My Favorite Dinner Spot and More Keri

It's February 2011, and I haven't been to a show yet this year.  Something must be, wait, is very wrong with this picture!  Thank goodness for Keri Noble and a friend who I may just go to every Keri Noble show with from here on out to put that dry spell to an end.

Tonight it is Keri Noble in Hopkins and dinner at Jimmy's Food & Cocktails (my absolute favorite restaurant).

Tonight Keri was even more amazing than her last show.  I know a lot more songs and learn a few more while I am there.  I also learn she is a Minneapolis native.  That means there will be many more opportunities to see her, until she breaks through, which I'm pretty sure must be coming any day.

I get a copy of her zoo album which is a live recording of her show at the MN Zoo, which is one of my repeat venues every year.  The show is from 2006 and filled with great songs.  There is nothing better than a live album.  Check out Piece of My Heart.  If it doesn't leave you in tears, you better be sure that heart of yours is beating.

An Old Friend, Holiday Music and Keri Noble

I Love Facebook.  There, I said it.  I don't admit my dirty laundry very often to others, but it's true.  I love Facebook for a lot of reasons, but mostly because it has brought me back into the lives of so many dear friends that I have lost touch with over the years.  

If it weren't for one of those friends, I probably wouldn't have any idea who Keri Noble is and why you should love her as much as I do.  Let me back up.  A few weeks back, an old friend of mine who I am connected to on Facebook sent me an email.  It went something like this....

Friend: "I think we have similar music tastes, would you like to go see Keri Noble with me?"

Lisa:  "I'm game, I have no idea who she is but up for a show and would love to reconnect."

Friend:  "Great, meet you for dinner and the show."

Lisa:  "Count me in."

...You get the picture...

So, we met for dinner.  I know it's probably cheezy when people say, "It was like no time had passed" so I won't say that.  In fact, 15 years had past, so obviously that isn't even true, but I was so glad to have had the opportunity to catch up.  Our lives were in different places, but there were many common connections between us that made the time fly by and leave me so thankful for this friend.  We finished dinner and headed to the show at the Varsity Theater.  

Here is what I can tell you for sure about Keri Noble.  She plays a wicked keyboard.  She is drop-dead gorgeous and may become my female crush (my friend's too).  She has unbelievable lyrics and a great band.  Typically, I don't love going to shows where I don't know any of the songs in advance - I love to sing along (to the dismay of those around me) and I can't do that if I don't know the songs.  After the show I bought her Holiday EP and most recent band album, When It Don't Come Easy... Yes, she covers Patty Griffin's song and titles her album after it, but don't worry, it all works out.  I love Red Eye Flight and What I Gotta Do.  Can't wait for more.

The Best Show I've Ever Seen

I don't have to tell you what an icon John Mellancamp is, his 30 year career in music speaks for itself.  He's been a professional musician longer than I have been alive.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime show, for sure.  Ever since Words & Music came out a few years ago, I haven't really been too long without a JM fix, but my love of Mellancamp started at a very early age with the song Hurts So Good.  In the early 80s when this song was released, I, like many young girls was an avid gymnast.  My parents were good friends of the owners of the gym where I took lessons and let us use it in the early mornings when no one else was there.  My mom and I spent hours and hours at the gym together working out to this song.  It's strange really.  I don't remember what we actually did in those early mornings, but I definitely remember this song.  Fast forward a few years, and my favorites became Authority Song, Jack & Diane, Your Life Is Now and Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First).

Tonight, this show had a totally different feel than the "old time" rock 'n roll you might expect (especially with hits like R.O.C.K. in the USA).  The diversity of instruments and how he changed up the tone of some of his hits, was amazing.  From an a cappella Cherry Bomb to a new song, Longest Days, that literally brought me to tears, I must see him again and again.

Ms Sara B

The State Theater and Sara Bareilles.  You might stop right there, but instead, I'll just tell you how much I loved this show!  First, start at the beginning.... Opener Holly Conlan was a treat.  I picked up her album after the show, however, it was a total disappointment.  It doesn't compare to seeing her live.  She needs a new record, stat!

On to the show - Sara was non-stop.  The stand-up piano playing and her energy was amazing.  She cracked me up with her cautious swearing and even her admitted mistakes in the show that no one would have probably even noticed if she hadn't pointed them out.  She definitely did the hits and many songs from her new album.  I think I got a workout just watching.  I, of course, love King of Anything, but Hold My Heart is a great second and Let It Rain could soon become my own personal anthem.  I left wanting a lot more.

Lady A is an A+

Today is a day that I will remember the rest of my life... That's pretty monumental for me.  I don't have many of those, really.  High school and college graduation, my wedding day, the day we bought our first house, the day we got Gus... you get the picture?  Today is one of those days, just with a different sort of memory.... today is the day I got a phone call from my mom and found out she has cancer, and it's Stage 4.  I don't have many of those kinds of memories, so I guess I should think I'm lucky.  Too bad nothing about this feels like the kind of luck you'd want.

What does any of this have to do with a concert?  Well, it might only be fitting that tonight we are going to see Lady Antebellum, who I absolutely love.  And, not only that, I can completely lose myself in the dark theater and try not to think about how everything might look a little different from today forward.

The show starts with David Nail, who I recommend you check out.  I know I am going to.

Lady A's stage is set up with some amazing backdrops, chandeliers and a huge window.  Not what I expected for a one-album wonder.

The show starts with I Run To You, which is my favorite song - it's on my workout playlist and although it has a slower pace than you'd expect, keeps me going.  They continue with hitting their other hits and a few covers.  They play Do I which is a Luke Bryan song that Dave and Charles wrote with Luke.  Man, these guys are so talented.  They cover some Bruce Springsteen, the Police and Bonnie Raitt and end the show with Need You Now, which just seems pretty fitting for the kind of mood I am in.  They play a short encore and the show ends.  I will definitely see them again and never forget this moment for so many reasons.

Division Playoffs Game 2 vs. Yankees

It's Game 2 on the Roof Deck.  Last night was a disappointing loss to the Yankees and if we don't pull out a win tonight, this will be the end of the playoffs at Target Field in 2010.  Pavano is pitching and Mike is wearing a Pavano mustache in his honor.  Despite the great weather, friends, food and confident hitting from the Twins, Game 2 goes to the Yankees... again.  The Twins have never won a division series game 2 and tonight was no exception.  Pavano went 6 innings and gave up 10 hits, which proved deadly.  On the bright side, the bullpen looked its best and combined for 2 scoreless innings.  Hudson and Young were shining at the sticks.  Too bad it wasn't enough.  Damn, it's hard being a Twins fan.

Twins, Blue Jays and More Donkey

So I'm a little behind in blog posts.  Let me finish up the baseball season before spring training gets underway.  On a Thursday night, we caught the beginning of the final homestand of the regular season against the Jays.  Bautista has been on fire this year and we aren't looking our best.  Despite another questionable outing by Baker, Valencia and Young, aka Donkey, pulled out an amazing performance.  Delmon hit his 20th homerun in the game and joined the ranks of Morneau, Puckett, Hunter and Cuddyer as the only Twins players to hit at least 20 homers, 40 doubles and 100 singles in a season.  Anybody missing from that list?  Clearly, Donkey is delivering.  You might wonder why the nickname Donkey?  That is a question only my husband can answer, but I guess it has paid off - this has been a memorable year, Delmon.