Mood:  lyrical
Topic: music

It's almost 1 a.m. and though I'm as fried as can be, my internal clock is messed up and I'm wide awake from the fantastic week I had. 

It didn't start out the happiest, the 5th anniversary of my mother's passing was the 11th and I was feeling a bit depressed.  But my friend Susie accompanied me to see a favorite singer/songwriter of mine, Todd Martin, that night and it felt like mom was humming along with me.  

At the end of the week Pat Monahan was in town to do The Today show in support of his new album "Last of Seven," which was released September 18.  I thought of hauling my butt down there, even set the alarm for 6 (not knowing what time he would be on), but just couldn't get myself out of bed.  Tickets to his show at  Webster Hall were going on sale anyway, so I stayed home and got my ticket.

Then sometime that afternoon, I was talking to a friend and looking at myspace, when a bulliten popped up that Pat was going to go to Washington Square Park w/two of his band to hang out and sing.  Well, who could pass up that opportunity?  And I wanted to be there to support him. So, down I went and watched the crowd grow and grow from me, Jeanine (one of my Train friends), his wife and his three sisters to about 150 people!  Fantastic!  He sang in the middle of the park for almost two hours. 

The kids were really into it.  One young girl beside me said "That band is going to be famous!"  LOL!  A guy behind me said "He has a fantastic voice, who is he?"  When I told him who he was, he didn't believe me until Pat launched into "Drops of Jupiter."

Next night another impromptu gig at an East Village club called Niagra and another great performance.  Just as I was recovering on Sunday, he announced another gig, this time at The Cutting Room. 

Of course I was going to go, it's the beauty of living in Manhattan.  I spoke to him here and there that night.  Turns out he actually does know my name.  That impressed me, though I find it hard to believe that he knows I'm the one who had the art show or the one who takes an inordinant amount of concert photos, or the one he sang "Your Every Color" for in Birmingham.  And that's okay.  There are a lot of fans out there. 

Jeanine, Susie and I went straight from The Cutting Room to Virgin Megastore in Times Square to get our copies of the cd.

Though I hope it does well for him, I'm not a fan of the first single, so I anxiously put the cd in the computer and started listening.  I have to say, I really like the cd overall.  The first single is actually the only song I don't like.  He has one of the most beautiful voices out there, I only hope he gets the recognition he deserves.  Check out the album on Amazon.com or itunes.  I'm not feeling the pr that sony has done for him so far.  Third hour of Today, an early morning Fox News (shudder!) show, Howard Stern (I know they're friends, but is that the widest audience sony could come up with?)  I was never a music publicist, but I'm sure I could figure out how to get him out there better.  I hope they come through for him.

Last night, he played another little club, The Living Room, and it was another great set.

How often do you get to see one of your favorite performers like that.  It was a great 7 days!  And a way to get through what is for me the most difficult week of the year.  

Topic: music
OH MY GOD! Oh my god! I LOVED it!!!!!Lake house!!!! Well, I have to preface this by saying this is the quintessential "Kathy" movie. And one of those can have HUGE leaps in logic and holes you can fall into, but if it's good and mushy and I love the characters and "I" can take the leap, well then... I'm saying this because this movie is most probably not for everyone. I cried and cried and cried from the beginning of this movie to the end. I had to sit in the theatre for a while before I left. Let's just say I related to falling in love with someone with so many obstacles that there's no way it's ever going to work. But loving each other just the same. I am a big fan of Sandra Bullock, and I can't resist Keanu Reeves, who reminded me so much of someone I know and love. Such a sweet movie. Haven't felt like this about a film since Bridget Jones. Every once in a while a movie comes along and it becomes mine. I see it over and over again and can't get enough. It's been a long while, but this is definitely my latest. Others in the "Kathy Hall of Fame" include: Dirty Dancing, Pretty Woman, While You Were Sleeping, The Matchmaker (the Irish American film) and Bridget Jones (the first not the second), so take your cue from that! I'll be going again tomorrow no doubt! LOL!

Now Playing: Made it to the WPLJ concert
Topic: music
Got to go to the private WPLJ Train concert thanks to the generous New York Trainiacs. Jeanine was brilliant in her organization! The concert was quite fun. Nothing beats seeing them live. Snapped a few pics, but was so close felt funny taking a lot, so they certainly aren't my best (for my best see my website). Though the band played some songs off their new album and I'm not as enamored with this one. In fact there are only two songs that I really like, which is disappointing when I can only think of one song I don't like from their prior three albums. The songs are very ego driven as opposed to Train's usual soul-driven songs. I really can't relate to many of them. I equate it with an actor who "emotes" on stage. When you watch them, they don't move you because they're so obviously feeling their own feelings that you don't need to feel for them. So you don't get involved. That being said, I continue to believe they are a wonderful band. I just think they went off the tracks this time (pardon the pun).

