February Update

There are a few topics swirling around in this head of mine, but none have had time to gel.  So I thought I'd give a monthly update because it has already been almost a month since the last one.

What I'm Pondering: 
I'm reading through the Gospel of Luke right now, and I was struck by the transition in Chapter 4.  The chapter begins with Jesus being tempted in the desert. After the devil departs in verse 13, the heading before verse 14 says, "Jesus Begins His Ministry."  I think I've glossed over the fact that Jesus began His ministry after a time of testing and temptation.  It encourages me to take my struggles and find a way to minister to others so that my struggles can be used for His glory.

What I'm Listening To:
I'm still listening to Chris Tomlin's Burning Lights quite a bit, but I also downloaded All Sons & Daughters' new EP called The Longing.  I saw a recommendation for this album on Twitter, and I'm so glad that I checked them out.  The harmonies of this worship duo are absolutely beautiful.

I also downloaded the audio of Romans to help with memorizing Chapter 1.  I need all the help I can get as I'm struggling with this much more than I did when I memorized Psalm 91.

What I'm Reading:
I've been reading in every spare moment lately, and I've finished most of the books that I had started last year.  From those I've finished, I gleaned a lot about truth, love, and grace and the interplay between those concepts from Tim & Kathy Keller's The Real Meaning of Marriage; I learned more about being the hands and feet of Jesus from Brandon Hatmaker's book Barefoot Church; I whipped through the pages of Christine Caine's book Undaunted as she told of her upbringing and her heart's desire to rescue women from sex-trafficking; and I laughed uncontrollably through the bulk of Melanie Shankle's debut memoir Sparkly Green Earrings.

Currently, I'm slowly going through Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life by Elyse Fitzpatrick.  It's quite possible that I've never underlined this much before in a book.  Fitzpatrick writes about the Gospel for Believers, and I'm trying to soak up every word.  Everything she writes keeps pointing me back to my one-word resolution of "grace."

I told my mother earlier today that I wish I could just eat books.  I'm such a slow reader and there are so many books that I want to read that I'd love to digest one each meal!  That's probably a weird visual, but it fits.

A Heavenward Perspective

I confess that there have been times in my life when I've gone days, weeks, and even months without thinking about Heaven. In the past, Heaven came to the forefront of my mind when someone was battling a terminal illness or when Easter was approaching.

But this year has been different. Heaven has constantly been on my mind.

It started a few months ago with hearing Hillsong's "You Hold Me Now." After that, I listened to Matt Carter's sermons on Heaven. He mentioned that his wife had made a playlist on her ipod of songs about Heaven, and that got me on the lookout for more songs focusing on Heaven. Then, I attended a presentation on "Israel in the Crosshairs," and Jesus's return seemed even more imminent. And this past Saturday, I had the opportunity to hear Hillsong live.

I've never experienced anything like that night. From the diverse crowd filled with every nationality imaginable to the unabashed worship with hands raised, I sensed that I was getting a glimpse of Heaven.

As I've continued to count my own One Thousand Gifts, I'm seeing more and more glimpses of Heaven here on earth - gifts that He has put in my path to enjoy here until I get to enjoy the gift of eternal life with Him.

#339 - Being up in time to see beginning of a sunrise

#340 - Feeling of freshly shaved legs (after a long time of not shaving)

. . .

#343 - Sister's prayer for my healing

#344 - Respite from sinus headache

. . .

#346 - Robin eggs and Cadbury Mini Eggs

. . .

#365 - Psalm 91:12's picture of angels lifting us up in their hands

As Lent begins tomorrow, I anticipate that this year my perspective will be a bit different in light of this gift counting. I will continue to focus on the amazing gift that Jesus gave by taking away my sins by dying on the cross, but I also hope to see more and more of the gifts that come from having eyes opened to see the gifts that come daily, not just once a year.

Beholding

I recently listened to a sermon on "Beholding the Beauty of the Bible." One of the initial points that caught my attention was Pastor Ronnie Smith's comment: "We become what we behold." And while I was still chewing on that, he said, "Worldliness kills your capacity to behold the glory of God in the Scriptures."

Enough said. I was convicted and guilty.

