Tuesday June 15th would have been my father's seventieth birthday. He's been gone since July 2001, but most days I still miss him. I would like to say that the date snuck up on me, but that's not true. One of the things I'm great at is remembering dates. I know I graduated High School June 12, 1992; that I started my current job on September 17, 2006; that July 7, 1997 and March 7, 2009 were two of the best days of my life...and I always remember my dad's birthday, even when sometimes I wish I didn't.
My dad hated birthdays. He just saw it as another day on the calendar that he usually would spend at work if it was a weekday, or, if it was a weekend, he was much happier watching the NBC Game of the Week downstairs in the den than to be bothered with some big party.
The other thing I remember about his birthday is how he never really said he wanted anything, so I never knew what gift to get him. I honestly don't remember a birthday gift I gave him, except maybe a card or two. Now, I've always been a great gift giver when it came to women I've known throughout my life, usually managing to surprise them with a grand gesture. And with my mom, she leaves no room for doubt, telling me exactly what she wants for her birthday, sometimes to the point of leaving an ad where I can see it so I know what I'm supposed to buy.
But with dad, he just would always say 'It's just a day, don't worry about it.'
So this week is somewhat melancholy for me, with his 70th birthday and then Father's Day. It's not like my dad and I had an easy, uncomplicated relationship, far from it.
It's strangely cruel how life works sometimes. When I moved out of the house we shared in Midlothian in 1996, I was ready to leave. I didn't think about him or what he might be up to. Nothing really triggered a memory, but I knew in the back of my mind I could always phone him up if I needed to. I didn't do that very often, until the last year of his life when the two of us made an uneasy peace and decided to forgive and move on. I'm so glad that when his life ended suddenly, we were on speaking terms, getting along, with plans to have dinner on what turned out to be two nights after he died. I was glad we had done our best to put the past behind us, or at least not let it drive a wedge between us any longer. The strangely cruel part of all this? Now that I can't phone him up, a lot of things in my daily life trigger his memory.
I think my dad would find it deliciously ironic that I now work in an office in a 9-5 job where I am required to wear business attire, knowing how I told him all through my teens that I was gonna be a rock star and my stock wardrobe, literally for decades, was a pair of blue jeans and a KISS shirt. In fact when I got my hair cut to start the interview process for jobs back in 2006, I even said out loud to myself as I was leaving the barber shop, 'Okay, you win dad...happy?' I had let my hair grow long from the age of 18 until I was almost 33. He never really liked the long hair, but once I got into the music business and radio, he understood and respected why I did what I did, and why I looked the way I looked.
I also think of him whenever I watch baseball. That sport, and the endless statistics that accompany it, were his true passion. I was at work last month when the Braves were down 9-3 to the Reds, going to the bottom of the ninth inning. I was following the game on the MLB site with written out descriptions of play-by-play. Slowly, as I continued taking phone calls and doing my job, the Braves started mounting a rally. One run scored, then two...then they were only down three runs with the bases loaded and a bench player up at the plate.
The player's name was Brooks Conrad, and he was only in the game to relieve Chipper Jones when manager Bobby Cox thought the game was a blow out, so he decided to rest some of his veteran players. Well, Brooks Conrad hit a game winning grand slam to beat the Reds 10-9. I got goose bumps just reading the description on my screen. Then I started shaking. It was a strange, overwhelming feeling. I quickly went on a break and made my way to the men's room. Once I got there, I just started crying and shaking. It was a combination of an improbable comeback...and it was the first time when a baseball game made me wish really hard that I could phone my dad. I remember I was probably four years old when my dad told me 'In this family, we like football and we root for the Redskins...but we love baseball and your team will be the Braves.' I took it as gospel and, ever since, I have always been a Redskins fan and a Braves fan. That he instilled that devotion and love of sport in me, I am forever grateful.
Happy Birthday Dad,
Barry
06.15.10
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Theatre Review: The Sound Of Music, presented by Barksdale at The Empire Theatre
It's a rare occurrence when an evening out to to the theatre to see a local production of an all too well known show can go from being the expected to something wonderful, maybe even magical.
That's what's happening every weekend now until July 4 at Richmond's Empire Theatre. Barksdale is showcasing Rodgers and Hammerstien's 'The Sound Of Music', and it's perhaps the best local production I've ever seen in Richmond, certainly the best musical production.
Now, we all know the story, or at the very least one song from the show [Do, Re, Mi and My Favorite Things are two of several songs that became standards of the American Songbook after the show opened on Broadway in 1960]. But really, that doesn't matter.
I implore you. Go see this show! If you're a fan of musicals, if you are a fan of theatre, if you have seen the movie...or if you're reading this right now, JUST GO!! Yes, it's THAT GOOD!!
Maria [Stacy Cabaj] is masterful in a role she truly seems born to play. The 'kids' are adorable, and if you're not smiling and enjoying yourself by the time 'Do Re Mi' appears in the show, then check your pulse, you might be dead.
Director Chase Kniffen has done a wonderful job of keeping the show moving and vibrant, without sacrificing the show's underlying political message. The sets by Brian Barker are lavish, helping to make some scenes breathtakingly beautiful.
Kudos to Jody Ashworth for being able to walk the fine line of the tender-hearted disciplinarian that the role of Captain von Trapp requires.
I could go on about how great this show is, but I'll just say again, go! You won't regret it, and you won't forget it!
Seriously...I mean it. Go!
Ticket and performance info is here
Barry
06.12.10
That's what's happening every weekend now until July 4 at Richmond's Empire Theatre. Barksdale is showcasing Rodgers and Hammerstien's 'The Sound Of Music', and it's perhaps the best local production I've ever seen in Richmond, certainly the best musical production.
Now, we all know the story, or at the very least one song from the show [Do, Re, Mi and My Favorite Things are two of several songs that became standards of the American Songbook after the show opened on Broadway in 1960]. But really, that doesn't matter.
I implore you. Go see this show! If you're a fan of musicals, if you are a fan of theatre, if you have seen the movie...or if you're reading this right now, JUST GO!! Yes, it's THAT GOOD!!
Maria [Stacy Cabaj] is masterful in a role she truly seems born to play. The 'kids' are adorable, and if you're not smiling and enjoying yourself by the time 'Do Re Mi' appears in the show, then check your pulse, you might be dead.
Director Chase Kniffen has done a wonderful job of keeping the show moving and vibrant, without sacrificing the show's underlying political message. The sets by Brian Barker are lavish, helping to make some scenes breathtakingly beautiful.
Kudos to Jody Ashworth for being able to walk the fine line of the tender-hearted disciplinarian that the role of Captain von Trapp requires.
I could go on about how great this show is, but I'll just say again, go! You won't regret it, and you won't forget it!
Seriously...I mean it. Go!
Ticket and performance info is here
Barry
06.12.10
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Sparkles, Day-Glo and Tears: Taylor Swift @ The Verizon Center, Washington, DC 06.02.10
Prologue: Thoughts the night before the show: This was the first Taylor Swift show I was lucky enough to get tickets for. They went onsale October 20, a week before the Charlottesville show, which was in March. So, while the Charlottesville show was the first show I attended, I've had this show on my calendar for almost eight months. No matter what was going on in my daily life, good day or bad day, in the back of my mind, I could look forward and know that I had a phenomenal show to look forward to. It will be strange to have it as only a memory after tomorrow night. I imagine the ride home will be very quiet, partially from the exhaustion of a busy day, but mostly because of the inevitable 'come down' after a show. Having this one on my calendar for such a long time, I think the 'come down' will be one for the record books.
Show review:
Wednesday night June 2 was the second sold-out night in a row at DC's Verizon Center for Taylor Swift and her 'Fearless Tour.' That shouldn't be anything new. Every single date of the tour, which began in April of last year, sold out in minutes, so throngs of screaming fans have become the norm wherever Taylor goes. If you would like a very detailed description of her show, read my review from her March show in Charlottesville here. This review is going to mostly be about the fans.
I saw this show with Eddie. He was with me when we saw Taylor in March, so we knew what to expect. I also knew that nothing was gonna top that first show, mainly because the element of surprise was gone, and honestly, as venues go, Verizon Center is one of my least favorites, while John Paul Jones arena in Charlottesville is one of the absolute best. Knowing these things going in, I decided not to quibble about sound mix, sight lines or little things that can sometimes annoy me at shows. This night was going to be about soaking up and enjoying all that I know a Taylor Swift show to be: the hits, the lights, the hugs and one of the most devoted fan bases I have ever had the privilege to be a part of.
Case in point: Eddie and I arrived in DC about an hour before the doors opened. The Verizon Center has shops and a movie theatre around the outside of the venue, so you're indoors, but you're in a plaza-like setting with distractions to kill time while waiting for the venue doors to open. Upon leaving the parking deck and not quite sure where to go next, we took the escalator down to street level and saw a group of fans with multi-colored signs. I said out loud, 'I think we're where we're supposed to be.' Eddie walked up to the glass doors to read a sign posted, just to make sure that we were standing near a door that would indeed be opened when soundcheck finished. We were in the right place, so I took a look around from my vantage point, leaning on a wall beside the door in front of section 112.
Then I saw one of the coolest things ever.
