Rollin' on the River...
Rehearsal was short and sweet this week. Preparation of the unique musical selection for a wedding ceremony was mostly smooth sailing. A shout goes out to Casey for "keeping us honest" and making sure we look at things outside of rehearsal. I love it. Oh, and since Jason made his weekly journey north past the Mason-Dixon Line to visit us, we humored him and learned an entirely new arrangement as well.
I am absolutely thrilled at the song selection for this wedding. It is fun, fresh, and original. Keeping a ceremony light and fun tells a lot about the couple. I have no doubt they will be able to face any challenge life throws at them. Congrats you two!!
Jennie and I, along with some friends, went to a preview showing of "The Count of Monte Cristo" on the U of M Showboat this past weekend. FYI, the boat does NOT go out on the river while you watch the performance; please stop calling my wife and complaining, she is unable to detach the boat from its concrete moorings. The whole vibe given off at the showboat is an "olde tyme" riverboat experience, with Vaudevillian numbers spaced in between acts. These Olios, as with other songs in that style, are especially cute in that the true subject matter of the song is covertly delivered. Think of the lovely game, "If you know what I mean." Two people have a topic to discuss, but must say the phrase, "if you know what I mean" at the end of every exchange. It gives a suggestive double meaning to even the most innocent of phrases. Explicit lyrics did not exist back then, and one had to divulge their true feelings through clever wordplay. I appreciate the shrewdness of their lyrics, and hope to fashion some songs in honor of their ingenuity....if you know what I mean.
Dono
Lovin' Every Minute of It....
Oh what a difference a day makes!! This saying rang true for Up 'til 2 this past weekend at the Flint Hills Festival. Our performance on Saturday left us... unsatisfied. Picture yourself about to dive into a giant chocolate malt; upon indulging on said chocolate malt, you are in love at the beginning, but realize by the end that there just wasn't enough...malt. You just had a chocolate shake. Hey, you like chocolate shakes well enough, but it wasn't quite what you were looking for.
Sunday's performance was pure chocolate malt. Hopefully you were there to take a listen; that was some of the best singing this 5-man version of Up 'til 2 has ever done. That inflatable roof had no chance this weekend. If the storm Saturday night had not of gotten hold of it and ripped it down, we would have taken care of that on Sunday. We had an absolute blast on stage; at one point Casey and I exchanged a look in between songs that said it all: exhausted glee, mixed with confidence and satisfaction.
Comments from members of the Up 'til 2 fan club(read: family/relatives) reaffirmed my faith in the vision of the seven-man group. They loved us, but missed the depth and unique sound 7 voices bring, especially on the songs they had heard originally with seven. I feel with five we are more your typical "a cappella group" than a "vocal band" right now. I can almost hear you thinking, "Why does that matter?" To this I will only say, it's chocolate shake vs. chocolate malt.
Dono