I love the environment and culture of country music.  And, its fans are fun.  Case in point: the couple seated behind us. The guy was way more into it than his lady friend.  He sang/yelled lovingly and unashamedly along with Carrie on most songs.  My favorite part was during the picture slideshow accompanying “Mama’s Song.”  At the end was a photo from Carrie’s wedding with her husband, NHL player Mike Fisher.  When that photo came on-screen, we heard an anguished, “Nooooooo!  I’m so jealous, I love yoooooouu, Carrrriiie!  Ugh, and I hate the Senators.”

And, Carrie herself– so sweet.  I like that we’ve been able to follow her story since getting to know her as a simple-girl-next-door during American Idol six years ago.  From Oklahoma, grew up on a farm, college girl, never been on a plane until flying to Hollywood Week.  And now, you can tell how grateful she is for all her success as she still constantly references her ordinary beginnings and AI breakthrough in interviews, accepting awards, in concert, etc.

One of my favorite AI moments was when Carrie didn’t understand she was being complimented.  “Hey little mama, you knocked it off the box?”  Hahaaa.  If you don’t want to watch the whole clip, fast forward to mark 1:10.

Carrie Underwood Set List | Vancouver, BC | December 16, 2010

Cowboy Casanova
Quitter
Wasted
I Know You Won’t
Some Hearts
Just a Dream
Temporary Home
Someday When I Stop Loving You
All-American Girl
So Small
Country Road (John Denver cover)
This Time
Undo It
Jesus, Take the Wheel
What Can I Say (ft. Sons of Sylvia)
Change
I Told You So
Mama’s Song
Last Name

Encore:
Before He Cheats
Songs Like This

Adoration – recognizing and praising God for who He is.
Confession – have I wronged others or God in some way? I need to acknowledge it, change, make it right as much as I can, being thankful that God forgives me.
Thanksgiving - as straightforward as it sounds. From turkey to health to people to provision and even difficulties cos we learn and grow from them.
Supplication – help.me/him/her/them/the world.God! In the small and big things. God loves to give good gifts so we are free to ask. For ourselves and on behalf of others.

As I was sharing how helpful and simple A.C.T.S could be, I realized I hadn’t been thinking through some of these things myself in a while. So I took some time this weekend,  spending just 15 minutes thinking about A.C.T.S and wow– i should do this more often. It was so refreshing. In the quiet when I’m open to him, I see God more for who he is rather than how I’ve made him to be.

I realize I’ve skirted off things as trivial when in fact I was selfish and prideful in certain situations. I realize there are many great things in my life that I hadn’t even explicitly thanked God for. I remember others and I want good for them. I want God to to bless and enable them and that they would more fully experience him.  I realize I want to more fully experience him!  It’s funny how I can consciously forget that sometimes. And, I’m reminded with confidence and assurance that the God of the universe is on my side– he is for me– so, I’m good to go even in uncertain or strenuous circumstances.  I understand the Gospel again and Jesus becomes more precious to me.

On the left, my shoe. On the right, my roommate’s boyfriend’s shoe. I wear size 6, he wears size 16. My shoe fits INSIDE his shoe. He’s 6’4, one of 6 boys in his family, and some brothers are bigger than him. Oh dear.

Recently, a sad thing happened.  My left earphone started fraying and now it’s ka-putz.  Many, many nights of listening to my iPod in bed turned to waking up many, many mornings with earphones tangled and pulled across my face and neck.  It was bound to happen.

While searching and waiting to find a good deal on another pair of Bose earphones, I thought I’d look around to see what else is out there.  “Beats by Dr. Dre” is a line of headphones that I’ve listened to in-store and they’re pretty swanky– in sound and design.  The In-Ear headphone version (called “Tour”) retails for $179.

I bought a pair.  But not for $179!  eBay, friends. eBay.  Got them brand new, $34.  They look and sound puuuurty-ful.

Oh dear, here we go.

Everyone’s typing in the url as I shake my head, “Just remember, it was years ago!”  I often forget that there’s this whole history that still remains on the web.  Jill singles out an old post I wrote on how girls don’t like to be told they’re “one of the guys.” We read it aloud, talk about context and laugh hard.  Then, we read the comments and laugh-cry even harder.  Not because it’s all that funny at face-value but because of some other things we attached with it in the moment.

It was a great 20 min distraction, I love those moments.

