Jazz Hands - Wynton Marslis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra

After a long period of more mainstream music, it was time for a change! Wolf Trap was happily graced with wonderful jazz music from one of the greatest trumpet player in the world, Wynton Marsalis. He has had a long and fruitful career and has racked up 9 grammy awards for his numerous recordings. He was also the first jazz musician to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his epic jazz recording of Blood on the Fields. Surrounding him last night were some of the best jazz musicians in the business. I have always been in awe of the improvisational skills of many musicians and the sheer talent of those men last night was unbelievable. Every musician took turns arranging the music and their solos all sounded great. You could tell the style of each musician individually, which shows that they're all comfortable playing with each other and are very proficient at building off what their colleagues are doing. What I also liked was that Marsalis was usually just a another member of the band for most of the pieces. While he did have a long solo at the end of the show, he happily let the other musicians have their share of the spotlight and only took over to explain the next piece. The pieces themselves were often simple but that's the beauty of jazz, even the simplest songs can sound fantastic when played by great musicians! Thats exactly what happened last night and it was no doubt one of the most pleasant evenings we've had.

With the women of the lawn gone on vacation, it was time for the bros to take charge. We lucked out that our first show alone was pretty easy and not sold out like the previous nights have been. Our only problem came up when we had too many wheel chairs and not enough usher to take them. We worked it out though and I think we did a great job overall. The day was nearly perfect weather wise and it was a very enjoyable evening. As always, looking forward to more shows in the future!

My favorite part of the night was when the band played they song called "Cape Verdean Blues". While much of what the band played was mellow and soft, this piece immediately jumps out at you and offers a lot of room for the band to find a tight groove. As a musician, it was wonderful to hear this band play and it definitely encouraged me to keep up with my music!

DC

The best trumpet player I've ever heard

Crazy On You - Heart

For the third consecutive night, Wolf Trap has played host to a sold out show. What made this show unique though is that the people coming were there to ROCK. Heart is an American rock band who formed 1973 in Vancouver, Canada. They released their first album in 1976 to great success and they continued to be one of the premier hard rock groups in the US for the remainder of the 70's. After having a steady decline in popularity in the early 1980's, they rebranded themselves as Album Oriented Rock artists and staged a massive comeback. Their 1985 album, Heart, hit number one in the US and they also charted several singles in the top 10. Since then, they have continued to tour with sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson being the only constant members. Of course, the most distinguishing feature of the band is that it's led by two women. While I've never been a fan of Heart, I can't deny that they put on a great show last night. Ann Wilson still has a fantastic voce and the band sounds just as good as their 70's recordings. Although people complained about their 90 minute performance an the lack of an opener or an intermission, I think they touched all their crucial songs and even did some incredible renditions of Led Zeppelin songs. People seemed to be having a great time so I didn't mind too much. For me as a rock enthusiast, it was a great concert and I am glad that I was able to see these legends of rock n' roll perform.

Despite the short concert time, this show presented a few problems. Like I said before, it was a sold out show and every part of the lawn was full. Additionally, this isn't a Sarah McLachlan crowd we're talking about, this is rock n' roll. Finally, since the concert was short, I knew we were going to have a tough time getting people off the lawn. While the crowd, didn't end as rowdy as I thought, the lawn clearing did take an abysmally long time. Many people just couldn't believe that the band had left after only 90 minutes and continued to eat and drink like they were coming back. Eventually, we did get the grass clear but it turned our early night into a regular night. It'll be nice to have a quieter show today and as always, looking forward to more performances in the future!

My favorite part of the show was when the band served a double whammy by playing Crazy On You and Barracuda to close their show. Even I have to admit that those songs are pretty good and the band really did sound great. It was good to hear some straight up rock music!

DC

The first women rock stars 

Hootie in the Country - Darius Rucker

One thing that really fascinates me is when artists change direction. Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton are just some of the few acts to have done so an usually it leads to positive results if done right (in my opinion). Similarly, Darius Rucker has experienced a similar change. He first gained fame as the lead singer and guitarist of the band Hootie and the Blowfish. Their first album, Cracked Rear View, has sold over 15 million copies in the US and they quickly became a favorite band of people who were tired of grunge. Their music has often been described as "bar band" music in the best sense and Rucker has a very distinctive soul-like voice that really brings their songs to the next level. While they haven't maintained their huge success since their first album, they're still beloved among their fans and people from USC (South Carolina). In 2008, Darius took a break from Hootie and made his first country album. The album spawned three number one singles on the US country chart and he has since been one of the premier country artists in the states. His voice changed from soulful to country-western but he was able to change effortlessly between the two during the concert. While his setlist was predominantly country, he did sing a few Hootie and Blowfish songs and everyone was left satisfied. While I'm more a Hootie fan than a country one, I enjoyed both sides of his artistry and it was a fantastic show overall. His opener, Joel Crouse, also sounded great and put out some good country music to get everyone warmed out. As my third country concert of the year after going to zero before then, I'm quickly recognizing the merits of the genre and Darius Rucker is one of the best country artists I've heard!