Remember when I mentioned in my previous Taylor review how fans had made shirts of their own, most of them spot-on replicas of the 'Band Geek' shirt Taylor wore in the 'You Belong With Me Video'? Well Wednesday night, I saw fans who had made their own homemade shirts, of their own design and inspiration. And, while waiting out front, I saw the one I will remember: A fan had taken a basic black t-shirt and, with day-glo magic marker, she had hand-written in cursive the lyrics to the song 'Today Was A Fairytale' so that it covered the back of the entire shirt, each lyric line a different color. I love seeing hand made signs and shirts, because I know it takes a lot of work to make a great one. I was blown away and kept looking back over at the girl in the shirt, standing with her friends talking in excited tones.
'You like fan-made shirts, don't you?' Eddie said.
'Yeah I do. It's probably the ultimate statement of "I'm A Fan", and it means more than anything she'll buy at the merch table.'
'You should make one,' Eddie said.
'No. I'm not artistic. The closest I would come would be silk screening a photo. Something like that [looking at the girl in day-glo] takes a lot of work.'
The doors opened and we found our way to our seats. For this show, we had a straight-on view of the stage, though further back than when we were sitting stage right in Charlottesville. It did mean we would have a better view of some elements of the show that are missed unless you're looking straight ahead and not from a side. Also, it meant that, when Taylor appeared on her 'mini-stage' in the center of the arena, we would have an excellent view.
I will mention here quickly that openers Glorianna continue to impress. They kept it short and sweet, playing the same five songs I heard in March. In fact, as I suspected, all three artists on the bill played the same setlist as they had in Charlottesville. That didn't surprise me, but, with it being the last arena show of the tour, I was hoping the encore would change a bit [namely replacing 'Today Was A Fairytale' with the rocker 'Change].
Kellie Pickler really should be headlining her own tour. I thought for sure once the Fearless Tour wraps Saturday in Foxboro, MA, that Kellie would begin plans for a headlining jaunt of her own, but she's opening for Rascal Flatts thru the summer. That's a great tour to be a part of, I'm sure, but I'm puzzled as to why she isn't headlining yet. She came out onstage, in a red top and blue jeans and, as always, was breezy and easy going in her delivery and banter with the audience. Now, you and I know that I paid to see Taylor. Kellie was a bonus, but I was genuinely sad to see her leave the stage, seemingly so soon after she arrived. She's someone I will gladly pay to see in concert again, hopefully on a headlining tour...soon!
This is where it gets interesting. Ya see, I've said that a Taylor Swift show is, for me anyway, on par with any show I've seen by any artist of any genre. That includes especially KISS shows. I say this because Taylor presents a 'show', with set pieces, video montages [to fill time between costume changes] and props. Her show, like a KISS show, presents the same show at every stop. I've heard Paul Stanley explain the reasoning as 'The fan that didn't see last night's show, deserves to see the same show that last night's fan saw.' Now, some fans of some artists hate that a set list never changes on a tour. What was great about Wednesday night though was, I knew exactly what was coming, and it still had me on my feet, clapping, singing and screaming along. And, even when I knew what was coming, there were a few surprises.
Taylor always sings the song 'Hey Stephen' from somewhere other than than the stage. I never knew where she was singing it at the show in Charlottesville, but Wednesday night, she sang it from a section off the floor, among the fans...and directly across from where Eddie and I stood. Luck of the draw. Had we been on the other side of the auditorium, in the same section, we would have been part of a 'friendly mob scene'. Yeah it would have been fun to be part of that, but I had fun watching those fans freak out.
Taylor sang the song, then made her way thru the crowd to the mini-stage. Here before starting her normal introduction for the song 'Fifteen', she mentioned that she had visited Walter Reed Medical Center earlier in the day, thanked the soldiers for sharing their stories, and said several 'troops are here tonite.' Then, after singing 'Fifteen' and half of 'Tim McGraw', Taylor made her way thru the crowd in the floor seats. Here, in several aisles on the floor, were where the veterans from Walter Reed were seated. Taylor made a point to hug each one, leaving both artist and soldier visibly moved. Also while making her way back to the stage, Taylor saw a blonde girl in a straw cowboy hat, who could not have been older than four, and again Taylor made a point to hug her, give her a kiss on the cheek and even take one of the many bracelets from her wrist and put it on the arm of the young fan.
I've said it before, but country artists really have a relationship with their fans unlike any other genre. It really is something to behold.
One more thing I must mention. In front of us sat a family of four: Mom, Dad, Son [age 8] and Daughter [age 5], and as soon as the lights went down and the screens showed that famous Taylor Swift logo in neon, I knew immediately that the reason this family of four was here was for their daughter. She spent the concert being handed back and forth between mom and dad so she could see, and whenever Taylor started to sing a song this little girl knew [which I'm pretty sure was all of them], she would take her hands, ball them up into little fists of excitement and start hitting her dad's shoulder while she jumped up and down in his arms, swinging her blonde hair back and forth singing at the top of her lungs. The song 'Love Story' must have been her favorite, because once that song was over, I guess she figured it was okay to give in to sleep. It was a pleasure to watch someone be the definition of unbridled excitement, and I know it's a night that little girl and her parents [and maybe even her older brother] won't ever forget.
Taylor sparkled, her vocals were flawless and the evening was one that lived up to eight months of buildup and anticipation. As I left the concourse and headed to the parking deck, soon after the confetti and water had fallen, I saw a young girl, maybe ten or eleven, sobbing, seemingly unwilling to believe the night was over. While I kept my emotions in check, I felt the same way.
Now, I really can't wait to see what Taylor does next. And if she tours again, whenever that might be, I'll be there.
Trust me, she's one you don't want to miss.
--Barry
06.05.10
Show review:
Wednesday night June 2 was the second sold-out night in a row at DC's Verizon Center for Taylor Swift and her 'Fearless Tour.' That shouldn't be anything new. Every single date of the tour, which began in April of last year, sold out in minutes, so throngs of screaming fans have become the norm wherever Taylor goes. If you would like a very detailed description of her show, read my review from her March show in Charlottesville here. This review is going to mostly be about the fans.
I saw this show with Eddie. He was with me when we saw Taylor in March, so we knew what to expect. I also knew that nothing was gonna top that first show, mainly because the element of surprise was gone, and honestly, as venues go, Verizon Center is one of my least favorites, while John Paul Jones arena in Charlottesville is one of the absolute best. Knowing these things going in, I decided not to quibble about sound mix, sight lines or little things that can sometimes annoy me at shows. This night was going to be about soaking up and enjoying all that I know a Taylor Swift show to be: the hits, the lights, the hugs and one of the most devoted fan bases I have ever had the privilege to be a part of.
Case in point: Eddie and I arrived in DC about an hour before the doors opened. The Verizon Center has shops and a movie theatre around the outside of the venue, so you're indoors, but you're in a plaza-like setting with distractions to kill time while waiting for the venue doors to open. Upon leaving the parking deck and not quite sure where to go next, we took the escalator down to street level and saw a group of fans with multi-colored signs. I said out loud, 'I think we're where we're supposed to be.' Eddie walked up to the glass doors to read a sign posted, just to make sure that we were standing near a door that would indeed be opened when soundcheck finished. We were in the right place, so I took a look around from my vantage point, leaning on a wall beside the door in front of section 112.
Then I saw one of the coolest things ever.
Remember when I mentioned in my previous Taylor review how fans had made shirts of their own, most of them spot-on replicas of the 'Band Geek' shirt Taylor wore in the 'You Belong With Me Video'? Well Wednesday night, I saw fans who had made their own homemade shirts, of their own design and inspiration. And, while waiting out front, I saw the one I will remember: A fan had taken a basic black t-shirt and, with day-glo magic marker, she had hand-written in cursive the lyrics to the song 'Today Was A Fairytale' so that it covered the back of the entire shirt, each lyric line a different color. I love seeing hand made signs and shirts, because I know it takes a lot of work to make a great one. I was blown away and kept looking back over at the girl in the shirt, standing with her friends talking in excited tones.
'You like fan-made shirts, don't you?' Eddie said.
'Yeah I do. It's probably the ultimate statement of "I'm A Fan", and it means more than anything she'll buy at the merch table.'
'You should make one,' Eddie said.
'No. I'm not artistic. The closest I would come would be silk screening a photo. Something like that [looking at the girl in day-glo] takes a lot of work.'
The doors opened and we found our way to our seats. For this show, we had a straight-on view of the stage, though further back than when we were sitting stage right in Charlottesville. It did mean we would have a better view of some elements of the show that are missed unless you're looking straight ahead and not from a side. Also, it meant that, when Taylor appeared on her 'mini-stage' in the center of the arena, we would have an excellent view.
I will mention here quickly that openers Glorianna continue to impress. They kept it short and sweet, playing the same five songs I heard in March. In fact, as I suspected, all three artists on the bill played the same setlist as they had in Charlottesville. That didn't surprise me, but, with it being the last arena show of the tour, I was hoping the encore would change a bit [namely replacing 'Today Was A Fairytale' with the rocker 'Change].
Kellie Pickler really should be headlining her own tour. I thought for sure once the Fearless Tour wraps Saturday in Foxboro, MA, that Kellie would begin plans for a headlining jaunt of her own, but she's opening for Rascal Flatts thru the summer. That's a great tour to be a part of, I'm sure, but I'm puzzled as to why she isn't headlining yet. She came out onstage, in a red top and blue jeans and, as always, was breezy and easy going in her delivery and banter with the audience. Now, you and I know that I paid to see Taylor. Kellie was a bonus, but I was genuinely sad to see her leave the stage, seemingly so soon after she arrived. She's someone I will gladly pay to see in concert again, hopefully on a headlining tour...soon!
