a warm summer evening listening to music or watching a performance.  It is my favorite thing to do in the summer and I really missed having the opportunity last summer.  This year I was determined to visit all of my favorite outdoor performing arts venues and I even made a list!  I can happily report that I officially crossed off all but one venue on my list (I had planned on going to a concert at the Gallivan Plaza, the final venue on my list, last night but it was cold and raining so I decided not to).  Now that it is officially fall, I thought it would be fun to recap all of my summer adventures.

Murray Park Amphitheater

My sister Marilyn and I took our Mom to see The Little Mermaid at the Murray Park Amphitheater and all three of us really enjoyed this fun and quirky production.  My Mom had a smile on her face the entire time!  I loved all of the costumes for the sea creatures (especially the jelly fish) and Ursula was an absolute hoot because she was characterized as an over-the-top drag queen!

Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre

My first road trip of 2021 was a weekend in Cedar City for the Utah Shakespeare Festival and it was such a great experience.  I was able to see two plays in the outdoor Engelstad Theatre (I also saw a marvelous production of Ragtime in the indoor Randall L. Jones Theatre) and I thoroughly enjoyed them both but I think Richard III is the highlight of the summer!  It is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays and the lead actor was brilliant in the role!

Waterfall Amphitheatre at Thanksgiving Point

The Utah Symphony performs in various outdoor venues during the summer and the annual Concert at the Waterfall is always a good time!  The concert this year featured lots of patriotic favorites and culminated in a spectacular version of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, which is incredibly stirring, and fireworks!

Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater at Deer Valley

 

This year I was able to attend two concerts at Deer Valley!  I love being in the mountains (where it is usually much cooler than in the valley) and eating a picnic while waiting for the show to start.  My first concert was Kristin Chenoweth and it was so much fun because she is such a dynamic performer!  The highlights were "Popular" from Wicked and one of the best performances of "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables that I have ever heard.

My second concert at Deer Valley featured the Utah Symphony and guest conductor Enrico Lopez-Yanez (he is so charming and engaging) performing music from the Harry Potter movies.  I really enjoy these movies so it was a lot of fun to hear selections from the different scores performed live.  My favorite pieces were "Double Trouble" from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (with vocalists from each house) and "Courtyard Apocalypse" from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II.

Eccles Outdoor Stage at Sundance

This year the Summer Theatre production at the Sundance Mountain Resort (in conjunction with the UVU Theatre Department) was Footloose.  This is not my favorite musical but I enjoyed many aspects of the show and I definitely loved being up in the mountains because of the fresh air, the cooler temperature, and the smell of pine!

Sandy Amphitheater

I am a huge fan of Queen so I was really excited to see The Magic of Queen (a great tribute band) at the Sandy Amphitheater.  Lead singer Brady Dolyniuk sounded a lot like Freddie Mercury (but he didn't try to imitate him) so it was a lot of fun to hear all of Queen's biggest hits performed live.  Of course, my favorite was an epic rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody."

Tuacahn Amphitheatre

I was able to go on another quick road trip to Southern Utah to see Beauty and the Beast at Tuachan.  I used to see at least one show at Tuacahn every summer but I hadn't been for a long time.  It felt good to be back seeing a show with the beautiful red rock as a backdrop.  This was an absolutely magical production of Beauty and the Beast (with lots of unexpected special effects) and it made me feel like I was seeing it for the first time!

Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre

I always love attending concerts at Red Butte Garden because it is such a beautiful venue!  This year I was really lucky because Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, one of my favorite bands, was part of the Outdoor Concert Series and somehow I was able to get a ticket (it sold out very quickly).  I thoroughly enjoyed this show because they played so many songs from their new album (which I love) as well as many of my favorites.

USANA Amphitheatre

Another highlight of the summer is seeing Alanis Morissette at USANA with my sister Kristine.  We are both huge fans of Morissette and we both love the album Jagged Little Pill, which she performed in its entirety to commemorate 25 years since its release.  It was so fun to be back at USANA for the first time in over two years for such an amazing concert!

It has been a great summer!

Alanis Morissette at USANA

My sister Kristine and I are huge fans of Alanis Morissette!  Both of us have seen in her in concert several times (including once together) so, when we heard the announcement that Morissette was launching a tour commemorating 25 years since the release of her ground-breaking album Jagged Little Pill and that she would be making a stop in SLC, we immediately bought tickets and started counting down the days.  Then, of course, Covid canceled everything and I have to admit that I was really disappointed about missing this show (among others).  I was absolutely delighted when I heard the news that Morissette was rescheduling the whole tour and it was so great to return to USANA Amphitheatre last night for the first time in over two years!  My sister and I loved this show so much because Morissette can still belt out a tune!  As expected, she played Jagged Little Pill in its entirety (although she pushed shuffle) and I especially enjoyed the hits "All I Really Want," "Hand in My Pocket," "You Learn," Head Over Feet," "Ironic," and "You Oughta Know."  There was a time when I played these songs incessantly but I haven't heard them in a long time.  Even so, I still knew every single word and sang them right along with the entire crowd!  I also really enjoyed it when Morissette performed a snippet of a song from a later album as an intro to a deeper cut from Jagged Little Pill (her songs work very well together thematically) such as "Hands Clean" before "Forgiven," "Everything" before "Mary Jane," "Nemesis" before "Perfect," and "Losing the Plot" before "Wake Up."  She also performed a few songs from her latest album Such Pretty Forks in the Road and I especially liked "Reasons I Drink" and "Smiling," a song Morissette wrote for the Broadway show Jagged Little Pill (which is near the top of my list of shows I want to see).  Whenever I attend a concert there is always a song that I hope to hear from a performer's back catalog.  It is usually pretty obscure so I am invariably disappointed but I was absolutely thrilled when Morissette played "Uninvited" during the encore!  She also performed "Your House" in a variety music genres (it was quite amusing) and "Thank U" as a way to thank the fans for coming out to support her.  This concert was so much fun because I got to see it with my sister and because I was transported back to my younger self (without the angst).