This show was supposed to be tough for a number of reasons. It was a sell out crowd, it was a country crowd, and it was supposed to storm real bad throughout the evening. Luckily, the night was much better than I had envisioned and ended up being one of the best shows of the year. The weather ended being almost perfect with little rain speak of. The crowd, though arriving in droves, were not that rowdy and there were very few problems. My biggest problem was that I misplaced my bag containing all my work stuff and I have no idea where it is. Bye bye ID and my notepad that listed all my shows! Nonetheless, it was one of my favorite shows and I guess you could say I'm well on my way to becoming a country fan (gasp!).

My favorite part of the show was when Darius played Wagon Wheel as his encore. This song is quickly becoming a country anthem an is probably my favorite country song of all time. His versions went on to win a grammy award in 2013 and after hearing it last night, it's no wonder why.

DC

Is that...a skinny country artist?

From frontman to country man 

I Will Remember You - Sarah Mclachlan

This weekend would play host to two sold out shows and they couldn't be further from each other in terms of type of music. Once again, this is a testament to the variety of shows that we have at Wolf Trap and also how many bigs acts we actually get. Sarah McLachlan started her career in 1988 with her first album (and actually performed at Wolf Trap in 1989), but her first taste of national success wouldn't occur until 1997. That year, she released the album Surfacing and the songs "Adia" and "Angel". These songs propelled her to mainstream success and she has continued to sell millions of records.  Her music is very soft and she relies on calm piano ballads that allow her thin but adaptable voice to shine. Having listened to Surfacing in preparation for the show, I can say that I enjoy her music and she does have great songwriting chops. I'm glad that I was able to explore her music because it definitely erased my preconceived notions of her (albeit taken mostly from her cheesy ASPCA commercial) She proved to me that she has some serious talent and can put on a grew show even if her music remains slow and for most of the time. I enjoyed that she engaged the audience by inviting a few patrons to the stage so they could ask her questions about anything. It shows that she really cares and added a more intimate feel than many other shows of that size. It also helped that her guitarist played the bouzouki for one song! I also play that greek instrument and it was so cool that I finally saw it being put to use but a major act. The predominately female patrons in the theater seemed to love her and my experience was very positive as well.

I was hoping that because of the demographics of the crowd, it would be a busy but overall uneventful show. This proved to be the case and it gave me a chance to experience the show. It was a hot but sunny day and once the sun went down it really turned into a perfect evening. After the show, some coworkers and I had a nice little party afterwards. I regretted only getting three hours of sleep but it was still a wonderful night. As always, looking forward to more shows in the future!

My favorite part of the show was when Sarah played her song "Adia". This my favorite song of hers and her band took a back seat and allowed her to basically play it alone with just a piano. A really good show and now a new artist that I like!

Can't believe she's 46. Still looks great!

A Night At The Opera - Carmen with the NSO

Despite the fact that I like theater in general, I have never really been a fan of opera. As with all of the arts, I respect the singers immensely and I understand that opera is one of the chief forms of art in the world today. That being said, it never really clicked for me, particularly if the opera isn't in English. Carmen unfortunately fits into that category. In this case, however, it didn't matter as much because the opera is one of the most famous in world history and the music itself is incredibly captivating. The opera was written by French composer Georges Bizet and premiered in Paris in early 1875. The opera didn't take off immediately and Bizet's early death prevented him from fully understanding how big the opera would become. Since then, the music has been sampled in hundreds of other plays and pieces of work and the opera itself has been redone countless times. I had to have my back to the stage for almost the entire time so honestly I really don't know what the opera is about but just listening to the music was good enough for me! the opera's score has been noted for leading the performance rather than the actors/singers and I couldn't agree more. The opera seems to be built around the music and I found myself recognizing songs that I never knew were from the Carmen. This for me exemplified the reach of this opera's influence in modern culture. Although this wasn't my favorite show, I feel like any person who want to really appreciate the arts has to see some opera and Carmen is definitely the opera to see.

This show was a lighter night than our last few and since it was an NSO show, it was pretty quiet as well. I unfortunately go yelled at twice (for very petty things too) so it wasn't a complete walk in the park but I did get to go to the loge where I saw Ruth Bader Ginsberg! Proof the Wolf Trap is treated with famous people once in a while. Overall, it was a beautiful nights and I was glad I was able to enjoy the music (I had to look for cameras so i couldn't watch the stage). As always, looking forward to more shows in the future!

My favorite part of the show is the overture (I think that's what you call it in opera?) that opens the show. One of the most famous pieces of music, I had no idea that it was from Carmen. Despite my inner embarrassment, I was really happy to hear the memorable parts and the NSO sounded great!

