It's April! The Last Part ~ Gavin DeGraw in Port Chester

I've decided that eggs are the older person's raman noodles.  I'm eating a lot of eggs this week, having had the wonderful opportunity to see Gavin DeGraw three times in five days.  It's a good thing I know about a hundred things to do with eggs since there are more concerts in my future.  How does that lyric go?  

Baby get used to that hole in your pocket

That's the price of love.

You know, a girl's gotta do ....

Last Wednesday:  Starland Ballroom, Sayreville
Last Friday:  House of Blues, Atlantic City

So, if this is Monday, I must be in Port Chester.

The Make A Move Tour was announced before Christmas I think (maybe not ... that's what happens when you get old ... the memory is the first thing to go).  In any case, I'd had my April tickets for months.  We  tweeted often "Is it March yet?" "Is it April yet?" "Is it May yet?" all winter long, depending on where we lived and when we were seeing Gavin in concert. Well, it's April now and I've had three experiences.  And I want to turn back the clock.

I'd barely recovered from the HOB concert when Monday rolled around.  My New York concert buddy, @SheeZAmaZing called me just after lunch to let me know that she would be able to use one of my extra tickets (long story there--but I'm glad I had them).  I was thrilled she'd be able to join me and hurried to get ready.  Sheeza lives in Manhattan so I was in for another mini road trip. 

I reached her place by about 4:00 or so and we headed out of the City for Port Chester, slightly north of Rye, NY.  The traffic was impossible and I got a little panicky at one point thinking we'd be stuck in New York all night.  It didn't help that I'd gone the wrong way over the Triboro  Bridge.  But eventually we arrived.  It was about 6:45 when we approached the Capitol Theatre and we had no expectations of front row.  And yet, front row, albeit far left, is where we found ourselves.  Because as the song says,

I want to be where you are

And I'm willing to get there.

The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester is a beautiful place.  Built in 1926, it has a story similar to many grand old spaces.  A one-time movie palace that fell on hard times after the big Hollywood studio productions had run their course, it was reinvented as a music venue in the 70's but eventually closed down for many years.  After changing hands several times, it's now been reopened for mostly music performances and it's stunning with gorgeous plasterwork and the most innovative light show on the side walls and domed ceiling.  It was dramatic.

I'd long ago decided on a second meet and greet opportunity tonight (one of the reasons I had extra tickets).  So after Rozzie Crane's opening set, I went back to the merch table to get in line.  We waited a long time but as usual, I met a new fan friend from Long Island.  I also ran into Delores and her sister Joyce again (they'd been at HOB, Atlantic City too).  And standing in line I recognized Deanna.  By then Parachute was on stage and it was really hard to chat but we managed to get a few words in.  I'd left the CD I wanted Gavin to sign in the car when we rushed to the venue.  So when we finally got downstairs ('way below the stage in the catacombs of the theater), I thought I would dispense with the autograph and just talk an extra second or two. At the last minute, however, I had him sign my ticket and I asked him to use my Twitter name:  @GSKath.  I told him how grateful I am that he and his music have brought so many new, interesting and special people into my life, that it was one of his greatest gifts ... bringing people together.  Finally, I managed to say something that was on my heart.  Because,

I just want to thank you baby

I just want to thank you.

I didn't get lost coming out of the bowels of the theater by myself (although at the time, it was actually a real concern).  I found my way back to the front row and it wasn't too long before the familiar darkness and smokey fog enveloped the audience and the music that "excites my every cell" flowed all around.  It was the third show in five days.  I knew exactly what to expect.  I closed my eyes and let myself be swept away.  For some reason I can't get enough of this music that seems to provide me with an energy that comes from nothing else I know.

The crowd was enthusiastically receptive.  There were only a few screaming teens and, near me, only one who sang loudly out of both tune and rhythm.  I watched Gavin use the whole stage as he always does, entertaining us with stories (well known to a lot of us by now), that trademark charm and moves that are uniquely his own. 

Song after song until the set list was complete.  Then, the now trademark selfie for this show and he disappeared from the stage.  I went off to complete my shopping list for fan friends at the merch table and SheeZaMazing stayed near the stage ... just in case.  Gavin did not come back out this time but she was rewarded anyway with one of the set lists.


I don't eat much before a show and I'm always famished afterward.  We found a nearby diner and I ordered, what else ... eggs benedict.  And lots of coffee.  Okay--not real coffee; I only drink decaf.  It wakes me up anyway.  We chatted, tweeted, read tweets ... I appreciate those who give us glimpses of their concerts when it's their turn.  I like to see what others are feeling who've just had the same experience as I.  

Back on the road we make it back to Manhattan in far less time than it took to get out.  I imagine the band getting on the bus and leaving for Toronto and the happiness in store for all my Canadian fan friends in a couple of days.  @SheeZAmaZing and I promise to make plans for another adventure soon now that the weather is on our side again.  And I point my little red car ... (hmmm ... my red carpet ride) in the direction of home.  Five days, three shows with three road trips and I can't help but think that  

A red carpet ride

can take your mind away from anything.

It did but this lovely red carpet ride is coming to a close.  For now.

Concert Diaries Chapter 20: Paramount 2013 (a Let's December It post)

Everything will change ...