Note:  The opening band was Garbage and I think I was looking forward to seeing them just as much as Morissette.  When I was younger I thought Shirley Manson was the coolest girl ever with her Doc Martens, dark eyeliner, and sassy hands on her hips attitude!  They didn't play my favorite song, "Supervixen," but they did play "Stupid Girl," "#1 Crush," "I Think I'm Paranoid," "Special," and "Only Happy When It Rains" interspersed with some of their newer material.  I loved their set!

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real at Red Butte Garden

In my quest to visit all of my favorite outdoor performing arts venues this summer I went to see Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real at the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre last night and it made me so happy to listen to live music while sitting under the stars!  I was first introduced to Promise of the Real when they backed Neil Young on tour and then I saw them again at the Commonwealth Room a few years ago.  I really love their rock-country sound and they always put on a great show!  They played quite a few songs from their latest album A Few Stars Apart, which I absolutely love, including "Perennial Bloom (Back to You)," "Throwin' Away Your Love," "More Than We Can Handle," "Leave 'Em Behind," and "A Few Stars Apart."  They also played some of my favorite songs, including "Start To Go," "Four Letter Word," "Fool Me Once," "Just Outside of Austin," "Little Girl," "Die Alone" "Carolina," and "(Forget About) Georgia."  They ended their set with a rousing rendition of "Find Yourself" with lots of audience participation.  For the encore they played "Wildest Dream" and "Smile" from the new album and then "Entirely Different Stars," a cover of "Get Off Of My Cloud" by the Rolling Stones, an incredibly passionate performance of "The Awakening" (which was my favorite of the evening), and "Something Real."  I think Lukas Nelson has an amazing voice (he sounds a lot like like his father Willie Nelson but a bit sultrier) and I really enjoyed seeing him play the piano in addition to his usual guitar.  He was very charismatic last night and joked quite a bit with the crowd.  It was a fantastic concert, not just because Promise of the Real put on such a great show, but also because hearing music performed live still feels like such a novelty!  I had a smile on my face the whole time and I will probably be on a high from this show for at least a week!  Red Butte Garden is a great venue and there are still some shows in the summer concert series (go here for tickets).  I definitely recommend checking one of them out.

The Magic of Queen at Sandy Amphitheater

Last summer I really missed seeing outdoor performances (I wonder if I have mentioned that?) so this summer I made a list of all of my favorite outdoor performance venues and I have been trying to get to all of them (it looks like I will be able to check off most of them before the summer is over).  A few weeks ago I realized that I didn't include the Sandy Amphitheater (which is a great venue) so I decided to look at the website and see if there was a show that I might like.  I got very excited when I saw a show called The Magic of Queen (I wonder if I have mentioned that I really love Queen?) and I got even more excited when I saw that there were still good tickets available (it eventually sold out).  The show was last night and the weather could not have been better for an outdoor show!  Most of the summer has been unbearably hot and this week there has been a lot of rain but last night was nice and cool.  This was the first concert I have been to since I saw Sarah McLachlan at the Eccles Theatre in February of 2020 and I loved feeling the energy from such a large and enthusiastic crowd!  The Magic of Queen is a show featuring Brody Dolyniuk and his band performing the music of Queen (he also does shows performing the music of Led Zeppelin and Elton John).  He sounds like Freddie Mercury but he doesn't try to imitate him and I really enjoyed his versions of the classic songs.  The first half of the show included "One Vision," "Tie Your Mother Down," "Play the Game," "Keep Yourself Alive," "You're My Best Friend," "Killer Queen," "Now I'm Here," "Somebody to Love," and "Under Pressure."  After the intermission, they played a beautiful rendition of "Love of My Life" and then the crowd came to life during "Another One Bites the Dust" and "Fat Bottomed Girls."  Next came "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and "Radio Ga Ga" (complete with clapping).  Dolyniuk introduced the next song by saying that it was the title of a recent movie about a rock star and then started playing "Rocket Man," which got a huge laugh from the crowd.  Then they performed a stirring version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" which is the song I had been waiting all night for!  It did not disappoint!  The concert concluded, as Queen concerts often do, with "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions." I had so much fun at this concert and I am so glad that I suddenly remembered to add Sandy Amphitheater to my list!  Go here for the remaining shows this summer.