This is where it gets interesting. Ya see, I've said that a Taylor Swift show is, for me anyway, on par with any show I've seen by any artist of any genre. That includes especially KISS shows. I say this because Taylor presents a 'show', with set pieces, video montages [to fill time between costume changes] and props. Her show, like a KISS show, presents the same show at every stop. I've heard Paul Stanley explain the reasoning as 'The fan that didn't see last night's show, deserves to see the same show that last night's fan saw.' Now, some fans of some artists hate that a set list never changes on a tour. What was great about Wednesday night though was, I knew exactly what was coming, and it still had me on my feet, clapping, singing and screaming along. And, even when I knew what was coming, there were a few surprises.
Taylor always sings the song 'Hey Stephen' from somewhere other than than the stage. I never knew where she was singing it at the show in Charlottesville, but Wednesday night, she sang it from a section off the floor, among the fans...and directly across from where Eddie and I stood. Luck of the draw. Had we been on the other side of the auditorium, in the same section, we would have been part of a 'friendly mob scene'. Yeah it would have been fun to be part of that, but I had fun watching those fans freak out.
Taylor sang the song, then made her way thru the crowd to the mini-stage. Here before starting her normal introduction for the song 'Fifteen', she mentioned that she had visited Walter Reed Medical Center earlier in the day, thanked the soldiers for sharing their stories, and said several 'troops are here tonite.' Then, after singing 'Fifteen' and half of 'Tim McGraw', Taylor made her way thru the crowd in the floor seats. Here, in several aisles on the floor, were where the veterans from Walter Reed were seated. Taylor made a point to hug each one, leaving both artist and soldier visibly moved. Also while making her way back to the stage, Taylor saw a blonde girl in a straw cowboy hat, who could not have been older than four, and again Taylor made a point to hug her, give her a kiss on the cheek and even take one of the many bracelets from her wrist and put it on the arm of the young fan.
I've said it before, but country artists really have a relationship with their fans unlike any other genre. It really is something to behold.
One more thing I must mention. In front of us sat a family of four: Mom, Dad, Son [age 8] and Daughter [age 5], and as soon as the lights went down and the screens showed that famous Taylor Swift logo in neon, I knew immediately that the reason this family of four was here was for their daughter. She spent the concert being handed back and forth between mom and dad so she could see, and whenever Taylor started to sing a song this little girl knew [which I'm pretty sure was all of them], she would take her hands, ball them up into little fists of excitement and start hitting her dad's shoulder while she jumped up and down in his arms, swinging her blonde hair back and forth singing at the top of her lungs. The song 'Love Story' must have been her favorite, because once that song was over, I guess she figured it was okay to give in to sleep. It was a pleasure to watch someone be the definition of unbridled excitement, and I know it's a night that little girl and her parents [and maybe even her older brother] won't ever forget.
Taylor sparkled, her vocals were flawless and the evening was one that lived up to eight months of buildup and anticipation. As I left the concourse and headed to the parking deck, soon after the confetti and water had fallen, I saw a young girl, maybe ten or eleven, sobbing, seemingly unwilling to believe the night was over. While I kept my emotions in check, I felt the same way.
Now, I really can't wait to see what Taylor does next. And if she tours again, whenever that might be, I'll be there.
Trust me, she's one you don't want to miss.
--Barry
06.05.10
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Race Day in Richmond -- A Recap
As I have stated here before, I have known Eddie Pickering for over 20 years...more than half our lives. Had someone told me even ten years ago that I would attend a NASCAR race in person, I would have laughed in their face and written the comment off as insanity. However, had someone said even five years ago that I would own a Buck Owens box set and have a 'favorite country music' themed playlist on my iPod that totals more than 200 songs, again that would have seemed impossible not so long ago.
Well, things change.
I just kind of fell into attending NASCAR races with Eddie. In the summer of 2008, Eddie's wife Tucker gave birth to their second child and she doubted very much that she would be able to attend the race in September that they had tickets for. She also told Eddie there was 'no chance' he would be able to attend a race without her. Knowing she had said this, I told Eddie one night, 'Well, if Tucker can't go, and she says you can attend if I take her ticket, then I would be honored to see a race with you and find out what this thing is all about.' I said that because I was truly interested in the phenomenon, but also knowing there was little possibility of Tucker giving the go ahead for her husband to see a race without her -- something neither had done in the then almost ten years they had been married.
To my surprise, Tucker said Eddie and I could go. Only thing, that weekend a tropical storm blew through town, so a scheduled night race got rained out and turned into a Sunday afternoon race. Eddie and I went, and I had fun. But, I was very ill at the time and was nowhere near 100% healthy, maybe not even 60%. However, the overwhelming feeling I came away with that day was the wonderful sense of community that race fans have. I was floored by it actually. And, as Eddie dropped me off at home after that first race 18 months ago, I couldn't wait to get back to be part of it again.
Due to circumstances beyond our control, 2009 was a no-go for us. So, this past weekend marked Eddie's, and my return to Richmond International Raceway for the wonder that is Race Day. The kicker this time was, instead of just the two of us, also part of the 'crew' was Tucker and Eddie's mom, Carolyn. Eddie's parents truly are family to me. Every time I talk to Eddie, I always ask about them, but I hadn't seen them in years.
So, now a recap of 'Race Day 2010 -- Pickering style
The fun actually began Friday night as Eddie dropped by to pick me up around seven o'clock. We had planned to have dinner at his house and then, later in the evening, drop me off at his parents' house to crash for the night, then Eddie and Tucker would bring the family van by the house to pick Carolyn and me up. Plus, staying overnight at their house gave me a chance to catch up with Eddie's dad, Al; someone I always love spending time with. Though he's had some 'health events' the last few years, I am happy to report that Al still has his twisted, bawdy sense of humor fully in tact. His job is selling insurance but his true calling is that of a master storyteller. Whether he was reciting stories from when he first met me, or trying to tell me stories that were 'half truths' at best, it truly was a joy to see him again before sleep pulled me away.
After pizza at Eddie and Tuck's, I went to Al and Carolyn's and eventually fell asleep just after midnite. Carolyn had said she would be up at 4:30 to fry sausage for biscuits to take to the track. I fully expected my nose to wake me around 4:45, but surprisingly, I slept until 6.
Coffee downstairs while Carolyn checks, double checks and triple checks her mental list of food and supplies that will need to be transferred to the van once Eddie arrives around 7:15. Al wakes up a half hour before we leave, so we talk a bit more, compare smart phones [he said he liked my Taylor Swift wallpaper better than his background] and wait for Eddie.
Eddie arrives around 7:30 [life is never really on schedule when you have two kids at home, one, age seven, who wants to go to the race and one, about to turn two,who just wants mommy.] Eddie, Tucker and Carolyn load the van with the precision of a military strike and, after a quick stop to get ice for the three coolers of food, we're race track bound.
Over the next hour, we get to the track, find a handicapped parking spot, set up 'camp', put up the tent and slowly unload the breakfast food. I then noticed that the gas grill that was going to cook our dinner that evening was still 'new in box' and, as yet unassembled. While Tucker, Carolyn and I ate the aforementioned sausage biscuits, Eddie ventured to assemble the grill.
The grill came with instructions that were 90% art/drawings and 10% written. That would have driven me crazy. I am a linear thinker and need to see it 'written out' as opposed to 'drawn' in order to make sense of it. Eddie enlisted Tuck and Carolyn for assistance in handing him the right pieces at the right time, and, after about an hour [or the time it took me to consume a biscuit and a large piece of homemade banana bread], the grill was assembled and ready for action. To his credit, if Eddie was frustrated, he didn't show it, and he did a great job putting it together without the aid of a screwdriver. [Props to Tuck for advising to use a spoon as a screwdriver...it worked!]
The place we set up camp happened to be beside a group from Connecticut. They were Tony Stewart fans, and one was 'a friend' of Joey Legano who knew him personally. Both camps came to quick agreement that if Stewart didn't win the race, we would be happy with 'anyone but Jimmie Johnson'.
Around 10:30 or 11:00, we decided to head toward the numerous souvenir trailers, setup for each driver to sell merchandise. You want something with your favorite racer's face on it? You're gonna find it here. As I left my house Friday night, my mom said 'Get me a Denny Hamlin polo shirt if they have 'em,' so that was on my list. I also wanted to rent a scanner/headset so I could listen to in-car audio during the race, as well as look at the Tony Stewart merchandise since all I had was a Home Depot hat that I paid five bucks for when it was announced in 2008 he was forming his own team.
Walking around the concourse amid the hawkers and trailers, I was struck at how varied the age of the NASCAR fan now is. Years ago, this was strictly a southern sport for 'good ol' boys', but now with races in Vegas, Michigan, California and Phoenix to name but a few, it's well documented that NASCAR is now a nationwide sport [pun not intended, for those who get that joke]. The fans used to be predominantly young white males, but I saw entire families out at the track; two toddlers as young as maybe four, walking with dad, all three shirtless wearing grey shorts. I am not sure how NASCAR did it, but it has crossed over to appeal to women as well. And, speaking as a fan who always enjoys eye-candy, let me just say thank you and amen! ;)
In the hour or so we walked around, we managed to hit not one but two Tony Stewart trailers, and Eddie bought an item at each. We rented the headset [I'm buying my own before September] and got mom her polo shirt. Later on that afternoon, Eddie and Tucker walked across the street to the merchants selling items cheaper than inside the track, to find some small souvenirs for the two boys. During that time, Carolyn and I talked at length for the first time in probably a decade. That was wonderful, and drove home the point that, yes we were there to watch a race, but above that was the chance to spend time with one another. The race is important, but it really isn't the memory I'll take away from the day. It's that sense of 'community' again, something I don't think any other sport offers. Other sports, fans are usually trash talking or combative. And, at a baseball game, you only have two teams to focus on. At a race, anyone can find a common driver to root for and the common driver to root against. It makes for fast friends, even if your new friend is a Jeff Gordon fan.
