I had another busy year attending concert after concert. It began back in January with a Chris Botti show at Yoshi’s in San Francisco. What a way to begin a new year!
The show was so good that I ended my concert year at Yoshi’s in Oakland seeing none other than Chris Botti.
Here’s what I thought about the concerts I attended in ’08 – starting with what I feel was the best concert, and then the next best and so on:
Mary J. Blige & Robin Thicke – Oct. 18, 2008, Sleep Train Pavilion, Concord, CA: Hands down, this was the best concert I attended in 2008. The energy Mary had is still stuck in my head. She looked fantastic and sounded flawless. Mary covered most of the songs I wanted to hear and I left the Pavilion pumped and excited. I still have flashbacks when I’m listening to Just Fine, Hurt Again and My Life.
Kenny Lattimore – July 3, 2008, Yoshi’s, Oakland: My first time seeing him and he blew me away. Kenny is such an underrated and underappreciated artist, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to see him at an intimate venue. I still get goose bumps when I think about him singing I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know. Whew!
After seeing Kenny, I began this blog, so you could say he inspired to me to stop talking and start doing!
The Real Thing Tour featuring Jill Scott and Raheem DeVaughn, Feb. 8, 2008, Paramount Theatre, Oakland: Jill Scott is the kind of artist who gives her all when she performs. I’ve lost track of the amount of times I’ve seen her live, but each time, she gets better and better.
This go round, she was more laid back and relaxed, and her concert vibe was really mellow. Still, that voice is something of a natural wonder. Mariah Carey has nothing on Jill Scott.
Heart of the City Tour featuring Mary J. Blige & Jay-Z – April 21, 2008, Oracle Arena, Oakland: This concert was postponed by a day, but it didn’t matter. The arena was packed to see two of the best artists out now. Mary and Jay created a show that appeased fans of both performers. Whether they were on stage together or separate, they both kept the energy of the crowd going the entire time.
The only thing bad about this show were my seats. Never again will I sit in the nosebleed section!
Chris Botti – January 22, 2008 Yoshi’s San Francisco; Dec. 13, 2008, Yoshi’s Oakland: I think I’m in love with this man – for real. He plays the trumpet like it’s nobody’s business! He has one of the best bands I’ve ever seen and listening to him play takes my mind to another place. I’ve seen him open for Earth, Wind and Fire, and play with the San Francisco Symphony, but I really felt his music seeing him at Yoshi’s. Oh, and Chris is really funny!
Maxwell & Jazmine Sullivan – Oct. 28, 2008, Paramount Theatre, Oakland: It’s been years since Maxwell has released any new material, but did that matter to the sold out crowd in Oakland? Heck no! Even without all that hair Maxwell didn’t miss a beat. His performance is always high-quality and one always leaves the concert wanting to go home and do a few things with their significant other.
Musiq & Ledisi – Sept. 18, 2008, The Warfield, San Francisco: This show should have been headlined by Ledisi. I love Musiq – I own all of his albums – but this just wasn’t his night. As I previously wrote, I don’t know if it was the band or he was just having an off night, but had it not been for Ledisi, I would have left the concert really disappointed.
Ledisi, on the other hand, has a voice that’s mesmerizing. She’s another artist who is underappreciated and should be selling millions of records.
Amel Larrieux – Sept. 19, 2008, Yoshi’s Oakland: I’m not a big fan of Amel, but when a friend asked if I wanted to go, I said “Why not?” With her low-key style and light voice, I enjoyed the show.
The Flamingo Hotel Presents Toni Braxton – Feb. 14, 2008, Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas: Now this is bad – I only remembered going to this concert after looking back at all my ticket stubs for the year. I saw Braxton right before she cancelled her run in Vegas due to health issues – and it showed during the performance.
Braxton struggled throughout the entire show and had it not been for the audience singing along, the show would have stalled. I wish I could have received a refund.
Me
- Soul Sista D
- Bay Area, CA, United States
- Music wakes me and keeps me going all day, every day. I’ve had a love for music since childhood, and it’s only intensified as I’ve matured. Musings On Music was inspired by Kenny Lattimore. I saw him perform in 2008 and realized there was something in his music that spoke to me on a level which said I needed to write about what I witnessed. I’ve been writing ever since.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Still missing Tupac
My favorite rapper of all time is Tupac Amaru Shakur. I’ve been a fan of his since he released 2Pacalypse Now back in 1991.
I must admit I never really was a big fan of rap when it first emerged back in the early 80s (I’m still not. I only like a few artists and think most of today’s rap is a hot stinkin’ mess).
Sure, I was into Run DMC, LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe Dee and Salt N Pepa, but I never owned any of their tapes.
Then along came Tupac. I can still remember vividly the black-and-white video for Brenda’s Got a Baby and the message of the song. Listening to the lyrics, I realized this was a man whose rhymes spoke a different truth.
Every album Pac released while he was alive, I own. I still listen to them all from time to time. Depending on my mood, Tupac can either pump me up or calm me down.
I remember being in a class either my freshman or sophomore year at Grambling State University and the professor tried to tell us how bad rap was. A student went back to his dorm room and brought back Tupac’s Strictly for My N.I.G.G.A.Z. He played the song Keep Ya Head Up to show the professor that not all rap was negative.
The professor agreed.
I was a senior in college when, on Sept. 7, 1996, Tupac was shot in Las Vegas. I remember thinking, “This has got to be a really bad joke.” Lounging around the university’s newspaper, the staff was stunned – we couldn’t get over the fact that Pac might not make it.
We all kept hope alive though, and believed he would be back. I mean, he previously survived being shot five times, so why should this time be any different?
