Katy Perry

The tickets were free, they got me into the Stampede Grounds for free. I sat in the Telus box and drank free drinks, ate free food and enjoyed all the company. I don't think I own anything by Katy Perry or about Katy Perry. I know more about her husband then I do about her. OH! The only thing I like about Katy Perry are her pajama's! I've seen a lot of live music but I've never been to see a Top 40 artist from my generation (all those 60's and 70's artists were big before I was even born. Before I was even a twinkle in my daddies eye!). Actually, I've been to award ceremonies but even that was nothing like this concert.

I've said it before and I'll say it again... I have NEVER in all my life been to a spectacle like that before. There were lasers, not just pew-pew-pew lasers but it actually created a hologram effect. There was glitter and other pretty things falling from the roof, there was foam being sprayed and bubbles being blown and fireworks being shot off INSIDE and beach balls and other inflatable animals and 25 different costume changes and goodies being thrown into the audience and flying trapeze and candy money and cotton candy. Some of the BEST cotton candy I have ever had. There were glowing sticks and glowing hats and the whole thing was amazing. Vegas meets Disney. It was unreal.

And people were actually standing and dancing. FINALLY. I behaved because I was a guest in a high end company box but I still got up and wiggled my butt and danced the night away.

Reason why Katy Perry was great:

1. Live.  Do you know how many pop acts can sing and dance and still live nowadays?  Not very many.  The fact that Katy really sang throughout the entire show, was impressive, which is really a sad statement on today’s entertainment, but that’s something Rolling Stone can write about.  For me, it was amazing to hear that she actually has a great voice that was all too often drowned out by the huge production numbers. There were moments when she wasn't singing her hits, when she was delighting the audience with karaoke versions of Rebecca Black and that Friday Song that you could hear just how good her voice is.

2. Theatrics. Speaking of the big production numbers, the set was like a giant Candy Land game.  (Not that I’ve ever played Candy Land….) I can only describe it being as like a show on Broadway but with thousands of people screaming, yelling, dancing and taking photos. Rarely did we sit, mostly because we were having too much fun, with my short attention span, that my friends is a miracle. It was amazing. I can't begin to recreate what it was like to see something like his. The pictures don't even do the experience justice.

3. Fans. One thing that Katy Perry loves are her fans and it shows.  It’s no secret that the music industry is in trouble, people don’t have to buy music anymore, so if you don’t love and support your fans, why should they support you.  The show was filled with special moments just for Katy’s admirers.  Calling up a “hot cowboy” or instigating an impromptu dance party with dozens of fans on stage, are moments that many who saw the show won’t ever forget. She floated on a cloud made of cotton candy and went past her stage and sang to audience members who were in cheaper seats. This concert was for her fans. I can't even begin to imagine how amazing it would have been for people who love her music. The concert started at 7:30 and went all the way to 11:30. That's getting your moneys worth that's for sure.

For years I had mistakenly put Katy Perry in the same crowd as Lady Gaga, but now I see how wrong I was.  While Gaga relies on shock value to keep your interest, Katy Perry does it by just being herself. An interesting night to say the lease.

AND on a side note, I also go to see Janelle Monae live WOW, now that is a performer! Stunning voice, amazing songs, dance moves to put James Brown to shame. She was a stunner and I plan to buy everything she's put out. Mind you, the recorded stuff is often not as good as live but I'll take a listen. I'm sure it's amazing.

One Man Band

On Saturday I went with my friend Rheann to the Riverstone Pub in NW Calgary to see this "one man bad" as a potential entertainer for her wedding. In my head I was expecting a man with cymbals between his legs, harmonica strapped to his neck, drums on his back, a horn on his foot and 3 guitars hooked up to his front. Entertaining, YES but would you really want your first dance as Man and Wife to be to a song performed by Dan-the-One-Man-Band? Rheann has good taste and so I knew there had to be a catch and there was- this guy what we saw.... he was good. He was just a man with a piano and 2 back up singers. Not really a one man band but truly a lot of fun and talented beyond belief. Most of the night he took requests from people in the pub, there wasn't a song he didn't know (though there were songs that he didn't really want to sing IE: Rick Ashley or whatever the heck that guys name was).

