The Daily Raw - August 24, 2023 - Thursday

The heat is expected to break tonight so it is still very warm and humid. I’ve been able to spend my mornings outside on the back patio which has been nice.

 

 
This morning I completed several workouts - power endurance ride, core strength and yoga. The rest of the day was similar to yesterday - try to avoid the heat, take a walk, sweat, water plants, paint a bit.

 

 
While Scott was gone golfing, I played Maggie Rogers’ song Falling Water and sang along in the kitchen - that was super fun and something I need to do more of. Without my morning commute, I no longer have a time when I can sing at full blast.

 

 
The concert meme caused me to list all the concerts (rock / jazz, not classical) I’ve attended and when I realized my memory has gotten fuzzy, I pulled out the box filled with my daily planners I used to record daily events / journal entries (much like an analog version of this). I have calendars back to 1982! I realized last night, sitting on the floor of the guest room (aka civil war room) that I’ve always been a journalist of my life. I’m a historian, collector and teller of stories. So it’s sad to come to this revelation at 56, when I’ve been doing it for 40 years, but I guess when you’re in it, you don’t see it.

 

 
With this new information, I need to channel more time into the blog or something similar. I have projects I know I need to complete - photo books, etc but I haven’t done anything to start. Probably because the task feels daunting. I need to start with something small and easy.

 

 
I considered using these daily entries as inputs to the blog. That might work as an easy start to get a daily rhythm going. I really enjoy capturing these daily moments - in the morning, outside on the patio with my coffee. I can see doing this even in winter - I’ll simply bundle up more.

 

 
So there is the genesis of something new. Let’s see where it takes me.

 

 
Here is the video of Maggie performing Falling Water on SNL in 2018. This video inspired me to sing it - she is amazing

 

 

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The Performance - Exposing for The Stage

The house lights dim and the audience stifles in anticipation with whispered and hushed murmurs. Maybe the stage is hidden by a thick, velvet curtain waiting to open. Maybe the stage is open, revealing a darkened outline of instruments and props. This stage waits, expectant of the life and energy of music; the percussive sounds and artistry about to fill the space, straight to the hearts of the audience.

Such is the atmosphere of the live performance. The performer outputs a rendition of their song, dance. Sometimes better than the last time, sometimes not, but each performance is perfect and imperfect, each unique. Sometimes the performer wonders how he or she could create such beautiful sound even as the music is being created. That’s when you as the performer get back all that you give.

One of my "goals" is to take the time and effort (because I'm old and would rather spend my evenings curled up on the couch with my cat) to get out and enjoy more live music, theatre and dance performances. Back in November, we attended a concert by the a cappella group, Straight No Chaser and their policy on photography allowed me to use my DSLR freely.



From a photographer’s perspective, getting the correct exposure is challenging with the often dark edges of the stage and bright spotlights. These extremes confuse the automatic matrix metering so I always flip to spot metering or manual exposure, erring on the side of under exposing. I look for the silhouettes, the light gradients that create depth on the stage. And try to capture the artist in their element - the essence where the purity of sound fills their soul.

And when the lighting falls flat, convert to black and white!



The best part of the night? When they reverted back to "Old School" a cappella - no mics, no beat boxing, just lush harmonies.


What was the last live performance you enjoyed? Any events on the horizon? We now have tickets to catch violinist Rachel Barton Pine, performing the Barber Violin Concerto (a fave of mine) with the local CU Symphony Orchestra

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Five Favorite Things - Pitch Perfect 2

This post is like, 3 weeks late! I saw the movie the weekend it premiered, wrote part of this post, then "life" (birthdays, graduation activities, parties, out of town visitors, end of school, etc) got in the way.... I also wanted to include little YouTube snippets, but found nothing (probably due to copyright issues). I'm hitting the Publish button now, before even more time passes....

Being a former collegiate a cappella singer (gosh, doesn’t that sound official and even slightly important, even though it’s not!), I’ve been anticipating the sequel to one of my favorite movies covering the a cappella “scene”, and caught Pitch Perfect 2 on its opening weekend. Even though the movie was predictable and borrowed many elements from the first movie (the Riff-Off, a singing competition), I still enjoyed it. The movie featured amazing vocal arrangements, instrument-free performances and funny jokes about the genre.

