Mat Kearney - Young Love Tour

There's few artists I love hearing in concert more than Mat Kearney. While most people don't recognize the name they usually recognize his music. He's had his music featured on Grey's Anatomy right at the beginning of his career. That's no easy feat, so why was he so lucky? Well I'd say it has little do with luck and everything to do with the immense amount of talent and powerful lyrics he writes. Last night was a reminder of how incredibly powerful his songs can be, as well as fun and energetic or romantic. But "All I Need" is one of those songs I stop and listen to every single damn time. The piano right towards the end, just gives me chills thinking about it. So here's last night's song order, since we were the last city on the tour most people already know the set list.

Mat Kearney 11/20/2011
Fire & Rain
Young Dumb & In Love
Count on Me
Down
Breathe In Breathe Out
Closer to Love
Nothing Left to Lose
Girl America (w/Chasing Pavements)
Chicago
Where We Gonna Go From Here (Intro only)
Here We Go
Runaway Car
She Got the Honey
All I Need
Undeniable
ENCORE
Ships in the Night
Pumped Up Kicks
Hey Mama

Matt Wertz: With You, Last Night

As you probably already read, I decided to live a little last night and attend the Matt Wertz concert on a whim. So here's a little bit about my love affair with Matt Wertz's music AND the set list from last night (well minus one song that I didn't write down.)

Five years ago at the University of St. Thomas during my senior year I first discovered Matt Wertz. He was playing at the school for free (well, student activity fees paid for it) and my roommate at the time asked if I wanted to attend. I knew none of his music but tagged along on their date anyways. The music was wonderful, and in the middle of his performance Matt took a moment to ask fans to listen to a charity he supported and wanted to talk about. The charity, the Mocha Club asks people to donate increments of $7, $14, and $21. The idea behind the club is that for the price of two cups of Joe, you could help someone in a less fortunate situation. $7 provides seven individuals in Africa clean water for a year. $7 can save one person from Malaria or even sustain one person living with AIDS for a year. Seven bucks, two trips to Starbucks or Caribou or wherever else you frequent for a cup of coffee. Matt was so moved by the charitable organization that he was giving away cds or shirts for signing up for a monthly contribution as well as using his shows to spread knowledge about the club. A ten minute chat with the audience before playing music again. I joined the club and still think it's a great thing.

Five years later I still love his music, his songs are some of my favorites. They range from the most soothing out there to the type that are fun to play while in the car with the windows down and music up. All but two of my favorite songs were played last night. So if you're looking for some really fun music to download make sure to hit up Matt Wertz but also grab 'With You, Tonight' and 'Capitol City'. You'll get it once you download it.

Last Night's Music:



Don't Come Easy
Carolina
Counting to 100
Feels So Right
Running Back to You
Easier Tonight
5:19
I Will Not Take My Love Away
Red Meets Blue
Heartbreaker
Marianne
Someone like You
Nobody's You
The Way I Feel
Everything's Right
Sweetness in Starlight (w/Ben Rector)
Everything Will Be Alright (w/Ben Rector)
For The First Time (w/Ben Rector)
Free Fallin' (w/Ben Rector)


*If you are interested in the Mocha Club they are extending their reach from providing clean drinking water in Africa to a new program called 'Women at Risk' aimed at helping women who were forced into prostitution gain life skills so they can leave that lifestyle if they choose to. The website for the Mocha Club is here.

You Don't 'Get Old', It's Called Being Boring

This weekend in Minnesota was gorgeous, weather in the 50s with sunshine and the trails were filled with bikers, runners, people walking their dogs, and those roller blading. Saturday and Sunday I joined the masses, taking my dog Chanel on a 3.5 mile walk both days. The warm weather isn't something we take for granted in Minnesota. As soon as the weather lightens up the patios are filled during lunch and Happy Hour, people begin sporting Spring clothes at temperatures the rest of the United States would still be in winter jackets.

