Lexagator Loves

Travel, Fitness, Music, and Fun!

Photo Albums.. The Best Way To Store Your Ticket Stubs

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For a long time I compiled all my concert tickets onto a big framed poster board. As I attended more shows, it became difficult to take the poster down remove the glass and some how fit yet another concert stub. I also tried a pin board but it became a Tetris battle of the wits to add another concert ticket to the bunch without losing a few in the process. Now I think I have it figured it out..

Ta-Da! The Photo album! I have all the ticket stubs I can locate in this photo album and that goes back to 1998! I think a added plus is that you don’t have to tape, cut or otherwise modify the tickets. There is even a column to add notes and memories about the show.

You can easily create this at home simply buy a photo album and organize away! As you may be aware many venues let you print at home your tickets however many box offices can issue you an actual ticket stub if you ask for your collection!

Christmas Music That Doesn’t Make You Want To Hurl

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We are all in the throngs of Christmas time and unable to escape. I’m not sure when I started hating music..it’s probably because I played it year after year as a child in countless bands. So now while I do grocery shopping and I hear “Frosty The Snowman” I want to run for the hills or anywhere that doesn’t play Christmas music. Thankfully not all Christmas music makes me want to hurl. Keep reading to find a few albums might actually put you into the holiday spirit.

hOMe For The Holiday-Various Artist (Om Records)

Nothing says the holidays like chill dance music! This complication from San Francisco based label Om Records has artists like Kaskade doing “Still, Still, Still” to get you in the mood for a cocktail and  hors d’oeuvres.

Verve Remixed Christmas (Verve)

Out of all the “remixed” Christmas albums out there this one is probably my favorite. This albums features famous producers and artists like Brazilian Girls and The Orb “re-imagining” classic Christmas songs from Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, and Dinah Washington. What I like most is some of the songs like “Chilly Winds Don’t Blow” and “What A Wonderful World” wouldn’t be considered traditional Christmas songs but with these remixes they fit the theme perfectly.

The next two highlighted albums are what I like to call “Grandma Friendly” albums. These are suitable for dinner parties and the like.

A Swingin’ Christmas-Tony Bennett featuring The Count Basie Big Band

It’s not really Christmas until you hear classic big band music right? This album keeps it up tempo throughout and you’ll certainly feel the warmth too. You can’t really go wrong with Tony Bennett. The Count Basie Big Band is also clearly on point on this one too.

Elvis Christmas

I even love the album cover on this one and this one brings me back to a time when Christmas was simpler (No Black Friday shopping madness). Elvis Christmas is actually a two for one type of deal as it contains: all of the tracks from Presley’s 1957 Elvis’ Christmas Albumand his 1971 Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas. Elvis sounds wonderful on this album. My favorite track is “Santa Claus Is Back In Town.”

For even more hurl-free Christmas music check out Jason Miller’s Post.

The Hot 8 Brass Band at Yoshi’s San Francisco

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Some folks get so excited they climb on stage to rock out with the band!

A Second line on a Monday night… in San Francisco? It sounds like a far fetched idea but it is possible when you are seeing the Hot 8 Brass Band! The band played a spirited hour and a half set at Yoshi’s in San Francisco Monday night to a happy crowd ready to rock out. If you have been to Yoshi’s in San Francisco or Oakland you know that it is a type of venue for the mellow seated jazz crowd. In the Hot 8 Brass Band’s case they almost demanded that the crowd give them some energy “Whatever you give to us we’ll give back to you,” hollered trumpet player Terrell “Burger” Batiste.” The band keep the crowd involved the whole night from call and response to calling out the folks in the back who had started their own parade in the back that eventually snaked around to the front of the stage. They played a nice well-rounded set of traditional New Orleans toe-tappers like “Feet Can’t Fail Me Now,” (Made famous by The Dirty Dozen Brass Band) and “When The Saints” to the well-appointed original piece “I Got You.”  A piece Batiste described as a represented of New Orleans folks that are always there for each other.”Need a Drink? Need a dollar? The New Orleans response is always “I Got You.”

The band started in humble beginnings about 16 years ago founded by tuba player Bennie Pete, Jerome Jones, and Harry Cook. Most of the band members had been playing with each other since high school but it wasn’t until 1995 that they went professional playing second lines, parades, and clubs show all over New Orleans. The band had been gaining notoriety locally but it wasn’t until Hurricane Katrina hit that they became more of a household name. The band has been featured on Featured on CNN, Nightline, in the New York Times, and most notably in Spike Lee’s Katrina documentary “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts.” The band endured the loss of several band members during and after the storm. They dedicated their time by helping others displaced by the storm by playing vacuee shelters, temporary trailer parks, and to communities throughout the US that have provided a temporary home to displaced New Orleanians.

The band has recommitted themselves to bring people together through their music. If you can believe a bunch of San Franciscans second lining in a small jazz club you can believe anyone can bond over such amazing music.

 

Latest Concert Recaps: Jazz Mafia in SF, The Fray in NYC, and Outside Lands

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So it’s been awhile..In September alone I traveled to NYC, Las Vegas, Hawaii, and Seattle. In October I returned to New York and had a brief stop over to LA. But thankfully along the way I indulged in some concerts so continue reading for the quick recap…

Jazz Mafia Symphony Presents: “Emperor Norton Suite” at Yoshi’s San Francisco

Several months ago I bought a Google Offer so that I could apply the discount for a show at Yoshi’s SF. I’m so glad I took advantage of the offer for this show! The Jazz Mafia did not disappoint! Highlights were when the group brought up a few violin students to play some Stevie Wonder jams. One of the students looked terrified but broke out in a huge smile after the song was over. As a former music student I can certainly relate!

The Fray @ Angel Orensanz Center

Absolutely beautiful show and beautiful venue. Fun Fact: Sarah Jessica Parker got married here!

Charles Bradley @ Outside Lands

2011 was my very first Outside Lands. I’m not much of a all-day festival person. I enjoy sitting and enjoying a show in a dark theater but after I saw the line-up for this show I caved in. The highlight was Charles Bradley I loved his album “No Time For Dreaming” and his live show was truly emotional. At the age of 63 he has battled living on the streets, hitchhiking across the country for a better life, and losing loved ones. Seeing him live showed his true love for his fans and that was amazing to see.

Another highlight of Outside Lands was the amazing food. My favorite was the Chocolate forest that had chocolate treats from around the bay area. This tasty marshmallow and chocolate treat on  a stick was my favorite!

Until we meet again…

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