Iron & Wine at the Historic Ryman Auditorium

We made it to our first concert in Nashville!! Last year almost to the date, we saw Iron & Wine at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, and tonight we saw them again on a new stage: The Historic Ryman Theatre, where the Grand Ole Opry was first held in the late 1800s. We left Lulu with a cool couple (Thanks Mizukawas!) and went out for a night of beautiful music with our buddy Alan and Sean's Bro Chris and our sis-in-law Trisha. The hypnotizing harmony and melodic story-telling style of Iron & Wine is good for the soul.

The Police

The Police were in town at Usana Amphitheater and my dad got tickets for his girls--my mom and I.  The show was unbelievable!  Elvis Costello opened and he was good, but the Police were fabulous!!  They played every song I hoped they would and they sounded fantastic.  They also looked fantastic, especially Sting--he is sooooooo hot!!

Iron and Wine at The Orpheum

I got home from work last night and slipped into my PJs, started making dinner, then noticed concert tickets on the refrigerator---oops! We had tickets to Iron & Wine at the Orpheum in Downtown LA. So, I called Sean and jumped back into clothes and we headed off. I had never been there before, but it is an old historical theatre as you can see from the photos, and it is beautiful! We enjoyed the show so much--especially the encore. He played Trapeze Swinger, which is Sean's favorite song. (Thanks to our sis Lindsay for introducing us to such an amazing band.) Iron and Wine are a brother and sister duo who make super mellow, beautiful music. For those of you who live in UT, you could catch them on December 7th at Saltair. Wish I could be there!

Glory Bound

Sean's big brother, Chris (yes, the hot one) was in town this weekend, so we decided to take in a Martin Sexton concert at the Anaheim House of Blues with some other chums--JD and Kallie. I have been wanting to see Martin for ages, but was never able to make it to a show. The long wait was worth it. He did not disappoint. In addition to seemingly having the same DNA as Jack Black (honestly, do they have the same mom? Though he is the non-comedic version), he is a musical genious. I am so jealous of those who can make it look so easy! His folky/bluesy sound takes me to a front porch in summer sipping a lemonade.
Check out one of my favorite songs: Halleluia
He was also featured on Scrubs with this song Diner.

Two Good Shows and Two Good Nights

Last night I went to the El Rey Theatre to see Lucinda Williams with Kimber and Chad. I had no idea that this gal was so rad. She is amazing and energetic and so funny. She was non-stop entertainment from 9:30-12:30**. She brought out special guests--Emmy Lou Harris, John Doe, and a few other old country/folk rocksters and we danced the night away! Other than the strung out girl who fell on Kimber and then wanted to be her best friend, the night was flawless and fun!

I don't know if any of you have seen Once, I actually haven't yet, but I fully intend to. This band, The Frames', music is featured throughout. In fact, the lead singer is the lead role in the movie. The Frames are an Irish mellow rockish band that I very much enjoyed. And I especially liked their accents! Thanks to the mother of one of my students who gave me these tickets she couldn't use.

I think I have found a new favorite song: Falling Slowly. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=938XY6DX02w It makes me miss my hubby! (Some of you may not know that Sean is on a 5 week externship tour...he's been gone 2 weeks, so only 3 to go!)

**Please note that the term "school night" does not apply to me." **

Kaiser Chiefs

I just recently came across this band. It was recommended by my friend Shea and when I heard the first song on their new album entitled Ruby, I was hooked. They are super fun in concert because so many of their songs are the sing-along type. To boot, the lead singer had more energy than a kid with ADD sippin' on a Red Bull. We saw them at the Henry Fonda which is a great little theatre.

At first when I see you cry...

...it makes me smile, yeah, it makes me smile.






I saw Lily Allen again Tuesday night. She is quite entertaining, but she is a naughty/spicey little Brit. She curses like a sailor and smokes like a chimney, but wears really cute dresses. I went with the school librarian--Claudette, the hippest librarian I have ever met! The concert was at the Wiltern (at the intersection of of Wilshire and Western--hence the name.) What a great venue! The show was great too. I love the horns! Most of the Lily Allen concerts in a America have been cancelled, luckily, she came to Los Angeleez (as she calls it).