2018 in Review: Musical Notes

Hi everyone,

In addition to Sting and Shaggy, I heard lots of other musicians last year – some I'd seen before and some I hadn't. Here are the highlights:

Victory and Rodriguez at Sixth and I Synagogue (March 3)

Rodriguez, the '60s folk singer from Detroit who earned a massive following in South Africa, was the main attraction of this evening at Sixth and I Synagogue. Many in the audience knew him from the 2012 Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man. I had just seen that over Christmas with my dad and was surprised to find his name on Sixth and I's schedule a few months later.

Rodriquez is older and needed help getting over to his stool, but he still plays and sounds the same. I enjoyed the music, but I don't know why he felt the need to wear different hats for different songs. Also, the crowd annoyed me! (This is what happens when you allow people to bring drinks into the performance space.) They yelled out song requests and commentary and tried to have conversations with him between songs. The hat swaps and the unsolicited commentary (like suggestions for which hat to wear for the next song and which song to sing) made me feel like we were watching an attraction on display at a carnival. Still, I enjoyed Rodriguez's set. His songs are fantastic, and I felt lucky to have the chance to see him.

"Crucify Your Mind" by Rodriguez on Later with Jools Holland in 2012

The best part of this show for me was Rodriguez's opening act, Victory, a local singer I hadn't heard before. She started singing, and it blew our hair back with fresh air. Everyone paid attention. She invited some family members on stage to join her, and they were equally talented. (She's in a band with them too, called Infinity's Song.) Victory told us that she was discovered by Jay Z, and he was helping her finish her debut album. She said that her EP was available for sale downstairs, and as soon as she finished her set and our roaring standing ovation died down, we all ran downstairs to buy it. Check out her album, The Broken Instrument. She is the future!

"Open Your Eyes" by Victory from The Broken Instrument

Franz Ferdinand at 930 club (April 11)
I have the first two albums by Scottish band Franz Ferdinand, both of which I memorized from start to finish. They are albums that don't require any skipping of songs. Then, I forgot to follow the band. (I need to and will catch up!) When I saw them at 930 club, I felt a little out of touch with the songs until they played ones I recognized.

This concert was almost too loud for 930's small space, and the lights were overpowering at times. (Am I getting old, or did I just have a long, tiring day?) But the band's energy is electric! I love a group bursting with guitars. The set included a disco ball, which fit this band's vibe. And, even the newer songs that were unfamiliar to me were unmistakably Franz Ferdinand, which I appreciated. Still, it wasn't until I heard my favorites like, "Take Me Out" and "Do You Want To," that I lost my mind. It was all worth it.

"Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand from self-titled debut album (2004)

Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton at Blues Alley (June 16)
I know Lisa Fischer from her participation in the 2013 Oscar-winning documentary, 20 Feet from Stardom, which showcased backup singers for famous rock stars. Then, I saw her in person when she started participating in the annual charity concerts for the Rainforest Foundation at Carnegie Hall. Then, in 2017, I saw that she was going to perform at Blues Alley with a band called Grand Baton. I  brought my dad with me to show her off. Now, we will always see her whenever she is in town.

Photo: C. Elliot

Lisa Fischer is otherworldly! When listening to her sing, it's hard to believe the sounds coming out of her. Her entire body is her instrument, and she makes it seem effortless. Grand Baton matches her talent. While most of the show's set is covers of songs by her more famous friends, like "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones, "Message in a Bottle" by The Police, and "Addicted to Love" by Robert Palmer, musical arranger JC Maillard makes them almost unrecognizable. Most of the time, I'd know lyrics or a musical phrase before I'd realize what song it was. (It's like when you're trying to think of a particular song while the radio is playing something else.) The Lisa Fischer versions are entirely new and exciting. Check her out for yourself this year at Blues Alley, November 7-10. She'll change your life, or at least how you hear music.

