Music Bucket List

A few weeks ago, one of my favorite bloggers, Steph at Insert Classy Here, talked about scratching an item off her music bucket list. Suddenly, my imagination went wild with who I'd include on my own coveted list. Assuming that we can't resurrect anyone (hello, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Johnny Cash, and Ray Charles) and I can't include artists that I've already seen but would love to see again (hello, Michael Buble, John Mayer, The Rolling Stones, Maroon 5, Drake, and M83), here is my ultimate music bucket list:

- Mumford & Sons (Completed on April 24, 2016 and again on March 25, 2019): This one is pretty self-explanatory. Although I haven't listened to their new CD, Wilder Mind, I was infatuated with their previous two albums. I love their folksy vibe and complicated lyrics and Marcus Mumford's voice makes me melt. They're absolutely one of my contemporary favorites and I imagine the experience of seeing them live would be incredible.

- Led Zeppelin: If I could take my mom to any concert imaginable, I would absolutely choose her all-time favorite band, Led Zeppelin. Thanks to her, they've become a staple on my iPod. However, the band hasn't toured since drummer John Bonham died in 1980 and lead singer Robert Plant reportedly turned down an $800 million offer to reunite for a tour last year. In other words, it's not looking good for me...

- Elton John: When I think of my childhood favorites, four names instantly come to mind - Elvis, Madonna, Prince, and Elton. For years, I've been a staunch defender of Sir Elton in the eternal Elton John vs. Billy Joel debate and it'd be a dream come true to see him play the piano in-person and sing along with all of his hit songs. He's setting up shop in Vegas again this October for a brief residency, so if anyone is feeling really generous with their wedding gifts...

Via

- Tom Petty: How about this for a statement?: If you don't want to see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform live, then I question not only your taste in music, but also you as a living, breathing human being. I imagine this would be the perfect summer concert when enjoyed on a blanket on the lawn with a big group of friends. Let's make it happen.

- Madonna: *see Elton John explanation* Seriously though, Madonna still performs. At the age of 56, she's crazy active on stage, channels her 25-year-old self with her dance moves, and has some of the greatest pop songs ever written in her repertoire. She was probably my first girl crush and remains one of my favorites to this day. All hail the queen.

- Lady Gaga (Completed on November 5, 2017): It only seems fitting to follow Madonna with Lady Gaga...and I don't mean the super relaxed tour with Tony Bennett, either. Perhaps unsurprisingly (given my love for Lady M), I really like Lady Gaga and think she's a very gifted entertainer, piano player, and vocalist. I love to imagine the intricate set, costume changes, and theatrics that probably comprise her live show. Plus, you know the people-watching in the crowd would be comedic gold.

- Jay-Z: Frankly, I'm shocked I haven't seen him yet. He's my favorite rapper of all-time, bar none, and I actually think he's a genius. I would have given one of my kidneys to see him and Kanye in the Watch the Throne Tour (seriously, the setlist almost makes me cry), but none of the dates or locations worked out. I didn't want to attend the On the Run Tour, which actually made a stop in Cincinnati, because I didn't want to sit through an entire Beyonce show. Has my girl card officially been revoked?

- A major music festival: Again, I'm shocked I haven't done this yet. I know it'll happen eventually - I'm just biding my time until the perfect lineup is announced. I did attend the Dave Matthews Band Caravan in Chicago a few years ago, where I saw DMB (x3), Kid Cudi, Ray LaMontagne, G. Love, David Gray, and Amos Lee among others, but I don't consider that a major music festival. I want to go to one of the classic, annual ones (Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Coachella, etc.).

- Phantom of the Opera (Completed on May 10, 2016): I don't really think this counts, but when I think of live music experiences, I also consider musicals, symphonies, etc. Of all the incredible musicals I've seen over the years, The Phantom of the Opera has somehow eluded me...and it's about time I fix that. Aside from A Chorus Line, Phantom is probably my favorite musical ever, but I need to see it in-person to cement that. The beautiful music, the storyline, the heartache, ugh.

- Dave Matthews Band: Yeah, I'm cheating with this one, but I want to see Dave Matthews Band every single day for the rest of my life. I'll never get tired of the ever-changing setlist and I love guessing what I'll hear at every show. I'll keep seeing them live until they retire or die. Facts are facts.

I would also really love to see Sam Smith and Ellie Goulding, but didn't quite think they made the bucket list yet. Please tell me - who would be on your ultimate music bucket list?