Now a word about Carolyn. She knows me very well, and she remembers what I like. Years ago [1991 to be exact] Eddie and I stayed up all night at his house on a Thursday night while I 'assisted' him with a history paper that was due the next day. After we were done, around 5:00 in the morning, Eddie slept a bit on the couch while I stayed awake. I stayed awake by eating two huge pieces of a lemon strussell cake Carolyn had made. It tasted unreal. It may have been the adrenaline from being awake going on 24 hours, with another school day ahead before bed, but I couldn't stop complimenting her on the cake. A few years later, when I was coming over to visit, she had looked for the same lemon cake only to find that it was no longer made. [Yes, sadly ironic that, of all the stuff she makes from scratch, it's a box cake I remember. I blame the sleep deprivation.] Well, for the race day menu, since the lemon strussell was not an option, she made home made lemon pound cake. She also made a pan of brownies and two Ziploc bags of her fried chicken, which I again raved about after having it only one time in high school. Yes, we ate very well Saturday. That's an understatement.
Everyone relaxed and almost snoozed as it neared four o'clock, which was when we said we had to start cooking dinner [more food!!] in order to make it to our seats by 6:15. We had steaks on the grill and twice baked potatoes. Again, we ate like kings, and Eddie got several requests from passers-by on how 'they' wanted 'their' steak cooked. If you've never been to a NASCAR race, tailgating and making a day of it, and bringing along your own food is the ONLY way to go. You'll save a mint and the food will taste far better than what's offered at the track.
Around six o'clock, we cleaned up, took down the tent, packed up the coolers and loaded the truck. Donning my new Tony Stewart racing shirt, I was ready for the night's festivities.
After all this, we still had a race to watch!!
We made our way to the grandstands and ventured to find our seats. I knew we had seats high up for a better view. How high? There were thirty-four rows in our section. Our seats were in row thirty-three. I stood at the bottom of the staircase, which did not have a railing, requested Eddie's help ['just hang on to the right elbow please'] and, slowly, methodically, started the trek up the grandstand. Ten rows up, someone on the aisle said 'You're a rockstar, man!' Seventeen more rows up, two-thirds the way there, someone said, 'Almost there man.' Standing at row thirty, someone said, 'You're close.' Once Eddie and I found our row, I found my seat. I didn't immediately stow my canes under my seat, as I usually do. I just sat there. I wasn't really out of breath, but I was trying to collect myself, take in the view and convince my bladder that we were gonna be in this seat for the next four hours, so he better behave.
Pre-race festivities flew by, and before I knew it, the green flag was set to drop. I put on the headset and found the Motor Racing Network broadcast feed and was set.
Richmond International Raceway has truly become one of the best tracks on the circuit. They installed a new screen in the middle of the infield, but you don't really watch that. What is very cool is below the screen is a new automated scoreboard that instantly reports position changes and laps completed. That was handy, not because I was watching Tony's rise to the top ten [he had issues the whole race and finished in the lower twenties] but because I was checking on the status of Denny Hamlin, from Chesterfield, VA. His number eleven FedEx car was in the top ten most of the night, even at times breaking into the top five. But, the car of the night belonged to Kyle Busch. Busch drives for Joe Gibbs Racing. Now, I am a Redskins fan, so I love Joe Gibbs and all he stands for. That said, I 'hate' Kyle Busch. How much? So much so I was actually rooting for Jeff Gordon at the end of the race. That's akin to me rooting for the Dallas Cowboys...it's not supposed to happen!
The race had very few cautions, maybe six or seven. The last one though came with five laps remaining. Gordon had the lead, but Busch, who really dominated all night, quickly overtook him to lead the last three laps and take the checkered flag. Eddie said 'Well, sometimes races suck.' True, the driver we rooted for didn't do well, but I still had a blast. Night racing is a sight to see, and to actually feel the stands shake as the cars rumble past at speeds well over 100 miles an hour, it was a rush.
I'll end the recap with the phrase that I have been saying since I saw my first race in September 2008: Everyone, and I mean everyone, should attend a NASCAR event at least once in their life. It really is an unforgettable experience, especially if you're lucky enough to spend the time with dear friends that are like family. Thanks to Eddie, Tucker and Carolyn for making the day great and for inducting me into your racing family. I hope health and finances allow us all to do this again for many years to come.
The NASCAR marketing line is 'Everything else is just a game...' That's the absolute truth, and if you doubt that, then you haven't been racing yet.
Thanks for reading,
Barry
05.03.10
Well, things change.
I just kind of fell into attending NASCAR races with Eddie. In the summer of 2008, Eddie's wife Tucker gave birth to their second child and she doubted very much that she would be able to attend the race in September that they had tickets for. She also told Eddie there was 'no chance' he would be able to attend a race without her. Knowing she had said this, I told Eddie one night, 'Well, if Tucker can't go, and she says you can attend if I take her ticket, then I would be honored to see a race with you and find out what this thing is all about.' I said that because I was truly interested in the phenomenon, but also knowing there was little possibility of Tucker giving the go ahead for her husband to see a race without her -- something neither had done in the then almost ten years they had been married.
To my surprise, Tucker said Eddie and I could go. Only thing, that weekend a tropical storm blew through town, so a scheduled night race got rained out and turned into a Sunday afternoon race. Eddie and I went, and I had fun. But, I was very ill at the time and was nowhere near 100% healthy, maybe not even 60%. However, the overwhelming feeling I came away with that day was the wonderful sense of community that race fans have. I was floored by it actually. And, as Eddie dropped me off at home after that first race 18 months ago, I couldn't wait to get back to be part of it again.
Due to circumstances beyond our control, 2009 was a no-go for us. So, this past weekend marked Eddie's, and my return to Richmond International Raceway for the wonder that is Race Day. The kicker this time was, instead of just the two of us, also part of the 'crew' was Tucker and Eddie's mom, Carolyn. Eddie's parents truly are family to me. Every time I talk to Eddie, I always ask about them, but I hadn't seen them in years.
So, now a recap of 'Race Day 2010 -- Pickering style
The fun actually began Friday night as Eddie dropped by to pick me up around seven o'clock. We had planned to have dinner at his house and then, later in the evening, drop me off at his parents' house to crash for the night, then Eddie and Tucker would bring the family van by the house to pick Carolyn and me up. Plus, staying overnight at their house gave me a chance to catch up with Eddie's dad, Al; someone I always love spending time with. Though he's had some 'health events' the last few years, I am happy to report that Al still has his twisted, bawdy sense of humor fully in tact. His job is selling insurance but his true calling is that of a master storyteller. Whether he was reciting stories from when he first met me, or trying to tell me stories that were 'half truths' at best, it truly was a joy to see him again before sleep pulled me away.
After pizza at Eddie and Tuck's, I went to Al and Carolyn's and eventually fell asleep just after midnite. Carolyn had said she would be up at 4:30 to fry sausage for biscuits to take to the track. I fully expected my nose to wake me around 4:45, but surprisingly, I slept until 6.
Coffee downstairs while Carolyn checks, double checks and triple checks her mental list of food and supplies that will need to be transferred to the van once Eddie arrives around 7:15. Al wakes up a half hour before we leave, so we talk a bit more, compare smart phones [he said he liked my Taylor Swift wallpaper better than his background] and wait for Eddie.
Eddie arrives around 7:30 [life is never really on schedule when you have two kids at home, one, age seven, who wants to go to the race and one, about to turn two,who just wants mommy.] Eddie, Tucker and Carolyn load the van with the precision of a military strike and, after a quick stop to get ice for the three coolers of food, we're race track bound.
Over the next hour, we get to the track, find a handicapped parking spot, set up 'camp', put up the tent and slowly unload the breakfast food. I then noticed that the gas grill that was going to cook our dinner that evening was still 'new in box' and, as yet unassembled. While Tucker, Carolyn and I ate the aforementioned sausage biscuits, Eddie ventured to assemble the grill.
The grill came with instructions that were 90% art/drawings and 10% written. That would have driven me crazy. I am a linear thinker and need to see it 'written out' as opposed to 'drawn' in order to make sense of it. Eddie enlisted Tuck and Carolyn for assistance in handing him the right pieces at the right time, and, after about an hour [or the time it took me to consume a biscuit and a large piece of homemade banana bread], the grill was assembled and ready for action. To his credit, if Eddie was frustrated, he didn't show it, and he did a great job putting it together without the aid of a screwdriver. [Props to Tuck for advising to use a spoon as a screwdriver...it worked!]
The place we set up camp happened to be beside a group from Connecticut. They were Tony Stewart fans, and one was 'a friend' of Joey Legano who knew him personally. Both camps came to quick agreement that if Stewart didn't win the race, we would be happy with 'anyone but Jimmie Johnson'.
