Sacrifice Tomorrow, Rinse and Repeat

Months ago, I said I hoped Alec Benjamin and twenty one pilots would both tour, so we could see them. And welp, that’s exactly what they did. What I didn’t have on my Bingo card was that they’d both be here within days of each other with a Herbie Hancock appearance thrown in (in) between just to spice things up even more. You can read all about the pilots and Herbie in my previous blog posts, but last night was all about Alec.

I don’t think functioning on minimal sleep for a week all for the love of music is exactly what Alec Benjamin was going for when he wrote “Sacrifice Tomorrow,” but we have indeed sacrificed many tomorrows this past week, being out way past our bedtime at these shows and then having work and school the next day. Are we doing this right?

Alec is everything I thought he’d be and maybe even more. I’m a witness that he’s just as adorable in real life as you’d expect, not to mention funny. And that voice. I have been blown away by the sweetness of his voice since I first heard him. That, coupled with the clever lyrics he writes, sucked me in from the start. Now 30, he hasn’t lost his signature sound one bit…although I might have struggled to hear it at times because of the crowd singing along so loudly. While I would’ve preferred to hear more of him than them, you’ve gotta appreciate the passion. This was a sold out show, and it was clear that everyone there loves him, likely for the same reasons I do.

This will sound strange coming from me, but I am actually looking forward to having a little break in concert action. We don’t have another show planned for a little while, and I can use a reset. I turn 50 in two days, and my body is like, “Remember sleep? Let’s do that again.” Mmm, sleep… It always seems to happen this way, though. There will be a break in the action, and then all the shows happen at once. The same thing happened last October and again in May.

To close, I just wanna give props to the staff at HOB Orlando. I’ve been there several times over the last few months, and each time they’ve been top notch. In particular, last night we needed their assistance at one point, and they really stepped up. The lack of reserved seating downstairs will forever be my least favorite thing about the venue, but I keep going back, and that’s due in no small part to the rockstar staff they have working there. And despite the large crowd and general admission setup, we were actually able to more or less get the spot that I like, the one I discovered a few weeks ago at Allen Stone - no small feat, considering how long the line was to go inside. Thankfully, most of those people were more concerned with cramming in close to the stage than hanging out in my preferred spot, so it worked out. Great job, HOB. Keep being awesome.

The Art of Sound

Other than my husband, music has always been the true love of my life. From the beginning. I don’t remember a time when music wasn’t my most intoxicating obsession. My dad once told me a story about the day he and my mother brought me home from the hospital where apparently he had asked me if I liked music as the hospital’s elevator music played. As he told me about this, I was in my twenties, and he said, “And oh boy, how you love music. I had no idea what I was asking!”

So, it stands to reason that when I met my husband, we bonded over our mutual appreciation for music, but while we overlapped a lot with the pop and rock music we like, I also have a deep love for country where he is more of a jazz fan. This actually makes sense. As a singer, I’ve always been more concerned with songs with lyrics for me to sing [and not only that, but I like lyrics that convey important messages or tell a story] while, being a drummer, my husband was drawn to instrumental jazz from a musician’s perspective. We’ve been together long enough now that we’ve pretty much drawn each other into each of our worlds, and I have attended quite a few jazz concerts (instrumental or otherwise) with him now - shows it would’ve never occurred to me to go to before but all of which I’ve greatly enjoyed.

All of this backstory brings me to tonight. In this whirlwind week where we are seeing three very different kinds of concerts, tonight we saw Herbie Hancock. Circling back to some things I’ve said in previous concert posts, this was my kind of crowd. Everyone was mostly my age or older, there were reserved seats, and people actually SAT in them! But beyond that, the show itself was pretty stellar in its own right. There is no denying the musicianship of a good jazz band, and Herbie is touring with some of the best. Herbie’s own skills on the keys, coupled with his wit and humor brought it all together, and I found myself bobbing my head along with everyone else and happily hopping up at the end for a standing ovation.

As I sat there, I couldn’t help but think back to pre-marriage me and how surprised that version of me would be to find herself at a Herbie Hancock show or any jazz performance, for that matter. But this version of me thinks it’s pretty cool just to witness such grand musicianship up close and personal and to hear where the music leads them. Not once did I think about the need for lyrics tonight because there was none. The instruments did all the talking, and they said plenty.