DC

I'm guessing that's Carmen? Jk 

Dancing On The Ceiling - Lionel Ritchie and Cee Lo Green

One of the best parts about this job is that i gain a lot of appreciation for many different artists and even if I don't end up completely liking them by the end of the show, usually I'll have more respect for them as performers. To my pleasant surprise, both acts fit this bill. Cee Lo served as more of an opener for Ritchie although his performance was just as good I thought. He started his career as a member of the hip-hop group Goodie Mob in the early 90's. He gained fame as the singer and songwriter of the duo Gnarls Barkley. They released a few albums to great success and their song "Crazy" sold millions of copies. Since then, Cee Lo has released solo albums to continued success and has also been one of the judges of the Voice. While his sound has changed over the years, it remains rooted in R&B/funk with a more pop sound. His music is a product of a lot of studio tinkering so I wasn't sure if he would be able to replicate it on stage while still employing his distinct voice. While he did use some backing tracks, I was still overall impressed with his show and his band has a lot of energy. More importantly, he's a a great showman and really got the crows going. He was by far the most popular opener we've had and was a great addition to the show. Lionel Ritchie originally started his career as the lead singer of the Commodores. Originally a pure funk band, they branched out to include ballads and by the time Lionel left in 1982, they had become one of the biggest groups in the US. His first three solo albums were massive successes and he charted 13 straight top 10 hits in the 80's. Like Cee Lo, he is a natural performer and had no problem playing all the crowd favorites, including songs from his Commodores years. While he is mostly a ballad singer (a little too much for my taste), he did sing some faster songs and the ballads themselves sounded a lot better for me on stage than on the records. i'll no longer point to Lionel Ritchie as an example of what was wrong with the 80's and I really did have a great time at the show.

Talk about being busy. Both nights had a sold out lawn and we had our hands full dealing with the sheer number of patrons that were coming in. While the crowd itself didn't have that many problems, things like controlling the use of lawn chairs and smoking were becoming issues. The art of walking through a completely full lawn is a learned practice and I definitely had a lot of practice these past couple of days. Luckily, there was no rain either night and it wasn't excruciatingly hot. It could have been worse but we were definitely on our toes for much of the night. Nevertheless, still looking forward to more shows in the future!

My favorite part of the show was when Lionel Ritchie played Brick House. I was actually really surprised he played it (he didn't sing lead on that one) and I've never seen a happier crowd. It made me realize that one of the best parts of this job is that you get to see people having a good time and it makes all the hard work I do worth it!

DC

No one can sing a slow song like this man 

Maybe I did need an excuse to say the F-word at work 

The Heart of Rock and Roll - Huey Lewis and the News

The past week has no doubt been the best in terms of the quality of shows. Last night continued this trend. Huey Lewis and the News formed in 1979 but it wasn't until 1983 that they achieved mainstream success. Their 1983 album, Sport, yielded 5 top 20 singles and their song Power of Love went on to be their first number one after being featured in Back to The Future. Their hit streak continued until the early 90's and they continue to be a popular touring act. One things that struck me is that their music has a more timeless feel than much of the music of the 80's since they rely less on synthesizer and slick production. Instead, the music is a mix of blues-rock with pop licks. This contributed to their popularity and I really enjoyed getting exposed to their music. I hadn't really listened to them before and I ended up really liking liking the performance. Huey Lewis still sounds pretty good and has a good band behind him. Their opener, Marc Broussard was also enjoyable and his rough Van Morrison type vocals blended well with his softer music. My only complain was that Lewis replaced some of his big hits with some cover songs. Luckily, the covers he performed, including a couple a cappella (or almost), were very well done so it wasn't that big of a loss. In the end, the performance may not have been a top 5 performance (as were 2 acts this past week). Nevertheless, it was definitely a memorable night and Huey Lewis and the News remain a classic band of the 80's.

This show was pretty full, especially on the lawn. There were few difficulties, although my boss did have to deal with a fight that was breaking out on the lawn (not by herself luckily). Other than that however, the show went on smoothly and I was able to really listen to the music. The weather looked overcast but ultimately turned out to be a great night. I'm really trying to no take this weather for granted but it's been like this for over a week now. Apparently the next two shows are sold out on the lawn but despite that, still looking forward to more shows in the future!

My favorite song of Huey Lewis is I Need a New Drug. While he had bigger hits, this song really epitomizes his sound and what the band were like at their best. A highlight of the night for sure!

DC

One of best openers we've had!