After yesterday's adventure in the snow, I think Brenda and I were ready for anything.  We set off for Long Island around 11:00 but first had to make an all-important stop for me:  Best Buy.  Fangirl had to replace her camera before the evening.  iPhone pictures just don't cut it.

The roads were pretty good by the time we hit the highway.  Some slush on the road causing a filthy spray on the windshield was the worst we had to contend with.  We made good time and arrived in Huntington (central Long Island) around 1:30.  Plenty of time--"doors" wouldn't open until 7:00.  For this General Admission show, it was essential to be in the front of the line to assure that front row position.  We collected our tickets at the Will Call window and set off in search of food.

We found Portofino's, an Italian restaurant across the street from The Paramount that had been highly recommended and settled in for a leisurely lunch.  Just as we were enjoying dessert though, we saw a couple of people begin to line up.  It was only 3:00.  There was nothing else to do but get in line as well.  We met up with Courtney out on the street and together we joined the handful of people who comprised the front of the line. The long wait began.  It was below freezing but I was more prepared this year than last year even while still choosing a little black dress over jeans.

The time passed quickly with friends meeting us in line and chatting with other fans sharing the frigid yet friendly experience.  There's always a lot to talk about ... concerts we've been to, concerts lined up in the future, how we all became fans, favorite songs and more personal chat too.  Every meeting like this results in at least one person pointing out how many friendships have been formed because of this man and his music.

Someone from the venue came out to check ID's and give us wristbands.  I'm always amused at having my ID checked.   After all I've been legal to drink in NJ/NY since, well, forever.  The drinking age was 18 back then.  The guy really read it too.  I guess he could do the math since I got a bracelet.

Doors opened not long after that and the sprint for the front row began.  I lingered to make sure my new young friends knew how this venue worked:  stairs to the right and left, up and through the doors, run to the front.  They wound up stage left in front of the bass and drums.  Brenda, Courtney and I were smack in the center in front of the piano.  There was no railing between us and the stage this year. There often is--it makes an aisle for security, professional photographers and the artists should they choose to mingle a little.  This year we were pressed right up against the stage.  Pressed is the operative word--the room filled quickly and we couldn't have moved anywhere even if we'd wanted to.

The first opener was a pleasant young man named Jeff LeBlanc, rather young to be called a "former teacher" but he'd left teaching to pursue a music career.  He had a nice voice and was very appealing.  I'd like to hear him in a bar setting.  It was a little hard to hear him there as so many weren't paying attention to the opening acts.  I always feel sorry for the openers.  I know they understand they're paying their dues and probably even expect people to not pay complete attention but it must be hard when you have a lot riding on your performance.

The second opening act was Austin Lucas, a country singer who'd flown in in the wee hours of the morning from Chicago.  I found him somewhat hard to understand despite his standing right in front of me, literally.  I think he, also, would have benefitted from a smaller venue.

The crew stepped on stage to position the microphones, tune the guitars, place the piano in the exact right spot, sound check the drums.  When the band appears and the music swells, there is that reaction, a roaring that builds and exquisite anticipation that seems to go on for minutes when in reality, it's a matter of seconds.  We were in the perfect place.

This was my 15th Gavin DeGraw concert in 18 months.  I've seen him in bigger venues and smaller ones like The Paramount tonight.  Something felt different to me.  For one thing, there seemed to be a lot more clusters of really young fans--the kind who scream (picture a Justin Bieber concert).  Several of us caught Gavin exchanging looks with his guitar player.  The looks seemed to say "Wow.  This is insane." or "Whoa.  This is a little different."  There was really phenomenal energy in the room and he and the band seemed to take it in and turn it back out to us tenfold.

Since he didn't headline a tour this summer, this was the longest concert of the year for many of us.  Lots of older material and several from the new album, Make a Move, satisfied new and old fans.  I was a little surprised that the screaming group of girls (okay--I need to say it: they were by far the rudest people I've ever encountered at a concert) knew his older material as well as the new songs.  It was their only redeeming quality.  I was happy to hear Crush again--it's one of my favorites off the first album.  I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing In Love With a Girl, also from the first album.  Radiation, Sweeter, Run Every Time from the last album are some of my all-time favorites.  He sang Soldier which seems to continue to mean a great deal to him--with good reason.  The lyrics are pretty powerful.  Make A Move and, particularly, Everything Will Change from the new album have my heart.  Especially Everything Will Change--it describes the last 20 months of my life to perfection.  The first time I heard it (at Mixfest in September) I felt as though he'd written it for me.  "Take those boots off the shelf, Wipe that dust off yourself, Even if you've been through hell, you're back." I didn't exactly go through hell after my divorce (thanks to my family) but there were some hellacious days and I definitely had been living on a shelf ... for a lot of years.

This being a December concert, we were given a Christmas song.  I think he does one each year.  Last year it was Oh Holy Night.  This year he's been doing White Christmas.  He sat on a stool within arm's reach (check out the video that Brenda caught) and gave us his special rendition.

