Tag Archives: music

entertainment overload: part 3

This third installment should also be the final for now, as far as I know!

We returned to the Rams Head tonight to see Ingrid Michaelson — a brand-new artist to me.

I noticed her show highlighted in the Rams Head e-mail newsletter last week. They listed her as an “emerging new artist” and that her music has been featured on Grey’s Anatomy.

The Rams Head write-up (not updated to reflect the actual season finale date) said:

Michaelson’s crystalline tones blend Joni Mitchell’s soft-edged vocal shifting with shades of Regina Spektor’s witty kookiness. In the last five months, four of her songs have soundtracked the life, death and sex dramas on ABC’s blockbuster medical series, “Grey’s Anatomy.” Last Thursday’s season finale — featuring Michaelson’s “Keep Breathing” and will be included in the Grey’s Anatomy, Vol. 3 Soundtrack, to be released in September.

Despite the poor structure of that last sentence … I went to her site, listened to her songs on myspace and decided we should go!

I did remember “Keep Breathing” as one of the main songs in the season finale, and really like her sound.

I don’t know where they get the Joni comparison from, but you can definitely hear the Regina. Ingrid is a great singer, and an enjoyable performer.

Another great show to cap off our three concerts in four nights! (And another artist I will be playing repeatedly!)

entertainment overload: part 2

What an incredible show!

Last night, we saw The Decemberists perform with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

They played at Merriweather Post Pavilion — an outdoor venue with lawn and shell seating. We got great seats under the pavilion — row B in the right loge. So, quite askew of center stage, but nobody was in our way!

The majority of the set was fully orchestrated (with a few songs sans orchestra, though Colin invited the orchestra to jam along if they felt the urge!). The lighting was bright white, rather than the usual semi-darkness with colored spotlights they bring out for concerts.

The orchestra sat on the stage behind the band. When they started playing, the sound was incredible — even from our off-center seats. From beyond the shell, it was even more amazing (I didn’t leave my seat, but my husband went to grab a beer and heard the full effect).

This was definitely the most unique shows I’ve ever been to. Combining an orchestra with a rock band — brilliant!

Next up … can this concert-going craziness possibly continue?

entertainment overload: part 1

Last night, we saw Dean and Britta at one of my favorite local venues, the Rams Head Tavern. The stage area is very intimate, holding only about 250 people. (Unfortunately, it was a little more intimate than it should have been — it was only about 25% sold!)

Dean and Britta are new to me. Both of them are former members of the band Luna (which I knew of in college, but never really listened to), among other bands. Britta was also in the movie Satisfaction, and was the singing voice of Jem!

dean and brittaWhile I don’t know them very well (and am really only familiar with their latest album), it was a great show. Like most performers at this venue, they hung out afterwards to sign CD covers (we have quite a collection!).

I highly recommend going to their myspace page and listening to ‘You turn my head around’ right now. I can’t stop playing it!

The concert-going continues tomorrow night