TOW I talk about "American Idiot"

"American Idiot"... I said it in a status post, but if I could be in any cast of any musical, I think I'd most want to be part of this one. Definitely one of my favorites, and I got to see it twice in the past month! 

It was actually back in the fall of 2009 that Chris, Jordan and I drove up to Berkeley because we'd heard about this new musical based off Green Day's 2004 album. And that it was being directed by Michael Mayer, who also helmed "Spring Awakening" (which Jordan and I love and saw multiple times). And not only that, but it was starring one of the original Broadway leads of SA -- Tony Award winner John Gallagher Jr (who played Moritz). I think those two facets alone were enough for us to wanna see it, but it also happened that the tour cast of SA was in San Jose around the same time. So we planned the NorCal theatre road trip (along with a few other friends).

I think it's safe to say that AI blew our minds. It's a definite rock musical that's an assault to your senses, with the rock band on stage, and the intense choreography and staging. It's unlike anything I've ever seen before. It probably helps that I was already a fan of that Green Day album, but I wouldn't have thought to turn it into a full-on production. But Michael Mayer did, seeing the theatricality inherent in the album and worked with Billie Joe Armstrong to flesh out the story... which, to be honest, is really bare. There's no dialogue in the show, other than Johnny's brief letters to his mom that he reads aloud, but it all works. 

Anyways - the show went to Broadway, lasted for a little over a year, then the tour production started up and came to LA. And since it was back in our neck of the woods (approximately), we went up to see it. 

And then I went up to see it again a week later for the final performance in LA, because this time my friend Michelle who lived up there was able to secure us 2nd row seats via the theatre's lottery. And there's nothing like seeing a show up close and personal, and being able to take in the expressions in the actors faces. 

And now I'm contemplating seeing the show again in Costa Mesa at the end of May, and then one last time for the final performance by this tour cast when the show closes on July 8 in San Francisco. Back when SA was touring, I thought of going out to the East Coast to see its final curtain call, but I missed it... I think I'm gonna try to make it happen for this one though. And it would even be full circle, since I did see it open in the Bay Area initially.... so, fingers crossed! 

Concerts of 2012 - #4: Gotye and Missy Higgins (4/19/12)

Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" has been everywhere lately, I feel.. But I loved the song the first time I happened to switch on the radio (a rarity), and then downloaded the rest of the CD and found it refreshing to my ears. I tend to get wrapped up in CDs or songs to the point where I'll listen to the same thing over and over, and Gotye's CD as well as Fun.'s (I hate the weird period at the end of their name, but I'm a stickler for appropriate usage of punctuation and spelling, so I'm writing their name as intended) happened to be my two CDs for the month of March. 

Anyways, I bought myself some tickets and met up with my friends Kristen and Sarah, and her friend Joann. I have a habit of buying more tickets for an event than just the one definite ticket I need for myself, figuring I'll work out the details of who else wants to come with me later... since usually, finding friends to go to concerts/shows with is pretty easy. But since this one was in LA and on a school-night (errr, work-night), I had some scrambling to do. But it all worked out, and the show was great. It was my second time at the Nokia Theatre (part of the huge Staples Center complex called LA Live) and Gotye really rocked out towards the end of their set, going crazy with the drums and percussion. 

But here's a great live rendition of the ubiquitous hit. We didn't have Kimbra at this show, but Missy Higgins (who was his opener) came back out and did a phenomenal job. 

1 - Young the Giant - SOMA - 2/10

2 - The Fray / Scars on 45 - HOB - 2/16

3 - Ari Hest / Saba - Lestat's - 2/24

4 - Gotye / Missy Higgins - Nokia Theatre - 4/19

The Seattle Recap

Last month, I took a long weekend vacation to have a little reunion with my former UCSD / work friends up in Seattle. It just so happened that Seattle was one of the next cities in my list of US destinations to visit (Boston being the other prime candidate), and one friend already lived there and another (who lived in Boston) happened to be taking her spring break too. So we worked it all out and planned to reunite!

While it did not steal my heart like Chicago did, Seattle was a cool city to visit. Here's the view of downtown from atop the Space Needle... which really isn't that tall. It's not even the tallest building in the city - that honor goes to the Columbia Center, which you can see below - it's the tallest one, obvs. But it's got a great run/bike friendly vibe that I could see myself being part of... minus the bike part. 

I stayed in a hotel pretty close to the Space Needle, as you can see... that particular weekend, they had an Angry Bird in a sling attached to it, in honor of the recent release of Angry Birds Space. And the skies were really beautiful on the first day! No rain clouds in sight, and not a drop the entire weekend. I feel like  a bit of SD sunshine came with me.

Me, Marina and Katie at Pike Place Market, which has a lot of little touristy shops...

...but home to the very first Starbucks, which opened in 1971!

We walked by the Seattle Aquarium, of course, because the three of us used to work at an aquarium in college.

And we explored the Seattle Public Library, with its 10 levels inside this uniquely designed building. I could definitely enjoy getting lost in there.

We took an underground tour, through the tunnels that lay beneath the current streets above where the original streets were. From the current street, all you would see is purple stones, but looking up from below, those stones let the sunlight in.

We also went to the Experience Music Project museum, which had a Jimi Hendrix exhibit - look how cheap Woodstock passes were!

The museum also had some Michael Jackson memorabilia...

...and a full Nirvana exhibit. It was really rad to read all about their history, and while I knew that Dave Grohl formed the Foo Fighters after Cobain's suicide, I didn't think it happened that quickly (less than two years).

The three of us had a fun time, being a little goofy (taking "special" pics like we used to), reminiscing about the old times, discussing where we'll all be in 10 years, and hoping that our next reunion won't take that long.

The Case For Babies

Not that I'm in a place in my life where babies are even remotely imminent (I'm faaaaar from there)...

But.

If I were?

I don't see how I could ever have a bad day when I see his/her eyes beaming up at me and giving me such an adorable smile.

Love my little niece!