Passion, people!!
*Quick Note: Not done with Harry Potter. But I'm having tons of fun with Connie and Caity!*
I've said it before and I'll say it again: People without passion scare me. If you've not passionate about something, be it music, art, beauty, a sports team, or even a particular fandom, then what exactly are you doing with your life? Sitting back and snobbishly critiquing something while sipping Chablis has never held much appeal to me.
Saturday night Jamie Cullum performed with the LA Philharmonic, which was (of course) awesome. When I bought the tickets my mind had fixated on the amazing notion of Jamie being backed up by a full orchestra, and didn't work past that thought to the realization that he couldn't be his wonderful improvising self with the constraints an orchestra carries. He played more of his earlier work, because it's more orchestral, but he had to "stick to the plan" and not go crazy like he usually does. It was like a singer with a muzzle on, or a dancer with a broken leg. He did one song unaccompanied (literally just him and the piano) and that was awesome. The best part was, obviously, improvised. During a cover of "I've Got You Under My Skin" he trailed off into something like "Come back with me to my hotel/cause I'm leaving tomorrow/so I'll never see you again/unless you want to/...or your sister wants to." Cheeky! :) And he debuted a new version of "London Skies" which was great - it featured a different orchestral accompaniment that augmented the song in a totally different way than the released version.
The thing that made me saddest about this concert were our fellow concert-goers. At least 75% of the crowd was the "*sniff* We have season tickets to the LA Philharmonic and we're going to sip our wine and quietly clap after each song" crowd. Dude - it's Jamie freaking Cullum. Clap, yell, dance, freak out! React! Interact! *sigh* Anyway, we were reacting enough for the whole crowd. And then there was the guy behind us. And the ladies in front of us. The ladies first: They show up late (and drunk), then proceed to talk loudly. They stand up and sit down numerous times, and get up and leave and come back at least three times, right in middle of Jamie's set. Guys - show some respect! And the guy behind us...I don't know if I can be coherent about him. I finally turned around and said something to him which I hope was both restrained and forceful. The entire first (Jamie-less, sadly) part of the concert, we were treated to a loud refrain of "This sucks. I hate this. These guys are awful. I can't believe I paid good money for these seats. Why are people clapping? They should be booing. These guys should be booed off the stage." And so on, and so on. I'm getting angry just remembering it! So here we are, three 24 year old, well-behaved girls, telling a man who had to be a least 50 to please shut his cakehole and respect the performers and his fellow audience members.
But the highlight of the evening?? Jamie autograph session! Connie and Caity had met him before in Tampa and gotten autographs, but I'd never had the chance. So I was psyched :) I had him sign a little British flag I bought at the gift store, and we gave him a can of Guinness! We had one left over and it was still cold, so I asked him if he wanted it and he said "Thanks! I'd love it - I love Guinness!" And I said it was great show and he said thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Or something. I think he said more, but my brain's fried and I've forgotten most of it. But it was lovely!
Special thanks to Caity for introducing me to Jamie all those years ago, and to Connie and Caity for flying all the way out to see him! Seeing me was just an added bonus - I know you really came out here for him ;)
I've said it before and I'll say it again: People without passion scare me. If you've not passionate about something, be it music, art, beauty, a sports team, or even a particular fandom, then what exactly are you doing with your life? Sitting back and snobbishly critiquing something while sipping Chablis has never held much appeal to me.
Saturday night Jamie Cullum performed with the LA Philharmonic, which was (of course) awesome. When I bought the tickets my mind had fixated on the amazing notion of Jamie being backed up by a full orchestra, and didn't work past that thought to the realization that he couldn't be his wonderful improvising self with the constraints an orchestra carries. He played more of his earlier work, because it's more orchestral, but he had to "stick to the plan" and not go crazy like he usually does. It was like a singer with a muzzle on, or a dancer with a broken leg. He did one song unaccompanied (literally just him and the piano) and that was awesome. The best part was, obviously, improvised. During a cover of "I've Got You Under My Skin" he trailed off into something like "Come back with me to my hotel/cause I'm leaving tomorrow/so I'll never see you again/unless you want to/...or your sister wants to." Cheeky! :) And he debuted a new version of "London Skies" which was great - it featured a different orchestral accompaniment that augmented the song in a totally different way than the released version.
The thing that made me saddest about this concert were our fellow concert-goers. At least 75% of the crowd was the "*sniff* We have season tickets to the LA Philharmonic and we're going to sip our wine and quietly clap after each song" crowd. Dude - it's Jamie freaking Cullum. Clap, yell, dance, freak out! React! Interact! *sigh* Anyway, we were reacting enough for the whole crowd. And then there was the guy behind us. And the ladies in front of us. The ladies first: They show up late (and drunk), then proceed to talk loudly. They stand up and sit down numerous times, and get up and leave and come back at least three times, right in middle of Jamie's set. Guys - show some respect! And the guy behind us...I don't know if I can be coherent about him. I finally turned around and said something to him which I hope was both restrained and forceful. The entire first (Jamie-less, sadly) part of the concert, we were treated to a loud refrain of "This sucks. I hate this. These guys are awful. I can't believe I paid good money for these seats. Why are people clapping? They should be booing. These guys should be booed off the stage." And so on, and so on. I'm getting angry just remembering it! So here we are, three 24 year old, well-behaved girls, telling a man who had to be a least 50 to please shut his cakehole and respect the performers and his fellow audience members.
But the highlight of the evening?? Jamie autograph session! Connie and Caity had met him before in Tampa and gotten autographs, but I'd never had the chance. So I was psyched :) I had him sign a little British flag I bought at the gift store, and we gave him a can of Guinness! We had one left over and it was still cold, so I asked him if he wanted it and he said "Thanks! I'd love it - I love Guinness!" And I said it was great show and he said thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Or something. I think he said more, but my brain's fried and I've forgotten most of it. But it was lovely!
Special thanks to Caity for introducing me to Jamie all those years ago, and to Connie and Caity for flying all the way out to see him! Seeing me was just an added bonus - I know you really came out here for him ;)