"How Can I Ease the Pain?" by Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton in 2014

Belly at 930 club (September 29)
I first saw Belly at 930 club in 2016 during their reunion tour, when they played a greatest hits set that featured all the songs I remember from the '90s. They said they'd be back with new songs soon, and they meant it. This time around, they played a mix of new songs from their album Dove as well as classics, like "Feed the Tree." While I wasn't yet familiar with the new songs, they were promising with Belly's guitar-heavy signature sound.

While this show offered new music, the band was steadfastly fun, engaging with the crowd. Instead of having an opening act, they came right out and played for an hour. Then, guitarist Gail Greenwood explained, "We're going to play one more song – because we're douchebags and we open for ourselves. So, we're going to play one more song, take a 10-minute break, come back out, and play for another hour. So call the babysitter and get more drinks at the bar because, as I always say, 'the drunker you are, the better we sound.'" I didn't test out this theory, but the second hour sounded great to me.

"Feed the Tree" by Belly from their debut album, Star (1993)

Jain at 930 club (October 29)
I first saw French singer/songwriter Jain on Late Night with Stephen Colbert, where she made her U.S. television debut, singing her first single, "Come" from her album Zenaka. It was love at first sight! Her music is infectious, her ideas are fresh, and her style is unique (and so French). In the days that followed, I told everyone I knew about her, but she's probably known more because of the Levis commercial that features her awesome song, "Mekaba."

For her performance at 930 club, which was in support of her second album Souldier, Jain wore a navy jumpsuit that had five or six lighted buttons on one sleeve. These buttons corresponded with the DJ controller podium at the center of the stage. Jain sang and danced around the stage, using her sleeve buttons like a remote control to add layers of beats and harmonies to her songs. She had interesting lighting patterns and a large screen in the background that displayed images and graphics behind her. Her style reminded me of David Bowie in that she presented a full picture or feeling to correspond with each song.

But it wasn't all about art. It was about the music. I love Jain's positive energy and the worldly influences heard in her songs. She asked us if we were ready to do some happy dancing, and we were! We jumped around and sang along with her the entire time. It's my new favorite workout.

"Come" by Jain in 2017

Edie Brickell and New Bohemians at Lincoln Theatre (November 3)
I loved Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians when they first arrived on the scene in 1989. Their 1990 sophomore album, Ghost of a Dog, is still one of my favorites. I lost track of the band, but I bought a few of Edie Brickell's solo albums over the years. Most recently, she'd been working with Steve Martin on the great Broadway show Bright Star as well as a couple of folk albums. But, now, I was thrilled that she reunited with the New Bohemians, and I brought my dad along with me to see them.

Supporting their latest album, Rocket, the band played mostly new songs. They were good but unfamiliar to me. I counted three songs that I knew from the old days – "What I Am," "Circle," and "Ghost of a Dog" – to which everyone sang along so loudly that the voices drowned out the singer. The musicianship, though, was as great as I imagined.

Unfortunately, the fan-filled crowd, at least near us, was drunk and stupid. Even though dad and I had arrived early to get a good seat up front at this general admission show, we still had to stand the entire time, peering over rows of bobbing heads because people rushed to stand, jump, and dance by the stage and in the aisles and rows just as the first notes started. I guess I should have researched and been warned all the YouTube videos that show similar enthusiasm, but I hadn't experienced this before at Lincoln Theatre and didn't expect it. The crowd kind of ruined it for both of us. Even Edie Brickell seemed baffled: "Where did that come from?" she asked, when a giant balloon magically appeared in the middle of the audience and began bouncing around the room. Where did all these people come from, I wondered.

In any case, it was exciting to see what I could of the band performing. They've picked up where they left off and still got it!

"Forgiven" by Edie Brickell and New Bohemians in 2014 

Rufus Wainwright at Strathmore (December 8) 
Rufus Wainwright's tour, All These Poses, celebrated the 20th anniversary of the release of his self-titled debut album and follow-up album, Poses. I don't have these albums or know their songs, but I still loved this concert. Serving as opening act was fellow band member, Rachel Eckroth, who could be a one-woman band. In the band, though, she served as backup singer and played keyboards, piano, and guitar.