The best part of the night was an hour or so into his show when he was taking requests from the audience. A woman well into her 40's and well into her white wine spritzers yelled out "Rock!! I want to hear some rock!" The OMB (one man band) guy was like "Excellent- what kind of rock were you thinking? I love playing rock!" the woman then yelled back, fist pumping in the air "I want to hear some good, hard hitting rock like Areosmith!!! Oh YEA!!!" The OMB guy responded with "You want to hear some Areosmith? I think we can do that!!" the woman piped in with her enthusiasm not waning "Or the 1988 Olympic song!!! YEAHHHHHH!" we all just sort of stared at her for a moment. Think about Areosmith and then watch this video:

Random choices, yes? Made me laugh and made the OMB guy laugh too- I'm not sure what he ended up playing in the end, doesn't really matter. I'd have to admit but it was one of the best quotes of the night.

In the end, we were all really impressed with this guy. I'm not sure if Rheann is going to use him for her wedding because he is a bit more money then a DJ but he is defiantly a contender. Regardless of what she chooses it will be great, she has good taste and knows how to have fun.

Wonder Michael

I've been on "holidays" I say that with "quotes" because I'm not going anywhere, I'm just taking a few days away from work. So yes, I've been on "holidays" now for... let me calculate... 36 hours? What I have done so far is:

• Go to the dermatologist (for fun, he's great!)
  
• Grocery shopping 3 times (mmmm... food....)
  
• Seen some movie about goats... maybe it's called Men Who Stare At Goats... yeah- I think that's it. It has Obi-Wan Kenobi in it...
  
• Made a full on BBQ chicken feast.
  
• Got a free incense stick from one of the shop owners along Inglewood (I also think I may have offended another shop owner when I asked for a deal on a slightly damaged book)
  
• OMG do Laundry which is ready NOW!! Holy Crap- I'll be back!
  

OK, so yes... I've been doing lots of little joyful things and plan to do many more for the next week which may mean that I might not be blogging (I do most of my blogging at work, a much needed mental cool down) so, have a good week and I will leave you with this picture from Halloween past of me (Wonder Woman) wearing a Michael Jackson mask beating up a Sumo Wrestler.

Good times. GOOOOOD time. Take care of your selves and don't forget to wash your nose!

Welcome Back Laura!

Today is the day that my best friend Laura, comes home from England (which by-the-way, I just learnt ISN'T a country. I kind of always thought of it to be one but kind of not, regardless- the verdict is in! Don't believe me, read the post HERE). You are going to laugh but she's only been gone 2 weeks but I talk to her almost every day and we see each other at least 2-3 times a week. It's been strange and lonesome without her *sigh*. I've still been busy (I bought a George Foreman Grill the other day!)but she's my match, my other half... the only other person who I think totally gets me in this world and doesn't fight me to the death because of it. I'm excited for her to come back, I'm sure much like her dog Kuma will be. I will however have enough manners to wait until her Jet Lag has subsided to attack her (Unlike Kuma.)

Plus, I hope she brought me back lots of sweets, they really have their shit together when it comes to making that stuff. Mmmmm Battenberg cake- Oooo and Nougat! Mmmm....

Battenberg cake picture courtesy of Google Images

Morning Duet

It was two months ago that I decided I wanted to go on a holiday. I usually go west at least once a year sometimes making it all the way to the ocean, sometimes only making it as far as the golf courses and wine tours. Regardless, it was time to plan again.

I wanted to write a post expressing my frustrations in planning a huge multi destination holiday on my own but I'll give it till Sunday. Things should be wrapped up by then, if not I'm giving myself permission to complain.

Instead- I will talk about the birds. Doesn't matter what time I go to sleep at, I usually wake up sometime before 7am- "with the birds" was what my Grandfather use to say. Even though I live in a urban, high density, trendy area of downtown Calgary, it's older so there are lots of mature trees and flowering lilac bushes. This gives a variety of "city birds" safe places to hide and have babies. As I woke up this morning and my brain was starting to make sense of the noises I noticed between the underground parking gate opening and a lawnmower the sound of birds.

I usually like to focus in on the bird songs, I imagine that I'm waking up in a cabin far off in the forest somewhere. There isn't another person around- just me and nature. I snuggle up and play with that image for a bit, my mind is waking up quickly and it is identifying all the different songs picking out a particular rhythm between a Robin and a Chickadee.

Robin Says "cheerily, cheeriup, cheerio, cheeriup"

Chickadee Says "Sweeet-iee"

Robin Says "cheerily, cheeriup, cheerio, cheeriup"

Chickadee Says "Sweeet-iee"

and so forth.

It's actually a pretty charming duet even when the over zealous House Sparrow pipes up.