Business up front, party in the back 

Space Oddity - 2001 A Space Odyssey and the NSO

I have always wondered about space. It seems to be such an immensely vast area that humans can't even begin to understand completely. Because of this, countless print and visual materials have been created to represent the allure and dangers of space. Of all those materials, 2001 A Space Odyssey may be the best. First released in 1968, the film is considered one of the greatest films of all time and certainly one of the most influential science fiction films every made. Its use of special effects, lighting, and minimal dialogue, make it unique among most films. One of the more underrated parts of the film I think is the music. Compose entirely of classical music that had been released previously, the music is incredibly important to the film mostly because of the limited stage acting and dialogue. The NSO did a wonderful job and many of the great moments of the film such as the opener and the use of the "Blue Danube Waltz" were made even better with a use of a live orchestra. I had actually never seen the entire film and I was incredibly impressed with how the music really drove the film in a lot of the parts. Additionally, I thought the film itself was great and really ahead of its time in terms of the production. To top it off, the night was also a celebration of the 45th anniversary of the moon landing and both the head of NASA and Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin were in attendance. Additionally, the performance was being filmed for NASA TV and being broadcast all over the world. A great night to be out and glad I was finally able to see this classic film in its entirety.

As with most classical music shows, this performance had medium attendance and a pretty easy crowd. We were missing two of our lawn staff but luckily we were still able to get two breaks since the show ran until 11:30. Other than the length, the night was simple and the weather, despite brief moments of rain, held out for us once again. After the show, a bunch of the ushers went out for some live music and had a great time. As always, looking forward to more shows in the future!

My favorite part of the night was the opening space sequence accompanied by the "Blue Danube Waltz" One of the many moments in the film where actors take a back seat to simple filming and music, the scene is one of the most iconic of the science fiction genre and it must have been awesome to sees it back in 1968. Such a great film!

DC

HAL wasn't having it that day 

Pianissimo - Jean-Yves Thibaudet and the NSO

One thing that I like the most about classical music is its ability to create so many different moods and feelings, usually in one piece. Another part that I really like is the interplay between the different instruments and parts within each performance. Last night, Wolf Trap was treated with a wonderful orchestral performance that had a little bit of everything, including all those classical music attributes that I adore so much. Jean-Yves Thibaudet is a classical pianist from France who is regarded as one of the top pianists in the world. He has performed with almost every major orchestra in the world, including groups such as the Boston Symphony, the LA Philharmonic, and the Orchestre National de France. In addition to his performances around the world, he has also played in a number of movie scores including Atonement and Pride and Prejudice (Atonement would go on to win an Academy Award for its score). While I myself am not a pianist by any means, I was in awe of this man's ability and what I most liked was that he didn't rely on pure skill to create music. He really meshed with the orchestra well and relied on more melodic playing than fast paced flourishes. Along with his performance, the NSO did a fantastic performance of the William Tell Overture and Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony. I am so glad that along with all these big rock concerts, I am able to hear beautiful classical music from some of the best musicians in the world.

This really was one of the most relaxing show that we have had. Other than the fact that we ran out of programs pretty early on, there were hardly any problems and I saw many people almost falling asleep due to the quiet music and mellow atmosphere. It was a another beautiful night and while there  were less than 1000 people on the lawn, those people really got a taste of Wolf Trap at its best. As always, looking forward to more shows in the future!

My favorite part of the night was the William Tell Overture. The USC Marching Band plays the song, albeit in a truncated version, during football games and I was really glad that I got to here the rest of the piece!

DC

Puts many of rock's keyboard players to shame

Aca-Awesome - Straight No Chaser

After a weak of pretty much the best shows of the entire season, I was looking for an easier, albeit less anticipated show last night. As stated before, I have never been much of an a cappella fan and while I do respect the singers immensely, I almost alway prefer instruments over voices. With that being said, I can say without a doubt that Straight No Chaser is the best a cappella group I've ever heard. Composed of 10 men who met at the University of Indiana in 1996, the group was signed to Atlantic Records seven years ago and have since toured the world and released a few albums. While all their songs are covers (common among these groups), they really sing a variety of numbers and everything from Motown to Daft Punk were sampled in their performance. While the singing was of course top notch, they also had a very good stage presence for an a cappella group and the audience really got into the show. Overall, while the night didn't quite match the Fray or Sara Bareilles in terms of pure enjoyment, I really did like the group and I was quite surprised by how quickly I took to them.

After three consecutive busy shows, I came to this show prepared for a light audience and a relaxed setting. While there were more people and the lawn than I had envisioned, the show was still very easy and there were no problems. The shows length of 90 minutes was also very welcome (about all the a cappella I can take honestly) and the night went very quickly. The "Polar Vortex" we're having now meant that the temperature was near perfection and the humidity was also down. All of this compounded quite  pleasurable evening. As always, looking forward to more shows in the future!

While the bands version of Happy may have been the best of the FOUR artists to perform the song at Wolf Trap, the highlight of the show for me was their rendition of Let It Go. While the songs by itself and is a stroke of songwriting genius, the group performed it beautifully and honestly it was probably the best a cappella version of any song I've ever heard.