Welcome Back to Trench

When our kids introduced us to the world of the twenty one pilots fandom a couple of years ago, we were initially full of corny parent jokes:

That's not to say we don't still say those things sometimes (thank goodness our teens generally find us amusing), but it's also wild to see how big a part of our family dynamic this duo has become over these couple of years...so much so that I've even suggested that when we finally get a dog, he should be named Clancy. [T.O.P. fans will understand.] They are in regular rotation in our home and in our cars. Last year, they were one of my top 5 most listened to artists on Spotify! And last night, at last, we all went to see them perform live on the aptly-named Clancy Tour. It was the first time seeing them for all 5 of us - our family of 4, along with my 16yo's...um, favorite boy, we'll call him. I don't think she's been quite this happy since maybe when we first surprised her with AJR tickets. But as much as she loves AJR (we all do now!), twenty one pilots is HER band as Living Colour is mine, and Genesis is her dad's. Now we are all along for the ride.

And last night, much of Orlando was also along for that ride, having sold out the Kia Center pretty much immediately when the tickets went on sale months ago. I had a feeling their show would be high energy and that the crowd would be super hyped, and I was not wrong about that. But after being as impressed as I was by AJR (twice!) this year, I wasn't 100% sure what to expect. Tyler and Josh did not disappoint, though, and I have to say I am also quite impressed with THEM...not that I didn't think I would be. We've watched enough of their music videos and live performance clips (full concerts, even) on YouTube for me to know this, too, wasn't going to be just an ordinary concert.

To the point, Tyler and Josh have a way of immersing themselves into the crowd (literally) that makes them feel like they are right there with you - because they are - spending quite a bit of time out amongst their fans instead of on the stage. They are seemingly everywhere at once, making it feel like an intimate performance even with thousands of people in the audience. And the fire. There was a lot of fire, which I rather appreciated because, being prone to being cold, I was chilly in the arena, and it was nice to sometimes be able to feel a bit of warmth from the flames, all the way up our cushy club level seats!

We heard so many favorite songs of theirs last night, including my newest favorite from them, the super catchy "Lavish," but I have not stopped playfully pouting yet that they didn't do my O.G. favorite of theirs - the one that really stuck out to me when I first heard them, and that is "Lane Boy." I love that one so much that I have a bit of a reputation for it at this point. With a catalog as extensive as theirs is, they can't be expected to play everything, but man, hearing that one live would've made the night absolutely, undeniably perfect for me. Here's hoping they'll add it back in on a future tour.

Also on the subject of their music, I couldn't help but giggle thinking that Tyler doesn't really even need to know his own lyrics because that arena full of fans was more than happy to sing every line for him. From the first notes of every song, they were READY. If anyone knows the assignment, it's T.O.P. fans. Apparently, my kids aren't the only ones who can recite their songs like the Pledge of Allegiance. This is a thing I know now.

And finally, a huge thank you to Tyler for actually telling those of us in reserved seats to sit and rest for a few songs. Not to be the old lady in the room, but I'm long past the age of wanting to stand for an entire show, in most cases preferring to sit and truly hear the music and watch what is happening on the stage - or in this case (also) in the middle of the crowd somewhere. It was a bit of a reprieve when he said that.

Eh, so maybe I'll let that "Lane Boy" thing slide after all.

Just (Another) Taste of Allen Stone

Last night, I saw Allen Stone for the third time, and I can honestly say he gets better every time I see him. Each time, I think he can’t possibly be any more awesome, yet he manages to do it anyway. It’s a gift, really - to be such a consummate showman and then to share that gift with his fans. No wonder we keep coming back for more.

This time, I saw Allen with my 14yo daughter, just the two of us. The previous time, it was our whole family, and the time before that, I went with a friend. This was my daughter's second time to see him but her first time seeing him with a full band behind him. It’s a whole new level of joy and pride to expose your kids to the thing that makes you tick (live music, in my case) and to have them fully appreciate it too. Allen is an artist I introduced them to, yet she was singing even louder than me at times and dancing along with me like we do in our kitchen…in the car…in the grocery store…basically everywhere.

We got the tickets months ago and were super excited, but for a variety of reasons, I wasn’t sure how the night might go or even if I truly felt like going, but that all went away once we got there and especially the moment Allen walked on stage. Then it was like, “Oh, yeah. This is that thing I love - the thing that keeps me sane. That’s why we did this and on a work and school night, no less.” Allen even spoke to that, as if he were reading my mind - that he wanted to create an experience where none of the burdens or worries we came in with mattered while we were there together. And that is exactly what he did. I had not a care in the world the entire couple of hours he performed. It was all joy, and as tired as I am after getting only 4 hours of sleep before having to get up again this morning, I’m still so happy we went. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

I’ll also say, after all this time Florida, I finally found the perfect spot to stand at House of Blues. That made a huge difference as well. The last time I was there, for Teddy Swims in October, I vowed that I was done with standing room only shows for good…only to fast forward to now and have tickets for Allen and also an upcoming Alec Benjamin show there - both of which are standing room shows. I thought I’d lost my mind. That was one of the things I was apprehensive about going into last night’s show, but it worked out beautifully. Now I just need to make a mad dash to claim that same spot every time I’m there, and all will be well with the world.

