Mariza - Carnegie Hall 10/07/2005

Sometimes you find magic in the places you least expect it.
A few years back a friend at work lent me one of her Mariza CD's. We were talking about Fado singers and Mariza was the one that was bringing Fado to a new generation in Portugal. Fado is a music form that is uniquely Portuguese. Fado means fate, it is the Portuguese blues. The most famous Fado singer was Amália Rodrigues. She is the one that all others are compared to. She is Sinatra, Edith Piaf, Caruso, Bob Dylan, The Beatles. She is the one all others aspire to be, and are inevitably compared to.

Mariza is taking Fado to a new place. Unlike many Fado singers that sing from the past catalog of Fado songs, Mariza also performs songs that contain elements of not only Fado but also of African and Brazilian music. Mariza also knows that to perform this classic, beautiful music in larger concert halls, a bit of theatricality is needed. Her dresses, her hair, her movements, are not traditional Fado. But you need those sort of artists to shake the foundation every once in a while. Think what Savion Glover has done for tap, or what Michael Flatley has done for Irish step dancing.
Back on October of 2007, I had tickets to go see Mariza at Carnegie Hall. My wife and I had great seats, and I was looking very forward to it. Unfortunately my wife was not . Two things she hates. Rainy weather and New York. Well, we got them both. She was a sport and did not complain. We got into New York and got to Carnegie Hall pretty quickly. As soon as they opened the Hall, we got in.
I felt bad, but figured she might like the show. She's Portuguese, and liked Fado, so there was a chance. About 2 songs into the show, she leaned over and said "she's really good". It was one of the happiest moments in my concert going life. For once I dragged my Wife to a show she was actually enjoying. It didn't make up the the times I took her to see the Grateful Dead, but it was a step in the right direction
But beyond that, Mariza WAS great. Her voice, her connection with the audience. I may not have understood everything she sang, but she sang with real emotion. It never felt forced or manufactured. She has a beautiful voice and the musicians were amazing. I almost screamed out "yes" when started to perform Barco Negro, my favorite Fado song. I knew the Amália Rodrigues version, but did not know Mariza performed it also.
During the encores she spoke of how she was honored to be playing Carnegie Hall and how she looked at the photos on the walls of past performers, and felt small in their shadow. I'm sure one day, the same will be said about her. She offered a condensed version of New York State of Mind saying how New York is her favorite city in the world.
We were lucky to see Mariza a year and half later when she came to our neighboring town. But that first time seeing her, with the person most important to me, will always hold a special place in my heart.

I will include the main set list and musicians below.

Luis Guerreiro-Portuguese Guitar
Antonio Neto-Classical Guitar
Vasco Sousa-Bass Guitar
Antonio Barbosa-Violin
Ricardo Mateus-Viola
Paulo Moreira-Cello
Joao Pedro Ruela-Percussion


Loucoura
Quando Me Sinto So
Maria Lisboa
Montras
Ha Uma Musica Do Povo
Barco Negro
Meu Fado Meu
Instrumental
Duas Lagrimas
Cavaleiro Monge
Recusa
Transparente
Feira de Castro
Oiça Lá Ó Senhor Vinho
Primavera

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers-Mann Music Center 8/15/89

Some concerts leave an imprint immediately, some don't. The first time I saw Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers was back in 1989 at the Mann Music Center in Pennsylvania. The tour was in support of his great Full Moon Fever album/CD. I wound up going with a couple friends of mine from college. We went up the day of the show and bought lawn seats, but actually wound up sitting in the general admission bleachers. The concert was just one of several I went to once I started to go to concerts regularly. I probably wouldn't have gone, had it not been suggested. I was very glad I did. The venue was pretty nice, and Tom and the band were great. The Replacements were the opening act, and to be honest they did not win me over. If I saw them now it might be a different story.

