Osmonds and Mo Tab

If you ever go to an event at the Conference Center, remember that it is always Sunday dress...or at least casual business attire, even if the event is a pop concert. Honestly, wouldn't you think that if you were going to see the Osmonds in concert, you would expect to see other people in jeans? Granted, they were performing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but still....it's a concert. I guess I looked like a heathen walking around the Conference Center in jeans because the sweet old lady sitting next to me started doing missionary work. She told me about the new temple in Twin Falls, Idaho, and how I could go in during the open house and see what the inside of a temple looks like. Strange. It's not like I was wearing holy jeans and smelled like beer or anything. Funny old lady. I just let it slide. At least she can feel like she reached out to some non-members that day.

So, the Osmonds and the Mo Tab, together at last. I never would have thought to get tickets for that, but a good friend of mine did, and she invited me to go. I agreed, mostly to spend time with her, but I have to admit, I found it quite enjoyable and nostalgic. Do you remember the Donnie and Marie Show? It was a part of my childhood. I loved it. I don't remember anything about the show other than I couldn't wait to drool over Donnie. He was so dreamy. :) He's considerably older now and not really my type, but my friend still had stars in her eyes.

All of the brothers and Marie were there singing their old classics and dancing with the same moves as they did in the 70's. Of course it was cheesy, but I felt myself being involuntarily drawn in as the night wore on. They're natural performers, what can I say? They even got the Mo Tab to bust out of their formal, conservative shell just a bit with some clapping and a little hip shaking....just a little, though. That made the whole evening worth it. I doubt I'll ever see the Mo Tab snapping and swaying or jamming to pop music again!

I've been on YouTube tonight looking up old videos of the Donnie and Marie Show. You should try it. It's kind of addictive. Of course, I wouldn't tell anyone that. Shhh.......

Swell Season

I almost missed this show! It would have been such a pity, too. The show sold out before I got on the ball and secured a ticket, but yesterday it was on my mind so much, I decided to get on Craig's List and see if by chance someone was selling one. Sure enough, I found one! I was so happy.

The show was incredible. I was mesmerized the entire time. For those who haven't seen the movie "Once" I encourage you to take a looksie at it. It started out at the Sundance Film Festival and went to the big screen from there. The stars Glen Hansard and Marketa Iglova wrote and sang all of the music for it and are now on tour. Check out their MySpace for a sample of their work: http://www.myspace.com/theswellseason

Glen definitely has the charisma of a performer. He kept us all laughing with his ramblings about the stories behind their songs and his experiences at Temple Square that afternoon. He clearly enjoys working a crowd and does very well at it.

I found Marketa very unusual in a humble, adorable sort of way. She had a very simple presence about her and seemed uncomfortable being the center of attention, never speaking much to the crowd. When she did introduce a song, she was very concise and vulnerable, sharing the emotions and feelings that inspired it. She was sweet, almost like a little girl, and then she opened her mouth to sing and this beautiful, captivating woman appeared. Her voice is so rich. I love it!

I've been humming their songs all day. It makes me happy....so happy. :)

Josh Groban in concert

We paid $66 per ticket. I was a little skeptical at first because I wasn't a die hard fan like Keva, but that was only because I hadn't been exposed to him much. After last night's concert, I wish I would have paid $100 to get the tickets down on the floor. To have been that close to such a voice would have been enchanting. It wasn't just his music that captivated me, although that was a huge part of it. It was the moments of child-like playfulness as he let his 26 year old high- on- life personality connect with the audience. Watching his personality unfold, I felt my insides do little somersaults as he flirted with the crowd and turned on the charm. I've always been a sucker for charm. I felt like a teenager all over again obssessed with the latest teen dream boat!

His music is sophisticated, complex, and powerful. His voice was so moving, it left me thanking Heavenly Father for creating something so beautiful. Majestic is the word that comes to mind. His voice is majestic.

And then, he stops singing, and immediately, he's back into his 26 year old soul. He pokes fun of his music, calling it "so romantic it's almost border line gag me with a spoon". And yet the women love it, and that's why he writes it. At least he'll admit it. :)
A few people sitting directly in front of him had gifts that they had brought for him, which he playfully accepted. He had the crowd roaring with laughter as he put on the silly cowboy hat he was given and did an impressive impersonation of John Bon Jovi singing "Dead or Alive". He broke into a few other kareoke type songs, and at one point I almost forgot I was there to see a world famous opera singer instead of a comedy show. It was charming to say the least.

Towards the end, he sat on the edge of the stage, bringing a little girl up from the audience to sit next to him while being surrounded by mobs of women. He talked to them, laughed with them and sang to them. They were putty in his hands, as were the rest of us. Maybe it had something to do with that sparkly smile of his that shone through his eyes and lit up the whole stadium. I think every woman in that audience went home dreaming about being his one true love!

What would it be like to be in his shoes, I wondered throughout the night. To have everyone in that room focused solely on him from the camera crew to the audience to the other musicians. Everyone was there for just one man, and he didn't let them down. His musicians were equally impressive. A cello player and a violinist shared his stage, and did some awesome solo performances of their own. What talent! I'm blown away.

They did three encores, but it still wasn't enough. I could have watched and listened to him all night. I think God grants some souls special talents simply to beautify this world. I'm so grateful I got to experience this one.