As fabulous as the show was, my mind kept going back to this one thought, and that is that fun times and making memories with my kids is everything. When they’re telling their own kids about how I parented them or when I’m no longer here, these are the times I want them to remember. The world is uncertain at times, but I always want them to remember at least these two things are a given: 1) Mommy loves them with everything in her, and 2) Music is their mother’s happy place, and sharing that with them - even on a school night - is a big deal. When the artists that matter most to us make an appearance, showing up for them becomes a priority.

Next up, twenty one pilots in a couple of weeks. The whole family is going to that one, plus one of the girls’ friends. That one is also on a school night but thankfully not standing room! Here’s hoping I can catch up on some sleep between now and then because this mama is tired.

AJR Fever

I honestly don’t know where to begin. There’s so much to say. As I type this, I’m on a quick trip to Nashville. For perspective, Nashville is my hometown; it’s not strange to think I’d be here, except I was just here 4 months ago and don’t ever come back this soon and definitely not for just a couple of days. It’s a 10-hour drive to get here from Florida.

So, what brought me back so soon this time? In a (band) name, AJR. We saw them in Orlando in May after surprising my 16yo with tickets for her birthday in January, and my mind was completely blown - so much so that when the opportunity to see them again in Nashville presented itself these 4 months later, there was no way we weren’t taking advantage of it.

It’s probably been a couple of years since my kids first played me a couple of AJR songs in my car, and I didn’t think much about it. I figured they were just some new band I’d never hear from again. But the more I listened to them, the more I liked them, and they became a regular part of my car playlists. I have since become a huge fan of theirs, and I can’t seem to get enough of them, especially after seeing them in person twice this year. I am actually kind of bummed that I will likely have to wait until the next tour to see them again. Honestly, I have no idea how they can possibly top this tour (the stage production for The Maybe Man Tour is NEXT LEVEL), but I can’t wait to see what comes next from them.

As someone who is almost 50 years old and has seen more concerts than she can remember, I have to say AJR’s show is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. After seeing them the first time, I was actually quite speechless. After you’ve seen as many shows as I have, it’s easy to get to a point where you start to feel like maybe you’ve seen all there is to see and heard all there is to hear. Then one day your teenagers introduce you to AJR, and a few months later, you find yourself taking them to a concert that blows you away as much as it does the kids.

It’s hard to adequately put this into words because unless you’ve seen this tour, there’s really no way I can fully describe what we experienced in a way that you will completely comprehend. It is a full-on stage production visually and sonically from start to finish. From larger than life video screens to lasers, special effects, and live horns, there is never a dull moment…not to mention the brothers’ (Adam, Jack, and Ryan) humor and interactions with each other and the audience.

At one point, they even popped up in the upper level and sang a few songs while seated with the fans, and all I could think about was how fantastic it would be to be one of those fans at that moment. There was so much going on the entire show, and of course, they sounded fantastic. It’s clear that tons of strategic planning went into pulling off a show like that, and it absolutely paid off. Congratulations to the band and their crew for a job well done.

I have to give credit to my daughters for the monster AJR fan I’ve turned into because this band would not be on my radar at all if it weren’t for them. Kudos to my kids for having great taste in music. I feel like they got that naturally since their parents AND grandparents are all huge music fans, singers, and musicians. They have also turned us on to twenty one pilots and Alec Benjamin, who we will also be seeing soon, in the fall. I have no doubt I’ll have stars in my eyes after those as well, but man, what an act they have to follow now that I’ve seen AJR twice in 4 months. I have a feeling they’re up to the challenge. I guess we will soon find out!

Before last week, it had been 2 (long!) years since I last saw Richard Marx, way longer than I like to go without seeing him. Thank you to Richard and to Epcot for bringing that dry spell to a screeching halt with SIX amazing performances over 2 days. Here’s hoping it won’t be another 2 years before I get to see Richard again. He’s always such a joy to watch and listen to, which is what keeps me running back to see him any chance I get. Here are some of my favorite shots from last week.

Allen Stone has quickly become one of my favorite artists - a phenomenal songwriter, vocalist, and performer on every level. Even his openers (Samm Henshaw and Andy Suzuki & the Method) were incredible. I'm so happy Orlando showed up and SOLD OUT this show for them last night!

One of the highlights of my week was having the opportunity to scoot over to Epcot and catch a couple of sets from the ultra-talented, Jimmie Allen. His voice is even more amazing in person than it is on record!

