Every morning, I wake up to a local radio station and they usually give away tickets to upcoming shows.
For some reason, this past week they have announced so many artists coming to the Bay Area that I’m having trouble keeping track. Hopefully I don’t miss any in this blog.
May 1 at 9 p.m.
Goapele and Cody Chestnut at the Independent in San Francisco. Ticket prices: $27. Available at The Independent or ticketweb.com.
May 1-3 (two shows each day)
Rahsaan Patterson at Yoshi’s San Francisco. Ticket prices: $28. Available online or at Yoshi's box office.
May 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Robin Thicke and Jennifer Hudson at the Paramount in Oakland. Ticket prices: $79, $60 or $49.50. Available at ticketmaster.com or the Paramount Theatre box office.
May 25 – 12 p.m.
12th Annual KBLX Stone Cold Concert at featuring Teena Marie, Charlie Wilson, Jeffrey Osbourne, Average White Band and Ashford & Simpson at the Sleep Train Pavilion, Concord. Tickets prices: $97.75, $63.75 or $43.75. Available at livenation.com, the Sleep Train Pavilion box office, select Blockbuster outlets, or by calling (877) 598-6659.
May 28-31 (two shows each day)
Amel Larrieux at Yoshi’s San Francisco. Ticket prices: $28. Available online or at Yoshi’s box office.
June 6 at 8 p.m.
Musiq and Anthony Hamilton at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland. Ticket prices: $74, $59.59 or $49.50. Available beginning May 1 at ticketmaster.com or the Paramount Theatre box office.
June 6 at 9 p.m.
Erykah Badu at the Warfield in San Francisco. Ticket prices: $72.50-$42.50. Available beginning May 1 at ticketmaster.com.
June 11
India Arie at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga. Ticket prices: $75, $65, $55 or $45. Available at Mountainwinery.com or livenation.com.
Friday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Beyonce at the Oracle Arena in Oakland. Ticket prices: $129.25, $76, $57 or $19.75. Available at ticketmaster.com or the Oracle Arena box office.
July 11 at 8 p.m.
Chris Botti with the San Francisco Symphony – Davies Symphony Hall. Ticket prices: $70-$40. Available at sfsymphony.org
July 31 at 7:30
Earth, Wind & Fire, and Chicago at the Greek Theatre on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley. Ticket prices: $125.50, $75.50, $55.50 or $39.50. Available at ticketmaster.com
Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
India Arie and John Legend at the Greek Theatre on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley. Ticket prices: $89.50, $49.50 or $39.50. Available beginning May 3 at ticketmaster.com or apeconcerts.com.
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.
Showing posts with label Amel Larrieux. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amel Larrieux. Show all posts
Friday, May 1, 2009
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
’08 was another good year for concerts
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.
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.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Amel Larrieux returns to Yoshi’s
After seeing Musiq and Ledisi on Sept. 18, I checked out Amel Larrieux on Sept. 19. I think that’s the first time I’ve done back-to-back shows.
Knowing I wouldn’t be able to make it to work following a Thursday night show (and going to the club afterwards), I took the day off and spent it chilling and preparing for Amel. I didn’t do anything special – just got the eyebrows and feet done. J Nothing like a little pampering to make your day better.
Amel Larrieux is a Yoshi’s regular – she performed there last year. This go around, her shows were sold out for all three nights. After this experience, I can see why.
There were two main reasons I went to see her – my friend asked me and I enjoy being able to leave the house every now and again. The only Amel album I own is Infinite Possibilities and I don’t know it that well. I’ll put it on when I’m sitting at work trying to focus – which means I’m not listening really close to the lyrics.
Amel’s music is truly mellow, and her show was the same. She funked up some songs, but for the most part, listening to her was like lounging in a hammock next to the beach under a full moon on a warm night – relaxing and peaceful.
Her voice sounded sharp and she had a great rapport with the audience. A lucky 9-year-old girl had the Amel Larrieux version of happy birthday sung to her; she recognized those in the audience who belong to her official Web site Bliss Life and she even asked an audience member if they had been at the show last year. I thought it was cool of her to remember seeing someone from so long ago.
As she sang, it was obvious she really feels the words behind the music. Her backup singer, Amina, was in sync with her every step of the way and their voices blended together well. The rest of the band was on point.
Thinking on her feet, Amel gave three sections of the audience three different parts of a song to sing. You could tell she made it up, but it flowed well with the show.
Her personality was engaging and at the end, I was delighted I got to experience her performance.
Knowing I wouldn’t be able to make it to work following a Thursday night show (and going to the club afterwards), I took the day off and spent it chilling and preparing for Amel. I didn’t do anything special – just got the eyebrows and feet done. J Nothing like a little pampering to make your day better.
Amel Larrieux is a Yoshi’s regular – she performed there last year. This go around, her shows were sold out for all three nights. After this experience, I can see why.
There were two main reasons I went to see her – my friend asked me and I enjoy being able to leave the house every now and again. The only Amel album I own is Infinite Possibilities and I don’t know it that well. I’ll put it on when I’m sitting at work trying to focus – which means I’m not listening really close to the lyrics.
Amel’s music is truly mellow, and her show was the same. She funked up some songs, but for the most part, listening to her was like lounging in a hammock next to the beach under a full moon on a warm night – relaxing and peaceful.
Her voice sounded sharp and she had a great rapport with the audience. A lucky 9-year-old girl had the Amel Larrieux version of happy birthday sung to her; she recognized those in the audience who belong to her official Web site Bliss Life and she even asked an audience member if they had been at the show last year. I thought it was cool of her to remember seeing someone from so long ago.
As she sang, it was obvious she really feels the words behind the music. Her backup singer, Amina, was in sync with her every step of the way and their voices blended together well. The rest of the band was on point.
Thinking on her feet, Amel gave three sections of the audience three different parts of a song to sing. You could tell she made it up, but it flowed well with the show.
Her personality was engaging and at the end, I was delighted I got to experience her performance.
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