In case you missed it, here are the two Sarah Palin bits from last night’s Saturday Night Live.
We Sang, We Danced, We Had Great Seats
18 Oct
It was four years ago that I last saw Jason Mraz live. It was an acoustic show at the Orpheum here in Boston and suffice it to say, it was not a good show — or at least my memories of it are not good. So what a relief that Mraz’s show Friday night back at the Orpheum was so much better and I now have it to refer to when I think of his live performances.
You already know how much I love Mraz’s latest album, We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things. Well, how good was it to hear so many of those tracks live. Mraz really has a beautiful voice, and it was in evidence on songs like “If It Kills Me” and a James Morrison-less “Details in the Fabric,” not to mention on “Life Is Wonderful,” “Unfold,” and others. The seven-piece band — including an impressively tight horn section — really brought songs like “Live High” and “Make It Mine” to life (not that the songs needed help, mind you).
Our seats were four rows from the stage, dead center, so we saw it all — including a couple get engaged right in front of me during the jubilant “I’m Yours.” (Yeah, the guy actually got down on one knee in the middle of the concert.) We couldn’t always hear Mraz singing (I don’t think the speakers were turned up enough), but when we did, he sounded great. I mean, picking a highlight from the 16-song set list was tough. I keep mentioning stuff he sang — “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry),” “Butterfly,” and “No Stopping Us” made for a fun encore — and that’s just because it was all good. I also enjoyed “The Dynamo of Volition,” even if there was synchronized audience choreography.
If I had to quibble with anything, it would be three things: One, I wish Mraz didn’t slow down the tempo of some of his more upbeat songs, like “Remedy.” I also wish he didn’t take such long breaks between each song during the first half of the show to hydrate and talk — it killed the pacing. And finally, although the show was two hours long, I wish he’d played more. Among the tracks not played were “Geek in the Pink” and, a more egregious omission, “You and I Both.” I suppose an old classic like “The Dream Life of Rand McNally” would be asking too much.
But that said, as I previously mentioned, what Mraz did sing was very good. And though he ended the show with the mellow “A Beautiful Mess,” it was simply gorgeous and it sent me out into the night on a high. So now, unlike the last time I saw Mraz live, I can’t wait to see him again.
(One interesting observation before I go, however. I remember a time when bringing a camera to and taking pictures at a concert was forbidden. Mraz encourages picture-taking; at one point, photos from the audience were projected on the screens behind him. Had I known, I would have brought my own camera. The photos above are from the Schreiders. Click here to see the rest.)
"Tonight I’d Like to Talk About the Economy …"
17 OctFrom last night’s Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York. Funny stuff.
Part one:
Off to St. Pete
17 Oct
I’m not going to lie: I had the Red Sox dead.
I was already wishing people Happy Winter.
I was saying I didn’t want the Sox to win Game Five because I didn’t want the series to continue, didn’t want them to come back and to have to relive the same story we saw in 2004 and 2007.
Hell, I was only awake to see the end because I was going to watch John McCain on David Letterman. Continue reading
Simply Stated
16 Oct
(Thanks to Jeffrey Wells for the tip and kudos to the Willamette Week for the artwork.)
Off to Visit Grandma
16 Oct
File this one under “I saw it so you don’t have to” — not that you really had any intention of seeing Sex Drive anyway, did you? (I didn’t think so.) This story of a shy 18-year-old virgin on a road trip to meet the hottie he’s met on the Internets and, hopefully, to have sex for the first time, is not an outrageous, obnoxious comedy like its name would imply. In fact, while there are some scenes that clearly are R-rated (one in a trailer and another in a rest room, for example), Sex Drive is actually a rather tame and sweet movie where said virgin realizes he’s actually in love with his female best friend before he can do the deed with the hottie (oops! Did I just ruin it for you?), that includes a handful of pleasant chuckles (mostly ones involving Seth Green’s Amish character). Nothing hysterical here, but nothing groan-worthy either. It’s like if American Pie and Superbad had a kid but the kid actually had a conscience. So I’m giving Sex Drive a not-awful B–.