Around 10:30 or 11:00, we decided to head toward the numerous souvenir trailers, setup for each driver to sell merchandise. You want something with your favorite racer's face on it? You're gonna find it here. As I left my house Friday night, my mom said 'Get me a Denny Hamlin polo shirt if they have 'em,' so that was on my list. I also wanted to rent a scanner/headset so I could listen to in-car audio during the race, as well as look at the Tony Stewart merchandise since all I had was a Home Depot hat that I paid five bucks for when it was announced in 2008 he was forming his own team.
Walking around the concourse amid the hawkers and trailers, I was struck at how varied the age of the NASCAR fan now is. Years ago, this was strictly a southern sport for 'good ol' boys', but now with races in Vegas, Michigan, California and Phoenix to name but a few, it's well documented that NASCAR is now a nationwide sport [pun not intended, for those who get that joke]. The fans used to be predominantly young white males, but I saw entire families out at the track; two toddlers as young as maybe four, walking with dad, all three shirtless wearing grey shorts. I am not sure how NASCAR did it, but it has crossed over to appeal to women as well. And, speaking as a fan who always enjoys eye-candy, let me just say thank you and amen! ;)
In the hour or so we walked around, we managed to hit not one but two Tony Stewart trailers, and Eddie bought an item at each. We rented the headset [I'm buying my own before September] and got mom her polo shirt. Later on that afternoon, Eddie and Tucker walked across the street to the merchants selling items cheaper than inside the track, to find some small souvenirs for the two boys. During that time, Carolyn and I talked at length for the first time in probably a decade. That was wonderful, and drove home the point that, yes we were there to watch a race, but above that was the chance to spend time with one another. The race is important, but it really isn't the memory I'll take away from the day. It's that sense of 'community' again, something I don't think any other sport offers. Other sports, fans are usually trash talking or combative. And, at a baseball game, you only have two teams to focus on. At a race, anyone can find a common driver to root for and the common driver to root against. It makes for fast friends, even if your new friend is a Jeff Gordon fan.
Now a word about Carolyn. She knows me very well, and she remembers what I like. Years ago [1991 to be exact] Eddie and I stayed up all night at his house on a Thursday night while I 'assisted' him with a history paper that was due the next day. After we were done, around 5:00 in the morning, Eddie slept a bit on the couch while I stayed awake. I stayed awake by eating two huge pieces of a lemon strussell cake Carolyn had made. It tasted unreal. It may have been the adrenaline from being awake going on 24 hours, with another school day ahead before bed, but I couldn't stop complimenting her on the cake. A few years later, when I was coming over to visit, she had looked for the same lemon cake only to find that it was no longer made. [Yes, sadly ironic that, of all the stuff she makes from scratch, it's a box cake I remember. I blame the sleep deprivation.] Well, for the race day menu, since the lemon strussell was not an option, she made home made lemon pound cake. She also made a pan of brownies and two Ziploc bags of her fried chicken, which I again raved about after having it only one time in high school. Yes, we ate very well Saturday. That's an understatement.
Everyone relaxed and almost snoozed as it neared four o'clock, which was when we said we had to start cooking dinner [more food!!] in order to make it to our seats by 6:15. We had steaks on the grill and twice baked potatoes. Again, we ate like kings, and Eddie got several requests from passers-by on how 'they' wanted 'their' steak cooked. If you've never been to a NASCAR race, tailgating and making a day of it, and bringing along your own food is the ONLY way to go. You'll save a mint and the food will taste far better than what's offered at the track.
Around six o'clock, we cleaned up, took down the tent, packed up the coolers and loaded the truck. Donning my new Tony Stewart racing shirt, I was ready for the night's festivities.
After all this, we still had a race to watch!!
We made our way to the grandstands and ventured to find our seats. I knew we had seats high up for a better view. How high? There were thirty-four rows in our section. Our seats were in row thirty-three. I stood at the bottom of the staircase, which did not have a railing, requested Eddie's help ['just hang on to the right elbow please'] and, slowly, methodically, started the trek up the grandstand. Ten rows up, someone on the aisle said 'You're a rockstar, man!' Seventeen more rows up, two-thirds the way there, someone said, 'Almost there man.' Standing at row thirty, someone said, 'You're close.' Once Eddie and I found our row, I found my seat. I didn't immediately stow my canes under my seat, as I usually do. I just sat there. I wasn't really out of breath, but I was trying to collect myself, take in the view and convince my bladder that we were gonna be in this seat for the next four hours, so he better behave.
Pre-race festivities flew by, and before I knew it, the green flag was set to drop. I put on the headset and found the Motor Racing Network broadcast feed and was set.
Richmond International Raceway has truly become one of the best tracks on the circuit. They installed a new screen in the middle of the infield, but you don't really watch that. What is very cool is below the screen is a new automated scoreboard that instantly reports position changes and laps completed. That was handy, not because I was watching Tony's rise to the top ten [he had issues the whole race and finished in the lower twenties] but because I was checking on the status of Denny Hamlin, from Chesterfield, VA. His number eleven FedEx car was in the top ten most of the night, even at times breaking into the top five. But, the car of the night belonged to Kyle Busch. Busch drives for Joe Gibbs Racing. Now, I am a Redskins fan, so I love Joe Gibbs and all he stands for. That said, I 'hate' Kyle Busch. How much? So much so I was actually rooting for Jeff Gordon at the end of the race. That's akin to me rooting for the Dallas Cowboys...it's not supposed to happen!
The race had very few cautions, maybe six or seven. The last one though came with five laps remaining. Gordon had the lead, but Busch, who really dominated all night, quickly overtook him to lead the last three laps and take the checkered flag. Eddie said 'Well, sometimes races suck.' True, the driver we rooted for didn't do well, but I still had a blast. Night racing is a sight to see, and to actually feel the stands shake as the cars rumble past at speeds well over 100 miles an hour, it was a rush.
I'll end the recap with the phrase that I have been saying since I saw my first race in September 2008: Everyone, and I mean everyone, should attend a NASCAR event at least once in their life. It really is an unforgettable experience, especially if you're lucky enough to spend the time with dear friends that are like family. Thanks to Eddie, Tucker and Carolyn for making the day great and for inducting me into your racing family. I hope health and finances allow us all to do this again for many years to come.
The NASCAR marketing line is 'Everything else is just a game...' That's the absolute truth, and if you doubt that, then you haven't been racing yet.
Thanks for reading,
Barry
05.03.10
Friday, April 30, 2010
And so the circle closes: Les Miserables memories, 1992-2010
This is part review, part flashback and part closure for yours truly, so if it seems a bit scatterbrained, please accept my apologies in advance.
Tonight, I walked the halls of my high school for the first time since May 1994, when I ran sound for a production two years after graduating. I had been meaning for years to stop by the old place to see a production put on by the Drama department, which is still held under the knowing gaze of the person I've always only called Baugher [though she does hava a first name, it's Katherine]. No matter how good my intentions, life seemed to get in the way and I never found my way back there. Until tonight.
Tonight, Midlothian High School's Drama Department [and the school Orchestra] mounted their production of Les Miserables. Let me say here and now, I went in with very high expectations, partly because I know Baugher, and partly because, if I had to pick one Broadway play as a favorite, however difficult that might be, I would pick Les Miz.
The entire cast was stellar, rising to the challenge of a score that has zero spoken dialogue, everything being sung. To my amazement, their were only a few minor cuts to some numbers. If you had told me years ago that Baugher and Company would be able to say/sing the word 'whore' repeatadly inside the hallowed halls of Midlo U, I would have been shocked. I mean, we had to lobby, and lobby hard to say the word 'damn' in one of the productions I was in 'way back when'. Maybe progress has finally come to Chesterfield.
Again, the whole cast, from the lead roles to the ensemble chorus, were a pleasure to watch and listen to. The 'kid' [and I can call him kid because he wasn't born when I went to Midlo] who had the task of singing Jean Valjean...all I can say is the sky is truly the limit for him. When he finished 'Bring Him Home', the toughest solo in the whole show, I had to keep reminding myself that this was a high school play. It was so good I forgot that. The moniker 'it's only high school theatre' doesn't apply here.
The other component here that may in fact color my review is nostalgia. I saw Les Miz on my first trip to New York, with Baugher and the Drama Club, my senior year [1992]. Unlike some friends, I didn't know a note of the musical before the lights went down. At intermission, I remember Katie Shipplett looking at me and saying, 'No one dies in the second act.' I didn't know if she was lying, or trying to convince herself everything would be alright at the end.
It's funny, when I was eighteen, the character in Les Miz that I latched onto was Eponine, and, hearing her solo and duet tonite ['On My Own' and 'A Little Fall Of Rain' respectively] she's still the character that I identify with at 36 years of age. I took comfort in that, how things sometimes don't change all that much as we grow older. I've walked in a lot of shoes, had a lot of jobs, made and lost friends in the last 18 years, but, in the grand scheme of things, I think I am very similar to the person I was in high school. A little wiser hopefully, but not bitter or [too] cynical.
That it took going back to realize that surprised me. ;)
As I watched and listened to these kids, who now have there entire future ahead of them, pictures flashed of that 1992 NY trip and friends came to mind, some of which I had not thought of in years. Memories of staying up way too late, twelve people to a room, being so tired the next day that some of us slept through a Broadway matinee...figuring sleep would come on the bus ride home [but we talked the whole way back too]. It was one of those rare times in my life where I KNEW this was a special time and I did all I could to take it all in. If I slept, I would have missed something.
