Not the Same Old Schizz

Show: Wicked
Venue: The Pantages
Awesome Rating: Exploding High 5

My relationship with this show goes way back. Yes it is a relationship, that's how much I love this show, music, and story.

I read Gregory Maguire's book that spawned the whole thing. I don't recommend it. The show tells the story much better without the graphic, horrific, and pointless tangents Maguire manages to get himself lost in every 30 pages or so.

It started when my brother handed me a burnt copy of the show's music to keep me company on a drive home from Utah once. I'd seen the ads for it all over NY when I was there during that Spring but didn't get around to seeing the show. I was curious. It didn't leave my CD player for a good 3 months and I declared it the new love of my life to all who would listen. I read the book and prayed that the show would be different when it made its way to LA. When it did I saw it with a group of friends for one of their birthdays and was completely and totally blown away. In the good way. Like couldn't move from my seat for a few minutes after the curtain call or stop clapping during it. This show made me feel and think and love all at the same time. Most shows only make you feel something but without much brain power or they make you think but don't move you. Its rare when a show does both for me and with such amplitude. It was immediately shortlisted.

The music is so good and so smart it stands on its own without a show and is so descriptive that I had literally staged the whole show in my head numerous times the months I sang along before the show got here. When it finally did I wasn't let down. I was dreadfully unimaginative compared to what they brought. They deliver an Oz scaled production and characters. Galinda is beyond presh. She makes being a girl fun again, and credible.

I saw it for the 5th time with my best friend over Thanksgiving weekend and it was still an amazing and moving experience. I've cried every time but once. Its a story about two VERY different but very good women and about friendship and sacrifice and life and what it deals you and BRILLIANTLY address social norms that we don't typically air out in pop culture. Like what makes something good and what "good" really means. Like is something better or just permanently changed? Or both?

The Anti-Bush sentiments are in full force, but what do you expect? It's Oz...

It's closing in a few weeks and I will miss it but I think that I did it justice while it was here.
I love the theater so much. Its such a different medium for thought and experience than movies or books or concerts. Its its own wavelength with its own brand of awesome and amazing and this show qualifies for both. You feel smarter when you leave and entertained and enriched. You're asking questions about things and concepts, not people and costumes. Its as much of a message as it is an entertainment and I think TH ATS why I love it so much.

If you haven't seen it yet, go! Right now! Quick! Like a bunny! Before it leaves.

Seriously. Go defy gravity and be popular and be changed. For good.

Netflixations

Title: For Your Consideration
Director: Christopher Guest
Awesome Rating: High 5

Christopher Guest and his posse make the world a better place. It’s a fact, probably a scientific one at this point.

Spinal Tap - Classic
Best in Show – Marvelous
Waiting for Guffman – even better (my fav of all of them btw)
A Mighty Wind – Presh

His most recent effort, For Your Consideration, a satire on Hollywood and the movie/entertainment culture was my most recent red envelope and I love loved it for all the normal reasons that I love Christopher Guest Movies.

Its subtle brilliant writing, every single person in the cast is good enough to lead it but smart enough to just gloriously be in the ensemble, everyone is hilarious and is the relatively same brand of hilarious and gets the other people’s brand of hilarious and they don’t compete with each other, they work together. Its highly quotable, the humor distills on you because its layered. You get things (well I do) a week later and have a hearty laugh all over again. The Christopher Guest brand is pratically necessary to cope with modern life. I don't think I could think of a better way.

Fred Willard is a gift to humanity and should work till he dies. He made this movie for me. He and John Michael Higgins

Eugene Levy needs to work till he runs out of steam too.

Jennifer Coolidge is one of the funniest women that has ever walked the planet. She made A Mighty Wind for me.

Parker Posey, I heart you. Lots and lots.

And I could go on and on. I laughed at this movie, I cried, I empathized, I cringed, I did everything that Christopher Guest movies make you do and I remain the lifelong fan I’ve been. Carry on good man, carry on.

Prepare to Smolder

Title: Quantum of Solace

Director: Marc Forster

Awesome Rating: High 5

I can’t begin to tell you how excited I was for this movie. I think it would be an understatement to say I love James Bond and I love James Bond movies, because it would be.

