Wednesday, October 20, 2004

she sure could sing

I apologize for the two simultaneous posts, but I felt obligated to the last one due to the outbreak of baseball fever. The B98 gods have smiled upon our little office. It all started when I happened to win a Grammy party, thanks to prompting by a co-worker. Since the party was going to be held at her home, the station asked if she could "win" the party on air, but I still got the free big screen t.v. Worked for me. Ever since then, we seem to either get the hook up, or legitimately win things out of sheer fated luck. So when one of my co-workers told me she was going to win us tickets to Norah Jones, I didn't doubt her (but I didn't hold my breathe, either). I'm a big fan of the chick, especially because of her appreciation for Texas songwriters such as Townes Van Zandt, but I didn't want to pay good money to see her in an arena. Had it been a more intimate setting, I would have paid the same ticket price, but there's something about arenas I tend to avoid. Once again the B98 wizard magically selected the correct caller #9, and my co-worker and I were on our way to a free show. They really did a good job of trying to create a theatre feel, complete with thick red velvet curtains cradeling the stage, and funky hanging lamps creating a lower ceiling. Norah wore a beautiful turqouise gypsy skirt that I would love to own, so the atmosphere was complete. While she didn't sing her Townes Van Zandt song (Be Here to Love Me), or her Hank Williams song (Cold Cold Heart), she did sing two Gram Parsons Songs (She & Las Vegas) ~ all was promptly forgiven. She also included Lonestar, The Long Way Home (Tom Waits), Creepin' In, and Turn Me On... not that I don't appreciate her other music, I love everything she does, but there's just something about that touch of pure country music done well. I got to explain to a man what a Dobro was, when he turned around to ask us if we knew what one of the musicians was playing (what state are you from, buddy?) ~ being the bluegrass expert that I am (please note the newbie sarcasm). All in all, it was a very enjoyable evening. And in hindsight, it would have been worth paying for a ticket. I think if I had any musical talent at all, I would choose to be Norah Jones ~ no, that's a lie, I would choose to be Nanci Griffith ~ but if I couldn't choose to be Nanci Griffith because of some cruel twist of this non-existent world I'm making up, then I would definately choose to be Norah Jones. Cheers.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I had the privilege of seeing Norah in concert at the fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis last year. It was the first time they were playing some of their new material, and it was a phenomenal concert. I was impressed with Norah's keyboard skills, with the skill of her supporting band, and with her passion for the music. If I had money, I would go to see her in concert again without batting an eye. Glad you got to see her, Kimberly.

Ramón