As always, Rufus Wainwright was entertaining, funny, charismatic, and stylish. He made some costume changes throughout the show, including a pair of cool black pants that had a mid-leg section of sparkly geometric designs. At different points, he also wore an ornate black cape or a sleeveless silver sequined top. He gave insight into song origins through stories about his life and musical family too.

Commentary and fashion aside, Rufus Wainwright's hard work and startling talent are what's kept him going all these years. Whenever he performs, he commands attention, and I love how he puts his entire body into his singing, swaying with every note like an inflatable sky dancer. At Strathmore, his unique musicianship, musicality, and voice were enhanced in the fantastic acoustic-friendly space. While listening to him, I found myself leaning in so that I wouldn't miss a sound. But he also sang two covers – Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" and the Beatles' "Across the Universe" – that made me melt.

Here's to another 20 years (and more)!

"The Tower of Learning" by Rufus Wainwright at Strathmore in 2018

Meshell Ndegeocello at the Kennedy Center (April 26 and December 16) 
Dad and I saw Meshell Ndegeocello twice last year. In April, her concert showcased her latest album, Ventriloquism, an eclectic collection of cover songs. As usual, her sweet and silky voice was flawless, and the lush music enveloped the space. This show felt relaxed and intimate. The lighting was low because, she explained, the focus should be on listening to the music rather than watching her and the band perform it.

Photo: Jordi Vidal/Redferns via Getty Images

In December, Meshell Ndegeocello returned to the Kennedy Center to perform an homage to James Baldwin. Dad and I didn't know this at the time, but in 2016, she presented a stage musical inspired by James Baldwin's book, The Fire Next Time. (Check out some highlights of the stage musical here.)

This concert was a version of the stage musical (without costumes and props), titled, "No More Water | The Fire Next Time: The Gospel According to James Baldwin. The show included music – performed by her band with a few backup singers, including the wonderful Justin Hicks – and spoken word, powerfully narrated by poet Staceyann Chin. Despite Baldwin's book being more than 50 years old, his writing is as relevant today as it was in the '60s. This concert was an uplifting call to action that left us exhilarated.

At the end, Meshell thanked us for coming, saying she knew none of us knew what to expect. That may be true, but none of us were worried or disappointed.

"Waterfalls" by Meshell Ndegeocello from Ventriloquism

See you at the next concert!

2016 in Review: Turn it up!

Hi everyone,

Continuing my look back at 2016, here's a music roundup. I went to so many concerts last year that I broke this into section. Catching Up With Old Friends offers '80s and '90s favorites, including Belly, a David Bowie tribute, Duran Duran with Nile Rodgers and Chic, Go-Go's, and Sting and Peter Gabriel. Hanging with the Cool Kids includes jazz and hip-hop greats, such as Esperanza Spalding, Jason Moran and Charles Lloyd, Buster Williams, and Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def). Remembering the Classics reviews two concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra at The Kennedy Center, Forever Gershwin and House of Cards in Concert. Browse the list below and read up on whichever peaks your interest. Enjoy!

Catching Up with Old Friends...

Belly (930 Club)
Belly is a '90s guitar-heavy band, whose most famous song might be "Feed the Tree" from their album Star. That album is still one of my favorites, which is why I was excited to see them at 930 club so many years later. This show had a fun, party-like atmosphere. We were all there for the same reason; we remembered how great this band was, and we were ready to hear them. Belly seemed genuinely happy to see us too. After a long day stuck in traffic, the relieved band appreciated our contagious enthusiasm, and we all sang the songs together. Aside from "Feed the Tree," they plays so many other great tunes, including "Dusted," "Slow Dog," "Low Red Moon," "Gepetto," "Full Moon, Empty Heart," "Angel," and "Stay." Thanks for visiting, Belly. Come back soon!

