POPPED CULTURE

Sunday, January 29th, 2012: POPPED CULTURE

The critics raged!  Others celebrities created their own buzz with separate press releases of support.  The actual artist will release her new album worldwide on Tuesday of this week.  Already critics give wide ranging reviews of the album.

Two weeks ago, the singer in question - Lana Del Rey (Lizzy Grant) appeared on Saturday Night Live as the musical guest alongside host Daniel Radcliff.  There were reports from critical listeners that this was the worst performance ever on SNL - that the singer was not ready for the big stage.

Well to me, the whole episode says alot about people - those of us who live in January of 2012.  Reality shows are hyped for television, Republican debaters rip one another even as they tear down a rival Democratic President, economic recovery is slower than predicted with the latest criticisms of Europe's crippling debt crisis, an Italian sea captain abandons his damaged ship as chaos reigns aboard....  And on it goes. 

It seems that everyone has an opinion.  Everyone seems to be an authority on something - even without knowing all the facts.

Perhaps that behavior is supported in current pop culture when we vote for the latest act on X Factor, American Idol or Dancing With the Stars.  In some ways this process is good because it offers new insights about the discipline of performance.  In other ways it has opened the door to anyone to scornfully ridicule others publicly - even without acknowledging all the facts.

Lana Del Rey is a young artist - time will tell whether she has the stuff to carry a career.  A few other pop icons had more than their share of 15 minutes of fame.  Andy Warhol made a career of it!

THE TELL TALE SIGN OF EXCELLENCE

Sunday, January 22nd, 2012: THE TELL TALE SIGN OF EXCELLENCE

An audience sees the show, but what goes on backstage is the telling tale.

I love to watch the goings on backstage before a show - how people interact, the way they deal with stage nerves, how they solve problems, scrambling last minute tickets for friends and family, the way they rehearse together in smaller pockets aside from the group, how they take direction.... 

And then it's great to see how it all manifests itself in the actual performance - being in the moment and enjoying the ride!

The Revv52 Memphis shows happened for three performances this weekend to full houses.  Audiences thoroughly enjoyed the energy and the honesty in the songs of Memphis.  And backstage, people worked together - lighting techs, set designers, sound engineers, stage set up crews, musicians in the band, the singers, actors, the producer, stage manager, artistic director, facilities director, board of directors.  It all came together.

A musician friend who is traveling to Memphis to perform with an entourage of Alberta musicians commented, "Wow, Wow, Wow!  Loved the Memphis concert.  So well done. Loved the song choices, the arrangements, the energy.  Now I am getting really excited to go to Memphis!"

When people are engaged in work they are passionate about - it's so great to do it with people who enjoy working together!

A CLASSIC

Sunday, January 15, 2012: A CLASSIC

A singer/songwriter I work with related that the Scotia Bank Giller Prize winning author was a shy student and a close friend during her early public school years.  The author is Esi Edugyan.

A friend gave me her latest fiction novel "Half-Blood Blues" as a gift.  I usually read biographies, however I found this novel to be intriguing - I couldn't put it down.  It's because  I enjoy blues music and during my last few visits to Chicago, I stopped in at Blue Chicago - a club where local Chicago artists play what they do best - rooted Chicago blues.  The club is reminiscent of a blues juke joint - the bar along the closest wall to the entrance and the stage tucked at the far side of the narrow room.  The room's capacity would be a comfortable 100 patrons - yet it's usually jammed with standing room.

Edugyan's novel captures the flavour and the feel of this kind of blues setting.  Author David Chariandy describes Esi Edugyan's work as "a truly beautiful novel with perfect pitch.  Her language is brilliantly in tune with the diction, musicality, suffering and dignity of Black jazz musicians trying to survive in France and Germany during World War Two...."

Her writing evokes a place where the blues live: "the cracked heaters lisping steam, empty bottles rolling all over the warped floor.  Our cigarettes glowed like small holes in the dark ...."