Day 4
Topic: music
Too early in the morning. Not prepared for contest announcement. Never got through. Great start to Day 4 of my insanity!

Tile class and then acting class, truly couldn't excuse myself every hour to it a try.

After clas #3, #4, #19!!! Not Good Enough!

Day 3
Topic: music
Okay, today you not only have to be the right caller, you have to answer a question. So guess what? I finally got through, and they asked me a question, and thinking I knew the answer, I didn't look it up on the internet, I just answered and got it wrong. Lesson, never assume.

Perhaps I'm just not supposed to see Train this time.

Oh, but being emboldened by being cast in Side Show, I just went to Equity and signed up to audition for the chorus of the Broadway show "Mary Poppins." It's on Monday. I figure if I write it down here, I won't be able to wiggle out of it. It's at the monstrous Hilton Theatre. I wonder if it will be the classic walking out on an empty stage........Geez. But I'm #357 so the pressure is off, I'm sure there will be at least 500 women auditioning. I'm just going to do it for the experience. Wonder how soon my knees will start knocking this time!!

Day 2
Topic: music
Well, I've been #1, #3 several times, #4, #5, even #19, but not the caller number whatever it takes to get the WPLJ China Club tickets. Don't know if they'll continue to run the contest, but as I have a bit of things to do tomorrow, teaching 2-4 year-olds art tomorrow morning for one, I guess I have to give up.

I guess I've got no luck for this one. At least I'm finding myself absurdly amusing!

I've Lost it!!!
Topic: music
Okay, I admit it, I'm losing my mind. I've been sitting here all day listening to the radio,WPLJ, because this station is giving out tickets to a private concert by Train at the China Club on Jan 30th. So, I've been sitting here and they have the contest every hour basically at the same time. So, the time rolls around and I sit on the edge of my sofa, cell phone in one hand, land line phone in the other, fingers on speed dial. Press..............Oh, I get through, but they're giving the tickets to the 19th - 26th callers and I'm constantly #3 or #4. Usually one finger is faster than the other, so only one of the phones get through. On the other phone the line is busy, so WTF? How does one get to be #20 something? Even a second behind, it gets a busy signal. GAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

Why, you might ask yourself, would this woman, who should be satisfied with life now that she landed a part in a musical, be acting like a lunatic, listening to the song "Mr. Brightside" and Kelly Clarkson every hour, just so she will be frustrated once again with a quick, "Number four. CLICK!"

Well, I have to say, I wish we were rehearsing the play on that night, but we're not, and the China Club is across the street from my apartment, so I know the night of Jan 30th, I will be sitting here, more likely standing outside at a safe distance away from the China club, so I don't get arrested, looking longingly up at the blackened windows weeping.

Besides I want to tell Scott Underwood that the book he recommended to me last spring, "The War of Art," has paid off again!

I'll get over it. Sure I will. I'm nuts! 30 minutes to countdown! Better get my fingers ready!

Topic: music
Went to a FANTASTIC concert! Cyndi Lauper's VH1 Decades of Rock concert. Real art was created on stage, with her collaborations with Pat Monahan, Scott Wieland, Shaggy, The Hooters and Annie De Franco.

I was there to see my muse, Pat Monahan, perform and he didn't disappoint! He's such a strange character. Beautiful, I mean beautiful voice, but a more backward and shy person, I haven't met since me! LOL! After each performance w/Cyndi, he would run off the stage as if he didn't belong there. Each time it surprised Cyndi, as she would turn to say something to him and be speaking to air!

He's quite uncomfortable performing before a camera, but once Cyndi joined him, he kicked into the unselfconscious performer that he is when he's performing in concert in front of his fans. They performed "Drops of Jupiter" and then sang "True Colors," which was beautiful! That mans's voice truly stirs my soul. Later he came out with Scott Wieland to sing "Time After Time" with Cyndi, my personal favorite of hers, and it was wonderful.

I believe Pat is a natural actor. When he is singing to the audience, when he is singing with someone else a real character emerges and his improvisation skills kick in. I'd like to see him take acting classes and make a stab at it. I think he'd surprise a lot of people.

Cyndi and Scott were incredible together in "Money Changes Everything" just watching the magic of their instincts kick in was exciting! Shaggy did a wonderful vamp during "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" after Cyndi dragged him back out for the song. Annie De Franco and Cyndi did a powerful version of "Sisters of Avalon"

We were dancing and singing and laughing. Just a fabulous concert! Can't wait to see it on TV and have it in my collection.