After White Christmas, the night became truly magical.  Gavin walked to the edge of stage right and got down low.  He was talking to a child in the crowd and we could hear bits of muffled conversation between them.  He asked him how long he'd been playing the piano and we could hear him say since he was a baby.  Gavin invited him on stage and disappeared behind the scrim to meet him.  When he was led onto the stage, it became apparent that this young man, Anthony, was visually impaired.  I've since read some posts that say he's also autistic.  I can't confirm what his disabilities are and truly, that's unimportant as I can confirm that he's a gifted and talented young person who stole all our hearts that night.  Gavin got him seated at the piano and he immediately captivated us with a classical piece.  No one was expecting a little prodigy!  Then he mashed it into That's Amore!  The looks on the faces of Gavin and the band were priceless.  Anthony then blew Gavin away with the opening chords of his huge hit, Not Over You.  Within seconds the entire room was singing with him.  To say it was a special moment would be an understatement.  I think on Twitter I said "Some kind of wonderfulness is happening right now at the @GavinDeGraw show at @TheParamountNY."  And it was some kind of wonderfulness.  Anthony took a bow with Gavin and then rejoined his folks.  It felt like a Christmas present--a lovely surprise that no one was expecting that made the already awesome night extra special. Since that night, I've had some interactions with Anthony's parents on Twitter and it's clear that this is an amazing family with a treasure in their midst.

And this is one of the reasons why this man is firmly lodged in the hearts of so very many of us.

Back to the set list, Gavin did his pre-Follow Through banter with the characteristic acting.  I've seen this so many times that I'm amazed I still find it amusing.  But I do.  It's part of his charm.  His heartfelt, Who's Going to Save Us blew me away again.  When it came to his closing trademark song, I Don't Want to Be, followed by the encore, Not Over You, I wished, as always, that he'd not stop there.  There are so many songs I'd love to hear him do live.  Songs from Free like Mountains to Move and Glass and I'd give anything to be in the room if he ever brings back Let It Go. In other words, I didn't want the night to end.  But you know what they say about all good things ...

We lingered for as long as we could.  I think everyone was hoping Gavin would come out and say hello.  He did last year.  But that was not to be.  I'm okay with that--I never expect those things to happen so I'm always surprised and grateful when they do.  There was no Cinderella party for us this year either.  Last year, we were lucky to attend the after party where Gavin and the band were on hand to talk to folks.  I call it the Cinderella party because that's how I felt that night, hanging out until the wee hours of the morning with my friends and chatting with his band all night.  Tonight Brenda and Courtney and I walked just a couple of doors down and had a drink at a pub (where Billy Joel used to hang out when he lived--for 20 years--in Huntington) with a bartender who told us some fun stories.

Courtney, from Pennsylvania, was staying over but Brenda and I had an hour and a half drive ahead of us so all too soon we said goodbye and got back on the road.  Two days, three states; two shows, unlimited happiness.

We talked on the way home about how different that show had felt to us.  I selfishly worried aloud if everything had changed--if the resurgence of success that appears to be coming would change things for our little fandom.  Terrible thoughts--I'm excited for his success and wish for bigger and better things to come his way.  But I'll miss the respectful crowds and the more intimate settings.  Tonight's pushing and screaming bothered me.  I wondered if I can stand in line longer than 4 hours if it comes to that.  We'll see.  One thing hasn't changed ... will never change:  the joy and energy that flows through me for days following a live Gavin DeGraw performance.  It's like a drug that went straight to the vein.*

