Goo Goo for Gaga

Mike creatively calls my concert-going obsession, which strangely picks up during the summer months, my summer concert series.  Lady Gaga marks the end of the best season yet; here's why...

I knew I was really in love with Lady Gaga when I thought I should take up running and needed some music that would keep me going through each mile.  Just Dance and Bad Romance are on my run playlist and helped me get through my first race, the Twins 4K, at the beginning of the month.

For those of you paying attention, I should tell you that it is not common for me to catch back-to-back concerts on school nights, but for Lady Gaga, I'll definitely make exceptions.  This is a night I had been waiting for since March when we caught Black Eyed Peas in concert with some friends and learned that she would be coming to town.  Our friends were game to go together and tickets were subsequently purchased.  Okay, I guess I should clarify... my girlfriend and I decided we should go and our husbands didn't completely negate the idea.

We were off to a rocky start when, a few days before the concert, I learned that although Jason Derulo was touring with Lady Gaga earlier in the year, he was now too big to be an opening act, and we were going to be blessed with Semi Precious Weapons instead.  Big bummer since I actually somewhat justified the ridiculous ticket price for the nose-bleeds thinking that I was getting 2 shows I'd like to see for my money.  Putting all of that aside, we arrived in time for SPW to start.

There isn't much to tell you about SPW other than they are terrible.  If you are interested in watching a guy jump around, change clothes on stage - down to less underwear than I wear, and ask you repeatedly if you want to have his baby, you should consider finding these guys in the basement of a very sketchy club in NYC where I am sure they hang out hoping they will someday be able to "bring back rock and roll" like they keep telling you they are going to do.  Best of luck to you.

Finally, it's time for Gaga.  She starts off with a few of the radio hits and you figure out quickly that this is going to be as much like watching a freaky musical as it is a concert.  Between the costume and set changes, an interesting story develops of how Gaga and her friends are trying to make it to the Monster Ball, despite being "dropped off" - by car, subway and tornado - in sketchy places.  The people-watching around us is just about as entertaining as the show.  There are quite a few moms/daughters of all ages dressed up to match the artist.  The soda/beer can hairdos are my favorite.  Gaga spends time between songs itching her nose and playing with her hair (interpret as you wish), telling her "Monsters" how much she loves them (and to put their paws up, which cracks me up) and making call outs to her sponsor.  The show takes on a bit of a cult like undertone with Gaga covered in faux blood, praying to a statue that shoots sparks from it's wings and playing in a bloody fountain.  Despite all of this, I can't take my eyes or ears off this show and leave more than satisfied I got my money's worth...

Me, Brandi Carlile and 6,000+

It is a funny little tradition of mine to spend a little time at the organism known as the "Great Minnesota Get Together" AKA the Minnesota State Fair every year for a few reasons.  First, because when I moved to Minnesota in 1996, it became an annual event and I have a thing for anything I can look forward to once a year.  Yes, I realize that is a lot of corn dogs.  One of the other reasons I love the fair is because it nearly always falls sometime around my birthday, which should be a month-long event, if you ask me.  Having your birthday around a misunderstood national holiday pretty much sucks until you are old enough to no longer want to remember you are another year older.  And finally, there is nothing better than watching all the crazies come out to this annual event.  Well, the corn on the cob isn't bad, either.

This year, I had another reason to head out into this insanity... Brandi Carlile.  I have to admit up front, I carry a fairly unhealthy obsession for Brandi, Josh, and Tim and Phil, the twins, right now, and have seen them potentially more than anyone else - I may have to fact check that someday.  In fact, the Grandstand at the MN State Fair is not the first time I have seen Brandi & Co this year, nor the first time I have seen them at the MN State Fair, but who's counting?  Isn't that why I decided to blog about this stuff, anyway?  So here are some thoughts from the event...

First, one sentence about the Watson Twins, who opened the show.  That's good enough.

A shout out to Amos Lee, the second opener.  He's been on my list to see for some time and I absolutely loved him.  Thanks to Cities 97 for introducing me... he's on at least 1 sampler, maybe 2, and whenever he comes up in my playlist, I am reminded that I need to go see this guy!  He did not disappoint.  Supply and Demand makes me love him, check out Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight and Listen is a good deeper cut.   

On to Brandi, or should I say, Josh.  Josh opened the set with a cello solo that makes you melt.  I love the cello for a few reasons:  First Josh is not bad to look at.  Lets be honest, for an instrument that you have sit to play, you need a little bit of interest to keep your attention.  Second, the cello is the only instrument that I ever attempted to learn.  I still love the sound of it today.  I can tell you all of the notes to "Ode to Joy" in bass clef, but that is the range of my retained knowledge.  If I had more ambition, I may actually pick it back up, but don't hold your breath for that to happen.  I thought you needed a little context for my love of Josh.  I have not seen Josh start the show too many times, but hope it happens more.  I read once that he gets really nervous to be out there alone at the beginning of the show and that is pretty endearing. 

Being one of 6,000 (or should I say two - my husband Mike was also a willing participant) is a pretty cool thing to experience for a singer/songwriter/indie/folk/lesbian artist who is still rather early in her musical career and whom you have seen in much smaller places with much less excited crowds.  The usual set antics were included in the show this time... the "acoustic set" which couldn't be completely unplugged because the grandstand was too large and those that were in the cheep seats wouldn't be able to hear a thing... The 3 part harmony in Turpentine... Jackson/Folsom Prison cover of Johnny Cash and the newest addition that I first saw on Cayamo 2009, cover of The Beatle's Let it Be that ended just as the fireworks began (priceless).

If you are not as familiar with Brandi, check out her first album first.  It made me fall in love with her...  songs like Follow, Fall Apart Again and Closer to You are some of my favs.  At this show, when I'm contemplating getting serious about starting a blog, I had what Oprah would call [insert a little/lot of cheez] an "Aha! Moment"... the lyrics to My Song were pretty much calling out to me (I did warn you about the cheez!).   Here's a little glimpse...

everything I do 
surrounds these pieces of my life 
that often change
or maybe I've changed...

This is My Song...

I live every day like 
there'll never be a last one 
till they're gone
and they're gone
but I'm too proud to beg
for your attention and your friendship
and your time
so you can come and get it from now on...

This is my song...come back if you want to hear more.  Or don't... you choose.