For the fourth year in a row I’m attending the Easter service at the Hollywood Bowl run by Bel Air Presbyterian Church on Sunday at 11:00am (you’re welcome to join and sit in the nose bleeds… me being a good church-going sinner, I got box seat tickets weeks ago… Yes, that’s right, I’m flaunting my good seats for a CHURCH service).
The service heralds not only the return of the Messiah, but also the fast-approaching Summer Bowl Concert Series. I got my calendar in the mail and immediately made some highlights, which I will share with you now:
JUNE 21st – Femi Kuti, Santogold, Raphael Saadiq
Femi, eldest son begat of Fela, is a “Nigerian Afrobeat superstar.” Santogold’s album was one of those that you never had to skip any song, and Raphael Saadiq transports you back in time with his soulful genius. This is one not to miss.
JUNE 28th – Adele (w/ the Bowl’s strings section), Etta James, Janelle Monae
Adele’s “19″ is a great rainy-day album that hit last year, and I put skips in a Summer ‘08 mix-tape CD from playing “Hometown Glory” too much. Etta James needs no words. People web-wide call Monae the female counterpart to Andre-3000. I hadn’t heard of her before, but I like what I’ve heard so far in my due diligence! “Sincerely, Jane” makes me think of James Bond movies. It’s the trumpets.
JULY 5th – Death Cab (w/ the LA Phil) & others…
If you saw the July 2007 wundershow that was The Decemberists with the Philharmonic (and openers Band of Horses and Andrew Bird) then you know some magical things can happen when the Phil gets involved. I saw mixed reviews, but I really dug the most recent “Narrow Stairs” album. I can’t wait to hear “Transatlanticism” and “Bixby Canyon Bridge” with the orchestration! Any added openers can only sweeten this deal.
JULY 12th – Ray LaMontagne, Jenny Lewis, Blitzen Trapper
A strange collection. Ray has some interesting sounds, Jenny is a range-war goddess whether sans band or no. Blitzen Trapper is good for the new-old rock sound. I wonder who planned this one.
SEP 11th – 13th – Fireworks Finale w/ Seu Jorge and Bebel Gilberto
Seu Jorge did all the Portuguese Bowie covers for Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (my least favorite of his (Wes not Seu). I was introduced to Bebel through a Six Feet Under episode, and is the modern queen of Rio’s Bossa Nova. I include this in my highlights ’cause I can see getting a group together with gallons of sangria and Brazilian themed picnic dishes.
Herbie Hancock v. Lang Lang on the 7th and 8th of August will raise the concept of dueling pianos to a whole new level and Diana Krall with the Phil will be a nice relaxing one on the 21st or 22nd of that same month, if you’re into her…
Some things, though, just don’t make my cut. I never got into Beastie Boys (Sept. 24th), and still refuse to go to the annual Sound of Music Sing-A-Long (even WITH wine and funny green hats, Jojo!).
Off to buy some champagne and orange juice. After all, the Bowl’s Easter Service is the only one I know of that allows you to BYOMimosas.
Raphael Saadiq – “Big Easy”
Janelle Monae – “Sincerely, Jane”
Death Cab For Cutie – “Bixby Canyon Bridge”
Bebel Gilberto – “Aganju (Latin Project Remix)”
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Comments ( 3 )
[...] I’m posting two early stand-outs for me… But on another day I might have posted “Auditorium” ft. Slick Rick (which audibly connects to some of the same motifs in Monae’s “Sincerely, Jane”, posted earlier here). [...]
Too Much Happiness » Mos Def’s New Album Makes Me “Ecstatic” added these pithy words on Jun 06 09 at 12:31 amAdam added these pithy words on Apr 10 09 at 9:34 amMy ideal lineup would be Blitzen Trapper and Santogold opening for Seu Jorge. In that order.
Dulani added these pithy words on Apr 10 09 at 12:27 pmAwww, Shit!! Femi Kuti better not cancel this time. A lot more’s at stake since Santo and Raph are on the ticket. I cannot wait!