*Make A Move

~~~~~

Brenda's video of Gavin and Anthony.  In the last couple of days since the concert, we've talked about this moment quite a lot on social media.  What a joy and privilege it was to be a part of it.

I love this picture of Billy.

Concert Diaries Chapter 19: Winter Wonderland (a Let's December It post)

My friend Brenda is here from Colorado and we have tickets to not one, but two Gavin DeGraw concerts.  Saturday night in Wallingford, Connecticut and Sunday night, out on Long Island.  Saturday's show also features Plain White T's, Sara Bareilles, Avril Lavigne, and The Backstreet Boys.  As it turned out, it also featured a huge snow storm.

The storm had been predicted.  All week.  The original plan was to drive to Connecticut and back and then to Long Island the next day.  As the storm predictions grew worse and worse I contemplated getting a room near Wallingford.  The morning of the show, I booked it.  The weather folks had me sufficiently scared.

We set off for the Oakdale Theater in Wallingford earlier than planned because we hoped to arrive before the worst of it.  And basically we did.  Except for the last 10 miles or so when it started to really come down totally obscuring the exit ramp, resulting in my missing it.  Thank goodness for GPS.  We checked in at the hotel but didn't stop there very long.  Even though we had seats for the performance, who knew how long it would take to get to the venue.  Under normal conditions we were about 15 minutes away.  In ice and snow?

Jarlsburg on my lap.

Big decisions needed to be made.  Stop for food or not?  We hadn't even had lunch.  We had, however, packed a nice Cabernet Sauvignon, Prosecco, a variety of cheese and crackers.  We decided that would do.  We arrived in the parking lot at 4:30.  Doors were not to open until 6:30.  And thus our first blizzard tailgate happy hour was born.  Gavin fans are good at waiting.  We arrive early; we stay late.  We have our fellow fans for company and no end to the great conversations.  Time passed quickly.  (And we highly recommend the Smoking Loon Cab.)

Tim Lopez of the Plain White T's

So our seats weren't the greatest.  We stayed put for Plain White T's who were really good.  I enjoyed the folky vibe to their music and the tight harmonies.  Hey There Delilah is such a pretty song but their new single, The Giving Tree (sort of based on the book) was really heartfelt.  I could never read that book to my kids without crying and the song gave me the same feeling.

Put up your hands and surrender to me (Make A Move)

Gavin was next.  As the lights went down, we moved to the front of our section.  The storm had kept a lot of people away so we improved our sight lines slightly in the vacant seats.  The sets are on the short side when there are so many acts taking the stage.  Only seven songs but he spent three of them in the audience, one of them very close to where we were.  He sang old standard favorites (In Love With a Girl, Chariot, I Don't Want to Be, Not Over You) and a couple of songs from the new album (Make a Move and Best I Ever Had).  I think I'd have been somewhat disappointed in the brevity of the set list had I not known the best was to come the following night during a solo concert.

During Gavin's set the unthinkable happened:  fangirl dropped her camera.  Yes, I broke the lens on my new camera.  I was leaning over the railing where I'd set it down and knocked it over the edge.  It was a stupid preventable accident and I was more than annoyed with myself.  This is the last picture I took that night.  We were too far away for good iPhone photos.  (That's one above.)

When Gavin goes into the audience at a seated show, he stands on seats or the arms of the seats.  He'll walk across them while singing and when he finds just the right spot, well, some people get really lucky.  We were those people in Yonkers.  Watching him sing while balancing on the arms of the chairs while people are clutching at him made me a nervous wreck Saturday night.

Avril Lavigne was up next.  I confess I am not familiar with her and wasn't sufficiently interested to look her up or give her a listen.  She was loud and I suppose she was good but I'm the furthest thing from an expert in rock music.  I thought all the songs sounded rather alike.

Next to last was Sara Bareilles.  I think after Gavin DeGraw, she might be my favorite singer.  She and Michael Franti.  She, also, played older favorites and numbers from her new album.  I was thrilled that she sang Manhattan.  It's probably my favorite song of any she's recorded.  She sings it so ethereally and it conveys a truthfulness about life after a relationship has ended that I think everyone could relate to.  I was hoping she'd sing her beautiful Christmas song too (Love Is Christmas) but sadly, for me, she did not.  She did sing December though; it's a beautiful song too.

Last up were the Backstreet Boys.  I know I'm going to take some heat for this but I just don't see the big deal.  The radio folks spent every introduction of every other artist emphasizing BSB and I thought that was kind of rude.  These other artists never took a break; they're not "getting back together." They've been working hard for a lot of years.

There was a lot of energy on the stage when they came out.  Their choreography was--okay, truthfully, I thought it was silly looking for guys their age. They're not a "boy band" anymore.  They're dads themselves.  Someone should tell them it's okay to just sing.  I also have this question:  if there's no band on the stage and no instruments in your hands, where are the sounds of guitars and drums coming from?  Is that recorded music they're singing to?  Is that how they've always performed?  So they give a partially live performance?  They did pause and do a few acoustic songs in the middle of their set.  They played and sang sitting on stools set in a semi circle on the stage.  That was nice.  But I will go on record as the only person who's fallen asleep during the Backstreet Boys live.  I'd been up until 3 AM the night before and had driven two hours in sub optimal conditions.  Those are my excuses.

Brenda, being from Colorado, drove us back to the hotel.  Thank goodness.  She is 'way more confidant in crappy road conditions than I am.  It was after midnight and we'd still not had a proper meal all day.  We drove around the "slip sliding" roads for a while in my "skate" which was her nickname for my little red Fiesta until we found a Burger King.  I ordered more food than we needed and let's be clear:  we still never had a proper meal that day.

Tyler Hilton (another favorite)
and fast food.  It will do in a pinch.

Post concert, there's lots of rehashing to do and we did it over burgers, onion rings and assorted other fried brown food.  At 1 AM.  Pretty unhealthy but it tasted good at the time.  The new Tyler Hilton Christmas movie was on television but the signal kept going out because of the storm so I settled for writing and outlining my impressions after Brenda fell asleep.  There is no going straight to bed after having heard Gavin DeGraw.  At least not for me ... I'm just completely wound.  So I saw 3 AM for the second night in a row.

But sleep would come and so would the morning.  The best was yet to come.

~~~~~

Sara Bareilles sang December at the Paramount earlier in the week.  We would be at The Paramount the next night for Gavin DeGraw.

Not Over You at the Oakdale Theater.





Gavin's set list.


                   Sara's set list.

Let's December It

My friend Brenda flew in from Colorado for the concerts this weekend.  That's right--concerts.  Plural.  Because there are two.  Saturday in Connecticut and Sunday out on Long Island.  We'll be in the car quite a lot over the next few days and that's okay.  Fangirls do what we have to do.  We go where we have to go.

More on the concerts later.

First, we hit Manhattan.  Well, that's not quite true.  The very first thing we did was watch Gavin DeGraw's performance Friday morning on the Queen Latifah show.  Singing his current single, Make A Move, he got our day off to a perfect start.  Then we hit Manhattan.