Sarah McLachlan at the Eccles

Last night I went to my first concert of 2020 and it was such a good one!  I have been a fan of Sarah McLachlan ever since I heard the song "Possession" and bought the album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (which I played almost continuously in the early 1990s).  I was so excited when I heard that she was coming to the Eccles Theatre because it is an amazing venue for concerts.  I bought a ticket as soon as they went on sale and I've been looking forward to it ever since (it is what got me through two nights of parent teacher conferences).  The concert was billed as an intimate evening of songs and storytelling and that is exactly what it was.  It was just her on piano and guitar with Vanessa Freebairn-Smith accompanying her on cello and backing vocals.  This resulted in some lovely arrangements of her best songs.  She included a few songs from the albums Shine On and Laws of Illusion, which I am not as familiar with, such as "In Your Shoes," "Monster," "Song For My Father," "Beautiful Girl," "Loving You Is Easy," and "The Sound That Love Makes."  However, she spent most of the evening singing all of my favorite songs, including "Possession," "I Will Remember You," "Adia," "Good Enough," "Building a Mystery," "Drifting," "World on Fire," "Fallen," "Sweet Surrender," "Hold On," and "Ice Cream," and hearing them took me back to some really great times and some really dark times in my life.  It was pretty emotional, especially her rendition of "Hold On" with a new arrangement on piano.  She also sang a cover of Peter Gabriels's "Mercy Street" after talking about how much he inspired her as a young girl.  In between each song she would tell various anecdotes about them.  My favorite story was when people tell her that they played "Possession" at their wedding she always wants to laugh because it is about a stalker.  For the encore she sang a new song from a forthcoming album called "Wilderness" and I really liked it (she seems to have had a lot of relationships with narcissists that have ended badly).  Then she played a beautiful version of "Angel" to end the evening.  I really enjoyed this concert so much!  McLachlan is incredibly talented and she was so engaging with the crowd last night.  It was the perfect way to end a long and difficult week!

Note:  As many of you know, there is always one song (usually an obscure song from the artist's back catalogue) that I hope will be played whenever I go to a concert.  Last night I hoped that McLachlan would play "Push" but I wasn't too disappointed because I have heard her play it live before (and I kind of understand why she didn't play it because it is a beautiful love song about her now ex-husband).

Mannheim Steamroller at the Eccles

I absolutely love Mannheim Steamroller but it has been a few years since I last saw them in concert.  Tickets to this year's shows at the Eccles Theatre sold out very quickly so I was thrilled when another show was added and I immediately got a ticket.  However, when the ticket arrived in the mail, I realized that the show was for 3:30 in the afternoon!  I had to leave school as soon as the bell rang yesterday but I made it in time and I thoroughly enjoyed myself!  Chip Davis created Mannheim Steamroller as a fusion between classical and contemporary music and I especially love his arrangements of Christmas music.  The concert began with "Celebration," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "Catching Snowflakes On Your Tongue," "Mere Image," "Hallelujah," "Angels We Have Heard On High," "Greensleeves," and "Christmas Lullaby."  I felt so lucky to be able to hear my favorite Christmas song for the third time this season when they played "Cantique De Noel (O Holy Night)."  It is such a beautiful version of the song and it gave me goosebumps!  I also really loved the song "Fairies" because it is a rock and roll version of "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" from the Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky.  They ended the first half of the concert with "Carol of the Bells" which is one of their most popular songs.  After the intermission they played "Wonders" from their latest album, Exotic Spaces.  This wasn't a Christmas song but I really liked it.  In honor of the 35th Anniversary of their first Christmas album, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, they performed all of the songs on it in order!  This made me so happy because I have probably listened to that album hundreds of times and I love every song, including "Deck the Halls," "We Three Kings," "Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella" (I have now heard this song performed three times this season, as well), "Coventry Carol," "Good King Wenceslas," "Wassail, Wassail," "Carol of the Birds," "I Saw Three Ships," "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen," and "Stille Nacht (Silent Night)."  This concert was so wonderful and it was just what I needed after a difficult day at school (I am counting the days until winter break)!  The concert tomorrow night at the Eccles is sold out but I definitely recommend checking them out if they come to SLC again!

