Snapshot of the American Music Industry

AKA the Grammys: Cacophonous Fusion Extravaganza of 2009 

Timberlake and Rev. Al Green. A good idea. Shakily executed at first, but it worked itself out. Plus, Justin is so freaking adorable that it doesn't matter. 

Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. I see the logic. And while I'm not a Taylor Swift fan-- she came across as incredibly mature tonight. She did a great performance and she's a good writer who totally gets her demographic. In contrast? Miley Cyrus just kind of makes me want to wrap my face in Saran wrap.

Kanye West and the Afro-Mullet. A resounding NO.

MIA and the Rap Pack was the most ridiculous and abrasive thing I've seen since/heard... since Katy Perry descended to the stage in a banana and proved once again that she is the worst performer EVER.

I can't even talk about Stevie Wonder and the Jonas Brothers. I don' t even know where to begin. Pairing Legend with Fad is such an icky, uncreative marketing ploy.

Paul McCartney & Dave Grohl?

Okay, that one worked.

JT, TI, Drumline and The Cello Girls weren't bad. I liked Justin's  scarf. And the cellos. 

Smokey Robinson, Jamie Foxx, Ne-Yo and Duke Fakir... were actually very good. It was a nice tribute. And Ne-Yo really surprised me.

Mad props to Sugarland and Adele, who totally deserved their accolades for being phenomenal with little to no visible effort.

And to Coldplay-- who are adorable. And very talented.

Also, props to 

• Queen Latifah and Jennifer Hudson, for looking like sleek, beautiful, old-school jazz singers.
  
• Kate Beckinsale, for being gorgeous and classy.
• Alison Krauss' amazing purple dress.
• Jack Black, for having a hilarious face.
• Moses Martin, for letting his dad borrow his shirt to wear to the Grammys.
• Adele and McCartney's drummer for blatantly chewing gum on stage.
• Jason Mraz, for attractive facial hair. And a very handsome hat.
• Carrie Underwood's rockin female guitar player.
• Radiohead, for bringing a marching band onstage.
• Christina Aguilera's Target Superhero Comic commerical
• The quartet of diversely talented guitarist gentlemen (including Keith Urban, John Mayer and BB King)
• And Justin Timberlake.

It's not over. But I'm done!

"I shook Hoss's hand! He had his gun on and everything!""

Not really.

But I did hold hands with Jon Foreman last night for like three seconds. :)

Right in the middle of switchfoot's set when he decided to mingle with the crowd during their performance of

 "Awakening". He ran out and stood on a table and then rode back up to the stage on some really tall dude's shoulders, passing by me on his way.

Their set was phenomenal. They play so well together, I just-- love them! I could have watched them for hours. They played everything amazingly and I was just utterly delighted.

(p.s. Third Day really did great too. They were great with the audience,

 lots of energy. And Mac is just-- completely charming. Not to mention he plays guitar left handed. :) I think he looks like Jesus. Maybe Jesus and Clark Kent (minus the specs) and Aragorn rolled into one person. 

(p.p.s. And Jon? His hair is almost as long as mine and it's a mess (that below is an older picture)... and I think it's fabulous.

He reminds me of shorter version of Aragorn smashed into Adam Stoner. And while you may not know either of them-- this is a good thing. :)

Concert Commentary: Vol. 1

Transcribed (because I couldn't help myself) halfway in the dark at a creaky table on the front wall of spectator seats at the site of Jordan Miller's first gig, The Listening Room.

ACT ONE
There's this old man. He might be like 50. Maybe.
His feet are sort of small.
And he's singing a song about drinking too many tequilas to forget about his lost love.
It's terrible.
It's sad.
And it's really sort of hilarious.
Is he wearing Crocs? To his show?
No... they're more like Birkenstock Mules.
If he wrote this song last week, I'm just gonna be really sad.
I can't see his left hand-- but he can't be married.
He's wearing old school, skinny fit man jeans.
He has a pointy mustache, and hair that's cut short to conceal a receding hairline.
His eyes are tired. Worn.
And now he's singing about fishing... oh man.
And there's his hand. No wedding ring.
Man. Poor guy.
I wonder what happened to him.
He doesn't look like he's spent his life being someone's sidekick-- he can stand on his own.
He could have even been big stuff back in the day.
But now he's so sad... and this song is pathetic.
I hope it's not a cover... if it was... ooo.

This guy should be a studio musician for like-- Nickel Creek. Or maybe for a country artist.
But he shouldn't be here... in his socks and Stocks at 9:30 on a Tuesday night... he should be at home with his wife... looking at pictures of his grandkids... poor guy.
At least he's not really out drinkin one too many tequilas... I guess.

ACT TWO
These kids are a little better.
She's wearing cute jeans. And an engagement ring. I think.
Maybe her guitarist is her fiance?
Yeah, they're cute.
He looks like... every other boy in a baseball cap with a guitar. Quiet.
She's dark-haired, thin, looks like she was on drill team in high school.
This song, Lucky One, would sound better as a country song.
If she had a little bit raspier/breathier voice.
Hah! I was right! She just said they're newlyweds.
Sonny & Cher. Her words... not mine.
She's also got this Gaitlinburg accent goin' on in her talking voice.
She should lay it on a little thicker for her act!
This song would work better with some twang in it.
Her songs are actually pretty catchy, pretty well-written...
But her voice... mmm... it's just alright.
This song-- Hidden Heroes-- works though.
Anything patriotic has a place.
Patriotic music is a genre in itself.
This song is sweet though.
Yeah, these kids could do alright--
As country song writers.

ACT THREE
Ms. Jordan Miller.
Her voice is SO pure and it's got great color to it.
Like old school Rachael Lampa.
She just makes it look easy.
Easy.
I love people like that.
Her songs all start from cute little anecdotes.
She deserves a better crowd than this.
A youth group. Girls. They'd love her. :)
Her face is so sweet when she's singing. Like she's totally in her element.
I could tell she was nervous when she started, but she's loosened up now.
She don't need that mic though. ;)
And the bass on that keyboard is up way too loud.
But I'll cut the sound dude a break. It's late-- and things can't be perfect at your first show.
There's such a market for her.
She's way more of a natural superstar than the other girl.
This is a good song.
I'd never heard it. But now I have.
And I bet that before long, the world will too.