My Top 5 Shows!

Since my season this year was exactly half the length of the Wolf Trap season I had 2 years ago, i decided to do a Top 5 this year instead of a Top 10. I tried to make the list diverse but in the end, I'm a rock n' roll guy to the core and I enjoy a good band the best. That being said, i don't think there was a really bad show this whole summer and I think the diversity of shows is what makes Wolf Trap unique. Jiffy Lube Live and Merriweather might be bigger but they also fall prey to the same rock bands every year. Wolf Trap prides itself on all forms of the performing arts and it's a spectacle to be here, even for as long as I did. So here it is!

#5: Jeff Beck and Buddy Guy - No one played harder than these guys and their pure blues performance, even at their advanced ages, shows the true power of rock. Buddy Guy has influenced nearly every guitarist in the past 50 years and still delivers heart-wrenching performances that evoke an earlier time of pure blues. Jeff Beck is hard rock all the way and his covers are so unique that he may have well have written them as new songs. Together, they represented the evolution of popular music in the best way and helped maintain that link to the golden age of rock n' roll.

#4: Carlos Vives - Definitely the biggest party of the year, I don't think we had any other performer this year that was so beloved and adored by the audience. He also reminded me of my own heritage and why I should always be proud of my hispanic ethnicity. The Latin American community came together for wonderful music and dance and I couldn't help but dance a little too. It's what Carlos would have wanted, after all.

#3: Phillip Phillips, Matt Nathanson, and A Great Big World - Pop music has recently reached a new pinnacle as of late and these three artists have peaked along with it. Each of them brought something new to the table and together they created a wonderful collection of some of my favorite pop songs. I don't think any of them played a song I didn't like and they all seemed genuinely happy to be there. It seems pop singers seem to come and go every year but my hope is that years from now, these guys will still be singing to me and the rest of the world.

#2: The Band Perry - When these three siblings first played together, sparks must've been flying. With a connection only created with family, they created a rock tinged brand of country and have seen a huge growth in their popularity. being on the stage really gave me an appreciation of how hard they and other artists work on stage and the Band Perry really put it all on the line. Kimberly, Neil, and Reid are still very early in their careers and here's to many more great songs that bring out all sorts of emotions, as country music should do.

#1: Paul Simon - The only show that sold out while I was there deserves congratulations in and of itself. I knew Paul Simon was great and I knew this was going to be a great show, but his performance showed a man who knew he was singing his last song. Many outlets have said that Paul Simon is going to retire soon and I can't believe that I might be one of the last people to have seen him live. He gave an incredible performance, filled with the ups and downs of his career and acknowledgment of the wonders of Simon and Garfunkel. He will go down as one of America's greatest songwriters of all time and when he sang "Sound of Silence" for what was one of his last times, everyone in that audience recognized the greatness, the humility, and brilliance that is Paul Simon. Luckily, so did I.

Honorable Mentions

Sufjan Stevens - Sufjan definitely had the craziest performance of the summer and while I didn't enjoy every part, his stripped down encore showed the incredible songwriting ability and showmanship of brilliant mind. In the end, I realized that through all the sounds, dancers, and costumes, he was still asking for the simplest of requests; peace and harmony.

Tony Bennett - A man who sang to me, my father, and my grandfather all in one lifetime showed no signs that age can batter every man. At 90 years old, he composed a remarkable show that any fan of music would appreciate. It was pouring rain but very few people left the lawn that day; everyone knew how gracious they should be that Tony still wants to give the people something he has offered for 65 years, his voice.

Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me - Through all the political drama, NPR stands alone as a sign that the news can be informative and funny at the same time. The quizzes and limericks were funny and all, but Peter Sagal and his crew picked a dandy of man to interview in NASA Administrator Charlie Boldon. When he said that people will be on Mars by 2020, one can only hope NPR goes with them.

