David Byrne's American Utopia

Hi everyone,

In December, I took a luxurious weekend trip to New York City, mainly to attend the Rainforest Foundation Fund's charity concert at Beacon Theatre. (I'll have more on that experience in my next post.)

When in New York City at Christmas time, go see the tree at Rockefeller Center. 

But since that concert took place on Monday, December 9, I decided to spend a couple extra days in the city and picked two other shows to see before the big event.

Dear Evan Hansen, the 2017 Tony Award winner for best musical, was on my mind since I missed seeing its original cast production on Broadway and its recent tour stop at the Kennedy Center. I bought a ticket to see the matinee performance on Sunday, December 8. It's a great, emotional show that's well worth seeing, whether you like musicals or not. The story is important and relevant, the songs are poignant, the cast is wonderful, and the resolution is satisfying. But I didn't think this through: a musical about high school bullying, suicide, and the craziness of this social media age didn't match the rockstar extravaganza I had paired it with. Still, don't let the scary words in my description stop you from seeing Dear Evan Hansen. It's real, relatable, moving, and unforgettable.

This is Broadway, David Byrne style.

I was hoping to kick off my New York weekend by seeing To Kill a Mockingbird on Broadway (which wouldn't have matched well with my rockstar extravaganza either). But I couldn't find a good seat, gave up, and began browsing for something else.

David Byrne's American Utopia intrigued me because I've always liked that guy. Even though I don't follow his career closely, I've always liked his voice and music, and I jumped at the chance to attend a local book signing years ago for his book, How Music Works. I had that same feeling about this event: David Byrne's on Broadway? I think I need to see that. David Byrne is interesting like David Bowie in that you never know what he's going to do next: it could be weird, it could be wonderful, or it could (most likely) be both.

What convinced me to buy this ticket was the fantastic soundtrack, which is available for free listening on the show's website. The synopsis doesn't really explain what the show is about; rather, David Byrne encourages you to come and see what you think for yourself. I was browsing through other show options while bouncing in my chair to American Utopia's music, which is so full, unique, and complete with David Byrne's distinct musicality, lyrics, and voice. By the time the soundtrack was over, I was already sold and couldn't wait for this experience.

It's almost showtime. 
Named after David Byrne's 2018 album, American Utopia, this Broadway stint is a stop on the show's international tour. Moving it to Broadway called for a more intimate experience than arenas can provide, so more content with a storyline was developed and the songs connect to whatever he talks about on stage.

David Byrne does two shows on Saturdays, one at 5:30 and one at 9 p.m. While I prefer early shows, I picked the later one in case anything delayed my arrival. The ticket noted to arrive an hour ahead of time to enjoy the bar area and beat the line to be seated. The bar did not excite me, but getting to my seat did, so I arrived as instructed.

To my surprise, the bar area was lined with David Byrne memorabilia from his personal collection, including several concert and special event posters. One that stuck out to me was a poster for an art installation he provided that toured in various middle America museums. It involved a piano that visitors could play to trigger sounds and movements in different areas of the room. See? He does what he wants.

The Hudson Theatre is old and beautiful with cream ornate carvings on the walls. Entering the performance space felt like stepping into fresh air because birds were singing, and the show's custom-made white curtain, by illustrator/author Maira Kalman, brightened the room with its colorful hand drawings of people, animals, trees, and other objects.

I don't know what it means, but I like it. 

Over the loud speaker, David Byrne made the pre-show announcement discouraging the use of cell phones, flash photography, and recording: "It's pretty distracting to the performers, and we think you'd enjoy the show more if you didn't watch it through your phone." People cheered at that because it's the truth.

Let's get this party started. 
The sparse stage was surrounded by a sparkly silver fringe curtains on three sides. David Byrne, wearing a plain grey suit and no shoes, sat at a table, examining a plastic model of the human brain. (Oh, this is why they were selling little model brains in the lobby.) He starts the show talking about how babies are born with brains that have millions of connections that are never fully used. As we get older, these connections and capabilities weaken or disappear. He then launches into the first song, called "Here," which explains the brains different areas and functions. As the song builds, new musicians show up on stage – all like him, in bare feet and wearing plain grey suits – dancing, singing, and carrying and playing their instruments.

Photo: Catalina Kulczar

All together, including David Byrne, there were sometimes 12 singers/musicians on stage, including several percussionists, a few guitarists, a keyboardist, and a couple singers/dancers. (At one point, they sang acapela and sounded just as vibrant without their instruments in hand.)

