Post Your Summer Concert Reviews Here!

[MusicMom]

I'm interested in hearing about what performances everyone is seeing and how they are. There still might be opportunities to take recommendations for this year or next year. :)

We saw more than we normally do in lieu of a family vacation (too busy with shopping for colleges this summer).

National Symphony Orchestra, "To Boldly Go..." with Leonard Nimoy narrating at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. The symphony performed songs from space movies during the first half of the concert (Star Wars, Star Trek, ET, etc.). The second half featured Holst's The Planets with Leonard Nimoy narrating a description of each planet. Images of the planets from the Hubble Space Telescope were shown on screens inside the theater and outside on the lawn. Great music, but the Trekkies were a little annoying as they called out for Nimoy to "say it!" He finally did at the end, fitting it into the conclusion. The planet images were repetitive- I'm sure they must have more on file, but it looked like they only had 4 or 5 pictures for each planet that looped through the slide show.

Celtic Woman - also at Wolf Trap. DD and I treated ourselves to pit seats so we were in the center of the third row in cushioned chairs with lots of leg room. Well worth the $$ for this show. I don't know why, but I expected it to be like a concert. It's not- it's a carefully choreographed show- similar to Riverdance. The music was wonderful and DD enjoyed seeing the women in person. The fiddler was especially fun to watch.

Chicago (the band, not the musical) at Wolf Trap. This was DS's request- his favorite group. At 17, he was probably the youngest fan there. The group has four of its original members, with some young guys on guitar, drums, and vocals. The horns were as great as ever and I still love Robert Lamm's bluesy voice. The group had a lot of energy and exceeded my expectations. They're not resting on their past hits, they're really putting a lot of energy into their show. DS liked it, but thought the last few songs were the best when they got people on their feet.

US Army Band at the Washington Monument. One of the perks of living in the DC area is having regular access to the military bands. If one of them ever comes to your city/town- GO see them. The bands are made up of elite musicians- it's very difficult to get in. The concert we saw included the Herald Trumpets (the ceremonial long trumpets with banners), the chorus and a couple of soloists. The best part was the Overture 1812 with cannons. The soloist on "You Raise Me Up" was excellent and of course, Stars and Stripes Forever was the perfect encore.


Anyone else?

[Laura]

I posted before that DD and I saw The Fray and Augustana in Seattle at the Showbox in July while we were looking for colleges for her. I enjoy a lot of the music that she listens to and would have gone to see these bands without her. Both bands rely on the piano as one of the main instuments and the focus is really on the song writing. I am not up on the different genre of music out now; I guess this would be alternative?? Anyway both groups, IMO sounded better than they do on the CD and if you like their music, I would highly recommend seeing them. I also think it would be best to see them in a small venue if possible (with Augustana I don't think they are popular enough to fill large venues).

[seeteekay]

I just saw Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals on friday night at the Greek theater in Berkeley. Damian Marley opened for him. It was a great concert and what was even better is that Carlos Santana showed up as a special guest in the middle of Ben's performance. The crowd freaked out, since none of us knew he was going to be there. It was great.

[funniegrrl]

Saw Rob Thomas and Jewel (same concert) a few months ago. Both were fab. Jewel was very personable, very funny. The audience insisted that she yodel and she did several pieces. Rob Thomas played everything you ever heard him do, including a slower version of Smooth, plus some great covers. He and Jewel did Stop Dragging My Heart Around. It was a great great show.

Oh yea, and I'm going to see Counting Crows tonight. :D

[linsleyd]

I would love to see Ben Harper!

Just saw Tom Petty and The Allman Brothers Band in Camden. Fantastic show!

[SandyM]

Just saw Tom Petty and The Allman Brothers Band in Camden. Fantastic show!

Linsley - a friend of mine was there too (he's a HUGE fan of Derek Trucks) and he agrees with you. :) He said the entire show was great.

Not so much a summer show, but I'm looking forward to seeing Clapton in September. :D

[bobmark226]

Puccini's "Tosca" at Bellayre Mountain - My first time up here, the setting is fabulous, so much so I took a drive back with a friend the next day just to share it. I was expecting a large tent, the size of Tanglewood's, but it was way smaller, maybe 200-300 seats. Most of the performances here are jazz, some pop, and a lot of chamber, things that use a smaller stage, but the opera is a one performance annual event. Expecting a full orchestra, too, I was suprised to find it was just a few instruments along with piano and percussion, but the overall impact of Puccini's "shabby little shocker" was still there, as two of the three principals were excellent, as were several of the secondary roles. Only the Baron Scarpia, the villain, was poor, and much to my surprise, the small audience booed him! Overall, a lot of fun, though, and it had me on a "Tosca" playing jag since.