DC

Indiana's Finest 

How to Save a Night - The Fray

While some bands are mainly studio acts and are hard pressed to produce their sound on stage, other groups excel on tour and actually sound better live. After last night, I would have to say the Fray are the latter. Formed in 2002, the Fray is led by singer/pianist/songwriter Issac Slade and guitarist Joe King. After releasing their debut album in 2005, the band achieved solid commercial success in the US with piano driven rockers like "You Found Me" and "How to Save a Life." The bands sound has often been compared to early Coldplay and the piano has remained a fixture on their records. While I thought that many of their songs sound the same, they still all sounded good and I was looking forward to the concert. Incredibly, the bands songs reached a new level live. Issac is a very dynamic frontman and the band drops their muted sound on their records for a performance worthy of stadiums. While the band had less skill instrumentally than John Butler Trio, they ultimately had an equally exciting performance by engaging the audience and just rockin' out. The opening acts, though a little less high quality than our usual openers, had some good songs. Oh Honey, a Williamsburg based outfit, had a sound reminiscent of Of Monsters and Men. The second group, local band Barcelona, relied on a simply guitar-sythesizer combo to create music straight from the 80's. The singing was a little lacking in both acts but they still had good shows. For me, it was the third straight night of fantastic shows and the Fray have no doubt convinced me that they are a great band who really show their full potential on stage.

Finally, after days of rain and clouds, mother nature decided to yield a beautiful night. The sky was clear and the temperature was very comfortable with a slight breeze. The show itself was great in terms of being able to listen and immerse myself into the music. The lawn was completely sold out but there were no problems behavior wise and everyone was having a great time. The crowd was very young for a Wolf Trap show and I even saw some people from High School! Turns out Wolf Trap can be a "cool" venue when it wants to be.

Talk about engaging the audience! My favorite part of the show was when Issac Slade ran all the way from the stage to the bottom of the lawn (yes the lawn!), climbed on a railing, and started singing. I may have casually walked down to see him better and I was able to get within 25 feet or so! A really surprising moment but just one of the many impressive moments given by the Fray last night.

DC

Oh Honey with a rare male-female vocal team 

A power trio with most of the power from the synthesizer

Masters of a live show 

I Choose You - Sara Bareilles

After much deliberation, I've decided that I have a new favorite show of the summer! While John Butler Trio still blew me away, Sara Bareilles put on an amazing show and my introduction to her music couldn't have been better. After graduating from UCLA (such a shame) in 2002, Sara began playing small gigs until her first album release in 2006. Her first single, "Love Song", launched her career in 2007 and she's never looked back since. Her crafty melodies and quirky lyrics make her music very unique in the pop world and she remains one of the great artists of today. I personally think her music is very refreshing with its originality and her personality on stage makes her very approachable as an artist. Along with performing her own songs, she did a couple covers, including a spot-on cover of "Chandelier" by Sia. While I honestly find that song annoying, I give credit to Sara for pulling of the tough vocals effortlessly. The openers were also good although couldn't be more different. Emily King relied on softer music with muted drums and guitar. She had a solid voice and put on a good show. The next artist was Lucius. They used strong dynamic changes and heavy guitar amplification for their sound. I liked them better than Emily simply because they rocked more and seemed more comfortable on the big stage. Sara of course was the highlight and her remarkable performance really made me appreciate being able to see all these wonderful artists this summer.

This show was sold out but turned out to be one of the most laid back performances of the night. People behaved themselves very well and we had almost no problems with patrons. The rain looked like it was going to hit us hard and I got caught in a missive rainstorm on the way to work. Despite this, the rain skipped Wolf Trap once again and everyone was treated to a wonderful night under the full moon. The only difficult part of the show was the length, complete with three acts and two intermissions (one of which was 30 minutes.) Other than that though, the show allowed for most of the ushers to enjoy the night and take in what a full house at the Trap is like.

My favorite part of the show was when she performed "Gravity" with just herself and a piano. At the very end of the song, the rest of the band kicked in and it proved to be the showstopper of the night. A fantastic performance that left me amazed.

DC

Emily King provided soft music with an R&B tinge

Lucius look like a band from the 80s but rock harder than most 

Sara Bareilles has a new fan!

Country With Some Sugar - Jennifer Nettles

Hard to believe that I had never been to a country concert before this summer. So far, I've already been to three! Like I've said before, it's not that I dislike county, its just that its not my go-to genre. That being said, there really are some great country artists out there and Jennifer Nettles is one of them. Known for being part of the country duo Sugarland, Nettles released her first solo album this year to critical and commercial success. Sugarland itself has achieved 5 number one hits on the country charts and their last album hit number one on both the country and hot 200 chart. I describe their sound as country-pop and its slick production combines a traditional western feel with a more pop orientation. The instrumentation doesn't jump out at you but Nettles voice does. Nettles has an amazing voice and I think its highlighted a lot more on her live performances than on the records. She really put on a great show last night and I was really impressed with the whole show. The opening act, Brandy Clark, was also impressive and what I really liked most was that she gave her performance backed only by two acoustic guitars. She's also written a lot of songs for other artists including the Band Perry and Miranda Lambert. While I'm still not a wholehearted country fan, with every show I am realizing that the genre has a lot to offer and while many of the songs are repetitive, there are some excellent records being made.