The best day of summer

If this past weekend were a dessert, it'd be a heaping scoop of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream topped with whipped cream, a cherry, and sprinkles. That should accurately convey how good it was. Thanks to Wheat's crazy schedule with the Pacers and Fever, he gets a few Fridays off and we took full advantage of our long weekend together. We kicked it off right on Thursday when we decided on a whim to check out the weekly rooftop party at Regions Tower. It happened to be Casino Night, so we listened to live music and enjoyed the gorgeous view while playing some roulette. Fortunately, we were playing with fake money, so it didn't hurt quite as bad when we lost $1,000.

On Friday, Wheat delivered on planning a fun, active date by leading us on an awesome scavenger hunt through the city. After printing the clues provided by Urban Quest, we embarked on a two-hour adventure that took us to various monuments downtown in order to collect clues and solve puzzles. It was a scorching hot day, so I didn't complain when we stopped halfway for lunch at The Old Spaghetti Factory with a couple good friends from grad school. However, with just one clue remaining in our scavenger hunt, we suddenly found ourselves in the middle of a torrential thunderstorm. Despite our best efforts at finding shelter, we got completely drenched and slogged our way back home to the sound of cracking thunder.

If asked to describe my perfect summer day, I wouldn't hesitate to point to Saturday. Jenn arrived in the early afternoon and the three of us indulged in a delicious brunch at Mesh. My short rib grilled cheese, which I would hardly classify as brunch, was sandwich perfection. We followed our meal with a couple hours at the pool before heading over to Klipsch for a special evening with Dave Matthews Band.

In full disclosure, this was my 21st DMB concert and they just keep getting better. We staked out a spot on the lawn, bought some concessions, and prepared for an incredible two-set show. The acoustic set featured Dave in all his singer-songwriter glory, but the electric set that followed absolutely brought the house down. I danced, sang, played air saxophone and violin, and soaked in every second. The forecast called for rain, but it somehow missed us. We could, however, see constant flashes of lightning in the distance. That, paired with all the glow sticks and cell phone lights, made for a visual experience that almost rivaled the music. Here was the setlist:

Rye Whiskey
Spoon
Bartender
One Sweet World
Satellite
Tripping Billies
Recently
Raven
What Would You Say

Stay (Wasting Time)
#41
Don't Drink the Water
Be Yourself
Burning Down the House - Talking Heads cover
Lying in the Hands of God
Save Me
Granny
Virginia in the Rain
Crush
Belly Belly Nice
Louisiana Bayou
Jimi Thing

So Much to Say
Anyone Seen the Bridge
Too Much (fake)
Ants Marching (fake)
Halloween

As if the night could get any better, Jenn bought me a gorgeous pink rose and we somehow beat the traffic out in record time. Sunday, Jenn and I went to the gym for a bit before completely negating our hard work with Yats for lunch. I regret nothing. We talked all things wedding for a bit before she headed home and Wheat and I promptly fell asleep. Upon waking up, I decided to check something else off my Summer Bucket List and went for dinner at Indy's famous vintage drive-in, Mug 'n Bun. With the exception of the delicious corn nuggets, the greasy food was just okay, but the retro charm and old-school car-side service made up for that.

With what I always call "the best day of summer" (the day Jenn and I see DMB) behind me, I'm already starting to look forward to fall. I'd like to say I simply can't wait to hear wedding bells, but in complete honesty, I just don't think I can handle any more of these 90º days. We've finally entered the dog days, friends.

What does your perfect summer day entail?

Happy Thoughts Thursday

I've been unbelievably bad about my happy thoughts lately, but that's not because I'm unhappy. In fact, the last couple months have been the happiest I've been in a while. With the great news about my mom, our engagement, and all-around awesome family and friends, my list of reasons to complain continues to shrink. Hooray!

+ Trippin' Billies. A few weeks ago, Wheat and I saw Trippin' Billies, a DMB cover band from Chicago, perform at The Vogue in Broad Ripple. It was the perfect excuse to finally check out the venue and there was no cover. I was pleasantly surprised by the band, which sounded eerily similar to the real thing, and the singer did an admirable Dave impression. Much to my surprise, they did a lot of my favorites, including "Crash," "Crush," "Lie in Our Graves," and "#41." I had an excellent time singing and dancing along with them, while closing my eyes and pretending it was the real thing.