Kurt Bestor at the Eccles

I have certainly been getting my fill of Christmas music this season because I went to yet another Christmas concert last night (the third in four days for those of you who are playing along at home).  This time it was the Kurt Bestor Christmas concert at the Eccles Theatre.  I think that Bestor can sometimes be really full of himself but I love his arrangements of Christmas carols and he always puts on a great show!  He was center stage at the piano (he also played the flugelhorn and harmonica) and was backed by a fantastic band and orchestra.  He began with "Suite De Noel" and continued with his arrangements of "Joy to the World," "Carol of the Bells," "What Child Is This," "Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella" (a favorite of mine from when I was in the Westminster College Choir), "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "O Little Town of Bethlehem,"and "Let It Snow."  Then he brought his special guest, world-renowned tenor Nathan Pacheco, to the stage to perform his arrangement of "I Wonder as I Wander" and this was incredibly beautiful.  Pacheco's voice is so powerful that he just about blew the roof off the Eccles Theatre!  He next played "Christmas Concerto for Woodwinds" which is a fun medley of lots of different Christmas carols and it features musician Ray Smith on a variety of woodwind instruments.  I've been to Bestor's concerts before and whenever he performs this piece, Smith likes to add a new instrument (it originally began with 20).  Last night he attempted 38 different instruments to break the Guinness World Record (apparently he did it!).  After the intermission, Bestor performed the song that he is best known for, "Prayer of the Children," and he featured three members of the One Voice Children's Choir.  It was beautiful and everyone around me was crying by the end of it (I may or may not have been crying, too).  Next, he played his version of "Christmas Time Is Here" from A Charlie Brown Christmas (including a Charlie Brown tree).  Nathan Pacheco returned to the stage to perform "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful" and "Winter Wonderland" which were lovely.  My very favorite Christmas song is "O Holy Night" and every year I always hope that I can hear it performed live.  This year I got a bonus performance because Pacheco sang a beautiful arrangement and I absolutely loved it!  He gave me goosebumps!  Bestor then dedicated his version of "Still, Still, Still" to his father who passed away this year (this is another favorite from my choir days).  He brought an audience member to the stage to read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to his accompaniment, as he does every year, and it was quite amusing because he chose the same man to read it last year!  He ended the set with "Silent Night" and then performed a rousing version of "Ding Dong Merrily On High" for the encore.  This concert included so many of my favorites and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir 2019

Last night I was able to attend Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir and it was such a beautiful concert.  It featured the choir, the Orchestra at Temple Square, Bells on Temple Square, the Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble, and guests Richard Thomas and Kelli O'Hara.  The evening began with "Star in the East" performed by the orchestra and the choir while members of the choir walked down the aisles through the crowd to the stage carrying lights.  This was so dramatic and it gave me goosebumps!  Then they performed a stirring rendition of "In Dulci Jubilo."  Next Kelli O'Hara, a Broadway star who won the Tony Award for her performance as Anna in the revival of The King and I, came to the stage to perform "Mary's Little Boy Child" and "The Birthday of a King." I wasn't very familiar with O'Hara but her voice is absolutely exquisite and she sang these songs so beautifully and effortlessly!  The concert continued with a fun medley of Christmas carols performed by the orchestra.  O'Hara returned to give the audience what she called the gift of Rogers & Hammerstein by performing "A Cockeyed Optimist" from South Pacific, "I Whistle a Happy Tune" from The King and I, and "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music.  I love all of these musicals so I really enjoyed this part of the concert.  Then she sang "Cradle in Bethlehem" which is her father's favorite Christmas carol and she dedicated it to her family.  I found her to be very warm and genuine!  This was followed by "Hallelujah" by Johann Sebastian Bach and "Hallelujah" from Messiah by George Frederic Handel performed by the choir and orchestra.  Richard Elliott performed a fun version of "Jingle Bells" on the organ with a bluegrass group called Cold Creek (Andrea Ivey Banner, Craig Miner, Blaine Nelson, Rob Ricks, and Bill Sprunger).  This was an audience favorite and received a standing ovation.  The actor Richard Thomas, best known for the TV series The Waltons, gave a heartfelt reading of a story by Pearl S. Buck called "Christmas Day in the Morning."  I loved the message about love being the best Christmas present you can give and I loved the set which was designed to look like an old fashioned farmhouse.  My favorite part of the concert came next with O'Hara's rendition of a song called "Baby of Bethlehem (Singing in the Land)."  I had never heard this before but it was absolutely ethereal and I loved it.  Thomas narrated the Christmas story from the Bible while a group of children acted it out (I loved the sheep).  The concert concluded with "Angels From the Realms of Glory" and it was spectacular!  As always, this concert was wonderful and I am so glad that I was able to go!  All tickets have been allocated for tonight's concert but you can get in a standby line at the Tabernacle.  It is well worth the effort (go here for more information).

The Lower Lights 2019

One of my very favorite Christmas traditions is to see the Lower Lights Christmas concert at Kingsbury Hall.  I was able to see the show last night and, as always, it was amazing and did much to restore my spirits.  The Lower Lights is a group of twenty insanely talented musicians, songwriters, and singers, many of whom are popular in their own right, who periodically join forces to record folk and bluegrass renditions of popular hymns and Christmas carols.  I really love their sound and I especially love their renditions of Christmas songs because, as you know, I really enjoy Christmas music performed live.  They began with "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" which was quite upbeat and then they performed beautiful versions of "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "Angels We Have Heard On High," and "Away in a Manger" which brought tears to my eyes.  Then they played an acoustic version of "Mary's Boy Child" which was so lovely.  Debra Fotheringham provided vocals on an incredible version of "River" which is one of my favorite songs (I love Sarah McLachlan's version on her Christmas album).  In the middle of their set they performed a number of their hymns, including "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy," "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder," and "Just A Closer Walk With Thee."  These songs basically turned Kingsbury Hall into an old fashioned revival with people singing and dancing in the aisles.  It was a lot of fun.  They continued with an acoustic version of "Maybe This Christmas"  and an instrumental version of "Carol of the Bells" featuring guitar, mandolin, and banjo that was incredibly stirring.  Next came one of my favorite Christmas songs, "Still, Still, Still," with vocals provided by Corinne Gentry, Kiki Sieger, and Marie Bradshaw.  The cost of a ticket to this show is worth it for this song alone because the three of them harmonize so beautifully that they give you chills!  Sarah Sample provided the vocals for "White Christmas" and they continued with "I Saw Three Ships" which is another favorite.  There was another gospel interlude with "The River of Jordan" and "I Hear a Call."  Dustin Christensen performed a beautiful version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" which was fun after seeing Meet Me In St. Louis recently.  The audience joined in on a rousing rendition of "Go Tell It On the Mountain," and they continued with "A Cradle in Bethlehem" and "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day."  They ended their set with bluesy renditions of "Working on a Building," "This Little Light of Mine," and "Calling You."  For the encore they performed "Happy X-Mas (War Is Over)" and then, as they always do, they had the audience join them for a beautiful acoustic version of "Silent Night."  I don't consider myself to be especially religious but there is just something about Christmas music and I am always moved by this concert.  I would highly recommend getting a ticket to one of the three remaining concerts (go here).