So, to Amy Arnold, Drew Cannady, Kurt Heisler,Tony Abeln, Wendi Tudor, Davilee Criss, Jen Ball, Julie Henry, Patrick Crowling, Lisa Cason, Jenne Powers, Kim Catanzano, Carrie Morris, Rebecca Montero and many others from Midlo's classes of 1992 and 1993, know that you were thought of fondly tonight, and revered, and the legacy of camraderie that drama provides is still going strong a generation later.
That was a wonderful thing to be reminded of. Thanks Eddie for seeing this with me, and lastly thanks and love to Baugher. I know one day you will retire but I hope it's not anytime soon. I can't imagine Midlothian without you and I am lucky not only to have had you as a life-changing teacher, but also to be able to call you a friend.
For the record, I DID NOT sleep through a Broadway Matinee. Those who did know who they are. :)
Barry
04.29.10
[shameless plugs before I go: If you're in Midlo this weekend, go check out the show at the high school. Ten bucks, curtain rises at 7:30.]
Tonight, I walked the halls of my high school for the first time since May 1994, when I ran sound for a production two years after graduating. I had been meaning for years to stop by the old place to see a production put on by the Drama department, which is still held under the knowing gaze of the person I've always only called Baugher [though she does hava a first name, it's Katherine]. No matter how good my intentions, life seemed to get in the way and I never found my way back there. Until tonight.
Tonight, Midlothian High School's Drama Department [and the school Orchestra] mounted their production of Les Miserables. Let me say here and now, I went in with very high expectations, partly because I know Baugher, and partly because, if I had to pick one Broadway play as a favorite, however difficult that might be, I would pick Les Miz.
The entire cast was stellar, rising to the challenge of a score that has zero spoken dialogue, everything being sung. To my amazement, their were only a few minor cuts to some numbers. If you had told me years ago that Baugher and Company would be able to say/sing the word 'whore' repeatadly inside the hallowed halls of Midlo U, I would have been shocked. I mean, we had to lobby, and lobby hard to say the word 'damn' in one of the productions I was in 'way back when'. Maybe progress has finally come to Chesterfield.
Again, the whole cast, from the lead roles to the ensemble chorus, were a pleasure to watch and listen to. The 'kid' [and I can call him kid because he wasn't born when I went to Midlo] who had the task of singing Jean Valjean...all I can say is the sky is truly the limit for him. When he finished 'Bring Him Home', the toughest solo in the whole show, I had to keep reminding myself that this was a high school play. It was so good I forgot that. The moniker 'it's only high school theatre' doesn't apply here.
The other component here that may in fact color my review is nostalgia. I saw Les Miz on my first trip to New York, with Baugher and the Drama Club, my senior year [1992]. Unlike some friends, I didn't know a note of the musical before the lights went down. At intermission, I remember Katie Shipplett looking at me and saying, 'No one dies in the second act.' I didn't know if she was lying, or trying to convince herself everything would be alright at the end.
It's funny, when I was eighteen, the character in Les Miz that I latched onto was Eponine, and, hearing her solo and duet tonite ['On My Own' and 'A Little Fall Of Rain' respectively] she's still the character that I identify with at 36 years of age. I took comfort in that, how things sometimes don't change all that much as we grow older. I've walked in a lot of shoes, had a lot of jobs, made and lost friends in the last 18 years, but, in the grand scheme of things, I think I am very similar to the person I was in high school. A little wiser hopefully, but not bitter or [too] cynical.
That it took going back to realize that surprised me. ;)
As I watched and listened to these kids, who now have there entire future ahead of them, pictures flashed of that 1992 NY trip and friends came to mind, some of which I had not thought of in years. Memories of staying up way too late, twelve people to a room, being so tired the next day that some of us slept through a Broadway matinee...figuring sleep would come on the bus ride home [but we talked the whole way back too]. It was one of those rare times in my life where I KNEW this was a special time and I did all I could to take it all in. If I slept, I would have missed something.
So, to Amy Arnold, Drew Cannady, Kurt Heisler,Tony Abeln, Wendi Tudor, Davilee Criss, Jen Ball, Julie Henry, Patrick Crowling, Lisa Cason, Jenne Powers, Kim Catanzano, Carrie Morris, Rebecca Montero and many others from Midlo's classes of 1992 and 1993, know that you were thought of fondly tonight, and revered, and the legacy of camraderie that drama provides is still going strong a generation later.
That was a wonderful thing to be reminded of. Thanks Eddie for seeing this with me, and lastly thanks and love to Baugher. I know one day you will retire but I hope it's not anytime soon. I can't imagine Midlothian without you and I am lucky not only to have had you as a life-changing teacher, but also to be able to call you a friend.
For the record, I DID NOT sleep through a Broadway Matinee. Those who did know who they are. :)
Barry
04.29.10
[shameless plugs before I go: If you're in Midlo this weekend, go check out the show at the high school. Ten bucks, curtain rises at 7:30.]
Friday, April 23, 2010
Odds and Sods [Thoughts on ‘Tommy’, Taylor and Elvis, Part 1]
It’s been a while since I posted on the blog, so I thought I would take a moment to talk about this past weekend’s activities and look forward to what promises to be a phenomenal show this Saturday at The National.
Let’s start with last Saturday [04.17]: VCU Theatre’s production of ‘The Who’s Tommy’ at The Raymond Hodges Theatre.
You’re either a fan of The Who, or your not. No production of Tommy will persuade you to like The Who, nor will the ‘normal’ Who fans seek out other musical productions after seeing ‘Tommy.’ People go see this show to hear the songs live, hoping they sound somewhat similar to the double-album they already know.
It’s hard to believe that this ‘rock opera’ is now over forty years of age. Most of it has worn well, and this production brought home the point that, as a story, ‘Tommy’ is still as sick, as twisted and as sadistic as it was in 1969. Moments still make me cringe [the whole ‘Uncle Ernie/Cousin Kevin bit] but, this is a good thing. It’s a heavy play that doesn’t flinch from subject matter that was very taboo back then and doesn’t get discussed often now. And, don’t forget, at its core, it rocks.
This production, done ‘in the round’ is very fluid and never slows down. The performers that stood out to me were Eric Stallings as the teen-aged Tommy, Malorie Mackey as the ever-optimistic believer Sally Simpson, and young Cooper Timberline as the young Tommy. Stallings and Timberline did a masterful job of remaining in character, in the required catatonic state of Tommy, while being poked, prodded, carried and pushed. It really was a wonder to watch these two actors embody this singular character.
Lastly, the band is top-notch. Yes, there was only one foursome that had the bombast of The Who, but these local musicians do a great job staying true to the soundtrack, even playing ‘The Underture’ in Act One, which I fully expected to see cut from the show.
The show is playing this weekend and closes Sunday. Go to Theatre VCU for details. Tickets are $25 for the public with discounts for VCU students, alumni and staff. If you’re a fan of The Who, go support local theatre and check out this ambitious production.
Sunday 04.18 – The ACM Awards
Just a brief note about Sunday’s ACM awards, since I had some new readers ask why I hadn’t written anything about it on Monday. Taylor Swift may not have walked away with any awards this time [which, even though I am a big fan, I kind of expected, seeing as how the album has been out for a long time], but she had one of the most memorable performances of the evening that should, once and for all put to an end the notion that she can’t sing live. This was an appearance where her voice sounded as strong as it did a month ago when I saw her live show in Charlottesville. If ya missed it, here it is, via the wonder that is YouTube.
Taylor at The 2010 ACMs -- Change
Congrats to Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert on their wins and performances. Miranda’s performance of ‘The House That Built Me’ was a great showcase for her, showing that she can sing the quiet song, not always having to be the ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’.
And finally, I look forward to Saturday night when none other than Elvis Costello performs at The National – right here in Richmond!! I’ve seen Elvis twice before, and I can’t wait to see and hear what this show will be like in this amazing venue. His last album, 2009’s ‘Secret, Profane and Sugarcane’ has a country/bluegrass flavor to it, so I am hopeful that we’ll hear some rare songs from his catalog. A dream set list for me would include:
Anything from his country covers album, ‘Almost Blue’ but especially Good Year For The Roses
Stranger In My House
Cheap Reward [which was sung wonderfully by Stephen Colbert in November, with Elvis on guitar on ‘The Colbert Report’
Motel Matches
And, of course, my dream setlist isn’t complete without the inclusion of I Hope You’re Happy Now.
I will be happy with whatever is played. But if any one of the above songs is heard, I’ll be ecstatic. Thanks again to The National for really putting Richmond on the music scene map for the first time in a very long time. It’s so nice to have a club that bands want to play!
Full review of Elvis Costello at The National will be posted by Monday night. If you have tickets to that show, see you there. If you don’t, go see Tommy at VCU.
More shows and reviews coming soon…including Jonathan Coulton at The Hat Factory May 13, Carrie Underwood this Tuesday at the Coliseum, and a full recap of the madness that is NASCAR on May First.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned!
--Barry
04.23.10
Let’s start with last Saturday [04.17]: VCU Theatre’s production of ‘The Who’s Tommy’ at The Raymond Hodges Theatre.
You’re either a fan of The Who, or your not. No production of Tommy will persuade you to like The Who, nor will the ‘normal’ Who fans seek out other musical productions after seeing ‘Tommy.’ People go see this show to hear the songs live, hoping they sound somewhat similar to the double-album they already know.