And there's no where quite like New York at Christmas.  The lights.  The smell of roasting chestnuts on every street corner.  Music is in the air everywhere.  Think Silver Bells:  "In the air there's a spirit of Christmas."  People are in the spirit and you can sense it.  I'm sure this is true everywhere but in New York, the impressions are exponentially bigger.  Manhattan is just unique in that it's huge yet compact.  Everything is jammed into a very small space and you can't escape from it--the scents, the views, the people.  Before you know it, you're completely caught up in it.  She gets under your skin, Manhattan does.  Watching masses of children looking at the store windows at Macy's or Saks Fifth Avenue is a good example.  Their joy and wonder is completely infectious.  The last couple of weeks before the holiday contain a lot of what they call "gridlock alert days"--days you're encouraged to leave cars at home and utilize mass transit.  We followed the advice and took the bus into Midtown. 

Macy's windows are always
pretty special.

We stuck pretty close to midtown all day.  Macy's, Harold Square, was the first stop.  The windows were beautiful, just what you'd expect. We actually saw actually two sets: animated ones on the Broadway side of the store and the story of Virginia (as in Yes, Virginia) on one of the other sides.  Brenda shopped a little.  I window shopped.

Lunch rinkside with our heatlamp
a bright sun filtering between
buildings.  Perfect setting.

After Macy's we headed up to the Winter Village at Bryant Park.  The park is filled with kiosks at this time every year with crafters, artisans and all sorts of other unique merchants selling all sorts of things out of their booths.  It's my absolutely favorite place in the City at Christmastime.  We were starving so we grabbed a table at Celsius, a pop up restaurant situated right next to the skating rink.  We had a table outside--yes, outside in December.  Each table came with a little heatlamp that provided the perfect amount of warmth.  The chairs were fashioned to look like ice.  Christmas music filled the air and we enjoyed the "warm winter salad" with roasted artichokes.  Hot chocolate too, of course.  I love Bryant Park in every season.  I love it's location behind the Library.  I love to people watch from the little green bistro tables and chairs that remind me so much of Venice.  After lunch we shopped for Christmas ornaments.  I'm still replacing all that were lost in the hurricane a couple of years ago.  A little yellow cab, an elfin skyline, and a representation of the Rockefeller Center tree now reside on my tree.

The tree was our next stop.  The tree had been our meeting place last year for our big gathering of Gavin DeGraw fans who'd all convened for a concert at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, the same venue we'll be hitting on Sunday.  It was crowded but not so much that we couldn't get some pictures.  It's the quintessential New-York-at-Christmas thing to do.  Our tickets for the Christmas show at Radio City were for 4 PM so there was not much time to linger.  We headed off in the direction of the theater, passing the most energetic pair of bell ringers I've ever seen.  They were blasting Mariah Carey's I Don't Want A Lot for Christmas and dancing for donations with an abandon you just don't see in the suburbs.

We had great seats for the show.  Stage right about six rows from the front, just under the organ on that side.  I hadn't been to the Christmas show since my kids were 3 and 6 so that's 20 years ago now.  It hadn't changed much.  Santa still figures largely in the loose story line.  The Rockettes still wear the reindeer costumes (although they looked updated), they're still doing the toy soldier routine and others.  There's still the world's smallest sheet of ice and a pair of figure skaters.  The nativity scene had fewer shepherds and bigger entourages for the magi than I recalled but, of course, it's as moving as ever.  What I loved was seeing it with Brenda, who'd never seen it and some tourists seated behind me who exclaimed over every detail.  It was fun to see it "through their eyes."  I guess I kind of take that spectacle for granted.  There was one woman behind me who couldn't get over the live camels on stage.  When you live in and near New York, you know the moment the camels hit town.  The arrival of the animals to Rockefeller Center is covered on the news, just as is the arrival of the tree.  So it's not quite the surprise for us that it is for people from out of town.  Seeing it all with "fresh eyes" was special.  I had to buy an ornament here too.

After the show we swung through Rockefeller Center again.  The tree after dark is a glorious site and it overwhelms you with its magnificent beauty.

We'd arranged to meet our friend Sheeza (not her real name) who lives in Manhattan for dinner.  She'd recommended PJ Clarke's, a wonderful place on the corner of 55th Street and 3rd Avenue.  It's good to have a real New Yorker in your life.  Sheeza has good ideas for food and music often.  It was a nice walk from Radio City to the restaurant, not terribly cold yet.  The cold is coming on Saturday.  More on that later as well.

You want this too.  I can tell.

Dinner was lovely and dessert was divine.  Bread pudding with a whiskey butter sauce.  Obviously, I'm not Weight Watchering this weekend and I'm surely going to be angry with myself next week.  I can already tell my Christmas Eve dress isn't fitting well.  After dinner we moved to the bar to continue talking about Gavin DeGraw, the amazing friends we've made through him, concerts past, present and future, men, men, men and more music.  We laughed, sang with the music they were playing, chatted with others at the bar, enjoyed the best bartender I've ever met and missed the 11:00 bus.  Missing the bus is becoming a common event for me.  Buses depart every half hour or so until 11:00.  After that, you have to wait until 1:00.  

More shenanigans.

So a 1 AM bus it was.  That left time for more shenanigans (if this was twitter that would be hashtag shenanigans).  More laughter, another drink, more friendship.  Let's december it ....