Here’s my list of Five Things I loved about Pitch Perfect 2:

1. Old School A cappella songs – like Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. Yup, my college group (a mixed group), sang this classic. When the competition is “upping the game” by going bigger, badder and simply crazy, sometimes it’s best to return to what is simple.

2. Using a song as a metaphor for taking risk and breaking the rules. In the movie, the Bellas decide to perform an Original Song, a departure from traditional a cappella. This feature song, Flashlight, wins over the crowd and judges. And here is a bit of a cappella trivial – Sara Bareilles’ original song Gravity was performed by her a cappella group, UCLA’s Awaken a Cappella back in 2004.

3. The performances at the World Championship of a cappella – proving that music breaks down barriers. These performances included diverse musicians – The Penn Masala, The Filharmonic, The Singboks and Pentatonix.

4. Seeing the Green Bay Packers sing an a cappella arrangement of Bootylicious during the Riff Off. Who knew Clay Matthews could sing?

5. The chorus of Flashlight, performed with Bella Alumni. This took me by surprise, but is a real tradition in the a cappella community. I still get invitations to sing with my college group (and did so a couple years back at a Graduation ceremony). We are all bound together by the music.

Chorallaries, Past and Present

College a cappella is a wonderful activity to get involved with. I make a point to attend local performances of the University of Illinois groups, like No Comment below


Shared with Five on Friday

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All Out a Cappella - a-Ca-Really

Last Saturday evening, Scott and I attended a local a cappella concert. This concert benefits the local school district's music program and features the best music you can make without instruments. Yes, I'm one of those a cappella geeks - a previous college a cappella singer - so I love seeing these groups perform and I'm always amazed at how mere voices can mimic a fully instrumented band.

It's been two years since I attended this annual concert (last year, I was out of commission due to knee surgery) and I am glad the inertia of a lazy weekend didn't keep us at home (because, you know, at our age, it is easier to just hang out at home on a Saturday evening).

All of the groups I took photos of are from the University of Illinois.

First up - No Strings Attached

Their sound was the most rooted in jazz, with complex chords and that veritable swing.

Next - The Rip Chords, an all female group


Most of these groups compete in the International Championships of A Cappella (ICCA), and the next two groups took the first and second place honors at the Midwest Quarterfinal competition. Both groups will advance to the Semi Final Round at the end of March.

Another co-ed group, No Comment:


They didn't sing this one last week, but it was their closer for the ICCA competition: Clarity


And finally, the Xtension Chords, a perennial favorite. I was glad that they mixed up their performance set with some new songs. They opened with Some Nights from Fun.



As always, I close my a cappella posts with a recommendation - if you live near a college, find out about their a cappella groups and go to a concert - the YouTube Videos just aren't the same. You will be blown away by the talent and music.

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The Soundtrack of My Life - the a Cappella Songs

I know in my last Soundtrack of My Life post I said I would write about Jazz, Classical and Show Tunes next, but after getting home from seeing the movie, Pitch Perfect, I feel the urge to reminisce about the a cappella songs from my college years.


In the movie, Becca (Anna Kendrick) joins an all female a cappella group who competes against a rival male a cappella group in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) - [yes, this is bonafide event with the final competition performances in Lincoln Center - just as portrayed in the movie]. The whole premise of a cappella in a movie is what attracted me to see it, but the movie is hilarious, too. Oh yeah, the singing is fabulous!



Twenty five years ago, college a cappella wasn't nearly as popular as it is now (which means it was probably REALLY low on the activity food chain), but it was a fun, creative outlet for me.


A small sampling of a cappella albums I've collected over the years - the top one was recorded when I was in the group in 1989

So, some of my favorite a cappella songs:
One Tin Soldier - a song about about peace, not war - was one of the first songs I learned. The chord at the very end of the song is just so nice.


In high school, I sang in the Jazz choir, so I love that genre. Add in the premise of heartbreak and you have the torch song. Scotch and Soda is one of those smoky, old fashioned songs that is a perfect torch song. It doesn't hurt that the soloist here has the smoothest voice ever.

The arrangement is from the late 70s, but I pulled out the song for our group to perform because I wanted a chance to sing the solo during rehearsal.