+ SNL 40. Saturday Night Live has been a staple in my life since before I can remember, so when I heard about the 40th anniversary show/reunion, I was simultaneously beyond excited and incredibly nervous. Fortunately, the three-and-a-half-hour-long episode was worth every second. Was it perfect? Absolutely not (see: Eddie Murphy, The Californians). But it was live and somehow encapsulated exactly what I've loved about the show over the years (see: Will Ferrell, Celebrity Jeopardy, Weekend Update, Digital Shorts). It was equal parts sentimental and hilarious, touching on 9/11, the deaths of former cast members (RIP Jon Lovitz), and NYC itself. It was kind of depressing to see the passage of time on the faces of some of SNL's best (see: Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd), but can we all agree that Bill Murray is still the undisputed king of comedy?

+ Colored Shadows. Please allow my true nerdiness to shine through as I explain this. On Valentine's Day, Wheat and I picked up a cute candy bouquet to give to his grandparents. As we were walking out to the car, I looked down and spotted, right next to my black shadow, red spots created by the sun shining through the cellophane paper. I realize this was not a shadow, but that didn't stop me from unleashing a childish scream that startled several onlookers and taking copious amounts of pictures as Wheat patiently waited in the car.

+ The Bachelor. Guys, I'm completely embarrassed to admit that despite my ardent resistance, Wheat finally got me to not only watch, but also enjoy a season of The Bachelor. It's basically everything I hate about our culture and I'm still really hooked. Maybe it's time to seek help? My quick thoughts: Chris is probably the least charismatic leading man I could ever imagine. Girls are crazy - certifiably insane - when it comes to relationships. And finally, no one truly wants to move to Iowa of their own free will. Trust me on that.

+ Chipotle/Movie Date Night. This is a constant happy thought. Let's be real. Guacamole, I want to be inside your heaven. And oh yeah, there was extra sour cream on that bad boy.

+ "Earned It" by The Weeknd. Because I'm a sucker for the slow jams.

 

Who is your favorite all-time SNL cast member?
Who do you think will be The Bachelorette?
What is making YOU happy this week?

Concerts Galore

Last week, Jenn and I ventured to the Astroturf-laden hills of Riverbend Music Center for an evening with Dave Matthews Band, our favorite annual summer getaway. Unlike previous years, we actually had excellent weather this time around. No rain or desire to tear clothes off due to the oppressive heat. So, we set up camp on a Lil Wayne blanket she found in her trunk and got in some great people-watching with an even better soundtrack.



We witnessed a guy's hilarious attempt to escape the security people while being escorted out of the venue. Instead, he was tackled, knocking over several innocent bystanders' beers in the process, and arrested. We also saw a young overzealous drinker, unable to stand up on his own, get pushed up the hill in a wheelchair by some medics. Like I said, great people-watching.

The setlist, as always, was glorious. I can't help it - I melt every time I hear the 'Dixie Chicken' line from the live performance of "Crash." I also can't get over the awesome crowd reaction whenever Dave mentions 'the GrooGrux King' during "Why I Am."

Bartender
Oh
Butterfly (tease) - First time I've ever heard this live!
Two Step
#27
So Damn Lucky
Snow Outside
Ants Marching - Ugh.
What Would You Say?

So Right
Granny
Seven
#41
Belly Belly Nice
The Idea of You
Say Goodbye
Gravedigger
Save Me
Crash
The Riff
So Much to Say
Anyone Seen the Bridge
Halloween (started with a 'Too Much' fake)

Sister
Good Good Time
Why I Am

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For the first 25 years of my life, I complained incessantly that I never won anything. Then, in the last few months, I've had a complete reversal of fate. The latest in my winning trend were tickets to the Soulshine Music Festival, thanks to an Indy Downtown Twitter contest. The event was supposed to be held at The Lawn at White River State Park, but the forecast wasn't good, so it was moved to the Egyptian Room at the Murat. It didn't rain a bit, by the way.

The concert was interesting to say the least. Hippie-types of all ages filled the room with the smell of marijuana and unwashed armpits. Live yoga performances were happening on mats in all corners (Side note: There was also a yoga session held in the afternoon with Michael Franti playing alongside. I opted out.). Free spirits with dreadlocks and long skirts danced with no regard for personal space issues. The music, which was primarily a reggae-rock hybrid, was super easy to listen to, even though I didn't know many of the songs.

