Did you catch the Kennedy Center Honors TV show? It took my spouse and I a couple nights to watch the show, which ended with a tribute to crowd-pleaser Lionel Richie and a medley of his hits sun by Leona Lewis, including “All Night Long.”
Now we can’t get it out of our heads. See the Richie video above, and the clip from the TV show below.
Enjoy.
And a note of trivia: the song lyrics that sound “African” are made up. Read about it here.
That’s me on the right with some of my museum colleagues playing the gamelan, which was installed in an exhibition. This was my first time playing the gamelan since I was a member of the nascent Pitt Gamelan Ensemble in the fall of 1996, when I was a grad student at the University of Pittsburgh and the Ensemble was a class taught by a grad student and before it became what it is today. I tried looking for any record of that class or the performance we did in December of 1996 at Heinz Chapel, but it seems to have been erased from history. (more…)
Originally posted October 10, 2011: Capital District Sings at timesunion:
Capital District Sings brought together a bunch of choruses on Sunday afternoon at Proctors in Schenectady. Albany Pro Musica hosted the event that also featured Albany Gay Men’s Chorus, Chinese Community Center Chorus, Ne’imah Jewish Community Chorus, Electric City Chorus, Capital District Youth Chorale, Mendelssohn Club and the Octavo Singers.
For more photos, go to http://blog.timesunion.com/localarts/photos-capital-district-sings-a-mohu-event/18471
A Whole Lotta Love like you’ve never heard it before.
(Originally posted Oct 19, 2011)
This morning’s ear worm is crickets, slowed way down:
Four girls and one dude, Chic Gamine is a wicked, witty update on the quintessential ’60s girl group. The Canadian (Winnipeg and Montreal) combo first got together in 2007, as Ariane Jean, Andrina Turenne and Annick Bremault brought in drummer Sacha Daoud and singer Alexa Dirks to create this intriguing configuration. Since then, the group has opened for Smokey Robinson, toured with Marc Broussard, played the Vancouver Olympics and earned two Juno (Canadian Grammy) nominations.
The music, featuring just vocals and drums, sounds wonderfully retro, from the early ’60s ooh, ooh, ohh of “Closer” or “Days and Days.” And there is certainly no need for more than these sweet, wicked and witty sounds.
Opening are regional favorites Olivia Quillo (who dropped out of college to pursue songwriting) and Maryleigh Roohan (Metroland’s best female songwriter 2012), who both play in the band Babe City.
— David Malachowski
Chic Gamine, 9 p.m., Red Square, 388 Broadway, Albany, $12, 465-0444 http://www.redsquarealbany.com
And, check it out, concert promoter Greg Bell is offering a money-back guarantee:
The summer season of entertainment at the Empire State Plaza begins Wednesday night with a concert featuring the Zombies (with opening act Et Tu Bruce).
One thing that is new this year, besides the higher number of acts than last year, is the policy on what can be brought onto the Empire State Plaza grounds.
People will not be allowed to bring in their own alcoholic beverages, coolers or glass containers, the Office of General Services has announced in an email interview. Visitors should also be prepared that any bags, containers or packages will be subject to search. On a further note, animals and pets are not allowed, unless the animal is an ADA-defined service animal.
Vendors will be on the plaza selling food and alcohol.
If you go
The Zombies With Et Tu Bruce
When: 5 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Empire State Plaza, Albany
Admission: Free
Info: 877-659-4377; http://www.ogs.ny.gov
