I am a Honey Bee

All about my adventures with cooking, crafts, and travel

music

Lenka: Just enjoy the show

On Wednesday night, Price and I went to see Lenka perform at Cafe 939. I have been a fan of Lenka since coming across her first album “The Show” (2008).  So when I heard she was coming out with a new album and then touring I was ready to buy tickets as soon as they went on sale. 

Lenka put on a fantastic show. There was a wide mix of songs from both her first album and the latest one, “Two”. I loved the personality she put into her performance. There was a lot of gestural storytelling to go along with the lyrics that added a lot of fun to the show. Plus she threw out candy at the beginning of the show since there is no alcohol served at Cafe 939, so if you can’t be buzzed, you might as well have a sugar high.

 

 

The majority of the people that I told that I was going to see Lenka responded with “who?” but as soon as I sent them a link to “The Show” they knew who I was talking about. So now that I have been putting the pieces together, go out and get her CD’s. Trust me, you’ll enjoy them.

PS- Ever so randomly, Price told me on Thursday night that Lenka is 33. okayyyy… “did you look it up?” “yes, I thought she was like 18.”

PPS- This was my 6th concert of the year. My goal was 5. I am on a roll!!!

Sing me a song

I heart Ian Axel. Price knows. It’s okay.

We first saw Ian perform back in January. It was a great show then and a great show now. The Red Room at Cake 939 is a great venue to see a show since it has a low stage, and the majority of the space is SRO. Because of that Price and I get to stand really close to enjoy the performances.

We missed the first act since we were too busy drinking rum out of a bottle at home while catching up about each others days. Yeah true story. We did get to see Alicia Lemke perform. I thought she was completely stunning. She performed a brand new song called ‘Maiden Lane’ that is a lullaby about a first responder on 9-11. Amazing. She created it to accompany a cook about 9-11.

 

Prior to Ian’s set, we chatted with Chad Vaccarino for a bit. We talked about how we were at the show in January and how he no longer drives, it freaks him out. I think that is hilarious and awesome.

Ian played solo for a bit, then Chad played with him, and then Ian was solo, etc. They are a great team together when they play. Ian is amazing on the piano. Price kinda wishes he had kept up with the trumpet whenever Chad plays. This time Ian played a ukulele. There was new music, more sing a long. Overall another fantastic time.

 

They will be back in Aug/Sept and I’ll be sure to get tickets to that show as well.

Gone

You’ve Got a Friend in Me

Girl, I Got a Thing

Ian Axel

On Thursday night Price and I went to the Red Room at Cafe 939 to see a show. We saw Ian Axel, Field Mouse, and Allison Weiss. I bought the tickets to see Ian Axel, who I have been hooked on since first seeing a song of his posted on Kelly Purkey’s blog.

The show was incredible. The venue is small, and while packed with people you still feel like it is an intimate experience.. You can stand or sit on the sofas that line the wall or sit on the floor. Only draw back really is that there is no booze there since it’s associated with Berklee College of Music, but really an amazing performance is better than a beer.

Ian’s set was amazing. He was intense and witty at the piano. While I love “This is the New Year” the song that really grabbed my attention was “Gone”. Clearly, I had heard this song before but I felt so much more watching him perform it live. I am not one to cry on a whim (except that Sarah McLachlan’s ASPCA commercial gets me every time!) but I really had to hold back some tears while I was standing there. Luckily, I managed to hold it together. I also really enjoyed the rest of his set, which included “Girl, I got a Thing”, “Leave Me Alone”,  “Afterglow”. I can’t forget to mention that Chad Vaccarino also performed with Ian, he sang and played the trumpet. That is one dynamic duo.

After Ian was done with his set Field Mouse performed and then Allison Weiss. While I enjoyed the Field Mouse set, I felt that the singer lacked punch to get heard over the drums. Keep in mind that I am no music aficionado but I would like to hear what the lyrics over the music. That being said, I listened to them later on myspace and loved them. Ending the evening, Allison Weiss’ performance was fantastic. I loved how she joked around between songs, gave the meaning and inspiration for songs, and overall commanded the stage.

It was a great night, even though I fell walking back to the T, because I got to see a fantastic performance from a musician I have been hooked to for awhile. Plus I saw another that I instantly loved, resulting in an iTunes purchase, which is a pretty big deal for me.