This show started out easy but then the rain and the heat came together for a tough night. I unfortunately had my first medical incident last night when one of the volunteers at the top of lawn fainted and fell over. An EMT was called over and she woke up almost immediately but it does put a damper on your night and I was worried for a while. Later in the night, the skies opened up and the rain, thunder, and lightning started. My boss made the decision to let everyone on the lawn to move up the balcony seats and it was the lawn ushers job to tell every single person on the lawn. Because I seem to be getting my break last every night, I actually missed this whole ordeal and simply had to tolerate the rain at the end of the show. The rain definitely ruined some peoples nights and I feel bad that it had to happened during the show. Weather aside, it was still a great night and as always, I'm looking forward to more performances in the future!

My favorite part of the show was when Nettles sang Demons by Imagine Dragons and then segued into Something More (a Sugarland song). The transition was effortless and Nettles fantastic voice really took those songs to another level.

DC

Credits to anyone who gives her best songs to other artists

One of the premier voices of country

Pomp And Circumstance - Disney Fantasia Live with the NSO

What could be better than combining some of the greatest classical music of all time with wonderful Disney animation? In 1936, Walt Disney had this revelation and began making plans of incorporation music with popular Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse. The result was Fantasia, which premiered in 1940. Sixty years later, Fantasia 2000 was released and served as a sequel to the first film. Both films have met critical and commercial success and are one of the most high acclaimed Disney films of all time. Montages such as the Sorcerers Apprentice have widely increased the popularity of these pieces of music. I saw Fantasia as a kid and while I never really payed attention to the music itself, i definitely remember watching the different scenes in amazement. Seeing them at Wolf Trap with the National Symphony Orchestra playing the music only makes the film all the more captivating and really highlights the pieces themselves. Songs like the Nutcracker Suite, Beethoven's 5th, and Pomp and Circumstance are brought to new heights. Fantasia remains a classic film and it was a such treat being able to see it at the Trap with live music.

This show ran two nights and both shows were not too difficult. The biggest problem is that the NSO has a strict no photography policy that the ushers are left to enforce. It doesn't help that there's never an announcement to the patrons that photography isn't allowed. It's not that hard to enforce but it does become a hassle and I can't really watch much of the film. On the other hand, it was nice to see all the kids there and I'm glad the films are still reaching younger audiences even today. As always, looking forward to more shows in the future!

My favorite part of the show was the portrayal of Noah's Ark with Donald Duck taking on the role of Noah. The comical scene is supported with Pomp and Circumstance, a fantastic piece of music that I have had the privilege to play twice before at my high school's graduation. Reminded me of my graduation too!

DC

Mickey gets into some trouble in this iconic Disney scene

Hearing Broadway With Glee - Matthew Morrison and the NSO

While music is alway changing along with the rest of popular culture, there is some music that will never get old. While show tunes really isn't my style (give my Led Zeppelin over Sound of Music any day), I enjoy listening to it once in a while and there are some great tunes. Many of those great songs were sung a couple nights ago at the Trap. Matthew Morrison, known worldwide for his role as Will Schuester in Glee, is also a very accomplished Broadway actor. Morrison's interpretation of these classic songs are definitely enjoyable and he combines strong singing with great showmanship. Along with Morrison, Laura Benanti also sang a few songs. Benanti is another highly acclaimed Broadway actor and also appeared in the recent film adaptation of the Sound of Music. Both singers had amazing voices and their duets sounded fantastic. As always, the NSO provided great back-up music and even held there own while doing a cover of Happy by Pharrell.

The show itself was very quiet and there was hardly any problems. It did rain during most of our pre-show work and we even allowed all of the lawn patrons to sit in the Loge since the rain didn't look like it was going to quit. Luckily, however, it did end by the time the show started and it ended up being a beautiful night. Everyone was well behaved and broadway and Glee fans alike seemed to have a good time. As always, looking forward to more shows in the future!

My favorite part of the show was when Matthew and Laura sang a duet of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Done in the popular ukelele style, they really did a great rendition and was just another one of those magical moments at Wolf Trap this summer.

DC

Glee may have gone downhill but Matthew has retained his popularity. 

Another broadway beauty with a wonderful voice. 

