Summer actually ended a few weeks ago for me when school started on August 30th, but this post is coming later than I originally expected. Anyway, to the point of it...
This past summer was probably one of the most musical one's I've had in a long time. I, myself, didn't actively take part in many musical performances. BUT, I did attend quite a few. As you know, I was able to intern at the Ojai Music Festival for a few weeks this summer. There, I met some amazing people and was able to listen to awesome performances of contemporary pieces. My summer musical experiences did not end there, however. When I went back home for the rest of summer, I was reminded that my mom had purchased a series of tickets for concerts at the Hollywood Bowl for the summer. I've already written about one [or two?] of those concerts, but I decided to stop because I felt like they were going to start to become fairly repetitive and uninteresting. Let me just say one thing: I LOVE the Hollywood Bowl. I was able to see so many amazing concerts there this summer with some of the best musicians from around the world:
Baaba Maal
Yeasayer
Tinariwen
Fool's Gold
Goldfrapp
The Swell Season
She & Him
The Bird and The Bee
Sergio Mendes
The Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, playing:
Bizet's Carmen
Gershwin and Bernstein
Every single one of these performances was worthy of a standing ovation - most of them had the audience up, out of their seats and dancing throughout the bowl. I love the formal-casualness of the Hollywood Bowl. It's a place where it's acceptable to dress up and dress down, whichever you decide to do; it doesn't really matter as long as you have fun and appreciate the music. One of the best things about this venue is the fact that it's outdoors. Not many cities are able to safely and confidently pull off an outdoor venue with scheduled events throughout the entire year. But, due to the lack of rainstorms and abundance of heat in Los Angeles, it's an easily accomplished task for the Hollywood Bowl. I think it has so much character. If you think about it, the most famous musicians of the century have performed right there on the same stage. I don't think I've ever appreciated it so much before; I didn't realize it's importance. But now I think about the hundreds and hundreds of talented persons who have stood on that stage and received such applauding acceptance from the audience and it amazes me. Everyone who's anyone in the music business has been booked at the Hollywood Bowl at some time or another.
I think another reason why I'm so amazed by the Hollywood Bowl is because I have had the amazing opportunity to perform there. Granted, I wasn't some soloist or anything, but I was on that stage! It was when I was probably in the 6th or 7th grade, I was with the Los Angeles Children's Choir and we were a small part in a large orchestral and choral arrangement of the music from the Lord of the Rings [yes, I did have to sing in elvish]. I don't think I understood how lucky I was, at the time, to be able to say that I've performed at the Hollywood Bowl. But I did, even though it's all just a faded memory to me now.
This summer I realized that by moving away for college, I have come to appreciate the little things about Los Angeles so much more. For example, the Hollywood Bowl and being able to go there whenever I want to see an astounding line-up of musicians. Los Angeles is such a musically-thriving city and I love it. This year I have made a promise to myself. A promise that I will try to go to as many music events in and around Tacoma/Seattle as I can. Last year I spent too much time doing things that didn't mean as much to me. So this year I need to make up for that and make sure that I go see a musician I've been wanting to see forever, no matter what. I want to find a way to do it. Going to concerts used to be such a large part of my life and I don't know why I stopped going to them within the past 2 years or so. But the prominence of attending concerts this summer has reminded me of the great feelings I get when I watch and listen to a live performance of any genre. I think it's one of the most rewarding feelings ever.
Now, going off of that, over Labor Day weekend I was able to attend one of the biggest music festivals in the Pacific Northwest: Bumbershoot. For those of you who don't know, Bumbershoot is a 3-day festival in Seattle, WA filled with line-ups of bands from all over the United States [and even the world], comedians, artists, and entrepreneurs. Tickets are offered for an extremely reasonable price of $40 for a single day, with main stage access [$22 without main stage]. At this price, I was able to see some great shows and listen to some awesome music, all while hanging out with one of my best friends, Lindsay. Here's a list of the music I saw [and some art and a comedy show]:
The Submarines - LA natives!! They were so good and were perfect introduction for the rest of the day
The Bumbershoot Piece - an eccentric structure made completely of wooden coffee stirrers and held together by nothing more than the pressure of how they are interwoven
Hey Marseilles - Pacific Northwesters! The violinist actually took violin lessons at Puget Sound and has performed in Schneebeck Hall! I feel so connected to him haha...
Ubiquitous They - a sketch comedy show that actually started at Puget Sound, these are the original members of the club who decided to continue after graduating from college!
The Decemberists - need I say more?
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - one of the most amazing and craziest performances I have been to in a really long time. It was so invigorating.
Bob Dylan - okay, so I don't really listen to him but I mean, it's freaking Bob Dylan and if you are given the opportunity to see Bob Dylan, you're gonna see Bob Dylan.
Ozomatli!!!! - I was really excited for them. This was the fourth time I've seen them and the first time I've ever paid to see them. They're also LA natives, but I actually think a few of them are from Mexico...? I'm not sure, I should look into it though. but, as always, they put on a great show and were the best way to end my night. The bassist, Will Dog, actually lives down the street from one of my friend's in Silverlake, it's crazy.
Bumbershoot. It was so good to me. I can't wait for the next concert I go to. I'm glad I started this year off with a bang that I won't forget and I hope to keep my promise to myself. Sorry this post is so ridiculously long, hopefully it has kept you at least somewhat entertained. There was just so much to fit into one post! I'll try to do more frequent posts from now on so that they don't seem to go on forever like this one has. It's getting pretty late now and I have class in the morning, so I should go. I hope you had an amazing summer and are looking forward to Fall! I know I am. Goodnight!
:]