At the end of this first song, the crowd roared so loudly that David Byrne said, "Wow, Saturday night, huh?" When we cheered again after the next song, he said, "Thank you! Thank you! There's more..." It's fun to see shows like this with an audience full of fans. We were all happy to be there and knew it would be special because it came from this artist we all admire.

It's oh so arty. 
Seeing this performance was like watching modern art. The lights would create stark graphics, shining spotlights only on select performers or creating boxes of light on the stage in which a performer would stand.

After one song, the performers froze in their poses, creating interesting shapes and shadows. Sometimes, the musicians were shadows behind the fringe curtain with only their arms, hands, and instruments fully visible as they played through the curtain's silver strands on all three sides of the stage. (Sometimes, a single hand would stick out one of the side curtains, holding a guitar for David Byrne to take. It would reappear after the song for him to return it.) During one song with arms and instruments sticking through the curtains, David Byrne with his guitar, a drummer, and two dancers were occupying different spotlights on the stage. During another song, "Everyday is a Miracle," the lights somehow created giant shadows of those on stage. Each song created some kind of memorable image or moment.

Photo: Catalina Kulczar

I was not familiar with American Utopia's music, but I loved it anyway. I appreciated David Byrne's introductions to some songs too. For example, he described one song as a song about a guy who is not excited about having everyone coming over to his house. And, to introduce the story behind another song, he explained that, in the '70s when he was still figuring things out, he thought, "to help with that, I should watch more TV." I can relate to these things.

The music itself was fantastic: it was new to me but also familiar because of David Byrne's unique sound and writing style. It's full of wonderful instrumentation, melodies, harmonies, and interesting lyrics. All of the voices and pronunciation were clear and precise, which may also be thanks to the theatre's great acoustics.

Photo: Andrew Whitton

David Byrne told us that some people don't believe that so much sound can be created on stage by these musicians every night; they assume that some of it is recorded and played back during each performance. (How pessimistic!) He dispels this theory by demonstrating how each musician builds on each other. One by one, they came out playing their instruments, layering each sound or beat on top of the last one until they were all playing together in full force.

Another rousing number  involved a huddled group of six drummers on one side of the stage and a smaller group of three guitarists in another area. All the musicians get their moments to shine in this ensemble.

Does this capture your imagination? 
My favorite moment was when a song ended abruptly and David Byrne walked off the stage through a door-shaped light shining on the right-side curtain. The theater was dark, except for this door, and all of the other musicians faced right, silently watching the door as it got smaller and smaller and smaller. A bit later, David Byrne reappears, having crouched down to fit through the small door of light to come back out on stage. Once he was through it, he casually straightened out and walked around, talking about his next topic without addressing what he just did. American Utopia is in constant motion with full, fantastic music and memorable imagery.

During a song called, "I Dance Like This," the stage lights flicker on, showing all the performers lying sporadically on the stage with their instruments. David Byrne is the first to sit up and stand as he sings the first verse. Everyone follows suit, one by one, until they are all standing in time to dance through the chorus with simple consistent movements. (The lyrics explain, I dance like this / It feels so damn good / If I could dance better / You know that I would.)

At one point after a later chorus, the song abruptly paused, but the performers continued with their dance moves in silence. After a few seconds, the chorus started up again, this time with a strobe light flashing to the music. When the chorus ends, so does the song. Everything is silent again and only David Byrne is on stage in a single spotlight, showing his last dance pose with one change – two thumbs up.

Photo: Matthew Murphy

At the other end of the spectrum were heavier songs, like "Bullet," which describes someone getting shot. David Byrne stood in the center of the stage as the song started, and someone moved a light bulb next to him. It was on a stand with wheels so that the light bulb was next to his head. As he sang the song, the musicians played while pacing slowly in unison in a wide circle around him. As the song came to a close, they paced off stage in a single line, and – with David Byrne still singing at center stage – the last musician pulled the the light behind them, rolling it to the edge of stage left, where it stopped and shut off at the end of the song.

Another moving moment was when the group covered Janelle Monae's protest song, "Hell You Talmbout," which calls attention to police brutality and pays tribute to many of its recent victims. (This is the song she broke into after her speech at the Women's March on Washington in 2017.)