DC

Pop Sensations - Phillip Phillips, Matt Nathanson, and A Great Big World

We have finally come to the end of the line for me this summer! It feels like the time really flew by but this is the last show of the season for me. It has truly been an honor and privilege to serve as a lawn usher again and the hope is that one day I can come back, either as an usher or patron. Luckily, Wolf Trap sent me out with a bang! Each of these artists were better than I thought they would be and even though I have seen Nathanson before, I forgot how could of a performer his is! A Great Big World is a band that formed by Ian Axel and Chad King at NYU in 2011. They are widely known for their piano balled "Say Something" but their artistry goes a lot deeper than that. They released their 2nd album late in 2015 and also won the Grammy Award in 2015 for "Say Something". Matt Nathanson is a singer-songwriter who got his start in 1993 with the release of his first album. I have already reviewed him in a post a couple years ago do I won't go into detail but he has released 9 solo albums so far and has no signs of quitting. Phillip Phillips is best known for winning the the 11th season of American Idol and has released 2 albums since his win 2012. His singles "Home" and "Gone Gone Gone" were quite successful and his blend of folk rock has differentiated himself from the other winners of Idol in the past. Together, the three artists have toured around the country and Wolf Trap is actually their third to last stop in this summer tour!

I really thought this show was fantastic. People tend to put pop down a lot but honestly it hits home just as well as any rock song if done correctly. A Great Big World are a true band and I actually thought "Say Something" was not a good representation of how good they are together. Their driving pop sound is quite refreshing and I believe they have a lot of good music left in them. Matt Nathanson was just as good as I remember him and he actually came on to the lawn during the performance! He was really engaging with the crowd and one of the funniest and most down to earth performers we've had! His softer acoustic set contrasted well with the raucous show of Phillip Phillips. You might think Phillips is just another Idol product but he can rock like the rest of them and is actually a very good acoustic guitar player. He was able to spread out his hits while keeping the audience interested and let his band play out in many of his songs. All together these artists presented one of the better pop performances I have seen and I have gained more appreciation for each of these performers!

My favorite part of the show was when all 3 artists came out together and sang a tribute to Prince, "Raspberry Beret". That's my favorite Prince songs and they all put their forces together and did a fine job. I think he would be proud.

As always, I look forward to coming back to Wolf Trap in the near future and to enjoy more shows!

DC

Phillip Phillips

Matt Nathanson

A Great Big World 

Stagehand - The Band Perry

People always ask me if I get to meet the artists after the show or if I go back stage after the performances for whatever reason. My answer has always been no. Ushers have one job to do and we're focused on that job of keeping the patrons safe and happy throughout the whole show. After Sunday night though, I can no longer say I've spent every summer in the stands. The Band Perry is a country-rock group who formed in 2005 when siblings Neil, Reid, and Kimberly Perry joined together. They released their first album and single in 2010 and have since scored 3 #1 hit's on the country charts. With songs like "Better Dig Two" and "If I Die Young", their songs deal with emotional trouble while others are uplifting. Their song "Live Forever" was actually selected to be the official song for the Rio Olympics and they were flying to Rio right after their performance in Wolf Trap to perform it down there! I thought they kind of sounded like a younger Taylor Swift with a little less of the teenage angst that often permeated through Swift's records. Their third album is to be released soon and they previewed several of their new songs during the show. Their opener was Jordan Rager, a new name to the country scene who is coached by Jason Aldean's father and appeared in season 2 of the Voice!

This was the cool part. The Band Perry requested that two ushers be on stage the whole time to help monitor the crowd and just have a new set of eyes in the theater. I happened to be selected! Luckily, the crowd was very tame and I didn't have to call anything in so I got to watch the performers for a good amount. I was literally only 20 feet away from them and at one point, guitarist Neil Perry came over and shook my hand! (easily the most awkward handshake I've ever done). The band themselves were amazing! They have much more of a rock sound on stage and they have great energy and exuberance on stage. Along with their big hits, they sang a number of covers ranging from Justin Bieber to Queen. Kimberly is a fantastic singer and the two brothers are excellent musicians. I could also tell that they were relatively new to their fame by the way they actively engaged with the audience. They threw their guitar picks after every song and stopped playing to take selfies with people's cameras. They debuted their new song "Comeback Kid" at this show and it seemed this is a band who is just starting to peak. One of the best shows of the year!

My favorite part of the show was their opener, "Better Dig Two"! It's just a great song and I was overwhelmed with being on the stage for the first time ever which made it all the better!

As always, looking forward to more shows in the future (only one more this summer)!

