Tran-Siberian Orchestra Play In Little Rock on December 29, 2007

My mom and I went to see the Tran-Siberian Orchestra in Little Rock, Arkansas.  I never even heard of them until she told me about them last year, but they apparently have been around since 1996.  I really enjoyed the show and I definitely love what they are doing with music.  What they are is this huge group (I believe of about 10 musicians), and some of them are classically trained and some were rock musicians.  What they are doing is bringing classical music to the rock fans.  They are definitely a group I feel will be around for a long time and if they ever come to your town their show is definitely worth going to!  Laser lights and everything!  I give them 5 stars out of 5 stars.

LIVIN’ IN THE CITY

 

(VERSE:)
I live in a small rural town where everything closes down
Nothing ever goes on around.
So I close my eyes and all I can think about
Is my past big city life!

(CHORUS:)
Livin’ in the city, life can be so pretty
In the city, that’s where I come from

(VERSE:)
Concrete all around
Night life all abound
There is always something to do, there is always something new
Where traffic jams are nothing new
But you can always get through if you knew what to do

(CHORUS)

(VERSE:)
City limits – never ending.
Something to do everywhere you turn to
30 miles – another suburb
look here, look there – another mall
downtown buildings can be so tall

(CHORUS)

(VERSE:)
In the sky – aircraft all around
Sometimes you can get lost and never be found
At night you see the neon lights
And when you’re cruisin’ you run into the traffic lights

(CHORUS)

“LONG ROAD OUT OF EDEN” CD review

It took them 20 some odd years and a few live gigs since they got back together in 1994, but The Eagles have officially came back on October 30, 2007. That date marks a date in Eagles history because even though they have been back together since the Hell Freezes Over tour in 1994, they haven’t really put out many new studio tracks – just a few here and there. “Hell Freezes Over” had 4 new tracks and the rest were live tracks of their best songs. There double CD they put out back in 2002 titled “The Very Best of The Eagles” had “Hole In The World.” We were beginning to wonder if they were going to put out a new studio disc. After waiting for 13 years (how long they been back together) they finally recorded a new studio disc. 2 discs – 11 on disc 1, 9 on disc 2. This time however, the album is exclusively sold at wal-mart or on their website.

Both CDs have the full eagles sound on it. The first disc starts out with “No More Walks In The Wood” – it’s an a-capella song that kind of reminds me “seven bridges road.” Than comes a countrified-rock “how long” sung by Glenn Frey. Obviously a hit. “busy being fabulous” – sung by Don Henley. Another great track. Above all, I think my most favorite track so far is the next track. “What Do I Do With My Heart” sung by the great Glenn Frey. It’s a slow love song. The next track is sung by who I’d like to call the comedian of the crime “Guilty Of The Crime” by Joe Walsh. Then Glenn Frey sings the mellow rocker “I Don’t Want To Hear Anymore.” Don Henley than sings the mellow “Waiting In The Weeds.” “No More Cloudy Days” sung by Glenn Frey was previewed on their Farewell 1 tour. It’s another really awesome track which is single material. “Fast Company” is a rocky song sung by Don Henley and Glenn Frey. “Do Something” is a very mellow hit sung by Glenn Frey. The last track on the first disc is “You Are Not Alone” – another mellow track by Glenn Frey.

It seems like Disc 2 is more or less about anti-terrorism and the war in Iraq and it opens with the title track. Despite the fact it’s about 10 minutes long, “Long Road Out Of Eden” is a great mellow song sung by Don Henley. “I Dreamed There Was No War” is a 1 and a half minute instrumental by Glenn Frey, he than goes on to sing the rocker “Somebody.” Don Henley than sings the rocky “Frail Grasp On The Big Picture” – which seems to be about the media. Joe Walsh than goes on to sing “Last Good Time In Town”. Glenn Frey than sings the mellow “I Love To Watch A Woman Dance.” Don Henley than sings the rocky number “Business As Usual” and the mellow “Center of The Universe” with Glenn Frey. Glenn Frey than sings the closing track – the mellow “It’s Your World Now.”