We Got The Beat - The Go Go's and 80's Rewind

I tend to write-off the 80's as having produced comparatively less good music than the decades before. While there was no doubt great music during the period (U2 and REM saved the late 80's), most of it doesn't' appeal to my more straight laced rock tendencies. For this reason, I was quite surprised when last night's show became one of my favorites of the season. The night started off with Naked Eyes. Originally composed of British duo Rob Fisher and David Byrne (Fisher has since past away), the group was part of the influx of British artists that gained popularity in the US during the mid 80's. With songs like Promises Promises and Always Something There To Remind Me, the groups 80's pop, fueled with heavy synthesizer, led them to have a 4 top 40 hits in the states. The next group was The Motels, led by singer Martha Davis. Forming in 1975, This California band had a more rock sound than Naked Eyes and became popular around the same time with songs like Only the Lonely and Suddenly Last Summer. The band broke up but then reformed with Davis using different musicians under the same name. The third band to perform was Scandal, led by another popular female singer, Patty Smyth. Both Scandal and Patty Smyth achieved success in the 80's with songs like The Warrior and Goodbye to You. Smyth was even asked by Eddie Van Halen to replace David Lee Roth as singer for Van Halen. She later did a duet with Don Henley, "Sometimes Love Just Aint Enough", that hit number 2 in the charts. They were also more of a pop group but Smyth's vocals kept the songs from becoming devoid of expression. The final group was the band I knew the best, the Go Go's. Forming in 1978, the band exploded into the music scene with their album Beauty and the Beat and the song We Got the Beat. One of the first girl groups to write, produce, and play all the instrument on their songs, the groups punk/new wave style became wildly popular. Along with other contemporaries like Joan Jett, they paved the way for new female artists to gain credibility in the rock world. All in all, this show painted a different picture of what 80's music was like than i knew. I really did enjoy every artist and was pleasantly surprised by the strength of the songs when performed live. The Go Go's especially impressed me and their bare bones sound really appealed to my rock n' roll sense. Really good show and a great night.

We were due for some rain so I wasn't too upset when it started pouring at 6:30. The rain continued up until the start of the show when the clouds gave way to a beautiful night. The lawn wasn't crowded and most people didn't make a huge fuss about being caught in the rain. My mom came to the show so it was good to see her enjoying herself as well as escaping the rain. As always, looking forward to more shows!

My favorite part of the show was the Go Go's whole set. While most of their songs sounded similar, that was ok because they all sounded great! Proof that good music doesn't need heavy mixing or even the odious dub step. 

DC

The hair could be worse 

Still could be worse 

OK this might be the worst

also bad bu they're kick-ass so doesn't matter 

13 and Counting - American Idol Live

It seems every year there's a new singing competition that starts. Reality TV has become one of the most popular forms of entertainment and it all really started with American Idol. Everyone know about the show so I won't go into too much detail except to say that it's now about to begin its 14th season and there seem to be no plans for it to quit. While the last season I distinctly remember watching is when David Cook beat out David Archuleta (shockingly that was season 7), I know a lot of people still watch it all the time and the concert last night only confirmed this. I'll admit I wasn't expecting much from the show and it was actually better than I predicted. My main qualm with the act was the backing tracks. This was the first Idol tour where a live band wasn't used and I have to say the backing music took out any of the feeling expressed in the original songs. On the other hand. the singers did bring a lot of new angles to the songs and a few of the covers really were first rate. The song selection of mainly top-40 hits was also very good and the whole show was set up well. While it definitely won't be my favorite show, I had a pretty good time and if anything, it showed Idol still produces some great singers.

After two straight sold out shows, it was great to have a quiet show. The lawn was very manageable and the mostly teenage audience caused little problems. I honestly felt old seeing all these young kids running around and holding up signs for the their favorite performers. The show ended very quickly and I was out of the park by 11. As always, looking toward to more shows in the future!

My favorite part of the show was when Caleb Johnson, the season 13 winner, sang a great rendition of Maybe I'm Amazed. While again the backing track left something to be desired, Caleb sang the song with nearly the same amount of emotion as a young Paul McCartney and he quickly proved why he won the competition this year. 

DC

Glad there was a lot of diversity on the show this year. 

Hanginaround - Counting Crows

One of the so called most difficult shows turned out to be one of the best! Last night was a long night of good music supplied by three very good bands. The first band was Daniel and the Lion. Led by Daniel Pingrey, this Wisconsin band was more mellow than the other acts and relied on a soft but melodic guitar sound. They were very good and are worth checking out. The second act was Toad the Wet Sprocket. Ignoring the rather ridiculous name, this band had more rock n' roll sound with some incorporation of folk. Led by Glen Phillips on vocals and guitar, the band formed in 1986 and had a few hits in the 1990's as part of the alternative rock explosion during that time. They broke up in 1998 but reformed in 2006 and continue to record and tour to this day. I had personally never heard of them before but I liked their sound and will definitely explore more of their music. The last act was the headliner, Counting Crows. This pop-rock band from California formed in 1991 and by 1994, were one of the top alternative bands in the country. Led by singer and songwriter Adam Duritz, the bands catchy music belies their often introspective lyrics. I only knew a couple of their songs but after last night I've listened to their whole first album and I must say they may be one of my favorite bands. Musically, this is probably the best show of the summer and would have been perfect if Counting Crows had played Mr. Jones, their SIGNATURE SONG. Despite that disappointment, it really was a fantastic show and will no doubt be in my top 5 shows if not the best.