Everybody Wins!
15 OctIn honor of National Grouch Day, I thought I’d observe the Equal Time rule and post this PSA for John McCain.
http://www2.funnyordie.com/public/flash/fodplayer.swf
W. Is O.K.
15 Oct
You may have noticed that I’m a Democrat. Despite that, I went to see W. with eager anticipation. This film, a look at the life and times of George “Dubya” Bush from his days at Yale through 2004, was an ambitious undertaking and came together rather quickly earlier this year. So kudos definitely go to director Oliver Stone, because the finished product is an impressive film. Led by a charismatic, excellent performance by Josh Brolin, W. portrays our current president as a guy who likes a good time, is easily bored, but loves a challenge. And no challenge is greater for the film’s W. than stepping out of his father’s shadow. Whether it’s pledging a fraternity, running for public office, or starting a war in Iraq, most everything W. does is motivated by his “Poppy.”
Stone and writer Stanley Weiser (who also wrote Rudy: The Rudy Giuliani Story) resist the temptation to paint W. as an incompetent fool and make the film a political attack. Not that this is an entirely sympathetic portrait either — far from it. Instead, Bush is shown as a guy who got in over his head and who’s surrounded himself with stronger and more threatening personalities (Thandie Newton’s Condoleezza Rice will scare you with just a look). Richard Dreyfuss’ Dick Cheney is appropriately menacing, and Jeffrey Wright’s Colin Powell does his best to stay noble and above the fray. But it’s Bush with the weakness and compulsion to win who is willingly coached by Karl Rove (Toby Jones) and his Cabinet and goes along with their plans.
Since I’m not totally up on my political knowledge, I can’t say whether the film is fair or accurate, but I can tell you it certainly feels authentic. That’s partly due to the acting, which is great across the board. It’s worth noting how huge and notable the cast is — in addition to those already mentioned, it includes everyone from Noah Wyle and Stacy Keach to Rob Cordrry and Ioan Gruffudd. You may giggle at first when you recognize certain cast members, but all settle into their roles nicely. I didn’t exactly love this movie — after all, it’s not like I was rooting for W. to succeed. Plus, we all know how things turn out for our supposed hero. But as a fictionalized document of current events, W. is engaging and interesting. Even though I don’t support this president, I can still support the movie. So I’m giving W. a B+.
Feeling Rotten
15 Oct
EW.com’s PopWatch has just informed me that today is National Grouch Day. Muppets aside, I have much to be grouchy about lately (including the Red Sox falling behind 3-1 in the ALCS again) so I’ll be celebrating enthusiastically. Grumble grumble grumble …
Rock & Roller
14 Oct
As a tribute to Christopher Columbus, I did a little exploring of my own yesterday and discovered a great new artist who I wanted to tell y’all about.
His name is Eric Hutchinson, and he’s a singer-songwriter with a funky/poppy Jason Mraz/Ben Folds/Jack Johnson/John Mayer vibe that I’m really digging.
Check out the video for his first single “Rock & Roll,” which I’ve embedded below. It reminds me of Mraz’s first single, “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry).”
If you like Hutch’s song, click here to download that track and others.
Or, better yet, head to iTunes and buy the new deluxe edition of Eric’s debut CD, Sounds Like This (in addition to Ray LaMontagne’s Gossip in the Grain, of course).
For added fun, check out Live from Daryl’s House tomorrow, Wednesday, when Eric will be interviewed by Daryl Hall, of Hall & Oates.
Sure, I may be a little late to the party — Perez Hilton has already talked all about Hutch and VH1 has already named Eric an artist that You Oughta Know — but that doesn’t mean you still have to be in the dark about him.
Check out the video and let me know if you’re digging the Hutch’s music as much as I am.