A few weeks ago I started on the Glee train and very quickly became a huge fan.  As I do with all my pop-culture joys, I googled like crazy to find out as much as i could about the show, actors, concept, music, etc.  I love what I found– refreshing, amusing, hilarious and even inspiring.  And while it’s tempting to lay out all the reasons as to why I get so excited about Glee right now, I’ll just say that in one car ride I preached it and left two unsuspecting and apathetic friends not only curious but wanting. Success. I love being a pop-culture evangelist.

I have been listening to the Vol. 1, 2, and 3 albums and other various tracks non stop– fun, endearing, amazing.  I find myself lip syncing/ singing under my breath with my iPod in public places. Full on with the head bobbing, dramatic facial expressions, shoulder shrugging, toe tapping, looking like a fool.  Of course, it’s much worse when i’m by myself in the car or at home.

And, Lea Michele… besides playing Rachel Berry so convincingly, oh, how I love Lea Michele’s INCREDIBLE voice.  As in, I actually have “moments” listening to her at certain times.  It’s like an unprecedented kind of appreciation and even awe that I’ve never had for any artist’s voice before. On occasion, I literally need a few seconds of silence after listening to her– that’s how affected I can be.  I know, sounds ridiculous.  No wonder she’s been on Broadway since age 8.  I would love to hear her live.  Not to mention, she is GORGEOUS.

So, if anyone out there has tickets they want to get rid of then look no further. Look here!  And, I’m totally going to play the birthday card. My birthday is May 22– just happens to be one of the Toronto show dates. No need to guess what I’d like for my birthday… just saying. HOLLLLAAAA!

I’m thinking through their set list (below) to pick out a few highlights and so many stand out.  But let’s go with “Shove,” “The Adventure” and “The War”…  so much energy!  What’s easier to name are the songs I wish they had played, “Call to Arms,” “Rite of Spring” and “A Little’s Enough.” Next time, next time.  Oh, I sure hope there will be a next time soon.  I also really appreciated the fact that the band showed gratefulness towards the crowd.  You can tell they wanted to play for the fans and they meant it when they said they were thankful for us.

I want to give some further thoughts beyond the entertainment value.  It’s clear this generation is looking for something to offset the pervasive brokenness that surrounds.  Disillusionment from fractured families often lead to further dysfunctional relationships– continuing a sad, consistent pattern. So, when a band like AvA comes along and helps articulate this frustration, people gravitate towards it.  I love that they’re able to paint the problem artistically and so clearly.

This especially came to life for me when AvA played “The Flight of the Apollo” during the set.  I looked next to me and saw the crowd of young people: rough around the edges, probably often written off as troublesome, distrustful.  I stood there and saw people connecting with this song.  There was one girl a few feet away that especially struck me.  Her eyes were closed, hands clasped against her chest, singing along so faithfully.  I think she genuinely found solace in the song.  But was it only a fleeting, temporary escape? Was it clinging to an ambiguous hope?  Hoping that life doesn’t hurt, shouldn’t hurt so badly.

Do you feel light shine in the darkest of nights?
or does the pain stack up from the skin to the core?
Do you find every time that you cover your eyes
to keep the tears held up, dripping down even more?
Let the words come down, every line in sight
and put the young flames up and make you cower and cower
If the sun breaks in instead of sparking the sight,
I promise you I’ll be here to let the light in

Finally I get this feeling we are all alone in one big world
Just to realize that all these shapes and colors are so it doesn’t hurt so badly..

So life doesn’t hurt, doesn’t hurt so badly..
So life doesn’t hurt, doesn’t hurt so badly..
Please don’t look at life, look at me so sadly.
Life shouldn’t hurt, doesn’t hurt so badly.

- The Flight of the Apollo

In a sense, the lyrics preach to them, “Please don’t look at life, look at me, so sadly.”  I turned my attention from the stage and looked out into the crowd and compassion overcame me.  Not only for them but it was an opportunity to reflectively reminisce over myself as well.  As one who’s part of that crowd.  I mean, I felt it, too.  Broken relationships are so formative to the person, you can’t escape it as much as you try. So, I threw out a quick prayer in that moment that God would bring restoration to this world, this generation, myself.