Pastor Smith's words provided an explanation, a diagnosis of sorts, for what I was experiencing as I read through Job in the chronological Bible, trying day after day to look forward to Job's friends berating him. But each day, what was pulling at my heart was a desire to do other things, worldly things. Things that won't count for eternity.

But hearing that sermon, I realized that my choice to follow after the worldly desires pulling at my heart is robbing me of much more than I ever thought; it's robbing me of seeing God's glory when I read His Word. That's not something I'm okay with.

Pastor Smith urges that part of the solution is to lay ax to the root of worldliness in your (my) life. I don't know exactly what all that will entail, but I know I want my mind focused more on God's glory than on worldly things. And one way that I can do that is to have music that keeps my mind off worldly things and puts the focus on God.

So lately, I've been listening to Chris Tomlin's newest CD entitled If Our God Is For Us and Hillsong United's song You Hold Me Now. I leave you with a video of the latter; I hope it ministers to you and helps you keep your focus on God's glory.

A Seat

About two months ago, I saw on Facebook that the band Green River Ordinance would be playing a concert at a small venue here. And since they call Cowtown home, they were planning to record this particular concert for a live DVD. I had just recently heard about GRO from a friend and enjoyed the songs I'd listened to, so I decided to purchase two tickets to the concert and live taping. I thought it would be a fun way to kick off December.

I knew it might be hard to find a friend who would be free on a Friday night in December, but I took my chances because I knew I didn't want to go alone. I talked to several friends about going, but in the end, none could go.

I decided I'd be brave and go alone tonight. I figured I'd know at least a couple of people who would be at the concert. So I got ready and went to the venue. During the time that I was trying to find a parking place, a tidbit of information that I'd learned earlier in the week about the venue came back to me: There are only a few seats at some tables; don't expect a lot.

As I got ready to walk across the busy street in front of the venue, my courage left. I realized that without a reserved seat, I would be on my own. I'd have to stand by myself or hope that I could find someone I knew. And I wasn't up for taking that chance or barging my way into a group. So I left and came home.

Since the tickets were relatively cheap and I wasn't a long-time follower of this band, I didn't grieve not going. Instead, I tried to figure out why I couldn't go to this particular event even though I've gone to plenty of other events on my own. I realized that I need a seat that I can call my own. A reserved spot, even just a small one, that I can call my own.

Thankfully, I don't have to worry about this when it comes to Heaven. Christ has gone to prepare a place for me, and I can take comfort knowing that I don't have to worry about finding a seat there.

Favorite Christmas Song

Each year at Christmas, one song seems to stand out for me. In the past, I've featured "How Many Kings," "While You Were Sleeping," and a list of my Christmas music must-haves.

This year, Francesca Battestelli's "You're Here" won my heart. I heard it several times last year, but this Christmas, it was the song that I wanted to hear again and again. Its message--that God chose not to leave us on our own--is comforting year-round.

I found the song on YouTube set to a scene from the movie The Nativity Story. I hope it blesses you!

Christmas Traditions 2 - The Music

"It's not Christmas without The Carpenters," my sister recently proclaimed. And I agree wholeheartedly.

I can't think of a single Christmas when we failed to listen to Christmas albums by The Carpenters and Andy Williams, nor is Christmas complete with The Muppets' rendition of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," which includes Miss Piggy's variations on "five golden rings." Over the years, our collection of Christmas cassette tapes has been replaced with CDs of those timeless favorites, along with new favorite albums by Harry Connick Jr., Josh Groban, Stephen Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant, Michael Buble, Mannheim Steamroller, and many others.

Multiple verses of old hymns like "Joy to the World," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," and "Silent Night" are etched in my memory due to years of participating in the annual Christmas pageant, and new variations on those familiar favorites are always fun to hear. But I also find that each Christmas season brings the opportunity to hear new songs, and I seem to find a new favorite each year.

For the past two years, I've written about my favorites here and here. This year is no different. Throughout my baking extravaganza with my mom on Saturday, I enjoyed listening to Christ Chapel Bible Church's Christmas CD called "The Baby King," and the song of that same name is my favorite of this season. [You can download it from iTunes if you don't live in this area.]

If you have a favorite Christmas song or CD, I'd love to hear your recommendations. After all, I have the whole month of December to fill with Christmas music!

Healing

"You heal well." At least that's what my dermatologist said as she studied her previous handiwork and scanned for other unfit moles in need of removal.

