My husband and I just saw the Book of Mormon Musical at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio, Texas…
The Book of Mormon Playbill…
My husband, Bill, is an ex Mormon and a lover of all things South Park, so it was especially fitting that we’d go see the controversial musical brought to us by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Robert Lopez. Back in late August, I noticed The Book of Mormon Musical would be playing locally for about two weeks. I got us tickets and we went to the last performance on Sunday, September 29th at 7:30pm.
I gotta say, The Book of Mormon Musical is not a show for the faint of heart. If you are offended by swear words or extreme sexual humor, you might do well to pick a different show. Frankly, it takes a lot to offend me, so I really enjoyed the show. The cast was led by Welshman Mark Evans, who played Elder Kevin Price, a gung ho missionary who wanted to serve a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Orlando, Florida. Instead, he and an annoying compulsive liar named Elder Arnold Cunningham (played by Christopher John O’Neill) were sent to Uganda. As soon as they arrive in the east African country, the two young men are confronted by the harsh realities of life in Uganda, where the locals are much more concerned about survival than joining a new church.
The two young men meet the rest of the missionaries assigned to Uganda and find out that they haven’t managed to convert a single soul. Then they meet a lovely villager named Nabulungi (played by Samantha Marie Ware) who may be receptive to learning what they want to teach her. Will Elder Price and Elder Cunningham be able to teach these Ugandans about Mormonism? You’ll have to see the show to find out. I don’t want to ruin the plot by giving too much of the story away. I laughed pretty much non stop from start to finish, though.
Let me just say that Bill and I had a wonderful time at this show. We found it very entertaining, though there were a few niggling details that weren’t totally accurate. We did overhear one guy say that he understood most of the references; he had never studied Mormonism. We heard another guy explaining to him some of the nuances that he didn’t get. Bill thought the guy was probably an ex Mormon, like he is. It does help to know a few things about the church before you see the show, but I think most people who can handle the language and humor will be entertained even if they don’t.
This is a shot of the stage at The Majestic Theatre…
The Majestic Theatre in San Antonio…
The Majestic Theatre in San Antonio is really beautiful and historic. It was a treat to see this show there, even though I ended up having to peek between the people sitting in front of us because they were tall and the woman had big hair. The Majestic Theatre has a full bar, though Bill and I didn’t partake. We had dinner at Biga On The Banks, where we enjoyed cocktails and wine.
The opening number “Hello”, which was featured on the Tony Awards in 2012.
This is from the 2012 Tony Awards. Here, Elder Price is played by Andrew Rannells, who sings “I Believe”.
Bottom line? We loved The Book of Mormon Musical and would see it again. In fact, we enjoyed our night out at the Majestic Theatre so much that I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for more shows and concerts. We’re really lucky to live so close to such a lovely venue.
Get ’em while they’re hot! Robert Randolph & The Family Band’s new album, Lickety Split, hits the shelves today!
Today, Robert Randolph & The Family Band have a new album out, called Lickety Split. I remember the very first time I heard Robert Randolph & The Family Band’s music. It was June 20, 2004, my 32nd birthday. My husband, Bill, had surprised me with tickets to see Eric Clapton at Washington DC’s MCI Center. We had nosebleed seats. But then, the opening band came out and freakin’ blew our doors off.
I had never heard of Robert Randolph & The Family Band before that night, but they quickly indoctrinated me. I liked their part of the show much better than Clapton’s. When I think of that night, I think of Robert Randolph’s virtuoso pedal steel guitar playing, not Eric Clapton’s much more sedate performance. I remember how Randolph’s bandmates played round robin with their instruments, taking over for each other. These guys are saturated with musical talent and just enthralled me with their performance. I went home and ordered the two CDs they had out at the time, Live At The Wetlands and Unclassified.
Years later, when I joined Facebook, I “liked” Robert Randolph & The Family Band’s page. I get regular updates about the band and– I’m ashamed to say it– that’s how I found out that they have a new album coming out today. Lickety Split has just hit the shelves and I downloaded my copy first thing this morning. I thought I’d dedicate today’s post to my thoughts on the new album as I listen to it for the very first time. So here goes… or should I say, “Hear goes?”.
First impressions of Lickety Split…
Cover of Robert Randolph & The Family Band’s latest album, Lickety Split.
This album kicks off with the high energy track, “Amped Up”. With a discordant crash of Robert Randolph’s pedal steel, the song cranks up. My first thought is that it reminds me a lot of a mix of 2006’s “Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That” from the album, Colorblind. The hook is similar and so is the tempo. This song is about getting up and getting going, which makes it a great song for first thing in the morning… maybe after your first cup of coffee? I think it’s obvious Robert Randolph meant for this to be a morning song. At the end, he says “Now have a good day!”