I adore James Bond. I think he's almost a perfect character. He's Every Man but The Man’s Man too and he does it all with a myriad of awesome gadgets, in a flawless suit, a British accent, and HOT cars. I’m not sure there could be a more perfect man for me.

I love the concept of Bond Girls too. That may be a bit of a betrayal in the eyes of uninformed self-proclaimed “feminists” but I say Nay. Bond Girls are awesome. I think it’s a not-so-secret wish of mine to be a Bond Girl. Because not just any pretty face/model lady can cut it as a Bond Girl. Oh no – it is a coveted and sought after title that few have in Hollywood. They’re brilliant, capable, and kick butt and they do all of it while being devastatingly beautiful and perfectly dressed. They’re as much of an idealized woman, I think, as Bond is the idealized man.

And don’t start me on how perfect Daniel Craig is for this part. I might go on for 3 days about how blue his eyes are or how his delicious perma-pout is or his nearly perfectly proportioned soccer player body and perfect understanding of the character so James’ famous one liners are perfectly delivered, or how well he wears vests (which are the singlur piece of clothing that always brings me joy). Don’t get me started…

Casino Royale was a marvelous experience for me. I saw it three times in the theaters and own it now. I had high hopes for Quantum of Solace and when I heard that MY car, the car of my heart and dreams, The Aston Martin DB9 (if I had this car I would never need the physical aspects of a marriage and I would have 10,000 if its babies) was to be The Bond Car this time around, if it was possible, I was even more excited.

So imagine my let down when I got to the theater and I only got half of the movie I wanted. It was a good movie, don’t get me wrong, definitely worth seeing, but it’s not BOND.

Firstly – where are the gadgets??!! There were NO cool secret cameras or paralyzing spray in the form of a tuxedo button or a tazer that could stun an elephant that was a dangle earring, NOTHING like that. There was some kind of Star Trek data pad that was kind of cool at MI6 headquarters but that was about the extent of the technology flex the film had.

Secondly – The Bond Girls. They totally weren’t Bond Girls. Eva Green was a perfect Bond Girl. These other two were beautiful but there was NO moxie, not real threat or presence on the screen. Bond loves the women he does because they challenge and fascinate him. They’re on his same level of intrigue and excellence. These girls might as well have been cocktail waitresses. They were scenery, not players like Bond Girls are, and I was disappointed. And I don’t think it was because of bad writing or the characters. They were written well, I think it was casting, I think the two girls they had just weren’t Bond Girls at heart. They had no desire to kick your trash make you love them because they did. THAT’S how Bond Girls work.

Third and lastly – this is Bond not Bourne. Alliteration doesn’t give you license to blend storylines or chase scenes.

Let’s step it up and remember the formula next time around boys, do I make myself clear? Good. Impress me.

Catching Up

So I have a myriad of updates for this blog and the thought of doing a post for every single one of them kind of makes me want to curl up in a corner and talk to myself.

So to alleviate the possibility of needlessly getting put on medication and still not letting my 3 faithful readers down I'm gonna break it down A-Team Montage style.

The Hotel Cafe and Concerts Front

I've seen 5 shows since Episode I.

Episode II-
Rogue Wave
Awesome rating: High 5

They were great. When I first heard these guys I thought that their vocals were the same person re-dubbed a few times because their blend was so perfect and counter-tenory but I was happily proved wrong when every single player in the band was a vocalist and a gifted one. And you know me and a band with good vocal technique (lovelovelove!!!).... They were amazing. I'm still looking for one of their songs. Their bass player was amazing but looked like a slightly intoxicated extra from Deliverance. He made for good watching though.

Episode III
Mandy Moore
Awesome Rating: thumbs up

I know, I know. Mandy Moore???! As in Candy and A Walk to Remember? Yesh - that one. After the Zack Braff break up she decided to let herself feel a little bit more and had the good sense to date Greg for a stint too and the musicality rubbed off. Her new stuff has bit of grit and personality. Patrick and I went and it was surprisingly fun. She had the microphone up too high the whole time and was singing with her neck strained looking up and that sort of bugged me but she was up there with just her guitar/piano player who was also a co writer of a lot of her stuff and it was good. The music was catchy and they played a lot of stuff that was still embryonic and for the new record because the Hotel Cafe is a perfect place to flex new stuff. We're a supportive audience.