A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square
I discovered The Manhattan Transfer in High school (again, in jazz choir). I thought it was cool for a quartet of voices to sing old songs like Tuxedo Junction, Birdland and Route 66. We sang this song when I was a senior and it felt like an old friend.


Finally, the song I remember the most - you tend to remember your first featured solo. I wish the recording was a little "tighter", but hey, we had limited time in the recording studio - things were a little harder to mix back in the analog days.


If I had more time, I would love to sing in an a cappella group again - there are so many cool arrangements now and the addition of beat boxing (my friend and fellow song mate, Wes Carroll was a pioneer in the use of vocal percussion in a cappella music) adds another dimension to the art of the vocal rock band. I highly recommend any singer with musical aptitude to audition at their local high school or college - there are so many groups now and it is such a great activity. I remember being persuaded to audition (Phil Budne - you were the convincing one) and it was the best things I ever did in college.

The previous entries in my Soundtrack of My Life series can be found HERE. The next entry will be Classical, Jazz and Show Tunes faves from High School - yes, I am a music geek, but you've probably noticed that already.

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Sara Bareilles Concert, Take 3

Last night, I had the opportunity once again to see Sara Bareilles in concert. I went with two good friends, and we endured long lines, having our IDs verified (it was a 18 and older club), earning a coveted "older than 21 and able to purchase alcoholic drinks" wristband (as if it wasn't already obvious, LOL), weaving through a thick crowd of college students and settling into seats without cushions. All of this after 9pm at night, past our normal bedtimes!

I don't have time for another summary of the concert, and I'm working through moving my image files from one computer to another one, so the pictures I took are not available to me right now.

Instead, I will leave you with Sara's encore from last night's performance - Gravity, sung completely a cappella. It's not my video, but I am grateful someone tenacious enough to be right up front recorded it. It is amazing.

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Take Me Back to Tech

I had the privilege to visit Cambridge and participate in the event that marks a significant milestone for the students who endured the hard work, long hours, and years in order to earn a Bachelor's / Master's / PhD degree at MIT.

It was like stepping back to my own Commencement, 22 years ago - perfect weather, Killian Court flanked by blooming rhododendrons, the strains of the processional marches by the Brass Ensemble, the happy stream of graduates filling the green courtyard.

I had only intended to meet up with members of the a capella singing group I was a member of back when I was a student. Each Commencement, the Chorallaries of MIT sing the National Anthem and the MIT Songs, Oh Come All Ye of MIT and Take Me Back to Tech. Alumni are invited to participate and each year I would read my invitation with a small yearning, knowing that getting back to MIT for that specific day would be nearly impossible. But this year, I would be in Cambridge - I just didn't let anyone know until the last minute (like 12 hours before the event), so I didn't expect to be allowed to participate in the actual performance.

I wandered on to the MIT campus from Kendall Square T Station, a distant memory telling my feet where to go - the path led me towards the Chemical Engineering Building - shaped in a 30-60-90 triangle, and then the enormous Green Building emerged from the side:


Both buildings were designed by IM Pei. The Green Building stands as the tallest building on campus and maybe in Cambridge.


As usual, the wind in the vicinity of the Green Building blew stiffly:


I met up with several current and alumni members of the Chorallaries in the Building 10 lobby. They were all so nice and Jamal, the current director, insisted it would be fine for me to sing with the group (even though I was quite undressed for the occasion). I used one of the extra "commencement passes" to get past security and back stage.



Behind the main stage, you get a unique view of the proceedings:




This have changed so much over the last 22 years - the entire event is webcast on huge screens in Killian Court and throughout campus. Singing the National Anthem was surreal yet fun.

After the Commencement ceremony, I visited Baker House, the dormitory I live in. This building was designed by Alvar Alto and shaped in a "W", with a majority of the rooms facing the Charles River. I lived for 4 years with a fabulous view of the Boston skyline.


I was a little disappointed that the door up to the roof deck was locked. That's where the best view of the city is. Oh well, I was able to take some nice pictures of Boston from the street.