David Byrne also talked about the importance of voting, noting that participation in local voting averages around 20% by people who are the median age of 57. (This was clarified when a light spotlighted the small section of the audience that 20% would cover. Once the light was on these people, they screamed, and David Byrne pointed out how happy they were to be deciding the futures for the rest of us. He said we have to do better than this and mentioned his efforts to get people registered to vote, including how we can easily do it too. We all have to vote, he said; local elections matter.

Don't let this short mention of politics dissuade you from seeing this show! American Utopia is about life and humanity in general. Voting happens to be part of that and one of the many topics covered throughout the performance.

Photo: Matthew Murphy

And, don't worry, he didn't forget what we all wanted. Talking Heads classics "Once in a Lifetime" and "Burning Down the House" are included! He even threw in his arm chop dance moves at some point, which made some of us joyfully squeal.

We all got it. 
In the end, David Byrne pondered that what humans like most is to watch other humans, and that's what he wanted this show to be about: them and us,  human connections. He provided a hopeful quote from writer James Baldwin, someone who suffered lifelong discrimination and oppression, "I still believe that we can do with this country something that has not been done before."

David Byrne agreed that, despite all that has happened and is happening around us, the world is full of possibilities; its still a work in progress. He returned to the topic of newborn baby brains that have millions of connections. Maybe, he said, the connections that were lost somehow get reestablished and are now on the outside, between us and other people.

Photo: Catalina Kulczar

With that, he left us all with something to think about, and I exited the theatre feeling exhilarated, hopeful, and lucky. This show was weird, wonderful, and so David Byrne.

American Utopia is at the Hudson Theatre on Broadway until February 16. Catch it live while you can! And, if you can't, we're all in luck: I just read that Spike Lee is going to create a film version of it. Score!

Hello, Polly!

Hi everyone,

Polly just fits. 

If you've been following my blog, you know that Polly is not new to the family. In fact, she is our first honorary kitty, but she was never introduced properly. However long overdue, Polly doesn't mind; she's a happy dog, who always wags her tail. She rarely barks and prefers to lie on a lap or the couch (or both) all day. No wonder she gets along so well with the kitties. Some think that she's just a cat in a good disguise.

Polly is a mom to lots of pups, who joined other families, but she was left in a bad, unhealthy environment when my sister Julie met her at the veterinary practice. Julie saved Polly's life, adopting her and bringing her back to a healthy weight and lifestyle. Because of this radical change for the better, Polly is hopelessly devoted to Julie and the family. Even Mom lets Polly lounge in her spotless, fur-free house during weekend visits! 

Polly doesn't like long walks because she'd rather be on the couch in the living room. Why go out, she asks, when you have everything you need at home? She is not used to stairs or car rides, so sometimes, we have to nudge her up or down steps, and we always have to pick her up to get her into  the back seat of the car. Carmella has scheduled weekly therapy sessions with her to get to the bottom of these rooted roadblocks. 

Polly's ready for work. 

Polly loves to eat, which Norman and Emily completely understand. But, to the surprise of everyone, Mini was Polly's first and fastest kitty friend, who saw her as the giant, comfy, warm pillow she can be. Polly gets along with everyone, and she wants nothing more than to be lazy and surrounded by our loving crowd after so many years of hard labor.

Like everyone, though, Polly has her hobbies and other favorite pastimes. Despite the car ride, she looks forward to the routine of going to work with Julie at the veterinary practice, where she can lounge in the back and chat with the other doctors. Also, as most good moms are, she's great at helping my nephew with homework and video game strategies. Polly likes to read too and typically reads everyone a bedtime story each night. 

She plays fetch outside sometimes, for at least a few minutes; that ball is Polly's nemesis but helps her stay trim. Polly is best at watching the birds, though, and can tell you what's what whenever you point to one. She wants to get a parrot and teach it how to talk so it can help her communicate more clearly to everyone because barking, she says, is pointless. 

Polly doesn't pay much attention to the news, except for the hopeful bits. She hears all the important stuff from Carmella and the cats and is very impressed with the young people, like Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg. I believe that children are our future, she explains, just like that Whitney Houston song says.

Hello, sunshine!

Polly loves all kinds of music but particularly appreciates the classics, like the Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong duets, and music from the '60s and '70s, like Joni Mitchell; Carole King; Crosby, Stills, and Nash; and James Taylor. Some of her favorite songs are "Take it Easy" by the Eagles, "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac, "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Wings, and "Cecilia" by Simon and Garfunkel. These days, she's a big fan of BTS (but still prefers the fun, harmonizing girl bands, like The Spice Girls and En Vogue). Also, she says the soundtracks to Grease and Xanadu are timeless. (I can't argue with that.)