Episode IV
Steven Kellogg and the Sixers
Awesome Rating: Exploding High 5

This was one of the funnest shows I had been to in a while. These guys are more folk rock than the normal indie singer/songwriter stuff that I grab at the Hotel Cafe but I LOVED it. All of the guys are ADORABLE and the music was fun, upbeat, positive, well written and really loved by the band. You could totally tell. All of them were just having a blast and it leaked out into the crowd. I went with the timeless Lauren (who was in town for the Swell Season concert) and we just giggled and smiled the whole set long. They even took time to tell us their favorite bad jokes during a bridge and played a euphonium as part of a song and as an ode to a band members band geek roots. Absolutely wonderful

Episode V
Greg Laswell
Awesome Rating: Exploding High 5

Yes, yes. I saw him again. No I'm not stalking him. He's just that good and was just as amazing as all the times before. One of his songs from the new album has been on every episode of Grey's this season and a few other shows. I almost dry heaved when I wandered into my mother's room and she had that HBO vampire wannabe-Twilight show on (True Blood, I think) and my Comes and Goes in Waves was playing (which is still the most played song on my extensive iTunes). I was lit for Greg that hes getting such exposure, but the really bad vampire show???! Come on. Greg is way too good for that. Grey's - I can get behind that. I have no doubt he's going to be huge and getting into his shows will eventually be an expensive claustrophobic nightmare so I'm enjoying him as much as I can right now when there is breathing room and a chance to say whats up before the show.

Non-Hotel Cafeness

Ingrid Michaelson
Venue: House of Blues Anaheim
Awesome Rating: Exploding High 5

This was my 2nd time seeing Ingrid. The first was at the Hotel Cafe tour in April and she was a stand out performer then and considering what the line up was that's saying something;

Greg Laswell
William Fitzsimmons
Cary Brothers
Jim Bianco
Meiko
Priscilla Ahn
Jessica Hoop
Ingrid Michaelson

I originally went to the show for William Fitzsimmons. He isn't signed and its hard to find gig of his so when I saw this and started scrolling through the line up it might as well have been Christmas. I was like What? Wha??! WHAT?? with every name down the line up. It was like everyone I was listening to and loving. It was a fabby show because there were acts I didn't know either hence I left a big Meiko and Ingrid fan.

Ingrid has gotten some serious radio play and stuff since then and has her OWN tour now and so that's what I went to with my marvy friend Molly. Ingrid is a NY girl that just knows who she is and knows shes good at what she does and she is SO comfortable on stage and so the whole show is equally fun and comfortable. She's infectious and so smart. She used the world "proclivity" (in regards to the men she dates and their baldness) in a radio interview I heard once and the interviewer just stammered. It was brilliant and I knew we could be best friends. I wouldn't expect anything less from a red headed Long Island girl with saucy glasses. I think I really am developing a girl-crush. I don't know many people who can turn a ukulele and a Death Cab cover into a spiritual experience. My favorite song of hers remains "The Chain". I love her voice, I love her writing, I love her moxie and vulnerability. Shes a gloriously human artist. She talks smack about her junkinthetrunk during shows and convinced us to sing along louder by painting a picture of a date where she asked to touch our boobs. How can you not have a girl crush on someone like that? I mean- really....!

Her openers were marvy too. Newton Faulkner has had my attention this week. He plays guitar like the kid from August Rush and has brilliant resonance and a head full of delishly crazy dreadlocks. Totally fun on stage.

Album Front

Artist: Snow Patrol
Album: A Hundred Million Suns
Awesome Rating: Exploding High 5

I've had this album recommended to me by 3 people in the last 3 weeks and I finally got it from Christian this last weekend when I was in DC and it's life-changingly beautiful. Every track has grit, poetry, passion and is dripping with that organic kind of expression that most Celts and their art have. It goes straight from their heart into yours, none of this pit stopping in the brain stuff. Favorites are The Golden Floor and If There is a Rocket Tie Me To It.