David Bowie Tribute (Wolf Trap)
When I mentioned David Bowie during dinner with a friend, I got invited to tag along with her and her fiance to a tribute concert at Wolf Trap. I'd never been to Wolf Trap, mainly because it's not easily accessible without a car. It's a great outdoor venue, suitable for picnics. In fact, my friends weren't so familiar with David Bowie and just picked this show randomly to have something to listen to while enjoying a summer evening. They made a great choice! This concert played one of David Bowie's best albums, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, in its entirety, followed by a selection of greatest hits. The album includes classics, like "Starman" and "Suffragette City" and the greatest hits spanned from "Changes" to "Modern Love." The professional cover band was good, and some mourning fans in the crowd were dressed like Ziggy Stardust or Aladdin Sane. At one point, it began thundering and a few sporadic drops of rain threatened to dampen our good time. I'm convinced this was just Bowie directing the show and voicing his approval.

Duran Duran with Special Guest Nile Rodgers with Chic (Verizon Center)
On the day of this show, I decided I couldn't pass up seeing Duran Duran at Verizon Center, which is walking distance from my apartment. I bought my ticket an hour before showtime and got an great seat next to a group of millennials who had VIP passes. While they were busy taking selfies, I really enjoyed this show, which opened with two special guests. Newcomer Shamir, whose song "On the Regular" I somehow recognized, was odd yet interesting, but I was most excited to see the guest to follow – Nile Rodgers with Chic. (The video bio on the homepage is fantastic!) I've known Nile Rogers from his work with David Bowie and Duran Duran in the '80s. He's also participated in Sting's rainforest benefit concerts before. Coincidentally, I had just seen an old recording of him performing with Chic and thought they'd be really fun to see live because of the dance-party atmosphere they create. And that's what happened: we were all on our feet dancing from the start, when they played a few of their own disco hits, like "Le Freak" and "Good Times." They finished off the set with a slew of impressive chart-toppers that Nile Rodgers cowrote with other people, including Daft Punk's "Get Lucky," Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" and David Bowie's "Let's Dance." Paying tribute to Bowie, he said, "This man changed the whole course of my life. If it wasn’t for David, I don’t know where my life would be right now. So we dedicate this to him.” Duran Duran also saluted Bowie, injecting a bit of "Space Oddity" into "Planet Earth," while displaying a young photo of him that I'd never seen before on the Jumbotron. These things made me happy.

In fact, everything about this show made me happy. Duran Duran kept Chic's dance party going. When they appeared on stage, the level of screaming in the sports arena noticeably increased. While highlighting its latest great effort, Paper Gods, the band revisited signature songs that span Duran Duran's entire catalog of awesomeness, including "Hungry Like the Wolf," "A View to a Kill," "Ordinary World," "Come Undone," "Girls on Film," and "Rio." Nile Rodgers joined Duran Duran on stage for two songs he helped produce, "Notorious" and the new "Pressure Off."  Some surprises, like the band's cover of Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel's "White Lines (Don't Do It)," had everyone jumping in the aisles in unison. During the encore, lead singer Simon Le Bon dedicated "Save a Prayer" to the victims of the Bataclan nightclub massacre in Paris. "Music should bring people together," he said. "We feel people are good, and music brings people together, so we play this as a protest against those people who want to dim the light." In solidarity, a sea of cellphone flashlights swayed along to that song. By the end of the show, my voice was hoarse from singing, my throat was scratchy from cheering, my feet were sore from dancing, and my face hurt from smiling. Duran Duran still got it.