This show thankfully had a lot of bark and not much bite. Heralded by many people as the hardest show we would have, it ended being the easiest big show I've done this summer. While there was drinking, there were very few mishaps with inebriated patrons and not much smoking. Even the lawn chair issue was kept to a minimum and the lawn clearing only took half an hour. While I think we were adequately prepared for a tough show, I'm glad it ended up being a breeze since then I could enjoy the music more. Once again, it was a great night weather wise and everyone seemed to be having a great time. As always looking forward to more shows in the future!

My favorite part of the show was when Counting Crows played Hanginaround. Not only is it one of my favorite songs, during their performance they brought up these two little kids with small guitars to the stage and they played along with band. It was awesome and only confirmed that this was a great show!

DC

Toad the Wet Sprocket back in the day 

The biggest band the year I was born, Counting Crows.

For What It's Worth - Crosby Stills And Nash

Finally we come to the show I was most looking forward to this summer! Seeing three legends of rock perform together is a dream come true for me and after seeing Graham Nash and David Crosby perform a few years ago, I knew this was going to be a good show. Crosby Stills and Nash formed in 1968 after each member left their bands (the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and the Hollies respectively). After releasing their debut album to great commercial success in 1969, they were joined by Neil Young and performed at Woodstock. Their next album, arguably their best, was released in 1970 and they have continued to record and tour sporadically since. With their intricate and unique harmonies, the bands blending of folk, rock, and a multitude of other genres have made them stand out among their peers and they have sold almost 50 million records worldwide. While I thought they sounded great tonight and enjoyed the performance, I was disappointed with the song selection. They left out a number of my favorites including Woodstock, Long Time Gone, Suite Judy Blue Eyes, and Almost Cut My Hair. These are classics and I was just really surprised they decided to play more recent songs instead of these memorable tunes. Despite this, I still had a great time and really enjoyed hearing them perform. Stills really adds a lot instrumentally and after seeing Neil Young in LA this past spring, I can now say I've seen them all!

The show was one of our busiest of the year. By the time everyone got to there seats, the whole theater was practically sold out and there was very little empty space on the lawn. I swear though there must be a bubble surrounding Wolf Trap because once again we evaded another thunderstorm. The night ended up being very cool and pleasant. Furthermore, the show was less crazy than most big shows and everyone behaved themselves for the most part. There also were not a lot of wheelchairs which turned down the work load. Even the lawn clearing went very smoothly and I was able to clear 2 whole panels within a few minutes. All in all, it was a great night job wise and I had plenty of opportunities to enjoy the show. As always, looking forward to more shows!

My favorite part of the show was when the band did a rousing rendition of For What It's Worth by Buffalo Springfield. One of the greatest protest songs ever written. Stills really let it rip and the song took on a whole new style with their performance.

DC

Proud to say I have a vinyl copy of this album 

Dance The Night Away - Pilobulus

Tucked between shows featuring more popular acts, the Trap will play host to a few shows that are a little out of the ordinary. After a very busy Diana Ross concert, Wolf Trap was treated to the somewhat strange but very unique dance group called Pilobulus. Founded in 1971 by a groups of students at Dartmouth, Pilobulus has emerged as one of the most distinguished dance groups in the country and have performed in countless venues and shows around the world. They have performed on David Letterman and at the Grammy Awards a few years ago. Their show last night involved a number of different acts. One act featured dancers moving against a glass box with a camera on the other side of the glass. Another act had them trying to escape from a box. Between each act, there was an avant garde like video. All in all, it's probably one of the strangest shows you'll see at the Trap. Despite this, I enjoyed most of it and really tried to understand the themes they were trying to express through their different dances. As an art form, dance can convey deeper meaning than a lot of other artistic expression and I really respect the people who can successfully deliver a message through movement.

This was the quietest show we've had in a long time. There were less than 300 people on the lawn and   it was a far cry from what the rest of the shows this week will be like. Because it was a small crowd, the rules were relaxed and I didn't have to talk to anyone really about chairs or photography. We also got done pretty early and the lawn was clear by the time I got done with my wheelchair. I really needed a quiet show after a couple weeks of busy events. As always, looking forward to more performances!

My favorite part of the show was the part where the dancers were up against the glass box. Yeah it was weird but it was very fascinating how they used their bodies to create different shapes.

DC

I can touch my toes ok