Overall, “Long Road Out of Eden” is an awesome album. Even though you can tell there changes in styles in the songs since their albums of the 1970s – you still can hear the Eagles distinctive sound. That’s one thing that will never change. If you love The Eagles go out and buy this CD. You won’t be disappointed.

Spring 2007 Performance At The Lyric Theatre, Harrison, Arkansas

 

For those of you who weren’t at the Lyric Theater in Harrison, Arkansas you missed such a great show! I was with one of the acts, so of course I didn’t have to pay the $10 fee to get in. It started at 8:00pm and lasted until 10:00pm. It had this little 4 year old girl sing a country song - which was really cute. (http://www.thelyricharrison.com).

The Kingtut Blues Band (which I am happy and proud to say that I am very involved a lot with. My best friend is the leader of the group. I try to help the band out a lot when I’m needed because I’m younger, and they need some help loading/unloading equipment. – I am one of the few people who is proud to call themselves a roadie. I just love music, so I wouldn’t care if I’m just a rodie). The band sounds much better than it had a few years ago. Now because of new personnel with the band, they play quite a few originals, also. Griz Adams (who plays keys, harp and sax for the band) sings "Start Singin' The Blues" which he wrote, which is a very good blues song. Bill Lusk (on rhythm guitar) sings "Too Much Time." A song he wrote a few years back. Both are very good numbers in there own right. Tut and I both agree each is a great asset to the band. After there set, the band than played for “Elvis”! Cody Slaughter is a 15 year old kid who is an awesome Elvis Impersonator. I swear, he must eat sleep and dream Elvis! He was that good! There is a performance on May 12th with this Elvis Impersonator at the Lyric Theater on May 12th. If you are in the area, you should see him. The Kingtut Blues Band will be backing him too, so if you go you are most definitely in for a real treat!!! After that, there was a great accordion player. And that was all before the intermission! Just wait, it gets even better - and Tut even joined us in the audience to watch the rest of the show too! (http://www.kingtutbluesband.com).

After the intermission, the host of the show (who is from the country station KHOZ) came back on stage and was looking for guys without much hair. Tut was busy talking to someone so he didn't really know what was going on. I motioned him to get up there and he just gives me this look and asks me why. I just told him to get up there. When he got up there, he figured out why he was going up there soon enough. That was when he put his cap back on. The host from KHOZ yelled at him for that, making him take it off.

They were looking for the guy with the least amount of hair, so I had our group clap harder when they came up to Tut. They voted for a 3rd place winner, 2nd place winner, and a 1st place winner. The 3rd and 2nd place winners won tickets to a Branson show and the 1st place winner won 2 tickets to see the Titanic Museum in Branson. Tut didn't win anything though.

And then there was a 16 year old dancer who did a couple routines (a country song I can't remember and than "Let's Get It Started" by the Black Eyed Peas). She was such a great dancer (and runs her own dance studio in Harrison by the way). Her name was Dalia Garrison and her dance troupe is called "High Voltage." They'll be on the TV show "America's Got Talent" sometime soon, so be on the look-out for her on national TV. Very awesome dancing routine she has, which she choreographed herself!

After that, they brought out Taylor Reed to do some magic (yes, the Taylor Reed that performs in Branson). He is a really awesome magician and he has really great stage presence. I have never had the honor to see his show yet, but after what I saw tonight, it's definitely on my list of definite must see Branson shows. I did have the honor to shake his hand though, and tell him how great he was - so I guess you could say I got to meet him. He was loading up his "supplies" after the show tonight when I was helping Tut load up his gear, and I joked with him for a second by saying, "Now don't be sawing any more people in half, that'll cause a major lawsuit," and he thought it was funny. (http://www.taylorreed.com).