Go-Go's (Warner Theatre)

After learning about their farewell tour, I made another last-minute decision to see the Go-Go's at Warner Theatre, another venue near my apartment. I snatched a great fourth-row seat, as the show began with two opening acts. Kaya Stewart reminded me of Gwen Stefani and Madonna while Best Coast felt more like a Liz Phair type band. I liked them both, especially Best Coast, who had an super-fan in my row, snapping photos and gazing longingly at the lead singer. I appreciated these performers' girl-power energy and planned to look into their music when I got home, but I was also annoyed that the main attraction didn't come on stage until around 10 p.m. While I waited, I continued to survey the crowd. Like seeing millennials at Duran Duran's show, the audience members attracted to this concert was baffling, as I noticed people of all ages, shapes, and sizes. I guess I assumed everyone would be from my generation and look like my sister and me, but the Go-Gos did play older songs I didn't recognize and newer songs I never bothered to learn. Hearing those that I know by heart, however, was exhilarating: "Tonight," "This Town," "Skidmarks on my Heart," "Vacation," "Our Lips Are Sealed,"  and "Head Over Heals." By the time they ended their set with "We Got the Beat," a song I've loved since grade school, I was delirious.

Sting and Peter Gabriel (Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio)
After sharing the stage with Paul Simon during his last tour, Sting invited his old friend Peter Gabriel to tour with him this year. Like the concerts with Paul Simon, these shows included their individual bands playing on stage together, creating all-encompassing sound. My sister and I attended the Rock Paper Scissors tour's opening show at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, which had a Japanese-themed décor with large video screens that looked like handmade paper and even a back-up singers dressed in a kimono-inspired outfit. I've lost count how many times I've seen Sting, but I've never seen Peter Gabriel before; my sister and I were excited!

Described as a Battle of the Bands, this 3-hour concert included nearly 30 songs by both artists. They took turns singing their own songs, sometimes sang together, and even sang a few of each other's songs on their own. (At times, one would sit in a comfy chair on the side of the stage to watch the other perform.) While Sting stayed in one central spot throughout the show, singing and playing bass, Peter Gabriel sometimes played keyboards among the band members and spent the rest of the time roaming the stage, singing and making exercise-like moves. I didn't recognize all of Peter Gabriel's songs, but this concert reminded me to add more to my collection. I loved his slow, jazzy version of Sting's "If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free" – he turned it into a new song. He also sang all the classics from his popular solo effort, So, including "Red Rain," "Don't Give Up," "In Your Eyes," and "Big Time." During "Sledgehammer," everyone on stage did the dance from the famous video. Peter Gabriel dedicated his own "Love Can Heal" to Jo Cox, the recently assassinated Parliament member, whom he'd met years before as a young activist. Sting dedicated his song "Fragile" to the victims of the recent night-club shooting in Orlando. His selected songs spanned his Police and solo years. I was excited to hear the Police songs "Invisible Sun" "Driven to Tears," and "Walking in Your Footsteps" and solo tunes, like "If I Ever Lose my Faith in You," and "Hounds of Winter." Granted, I've loved both of these headliners since the '80s, but the collective musicianship and showmanship brought together for this concert was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Hanging Out with the Cool Kids...

Esperanza Spaulding (930 Club)

I first saw Esperanza Spalding on The Late Show with David Letterman. I was impressed with her voice, her bass-playing, and her wild hair. Since then, she's shown up in all sorts of places, including Sting's rainforest benefit concert at Carnegie Hall, World Jazz Day at the White House, and Smokey Robinson's Library of Congress Gershwin Prize concert, playing and singing all sorts of music. Although her usual genre is jazz, she showed up at 930 club in support of her latest rock-laden concept album Emily's D+Evolution. I didn't listen to this fantastic album enough before the show to fully understand what was happening on stage. Not only did Esperanza sport a new look of long braids, big glasses, a crown, and a colorful jumpsuit that reminded me of Steven Tyler, but the performance included storytelling with three other singers in specific roles, puppetry, and choreography. Some people who were there because of Esperanza's jazz background were disappointed and confused by this new incarnation, but I knew there had to be a reason behind booking 930 club instead of Blues Alley. Even if we didn't fully grasp the story, the music – which showcased her voice and musicality – made it worth it. Esperanza is ahead of her time and always trying new things that will take her further. We're lucky to be along for the ride.