Thanks for visiting. Please leave me a comment to provide some feedback. I appreciate all the comments I receive.

STOMP out loud

Last night Price and I saw STOMP at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. It was my 5th time seeing this show. Clearly I love it. I started seeing it when I was younger and saw it 4 times within a few years. My Dad saw that STOMP was going to be touring in MA so he got us tickets for our Christmas gift.

I have no rhythm. I can’t keep a beat. Clapping is lost on me. I think that makes me love the show even more. (Plus it feeds into my love on drummers) I am utterly amazed by the show and how they create this stunning music with everyday items. Just 1-7 people performing at a time. It can start with 1 person tapping, then one by one the others come on stage with their “instrument” at a different beat. At times it sounds chaotic and then suddenly it all makes sense and they all hit the same beat with a bang.

The one thing that I completely forgot about was how much audience participation there is. It’s just clapping and stomping but the interaction with the performers is so much fun. Again it reminded me how I have no memory and rhythm. Luckily Price can keep a beat so he did enough clapping and stomping for the both of us. Still so fantastic!

Beyond excited!!!!!!!!!

I was really bad and skipped my second class for a concert Monday night. But any trouble that I get into will be totally worth it because I saw an amazing show!!!! AMAZING!! I went to the Perez Presents Tour and saw Frankmusik, Semi Precious Weapons, Ida Maria, and LadyHawke. Plus I got to meet all but 1 of the performers- Ida Maris had a meltdown on stage and stoped after 2 songs and came back to cry through the third. I chatted with Dan (drummer for SPW) for awhile after their set so when it all ended I was invited backstage with some other people. Then I went out with Vincent Frank (Frankmusik) and his players to find an open bar. Once we settled in at Landsdowne LadyHawke came in with her band. And then after I walked with Vincent and 2 others to a pizza place. Finally I went home and went to bed a bit after 3. The excitement from the night before carried me through the day on about 2 1/2 hours sleep. Kinda crashing now but it all was worth it!!!

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Me and Vincent- Frankmusik

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Me and Justin, singer from SPW

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Me and Dan, drummer from SPW

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Me and Cole, bassist from SPW

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Me and Stevy, guitarist  from SPW

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BPD posing with SPW backstage

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Frankmusik using my iphone to Google his friend Peter Glam to show everyone that Justin from SPW and Peter Glam look alike

Such a perfect night.

I’ll upload picture to Facebook and videos to youtube sometime this week.

I love Frankmusik

frankmusik

Frankmusik is a UK based electropop musician. Vincent Frank got his start beatboxing but now he goes by Frankmusik and has been working the Pop/electronica scene. I have been listening to him for a while and impatiently waiting for his CD to come out. He was releasing is CD earlier this year but then it was pushed back…. so disappointing! Well, now his CD is out and I am very happy 🙂

I ordered Complete Me online and arrived on Tuesday Night! The best was that the ebay seller would send me all these emails saying my order was received, being processed, shipped, and it’s estimated time of arrival!! I anxiously awaited its arrival and then it came!!

frankmuisk2

Now with it in hand I am driving Price crazy. Complete Me is constantly playing on my iphone and in the apartment. Lots of boogying around on my part. I even asked Price if I could cut his hair like Vincent’s and he said no. I even tried to suggest I cut it close on the side and keep it long and style it tall in front (like the top photo)- I still loose. (Side note- Price would rather grow a mullet and a fu manchu next year for our RV roadtrip. I’ll believe it when I see it!) I love it all but I have my favorite songs…..

In Step

3 Little Words… the video has a piano like the movie BIG!

Better off as Two

Plus I love this clip of Frankmusik Beatboxing

On top of getting his CD this week, I just bought a ticket to see him on @ the House of Blues on 9/14.  Perez Hilton has a new label and has organized a tour with a few of his peeps (Ida Maria, Ladyhawke, FrankMusik, Julian Perretta, Eric Hutchinson, Semi Precious Weapons and Sliimy) I would have loved to have seen Julian Perretta also but he is the part of the tour that is on the West Coast. At least I get to see Frankmusik… it will help me get my LAST semester started!!!