On Sunday after taking the dog for our walk, I spread out on my bed feeling like an old lady when I saw Matt Wertz tweet about the Varsity Theatre (in Dinkytown) and how tickets were still available. I panicked, how did I not know he was going to be here? More importantly, who could I find to go with me at such late notice? I sent my thoughts out to Twitter and waited for someone, ANYONE, to say they'd love to come with me. All of my friends encouraged me to go, though none were in the area to come with me. In fact, Matt himself tweeted at me that he thought I should come. It was cute to say the least. Tickets were $15 and the doors opened in less than fifteen minutes. Still lounging in my yoga pants and t-shirt I had a decision to make: Do I stay home and be old and lame or do I go to the concert by myself?

That moment it crossed my mind, we don't get old and want to stay home and do the more practical things, we get boring, comfortable, and lazy. I'm 26 years old, when do I stop being spontaneous and start clipping coupons on weekends considering it to be an activity? I decided not this time, not this weekend. I can get old and boring another year, I'm not getting old without a fight. I'll go to concerts on a whim by myself, try new restaurants, do things that scare me, whatever it takes to stay young at heart. Every day could be our last. How awful would it be if I missed out on a great concert by one of my favorite artists because I put it off? No one ever looks back and regrets the fun things they did, they regret the things they wanted to do but were too scared or lazy to do. So at least once a week when all I want to do is lay in bed and watch tv I will instead do something new. Awhile ago I wrote a post on inexpensive things to do in the Cities, I'll be slowly marking things off my list as the year goes by.

Boobie Blucy

Minneapolis gave the world one of my favorite meals. No I'm not referring to Goulash (appetizing name, huh?) But rather the fine delicacy known as the Juicy Lucy. Two bars lay claim to the Juicy Lucy - Matt's & 5-8 bar. And while I have not had the pleasure of sampling either - my first Juicy Lucy was at a local favorite in Saint Paul - The Groveland Tap, or more affectionately known as The Tap. It was good, but I wasn't that impressed.

Fast forward a few months and I'm with a friend at the Blue Door for dinner. The Blue Door is a cute little hole in the wall pub on Selby & Fairview. The dinner rush was spectacular - it was impossible to grab a seat. When we finally got to eat I had the Bacon Juicy Lucy & it was divine.

Saturday after Sara Bareilles, we hit up the Blue Door for some post concert food. What we found was a little slice of heaven on Earth. From May 1st - May 10th The Blue Door was offering what they cleverly referred to as Boobie Blucy's. What this deal entailed was $6 for two mini Blucy burgers with fries or tots. $3 was donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation for the fight against breast cancer. And while the deal is no longer happening, I like to support compaies that support a cause greater than themselves.

So if you are out in Saint Paul and looking for a killer Juicy Lucy try the Blucy Lucy - in between the burger are Bleu Cheese crumbles & chopped garlic. Like I said, a little piece of heaven. The tots are phenom as well. For more information check out the website here, and make sure to ask to join the club - try all the Blue Door's Juicy Lucy's and you get a free t-shirt.

Sara Bareilles

Saturday night I met up with Lindsay & Caleb & we decided to attend UST's free Spring Jam concert. The artist? Sara Bareilles - I had the pleasure of experiencing her open for Maroon 5 as well as The Hives (who were awful by the way - the lead singer shouted the entire time & swung his microphone until it broke) and after she performed she met with fans. Well I was with Jon and I dragged him up tot he beer line and to meet Sara. We took a picture with her and she was super nice. I told her how much I disliked the other band and wished that she had more time to perform more songs because she was amazing live. She laughed it off, I mean, I was insulting her tourmates. And we were pretty stoked.

Fast forward a few months and Love Song is HUGE. A few more months and Bottle It Up was just as big of a hit. I was pretty stoked we got to meet her - but I didn't know when we'd be able to see her again. Ryan told us of the free concert that happened to be outdoors, so we went. There were maybe 100-200 kids there and I am almost sure I was the oldest 20 something there (there was a set of parents which was odd but whatever) and I definitely felt it.