Jason Moran and Charles Lloyd (Kennedy Center) and Buster Williams (Blues Alley)
I'm lumping these two jazz shows together because I saw them during a jazzy weekend with my dad. Jason Moran, who took over as Artistic Director for Jazz at The Kennedy Center in 2011, has brought so many great shows at different price levels to the Kennedy Center, introducing audiences of all ages to the jazz. We had seen Jason Moran doing amazing things at the piano before, but we only knew saxophonist Charles Lloyd by name. When the 78-year-old shuffled on stage, we knew we were in for something great. While we didn't recognize the music, which we later learned was from their 2013 album Hagar's Song, we loved it. Charles Lloyd has a just-rolled-out-of-bed-and-started-playing coolness and years of hard work and talent to back up that reputation.


Seeing Buster Williams at Blues Alley gave me a similar feeling. You could tell this old bassist was enjoying himself and his happy spirit was infectious. But the reason we bought our tickets for this show was not Buster Williams; it was his quartet's drummer, Jeff "Tain" Watts. We'd seen Jeff Watts before, and like Buster Williams, he loves playing his instrument. Jeff Watts goes into a blissful zone, drumming along with a serene smile and blank gaze. He transports to a different world through his instrument, a world you can only imagine is the best place to visit.

Patty Larkin and Suzzy Roche & Lucy Wainwright Roche 
(The Hamilton)

Once you see Lucy Wainwright Roche, you might be hooked for life. She tells great, funny stories, like the time she and her mom, Suzzy Roche, performed a cover of the Eagles classic "Desperado" at "one of my dad's weddings" without realizing (until they started singing) that its lyrics were inappropriate for the event. She has a disarming demeanor on stage that feels like that of an old friend. Touring with her mom in support of their 2013 album Fairytale and Myrth, everyone at this stop at the Hamilton could see where she gets these endearing traits. (When Lucy announced she was going to sing some songs on her own, her mom decided to take a nap at her feet while she sang.) Between our bouts of laughter were wonderful songs. I've figured out that I love the Wainwrights not only because of their great voices and musicality but because of their ability to write sad songs to happy melodies. That's my kind of music.

Joining them on this tour was Patty Larkin, who I hadn't heard of before but has a well-earned 30-year career behind her and a loyal following in attendance. I liked many of her songs, but I was most impressed by her guitar playing. She played both acoustic and electric guitar with blurry speed and precision. She even used a violin bow on her electric guitar, creating sounds (and sights) I hadn't experienced before. This evening, led by these three powerful ladies, ended up being one of my favorites of the year.

Yasiin Bey, aka Mos Def (Kennedy Center)

I don't like going out on New Year's Eve, especially when I have a cold. When Mos Def announced he'd be performing farewell concerts at The Kennedy Center, though, I couldn't miss it. I've always found Mos Def interesting and liked him as an actor. I also have a few of his songs from the great Lackawanna Blues soundtrack on my iPod. Luckily, I attended the concert with a friend who knew more about his music and could ask her questions. This show was improvisational and so laid back that, at times, it felt like a rehearsal to me. Also, throughout the concert, a French film from the '60s, featuring (I assume) African tribal characters, played silently in the background and was never explained. Still, we were all excited to catch Mos Def while we could before he heads off to Africa himself for a new chapter in his life, pursuing painting and focusing on his arts, culture and lifestyle collective, A Country Called Earth. I told you he was interesting.

Remembering the Classics...