The energy continues with “Born Again”, a song that instantly makes me think it was inspired by Robert Randolph’s spiritual background. The lyrics are vague enough that they could be romantic, but I have a sneaking suspicion that this is about God. I love it. It has backing vocals that are reminiscent of a church choir in a holy roller church. The rhythm is infectious, while the melody is joyful… and joyfully played. The lyrics borrow a bit from well known spirituals. You’ll hear a little “Amazing Grace” in there, but in a way you’ve never heard it before. This song gets my blood pumping.
I’m somewhat less impressed by “New Orleans”, which is a slower song sung by Lanesha Randolph. It’s kind of a pretty ballad about New Orleans, but the melody and lyrics are somewhat pedestrian compared to the energy of the first two songs. It’s not a bad song at all, but it doesn’t move me like “Amped Up” and “Born Again” do. On the other hand, maybe listeners want a short breather after those first two numbers. Lanesha Randolph has a lovely voice… it kind of reminds me of Jennifer Hudson’s. The end of this song is kind of cool, whimsical and creative.
The next song is “Take the Party”. It features Trombone Shorty and is yet another high energy track. I dare you to sit still during this song, which has an infectious tempo. As I listen to this song this morning, I’m bobbing my head, tapping my toes, and really digging the trombone. “Take the party wherever you go”… It’s not a bad way to live.
You’ll continue the festivities with the next song, “Brand New Wayo”, which features Carlos Santana. What a cool song! It has sort of a retro disco/funk feel to it. On this song, Robert Randolph shows off his awesome bandleading skills as he lets his bandmates shine, then joins in himself. “Brand New Wayo” makes me wish I were more into exercise. I might have to take up zumba now, because this song makes me want to MOVE. It sort of channels “Pick Up The Pieces” by Average White Band.
The energy doesn’t decrease with “Lickety Split”, though instead of disco and funk, I hear rockabilly. Even the lyrics suggest rockabilly, as Randolph sings about family life. As I listen to this, I’m dumbfounded by the breadth of Randolph’s repertoire. This is a man who loves music and is influenced by everything. The lyrics are uplifting and positive; they promote love, which is a great message for the first thing in the morning.
Carlos Santana also guests on the next song, “Blacky Joe”. The tempo comes down a few notches and we get to hear some fine percussion, bass guitar, pedal steel, and Santana’s unmistakable guitar. I’m not sure who inspired this song, but the lyrics suggest a devoted friend of the band who’s no longer around and is missed. At the end, Carlos Santana contributes some wicked guitar.
Next comes a fun cover of “Love Rollercoaster”, a song that was made famous by the Ohio Players in 1975. I like how Robert Randolph & The Family Band played this, though it really doesn’t sound that different than the original. It’s in the same key and basically has the same funky mood, just dressed up a bit with pedal steel.
“All American” has more of a straightforward rock sound, with a savage beat and stabbing guitar riffs. At the bridge, the beat turns into a thumping heartbeat. The lyrics are kind of simple, extolling the virtues of an American girl. I like the melody better than the words.
The next song is “Get Ready”, again very funky, high energy, and letting Randolph show everybody how much of a genius he is with the pedal steel guitar. The band chants “Get Ready” repeatedly, while Randolph jams, making his instrument squeal and shriek, then bubble over with music.
“Welcome Home” is another ballad, slowing down the tempo just a bit with a pretty melody and nice piano accents. Randolph welcomes back the troops with this surreal anti war song. I appreciate Randolph’s sentiments. He remembers those who made the ultimate sacrifice and those who made it back alive, but are no longer mentally or physically whole. As the wife of a service member, I like that Randolph’s attitude is one of gratitude, rather than shaming. This song is very profound in its own way, from the challenging melody to the lyrics.
The last song is a cover of “Good Lovin’”, which was a song made popular by The Young Rascals. This is done in the same key as the original, but Randolph has spiced it up with some modern embellishments. He had a lot of fun with this and it ends the album on a good note.
My Thoughts
This was my very first listen to Lickety Split, so today’s post is based entirely on my first impressions of this brand new album. I think it’s damn good. There are a few songs that are really awesome, while a few others aren’t as impressive to me, but are still quite solid. For instance, I wish Robert Randolph & The Family Band had done a little more with their tale on “Love Rollercoaster”. On the other hand, what they did do is definitely not bad at all. I will have to listen to this a few more times, but at this point I think it’s a keeper and well worth the $10 I paid for it.
As of last week, summer is officially upon us… That means it’s time to find good songs for chilling out!