Artist: ABBA
Album: Mamma Mia Soundtrack
Awesome Rating: High 5

I know I'm a bit late on this train but for some reason it just really resonated with me last month. I sang my little heart along and came to the conclusion that its physically impossible to be sad when listening to ABBA. Like, they can be singing about really heavy and sad things but you're smiling and feeling the need to dance the whole time. I heart ABBA and I really heart this movie. Its just above the Muppets in terms of believability and viscosity but I love it nonetheless. If I'm in half as good shape as Meryl Streep when I'm that age give me a gold metal. Seriously.

Netflixations

Movie: Swingers
Director: Doug Liman
Release: October 1996
Awesome Rating: Exploding High 5

I'm also WAY behind the times on this one too. I've been quoting it since high school and I know and love all of the actors and creative talent involved but I have never sat down to watch it ever. So it came up in my queue and was waiting for me when I got home from DC and it was a perfect way to come home to LA. I really love this city and movies like this remind me why. High quotability, fantastic costumes, I could drink up that Vince Vaughn in 3 frosted mugs, smart writing and almost sardonic direction, and its all about LA! Practically a perfect movie? I think so. Is she looking at me now? How 'bout now?

Donde Esta la Biblioteca

Book: The Twilight Series
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Awesome Rating: Tumbs Up

I liked these books. I really did. I LOVED them before the 4th one came out. I was dedicated. I really was. I even dragged a guy friend to a midnight party for the 4th book. I was that excited. I had high hopes but with the 4th book it was kind of like an amazing song that had you all emotional and then ends with a massive atonal double hand slam on a piano keyboard and everyone walking off stage.

Exactly. Like. That.

I think it wasn't edited properly and rushed out and Stephenie didn't have time to Stephenieify it like she did with Twilight. I remain in love with Edward, Alice is my best friend (have any of you met Tracy? Totally Alice. Girl Scout's honor), and Emmet is my fav in the family. I just adore him. Stephenie needs to take some baby naming lessons, that's all I'm going to say about that AND read Midnight Sun if you have a sec. It will exponentially multiply your love for Edward and help you get over any Bella hatred (like it did me). She still drives me crazy but I think I can stand her now that I've seen her through Edward's eyes.

Book: The Ranger's Apprentice Series
Author: John Flanagan
Awesome Rating: High 5

So I originally read these books because a male type to whom I recommended Twilight that read them declared that it was "his turn" and my assignment were these books. It only seemed fair and it's adolescent lit type medieval fantasy. How bad could it be right? There are currently 8 books in the series, 4 only available in the US (it's an Australian series) and I read the 7 of them that he had and was pleasantly surprised. The first 3 books were a bit oooohhhhkaaaayyyyyyish. Just your standard coming of age of a scrawny orphan kid (Will) story by means of learning how to be a "Ranger" or part of the kingdom's intelligence/CIA type force of fighters. Characters were sweet and the plot was captivating enough to let me finish but nothing life changing or evoking the "my kids need to read THIS" reflex.

However, the continuing story and cast finally hit a stride in the 4th book and it continues through the 7th. I'm currently in the 8th right now (and yes I did order it from Australia. Freight isn't what you think it might be) and I'm really enjoying them and I really do think "Yes, my kids do need to read these. They need to know these people and learn the lessons that Will does." They're sweet and of good report. So yay for recommending Twilight and getting something just as (if not more) sweet in return.

Book: Pride and Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen
Awesome Rating: Exploding High 5

I'm making my yearly round on the text and it is still new and familiar kinds of wonderful and as giggle inducing as ever. I love Jane. I love Lizzy. I love Darcy. I love this story and it never ceases to amaze me and make me want to be a better writer. I will always have hope because I will always have Jane.

Etherial Nights

Name: The Swell Season
Current Album: Once Soundtrack
Concert Venue: The Greek
Awesome Scale Rating: Exploding high 5


So a while back I was at the Getty Villa and saw a production of Hippolytus there that was so amazing I was literally transported. I forgot where I was and when I was for the entirety of the production.

There are some musical acts who can do the same thing for me and I got to see one of them this last weekend with this phenomenal woman.

She is the reason I even know about this band. When I was in Phoenix this last time she, my cousin Janelle, and I were combing Blockbuster for some entertainment and we came across the Once display on the wall and she asked me if I had seen it and I said no. She proceeded to have what I believe is clinically defined as a conniption fit at the idea and I was made to swear a blood oath to go home and by it as soon as possible and watch it.