DC

The Band Perry 

Jordan Rager 

Stewie's Surprise - Seth MacFarlane and the NSO

When I hear the name Seth MacFarlane, I think of a comedy guy who has a knack for light humor and animated TV shows. What I didn't think about is a show tune singer who idolized pop singers such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. MacFarlene of course first came to prominence when he created Family Guy in 1999. Before that, he went to the Rhode Island School of Design and assisted with several animated shows. With Family Guy, he voices several of the characters and was the chief creative artist for much of the time. He has also produced other shows such as American Dad and the Cleveland Show. He has won several awards for his shows, including an Emmy for Family Guy. Recently however, he has released a couple musical albums containing old pop standards and selections from the Great American Songbook. The albums have been successful on the Jazz Charts and he has played with a variety of orchestras around the country. His primary focus has been to appreciate singers such as Sinatra and Martin and to make sure these classic tunes are not forgotten.

I honestly had no idea what this show was going to be like. Was it going to be a comedy or would he stay within the realms of the quieter songs he was singing? What would his voice songs like? In the end, he did a little of both. His baritone voice was quite pleasant and he sang the songs with a deep, rich tone. While I guess one could say there was nothing remarkable about his delivery, the strength of the NSO bolstered the performance to turn it from good to very good. He song selection was diverse and he really tried to give credit to the composers, arrangers, and singers he was covering. It was nice to see how thankful he was for these songs and I could tell being able to sing them meant a lot to him. But never fear because between the songs, the Seth MacFarlane we all know and love came out. He cracks jokes while introducing the songs and while I don't really watch any of his shows, I can't deny that the guy isn't funny. For his last number, he sang in the voice of some of his iconic characters like Peter Griffin and Ted. But for the most part, the show was serious and I was really able to listen to the songs. One thing I realized about these old tunes is that if you stripped them of the vocals, they would still be beautiful songs. Back then, the orchestra was just as important as the voice and behind every singer like Sinatra was a rich and enthralling accompaniment. It was a beautiful night on the lawn and I think by the end of the show, everyone realized that MacFarlane wasn't just doing this for fun, he really put his heart and soul into the performance.

My favorite part of the show was when he did the classic number "Old Man River". This song ends in an incredible climax and it really showcased both the orchestra and MacFarlane's voice at the same time. MacFarlane really gave it his all and for that time, he threw aside the comedy and became a worthy singer just like the men from the 40's and 50's he loves so much. Sinatra would be proud.

As always, looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC

Seth MacFarlane

Somebody to Love - La Bohème

Through my explanations of art forms, opera still seems the most mysterious to me. To be fair, the closest I come to listening to opera for pleasure are the mid 70's Queen albums. I have tried to understand and listen to it when possible but it still puts me off a little bit. Do they really have to sing every word? Having to read what's actually happening on the subtitles also lessens the blow of the performance in my mind. Nonetheless, the artistry and talent of opera singers is never lost on me. I can hold a note pretty well but I couldn't last 5 seconds in an opera. La Boheme happens to be one of the most famous operas of all time! It was written by Giacomo Puccini and made its debut in Italy in 1896. The story, in true operatic fashion, tells the tale of a groups of friends who fall in and out of love under the lights of 1830's Paris. Rodolfo and Mimi have fallen in love but he is haunted by his old flame, Musetta. Mimi becomes sick but ultimately it's that appearance of fate that brings everyone closer together. Since its debut, the opera has been performed by thousands of companies all over the world. This time, it was performed by the Wolf Trap Opera, a summer program that serves to teach opera singers looking to start a career while performing iconic operas like La Boheme!

The opera truly was fantastic...just not my cup of tea. The NSO provided a wonderful music accompaniment and I honestly wished I could've appreciated the performance more! I thought the singing was incredible and they really conveyed the emotions of the characters well. The acting may have been a bit over the top but that's what opera is I guess! All the patrons seemed to like it and the house was practically sold out. A very easy show and the weather was super nice!

My favorite part of the show was when the main characters where in the market surrounded by all the hustle and bustle of shoppers and children. There were tons of people on stage and it really filled up the whole theater! 

As always, looking forward to more shows in the future!

DC

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