The next act was a great one in their own right. It was the "From Patsy To Present" show in Branson. They did 4 songs to give you a great idea on what their show is like. I was kind of skeptical about them at first because I'm not much of a Patsy Cline fan, but after seeing there performance tonight, it is also on my list of must see shows in Branson. They are a family of 3, with the mother (who I guess also runs there show) being the Patsy Cline singer, and she sounds just like her too. And I think, by far, the most amazing part of the whole show tonight (that possibly even stole the show) was there son's drumming. He is now 15 years old, he first picked up the sticks at the age of 11. Everybody in the house even gave him a standing ovation. It is no wonder on there website they call him a teen drumming sensation. I'd like to call him a Drummer Extrodanaire, myself! One of the greatest drummers I have ever heard in my 27 years on this rock!!! Such a musical prodigy. You definitely can tell with his playing skills that he is gonna go far in the business. When it was over, I got a chance to meet the young lad and shake his hand and talk to him for a second. I wished him the best of luck in his future. Remember his name, because he could be performing near you someday. Josh Roberts. (http://www.patsyinbranson.net).

Be on the lookout for all these guys I saw tonight. They were all absolutely amazing, and extremely talented, and very inspirational. It just makes me want to pick up my axe and my harp, and never give up on the dream. I can only play one song well. And I don't even have the guts to show people the original stuff I have written. Someday maybe. If ever I get rid of the stage fright. I'd be happy to go on stage to do just one or 2 songs. Or maybe record a couple songs on CD and try to sell the CD instead. I love music, and I like to play when I do - even if it is "in the closet.” When you get a chance come see them perform where-ever it is they may be performing at.

Overall, it was a very awesome show, and it was too bad I couldn't shoot good pictures in there or good video. The lighting was really bad for my camera. I kept some that I took that were ok, but they could've been better. If you want a copy of the 2 videos I shot, let me know. but I'm warning you, they aren’t pretty.

On another note, I have been writing since I was 13. I started out writing short scripts (plays) and short stories, but than at around the same age I also started getting into writing poetry. Around 1995 (when I started getting into music, and playing guitar) I started trying to write my own songs, but none of them turned out any good. I have a folder I keep that has stuff I have written over the last 12 years in it, and of all the 12 years I have been writing the best stuff is now just starting to come out. Also in recent years, I have started writing articles for my own purposes, starting with my high school newspaper from 1997-1999.

I was 8 or so when I got my first guitar, but didn't have much of an interest in it. It wasn't until 1993 when I started getting an interest in people like Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, etc, but it wasn't until I saw the Beatles Anthology special on ABC in 1995 when I sealed my fate as to what I really wanted to do in life. Play music. But than sometimes your dreams do fade away because you realize you're not as talented as other people are, but you can at least get close to the action by being a roadie. And who knows, I might actually be up there someday. I'm still young. I got a lot of years ahead of me still!

I guess you could say I'm an artist in my own right. I like to create things, and putting things creative together. I'm just not very well known for my craft because I don't try to sell myself, for obvious reasons. I would actually like to give my website a complete overhaul (perhaps all my websites). I started the Kingtut Blues Band site, and I really like what the new guy Tut hired has done to the band's website. I had to give up working on the band's website because my computer crashed and I still haven't had it fixed, so after a month he needed to find someone else to work on it. I just met the guy today who works on it now, and he's a really nice fellow and maybe perhaps sometime he and I can collaborate on ideas and designs for the website or something. I don't know. I didn't get a chance to talk to him much so I wasn't able to discuss business with him, but I would have liked to. When I do get my computer fixed (hopefully within the next year) I plan on giving my site a complete overhaul, and this time adding a blog so I can put articles like this one on the site. I have wanted to put a blog on my site for quite some time, but I don't always have much to say so I never did. Most days would be left empty, so the blog would've than been hardly updated. If you would like to check out my site and bookmark it so you can see when it is updated, I'm at http://www.mikeirvan.com. Thanks for reading. I hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I have writing it. If you would like to contact me to chat or something, you can E-Mail me at mikeirvan@suddenlink.net. Oh, and stay tuned for my Chuck Berry performance article on Friday.