new favorite artist!!
So yesterday was... the Anna Nalick / Rob Thomas concert!
Even though Anna was the opener, I was just as excited to see her as I was Rob. So after a very nice dinner with Sarah we headed over to the Paramount, where there is not a bad seat in the house at all. We were in the nosebleed section, which is the third balcony on the top level, which is really high up, but we could still see well. It would have been perfect for some pictures but I left the camera in the car... which would turn out to haunt me later. (Photography wasn't "allowed" but people brought their cameras anyway... I need to be less of a goody two-shoes.)
What amazed me about this show was the range of the audience. There were 12-year old kids and then there were older-than-middle-age women, and college students and adults in between. I guess that speaks of the appeal of Rob Thomas. Anyone of any age can relate to his music, and Rob doesn't specifically target any age group in particular like some groups do. There is no reason to be embarrassed when going to a Rob concert, unlike if you went to, say, a Click Five concert and there were all these teenage girls there and it was really awkward. (Speaking from experience.)
So right on time the lights dimmed, the drums started pounding, and Anna came out in all her dancer glory (she was a dancer before). She wore these stripey stockings from her Halloween costume ("I wanted to wear them again, and it's my show") and overall looked very cute. But when does she not look cute?
I made a plan to memorize the set list, but that kind of faded away as the show went on because I was continually amazed by her performances. She put a lot of effort into singing, moving, dancing, and hitting the high notes, which is what I love about good live shows. You actually know that the person is singing and that they have the ability to sing their own songs. Most of the sound was like the album, of course with a few differences to improve the show, like extended vocals and guitar solos. She also alluded to how awesome her video for "In the Rough" was going to be... I can't wait til it comes out! Her set lasted a little less than an hour. She played 8 songs off her album "Wreck of the Day". Needless to say, I think she made a lot of fans last night. Sales will definitely be up. (And she's #4 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart!)
Highlight of Anna's Set: Her performance of the title track "Wreck of the Day". As she strummed the beginning guitar melody and sang the first verses, I kid you not when I say that a chill went up and down me. Just hearing the simplicity of her voice and guitar in all their glory was awesome. The bridge of the song sounded very heartfelt and genuine, which contributed to the emotion of the song. Not that I cried, which I didn't, but if I was a girl I probably would have, because it was incredible.
After Anna's performance I went downstairs to see if I could score any merchandise. I ended up getting a Rob shirt and hat (there was no Anna stuff v_v) for way more than I should have paid, but oh well, it's kind of a once-in-a-long-time thing for me so it was worth it.
So after waiting in a long line and chatting it up with some people behind me in line, I got back in time for Rob's part to start. I would have to say that his concert was the best I have ever seen (though I haven't seen very many concerts at all). I was surprised to hear him play some old matchbox twenty stuff. I figured that there would be some legal issues, but hey, he wrote the songs, he should get to play them. Of course, he played cuts off his solo album too, and a couple covers as well (notably "Wonderwall"). There were cool lights and video screens on the stage that changed colors like a visualizer would in iTunes. And of course people got up and danced to his faster tracks like "Lonely No More" and "This is How a Heart Breaks". That was so fun. I was singing along almost like I was in the shower, except no one could hear me last night either because everyone was screaming and stuff. It was also great because this was my first time seeing Rob and I have been a matchbox twenty fan since 7th grade, so basically I've liked and followed the music for seven years and I finally got to see him.
Highlight of Rob's set: I would have to say his performance of "Push" was my favorite, because it was acoustic. I have a thing for acoustic performances. Something about the extra emotion you can hear in the song, you know? But there were a lot of other good performances that were up there too, like "Bright Lights" which I've put on several meaningful mix CDs for people and "3 am" because of what it's about. And of course the ending song, "This is How a Heart Breaks", was very energetic and enjoyable and dance-ful.
As we walked down the stairs I looked down from the balcony and I saw that Anna was giving autographs, and there wasn't much of a line! I almost hyperventilated, I was so excited standing in line. Of course I don't have my camera because I'm a goody two-shoes, but I did get a signed ticket stub! (Yeah, I know, I should have brought the album cover... don't make me feel worse than I already do.) I got to talk to her for a minute and she was so sweet and cute and cordial and thankful that I was a fan! My aim is to go see her again someday, and bring my camera next time. When she comes out with her 2nd album and tours for it, I will definitely go see her, even if it's not in Seattle (road trip!!!!).
So there you have it, Anna Nalick is my new favorite artist, moving past Michelle Branch for 1st place. But it was bound to happen because Anna was 2nd anyway. Rob and MB20 remain 3rd, but don't get me wrong, Rob's show was amazing and I would go see the show again too. And I'm going to shamelessly plug Anna's website (www.annanalick.com) because you deserve to know who she is.
Overall, I'm sad that I didn't bring my camera, but I'm glad that I went. Props to Sarah for singing along and making it fun too. I'm outta here.