I walked back through Lobby 7 and then Killian Court to capture the Great Dome:




Where the strains of Take Me Back to Tech ran through my head:

I wish that I were back again at Tech on Boylston Street,
Dressed in my dinky uniform so dapper and so neat.
I'm crazy after calculus, I never had enough;
It's hard to be dragged away so young,
It was horribly awfully tough!
Hurrah for Technology, 'ology 'ology oh,
Glorious old Technology, 'ology 'ology oh!
Back in the days that were free from care in the 'ology varsity shop,
With nothing to do but analyze air in an anemometrical top.
The differentiation of the trigonometric pow'rs
The constant pi that made me sigh in those happy days of ours.
Hurrah for Technology, 'ology 'ology oh,
Glorious old Technology, 'ology 'ology oh!
Take me back on a special train to that glorious institute,
I yearn for the inspiration of a technological toot.
I'd shun the quizzical physical profs the chapel and all that,
But how I'd love to go again on a scientific bat.
Hurrah for Technology, 'ology 'ology oh,
Glorious old Technology, 'ology 'ology oh!
M-A-S-S-A-C-H-U-S-E-T-T-S
(and)
I-N-S-T-I-T-U-T-E-O-F-T-E
(but)
C-H-N-O-L-O-G and Y comes after G
(and what does that spell?)
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology!
Hey!

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280/365 - Another New CD - Tiger Suit by KT Tunstall

I generally don't buy new music completely "unheard", unless the music is from an artist I admire. Lucky for me, two of my favorite artists released new CDs in the last 4 weeks. Sara Bareilles released her beautiful sophomore "Kaleidoscope Heart" in the beginning of September and last week, KT Tunstall's "Tiger Suit" was finally released in the US (the lucky UK got it a week earlier).



I've been listening to the CD in the car since Wednesday morning. This album is certainly KT's most upbeat, with hardly a slow song. I like the rhythmic beat that weaves throughout, giving the entire album an African feel, of course fitting for the album's namesake. My only complaint, is why KT feels she needs to make a "Black Horse and Cherry Tree" wanna be track on each of her albums. It was "Hold On" on Drastic Fantastic, and for this album, "Come On, Get In" just sounds like more of the same. But one small song is a minor thing to complain about, I guess.

Tracks that have made an impression -
Difficulty (the lyrics here make you think)
Glamour Puss (totally rocking fun)
Fade Like a Shadow

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September 6-8, Days 247-249

Monday, September 6 - Day 247:
A new home project has sprung life - Erica wants to paint her room a turquoise color, with huge circles spattered around the room. We picked out some color chips and a sample that has been chosen as THE color.



Tuesday, September 7 - Day 248:
Baseball game, Brian playing second base. At bat, he hit a big triple, then was out at first, and finally he hit a single. The team won.


Wednesday, September 8 - Day 249:
I didn't have time to get to the store yesterday, but I made it to Target this afternoon to purchase the newly released Sara Bareilles CD, Kaleidoscope Heart. I chose the Target version, as it contains three bonus tracks. I had been listening to a preview on IHeartRadio, and know it's a great follow up to Little Voice.



Instant faves:
Uncharted
Hold My Heart
Let the Rain

... although I'm sure I'll love them all after listening more.

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310/365 - GLEE Fix

Even though the World Series has pre-empted GLEE for the 2nd week in a row, I've been able to get my Glee fix due to the release of Volume 1 songs yesterday. I purchased my copy at Target after reading their version included 3 extra songs.



The verdict? If you are GLEE fan because of the music (and who isn't?), I highly recommend it. The extra tracks include "I Want to Sex You Up" (which I love because it is sung acapella), "I Could Have Danced All Night" (I love My Fair Lady), and "Leaving on a Jet Plane".

I can't wait for the next new episodes to see how they work "Defying Gravity" into the show. Yeah, it's fabulous on the CD.

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Don't Stop Believing - Watch GLEE

I finally caught the Pilot Episode of the new Fox Series, GLEE. I Love, Love, Loved it. I don't watch much TV, but I plan to catch this series when it resumes this Wednesday at 8:00 my time.

Yeah, it's about Glee Club in High School - yeah, I see the parallels between it and High School Musical. But it portrays more than the "don't be defined by the cliques you belong to in High School" - OK - maybe there's a heavy dose of that, plus a bunch of funny characters that draw you in. And there's the music. Who doesn't love Journey's Don't Stop Believing, sung by performers who love to sing?

If you didn't catch it the first go around, you can watch it as I did, on hulu.com. I've even embedded the video here:


And a sneak peak from the coming episode - it's only 1 minute long, so you have time to watch now!

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