Her comment struck me as unbelievable.

I look at my skin and see scars. Those that are brighter than others make me self-conscious, knowing that everyone can see such obvious evidence of imperfection.

Take for instance the circular indention on my back where a mole has been removed. Or the pink stripe on my right forearm, revealing a burn from the oven door last summer. Neither hurts anymore or is as red as it once was, but the lingering scars, not the interim healing, is what I focus on.

But after hearing my doctor's comment, I realized there's two ways to look at it: the hurt or the healing. Yet focusing on one to the exclusion of the other doesn't tell the whole story.

The same holds true in our lives.

If we focus only on how great everything is without sharing what we've gone through, it's hard to seem believable or for people to relate to us. But by sharing the painful parts of our stories along with the healing that's taken place, there's common ground because we've all endured some sort of pain.

And more than likely, that pain has changed us. Just look at your changed scars for the proof. Or even better, look at His scarred hands and know that the pain is not for nothing.

I heard a song this weekend by Natalie Grant that sums it up nicely:

"Perfect People"

Never let Him see you when you're breaking
And never let Him see you when you fall
That's how we live
And how we try

Tell the world you've got it all together
And never let them see what's underneath
We cover it up with a crooked smile
But it only lasts for a little while

There's no such thing as perfect people
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scarred
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God, yeah

Suddenly it's like a weight is lifted
When you hear the words that you are loved
He knows where you are and where you've been
And you never have to go there again, no

There's no such thing as perfect people
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scarred
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God

Who lived and died to give new life
To heal our imperfections
So look up and see love
And let grace be enough, oh

There's no such thing as perfect people
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scarred
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God

By a perfect God, yeah
By a perfect God, yeah
By a perfect God
By a perfect God

Be changed by a perfect God
Be changed

Measuring the Music

Unless you attend a piano recital, it's not often that you get to listen to someone playing the piano sans the orchestra accompaniment. And, it's even more rare to get to listen to professional pianists play in the comfort of your own home. But throughout this weekend, I've had that opportunity.

The sound of solo piano music streams out of my computer speakers. But it's not just any piano music. It's the 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. The twenty-nine competitors began their individual recitals on Friday, and thanks to the first-time ever live streaming, I'm listening as often as I can to as many of the contestants as I can.

In some ways, it's difficult to listen to the music alone and not have the audience around to chat about the competitors' performances, but the free price tag (in lieu of a $55 ticket) and the extra in-depth interviews and features (like watching the competitors choose which of the three amazing Steinways they wanted to use for their recitals) seem to more than make up for the isolation factor. Plus, I get to compare who gets the longest and loudest standing ovations and can read the critics' columns and the Cliburn Blog to choose which performances might not be worth watching.

So if you're in need of a mini-concert this holiday weekend, indulge yourself in the sounds streaming from the Steinways at this link. And feel free to judge for yourself who you think will make it to the semi-finals (to be announced Tuesday night).

Incognito

Let me preface this post by stating that I am not a Metallica fan, but this article about a stunt that they pulled intrigues me as a music lover and a writer. In a nutshell, Metallica showed up at the South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin last week to play at Stubb's BBQ under the guise that they were "a young band from Norway" that was trying to get a record deal, just like all the other bands at the festival. The only "problem"? Word leaked out about their secret performance, and fans stood in line for hours to get into the intimate venue to see a band that normally fills stadiums when it goes on tour.

The music fan in me loved this because I've often wished that I could still see some of my favorite artists who have made it big play at a smaller venue. Gone are the days of seeing Pat Green at Gruene Hall and the Nat Ballroom, so are the days of seeing Sarah McLachlan at Austin Music Hall. I wish that SXSW would lure famous musicians back to play at such intimate venues, allowing fans a chance to the experience the music up close sans the JumboTron.

The writer in me connected with the incognito part. I'm nowhere near famous, but I've noticed a change in my writing since I started posting on here with my name. When I posted as Bluebonnet In The Snow (BITS), it felt like the moniker alone provided some type of protection that allowed me to be vulnerable. The reader had to make the additional connection that BITS = Alyssa before attributing the words to me. An extra layer of insulation existed between me and the outside world. But once I started posting as myself, I seemed to shut down somewhat. Yet, I still strive for authenticity, even when it might be embarrassing. So writing incognito is a thing of the past. At least on this blog.