The entire show was over four hours long, so I intentionally showed up a bit late and missed all of Sonna Rele and most of Trevor Hall. Next was Brett Dennen, a poppy, nerdy guy that I remember from opening for John Mayer years ago. Wheat showed up in time for Soja and we stayed for most of Michael Franti and Spearhead's setlist. My favorite part of the show was either "The Sound of Sunshine," when the crowd passed massive yellow beach balls around, or when Franti called all of his openers on stage for a great rendition of Bob Marley's "Could You Be Loved?"



All in all, it was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday evening, especially considering I had this handsome devil to twirl me around.

Honey, honey. Come and dance with me.

If you know me at all, then you know there is absolutely no way I would miss Dave Matthews Band when they're within a 60-mile radius of me. You'll be proud to know, however, that I exercised a little self-restraint and only bought tickets for the second night of the two-day stint DMB had at Klipsch Music Center this weekend. Small victories.

Before the concert, Wheat and I attempted to go putt-putt golfing, but the course was closed for a tournament. Apparently putt-putt golf tournaments exist. So, we settled for an hour of games in a new arcade instead. Wheat dominated the basketball games, I solved a few Wheel of Fortune puzzles, and suddenly we had 1,500 tickets. Oops.

Unlike most arcades, this place had awesome prizes - the kind that make you feel like you didn't just flush $20 down the toilet. After much deliberation, we decided on a Leonardo figurine and a switchblade comb, mostly so Wheat can do his Fonzie impression with no remorse.

After battling the heat and the long lines at will call, we hunkered down on our blanket in the lawn. Unlike other DMB shows, this tour has two sets (one acoustic, one electric) with a short intermission between them. The format was perfect - no opening band and the best of both musical worlds.

As is often the case in the lawn, the people-watching was fantastic. From dodging the endless supply of beach balls that bounced around to laughing at the half-naked couple grinding near us, we were pretty entertained without having to even look at the stage. We also saw a not-so-discreet couple snort coke on a bench right next to three cops leisurely enjoying pizza, so that was interesting.

DMB was fantastic as always. The setlist was killer and Dave danced around while wearing a scarf and huge sunglasses supplied by fans in the pit. Excellent.

Photo credit to Matt Munson.

Here was the setlist:

Ants Marching
#27
Sugar Man (Sixto Rodriguez cover that Dave prefaced by talking about his life in South Africa)
Recently
Stolen Away on 55th and 3rd
So Damn Lucky (with 'Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin' outro)
Lie in Our Graves
Rye Whiskey

Squirm
Rooftop
One Sweet World
Kill the Preacher
Why I Am
#41
I Need a Word
Spaceman
Cornbread
The Riff
The Space Between
Jimi Thing
Don't Drink the Water
Everyday
Halloween (with an 'Ants Marching' intro fake-out)

Some Devil
Granny
Grey Street

I'm so glad I finally got to take Wheat to a Dave show and share one of my favorite things in the world with him. It doesn't really get better than dancing with the perfect guy at the perfect concert, right?

Crushing my Bucket List...

I did some serious work on my Summer Bucket List this weekend.

Friday, Jenn and I went to the Reds game against the Rockies. Despite coming into the game on a six-game win streak, the Reds lost, 6-3. I blame myself. As always, the game was a blast. There is nothing better than sitting in the nosebleeds, watching the game and the boats on the Ohio River.

It was also Fireworks Friday, so I got to cross another thing off my bucket list. Every Friday at home, the Rozzis put on an awesome firework display set to music following the game. The theme was 'American' music for Memorial Day and, like I said, there's nothing quite like watching fireworks illuminate the ballpark and the river. I love my city.


Sunday, I knocked another thing off my bucket list when I went to Taste of Cincinnati with Jenn, Morgan, Sib, and Shaska. Taste of Cincinnati is the longest-running (and one of the biggest) culinary arts festivals in the country. This year, forty local restaurants set up booths selling their best dishes - all for under $5. I had a pulled pork sandwich from City Barbeque and BBQ chicken macaroni & cheese from Keystone Bar & Grill. I also tried a deep-fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich from Strasse Haus. If loving it was wrong, then I don't want to be right.

Despite the scorching 90º+ heat, we had a great time until we had to say goodbye to Morgan. She left on Monday for her training for Teach for America. She'll be in Phoenix for over a month and then she'll be teaching in Indianapolis. If all goes as planned, I'll be in Indianapolis in the fall, too. In the meantime, I'll miss her a ton, but I know she'll do great and I'm so excited for her!