Sara Bareilles at the Maverik Center

I was once a very casual Sara Bareilles fan.  I liked "Love Song" and I loved "Brave" but I didn't really know any of her other material.  Then I saw the musical Waitress (Bareilles wrote the music and lyrics) on Broadway and I was completely blown away by it.  I especially loved the song "She Used to Be Mine" because Jenna, the main character, sings this song when she acknowledges to herself that her life has not turned out the way she had hoped it would and she needs to find the courage to change it.  It is highly emotional and I have cried during it both times I've seen the show.  This song made me respect Bareilles more as a songwriter and now I would consider myself a big fan of hers.  When I found out that she was coming to the Maverik Center I bought a ticket hoping against hope that she would sing it and she actually did!  She sang it (along with "Safe Place to Land," "You Matter to Me," and "Bad Idea" from Waitress) last night in the middle of her set and it was incredibly powerful!  She told the crowd that she wrote it for both Jenna and for herself and, as always, I cried all the way through it!  She sang quite a few songs from her new album Amidst the Chaos including "Fire," "Armor," "If I Can't Have You" (which she sang with Emily King who opened for her), "Eyes on You," "Miss Simone," "Orpheus," "No Such Thing," "Poetry by Dead Men," and "Saint Honesty."  I wasn't very familiar with these songs but I really liked them, especially "Poetry by Dead Men."  She also sang "Love Song" and "Brave," which were highlights for me, as well as "Gravity," "Let the Rain," "Uncharted," and a rousing rendition of "King of Anything."  The stage felt very intimate with all of the musicians in a semicircle around Bareilles on piano.  She was obviously thrilled to be performing again after a six year hiatus and her banter with the crowd was genuine and filled with appreciation for her fans.  She told lots of amusing anecdotes before most songs, even noting that she needed to stop talking or she would run out of time!  I really appreciated her messages about taking action for things you believe in, especially when the world feels like it is on fire, and accepting people for who they are.  It was a great show!

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band at the Vivint Arena

When I was camping with a friend and colleague a few years ago, he played a Bob Seger CD featuring his greatest hits while we were sitting around the campfire.  I had never really realized just how many great songs he had until then.  My friend mentioned that he had seen him in concert recently and that it was an amazing show!  I suddenly really wanted to see him!  I finally had my chance last night and it was such a great concert!  He played hit after hit, including several that he had not played in over twenty years, and I absolutely loved it!  Some of my favorites were "Still The Same," "Old Time Rock & Roll," "Shame On The Moon," "Like A Rock," "You'll Accomp'ny Me," and "Turn The Page."  The highlight for me came towards the end of his main set when, accompanying himself on the piano, he sang a very beautiful rendition of "We've Got Tonight" which he dedicated to his mother because it was her favorite of all the songs he had written!  He also sang a lovely cover of Bob Dylan's "Forever Young," which he dedicated to Glenn Frey.  He frequently mentioned that this was to be his final tour so he ended his set with his very first hit from 1968, "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man."  During the first encore he played my favorite song, "Against The Wind," which was amazing, and he got the audience on their feet with "Hollywood Nights."  For the second encore, he played "Night Moves," to the delight of the crowd, and then "Rock & Roll Never Forgets."  Seger, who is 74 years old, sounded great (with his signature raspy voice in fine form) and so did his band, particularly the horn section, and they played for over two hours.  He was incredibly exuberant and interacted with the crowd all night, telling stories from his fifty year career in the music business.  He looked like he was having the time of his life.  I'm so glad that I got to see him live, especially if it really is his final tour.

Note:  The opening band was The Wild Feathers.  I had never heard of them before but I really liked their sound.  They reminded me a little bit of the Eagles, especially with the three-part harmony on "Big Sky."  I also really liked their cover of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down."