I did, I cried, I watched it again and cried again. If you're a music person this is one of the most endearing movies you will ever see. Girl scout honor.

So when we heard that these two with the Frames were coming to the Greek over Conference weekend the stars aligned and we both said "I do" to StubHub.

It was amazing. Iron and Wine opened up. LOVE them. Any man with a full beard and a guitar has my heart. That's just how I work. He was hilarious too. Half way through the set he asked the audience "So have you seen that movie Once? I haven't..."

Glen and Marketa were in rare form and as in love and adorable as can be. I truly believe that they are one of the most dynamic collaborations since Simon and Garfunkel. Their souls and voices just meld together. Its impossible not to feel something when they play. Glen is so adorable and lovable I could just take him home. It was just joy. Lauren kept turning to me and saying "It can't get better than this", and I was inclined to agree. The perfect group at a practically perfect venue.

Every number was preambled by Glen's fantastic and insightful Celtic burblings and we were all asked to sing along more than once.

Glen and Marketa spent a lot of time in LA last year with the Oscars and through one lunch or another Glen ran into this kindred spirit by the name of Robert Sherman. Just a little known songwriter who penned classics like, oh - MARY POPPINS and a slightly less well know musical entitled THE JUNGLE BOOK!

And you know what? He was there at the concert. And you know what else? He came out and played a song. And you know what ELSE? We all sang along. That's right. The entire sold out Greek Theater audience practically linked arms and sang Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious at the top of our lungs with full hearts and a renewed sense of hope in the world. Fairies were born.

The highlight of the night for me, one of many actually, was when Glen sang this one number from the movie. Its this amazing song called Say It To Me Now. Now one of Glen's many many allurements is his absolute, childlike, honest and unbridled love of what hes doing, love of the music, love of the process. Hes everything that the whole world adores about the Celts and the Irish. This is a powerful song. It's a cry from a hurting but courageous heart. I cry every time I hear it. I cry for him and for me.

Glen starts to sing the song, the band has already gone off stage, but he hesitated a little bit, unplugged his guitar from the amps, stepped around the mic and was going to just sing to all of us. All 5,700 of us gathered at the Greek. I looked at Lauren and said "hes really going to try and do it." and I looked back at the expanse of the theater, all the way to the trees (we were on the south terrace) and said "he can totally do it" because I knew he could. That man sings from the bottom of his toes and, let me tell you something, he did. He filled up that entire stadium with one voice and one guitar. No electricity needed. It was amazing. I was carried up and out of my own consciousness and all I could do was feel. Feel what he meant and feel that song.

He filled that entire venue with sheer passion, talent and love. The whole band did. But here is a lucky man's recording of this amazing moment. I'm not sure I'll ever have another one like it. Ever.

Enjoy - and if you haven't seen the movie go. Seriously. Right now.

Make Sure You Pee First

Title : Tropic Thunder
Director : Ben Stiller
Release Date: August 13, 2008
Awesome Scale Rating: Exploding High 5

So anyone who knows me knows that I love anything funny but I was nothing but skeptical about this flick because I think the PR campaign for it started sometime in 1982. There was a plug for it everywhere you could possibly look. This, to me, is a huge red flashing signal air horn with sequened flags because there seems to be a direct reciprocal relationship between the amount of promotion that goes into a movie and the quality that movie manages to possess. It's like that guy at the cocktail party that is the loudest and most vocal about his business conquests that is really the most insecure one in the bunch. Yeah - its true with movies too. I'm beginning to think it's part of the universal truth pamphlet.

I mean, how many movies have I seen that looked promisingly hilarious but, alas, all the meager moments of hilarity the cast managed to create were bastardized in the previews!!!? Boo. I could have been just as entertained for free gallivanting on Apple Trailers.

So after this flick came out and a few of the victims of the ad campaign that also happened to be my friends came back still giggling and quoting ad nausium and all these people also happened to be people whose sense of humor I trusted I thought... "why not"

So when I was up in Utah this last weekend visiting the borther and wakeboarding and rock climbing fell through we ended up nestling down with some cinnimon bears and preparing to be disappointed but we prepared IN VAIN!