Even though Anna was the opener, I was just as excited to see her as I was Rob. So after a very nice dinner with Sarah we headed over to the Paramount, where there is not a bad seat in the house at all. We were in the nosebleed section, which is the third balcony on the top level, which is really high up, but we could still see well. It would have been perfect for some pictures but I left the camera in the car... which would turn out to haunt me later. (Photography wasn't "allowed" but people brought their cameras anyway... I need to be less of a goody two-shoes.)
What amazed me about this show was the range of the audience. There were 12-year old kids and then there were older-than-middle-age women, and college students and adults in between. I guess that speaks of the appeal of Rob Thomas. Anyone of any age can relate to his music, and Rob doesn't specifically target any age group in particular like some groups do. There is no reason to be embarrassed when going to a Rob concert, unlike if you went to, say, a Click Five concert and there were all these teenage girls there and it was really awkward. (Speaking from experience.)
So right on time the lights dimmed, the drums started pounding, and Anna came out in all her dancer glory (she was a dancer before). She wore these stripey stockings from her Halloween costume ("I wanted to wear them again, and it's my show") and overall looked very cute. But when does she not look cute?
I made a plan to memorize the set list, but that kind of faded away as the show went on because I was continually amazed by her performances. She put a lot of effort into singing, moving, dancing, and hitting the high notes, which is what I love about good live shows. You actually know that the person is singing and that they have the ability to sing their own songs. Most of the sound was like the album, of course with a few differences to improve the show, like extended vocals and guitar solos. She also alluded to how awesome her video for "In the Rough" was going to be... I can't wait til it comes out! Her set lasted a little less than an hour. She played 8 songs off her album "Wreck of the Day". Needless to say, I think she made a lot of fans last night. Sales will definitely be up. (And she's #4 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart!)
Highlight of Anna's Set: Her performance of the title track "Wreck of the Day". As she strummed the beginning guitar melody and sang the first verses, I kid you not when I say that a chill went up and down me. Just hearing the simplicity of her voice and guitar in all their glory was awesome. The bridge of the song sounded very heartfelt and genuine, which contributed to the emotion of the song. Not that I cried, which I didn't, but if I was a girl I probably would have, because it was incredible.
After Anna's performance I went downstairs to see if I could score any merchandise. I ended up getting a Rob shirt and hat (there was no Anna stuff v_v) for way more than I should have paid, but oh well, it's kind of a once-in-a-long-time thing for me so it was worth it.
So after waiting in a long line and chatting it up with some people behind me in line, I got back in time for Rob's part to start. I would have to say that his concert was the best I have ever seen (though I haven't seen very many concerts at all). I was surprised to hear him play some old matchbox twenty stuff. I figured that there would be some legal issues, but hey, he wrote the songs, he should get to play them. Of course, he played cuts off his solo album too, and a couple covers as well (notably "Wonderwall"). There were cool lights and video screens on the stage that changed colors like a visualizer would in iTunes. And of course people got up and danced to his faster tracks like "Lonely No More" and "This is How a Heart Breaks". That was so fun. I was singing along almost like I was in the shower, except no one could hear me last night either because everyone was screaming and stuff. It was also great because this was my first time seeing Rob and I have been a matchbox twenty fan since 7th grade, so basically I've liked and followed the music for seven years and I finally got to see him.
Highlight of Rob's set: I would have to say his performance of "Push" was my favorite, because it was acoustic. I have a thing for acoustic performances. Something about the extra emotion you can hear in the song, you know? But there were a lot of other good performances that were up there too, like "Bright Lights" which I've put on several meaningful mix CDs for people and "3 am" because of what it's about. And of course the ending song, "This is How a Heart Breaks", was very energetic and enjoyable and dance-ful.
As we walked down the stairs I looked down from the balcony and I saw that Anna was giving autographs, and there wasn't much of a line! I almost hyperventilated, I was so excited standing in line. Of course I don't have my camera because I'm a goody two-shoes, but I did get a signed ticket stub! (Yeah, I know, I should have brought the album cover... don't make me feel worse than I already do.) I got to talk to her for a minute and she was so sweet and cute and cordial and thankful that I was a fan! My aim is to go see her again someday, and bring my camera next time. When she comes out with her 2nd album and tours for it, I will definitely go see her, even if it's not in Seattle (road trip!!!!).
So there you have it, Anna Nalick is my new favorite artist, moving past Michelle Branch for 1st place. But it was bound to happen because Anna was 2nd anyway. Rob and MB20 remain 3rd, but don't get me wrong, Rob's show was amazing and I would go see the show again too. And I'm going to shamelessly plug Anna's website (www.annanalick.com) because you deserve to know who she is.
Overall, I'm sad that I didn't bring my camera, but I'm glad that I went. Props to Sarah for singing along and making it fun too. I'm outta here.