Eric Clapton in Las Vegas

Eric Clapton is arguably one of the greatest guitar players of all time so it is an absolute thrill to be able to see and hear him play live!  I've seen him a couple of times before but it has been a while.  When I found out that he would be in Las Vegas (for one of only three concerts leading up to the Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas) I got a ticket immediately!  I took the day off from school yesterday to drive to Vegas for the show last night and it was amazing.  He had a very minimal set and just played the blues all night.  I loved it!  He started the show with "Pretending" and the crowd went crazy!  I was unfamiliar with some of the other early songs (mostly covers) he played but it didn't matter because it was amazing to watch a legend jam.  One of the biggest highlights during this set was his version of "I Shot the Sheriff."  Then he played an acoustic set that included "Circus" from Pilgrim, an album that I absolutely love, "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out," and a beautiful version of "Tears in Heaven."  When he plugged back in he played the Cream song "Badge," which was absolutely epic, and "Holy Mother," which was incredibly emotional.  Next, he played covers of Robert Johnson's "Crossroads" and "Little Queen of Spades" which featured extended solos by his unbelievably talented band!  He ended this set with "Layla" which got everybody on their feet!  I basically waited all night for this song and it definitely did not disappoint.  For the encore, he brought Jimmie Vaughan, who opened for him, back to the stage to perform a cover of "Before You Accuse Me."  It was an incredible evening of music and I can't even describe how much I loved watching Slowhand play the guitar!  I will be on a high for days!

Note:  I was hoping that he would play "Cocaine" but I didn't mind too terribly that he didn't because he actually played it twice the first time I saw him in concert!  The crowd went crazy when he played it the first time so he said, "You like that one, huh?"  Then he played it again!

Sting with the Utah Symphony at USANA

What an unforgettable evening with Sting and the Utah Symphony!  I have seen Sting in concert several times (including, rather memorably, at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver and then in SLC the very next night with my friend Tony) but the concert last night at USANA might be my favorite!  It was absolutely brilliant and what made it even better was that it benefitted the Zion Forever Project in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Zion National Park, one of my favorite places on Earth!  The Utah Symphony began the evening with Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man and Gershwin's An American in Paris which were lovely.  After the intermission, Sting came on stage and performed "Englishman in New York" to the delight of the crowd.  During the chorus he incited the crowd to sing along with just the mere flick of his fingers and we responded enthusiastically (and not for the last time).  He then became quite the raconteur as he told amusing anecdotes about each of his songs.  I especially loved the story about how he came to write "Roxanne" and I loved the sultry arrangement of it that he performed with the orchestra.  Then he performed "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," "Fields of Gold," and "When We Dance."  A highlight for me came next when he sang the title song from the musical The Last Ship which he wrote about the community where he grew up.  I had the opportunity to see PTC's production of this show on the night that Sting attended a performance.  It was amazing to watch him (I was six rows behind him) react to what was happening on stage so I loved hearing him sing this song.  He told personal stories about his relationship with his father before singing "Why Should I Cry for You," his relationship with his wife before singing "The End of the Game," and his childhood dream of being a cowboy before singing "I Hung My Head."  He was so charming and he seemed genuinely moved by the crowd's reactions!  He ended his set with "King of Pain" and "Every Breath You Take" which brought back so many memories of high school.  It was interesting to me how great the old Police songs sounded with symphonic arrangements!  For the encore he performed an amazing rendition of "Desert Rose" which got the crowd on their feet and then ended the evening with "Fragile."  I loved every minute of this concert and I won't soon forget it!

Note:  This was my third concert at USANA in a week.  It has been so much fun but I am really tired!

Heart at USANA

I have been a huge fan of Heart for as long as I can remember.  I listened to their 1985 self-titled album on repeat for hours when I was in high school, especially the song "These Dreams" which I absolutely love.  They toured with this album and made a stop in SLC but I wasn't able to go to the show.  I thought that I had missed my opportunity to see them after their acrimonious split so when I heard about their latest tour I got really excited and bought a ticket immediately.  It seems like I have been waiting for so long but I finally got to go to the concert at USANA Amphitheatre last night and it was fabulous!  Ann Wilson told the crowd that they were going to sing songs from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s and I loved them all.  I particularly liked their renditions of "Magic Man," "Dog & Butterfly," "Straight On," "Crazy On You," and "Barracuda" from the early years.  I was thrilled when they played "These Dreams" and "What About Love" from my favorite album.  I haven't heard these songs for years and it was amazing to me that I could still remember every single word!  They performed a beautiful cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "The Boxer" featuring the lovely harmonies of Ann and Nancy together and they also performed an epic version of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" which had the entire crowd singing.  For the encore they performed an incredibly powerful version of "Alone."  I have always really loved Ann's voice but her amazing vocal performance during this song gave me goosebumps!  Before Heart took the stage, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (my favorite song was "Bad Reputation") and Elle King (I loved her cover of the Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty song "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around") performed lively sets.  This concert was extremely nostalgic for me and I am so glad that I finally got to see Heart perform live!