AvA identifies and speaks into a good chunk of my generation’s issues very well (a few examples from the new album, “The Flight of the Apollo,” “Young London,” “Epic Holiday”).  But, as I’ve enjoyed so very much their songs, any sort of attempt towards the answer or resolution to the problem has never completely satisfied me.  I appreciate the honesty and the matter-of-fact-ness but contending with the human condition is not just about escape or replacement.  It’s about about restoration and redemption.  And, they do touch on those themes at times, especially recognizing that it comes from meaningful relationship, but I think there’s an even more concrete hope that could be communicated to my generation.

Closing off the night, a short audio message was played to the crowd.  It ended saying, “When you feel down, think of tonight, when you weren’t alone but you experienced something with others: love.”  I wish that and even more for everyone there.

Angels & Airwaves set list | Calgary, AB | April 12, 2010

Et Ducit Mundum Per Luce
It Hurts
Young London
Hallucinations
Everything’s Magic
Lifeline
Shove
Love Like Rockets
Start the Machine
The Adventure
The Flight of Apollo
The Moon-Atomic
Epic Holiday
Secret Crowds

Encore:
Breathe
The War

I got to see John Mayer in concert for the first time in the beginning of April.  Right off the bat we were able to move down about 50 rows so I was a happy concert camper!  There’s no question that John Mayer is amazingly talented so I was glad to watch him showcase it in person.

My favorite part of the night was when he played “Assassins” (also a favorite track on his new album)– crazy good.  Why?  Well, for one, he played his guitar with a drumstick! The lights and visual graphics during the song was also the best of night.  On the flip side, the graphics during “Half of My Heart” was a huge CHEESE FEST.  The incessant cartoon heartbreak graphics raining down on the screen was way too comical, and not in a good way.  But really, if that’s gonna be the worst of the night then I can’t complain.

I also have to highlight that during “Half of My Heart” I turned next to me to Uber JM Fan and asked, “Wouldn’t it be magical if Taylor Swift came out and sang it with him?  I would FREAK OUT.”  Yes… I actually used the adjective “magical.”  No shame.  Cos it would be magical– and wonderful and lovely and absolutely amazing.  Uber JM Fan agreed wholeheartedly.  Then, the few seconds of longing was quickly replaced with stifled laughter at the raining heartbreaks.  All in all, great Calgary crowd, fun night, thanks John Mayer!

John Mayer set list | Calgary, AB | April 3, 2010

Heartbreak Warfare
Belief
Perfectly Lonely
No Such Thing
Friends, Lovers or Nothing
Assassins
Waiting on the World to Change
Stop This Train
Free Falling
All We Ever Do is Say Goodbye
Vultures
Just Like a Woman (Bob Dylan cover)
Half of My Heart
Fleetwood Mac cover

Encore:
Who Says
Gravity

Well, what can you do– you want to give the guy the benefit of the doubt.  It wasn’t terrible but I wished there was more– engage with the audience maybe?  We paid to see you so it should be implied that we WANT to see you.  Just because a crowd is more tame doesn’t mean they don’t want to be there.  You may not have thought that but that’s what you communicated all night.

After the show we got to talk with him briefly and it was such a disappointing tank!  He was pretty blasé. I thanked him for playing and told him I was glad he had a show in Calgary.  But, for whatever reason, he didn’t believe me.  “Yeah sure.  *chuckle.  I don’t know if I believe you.”  Okay then. I guess I wasn’t bursting with enough overjoyed emotion or something.  “See, you’re talking out of the side of your mouth– I don’t trust that.”  I knew he was ‘joking’ and we laughed about it (read: nervous laughter) but it was generally a strange experience.  And honestly, it didn’t do anything positive for him from a fan’s perspective.  Let’s move on in the conversation– it doesn’t get better.  I was sharing with him how I twittered him a few times but then he responded with, “Oh yeah?  But that’s so impersonal.”  Are. you. kidding. me?  What am I supposed to do?  “Oh right.  You don’t have my number.”  I agreed with the obvious.  It was about time to cue the fan/artist photo and then skedaddle.

A quick note on the openers: Michael Rault and Kinnie Star.  Rault played with a tamborine taped to his foot and Star threw in some fun spoken word rhymes.  I was glad they were there.  They also joined Jay for a few songs in his set and that at least gave some more breadth to the live sound.

Jay Malinowski set list | Calgary, AB | March 20, 2010

Santa Monica
How it Comes is How it Goes
Life is a Gun
Narceritos
We’ve All Got to be Going Somewhere
Loving Hand
Little Sister (Bob Dylan cover)
There’s a Light
Remembrance Day
Into Fire

No Encore