I’ve lived in the South for most of my life which means I’m really familiar with hot weather. For some reason, this year has been somewhat mild, at least in North Carolina. We will be moving to Texas at the bitter end of next month, which will put us in the dead of summer heat in Texas. I don’t know how the weather has been in Texas lately, but here in North Carolina, it hasn’t been bad at all. But even without triple digit temperatures, sometimes you just want to create a cool vibe. Today’s post is about just that… finding music that inspires you to cool it.
Stevie Wonder’s Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants
Yesterday, I listened to Stevie Wonder’s 1979 album Journey Though The Secret Life of Plants. This is a two disc set Stevie Wonder composed for a documentary by the same name, which was also based on a book of the same name. The documentary wasn’t a hit; frankly, by Stevie Wonder’s standards, neither was the soundtrack. For years, I had been curious about it and I finally picked it up when a friend and music faculty member at my alma mater, Longwood University, recommended it to me. I bought it, listened to it, and loved it. I count it as a great album for chilling out.
The title song from Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants…
You could listen to this entire album and just zone out. Just the imagery of the plants makes me feel cool all over.
Zero 7’s “In The Waiting Line” from Simple Things
The first time I heard the song “In The Waiting Line”, I was watching an episode of Army Wives. It’s been used on a number television shows to set a certain mood. I liked the song so much that I downloaded the album it came from, Simple 7. I remember reading a review of the album that referred to it as the writer’s “favorite chill out” music.
The video for “In The Waiting Line”…
I can’t say I love the rest of the album quite as much as I love this song. But if you need to chill out, Simple Things definitely a good album to own.
Peter Gabriel’s Passion
Peter Gabriel composed the music for the film The Last Temptation of Christ and it’s on his album, Passion. This soundtrack is mostly instrumental, with musicians from all over the world coming together to make exotic sounds that excite the senses. I love this soundtrack when I hope to relax or do some thinking, even though it’s hard not to be swept up in Peter Gabriel’s brilliance.
Passion, the whole album because the whole album is so cool!
This music is timeless and intricate and it never fails to chill me out.
Dead Can Dance’s Into The Labyrinth
The first time I ever heard Dead Can Dance, it was 1993 and I was working as the cook at a church camp. I had a week off in mid summer and I spent it visiting my sister, who lives in the Washington, DC area. We took a trip to Ellicott City, Maryland, where I watched her try on clothes. At some point, we ended up in a music store and she purchased Into The Labyrinth by Dead Can Dance. She played it and I was pretty mesmerized by the sounds of this very intense album.
“The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove” by Dead Can Dance.
“The Carnival Is Over” by Dead Can Dance.
It was until fifteen years later that I got around to purchasing this album myself. Even though it’s now twenty years old, this music never gets old… It’s easy to get lost in its coolness. The song, “The Carnival Is Over” is especially chilling to me. I remember listening to it when we lived in Germany in a house that had no air conditioning. It was a hot summer night, but this music was like a refreshing breeze wafting though the house.
The Alan Parson’s Project “Sirius/Eye In The Sky” and “Time”
“Sirius” and “Eye In The Sky” are actually two songs that run into each other. “Sirius” is an instrumental, which actually makes me think of heat when it first starts. It’s very dramatic, with heavy thudding percussion, and a crashing guitar. But then the rhythmic bass line kicks in and it flows into the very cool hit song, “Eye In The Sky”.
“Sirius/Eye In The Sky” by The Alan Parson’s Project…
This song was popular in the early 1980s, but it never gets old to me. And it’s wicked cool. The Alan Parson’s Project actually has a lot of really timeless songs that never fail to chill me out. I also love to cool down with “Time”, another hit from the same time period.
“Time” is just plain majestic. When I hear this, I think of rushing rivers and waterfalls… and I miss the early 80s.
Kate Bush Never For Ever and Hounds of Love
It’s no secret that I love Kate Bush’s music. In the 1980s, she came out with two albums that I think are really cool, especially for summer listening. The first one, Never For Ever was released in 1980 and has a wonderful mix of cool songs, including one called “Delius (Song of Summer)”.
When I hear “Delius”, I immediately have visions of summer weather complete with refreshing breezes. This almost makes me want to eat a salad.
In 1985, Kate Bush released Hounds of Love, which includes the fabulous song “Cloudbusting”, which was based on a book Kate read about a man and his son building a rainmaker.
The video for “Cloudbusting”… It’s kind of a sad song, but it’s also very cool.
I could probably come up with more cool songs… but I must go out and mow the lawn while the temperature is still tolerable. That’s one thing about summer I never miss. Until next time, stay cool everyone!