Dave Matthews Band at USANA

Last night I saw Dave Matthews Band at USANA Amphitheatre with Kristine and Trent and it was so much fun because, while I consider myself a casual fan, the two of them are hard core and I loved watching their excitement (my sister was positively giddy).  Dave Matthews is known for putting on a great live show but this concert was especially amazing because it seemed so spontaneous!  I looked up the previous setlists for this tour and no two shows have been the same.  Last night they played a very eclectic mix of old and new songs, mixing hits along with deeper tracks. There were pauses in between songs and it almost seemed as if the band was deciding what to play next right there on the stage!  Even though they only played three of their really big hits ("Too Much," "Everyday," and "Ants Marching") it didn't matter!  I enjoyed the songs I didn't recognize because it looked like the band was having so much fun jamming (every song featured long extended solos which delighted the crowd) and they sounded great, especially the horn section.  I have been listening to Come Tomorrow a lot lately and I was hoping that they would play "She" which is my favorite song from the new album.  I was thrilled when I heard the opening notes and I sang along to every word!  Other highlights included a cover of Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer," an acoustic version of "Here On Out" from the new album, and an epic rendition of "Don't Drink the Water" during the encore.  It was a perfect late summer evening and, even though I will be really tired after seeing a concert on a school night, I'm so glad I got to go with my sister and brother-in-law!  We all agreed that it was one of the best concerts any of us have seen!

Note:  Kristine and Trent had never been to USANA before and I told them that it was sometimes a lot of fun getting out of the parking lot after the show.  Of course, Trent got us out in less than five minutes!

Queen + Adam Lambert in Phoenix

When my madness over the movie Bohemian Rhapsody was at its apex, I found out that Queen + Adam Lambert would be touring this summer!  I actually deliberated about getting a ticket for a little while because I knew it wouldn't be the same without Freddie Mercury but I ultimately decided to see them in Phoenix (the city closest to me) because I knew I would love hearing these songs played live!  I am so glad that I did because the concert last night was absolutely epic!  The show began with "Now I'm Here," "Seven Seas of Rhye," "Keep Yourself Alive," "Hammer to Fall," and "Killer Queen" one after the other.  Then Adam Lambert, who was absolutely fantastic, told us that he was clearly not Freddie Mercury and that nobody could take his place but he would do the best he could to honor him and the music he created.  The audience went crazy and they were with him the rest of the night!  He was in full diva mode, wearing a gold suit and black ruffled blouse (the first of six outfits), saying that he might not be Freddie Mercury but he was definitely a queen!  He then sang "Don't Stop Me Now" which got the arena rocking!  Then he gave an incredible vocal performance for both "Somebody to Love" and "The Show Must Go On."  The latter gave me goosebumps!  Next Roger Taylor sang "I'm in Love With My Car" (It's a metaphor Brian!).  Adam returned to the stage in leather from head to toe on a motorcycle to sing "Bicycle Race" then sang "Fat Bottomed Girls" and "Radio Ga Ga" with lots of audience participation with the claps!  One of my favorite moments of the evening happened when Brian May went to the end of the catwalk and played an acoustic version of "Love of My Life."  The audience held up the lights on their phones and sang along so it was very reminiscent of a scene in the movie.  It was simply magical!  Then he sang "'39" and was joined by Roger and Adam for "Doing All Right" with a lovely three-part harmony!  Adam sang "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and was joined by Roger for "Under Pressure" and then sang "I Want to Break Free."  Another favorite moment was during "Who Wants to Live Forever" because Adam sang it so beautifully that I had tears in my eyes!  Brian stood on a giant platform behind a screen which looked like a meteor surrounded by floating planets (he has a PhD in astrophysics) to play a guitar solo featuring Dvorak's New World Symphony.  It was amazing!  Adam came back to sing "Tie Your Mother Down" and then "Dragon Attack."  I was so excited that they played "Dragon Attack" because I had forgotten how much I used to love that song back in the day!  They finished their set with "Another One Bites the Dust," "I Want It All," and a very theatrical version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" which just about did me in!  Before the encore,  a video of Freddie leading the crowd through "Ay-Oh" during Queen's Wembley concert in 1986 appeared on the screen and we all joined in!  Of course they played "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions" during the encore and they took their bows while "God Save the Queen" played!  This is a concert that I don't think I will ever forget and I am so glad I decided to get a ticket!  Even though it was a ten hour drive from SLC to Phoenix, it was definitely worth it!

Note:  I've driven to Phoenix just to see a concert once before but next time I think I'll fly!

Paul McCartney in Las Vegas

The first time I saw Paul McCartney in concert was in Las Vegas for the Driving World Tour at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in April of 2002.  I spontaneously bought a ticket and then completely freaked out about what I had just done (this was before driving hundreds of miles just to attend a concert became standard operating procedure for me) but it was definitely a bucket list item!  I was completely overwhelmed hearing all of the songs that I had listened to all of my life performed by a legend!  I have seen Paul McCartney several more times since that momentous occasion and I still get completely overwhelmed because I love him so much!  Last night I had the opportunity to see him in Las Vegas once again, this time at the T-Mobile Arena.  It was an absolutely amazing show!  He played for over three hours and included songs from the Beatles, Wings, and his solo albums including his latest, Egypt Station.  I really loved all of the Beatles songs, including "Hard Days Night," "All My Loving," "Got to Get You Into My Life," "I've Got a Feeling," "I've Just Seen a Face," "From Me to You," "Love Me Do," "Blackbird" (my favorite Beatles song), "Lady Madonna," "Eleanor Rigby," "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite," "Something," "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," "Back in the U.S.S.R.," and "Let It Be."  I sang every single word and I was thrilled that he played some songs that I had never heard performed live before!  My favorite Wings songs were "Let Me Roll It," "Let 'Em In," "Band on the Run," and "Live and Let Die" complete with spectacular pyrotechnics!  He dedicated "My Valentine" to his wife Nancy who was in the audience and sang an incredibly emotional version of "Here Today" which he dedicated to John Lennon.  My favorite moment came early in the set when he played "Maybe I'm Amazed."  I love this song so much and watching Rusty Anderson play the guitar solo just about did me in!  He ended his set with a rousing version of "Hey Jude."  As soon as the stage hands brought out his psychedelic piano I knew what was coming and it was awesome, especially the audience participation on "Na Na Na Na..."  For the encore he played "I Saw Her Standing There," "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)," "Helter Skelter," and a  fabulous rendition of "Golden Slumbers," "Carry That Weight," and "The End."  Paul McCartney is a captivating performer and his interactions with the crowd were so genuine.  He acted like he was playing these songs for the first time and was having the time of his life!  I can't even describe how much I loved this concert and I will probably be on a high from it for days.  I know that it is crazy to drive six hours just for a concert but I am so glad that I did it!