Unfortunately, it was not to be. Sept. 13, 1996, the world lost what I feel was one of the best artists music has ever had.
I truly believe Tupac knew his time here was limited. Why else would he have recorded so many songs before he passed?
Twelve years later, I’m still bothered by the fact he’s not here anymore. I’m really troubled that the shooter has never been found.
I often wonder what the rap game would be like if Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G were still around. Would there be a Lil’ John? Would the Southern rappers even exist?
Somehow, I think hip-hop would be in a different place had Pac lived.
One can only speculate.
I must admit I never really was a big fan of rap when it first emerged back in the early 80s (I’m still not. I only like a few artists and think most of today’s rap is a hot stinkin’ mess).
Sure, I was into Run DMC, LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe Dee and Salt N Pepa, but I never owned any of their tapes.
Then along came Tupac. I can still remember vividly the black-and-white video for Brenda’s Got a Baby and the message of the song. Listening to the lyrics, I realized this was a man whose rhymes spoke a different truth.
Every album Pac released while he was alive, I own. I still listen to them all from time to time. Depending on my mood, Tupac can either pump me up or calm me down.
I remember being in a class either my freshman or sophomore year at Grambling State University and the professor tried to tell us how bad rap was. A student went back to his dorm room and brought back Tupac’s Strictly for My N.I.G.G.A.Z. He played the song Keep Ya Head Up to show the professor that not all rap was negative.
The professor agreed.
I was a senior in college when, on Sept. 7, 1996, Tupac was shot in Las Vegas. I remember thinking, “This has got to be a really bad joke.” Lounging around the university’s newspaper, the staff was stunned – we couldn’t get over the fact that Pac might not make it.
We all kept hope alive though, and believed he would be back. I mean, he previously survived being shot five times, so why should this time be any different?
Unfortunately, it was not to be. Sept. 13, 1996, the world lost what I feel was one of the best artists music has ever had.
I truly believe Tupac knew his time here was limited. Why else would he have recorded so many songs before he passed?
Twelve years later, I’m still bothered by the fact he’s not here anymore. I’m really troubled that the shooter has never been found.
I often wonder what the rap game would be like if Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G were still around. Would there be a Lil’ John? Would the Southern rappers even exist?
Somehow, I think hip-hop would be in a different place had Pac lived.
One can only speculate.
Monday, December 8, 2008
I’m mad at Oprah's people!
I’m a huge fan of Oprah. I record her show and watch it as soon as I get home from work every day.
I heard a rumor that she might tape her show in Washington D.C., during inauguration week – Jan. 19-23. I religiously checked her Web site to make sure I didn’t miss out on the opportunity to secure tickets.
I will be in Washington D.C., when President-elect Barack Obama puts his hand on the Bible and takes the oath of office. I want to be able to tell the kids I don’t yet have that I was there to witness history (even though I’ll probably be witnessing it on a jumbo screen).
Anyway, once Oprah made the official announcement that she would indeed move her show to the nation’s capital, I got on the e-mail lines and let all my friends know we needed to be ready to flood the reservation line until one of us got through.
I figured, might as well kill two birds with one stone. My sister and a few friends want to eventually attend a taping of Oprah’s show, so this would have been a perfect opportunity to do so.
Friday, Oprah’s Web site said something about checking back next week for information regarding tickets to show tapings for inauguration week.
This morning at 8 a.m. sharp (Pacific Time), I checked the site again. It still said the same thing.
I went to a meeting at 9:30. Back at my desk by 11:30, I called my girl, Chandra, and she tells me about her sister’s friend securing tickets.
I check the Web site and it says the reservation lines were now closed. Within three-and-a-half hours, the lines opened and closed.
That makes me angry.
It’s hard for me to believe that whoever runs the Web site didn’t know they were going to open the reservation lines today. I knew that it was probably going to be damn near impossible to even get tickets.
But I at least expected to have the opportunity to give it the good old college try.
Oh well. Guess I’ll have to make a special trip to Chicago to see a show before Oprah decides to retire from television.
I just hope it’s not soon!
I heard a rumor that she might tape her show in Washington D.C., during inauguration week – Jan. 19-23. I religiously checked her Web site to make sure I didn’t miss out on the opportunity to secure tickets.
I will be in Washington D.C., when President-elect Barack Obama puts his hand on the Bible and takes the oath of office. I want to be able to tell the kids I don’t yet have that I was there to witness history (even though I’ll probably be witnessing it on a jumbo screen).
Anyway, once Oprah made the official announcement that she would indeed move her show to the nation’s capital, I got on the e-mail lines and let all my friends know we needed to be ready to flood the reservation line until one of us got through.
I figured, might as well kill two birds with one stone. My sister and a few friends want to eventually attend a taping of Oprah’s show, so this would have been a perfect opportunity to do so.
Friday, Oprah’s Web site said something about checking back next week for information regarding tickets to show tapings for inauguration week.
This morning at 8 a.m. sharp (Pacific Time), I checked the site again. It still said the same thing.
I went to a meeting at 9:30. Back at my desk by 11:30, I called my girl, Chandra, and she tells me about her sister’s friend securing tickets.
I check the Web site and it says the reservation lines were now closed. Within three-and-a-half hours, the lines opened and closed.
That makes me angry.
It’s hard for me to believe that whoever runs the Web site didn’t know they were going to open the reservation lines today. I knew that it was probably going to be damn near impossible to even get tickets.
But I at least expected to have the opportunity to give it the good old college try.
Oh well. Guess I’ll have to make a special trip to Chicago to see a show before Oprah decides to retire from television.
I just hope it’s not soon!
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