CONCERT REVUE: Digitalism Live!

 

Who says Monday’s suck? Those must be the lameoids who weren’t at U St. Music Hall May 13th to see Digitalism perform live. The German indie dance duo was set to rock the stage not promoting a new album or anything but to just have fun. I guess that’s what it’s all about because if it isn’t, you’re in the wrong industry.

CONCERT REVUE: Let’s Get Down To The Nitty Gritty

 

It’s Mother’s Day, that special time of year to show thanks and appreciation to all the moms out there. What better way to do this than to go see Nitty Gritty. Strolling down West Street there was that all so familiar sight of a tinted out tour bus parked out in front of Rams Head On Stage. That wasn’t just any ordinary bus! That was the transportation for legendary country rockers The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

BSO’s Presentation of Chaplin’s Modern Times, A Masterpiece

There is no name more synonymous with silent film than that of Charlie Chaplin in my opinion one of the greatest film stars ever. His expressive acting, over the top antics and physical comedy was hysterical and is something that I would best describe as a live action cartoon. Tonight at The Music Center at Strathmore the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop would present the musical scores of Modern Times synchronized live to the full length motion picture.

CONCERT REVUE: Daisy, A Gypsy Moth Blooms

There are some of us who are late bloomers. It takes a while to find our ambition and excel. Then there are those who find their purpose at an early stage of life and talent comes natural to them. Daisy Castro is amongst the latter of the aforementioned and has seemed to have reached her destination before even starting on the journey. What is that destination you ask? That of a gypsy jazz violinist extraordinaire who at the age of 16 has already garnered respect from some of the finest musicians locally and abroad. Last night at the Strathmore Mansion Daisy revitalized the lost art of gypsy jazz with help from the band Swing Guitars DC.

CONCERT REVUE: DC 101 Chili Cook-Off

 

As summer quickly approaches, the warm weather is indication of one thing for sure in the DC area; it’s festival season!!! That means good food, good fun, and most importantly, good music. The DC 101 Chili Cook-off definitely did not disappoint in these three areas. With an awesome line-up including Silversun Pickups, AWOLNATION, and Soundgarden, it was the perfect kick off to my summer 2013 concert adventures.

CONCERT REVUE: NPO: Denyce Graves, Brahms Serendipity

Sunday afternoon at The Music Center at Strathmore was a home coming of sorts for the well traveled Denyce Graves. The Maryland based mezzo soprano took the stage at Strathmore accompanied by both The National Philharmonic and the Walt Whitman High School Men’s Chorus. It was an all Brahms program featuring the romanticism of Schicksalslied (“Song of Destiny”), the anguish of Brahms’s Alto Rhapsody and the veritably densely melodic Symphony No. 4 in E minor.

CONCERT REVUE: Laughter and Love with Gladys Knight

I had no idea how adored an artist can be until Friday evening when Gladys Knight tentatively stepped onto the stage at Strathmore Music Hall. The crowd erupted into wild cheers and gave her a standing ovation BEFORE SHE SANG ONE NOTE. Gladys, an award-winning and record-setting living legend, put her hands up to her mouth and her cheeks just like Taylor Swift after winning her third County Music Award of the evening. She was as touched by the outpour of love as I was bewildered. I knew the woman could sing beautifully, and absolutely love her chicken & waffles restaurant in Atlanta, but I was not ready to stand up and cheer before the show even started.

CONCERT REVUE: Rihanna’s Diamonds World Tour, Finally Here

Finally! It’s the RiRi-scheduled Rihanna Diamonds World tour at the First Mariner Arena in Baltimore. The original tour date was postponed due to a case of “laryngitis.”  The long-awaited show featured a promising line-up with an up and coming rapper A$ap Rocky for the opening act and of course the iconic Rihanna headlining.

Cameron Carpenter: Dazzlingly Miraculous

The pipe organ: the king of instruments. Something about the pipe organ has always fascinated me. I know it’s synonymous with church music and I respect that, although I admittedly am not the most religiously devoted (I’ll try to work on that). I actually have been more drawn to the dark, ominous side of the organ. I’m not trying to sound demonic; I just really like the Phantom of the Opera and Dracula-themed scores. That’s why when I found out about Cameron Carpenter and heard his rendition of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor, I nearly flipped my wig. Last Friday night I had the remarkable opportunity to see him perform live at the Music Center at Strathmore.

BSO: Beyond Bond and Beyond

We have enjoyed 50 years of Bond movies since the 1962 release of Dr. No, the first 007 movie. One of the more renowned features of any Bond film always seemed to be the musical accompaniment. The John Barry arrangement appropriately titled “The James Bond Theme” is one of the most recognizable soundtracks in cinema history. Tonight at the Music Center at Strathmore the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra celebrates the best of Bond and takes it one step beyond with an array of additional spy themed scores.