Polly loves those musicals and so many more. When she's relaxing on the couch, she's usually watching them, along with lots of comedies (mostly classics from the '80s) and fantasy films. Some of her favorites are Ferris Beuller's Day Off (and practically any other John Hughes film); Johnny Dangerously; Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, The Wizard of Oz, Singin' in the Rain, The Sound of Music, and the Pitch Perfect and Lord of the Rings trilogies. 

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and Doolittle are at the top of Polly's must-see list right now. She loves Tom Hanks, John Candy, John Cusack, Julie Andrews, and Taylor Swift. And, she thinks Melissa McCarthy is hilarious. (Polly's actually watching The Heat again right now, and she's also about to fall asleep, so I can't ask her any more questions.)

We love you, Polly!

Welcome, Carmella!

Hi everyone,

Carmella is not a cat, but she likes laps just as much as the rest of them! Carmella, our honorary guinea piggy Kitty, used to live at a school and play with all the little kids there, until she retired to my sister's house and shifted to playing with cats.

Carmella can do this all day. 

Carmella never backs down from a challenge, and as soon as she moved in, she gravitated toward Stephen. She considers him an interesting project and tests him with lengthy staring contests.

Carmella always wins these battles because (1) Stephen has a short attention span, and (2) one of  Carmella's eyes is always open, due to an infection she caught during a cold. (To be clear, she doesn't purposely trick Stephen with her trick eye, but she says he has to learn someday that he won't win every fight. Besides, I think that eye gives her some sort of magic powers.)

Sometimes, she turns to the other side and blinks to make him feel better; regardless, she always rewards him with positive reinforcement, letting him share a spot on her favorite blanket.

Carmella is a born teacher, caretaker, and overall wise piggy. She's always reading and learning new skills. This week, she's taken up knitting because there's only so much to do in her cage condo. She just finished reading Michelle Obama's Becoming and wants to grow an organic garden like she did but full of her own favorite lettuces, carrots, and most importantly, strawberries. Everyone comes to Carmella for advice, and she's usually right. When she's not, she spins it into a valuable teachable moment.

When Carmella wants to relax, she spreads out on a lap or under her favorite fleece blanket on the couch, with a snack, ready for a movie or a podcast. She loves Pixar cartoons, anything with Cate Blanchett in it, PBS, and a daily dose of Jeopardy. She also listens to a lot of NPR and can tell us all sorts of stories from the day. (She is a great storyteller, like all old, wise women.)

Carmella's waiting the show to start.

Carmella prefers to listen to instrumental music because she says, while she appreciates great songwriters, the overused bass in pop songs and club music gives her headaches. Instead, she likes the unpredictability of jazz and intricacies of classical. Her favorites are Jason Marsalis (and all the other Marsalises), George Winston, Vivaldi, and Beethoven. Her idols are Toni Morrison, Jane Goodall, Richard Feynman, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and – obviously – Cate Blanchett.

Surprisingly, Carmella dreams of the beach life. Someday, she says, I'll be spending my days and nights in a hammock between two mango trees, next to my organic garden, by a private beach in the Caribbean. She pictures enjoying the sun, sound of the waves, and a good book during the day and studying the constellations at night. (Did I mention she's writing the definitive textbook on stargazing? She's become an expert, on account of the eye that never closes.)

She says we can all join her there whenever we want, but I'm pretty sure she's only knitting one guinea-pig-sized hammock right now. The rest of us are on our own.

Welcome, Carmella!

Welcome, Stephen!

Hello everyone,

Stephen's start in life was a dramatic one! Coming from an abusive household, he suffered a traumatic brain injury and was in a coma when he was brought to the veterinary practice where my sister works. It was touch and go for a while, but Stephen is a fighter and he woke up to a better life.

Stephen was so young when my sister brought him home that he had to be bottle fed. "Unfortunately, most bottle-fed kittens grow up to be jerks," she explained later. With hope for a better outcome, Stephen is named after Stephen Hawking and tries not to be the jerk everyone fears, but he is also overwhelmed by the genius reputation of his namesake. In fact, because of his early trauma, he can't think too hard about any of this and instead lives somewhere in the middle.

What's happening? Where? What?

Inspirational name or not, Stephen is definitely his own cat. Because of his scarring past, he is certifiably psychotic, unintentionally clumsy, and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder,  attention deficit disorder, and whatever else is swirling in his little brain. He is also endlessly adorable and sweet when he is too sleepy to be otherwise.