It was 2:30 when we arrived home, tired but happy.  I'd spent the day as a tourist in my own backyard and it was enormously fun.  I'm beyond grateful to have made so many friends through the music and am blessed beyond measure with the warmth and richness they bring to my life.

No time to stay up even later to relive the day.  In a few short hours, we would be off to Connecticut.  Music is just around the corner.  We will december it some more.

~~~~

Train has a really fun Christmas song on their album Save Me San Francisco called Shake Up Christmas.  One of the lines is "so let's December it."

Sara Bareilles sings a gorgeous song about Manhattan.  It just about takes my breath away every time I hear it.  I'm hoping to hear it live at Saturday's show.

Flash back to last year's Paramount concert on November 30 (2012).  Gavin DeGraw fans decembered it for an entire weekend.  Here's a portion of the group.

Concert Diaries Chapter 18 ~ Leading Man

I'm rather impatiently waiting for December holiday concerts and acutely aware of how lucky I am because I have two concerts in December on top of the several times I've seen Gavin DeGraw already this year.  I have no business being impatient.  I should just enjoy this time of anticipation.

And there is much to enjoy while waiting for the next round of concerts.  There's been lots of promotion of the new album, Make A Move, so there've been glimpses of our Leading Man here and there and everywhere since the summer tour ended.

There have been some fun interviews like this one that was live on Cambio:  Room Temperature Cheese.  I love his recent observations about how supportive the mainstream music community has become and how there is less competition and more collaboration lately.  It was so evident during the Train tour this summer and at the WPLJ summer blastoff where Gavin and Ed Sheeran got together for the first time.  And I like cheese at room temperature best too.

The interviews from the brief trip to Europe were good.  It seemed like a different place every day and the performances and talks with radio and other media personnel made each day of that week a little special.  I liked this one:  I Failed Algebra.  "If it doesn't rhyme, it's not a song.  So  .... at the end of the day it's this version of sociology and psychology.  It sort of an uneducated version. And that's songwriting."

This interview with CBS where he talks more about the songwriting process sheds light on all the cowriting he decided to do for this album despite the weirdly worded questions from the interviewer--"Was it hard to relinquish the creative process?"  What artist relinquishes the creative process?  He's good though--he answers her with details about what it's like in the give and take of writing with another person.  He also explains, I think to those fans who were disappointed that this record wasn't in the vein of Chariot or Free, why an artist needs to grow and try new approaches.  

There have been lots of US television performances with more to come.  The day the record was released Gavin was on the Today Show.  I love how they played "We Belong Together" during the introduction.  Somebody on Kathie Lee and Hoda's staff is pretty familiar with his discography.  I'm kind of sorry I didn't go into the City and hang out that day.  I also loved the amount of camera time James Cruz had on this stop.

Then there was his ill-fated co-hosting appearance on The View when the hosts wouldn't let him get a word in.  Charming as ever, though, Gavin just rode with it and allowed those five women to cut him off and talk over him.  Frustrating for the rest of us who had thought this would be an hour-long opportunity for everyone else to get to know him.  The cooking segment with his friend Sheri Shepherd was funny though and he sang Best I Ever Had Again and kissed Barbara Walters.

Last week he appeared on the Rachel Ray Show, with an acoustic performance of Best I Ever Had.  His parents were in the audience that day.  Hearing him speak about his close knit family is one of my favorite topics of his.  I admire how he wears his heart on his sleeve where they are concerned.

I've decided that one thing that really irritates me is the rather fake way that TV hosts clap along to guest musicians.  It just looks odd.  Their "enthusiasm," I think, achieves the opposite of what they're intending.  Rather than appearing to be fans, they appear clueless.  They should just be more natural. That over-the-top flamboyant act is embarrassing.

With paralympic alpine skier Alana Nichols.

How about this...  Gavin performing in Times Square 100 days out in front of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games.  There was literally no notice of this appearance or I'd definitely have take the day off and headed into New York.  His gorgeous anthem, Everything Will Change, has been selected as the US Olympic Team's song--a completely fitting choice.

Hey, before it gets too late,

Before the night is over, before the world's awake,

Everything will change.

Hey, I feel it coming on

Starting like a fire, tonight you lit the flame

Everything will change.

Last night there was this appearance on the Conan O'Brien Show.  I think this must have been the television debut of the new single Make A Move.  And by the time I hit the "publish" button on this post, he'll have reprised the performance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  Earlier tonight Direct TV broadcasted an episode of Guitar Center Sessions featuring Gavin and the band.  Beautiful direction and sound in this and I loved the Behind the Scenes interview.  And he's not terrible on the guitar.  He has to stop saying that.  He's really pretty good.

More to look forward to:  Riding on a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.  He's participated in the parade in the past.  2004, actually. A friend and I were chatting on twitter this week and concluded he must really hate lip syncing in these situations--he's such a consummate live performer.  Then in early December an appearance on the hysterical NBC game show, Hollywood Game Night, hosted by Jane Lynch.  It's a perfect show for him and I think he'll have a blast doing it.

So ... no concerts on the East Coast right now ... but lots to tide me and my fellow fangirls/guys over until we find our way to live events.  I feel my patience returning.

~~~

A fan made this video montage for Leading Man, the last song on the new album.