2008 Christmas Song

Last year, I decided to post a new Christmas song that had quickly become my favorite. I want to continue this tradition, so this year I have chosen a song by Casting Crowns entitled "While You Were Sleeping."

Oh little town of Bethlehem
Looks like another silent night
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
A giant star lights up the sky
And while you're lying in the dark
There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne
And is sleeping in a manger tonight

Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man
And stepped into your world today
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

Oh little town of Jerusalem
Looks like another silent night
The Father gave His only Son
The Way, the Truth, the Life had came
But there was no room for Him in the world He came to save

Jerusalem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
The Savior of the world is dying on your cross today
Jerusalem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping

United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we're sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children
And while we're lying in the dark
There's a shout heard 'cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping
Will we be sleeping

The verses about America are haunting. What will happen while we "are sleeping" or simply not paying attention? Will we allow ourselves to be lulled by the media and become numb to the struggles around us? Or will we take a different approach and open our hearts to those around us? Will we make room in our busy lives for our King?

The Diamond in Dallas

Last night, as a continuation of the birthday celebration, I boarded the train and headed east.

A concert for the generations was on tap. I left my rule-following tendencies behind in the west and captured these shots as the legendary lyrics from this man got the crowd on its feet.

"Forever in Blue Jeans" and "Sweet Caroline" were by far the biggest crowd pleasers. Sadly, the crowd didn't respond as much to the newer hits, including "Pretty Amazing Grace," whose lyrics run deep and strike a chord with me.

Neil put on quite a show, but so did the crowd. The audience included young girls about five years old to those in wheelchairs with oxygen tanks beside them (no joke, three of them rode over on the train with us). Some of the audience members probably should have gotten a check-up from their doctors before coming to the concert because one lady (who was completely sober) almost fell while attempting to stand up to dance, and one man sat with his hand on his heart throughout the performance. And you'd have thought that Neil was as good-looking as Patrick Dempsey by the way the middle-aged, married women were swooning and fanning themselves. It was a sight to behold!

I can now cross Neil off my "Must See Before He Dies" list and move on to others, like Josh Groban, who are on my "Must See Before I Die" list.

Adding Hope

I posted today over on my writers' group blog a little diddy on music and writing. Two of my favorite things. Stop on over and check it out if you have a chance.

A Song for the Weekend

Songs like this one make me want to be a songwriter. To set to music the words in my heart. If you haven't heard this song, click on the title and take a listen.

"You Are Everything" by Matthew West

I’m the one with two left feet
Standing on a lonely street
I can’t even walk a straight line
And every time you look at me
I’m spinning like an autumn leaf
Bound to hit bottom sometime

Where would I be without someone to save me
Someone who won’t let me fall
You are everything that I live for
Everything that I can’t believe is happening
You’re standing right in front of me
With arms wide open
All I know is
Every day is filled with hope
You are everything that I believe for
And I can’t help but breathe you in

Breathe again
Feeling all this life within
Every single beat of my heart
I’m the one with big mistakes
Big regrets and bigger breaks
Than I ever care to confess
Oh but, You’re the one who looks at me
And sees what I was meant to be
More than just a beautiful mess
Where would I be without someone to save me
Someone who won’t let me fall
You are everything that I live for
Everything that I can’t believe is happening
You’re standing right in front of me
With arms wide open
All I know is
Every day is filled with hope
You are everything that I believe for
And I can’t help but breathe you in
Breathe again

Feeling all this life within
Every single beat of my heart
You’re everything good in my life
Everything honest and true
And all of those stars hanging up in the sky
Could never shine brighter than You
You are everything that I live for
Everything that I can’t believe is happening
You’re standing right in front of me
With arms wide open
All I know is
Every day is filled with hope
You are everything that I believe for
And I can’t help but breathe you in
Breathe again
Feeling all this life within
Every single beat of my heart
You are
You are
Jesus, You are
You are everything

Behind the Music - Finale

How should I end this week of blogging on music? What would make for a great finale? Like those in concert that bring the audience to their feet, cheering for more.