Most of the time, Stephen is focused on whatever is right in front of him. He is all about now, and Mini is trying to feed that interest by teaching him meditation and gratitude practices. For the most part, though, Stephen obsesses over competitive sports.

He watches all kinds of sports, including basketball, baseball, football, wrestling, boxing, and car racing, and he loves the Olympic games. He also watches crossfit games all the time with my sister's fiance and accompanies them to their gym to build his strength and stamina. He even sets the workout playlists there sometimes, but his heavy metal tastes don't always suit everyone.

Stephen plays, too, and he plays hard. He excels at running, wrestling, soccer, and rugby, though Mew and Mini are not game for any of those activities. Still, he plays fetch every day with whoever will throw him a ball, though he's not sure what to do with that skill yet.

Sweet dreams?

Although Stephen hasn't figured out exactly who Stephen Hawking was or what he talked about all the time, his current idols are Kevin Garnett, Marcus Smart, Tony Hawk, Shawn White, Pele, Mohammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Lou Albano (because he loves classic WWE), and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (both as an wrestler and an actor). He says he's going to be an Olympian, a boxing champion, and a veterinarian, but he will probably change his mind tomorrow.

Stephen does have a softer side. He sits still for action movies, especially the Marvel, Die Hard, and Terminator franchises. On the flip side, I caught him the other day browsing through Real Simple while listening to Bach. (I think he's honing some hidden talents that he'll reveal when we least expect it.)

His lovable side is most apparent when he's ready to sleep. Being ready isn't really accurate because Stephen goes and goes until he can go no more; then, as he gets wobbly, he completes several meditative rounds of purring and stretching until he just flops over and falls asleep quickly – maybe for a few minutes or maybe for a few hours. He's unpredictable like that.

Once he is recharged, though, it's a brand new day, full of everything, everywhere, right now. Ladies and gentlemen, Stephen is ready to rumble!!!

Welcome to the family, Stephen!

Welcome, Emily!

Hi everyone,

Mom heard Emily singing on our back porch a few cool, rainy nights in a row. She likes old-school ballads and Motown and tried to lure Mom's attention with some Billie Holiday and Tina Turner. Eventually, she made her way into our garage, where she met Tyrone and Walter, discovered the warm bed in there that neither of them were using, and claimed it for herself.

Emily and Walter, communing with nature

Emily loves hanging around her big brothers now, especially Walter who enjoys teaching her the ways of the world. (Tyrone does too but in short spurts because his tolerance for kittens is limited. He asked me the other day, "Where are all of these other cats coming from anyway?")

One thing Walter hasn't been able to discipline yet is Emily's mealtime manners. She loves to eat, and every time is like the first and only time. When she's finishes licking her bowl clean, she interrupts Walter and Tyrone to "help" make their dishes spotless too.

Tyrone and Walter put up with Emily's intrusive eating habits because she says she's researching the different flavors that each ingredient provides. Emily dreams of becoming a great chef someday – "like that rat in Ratatouille," she says – and Walter and Tyrone are eager taste her imaginative culinary creations.

Emily, testing out experimental gardening strategies

For now, though, Emily is enjoying the exploratory phase, watching a lot of cooking shows on PBS and FoodTV. (She is dying to compete on the Great British Baking Show.)  Daily, she explores the variances among dry and wet cat food and the occasional fresh seafood treats. She also enjoys long conversations with Mom, learning her gardening tips and tricks for growing the freshest vegetables.

Emily is, at first, shy among strangers but warms up to most almost immediately. She learns and remembers the unique traits and talents of each friend she makes. She loves a good conversation about anything and everything, except gossip, and she aims to earn a hearty laugh every day.

She watches all of the late night talk shows and also has a passion for fashion. So, while she can tell you the latest news of the day or quip a topical joke on demand, she can also show you what she learned to make from Project Runway last week. I told her that Mom has a sewing machine in the basement and expect that Tyrone and Walter will be roaming in the yard in custom-made outfits any day now.

Emily, sitting pretty

Emily's current heroes are Julia Child, Joan Rivers, Ellen DeGeneres, Seth Meyers, Gilda Radner, Alexander McQueen, Betsy Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Marvin Gaye, and India Arie. Walter has turned her on to Bob Marley and Shaggy, but she all about Billie Eilish and Harry Styles right now.