I thought overall the concert was very good, but it didn't stand out as one of my favorites. Many years would go by before I would see Petty again, and I was impressed album after album at how good the songs were and how good the band was. When I did see Petty again,many many years later at the PNC Bank Arts Center, I don't think that for any reason the show was better, I think I just appreciated how many great songs he had. They piled up one after another: American Girl, You Wreck Me, Learning To Fly, the list goes on.

Sadly, drummer Stan Lynch was no longer in the band and bassist Howie Epstein had passed away. But new drummer Steve Ferrone and original Heartbreakers bassist Ron Blair were great.

I found the old program for the Mann Music Center and the setlist I copied down during the show. Looking at the songs performed, I do think if I saw that show now I would remember it vividly.

***Setlist***

American Girl

Feel a Whole Lot Better

Free Fallin"

The Waiting

Breakdown

I Won't Back Down

Benmont Tench Piano Solo

Mike Campbell Guitar Solo

Don't Come Around Here No More

Even the Losers

Milk Cow Blues(Elvis Presley Cover)

Face in the Crowd

Yer So Bad

You Got Lucky

The Rebel

I Need To Know

Should I Stay or Should I Go(Clash cover)

Refugee

Runnin' Down a Dream

Crazy For You

Jammin' Me

2008 Olympic Opening Ceremonies

Living art. That is what I witnessed tonight during the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Putting any political or humanitarian issues aside, the opening ceremonies for these Olympics will probably go down as one of the greatest. There are usually moments one can remember from an Olympic opening ceremony. But the performance part of this years ceremony prior to the parade of nations were a work of art. The precision, the sets , the costumes, the video images were all of the highest quality. Even the traditional cheesy song was actually well performed(lip synced of course) and beautifully realized.
What was most impressive, was that after the initial drum intro, my thought was, "well they can't top that". But they did. Each segment was as strong as the previous one, and was performed with such beauty and precision that I literally can not think of any other opening ceremony that was as powerful.
Good luck to Great Britain 4 years from now. Start planning soon. Very soon.

p.s. Thanks to National Geographic & Yahoo for the images.

Asbury Park Images

I had a few more images I wanted to add from my visit to the boardwalk the other day.

Asbury Park

Had a couple days off this week from work, and decided one morning to check out what the boardwalk in Asbury Park was looking like. I went early in the morning and was pleasantly surprised at how it looked. The boardwalk had a few new shops and the arcade within the Convention Hall was now occupied by an Irish pub, a beach bar, and several stores. Sadly none were opened, due to the time and probably because it was Monday.
The old Howard Johnsons was now a cafe' with a nightclub upstairs.
It was a promising sight. When I first moved to New Jersey we would go to Asbury on occasion. The Palace was open and I went into the fun house several times. The boardwalk still had a roller coaster and several other rides. I probably never even noticed a club called the Stone Pony across the street, or Mrs. Jay's, which was right next to the Pony.
It took some time, but eventually everything along the board walk pretty much closed, except the Howard Johnson's, which was open erratically. You could always buy a beer whenever there was a concert at Convention Hall or the Paramount Theatre. If you were unlucky you might get a hefty fine for taking a few steps onto the boardwalk with a beer in hand. The police were no idiots. They knew they could make a few extra dollars for the town. Always good to know the streets are safe.
The Pony has remained open, despite closing briefly and having numerous "Last New Years Eve" concerts.
It was nice to see some life come back to the town. Who knows how long it will take or how much will actually get done. It won't happen overnight, but it can happen. It's a seaside town with a rich history.
I just hope it keeps the feel it had. The old buildings, the unique architecture. If you want pretty, but cookie cutter seaside towns,go to Long Branch. The boardwalk is great, but has no character. But I guess character doesn't bring in tourists.
Let's hope Asbury Park doesn't wind up like Atlantic City, or Long Branch for that matter.
To quote the song Atlantic City: Everything dies baby, that's a fact. But maybe everything that dies, someday comes back.