Initially, I thought I'd close this week with a look at several music venues that add another dimension to the live music experience. I thought about how amazing it was to see The Mavericks and Pat Green at Gruene Hall where you can literally stand within sweat-droplet distance of the band. I remembered how grandiose it is to hear performances at Bass Hall.

I also thought about the cool way that music carries through the wind at outdoor venues like the Coca-Cola Starplex (n/k/a Superpages.com Center) in Dallas; Southpark Meadows in Austin; The Backyard in Austin; Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre in Englewood, Colorado; and the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, as well as the one venue I have always wanted to have a reason to travel to--Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado.

But I soon realized that as unique as the venue might be and no matter how much ambiance the venue might add to a live music experience, it pales in comparison to the memories that are made with your fellow concert-goers.

Were you one of the many who camped out in freezing temperatures the morning that Elton John tickets went on sale in Lubbock, knowing that you couldn't depend on a ticket broker because there were no ticket brokers in Lubbock?

Has the anticipation of an upcoming concert kept you awake at night?

Have you stood in line awaiting the start of the concert only to realize that you might have counterfeit tickets? Or that you had lost your tickets?

How many times did you successfully sneak a camera into a concert and take pictures without the camera being confiscated? Did you have the camera ready when Sarah McLachlan appeared on a side stage and stood ten feet from you? Did you regret innumerable times that the disposable contraband camera didn't have a zoom lens?

How many times have you wished that you had hand-held, high-quality recording equipment to capture that unexpected jam session in the middle of a familiar song? Or to record the conversation on the ride home from the concert as you reminisced for miles about the set list?

I can't create the perfect musical finale here. But I know that if you're a concert-junkie like me, you've heard your fair share of fantastic finales. I hope that this will take you back and let you relive those. And maybe get your lighter out and hold it illuminated above your head as you listen to your favorite song, just for kicks.

Got a favorite memory of a finale or the wait to get there? Please share.

Setting the Tone

Today on my writers' group blog, I posted on the way music conveys tone--something that I struggle with in my writing. Check that out and let me know your thoughts.

Must-See Musicians

As I thought about which musicians I'd like to see in concert before I die, I realized that age has become a factor in my choices. Not in the sense that "I'm getting older so I better hurry up and see these people," but rather "I'm not sure there are that many artists that I want to go sit in the hot sun or drive to the big city to see." In other words, the laziness factor that comes with aging.

So, with that in mind, for some of the musicians I want to see I've set parameters on when and where I want to see them, and if the parameters aren't met, I'll probably have to leave that particular musician on my list, unseen.

Without further ado, here's my newest list:

#8 = Ruthie Foster [I've heard great things about her from Britta and other friends over the years. Just waiting for Ruthie to come back and play Bass Hall again. Sadly, she's playing downtown at the Arts Festival on Friday, but I'll be out of town.]

#7 = Willie Nelson [I'd love to hear him at Bass Hall, but it would be even better to hear him outdoors in Luckenbach, TX.]

#6 = Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, & Kenny Chesney [I'd love a country musical festival in Dallas where I could see at least three or more of these artists on the same day. I think they only hold events like that in Nashville, so I may have to leave these people unseen.]

#5 = Harry Connick, Jr. [He came to Bass Hall a while back for a fundraiser and tickets were $150 per person for every seat in the Hall. I'd like for him to come back and play a regular concert for regular ticket prices.]

#4 = Michael W. Smith [I think I'll try to catch his Christmas show this year.]

#3 = Jimmy Buffett [I want him to play an outdoor venue in the summer in my area instead of coming every year in April when there are potentially severe thunderstorms or it's 50 degrees outside.]

#2 = Chris Tomlin

#1 = Josh Groban

How about your list? Who would you like to see in concert?

Behind the Music

So what about these particular concerts made me skip class or take off work (depending on the year), in some cases fly on an airplane (which I'm afraid to do), and shell out big money (which I'm not accustomed to doing)?

Simply put, I love live music.

I discovered this in 1997 when a friend introduced me to Pat Green's music. I had listened to a few of his songs on a CD and then went to see him in concert. While I was at that concert, I turned to my friend and said, "Pat needs to make a live album because he's ten times better live than he is on his CD." Thankfully, Pat took my advice (oh how I wish I could take the credit!) and put out his first live album almost exactly one year later. Shortly thereafter, my friend introduced me to Pat in person, and I had the privilege of having dinner with Pat and his band in Amarillo before they played at The Nat Ballroom. I was sold. Hook. Line. Sinker. Long live live music!