A few of weeks ago I had a fun twitter exchange with Jim Shearer, the host of the Saturday morning show VH1 Top 20.  The video for Best I Ever had been entering that chart at the time and our back and forth tweets resulted in this:  A little fun with Jim Shearer . Oh, and for the record, I did not "yell" at him like that ... Bottom line:  I've now had both my quasi radio and television debuts thanks to Gavin DeGraw.  Loosely speaking, of course.  Really loosely speaking.

Earlier this afternoon, I felt
the need to straighten out
the racks at Walmart.

Pretty happy when he shows
up in my living room.

Walk Journals ~ Mid October

It's been an astoundingly beautiful autumn week on the East Coast.  Clear and warm, nearly cloudless skies and barely a breeze.  Perfect weather for walking!  

On this particular day I head west but take a minute to veer off into the park just before I hit the one mile mark.  A boy is fishing with his grandfather although the river is so low, I can't imagine there are any fish near the river's edge where he's dangling his line.  Climbing down the bank, I find myself standing on the rocky riverbed, usually a foot or two under water.  It's a different perspective and feels odd knowing the water would ordinarily be over my knees here.  It's almost like a beach and I think I'd like to return with a book and a chair and just relax in this quiet, hidden place that not very many people take the time to notice.  I almost never venture into this part of the park although it's very pretty here.  It's not on the way to anywhere ... and I guess that's a kind of metaphor ... mostly we stay on a path to somewhere.  But sometimes it's good to just pause for a moment in a spot that isn't anywhere in particular--a spot where we can just acknowledge knowing that it's there, there to be enjoyed and appreciated.

But the point of these walks is to keep going and to keep a pretty fast pace at that.  So I get back on the road and head over to Cedar Lake.  I've started out early enough on this day and there's still plenty of sunlight and the sky is a brilliant blue.  The leaves have not yet reached their peak although there are plenty that have already fallen, crunching beneath my feet.  Cedar Lake is a natural lake whereas the other lake, Indian Lake, where I also put in a lot of miles is man-made.  You can't tell this difference unless Indian Lake has been lowered which it is at this time.  Lowered purposely so that homeowners can repair their lakewalls and docks.  The lowered lake reveals well rotted tree stumps that were cleared when the lake was created for the enjoyment and recreation of the City folks who summered "out in the country" once upon a time.  The vivid red maple reflected in the glass-like waters of Cedar Lake really held my attention as I walked alongside the small sandy beach on this day.

Emerging from the Cedar Lake community I turn south on the road toward town again but as almost always, head into the nature reserve to spend a few quiet minutes in the woods.  The setting sun is always brilliant back here where the pond flows into a natural wetland.  Back in the spring, I'd seen a beaver swimming toward me in the water.  I've looked for him almost every day that I've walked here since, but he's not surfaced again for me and it's possible he was just passing through; another creature on his way to somewhere else.  But there are red-wing blackbirds, turtles and frogs, dragonflies galore, and my heron spent a lot of time back here in the summer.  The swans haven't returned yet so I know that there is plenty of warm weather to be savored in the weeks ahead.  They'll be back for a week or two just ahead of the cold on their way south.  We must be the halfway point on their journey south.  There are paths in the woods back here that very few people know about.  I'm always alone while I make my way on footbridges and pick my way between roots and rocky outcroppings.  It's still so green ... with sage-colored ferns and chartreuse mossy places that seem to invite you to sit quietly for a while.  That's when I turn off the walking apps to rest and enjoy the stillness for five or ten minutes.

The edges of the pond were decorated with water lilies all summer long.  They were the run-of-the-mill native species with smallish white flowers but were lovely nonetheless and provided resting places for dragonflies and frogs. My living Monet ... that's how I've always thought of this watery landscape.  They've disappeared now for the season. Without the quilt of lily leaves, I'm able to notice the less showy yet delicate spikes of wetland grasses that border the shore of the pond and provide a frame for the ever-changing reflection.  The rosy brick walls of the middle school across the street from the park always have a softer glow in the water than the hard angles and jutting wings of the building actually reveal once you reach street level again.

And it's at street level that I find myself once again with nearly four miles behind me at this point.  The light is getting dimmer and the rush-hour traffic heavier as I make my way into town.  My troublesome knee is feeling fantastic on this day and I'm actually picking up speed with each succeeding mile so I head over to McCarter Park to visit with the river some more.  This is my favorite place, maybe in the world.  My thinking place ... although I'm generally thinking my way through all these miles.

To finish off this day's workout before heading for home, I do a loop of downtown, down Bloomfield Avenue and then up Broadway.  I resist window shopping so as not to slow my good time down.  I never bring any cash on these walks, thank goodness, otherwise I'd be tempted to duck into that new beignet shop which I've been dying to try or into Sweet Expressions for a couple chocolate covered strawberries.   The drama of the final streaks of setting sun make the point at Broadway and Bloomfield is enough of a treat.