Oh to be at UST again where the guys are d-bags and under 6'0" and the girls wear so much make up it's caked on and orange. Not to mention the curls that are hairsprayed so not a chance of a a strand moving lest a tornado show up. Well Sara came on and she was hilarious, charismatic and amazing live. She sounded a billion times better than on her album - she had soul & she made each song her own. I have a huge amount of respect for her, especially after the incident. She bounced back really well, but you could tell from her reaction she was a genuine person and would never say anything to offend anyone.

About thirty minutes after the cocnert - Caleb, Lindsay & I waited to meet her. And low and behold she turned up and signed autographes and took pictures. We talked about me meeting her before and she was super cool about it. She even remembered (as I'm sure ti's not easy to forget the person who slanders your tourmates.) We left pretty giddy. Caleb even got his iPhone cover signed by her.

And so I'm encouraging you to go out and buy her album - my three favorites are Vegas, One Sweet Love & Many The Miles. Though it was pretty cool to have us sing the chorus of Love Song. And even cooler to sing the chorus to Rihanna's Umbrella & U2's Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. By the way, I knew I was old when in the middle of the song a kid behind me said, "Is this sung by U2?!?!?" After she dedicated the song to Bono and told a story about U2. Idiots. Then again, I was the only person in the crowd around me at the Excel who recognized In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins & Genesis when Adam Lavine sang it. It's always nice to have a musical education - so thanks Dad!

Basilica Block Party

One of my favorite events has just gotten even sweeter for University of St. Thomas alumnae. Purchase your tickets before June 30th and get $5 off per night! Check out the line up for the concert here! Enter the code stthomas during checkout at Ticketmaster.

Asher Roth's Crazies

In my recent attempt to become more adventuresome and push myself outside my comfort zone, I decided to attend a young, male rapper concert last night. Mind you, he is white. My friend Linds had tickets and her friend couldn’t go. I agreed to help her move her television (yeah it was huge and we’re pretty bad a*%) and then go to the concert. The concert was at the Fine Line and it has a reputation for being a more intimate setting for a concert.

Me, being the awkward individual I am who has finally developed no care for what strangers think of me, went to the front of the stage before it was socially acceptable to try and get a front row spot. I did not care, as my friend Katy says, “I am not above it.” The doors opened at 9 and that should have been my first indication that this concert was maybe not the wisest decision I’ve ever made given it was being held on a Monday (work) night.

So we're waiting and nothing happens for an HOUR. And then a DJ plays tracks for AN HOUR. Now it's 11, you figure the dj is the special guest star, oh no, there is another HOUR of special guest star thugs. Then finally this kid comes on. And we all know how well I do at standing room only concerts. It has literally been three hours of crap and standing in the front row. I am tired, I am cranky, and I am in pain. I say to Linds, if this kid isn't good, I'm calling a cab home.

Turns out, Asher Roth was actually really good and really charismatic. And everything was going really well until the end because we met these guys at the concert and they provided a 'wall' around us where no one got through. The concert was fun, the music was great and I really enjoyed myself that last hour.

Then Asher went crowd surfing and this tall brunette (more like black hair and kind of thuggish) started trying to get closer to the stage throwing her elbows (which met my head) and shoving people so I turned around and told her to get off of me and pushed her. She did it again so I turned back around and was like seriously? You need to get off of me and pushed her again and then she grabbed my arm and then grabbed my neck and started choking me! The guy in between us starts pulling her off of me because I'm shocked, I've never been strangled/choked before. Not planning on having it done again either. Then I suddenly realize what's going on and I start fighting back and I reach up and kick her in the baby maker area, really hard and she gets all pissed. And by that time the guy in between us shoves her farther back and tells her to f***ing knock it off. Lindsay has turned around at that point (once I yelled get off of me and the girl started to choke me) and she is about to punch the girl.

My arm where she got a better grip on me is still sore from her, I haven't checked out my neck to see if it's bad but I doubt it. However, I have now been Chris Brown'd. If this is what more adventure in my life gets me, next time I'll stay home and watch television with the 'devil' (otherwise known as Chanel.)

Also, just a side note, but the kid in the picture is Asher Roth. Doesn't look like the kind that brings out the crazies, does he? I mean he's 140 lbs, get serious.