Around that same time, the same friend gave me a casette tape with some Sarah McLachlan songs on it. I fell in love with her music as well. Soon, Sarah was at the top of my "Must See Before I Die" list.* And so began the quest to find her in concert. Luckily, she was putting on her Lilith Fair concerts at that time, which meant that I got to see her as well as eight or so other performers at each Lilith Fair--in Austin (1998), Dallas (1998), and Colorado (1999).

Knowing that Sarah wanted to start a family and after hearing rumors that there might not be a 1999 Lilith Fair, I decided to go all out and travel to California to The Bridge School Benefit in October 1998. (A little background: In 1986, Neil Young and his wife started The Bridge School to assist children with severe physical impairments and complex communication needs. For the past twenty years or so, Neil Young has put on a concert to raise money for this school.) Those two nights of concerts were, by far, the most amazing live events that I have ever attended. The show is all acoustic, and the line up is always incredible. Sarah McLachlan drew me there, but in the process, I got to see all the musicians that I designated as "California" in yesterday's post.

For me, these memories remind me of how fun it is to see that musicians are real people, with facial expressions, who connect with their audiences. And they illustrate the power in seeing musicians perform live.

I have yet to attend a concert where I was the only one in the audience. So what say ye fellow concert-goers: what makes you attend a concert? Are you a live music junkie for whom a recording simply won't cut it? I'd love to know I'm not alone.

(*I am updating my "Must See Before I Die" list, which I plan to post tomorrow.)

Musical Mindset (updated)

What has transformed your mind or caused you to think differently over the years?

That's what I've tried to write about each time I post--things that have opened my eyes or my senses in new ways, friends who have encouraged me, and fun events that have somehow left me different than before I attended them. Of course, it goes without saying that God's Word has the power to transform me, and that's why Romans 12:2 is posted at the top of the page, right underneath this blog's name. A little reminder to keep me on track.

But it's not just God's Word that has touched me. Often, God has grabbed my attention with a song playing on the radio. Even songs that aren't religious or spiritual in nature have caused me to see my life from a different viewpoint or have challenged me to think differently about an aspect of my life.

It all started with a little Billy Joel in elementary school, Belinda Carlisle and Tiffany in seventh grade, and quickly progressed to a little bit of everything. I decided it might be fun to compile a list of all the musicians I've seen in concert (not including Broadway musicals). So after culling through scrapbooks and racking my brain, here's my list:

Rush - Austin
The Eagles - San Antonio
The Mavericks - Gruene Hall
Chicago - San Antonio
Collin Raye - Littlefield
Pat Green - Amarillo, several places in Lubbock, Gruene Hall, FW
Jack Ingram - Lubbock
Sarah McLachlan - Austin, Dallas (2X), Colorado, California (2X)
Liz Phair -Austin, Dallas
Erykah Badu - Austin, Dallas
Bonnie Raitt - Austin, Dallas
Natalie Merchant - Austin (2X), Dallas
Lucinda Williams - Austin, Dallas
Dave Matthews Band - Austin, Dallas
Ani DiFranco - Austin
Neil Young & Crazy Horse - California (2X)
R.E.M. - California (2X)
Phish - California (2X)
The Wallflowers - California (2X)
Barenaked Ladies - California (2X)
Dixie Chicks - Colorado
Inidgo Girls - Colorado
Sheryl Crow - Colorado
Tara MacLean - Colorado
Kelly Willis - Colorado
Caedmon's Call - Lubbock
Def Leppard - Lubbock
Elton John - Lubbock & Dallas
Lyle Lovett - Lubbock
Point of Grace - Fort Worth
Joy Williams - Fort Worth
Mark Shultz - Fort Worth
Avalon - Fort Worth
Jim Brickman - Fort Worth
Kathie Lee Gifford - Fort Worth
Phillips Craig & Dean - Denton
Billy Joel - Dallas
Norah Jones - Grand Prairie
Amy Grant - Fort Worth
Natalie Grant - Dallas
Nichole Nordeman - Dallas
Michael Buble - Grand Prairie
Zac Brown Band - Lubbock 2010
Carrie Underwood - Dallas 2010
Billy Currington - Dallas 2010
Sons of Sylvia - Dallas 2010
Chris Tomlin - Southlake & Fort Worth 2011 & 2011
Christy Nockels - Southlake & Forth Worth 2010 & 2011
Hillsong United - Dallas 2011
Green River Ordinance - Fort Worth 2011
Left Arm Tan - Fort Worth 2011
Charlie Hall - Fort Worth 2011
Kristian Stanfill - Fort Worth 2011
LeCrae - Fort Worth 2011
David Crowder Band - Fort Worth 2011
ELEW - Dallas 2011
Josh Groban - Dallas 2011
Shane & Shane - Fort Worth 2011
Phil Wickham - Fort Worth 2011

