Live Entertainment Blog

Earlier this year, we got to hear a new album from the Decemberists called “Hazards of Love.” It was a very interesting production, a concept album in construction and design. The music was at times touching and at other times fully overwhelming. More recently, the group has started touring again and playing the entire album straight through, which you have probably seen other groups do over the last few years. But this group added one extra level: they have an animated film to go along with the music “Hazards of Love Visualized” which shows the story of the album. I have heard that it’s a very nice show and that with the animation, it’s almost better than when you just hear the CD. I don’t know if everyone feels that way, but people for sure enjoyed this new way of putting an album onstage.

Just a few days ago, Garth Brooks announced that he would be coming out of retirement and start recording once again. Once one of country music’s biggest stars, he stopped recording and touring several years ago in order to have more family time and to pursue other interests. The musician is especially interested in getting his music to a younger audience, who have been coming over to country music in droves, especially with the emerging of Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift. But this guy is the original. It will be a great series of performances starting next year. He just announced a few dates to start with, though it’s probable that there will be more added to the schedule shortly. We last saw him in concert in 2007, just for a few shows, so everyone seems excited to get Garth Brooks Las Vegas tickets and hear him in person once again!

There is a stadium in Key Biscayne, FL, called Miami Marine Stadium and its days might be numbered. The stadium, designed and built in the early 60’s, was the center of many big events, including Richard Nixon’s embrace of Sammy Davis Jr, and a crazy Jimmy Buffett concert in 1985. In 1992, the stadium was closed after Hurricane Andrew hit and it was deemed to be unsafe for people to visit. Since then, there has been graffiti added to its walls and animal nesting within those walls. It has also become a source of debate for people at the World Monument Fund. It was declared a world monument and is supposed to be held intact. But people in the area say that it has become an eyesore, a danger, and a waste of land that could be used for housing or tourism. The debate will continue for a long time yet, so we’ll have to wait to find out the fate of the beloved stadium.

As Moby goes through his career, he has changed in big ways. He was one of the biggest alternative DJs/musicians back in 1999 when Play came out. People loved that disc, both his own music and the music that he remixed from sound bites he used to his own music. But when he performs, you will be able to hear his newest music. It’s been one of the most entertaining things. The reviewer I read, however, didn’t enjoy it quite as much, because there were several songs that he covered and so on. He is no longer the top musician, but he is still very talented and performing a mixture of new and old songs is ultimately the right decision for him to make, I think. Catch him performing throughout the fall if you have time and inclination.

The show: “An Apology for the Course and Outcome of Certain Events Delivered By Dr. John Faustus on This His Final Evening.” The review: everyone likes this show a lot. It is one of the most fun shows that you can see this year. There is a small space where the people can watch the show and it will be even better if you can see it. There are two characters: Faustus and Mephisto. Mephisto sits there silently the entire time and Faustus delivers a long monologue onstage, explaining why all the versions of his story are wrong and it’s interesting to see what happens during the show. The actor, Mr. O’Reilly, knows the part really well, because he was Mephisto in the original production of this show, and has found a way to make the show really interesting and exciting.

When the Dave Matthews Band takes the stage, there are always interesting people to see all around. The fun that you can have at the concert is better than at most other concerts. His current tour is a lot more like his earlier ones were. In case you haven’t been following the groups career so closely, they were really interesting and different before. But then they became famous and started to coast, playing a little bit forumulaic. They remained popular, but people didn’t like the music as much and it didn’t seem to have the amount of heart that it used to. The DMB has become much better now after their difficult year last year. They’ve gone back to their roots and it’s a great time for anyone who gets to hear their newest work.