It’s hard to believe that this ‘rock opera’ is now over forty years of age. Most of it has worn well, and this production brought home the point that, as a story, ‘Tommy’ is still as sick, as twisted and as sadistic as it was in 1969. Moments still make me cringe [the whole ‘Uncle Ernie/Cousin Kevin bit] but, this is a good thing. It’s a heavy play that doesn’t flinch from subject matter that was very taboo back then and doesn’t get discussed often now. And, don’t forget, at its core, it rocks.
This production, done ‘in the round’ is very fluid and never slows down. The performers that stood out to me were Eric Stallings as the teen-aged Tommy, Malorie Mackey as the ever-optimistic believer Sally Simpson, and young Cooper Timberline as the young Tommy. Stallings and Timberline did a masterful job of remaining in character, in the required catatonic state of Tommy, while being poked, prodded, carried and pushed. It really was a wonder to watch these two actors embody this singular character.
Lastly, the band is top-notch. Yes, there was only one foursome that had the bombast of The Who, but these local musicians do a great job staying true to the soundtrack, even playing ‘The Underture’ in Act One, which I fully expected to see cut from the show.
The show is playing this weekend and closes Sunday. Go to Theatre VCU for details. Tickets are $25 for the public with discounts for VCU students, alumni and staff. If you’re a fan of The Who, go support local theatre and check out this ambitious production.
Sunday 04.18 – The ACM Awards
Just a brief note about Sunday’s ACM awards, since I had some new readers ask why I hadn’t written anything about it on Monday. Taylor Swift may not have walked away with any awards this time [which, even though I am a big fan, I kind of expected, seeing as how the album has been out for a long time], but she had one of the most memorable performances of the evening that should, once and for all put to an end the notion that she can’t sing live. This was an appearance where her voice sounded as strong as it did a month ago when I saw her live show in Charlottesville. If ya missed it, here it is, via the wonder that is YouTube.
Taylor at The 2010 ACMs -- Change
Congrats to Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert on their wins and performances. Miranda’s performance of ‘The House That Built Me’ was a great showcase for her, showing that she can sing the quiet song, not always having to be the ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’.
And finally, I look forward to Saturday night when none other than Elvis Costello performs at The National – right here in Richmond!! I’ve seen Elvis twice before, and I can’t wait to see and hear what this show will be like in this amazing venue. His last album, 2009’s ‘Secret, Profane and Sugarcane’ has a country/bluegrass flavor to it, so I am hopeful that we’ll hear some rare songs from his catalog. A dream set list for me would include:
Anything from his country covers album, ‘Almost Blue’ but especially Good Year For The Roses
Stranger In My House
Cheap Reward [which was sung wonderfully by Stephen Colbert in November, with Elvis on guitar on ‘The Colbert Report’
Motel Matches
And, of course, my dream setlist isn’t complete without the inclusion of I Hope You’re Happy Now.
I will be happy with whatever is played. But if any one of the above songs is heard, I’ll be ecstatic. Thanks again to The National for really putting Richmond on the music scene map for the first time in a very long time. It’s so nice to have a club that bands want to play!
Full review of Elvis Costello at The National will be posted by Monday night. If you have tickets to that show, see you there. If you don’t, go see Tommy at VCU.
More shows and reviews coming soon…including Jonathan Coulton at The Hat Factory May 13, Carrie Underwood this Tuesday at the Coliseum, and a full recap of the madness that is NASCAR on May First.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned!
--Barry
04.23.10
Monday, March 22, 2010
'This Moment, Capture It. Remember It!':Taylor Swift @ John Paul Jones Arena 03.20.10
The job of a critic is to be an objective observer and report on the events going on around him with an unbiased opinion.
Nope. Sorry, can’t do it. Stop reading right now if that’s what you’re looking for. I paid for my ticket and I am unabashedly, unashamedly a Taylor Swift fan, so what follows is a review that is anything but objective…and very biased.
I’ll start at the beginning, because if I start writing about the headliner, there really is no point in talking about anything or anyone else.
Glorianna is a new band that, through a stroke of luck and with the help of a great sounding debut, landed the spot as the opening act on Taylor’s Fearless tour. They’ve played almost every show, and thus their audience has increased exponentially in a way that can only happen by playing in front of people. Lucky for them, the houses are mostly packed when the show begins. I originally wrote Glorianna off as a ‘minor league version of Little Big Town’, but I came away very impressed by them. They played a tight quick five song set, starting off with their latest hit ‘How Far Do You Wanna Go?’ and ending with their biggest hit, ‘Wild At Heart’. In between they managed to play a few Zeppelin riffs, even fitting in a chorus of ‘Black Dog’. All in all, a good start to the evening.
Kellie Pickler is quite a story. She has come a very long way from the gawky, naïve sounding contestant on American Idol. She’s now a full-fledged star, with the songs and the talent to back it up. Looking gorgeous in a black tank top, very tight leather pants and extremely high silver heels, she sang her hits and talked to the crowd in the same easy going manner she’s always had. It seems that no matter where she is, be it on a TV talk show, on a tour bus or on a stage in front of thousands, she seems very approachable and appreciative of her success.
The first surprise of the night came during her set when she sat on a stool center stage to sing the song ‘I Wonder’, written as a note to her mother who abandoned her when she was two years old. I’d heard the song several times before, but hearing it live, with the audience almost quietly singing along, it was a very moving moment that caught me off guard. She closed her set with the crowd favorite ‘Red High Heels,’ thanked the crowd and made a quick exit.
Now, a word about the crowd. I knew going in that this crowd was going to be made up predominantly of young girls and their parents and, yes, that made up about 80 percent of the audience. Do you remember the first artist or band you liked as a child? You never forget your first favorite band, and the fans in attendance last night are at that age where, for them, Taylor Swift means an awful lot to them, and her songs say things that they identify with and can’t say themselves. Fandom at that age is at an intensity that probably is never matched as you grow older. The crowd last night was full of fans with homemade ‘band geek’ shirts [as seen in the ‘You Belong With Me’ video] and signs professing unending devotion, love and thanks. And then there were the screams.
Ah yes, the screams. Nothing matches the sound of over 12,000 young fans shrieking in unequaled excitement. The chants of ‘Taylor! Taylor!’ started right after Kellie Pickler’s set ended; for the next twenty minutes there was chanting, shrieking and screaming, all in anticipation.
And then the lights went down and I’m pretty sure the roof flew off.
Starting with a brief movie describing what it means to be fearless, while also showing a quick montage of Taylor thanking her fans during her numerous award acceptance speeches…at least I think that’s what she was saying, I really couldn’t hear over the screaming, the curtain then rose up, revealing a huge stage with a massive hi-def screen behind it…and then slowly Ms. Swift appeared stage left in the now infamous band uniform to open the show with her hit [and my personal favorite song] ‘You Belong With Me.’
The screams were the loudest I will ever hear, but luckily the band was louder, and the sound mix was impeccable. I admit that I was a bit nervous about what her voice would be like in a concert setting, because her most recent TV appearance [The Grammys] was a train wreck, plus she had done two nights in a row in Philadelphia so, this was the third show in three days.
No need to worry, her voice was in excellent form, with no pitch issues or unsure moments. If there is one thing that Taylor Swift is, she is sure of herself onstage.
After an onstage costume change [the first of many], song number two was ‘Our Song’, and it set the tone for the evening: This was going to be a mutual admiration society sing-along. For the rest of the night, the audience sang along loudly. [I did a bit as well, but honestly I was just happy to watch and listen and take it all in.] Several times, after a song was over, Taylor would stand center stage, twirling the hair and flashing that smile while the audience screamed and applauded. This went on for minutes at a time and, if allowed, I’m sure it could have gone on for hours. She seemed sincere in her response to the adulation. Maybe it’s all choreographed, but I’m not quite cynical enough [at least when it comes to talking about Taylor Swift] to wanna believe that yet.
There were countless highlights for me, but the moment I’ll take away is this: Taylor sung the song ‘Hey Stephen’ on a small stage to the right of the main stage on the ground floor. At least I think that’s where she was, I couldn’t see because she was so low and everyone was standing so, the sight line was obscured. After that song, while her band played an instrumental interlude, Taylor walked from the front of the stage all the way to the back of the arena, where a small mini-stage was setup. Now, I’ve seen other bands do this. KISS did it starting in 1997. Martina is also using a mini-stage on her tour as well. The difference here is, while Paul Stanley [of KISS for those that don’t know] and Martina ‘fly’ above the crowd to quickly reach the back of the arena, Taylor walked all the way back there, hugging and kissing everyone she came in contact with. I timed the return trip, after she performed two songs [‘Fifteen’ and the first half of ‘Tim McGraw’], she took a good fifteen minutes to make her way back through the crowd to hug, kiss, high five and shake the hands of her fans. A woman behind me complained that it was ‘taking too long’ but I could only stand there in awe at this gesture, on a scale I have not seen before. [Yes, Martina does walk back to the stage but she is usually only shaking hands and moving much quicker. Not a diss on Martina at all. This was very different.]
Those fans who were lucky enough to get a hug, especially the young ones, they are going to remember that singular moment for the rest of their life, and I don’t think it’s far-fetched at all to say that those fans are now Taylor Swift fans for life as well. And I bet many of them now will ask mom and dad for a guitar or a keyboard so that they can write what they feel, like Taylor does.
That gesture can’t be topped with any marketing strategy or media blitz. It really was a moment where the wall between fan and artist came down and mega-platinum superstar Taylor Swift was just ‘one of the girls’.
Taylor has learned well from those who came before. She commands the stage and demands your attention, and she keeps it and won’t let go. She’s a pro as a front-woman…and she’s not even twenty-one yet! I'll also mention here in case you've just arrived from another universe...she's beautiful.