So that's my list. Any shockers? Any I've left off? Don't be shy. I want this to be an interactive week and to hear about your concert-going experiences. I've got some other musical posting ideas in line, so come back for more later this week.

Always On My Mind

Last night, I swooned over this guy. I'm not one to be star struck, but there's just something about Michael Bublé. And his voice!

He performed an amazing concert with some of his new releases, like "Lost" and "Always On My Mind." But he sang plenty of old favorites as well, like "Fever" and "Home," during which pictures of Dallas flashed behind him.

At one point, he had the entire 6,000-member audience dancing to "Save the Last Dance For Me." But he also personalized the evening, by going out into the crowd to kiss on some kiddos, like this lucky little gal.

He received a few kisses of his own from some older gals on the front row. And he managed to endear himself to each member of the audience by expressing his humble gratitude. He said that he didn't come from millionaires, just parents who were hard workers. He said that he knew there were a lot of fancy people in the audience, a lot of people who paid good money for tickets, who got babysitters, who brought their kids, who went to fancy dinners, and that he doesn't take that for granted. He thanked everyone for supporting him and contributing to his success. He said he would come back as often as we'd "let" him.

And then he did what most performers would be afraid to do: he left the microphone, instructed the band to stop playing, and he sang part of "A Song for You." Just him. No amplification. And an awe-struck silence fell over the crowd. Truly amazing!

His opening act--Naturally 7--wasn't shabby either. They are an a capella group that reminded me a lot of Straight No Chaser. They sang an original song written from God's standpoint: "Say You Love Me (And There's No One Else Above Me)." They also performed what they call "vocal play," by making drum noises, guitar noises, and all the rest of the instruments with their mouths, while one or more of them sang on top of the background music that they had created. They quickly earned the audience's appreciation, respect, and a standing ovation.

I went to the concert with my friend Clarissa, thereby saving her husband from having to endure two hours of her fanning herself over the irresistible Michael Bublé. At the end of the concert, we concluded that the price we were about to pay in lost sleep from going to a concert on a night before a work day was little compared to the price we wish we had paid for front-row tickets.

The Culture Continues

Now that I'm back in the city, I'm continuing to "get cultured."

A friend recommended the new romantic comedy P.S. I Love You. That same friend made it sound like I was going to laugh myself silly because she mentioned that Harry Connick, Jr. had some pretty funny lines. Being a sucker for romantic comedies, I went to see it yesterday.

I think I only laughed at a few lines. I spent the rest of the time digging through my purse for Kleenexes and making sure that my throat hadn't swollen shut. I don't think I've cried through an entire movie like that before. (The only one that might come close is Man Without A Face, which I did not see in the theater.) The gist of P.S. I Love You is sweet, but I think it has been mislabeled as a "romantic comedy." I would have enjoyed it more if I had watched it in the privacy of my own home with a full box of Kleenexes nearby.

Today, I finally made it to the last presentation of God's Trombones at a local theater. For those of you who are unfamiliar with God's Trombones, this particular production was conceived by Rudy Eastman and is described as a "classic holiday celebration based on the Negro sermon poems by James Weldon Johnson."

I was hooked from the moment I stepped into the intimate theater, and it only got better from there. I sat beside the lead actress's grandmother, who is one particularly proud (and entertaining) grandma. She attempted to dialogue with her granddaughter throughout the show and offered up resounding praise every time her granddaughter hit incredible notes. The "soulful" show lived up to its advertising: "a musical celebration that . . . lift[ed my] spirits and rocked [my] soul."