A voracious reader of books and magazines, Emily knows a little about a lot of things. It's great because, at this young age, she is still trying to find her path in life. For now, she is the poster child for being as curious as a cat, but I imagine that she'll be a star someday at doing whatever she chooses. Then, we'll all be able to say we knew her way back when.

Welcome to the family, Emily!

Welcome, Walter!

Hi everyone,

Walter exploring the yard

Our neighbor always feeds the outdoor cats that wander around his backyard. Every year, we see new black-and-white kittens bouncing in the grass.

Walter is one of them. One morning, he turned to his brothers and sisters, and said, "See ya later." And, without explanation, he set off on an adventure to travel the world. He was thinking of Egypt, Africa, and maybe Asia too.

But he only got as far as across the road, where he came to our big yard. He put down his suitcase on the step into our garage and exclaimed, "This is the life!"

Dad found him in the tree outside our backdoor. "I came from all the way over there," he told him, pointing to the next yard over. "It's too noisy and crowded," he said, as he waved to his relatives. "You only have one cat here, and I like the option of this indoor living space."

Dad checked with Tyrone, who rolled his eyes at the idea of a housemate. But he said that it was okay for Walter to stay as long as we didn't refer to them as The Odd Couple. Within days, Walter won him over completely because that's what Walter does with anyone. Now, they are practically brothers.

Walter does a lot of yoga and meditation throughout the day. He says that we need both in these troubled times. When he's not wrestling with Tyrone, he likes to leisurely explore this sunnier side of the street. In his new digs, he advisees mom on her iPad games, and he supervises Dad's stained glass art creations.

He and Tyrone are really into history. I hear them listening to inspirational speeches in the basement at night on all sorts of topics, from civil rights and politics to climate change and new solar technologies. They have intellectual conversations about them but stop talking when they hear us coming, as if it's a secret. I think they might be writing a book.

Walter in the basement with a friend

Walter loves all kinds of music, but especially jazz, reggae, and hip-hop. His musical heroes include all the old-school greats, like Bob Marley, Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, L.L. Cool J, and Abbey Lincoln. But he keeps up with new music too, like Camila Cabello and Chance the Rapper. He's always plugged into his earphones, making playlists. He doesn't watch much TV, but he knows all about movies. His favorite actors are Sidney Poitier and Robert Downey, Jr. He is sure that he's going to join the Black Panther franchise someday.

Walter is also a great dancer! He keeps trying to get Tyrone to join him in a daily routine, inspired by West Side Story – to keep their joints flexible – but Tyrone just watches and yawns. "Someday, he's going to surprise me with a Irish jig," Walter says of his big brother. (Walter is a very optimistic kitty.) I see Tyrone crack a smile sometimes, so maybe he is actually considering it.

Walter was tiny when we met him. He's bigger now, as you will see in future posts.

Welcome to the family, Walter!

Sheila E. Brings on the Funk

Hi everyone,

This month, I saw Sheila E. at Howard Theatre. It was a lazy day, but I still was first to arrive. Howard Theatre's service was terrible, but I shared a table in the front row with nice people. We were all there for the music.

When the show started, it felt like I was on Speed, the rollercoaster in Las Vegas that took off at 45 miles an hour in 2 seconds. As the curtain rose, the band played an exhilarating, funky version of the national anthem, which ended with inspiring soundbites from great speakers, like Martin Luther King, Jr., and Barack Obama. The electric energy and excitement stayed this high for the next 90 minutes.

I can't find a setlist online to remind me of every song performed that night, but I'm not surprised. Once this show starts, you don't want to look away to write down song titles. Besides, I didn't even know all of the songs.

I know Sheila E. from her collaborations with Prince and her two big hits in the '80s, "Love Bazaar" and "The Glamorous Life." I remember Sheila E. because of these great songs, her amazing, entertaining drumming, and all the times she high-kicked her cymbals for punctuation.

She didn't kick any cymbals this time because she was barefoot. "I used to wear high heels all the time," she said. "But now I don't because...Because." All the ladies in the audience could relate!

For this show, Sheila wore a cool purple outfit with a sparkly sequin details. She looked royal in it with her long wavy hair.

I want to be this vibrant and beautiful at 61, please. I've got to get into shape!

Sheila's tribute to Prince, which I think we were all hoping for, was a medley of classics that included "Baby I'm a Star" and the guitar solo from "Purple Rain," which she ended in a dramatic pose, holding up her guitar. Afterward, someone next to me yelled out a request for "Koo Koo," such an old song in her catalogue that she laughed, "That dries my tears. Who said that?" She played it, even though she had to jog her memory for the lyrics.

