NYC Concert week

Last week was a big week, entertainment-wise, and it was oh-so-much fun! The entertainment-stravaganza started with seeing "Black Watch" at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon. This Scottish production about the Iraq war makes great use of multimedia effects and an usual stage space to tell a very dynamic story about soldiers who find themselves in the midst of "the worst foreign policy disaster in history." (Their words, and my sentiments exactly.) The run of this play was initially supposed to be for six weeks only, but now it's running through Dec. 21, probably due to the amazing reviews the show is receiving. I believe this is the second run for this group and this show in New York. I highly recommend that everyone see this show if they can.

Then, later on Sunday night, I went to see Marc Broussard at the Filmore at Irving Plaza. Broussard played a lively show for an eager crowd. It was a little shorter than I was expecting, and he seemed a little homesick and tired. He commented that it had been a long tour when he teared up while singing a song about his son. Very moving indeed. Seeing as my friends and I all had to get up early the next day, we were pleasantly surprised that the show was over before midnight. It was a good time.



Thursday, I saw Butch Walker at the sister theater to Irving Plaza, the Blender Theater at Gramercy. Walker's show was not only energetic, but the crowd was attentive and surprisingly quiet for a rock concert. They wanted to hear every note, and the rocker gave them a good, long earful. It was a lengthy show, starting out with several slower, introspective songs played solo by Walker. Then the band came out, and the pace picked up. Most of the setlist was made up of songs from the new album "Sycamore Meadows" which came out the week before. Many of the tunes referenced Atlanta, which, of course, made it all that more endearing to me. (The CD is really good, in case anyone is interested.)



Saturday night, I dragged my pal Sam to see Bob Schneider (who is faintly pictured above) at the Bowery Ballroom. This rock show was the most raucous of the shows I saw last week. Sam had taken a quick listen to BS's website and was not immediately impressed, but I promised that it would be a good live show. And Schneider definitely gave us more than that. He had a fantastic band backing him up. I hadn't seen these musicians with him before, but they were tight, as if they'd been playing together for years. They fed off the energetic (and intoxicated) crowd who were loudly singing along to most of the songs. Between us, Sam and I bought several CDs after the show, and we got him to sign some of our swag as well. As always, Schneider is a super nice guy, and it was worth hanging out and waiting for a quick chat. BS is playing a solo acoustic show in Brooklyn next month on Dec. 10.

Between all of the venues, I think the Blender at Gramercy was my favorite. It was intimate, there were seats (yes, I'm old), and the acoustics were premium.

And Sunday, I went to see the new 007, "Quantum of Solace." I don't really think I need to give any additional details on this movie, since there are about 1000 reviews online. I love this kind of spy-action stuff, Daniel Craig is hot, and who doesn't love a British accent? So I liked the movie. 'Nuff said.

This week should be less fun, er... active, as I am working an evening shift. So my mornings will be filled with laundry, grocery shopping, and catching up on bills. I'm heading to Atlanta to see the fam' for some kind of big foodie holiday that's happening a couple of Thursdays from now. Atlanta folks - I'll see y'all soon.