This is one hilarious movie. Especially if you live in, around, about, or with the LA movie/entertainment culture. Ben Stiller is part of one of the old Hollywood families and also happens to be one of the most decent people on the planet who loves his wife and puts her in every film he makes and is probably labled as BFF in everybody's phone on any given red carpet so literally EVERYONE that is cool or is trying to be is in this film. Little throw away cameos - Toby Maguire or Christine Taylor (the wife). Totally. Freaking. Hilarious.

The parts of the trailer that cracked you up aren't nearly the funniest parts in the movie. Comedy appetizers my friends. Comedy appetizers.

There are ubquitious bootie allusions, as there is an oversexed hip hip character, and a good amount of unnecessary F-bombs. Jack Black was a bit underutilized in my opinion but he's a favorite so own that I'm totally biasted. And can I just say THANK GOODNES ROBERT DOWNY JR is SOBER again!!! I really really really love that guy. I loved Ironman (Who didn't? I mean really - even the comic book geeks were plactated) and I was praying it wasn't going to be a flash in the pan before the next relapse but seeing him again so soon was just Canon in D on my heart strings.

It makes fun of everything ridiculous and laughable about the movie industry and in Hollywood cultire, down to overzealous FX guys, blackface, Voss water bottles everywhere, and an over abundance of body hair, totally clueless actors, and agent ego.

I loved it and intend to see it again this week because I missed half of Robert Downey's hilarity because I was still busy laughing at the first half.

Ben knocked it out of the park on this one.

I'm so moved I think I should send a Thank You note. With cookies perhaps. He deserves it.

Chronicles of the Hotel Cafe

Episode I

Name: Greg Laswell
Current Album: Three Flights from Alto Nido
Awesome Scale Rating: Exploding High 5

Greg is one of the most remarkable acts that I've come across in a long time. Hes honest, hes got talent in spades, he has that understated passion that makes for amazing public performances and I've never seen him not wear chucks on stage. He hasn't gotten the rockstar bug. Thank goodnes!!!

My understanding is that hes been on the music scene with some inertia since 2005. Hes been writing since high school when he joined choir for a girl but realized that he really liked singing and music but he didn't start performing with any particular earnest until college.

I've mentioned him on other blogs because I've seen him perform about 5 times now and have been blown away every time. He is electric live and the bookers at the Hotel Cafe have incredibly good taste and the sense to keep him coming back. However, I found him under slightly uncool circumstances.

I was trying to keep my brain from leaking out my ears at work and clicked on this bubble gum Yahoo article about Mandy Moore and her new I'm A Serious Songwriter So Listen To Me Seriously I'm Sexually Active Now and Dated And Publically Broke Up With An A-Lister And Am Moving On album and Greg was briefly mentioned in the article as her most recent post-Zack Braff squeeze. So I iMeemed him and found a bunch of really good stuff and have been a fan since. My first time seeing him live was at the Hotel Cafe Tour show at the Musicbox in April of this year and the man transformed a room when he sat down to the piano. I haven't heard a voice full of so much sincerity and emotion since Annie Lennox.

I've finally just started not listening to his album on repeat and I got it at the album release party at the Hotel Cafe on July 11th. The #4 track "Comes and Goes (in waves)" is currently the most played song in my iTunes at 127 followed by the #8 track "I'd be Lying at 41. Yes - I love these songs and this album that much. He's that good. He could give Chris Martin and David Ghrol a run for their money and I really hope he does.

Stubs

So I remember this obtuse car commercial asking to "lemme see your stubs". Or implying "how much have you lived you life?" or "where have you been" and this guy had a glove box full of name tags, wristbands, backstage passes and ticket stubs. All of this implying that if you bought this car (I don't remember what kind of car - pretty effective commercial huh?) that your life would automatically turn into a Hollywood glam dream.

It was a retarded commercial but a good question -

Lemme see your stubs

This blog is going to be my proverbial stub. It will be my record and repository of my self induced media coma tendencies. Movies, concerts, books, albums anything pertaining to the American need to constantly be entertained I will talk about and review here. If any profound thoughts occur to me in the midst of said media coma I will most definitely hurry them to other venues in the blogosphere but for now this is what I've got.