Sheila and her fantastic bandmates were all so friendly with the crowd. Sheila was thrilled to see so many hands raised when she asked who was seeing her for the first time. She talking to and hugged some people, invited others onstage to dance, and at one point, walked around our tables with a microphone and guitar to sing among us.

When she spoke, it was mostly about the unifying and healing power of music. She said she's sick of what she sees on TV and that only love will conquer all the divisiveness in the world. She told us to find a nearby stranger to hug, so we did. It was that kind of show, full of positive energy that could change your life. Thanks, Sheila E. I needed that!

Sheila E.'s performances were so energetic, I found myself recording what can't be captured in photos alone. Here are some great moments from the show. (I rarely record videos on my phone, so forgive the portrait orientation that, in my delirium, I didn't think to change to landscape.)

Here's just a little taste of The Queen of Percussion...

Sheila played a lot on that little drum set and even kept the beats going by dragging the cymbals on wheels around the stage with her. Then, somewhere in the middle of the show, she moved over to the big drums, and a person behind me said, "Look out, people, it's about to get real!"

To cap off the show, she played "A Glamorous Life," the song we all wanted to hear. Everyone sang along. Do you remember the words too?

If Sheila E. is performing somewhere near you, go see her! It'll do you good.

P.S. The Kitties are returning! Look for new illustrations, coming in November!

Elvis Costello & the Imposters and Blondie

Seeing Elvis Costello & the Imposters and Blondie was a last-minute decision. I grew up listening and watching both, but I've only seen Elvis Costello live once, with The Attractions, years ago when they opened for Sting. Seeing Blondie would be a new experience, and it intrigued me. Still, inexplicably, neither did I keep up with the news of this incredible tour nor did I jump on it when I learned it was stopping by the Anthem in Southwest D.C. on July 26th.

Instead, on the day of the concert, I saw that – to my surprise – tickets were still available. By the end of my workday, instead of taking the nap that was tempting me, I went to the venue to weigh the pros and cons of the long line I expected to see. It shocked me that only five people were there when I arrived. I will take one general admission ticket, please! (Happy birthday to me!) I made it to the front and settled in for some magic.

Note to self: Next time, plan better with snacks and more comfortable shoes. Still, in my post-show glow, I determined that this was one of the best late Friday afternoon decisions I ever made.

I hoped that Debbie Harry and Elvis Costello might perform together at some point, but they didn't. This was a true double bill: Blondie played the first set, and Elvis Costello & the Imposters followed the intermission with the second set. Here are some highlights.

Blondie

The stage was set with three giant screens along the back wall. Before the band came out, the screens advertised Debbie Harry's upcoming memoir, Face It and had some interesting line drawings decorating the surrounding blank space. Throughout the show, the screens flashed artsy photos or just TV scramble. Everything was edgy, artistic, and very Blondie!

But, when Debbie Harry first appeared, I was shocked and disappointed. She wore sunglasses, a bulky sliver jacket, brick-sized platform shoes, and worst of all, an odd glittery jockey hat. It seemed like an old lady's ensemble built for covering up, and I couldn't see her. Eventually, she stripped all these layers off one by one to reveal her fresh face and a sleek and stylish outfit underneath, and she was the Debbie Harry I remembered. Phew! Toward the end, she covered up again with a flowing slivery gown, which seemed more fitting for this beautiful lady!

What she wore didn't matter, though; she still sounded amazing! No one even cared that they had to start Hanging on the Telephone a few times to get it right. "We're just having fun, right?" Debbie Harry said. "That's what this tour is all about!" Everyone screamed in agreement. (I actually like these kinds of mixups. It turns the rock stars into real people.)

I knew almost every song that Blondie performed word for word and sang and danced along the entire time. I didn't realize how many songs I loved and had memorized. Aside from Hanging on the Telephone, they played other classics like One Way or Another, Call Me,  and Atomic. During Heart of Glass, they mixed in a bit of I Feel Love by Donna Summer, and during The Tide is High, they slipped into Grove is in the Heart by Deee-Lite, which I thought was a perfect song for Blondie to cover. They also covered Old Town Road by Lil Nas X, which I really liked. And, when they played Rapture, I nearly lost my mind! (Debbie Harry told us that the producers advised against the release of this "controversial" song. After all, it included rapping! Who's going to like or get it? "Shows what they know," she said. I think it turned out alright.)