One last pass up Broadway to the point at Bloomfield from the opposite direction.  An almost-full moon is rising in the twilight sky.  It's been nearly two hours.  I'm still well off the times I was posting during the spring and summer.  There's still no running.  I've tried.  But I can tell it would be completely foolish to allow that much pressure just now.  I'm content to be out here, moving at the speed I'm able.  Being forced to slow down is not such a bad thing.  How else could I have seen the cenotaph pointing to the moon with the silvery showers of the tulip fountain shining in the foreground.  It's a painting.  It's a poem.

~~~

Playlist for Tuesday, October 15:

It's release day.  At 12 AM this morning I was downloading the new Gavin DeGraw record, Make A Move, along with 75 or so of my twitter friends.  We've been listening all day in between our working hours and other chores of the day.  But I've had this luxurious 2-hour walk--enough time to hear the music nearly four times through.  

Charity Miles for this walk:  Walking for the Wounded Warrior Project at least through Veteran's Day.  A 7-mile day (Map My Walk)

 

Original Influences ~ Make A Move

Although this much-anticipated record from my favorite singer-songwriter, Gavin DeGraw, isn't quite out yet (Tuesday is the official "drop" day), thanks to VH1 we've been treated to the full album streaming on the web.  Watching the twitter discussions, reading blog posts and reviews, I've had a few thoughts of my own and I've decided to share them here.  140 characters isn't getting it done this week.

I love this album.  Yes, I suppose it's somewhat of a departure for him but I hear his voice--his unique, original voice--all through it.  Here are my brief gut responses to the new songs:

Best I Ever Had ~ Since this has been out since early summer, it's well-known to us already.  This has definitely been my 2013 summer jam and the live performances of it were amazing.  Makes me smile every time.

Make a Move ~ Also performed throughout the summer tour this feels, to me, like a light-hearted sexy invitation with only one possible response.

Finest Hour ~ Since I'm on the older end of Gavin's demographic, this song evokes memory for me.  College nights.  Summer nights.  Crazy youthful exuberance in the driving beat and telling lyric. "They say the best stories come from the worst nights baby."

I'm Gonna Try ~ Vintage Gavin with a new edginess.  

Who's Gonna Save Us ~ Gavin has been singing this out on the road since the summer too.  I heard it first in Virginia Beach.  It takes my breath away every time with the sweeping arc of the melody and the raw emotion of the lyric.

Everything Will Change ~ An anthem.  Love the production.  But I've always loved big, romantic sounds (I'm more Brahams than Bach, more Rachmaninoff than Ravel).  This is a big song.

Need ~ Truthful.

Heartbreak ~ Percussive, driving, highly danceable.

Every Little Bit ~ Soulful.  That thing he does at the end of certain phrases ... you know what I mean.

Different for Girls ~ Honest insights, great arrangement.

Leading Man ~ Rocking, new Gavin rooted solidly in soulful, bluesy Gavin.

This is what I'm trying to say:  You can tell me you hear Maroon 5 or Train or The Script or whomever.  All I hear is Gavin DeGraw.  All I hear is a songwriter who's been at this a fairly long time, who's met lots of folks along the way, who by his own admission likes many (if not most) genres of music and loads of musicians.  He's toured with lots of people over the years.  There are bound to be influences.  This is not a negative thing.  This does not make one unoriginal which is what I seem to be hearing from some writers out there in the cyber community.

What artist isn't influenced by something or someone?  It's what you do with that influence that really counts--how it flows through you to your final product.  

Who are we to place an unreal expectation of stagnancy on an artist, a writer, a composer, a dancer?  I believe truly creative people have a need within to keep moving forward, to keep evolving.  Very few ever completely totally evolve away from their roots; you can always find their essence at the core of the work.  I can't imagine not changing a little with each major work--that would be like never learning.  I look back in my own life, at the things I've done--even the really successful things--and I think "I may have tweaked that a little differently if I was doing that today."  We grow.  We grow up.  We're influenced by the people who pass through our lives, the places we visit, by our own evolving visions. 

I know that each of the songs on the new album are co-writes.  I know some will make the argument that since they are co-writes, they can't truly be reflective of the Gavin we all came to love through the earlier records.  But I'm pretty sure he wouldn't put anything on a record that he didn't believe in 100 percent, that he didn't feel represented him truly.  I think all artists go through periods in their lives.  It's kind of obvious with painters, right?  Because you can see the "blue period" or whatever.  I have this feeling that Gavin is not co-writing every song for the rest of his career.  There's a lot of music bottled up in that man.  It's going to find its way out through a variety of paths.  But I can't even think about future projects right now because I haven't fully appreciated this current one.  Lots more listening to do ... many more hours of singing and dancing, of pure enjoyment.  With an emphasis on joy.

Here's another thing:  One of the best things about this particular artist is how he balances knowing that his long-time fans adore his original music with keeping current and satisfying his own artistic urges.  This he accomplishes perfectly in live performances where you can always count on a mix of old songs with new ones and a nod at current influences with the covers he chooses to occasionally do.  

There.  That's been building in me all week and if you're still reading this, I thank you for indulging my opinion which is solely my own.  You are free to disagree, but I kind of hope you don't, because I have this weird need to have everyone fall as hard for this singer as I have, as unrealistic as that sounds.  He's an enormously gifted song-writer and storyteller, an amazing singer with a voice that will melt your heart and most importantly, a humble, gracious, generous human being. 

Go.  Listen.  Make a Move.

~~

Stream Gavin DeGraw, Make A Move here. 

Buy it here.

The first time I heard Make A Move with thanks to my dear friend for uploading this recording.