Wow! Friday Five is back! Sorta...

[heidi]

Gacked from fridayfiver:

1. What was the first concert you ever attended? How old were you? Where was it?

The Police, October 27, 1982, at the Orange Bowl in Miami. Well, technically, my first concert was The Animals, who were the first opening act, and my second was The Fixx, who were the second opening act, but we were there for Sting and the Police, 100%. It was the Synchronicity tour, so the costumes were a bit unique but it was an amazing show.

2. What was the most recent concert you attended? Where and when?
Simon & Garfunkle at the American Airlines Arena back in December; it was the same day that ROTK came out, so by the end of the evening, I was suffering from a bit of wonderful overkill!

3. Have you ever seen your favorite artist/band in concert? Did the show live up to your expectations or were you disappointed?
Yes, back in 1998, I saw Neil Finn in concert three times - in Orlando in July, in LA in August, and in NYC in November, four days after I realised I was pregnant with Harrison. Each concert was more amazing than the last - the Orlando show was his first solo concert in the US, and it was at the House of Blues and so intimate and I was front & center and snuck in for a bit of the sound check and it was just grand. After the LA one, I hung out with aswas and her sister, and we saw Salma Hayek at Jerry's Deli, but more important than that, before the concert I met Neil himself at the restaurant next door to the concert, and I had 12th row seats and the venue was wonderful and Wendy Melvoin was there and it was just amazing. And in NYC, I was, again, front and center and I got to meet the wonderful Peter Green and a bunch of other Frenzers and Tongue In The Mail folks and apart from the fact that I became queasy as hell the next day, and didn't stop for a few weeks, it was fantastic.
4. Ever been to a concert where you were pleasantly surprised at the performance? Ever been to a concert where you were totally disappointed? Name 'em!
The closest I can come is Nanci Griffith in NYC in the spring of 1998. My husband is a huge fan, and I do enjoy her stuff, but it was just very blah. Sigh. Plesantly surprised? The Bangles, who I'd never listened to before, as Cyndi Lauper's opening act back in 1984?1985? They were fun, although not as polished as they later became.

5. Name five bands that would headline your own personal festival. (Along the lines of Oz Fest or Lollapalooza)

Can these be bands of all time, or bands that could currently perform?
If it's the former, I'd love to have one bill with The Beatles, Split Enz (but performing songs from Crowded House, Finn Bros and the Finns' solo stuff), Everything But The Girl (circa 1994 or earlier), U2 and INXS.

If it's acts that could currently perform, Split Enz (but performing songs from Crowded House, Finn Bros and the Finns' solo stuff), U2, Billy Joel and Elton John (but only together, which is much more fun, and allows me to count them as one, haha!), Everything But The Girl (but with nothing but acoustic guitars, dammit!) and Madonna, because she just does good shows.

I'd also love to have an all-vocalist event, with Mandy Patinkin, Patti LuPone, Rebecca Luker, Michael Ball and Laurie Beechman (who was the narrator on my first Joseph soundtrack, and one of my favoritye Fantines, except that passed away about 10 years ago, so she is someone I would never get to see again).

Comments

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, you're a Laurie Beechman fan. I absolutely adore her. I started collecting her CDs when I first got into musical theatre (have you heard her "No One Is Alone"? it's stunning), and I was lucky enough to see her perform both as Grizabella in Cats, and with Sam Harris in a concert at Rainbow & Stars (back when it was still open). She was such a beautiful performer, and I was so sad when she passed away.

I have a cassette tape of her as Fantine, if you want a copy. ;)

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

: sobs - OMG yes so much would I love you for a copy of it! How do you want to do this? Should I send you a blank or something?

Or I could try and dub the video I have of lea salonga doing a few songs with just a piano at Penn back in 1991...

: swoons

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

Ooh, yipes, I did not mean it was a video! It's just audio tapes. If you're still interested, a pair of blank 90-min audios would be just dandy.

I don't know if this is the cast you saw, but the tapes also have Rob Evan as Valjean, David Jordan as Javert, and Andrea McArdle as Eponine. (Great cast, and I'm particularly fond of it because a friend of mine, Doug Storm, was understudying as Enjolras that day!)

Let me know if you still want copies, and I'll email you my snailmail addy. :)

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

No, I knew it was an audio, but it's such an amazing thing that I'd be very happy to send you a video for it...

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, got it. Don't worry about the vid -- I do like Lea Salonga (saw her in Miss Saigon before it closed -- sigh!) but I'm actually trying to get rid of some of my Broadway vids at this point. Too little space in the house, etc.

But if you happen to have any audios or videos of any girlie-rock type performers (Indigo Girls, Dar Williams, Suzanne Vega, any of those Lilith Fair people), THAT I will trade for!! Otherwise, blanks are better. :)

[acusa-dora.livejournal.com]

This will definitely date me, but I was already married by the time you went to that first concert. I had seen the Police a couple of times by then.

Also, my husband saw Patti Lupone do Evita! on Broadway. (I think it was 1979--we are so old!) But he would agree with you on Patti and Mandy Patinkin.

[dreamcoat-mom.livejournal.com]

Oooooh! Just spamming in to go "WooHOO!" over finding other Laurie Beechman fans. I will never forget when a friend of mine brought his brand new soundtrack of "Joseph" to my apartment on vinyl (okay - go ahead and laugh) and said, "You've GOT to hear this - this is the ultimate role for you!" And out of the speakers came a voice so clear and vibrant, that I was stunned by it's pure energy. When I finally landed the role many years later, I fished out the turntable and went back to Laurie for my inspiration. Beautiful! A truly tragic loss.

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

I didn't see Patti live, but I did see Mandy Patinkin as Che in, IIRC, 1982. And my husband was a high school senior when I went to the Police concert; when we got married, his colleagues called me his childe bride.

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

I really need to find a CD of that version of Joseph; I only have it on vinyl and tape...