Howard Jones at Red Butte Garden (Again)

I have been a huge fan of Howard Jones since I was a sophomore in high school and I have seen him in concert more times than I can count.  When he was in SLC the last time he hinted at a return visit this summer and I was thrilled when I found out about this concert at Red Butte Amphitheatre.  It is such a great venue and last night was perfect for an outdoor concert.  This time I was able to go with my sister Kristine who loves Howard Jones as much as I do!  The opening bands were All Hail The Silence and Men Without Hats.  I had never heard of All Hail The Silence before but I really enjoyed their set because lead singer Christian Burns has a really nice voice (and is pretty easy on the eyes).  I was only familiar with two of the songs in the Men Without Hats set, "Pop Goes the World" and "Safety Dance," but they were a lot of fun and got the crowd up on their feet.  Howard Jones played quite a few songs from his latest album Transform, including the title track, "Take Us Higher," "Beating Mr. Neg," "Hero in Your Eyes," "Tin Man Song," and "The One to Love You."  This album has a very house/ techno sound to it and I liked all of these songs, especially "The One to Love You."  He also played many of the hits to the delight of the crowd, beginning with a lovely version of "Hide and Seek" to start his set.  He continued with "Equality," "No One Is To Blame," "Everlasting Love," "The Human Touch," "Life in One Day," "Like To Get To Know You Well," and a fantastic version of "What Is Love?" that made my inner fifteen year old self lose her mind because I loved this song so much back in the day.  He ended his set with "New Song" which brought back so many memories because this is the song that made me a Howard Jones fan (he also had footage of performing this song in the 80s on the screens behind him).  After he left the stage, quite a few people around me started singing the chorus to "Things Can Only Get Better" and then he came back on stage to sing it for the encore.  Just like the last time he was at Red Butte Garden, this was such a great concert and I loved every minute of it (so did my sister).

Note:  Go here for the complete lineup at Red Butte Amphitheatre.  It is such a great venue for a concert.

Hootie & The Blowfish in Las Vegas

I was feeling the 1990s nostalgia last night for the second night in a row, this time at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for a concert featuring Barenaked Ladies and Hootie & The Blowfish!  I was looking at the T-Mobile Arena website for information on another concert and saw this one listed!  I love both of these bands so much so I got really excited and bought a ticket.  I have seen Barenaked Ladies many times, including at a Medals Ceremony during the 2002 Winter Olympics where they, rather memorably, wore Team Canada speed skating uniforms!  Last night they played "Lookin' Up" from their latest album but most of their set was, as Ed Robertson told the crowd, a slew of monster hits!  I especially liked "It's All Been Done," "The Old Apartment," "Brian Wilson," "Pinch Me," "One Week," and "If I Had $1000000."  As with any Barenaked Ladies concert, there was a lot of really funny banter between the band members and there were several free-style raps that were absolutely hilarious!  They ended with a cover of Lady Gaga's "Shallow" (which was overly dramatic and made the crowd erupt with laughter), Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love," and Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust."  I loved it!  I have seen Hootie & The Blowfish once before with my sisters and the main thing I remember about that show is that Darius Rucker kept breaking his guitar strings and his tech would have to bring him another guitar in the middle of a song!  I also saw Darius Rucker open for Lady Antebellum, performing his solo country music.  I am not a big country fan but I really liked his songs because I love his voice!  Last night they played quite a few covers but my favorites were Led Zeppelin's "Hey Hey What Can I Do" and R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion."  They also included Rucker's solo songs "Alright" and "Wagon Wheel" (which my Uber driver played for me on the drive to my hotel).  However, I liked it best when they played the hits, including "I Go Blind" (my favorite Hootie song), "Hold My Hand" (which the crowd sang with them), "Let Her Cry," "Time," and "Old Man & Me."  They ended their set with a gospel sounding cover of "With A Little Help From My Friends" with Barenaked Ladies and performed "Only Wanna Be With You" in the encore.  It was an awesome show!  Both bands sounded really great live and were very engaging with the crowd.  Once again, hearing some of my favorite old songs brought back so many happy memories!  It was definitely worth the six hour drive from SLC for this concert!

Note:  I will be back in Las Vegas next weekend for the concert I originally looked at the website for!