In the second act, the tenor, the hero, is tortured, and makes his final appearance before going off to his third act execution in a bloody shirt, ripped open to the chest. At intermission we went to the ski lodge lobby which serves as the lobby for the tent and as it was ending, I went down to the men's room. Someone joined me at the next urinal and I looked over to see the bloody shirted tenor. "I guess I can take my time if you're here," I said. "Yes, you can," he replied, and as he headed to the sink he added "I'm getting f--king laryngytis in this place."

Now I ask you, how was I supposed to sit through the third act and his execution without laughing? :)

Bob

[ccooney]

DBF and I went to see JT last night in Portland. As usual, the show was fabulous. I do have to say, though, that I was a little worried at the beginning, as his voice was sounding just a bit worn. I was thinking to myself that it has been a long summer tour for him thus far, and perhaps his vocal cords are getting tired. But by the 3rd or 4th song, he was more than warmed up, as was the audience. At one point, some guy yelled out "James...you 'da man!" Ever the entertainer, his response was, "You know, I'm sick of being 'da man. I say you 'da man. After all, I did say earlier that I was a broad for a year." He was referring to a little story hehad already told about going abroad and buying a car which he had shipped back to the States. Of course, with his witty quip, he had the audience rolling in the aisles.

[kathyann]

DBF and I went to see JT last night in Portland.
Kind of funny.... DH and I live in the Portland area, and we went to NH (where I see you are from!!) to see Chris Isaak last night.
This is the 4th or 5th time that we have seen him in concert, and as usual he put on an incredible show!! He is such an all around entertainer- great energy and a fantastic sense of humor on stage, and of course he's pretty easy on the eyes too... Oh- the music was great as well ;) His band is very talented, and have played together forever, and I love, love, love his voice!!! Swoon.... :) He played all of his big hits, and some impropmtu unrecorded stuff as well.
Anna Nalick opened for him, and she was just OK. Not very comfortable on stage, and the only song that seemed to keep the crowd's attention was "breathe" which is her biggest hit to date. The sound seemed off for her part of the show, and it was almost impossible to understand her vocals.
The show was at Meadowbrook, which is an outside venue, but with a roof over the stage and seating area. Our first time there, and we really enjoyed it. I'm sure we'll go back again next year if some one interesting comes along.

[Ann1965]

We paid a hefty sum and saw Huey Lewis and Chicago in Charlotte last month. Thanks to a very strict Church of God upbringing, I was not a fan of either as a teen. Much to my surprise, Huey was fantastic. He put on an excellent show and I really enjoyed it. Chicago, on the other hand, was awful. I thought the horn player was bordering on extreme vulgarity and I felt like he was just going to have s@x with himself at any moment. Now that may seem like my COG rearing, but hubby agreed and he was reared a very loose Baptist! We left before the encore, we just couldn't take anymore.

We also saw the Army Band at our local ampitheater. They were fantastic!

[Ann1965]

We paid a hefty sum and saw Huey Lewis and Chicago in Charlotte last month. Thanks to a very strict Church of God upbringing, I was not a fan of either as a teen. Much to my surprise, Huey was fantastic. He put on an excellent show and I really enjoyed it. Chicago, on the other hand, was awful. I thought the horn player was bordering on extreme vulgarity and I felt like he was just going to have s@x with himself at any moment. Now that may seem like my COG rearing, but hubby agreed and he was reared a very loose Baptist! We left before the encore, we just couldn't take anymore.

We also saw the Army Band at our local ampitheater. They were fantastic!

[sarah2397]

I have a few coming up... The Who, Clapton & Roger Waters (from Pink Floyd). Saw Sheryl Crow & Dave Mathews at Fenway park and that was great. Have always been a fan of Sheryl and Dave Mathews was also very good, knew much more of his stuff than I realized I would.

The Tom Petty/Allman Bros show sounds like it was great. Tom Petty's new CD is fantastic.

I am seeing Steve Miller Band tonight. I used to love them when I was in High School -- we'll see how they do tonight.

[SusanPC]

We saw Jewel at Wolftrap and enjoyed ourselves.

We saw Faith Hill and Tim McGraw at the Verizon center and it was so, so. I don't think I like the place as a venue, the acoustics are terrible so it just seemed like they were screaming and you couldn't hear the words very well.

[hollysmom]

We would have attended a BUFFETT concert here if he would ever play Houston again....

SSM

[schuh]

Just saw Keith Urban -- he was wonderful!

Saw Chris Botti (jazz trumpet) last week. His concert didn't do as much for me for a variety of reasons.