Forever Gershwin (Kennedy Center)

You can't go wrong with a concert of George Gershwin music. Forever Gershwin, performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, caught my eye because of Jason Moran's involvement. Everything I've seen Jason Moran work on for The Kennedy Center has been special. Here, he premiered jazz-heavy variations of Gershwin classics, including three preludes, "Embraceable You" and "Fascinating Rhythm." I also really liked the show's introductory piece, "Cuban Overture," which I'd never heard before. You could feel Cuba's energy in it. The second half of the show was a selection of songs from Porgy and Bess, Gershwin's classic opera. I love some of these songs, like "Summertime," "My Man's Gone Now," and "It Ain't Necessarily So." Norm Lewis as "Porgy" had a wonderful deep voice and lots of personality, and Alicia Hall Moran (Jason Moran's wife) as "Bess" was fantastic too. To top things off, they were accompanied at times by the Heritage Signature Chorale, a massive group of voices that shook our seats. This was a night of great music, unaffected by my disappointing, expensive front-row seat that offered very little to see.

House of Cards in Concert (Kennedy Center)

I decided to go to this world-premiere National Symphony Orchestra concert at The Kennedy Center on the day of the show. I kept seeing ads for it, and I also got Season 4, Disc 1 of House of Cards from Netflix that day. I didn't need any more hints and braved a July heat advisory to get there. I'm so glad I did. House of Cards is one of my favorite shows, even if it makes me feel slimy after every episode. Everyone knows I love Robin Wright, and her star turn opposite the equally amazing Kevin Spacey makes it all worth it! But I really went to this concert for the music. I love this show's theme song, and when they played it at the concert, I realized I wasn't alone. Everyone cheered when the signature trumpet notes played; our excitement was similar to hearing the Star Wars theme at the movies. For this performance, composer Jeff Beal created suites that capture the show's themes and characters. He served as conductor and played the trumpet every once in a while. His wife appeared during certain suites to add an operatic voice to it that I had always assumed was some sort of physical musical instrument. His son was in the orchestra playing bass (as he does for the show). The music was paired with snippets of scenes from the series, sometimes with bits of dialogue. I couldn't tell what was happening during the scenes from Season 4, but Jeff Beal was thoughtful about that, ensuring that nothing made too much sense for those of us who hadn't caught up on that season yet. (Thank you, but I also wanted to run home to find out what was happening!) Here's a trailer about the concert to help you see what it was like.

For an extra treat, some cast members (who were sitting in my row) joined Politico's Joe Schatz on stage for a panel discussion about working on the show. No, Robin Wright and Kevin Spacey were not there, but I was excited to see Michael Kelly (who plays Doug Stamper so creepily on the show and is so funny in real life), Michel Gill (President Garrett), Jayne Atkinson (who plays Secretary of State Catherine Durant and seems so nice and down to earth), Rachel Brosnahan (Rachel Posner, even though she didn't say anything),  and Boris McGiver (Tom Hammerschmidt). Executive Producer Beau Willimon and Executive Producer, Author, and Original Book and U.K. Series Creator Lord Michael Dobbs were also there to offer their insights. I loved this immersive House of Cards experience! Bring on Season 5, please!

Wow, 2016 was really filled with music for me, and I'm not quite done! I'll wrap up my look back at 2016 with my next post, revisiting the latest Rainforest Fund Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall in New York. For Sting, I travel.

Best,


Image credits: Belly: B.C. Kagan; David Bowie album cover: RCA Victor; Nile Rodgers and Chic and Duran Duran: Matt Condon; Go-Gos: Matt Condon; Sting and Peter Gabriel: Shawn Farrell;  Esperanza Spalding: Josh Sisk; Jason Moran and Charles Lloyd: TVJazz.tv; Buster Williams: Paola Visone; Lucy Wainwright Roche & Suzzy Roche: unknown (courtesy of Eventsi); Patty Larkin: unknown (courtesy of The Hamilton DC); Yasiin Bey: Jati Lindsay/courtesy of The Kennedy Center); Forever Gershwin: unknown (courtesy of Access Granted Journal); House of Cards panel: unknown (Courtesy of cdninstrgram.com).