This show truly had everything, and hit a range of emotions. I was happy to see that ‘You’re Not Sorry’ [another personal fave and one of the sadder songs in her catalog] was still in the set and was ‘mashed up’ with a cover of Justin Timberlake’s ‘What Goes Around.’ On those rare moments when I wasn’t watching Taylor, I loved watching the band interact. Fiddle player Catlin Evanson and backup vocalist Liz Huett were dancing around and having fun the whole night. Bass player Amos Heller and banjo player Mike Meadows are both from Charlottesville, Guitarist Grant Mikelson had a stand out solo moment, and guitarist Paul Sidoti has worked with everyone it seems, including KISS. [See, it’s all connected in some way]. Plus there was confetti, a castle and an onstage waterfall.
It was an unforgettable night, one of the best shows I have ever seen by any artist in any genre. It had the excitement of a Springsteen show, and the spectacle of a Vegas show. I had high expectations going in that were met and exceeded.
I already know I was very lucky to have been there, and luckier still that I get to see it all again in June.
Thanks again Eddie for everything.
Setlist from website setlist.fm:
1. You Belong With Me
2. Our Song
3. Tell Me Why
4. Teardrops On My Guitar
5. Fearless
6. Forever & Always
7. Hey Stephen
8. Fifteen
9. Tim McGraw
10. White Horse
11. Love Story
12. The Way I Loved You
13. You're Not Sorry / What Goes Around
14. Picture to Burn
15. Encore:
15. Today Was A Fairytale
16. Should've Said No
Thanks for reading,
Barry [A Taylor Swift fan for life…even though I didn’t get a hug.]
03.21.10
Nope. Sorry, can’t do it. Stop reading right now if that’s what you’re looking for. I paid for my ticket and I am unabashedly, unashamedly a Taylor Swift fan, so what follows is a review that is anything but objective…and very biased.
I’ll start at the beginning, because if I start writing about the headliner, there really is no point in talking about anything or anyone else.
Glorianna is a new band that, through a stroke of luck and with the help of a great sounding debut, landed the spot as the opening act on Taylor’s Fearless tour. They’ve played almost every show, and thus their audience has increased exponentially in a way that can only happen by playing in front of people. Lucky for them, the houses are mostly packed when the show begins. I originally wrote Glorianna off as a ‘minor league version of Little Big Town’, but I came away very impressed by them. They played a tight quick five song set, starting off with their latest hit ‘How Far Do You Wanna Go?’ and ending with their biggest hit, ‘Wild At Heart’. In between they managed to play a few Zeppelin riffs, even fitting in a chorus of ‘Black Dog’. All in all, a good start to the evening.
Kellie Pickler is quite a story. She has come a very long way from the gawky, naïve sounding contestant on American Idol. She’s now a full-fledged star, with the songs and the talent to back it up. Looking gorgeous in a black tank top, very tight leather pants and extremely high silver heels, she sang her hits and talked to the crowd in the same easy going manner she’s always had. It seems that no matter where she is, be it on a TV talk show, on a tour bus or on a stage in front of thousands, she seems very approachable and appreciative of her success.
The first surprise of the night came during her set when she sat on a stool center stage to sing the song ‘I Wonder’, written as a note to her mother who abandoned her when she was two years old. I’d heard the song several times before, but hearing it live, with the audience almost quietly singing along, it was a very moving moment that caught me off guard. She closed her set with the crowd favorite ‘Red High Heels,’ thanked the crowd and made a quick exit.
Now, a word about the crowd. I knew going in that this crowd was going to be made up predominantly of young girls and their parents and, yes, that made up about 80 percent of the audience. Do you remember the first artist or band you liked as a child? You never forget your first favorite band, and the fans in attendance last night are at that age where, for them, Taylor Swift means an awful lot to them, and her songs say things that they identify with and can’t say themselves. Fandom at that age is at an intensity that probably is never matched as you grow older. The crowd last night was full of fans with homemade ‘band geek’ shirts [as seen in the ‘You Belong With Me’ video] and signs professing unending devotion, love and thanks. And then there were the screams.
Ah yes, the screams. Nothing matches the sound of over 12,000 young fans shrieking in unequaled excitement. The chants of ‘Taylor! Taylor!’ started right after Kellie Pickler’s set ended; for the next twenty minutes there was chanting, shrieking and screaming, all in anticipation.
And then the lights went down and I’m pretty sure the roof flew off.
Starting with a brief movie describing what it means to be fearless, while also showing a quick montage of Taylor thanking her fans during her numerous award acceptance speeches…at least I think that’s what she was saying, I really couldn’t hear over the screaming, the curtain then rose up, revealing a huge stage with a massive hi-def screen behind it…and then slowly Ms. Swift appeared stage left in the now infamous band uniform to open the show with her hit [and my personal favorite song] ‘You Belong With Me.’
The screams were the loudest I will ever hear, but luckily the band was louder, and the sound mix was impeccable. I admit that I was a bit nervous about what her voice would be like in a concert setting, because her most recent TV appearance [The Grammys] was a train wreck, plus she had done two nights in a row in Philadelphia so, this was the third show in three days.
No need to worry, her voice was in excellent form, with no pitch issues or unsure moments. If there is one thing that Taylor Swift is, she is sure of herself onstage.
After an onstage costume change [the first of many], song number two was ‘Our Song’, and it set the tone for the evening: This was going to be a mutual admiration society sing-along. For the rest of the night, the audience sang along loudly. [I did a bit as well, but honestly I was just happy to watch and listen and take it all in.] Several times, after a song was over, Taylor would stand center stage, twirling the hair and flashing that smile while the audience screamed and applauded. This went on for minutes at a time and, if allowed, I’m sure it could have gone on for hours. She seemed sincere in her response to the adulation. Maybe it’s all choreographed, but I’m not quite cynical enough [at least when it comes to talking about Taylor Swift] to wanna believe that yet.
There were countless highlights for me, but the moment I’ll take away is this: Taylor sung the song ‘Hey Stephen’ on a small stage to the right of the main stage on the ground floor. At least I think that’s where she was, I couldn’t see because she was so low and everyone was standing so, the sight line was obscured. After that song, while her band played an instrumental interlude, Taylor walked from the front of the stage all the way to the back of the arena, where a small mini-stage was setup. Now, I’ve seen other bands do this. KISS did it starting in 1997. Martina is also using a mini-stage on her tour as well. The difference here is, while Paul Stanley [of KISS for those that don’t know] and Martina ‘fly’ above the crowd to quickly reach the back of the arena, Taylor walked all the way back there, hugging and kissing everyone she came in contact with. I timed the return trip, after she performed two songs [‘Fifteen’ and the first half of ‘Tim McGraw’], she took a good fifteen minutes to make her way back through the crowd to hug, kiss, high five and shake the hands of her fans. A woman behind me complained that it was ‘taking too long’ but I could only stand there in awe at this gesture, on a scale I have not seen before. [Yes, Martina does walk back to the stage but she is usually only shaking hands and moving much quicker. Not a diss on Martina at all. This was very different.]
Those fans who were lucky enough to get a hug, especially the young ones, they are going to remember that singular moment for the rest of their life, and I don’t think it’s far-fetched at all to say that those fans are now Taylor Swift fans for life as well. And I bet many of them now will ask mom and dad for a guitar or a keyboard so that they can write what they feel, like Taylor does.
That gesture can’t be topped with any marketing strategy or media blitz. It really was a moment where the wall between fan and artist came down and mega-platinum superstar Taylor Swift was just ‘one of the girls’.
Taylor has learned well from those who came before. She commands the stage and demands your attention, and she keeps it and won’t let go. She’s a pro as a front-woman…and she’s not even twenty-one yet! I'll also mention here in case you've just arrived from another universe...she's beautiful.
This show truly had everything, and hit a range of emotions. I was happy to see that ‘You’re Not Sorry’ [another personal fave and one of the sadder songs in her catalog] was still in the set and was ‘mashed up’ with a cover of Justin Timberlake’s ‘What Goes Around.’ On those rare moments when I wasn’t watching Taylor, I loved watching the band interact. Fiddle player Catlin Evanson and backup vocalist Liz Huett were dancing around and having fun the whole night. Bass player Amos Heller and banjo player Mike Meadows are both from Charlottesville, Guitarist Grant Mikelson had a stand out solo moment, and guitarist Paul Sidoti has worked with everyone it seems, including KISS. [See, it’s all connected in some way]. Plus there was confetti, a castle and an onstage waterfall.
It was an unforgettable night, one of the best shows I have ever seen by any artist in any genre. It had the excitement of a Springsteen show, and the spectacle of a Vegas show. I had high expectations going in that were met and exceeded.
I already know I was very lucky to have been there, and luckier still that I get to see it all again in June.
Thanks again Eddie for everything.
Setlist from website setlist.fm:
1. You Belong With Me
2. Our Song
3. Tell Me Why
4. Teardrops On My Guitar
5. Fearless
6. Forever & Always
7. Hey Stephen
8. Fifteen
9. Tim McGraw
10. White Horse
11. Love Story
12. The Way I Loved You
13. You're Not Sorry / What Goes Around
14. Picture to Burn
15. Encore:
15. Today Was A Fairytale
16. Should've Said No
Thanks for reading,
Barry [A Taylor Swift fan for life…even though I didn’t get a hug.]
03.21.10
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