Blondie kicked off their encore with a sultry version of From Russia with Love and sent a subtle message by flashing the presidential seal on the screens behind them. And, just as I had wished for, they ended their set with Dreaming! My night was complete.

But it wasn't! Going into the intermission, it occurred to me that this already fantastic concert was only half over!

Intermission
As the lights came on, the speakers blared Kids in America by Kim Wilde, and we were all so wound up from Blondie that we sang along and danced around to that too. During the intermission, the screens switched from advertising Debbie Harry's book to advertising Elvis Costello's latest album, Look Now.

Meanwhile, roadies switched out the instruments for the next band, which included some unexpected drama! We all watched them fussing over Elvis Costello's pedal board. Three guys were involved, one turning the knobs on the pedal board, one testing out the guitar, and one running around to relay messages to managers. Eventually, one of them unhooked and ran off stage with the pedal board. As he did so, those of us watching groaned, feeling sorry for their predicament. When he returned, running with a new pedal board, we cheered. They tested this new one out for a while longer. The third guy now had a flashlight because the lights had gone down, the music had relooped, and we all sang and danced along to Kim Wilde again. When the guy gave up on the replacement pedal board and ran with it off stage again, we groaned again too, but now with worry that they show may never go on.

But it did! After the set had started, the guy ran back out on stage with the pedal board in hand, ready to try again, but Elvis waved him away, saying, "Leave it. Just leave it. It's fine," he said and explained to us: "We started a little late tonight because we had a little problem with the pedal board, but I told them it didn't matter. Just make it loud!"

Elvis Costello & The Imposters

I must admit that I don't have Elvis Costello lyrics memorized as well as Blondie's, but I still love the music because I love Elvis Costello! I first fell for Elvis when he came out with the song called Veronica. I bought a cassette tape of Spike (in a record store bargain bin), which has that song on it, and I loved every song on that album.

I've also seen Elvis Costello around everywhere over the years, so I know a lot of his classic songs. My sister and I sang along with him when he was touring with Sting. I also saw him on music shows, doing collaborations with Burt Bacharach, T Bone Burnett, and others. I saw him on an episode of Frasier, and I remember when he filled in for David Letterman hosting The Late Show. He always said interesting, funny things on talk shows too. I binge-watched his own talk show, called Spectacle, in which he interviewed and played with his peers. I also read his wonderful memoir, Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink. This time around, Elvis was the main attraction for me.

Elvis wore a cool three-piece suit, looking very British. He later took his coat off and added a bright red hat. Toward the end, he added a sparkly coat that I wanted. 

 

This set was sprinkled with music from Elvis Costello's entire catalog. Everyone went bonkers as the classics kept coming. Pump It Up kicked things off, and it only got better from there. Some of my favorites were Accidents Will Happen, Beyond Belief, Watching the Detectives, So Like Candy, I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down, Every Day I Write the Book, Alison, and the gem of the encore, (What's so Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding. As each song played, the screens behind the band displayed images or messages related to the song lyrics (like "Thou shall not kill" during Peace, Love, and Understanding) as well as old photos and album covers from the band's lengthy catalog and storied past.

Unlike Blondie, which seemed to play hit after hit, Elvis Costello & the Imposters switched things up every once in a while. Sometimes, Elvis played a slower tune at the piano or moved the two fantastic backup vocalists, Kitten Karoi and Briana Lee, up front with him to perform together. Maybe this set felt different to me because I wasn't familiar with every song or because Elvis Costello has a bigger song catalog from which to choose. Or, maybe all the songs they played are hits, and I just don't know it! In any case, I appreciated all of it.

              

As usual, Elvis Costello was full of jokes or interesting thoughts between songs. These anecdotes often end up being my favorite parts of any appearance. For example, he tried to decide which song to play that would best fit today's political climate. He mentioned several contenders, including Beyond Belief, but I think Accidents Will Happen was the winner. He also brought up Elvis Presley for no apparent reason, saying that if he had lived longer, he would have had massive hits with covers of Duran Duran's Rio and Blondie's Heart of Glass – and he performed a bit of both with a good Elvis impression.

I felt so lucky to see both Blondie and Elvis Costello & The Imposters together on the same night! (Here's a little gallery of professional photos of Blondie and Elvis Costello & the Imposters from the show to make up for my blurry results.)

Everyone left the Anthem in a deliriously happy haze. It may have taken me two full days to recover, but Elvis Costello and Blondie only get better with age!