concert

Chautauqua Auditorium

 

Month of rain, 2 months of sizzle – triple digit HEAT.

2019’s also been a solid season of MUSIC.  Outdoor concerts, outdoor theatre.  Rodeo & Shakespeare.  Tim McGraw ‘Party Zone’ tickets, Diana Ross @ Red Rocks.

New addition to the tradition?  Colorado Music Festival, Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder.  Warm summer night, Mahler Symphony No. 3, soul-reaching viola.  String, my orchestra ‘Spirit Animal’.  Violin, viola, bass.  Completely memorized.

Downtown Street Faire.  Bookend’d this year’s series.  Second Friday of June, second Friday of August – concert first & last.  More than music, love the energy, the life it breathes into my hometown’s downtown.  Kids in the Bounce House, grandparents bunched close to Stage.  BBQ, microbrews & Sweet Cow.  Dig that too ❤️

Season shift, autumn.  Kids in school.  Sun drops sooner.  Centaurus High band part of the outside evening beat.  Friday nights & football.  Goodnite Moon 🌙

 

September Update: Rocky Mountain Audio Fest.  Bus, box lunch & show badges.  Employer treated the entire Company.  Thanks PS!

 

 

Louisville Street Faire (2019 season-end)

 

 

Rodeo empty; fair food finished.  Short hour nap & ready for Round 2.  Tim McGraw.  Tickets in the ‘Party Zone’.  First time ‘Best Available’ shoulda come with an age limit.  College-age beer, crowded ‘round an outdoor stage.  $30 less would have bought a seat 🙂

Stared up at the screen, watched the opening act embrace the elements.  AND enjoyed the moment, it’s only rain.  Wet, corralled in a sea of cowboy – hats, boots, dippin’ tobacco & solo-cup beer.  Stage lights pulsed.  Everyone got loud, and there he was – Tim McGraw.  For this legend, even the rain stopped.  Surrounded by thousands who LOVE him, his music.  Down-home lyrics.  Catchy hooks.  Redneck, yep – and FUN.

An hour in, crazy half-lit Tanya Tucker stumbled on stage.  Delta Dawn.

Earlier Saturday, CSU-Fort Collins doctors operated on her dog’s heart.  She came/went/asked Tim for money (hefty vet bill).  Delta Dawn.  Gal’s been around a long time – appreciate that AND empathy for the dog.  Surprise glimpse at another legend.

Diana Ross.  Shakespeare.  Tim McGraw.  Next week, Mahler symphony at Chautauqua.  HUGE fan of string.  Cello — its deep somber resonance, my soul instrument.

Summer break almost over.  Go, do, be.  LOVE LOVE my Colorado life ❤️

 

 

Tim McGraw (Cheyenne 2019)

 

Tim McGraw & Tanya Tucker

 

 

Costume changes, vibrant COLOR and… that voice!

Mahogany (1975)

Diana Ross @ Red Rocks – not Denver’s Pepsi Center, where techs can modulate tone, smooth-over pitch problems.  Outdoor exposed, FULL voice, the Diana Ross. 

Hundred years ago, The Supremes were one of my RCA Music Club entry-choices – 12 cassettes for a single penny.  Remember mail-order music clubs?  One penny, then a headache of correspondence to get outta the pyramid scheme.  pre-Internet.

VOICE.  Distinct/unique – ya know it’s Diana Ross – but it was never ‘bout the lyrics.

GLAMOUR.  Lashes, big eyes, perfect skin – and Mahogany.  Movie now crazy dated but the ending?  WOW, still movie magic!  And that SONG.  Heart strings every time.

Madam, would you love & cherish him for the rest of your life – YES!  Madam…YES!

Funnel cake, Ain’t No Mountain & Diana Ross – on a Monday nite.  Anytime a friend asks, are you interested…YES!  Life well lived.  Red Rocks forever memory ❤️

 

 

the Diana Ross

 

Diana Ross *FINALE*

 

Diana Ross solidified her diva status at Red Rocks

By Barbara Ellis Jul 23, 2019, 10:46 am

 

…after a quick set change at about 8:45, the first notes of “I’m Coming Out” were heard from off-stage, and Ross herself (covered in yards and yards of red satin and tulle) swept onto stage.

 

And all was forgiven.

 

Accompanied by a powerful band and four stellar backup singers, Ross kept the hits coming with “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “Baby Love,” “Come See About Me,” “You Can’t Hurry Love,” “Touch Me In the Morning” and “Love Child.”

 

…an intoxicating mixture of Motown, disco, fashion, funk and wafts of pot smoke in the magical venue.

 

Ross made sure she looked good for this diamond anniversary tour, indulging in at least four costume changes — all with fluttering, matching fans. But those disruptions were easily forgiven because the lead singer of the Supremes in the 1960s and longtime solo artist proved she still has the pipes.