More at www.facebook.com/fortunaphotography and www.instagram.com/fortunaphotography 📸

Some shots from last week when I was able to see Jon Pardi perform live for the 4th time. He just gets better and better! 🥰🤠❤️

I saw Richard Marx a couple of nights ago. It wasn’t my first time and won’t be my last if I have my way. This time was especially cool because he did 3 sets in the same night at Epcot. He was there the previous night too, but because of work and it being during the week, I only went the second night. Still, it was such an amazing experience. He is such a fantastic performer and I was able to get some really nice photos of him. Here is one of them, but I posted a few more on my FB and IG photography pages if you care to look.

facebook.com/fortunaphotography

instagram.com/fortunaphotography

I said all this to say that last night, he actually liked my posts on IG! I was so blown away...practically speechless for at least an hour. That he actually saw my photos and appreciated them meant the world to me, and I am thrilled that he took the time to let me know. Just goes to show how even the smallest gesture of encouragement can make someone’s day. Actually, I think it made my whole week! Thanks, Richard!

I'm still flying high after seeing Ed Sheeran in Orlando 2 nights ago. We had excellent seats, and he was incredible. I've seen a lot of shows this year, but this was definitely one of the best. On the way out, I heard a girl say that it had been like a religious experience. She was not wrong. Amazing on every level!

A few images from my visit to the Pulse Orlando Memorial at Dr. Phillips Center 🌈💔

From the TV commercial shoot…so much fun!

Thank You Much, Janelle Monáe

We never know what's going to happen in the course of a day, and I certainly didn't expect that I'd wind up at a Janelle Monáe concert tonight when I woke up this morning, but that's exactly what happened!  I'd known for weeks that she was coming to Orlando (actually to a venue where I used to work), but I wasn't holding my breath that my husband and I would get to go because concert tickets are not really in the budget these days, and then there's always the issue of finding a babysitter.  Still, for some reason, I kind of had a feeling we'd get to see her, and we did.

My old boss offered a spot on the guest list, and I responded that we'd take 2 tickets before I even knew if we had anyone to watch the kids.  I guess you could say I stepped out on faith.  Thankfully, a friend of ours was able to watch them on short notice, and she was actually excited about it!  It turns out that she might also be our solution to the childcare issue if I start working in a few weeks, as it looks I likely will be.

The show was amazing, though.  I really can't even describe it except to say it was exactly what my soul needed.  As I've said before, music in general sustains me, but live music in particular gives me life like nothing else.  I have serious withdrawals from not being able to get to as many shows as I used to, and this one was right on time.  There don't seem to be many artists these days who sound even better live than on record, but she's one of them.  And such energy... All over the stage without missing a beat or a note.  Janelle was all I expected and more.  A true talent.  I'm an even bigger fan than I was when we went in.

And now, it's 1:30 in the morning.  Officially the next day, and way past my bedtime. I'm exhausted beyond belief, but I'm going to bed really happy tonight. 

Still Waiting

A month ago, I was contacted by someone at Disney World for an interview. It was about a photographer position I'd applied for several months ago and then forgotten about. I was on Cloud 9 all week and looked forward to the interview because I saw it as the beginning of something big. Despite my excitement, only a handful of people in my personal life even know about this. I didn't even mention it specifically on Facebook, where I do most of my online socializing. Not only did I not want to jinx anything, but I also didn't want people who barely know or talk to me to suddenly act like I'm their BFF just to try to score Disney passes. This particular position is specifically for special events - conferences, family portraits, weddings and in-house projects. It's an incredible opportunity, and although we moved 30 minutes further from Disney last year to be closer to my husband's job, and this position would also mean having to make some childcare arrangements, it's a chance that I felt was too good to pass up. I could actually get my foot in the door there and be on my way to the career of my dreams. No more wondering exactly what to do once both kids are in school because I'd already be working towards that. I'd really gotten my hopes up and thought by now I'd officially be a Disney special events photographer. The interview was very laid back, and I felt it went well. But now it's been a month. I was told it could be a couple of weeks before I heard anything but that I should hear something either way. I was also told that they were only hiring one person now but may be hiring more later. Part of me feels like no news is good news. After all, it took months for them to even contact me for the interview, so who's to say a call to come in for the next step in the hiring process won't also come as suddenly and unexpectedly as the email for the interview did? I've had so many other things to deal with that I have had the benefit of being distracted and not being able to just sit and obsess over this for long periods of time. Still, I do find myself replaying the interview in my head when I get a quiet moment, and I start second-guessing everything I said. The not knowing is enough to drive someone crazy. At this point, I am not holding my breath that this is going to happen, but part of me is still holding out hope. Until I hear a definite no, there is still hope, and maybe I'll get the call. Stranger things have happened.