And back to Chicago - I looked for a gift for my friend who enjoys vinyl records.  I was searching for something that represented Chicago and I discovered a re-released 1969 Muddy Waters album - "After the Rain".  Only 1000 were re-released.   A review about the album says that it "has more of Muddy's classic bluesy finish than some of the other Chess blues remodel albums from the time – but it's still got plenty of raw production and great fuzzed out guitar that's totally killer! Hard charging dirty grooves from Muddy Waters that we've always dug ...."

And that's like the novel - a classic.

REHEARSALS THAT ENERGIZE!

Sunday, January 8, 2012: REHEARSALS THAT ENERGIZE!

An excellent rehearsal takes preparation, focus on detail, and mostly the ability to read the situation at hand.  Yesterday, the 55 voice performance ensemble Revv52 rehearsed at the Jack Singer rehearsal hall in preparation for our upcoming "Memphis: Great Balls of Fire" shows. 

Two cameras from Shaw Cable were in-house to catch the rehearsal dynamic and conduct interviews for a television segment, our producer Murray Ord was there to oversee a script run, our public relations coordinator Fran Humphreys attended and the six member band were there to read and rehearse through the arranged charts. 

So a rehearsal of this kind needs to accommodate the needs of those in attendance.  Running script before the songs, reinforcing segments between the band and the singers, allowing time for interviews as cameras wheel around the rehearsal hall can be distracting.  For yesterday, the songs were at the heart of focus.   In the end, everyone should leave the rehearsal accomplishing what they needed for the day. 

It all worked out really well yesterday - because there was a plan AND that plan was in place even before the season began.  We've hired excellent musicians who work together well - Steve Pineo: guitar, Kit Johnson: bass, Nicholai Drost: drums, Rich Harding: sax, Allistair Elliott: trumpet and the arranger/instrumental director who pulls it together: Trevor Waters.  Producer Murray Ord is demanding yet easy to work with - he knows from his work in film industry, the importance of working well with artists.  The camera operators from Shaw are so aware of getting the best out of people and when they do they get great material for their story.

Yesterday's rehearsal was energizing!

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME

Sunday, January 1, 2012: THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME

I've been told that it is the highlight of highlights at any sporting event in Chicago.  One of the hottest tickets this season in Chicago was the December 30th hockey game between rivals Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Black Hawks at the United Center.  Tickets were at a premium and attendance was the highest of the season - 22,166.  The game atmosphere had play-off energy, yet it was the anthem singer and the crowd response that was unforgettable!

During the singing of the anthem by Jim Cornelison, the crowd erupted and throughout the anthem the crowd noise was overwhelming!  I've never heard anything like it before.  It surpassed anything I've heard at any sporting event - including the Super Bowl.  The singer Jim Cornelison is a graduate of the master's program in opera at Indiana University. 

The crowd response was spellbinding.  It is worth gate admission to hear the "Star Spangled Banner" at the United Center in Chicago. 

PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN

Sunday, December 25, 2011: PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN

The King James version of the Bible: Luke 2, verses 8 - 14:

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

DISTRACTIONS, EXCUSES AND THE HOLIDAYS

Sunday, December 21, 2011: DISTRACTIONS, EXCUSES AND THE HOLIDAYS

I'm going to take in a couple of Red Wing games and practices over the holidays - the Wings are in Calgary playing the Flames this week and in Chicago next week.

The Red Wing coach, Mike Babcock, who has a very successful record in the NHL commented on distractions over the holiday season.  He mentioned that the veteran sports teams do a better job adjusting to a holiday season of family visits, Christmas foods, parties.  He says that when you break from your regular routine during the holidays - enjoy yourself - remove yourself from work.  When you're back at it - focus all your energies on the work at hand.   The individuals who struggle are usually those who can't separate work from play - they take their work home.

It's the same with the business of music with distractions and excuses:  "I'm tired."  "I can't afford it."  "It requires too much work."  "I've never done that before."  "Not right now."  "I'm too busy."  "It's too far away."  "I have a cold."  "I don't think I can do that." ... and the excuses go on and on ... as do the distractions.

When you're away from your work - enjoy yourself!  And when you're back at it:  Dig in.  Go for it.  Focus.  Believe in yourself.  Get around a support group who believes in you.  Move to the front of your own line.  

Live in the moment!  Enjoy the Christmas season!