Best Week(end) Ever, Part II: Ronnie, Johnny, Ricky and Mike

It's been weeks since my last post. The New Order show must have put me in the mood to see good music live. I was supposed to be in Washington over the long weekend for my oldest sister's annual 3-day long fiesta. I attended it the past 2 years, both of which included some of my hardest partying (dancing, eating, karaoke-ing, drinking, more eating, more drinking, then some drinking), but this year I sat out, a little bummed by the high cost of airfare and a nagging knee injury.

My other older sister found out about the New Edition (sans Bobby Brown) and Brian McKnight concert in Oakland and asked me if I wanted to go, since I wouldn't be in Seattle. I had been a big fan of those artists years ago, but remembered that each's recent releases were universally accepted as sub-par. I also had already seen Brian McKnight perform at the same venue with Eric Benet years ago. I agreed to go anyway, and hadn't thought of it much until I arrived at the show on Saturday.

F*ckin WOW. Yeah, so NE's show blew me away. I expected them to promote their most recent album, and expected to leave that night hoping they had performed their earlier music and separate acts. They did not dissapoint one iota. They came out wearing classy white suits to Johnny Gill's a capella intro to "Word to the Mutha" and demanded the crowd to stay on their feet. Then they broke out into "NE Heartbreak" and "Sorry, You're Not My Kind of Girl," dancing with a very cute symmetric 90's choreography. Then they did what I thought would never happen. They took us back to '83, yeah 1983, and busted out the old hits "Mr. Telephone Man," "Candy Girl" and "Cool it Now." Ralph Tresvant inevitably took the lead during these hits.

I was telling my sister that when I was in jr. high and high school, Ralph wasn't my favorite. I thought he was too skinny and his high voice didn't do anything for me. Now as a thirty-something with still a high-sweet voice, he was pretty damn hot. And watching these 30-somethings go back and sing these "kid" songs was that damn cute. They ought to re-record and re-release these old hits. I'd be so stoked.

Johnny Gill took the lead on "Can You Stand the Rain," one of my favorite songs from that era. Ricky Bell got his belting out moment in the middle of that song, followed by Michael Bivins's talking one-liner: Come on baby -- let's go get wet. The highlight among highlights for me though, was their performance of "If it Isn't Love." I had an ear-to-ear grin on my face, when I noticed that the dance choreography was exactly the same as in the video. Oh yeah, and just some props to Johnny Gill who since '89 has learned how to dance! They let the crowd sing every other line of the bridge (Love her -- WHAT??). Their set ended as Ralph T performed "Sensitivity," the most popular song from his solo career, and the whole group ditched all the moves and let it loose for BBD's "Poison."

I saw BellBivDevoe live back in '91. I was 14 and the most memorable part was their on-stage costume change (yeah, BBD in their BVDs). Johnny Gill performed separately at the same concert and I saw Ralph T perform shortly after at a Budweiser SuperFest and at a KMEL Summer Jam years later. None of this came close to the energy and awesomeness (can't think of a better word) their show last Saturday night. The crowd, similar to the one at the New Order concert last month, was so excited to reminisce and not just there to look cute or to start any trouble. Their show inevitably brought me back to a time "when music was good" -- my favorite topic of conversation with my friend Brett, but that's a whole other conversation. NE could have stayed on stage for another hour with their group and separate hits and still kept the crowd going. If only an un-drugged, untroubled Bobby Brown had been there too....

Brian McKnight finished the show, also appearing in a classy white suit. Unlike NE, he was trying to promote his new album, but everyone knew that his earlier stuff was that much better. A true musician, he sang while playing on his keyboard, electric guitar and acoustic guitar. Not at the same time. He sang with the smoothness and sexiness for which he is popular. He even performed some covers that included some Marvin Gaye and the BeeGees and a falsetto Prince rendition. Needless to say, his show also exceeded my expectations.

I think the New Order and NE/Brian McKnight shows kicked off a summer of some good live concerts. What's next? Barb says Tears for Fears.

Best Week(end) Ever

New Order Concert on Friday. Went with Brett and Barb, both celebrating birthdays last week. The crowd was great. Comparing them to crowds from concerts I've attended in the past, this crowd was made up mostly of people in their 30's and 40's, probably into the "goth" or new-wave scene in their teenage years. No one trying to look too cute. No one trying to start any trouble. Just people who wanted to listen to good music.

The Chemical Brothers opened the set. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought I was at a rave. I don't really Get that style of music, but Brett said it's perfect for a spinning class at the gym. Then New Order came out and played a bunch of their old hits, old Joy Division songs and new stuff. They encored with "Blue Monday," after making us wait forever. The best part was that the synth machines we were all expecting were substituted by real live instruments.

On Saturday, I got up early to make some chocolate-dipped strawberries for my friend's party. One of my teammates on my rec basketball team was celebrating her birthday at her gorgeous beach house in Aptos, and I brought my boyfriend and some friends along. I braved the Pacific without a wetsuit, as a bunch of us bodyboarded the waves. We tossed around a football, played full-contact Monkey in the Middle, then hiked back to the house to lounge in the hot tub. Played rounds of Dance Dance Revolution and ate burgers and banoffi pie. Came home and fell asleep watching The Sopranos on DVD.

Yesterday, I met my family at Macaroni Grill for lunch then tried to walk it off while browsing around with my mom and sisters at some awful cross between Nordstrom Rack and Off 5th. Then I played pickup bball for a few hours. I've been trying this new strategy -- playing with strength and power to make up for my decline in speed and agility. Ed made pizza and cinnamon rolls. We watched the new Family Guy episode and turned in early.

Now I am watching Game 5 of the San Antonio and Denver series. After swearing off the NBA all season, I can't seem to stop watching these playoffs. I LOVE that the Lakers did not make it this season. Nevertheless, I watch and bitch about what horrible team basketball I'm watching. They are halfway thru the 4th quarter and the Spurs are up by a few. The refs are calling every single check and bump, and it's turned into a free throw shootout. Every player seems to be whining about every single call. Yuck. Ok, time to go watch again.