Then, tonight was my favorite night of the year: Dave Matthews Band at Riverbend.

We missed most of the opening band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, and couldn't find anyone in the lawn, so we hunkered down in some lawn chairs and enjoyed the majesty that is DAVE. The weather was perfect, the music was perfect. Here was the setlist:

Sweet
You Never Know
You Might Die Trying
Rhyme and Reason
Granny
Why I Am
#41
Seven
Mercy
Tripping Billies
A Whiter Shade of Pale (Procol Harum cover)
Gaucho
Jimi Thing - AMAZING
What Would You Say?
Time Bomb
Two Step
----
Squirm
All Along the Watchtower

So, as you can see, it was quite a weekend. At this rate, I'll finish my list next month.

When American Idol drives you to the brink of insanity...

Again, I know I've been a horrible blogger, but I really need to get something off my chest.

Disclaimer: I really like Phillip Phillips from American Idol. How could I not? He's a carbon copy of my favorite artist of all-time. He's incredibly talented, plays the type of music I love most, and have you seen him? Yum.

That being said - I have a few problems with the reaction to Phillip Phillips.

1. Every single time that Randy Jackson or Jennifer Lopez tell him that he's original, a piece of my soul dies. It just shrivels and dies. I'm not trying to knock Phillip down or detract from his talent, but let's get real. Aside from his two Usher covers and "Thriller," I haven't seen anything original. At all. He is, for lack of a better description, a younger version of Dave Matthews. The mannerisms, the voice, the dancing, everything. I would know.

Tonight, when he did "Time of the Season," I nearly threw up.





I think we all know which version is better.

2. I know quite a few people who love Dave, but I know WAY more people who absolutely hate him. I do mean hate him. I've never been able to understand this and I've received an enormous amount of criticism from my friends for being such a DMB superfan. As I said, TONS of people love Dave Matthews Band. They tour every summer, their concerts sell out, their albums do well, and their fans are fiercely loyal. However, so many people can't stand Dave's voice or the jam band type of music. DMB's music is rarely heard on the radio, they hardly receive any critical praise. So, someone please explain to me the overwhelming support that Phillip Phillips has received on American Idol. Phillip has never been voted into the bottom three on the show. Why is the country embracing him when so often they reject DMB? SOMEONE TELL ME. IT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT.

At any rate, I hope Phillip wins (or Joshua Ledet - who blows my mind every week). Maybe, just maybe, Dave and Phillip could collaborate?

Lord knows I'd be first in line.

Music Festival Fantasy Land

It's official.

I'm attending the official Dave Matthews Band Caravan in Chicago this summer! Words cannot explain how excited I am.

When DMB announced that they weren't touring this summer, I was devastated. One (or three) DMB shows have become a staple part of my summer. I look forward to it all year and my summer isn't complete until I hear "#41" and catch a contact high from nearby concert-goers.

So, when I heard that DMB was hosting a 3-day musical festival lakeside in Chicago, I was already sold. Then, I learned that DMB would be playing a FULL set every night of the festival. Then, I learned that Dave would be playing an acoustic set with Tim Reynolds. #mybodyisready

Other artists performing at the festival? Ray LaMontagne, Kid Cudi, G. Love & Special Sauce, Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Flaming Lips perform Dark Side of the Moon, Ben Folds, David Gray, OAR, Amos Lee, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, and TR3. I know. I'm dead.

While drooling over the lineup at Bonnaroo this summer, I've decided to create the ultimate music festival for me. A girl can dream, right?

Dave Matthews Band. John Mayer. Michael Buble. The Rolling Stones. Elton John. Jay-Z. Ben Harper. Ray LaMontagne. Explosions in the Sky. The Black Keys. Coldplay. Lady Gaga. Roger Waters (Pink Floyd). Damien Rice. G. Love & Special Sauce. Third Eye Blind. Alanis Morisette. Lil Wayne. Kings of Leon. Sarah McLachlan. Maroon 5. Jason Mraz. Bela Fleck & the Flecktones. John Fogerty. Miranda Lambert. Matisyahu. Mumford & Sons. The Avett Brothers. Temper Trap. Joanna Newsome.

...and in my ultimate fantasy, Simon and Garfunkel reunite for one night only.

...and Elvis, Marvin Gaye, Frank Sinatra, John Lennon, and George Harrison rise from the dead.

Who would play in your ultimate music festival?