Scratch

JT & I had a date night at Scratch DJ Academy last night in NYC. Sratch DJ Academy was founded Rob Principe and Jam Master Jay as a way to make learning to DJ more accessible to those who are interested. 

We had so so so much fun! We learned the baby scratch, the scribble scratch and the transformer scratch. JT was a natural, I was not nearly as good as him but I still learned a lot and had a blast doing it!

I loved the art there too! This piece is by vinyl record artist Walter Lobyn Hamilton.

I have a new respect for (real) DJs! 

xo Lizzie

Jay-Z; Magna Carter World Tour

Last night I crossed something off my bucket list... I went to a Jay-Z concert! In Brooklyn! 

JT and I went to the show, we got a great deal on tickets, but they were way up top. Waaay up top. I didn't care I was happy just to be in the building! 

I think Jay-Z is one of the only rappers whose live performances are even better than his studio cuts. Most rappers just don't sound as good live. Not naming any names... but that is why you see them lip syncing on TV.

The ticket said the start time was 8 pm but Jay-Z didn't take the stage until 10 pm and nobody was opening for him. Not going to hold back here, that bothered me. But once he did finally come on stage, he did not disappoint and performed every one of his hits! I thought he would mostly do songs off his newest album but that was not the case at all. I don't know if he usually does the new stuff in other cities but it was obvious he wanted to reminisce a little in his hometown. He would lead into a song off his first album with "remember this?". 

The show didn't have a fancy set design, ornate lighting, laser light shows, hip-hop dancers or blinged out costumes. It was obvious Jay-Z was there to do a pure rap performance, and let his his ability to effortlessly deliver flawless rhymes shine. He was fast and perfect and often went a capella as if he wanted to make sure that you knew that he's still got it.

He kept it old school, which I actually found refreshing. It was just him, his band and Timbaland. Yep, Timbaland was there to give Jay-Z a little break in his set. 

On the train home I tried to think of a song that he didn't sing that I wished he would have done.... I couldn't think of one. He covered them all!

Jay-Z performed Forever Young for his very last song of the show and paid tribute to Nelson Mandela. 

This back-to-basics show, definitely grew on me. I can see where others might be quick to criticize it. Rap & hip hop shows now include so much fluff and filler that we have come to expect the fancy distractions. Critics might think something was missing... but nothing was missed. He sang every hit and hit every beat. 

When I was leaving the show, I was on a packed escalator behind two teenage boys. I overheard one excitedly say to the other "That was the greatest thing I have ever been to in my whole life!" His friend nodded at him wide-eyed as if he couldn't believe he just experienced a Jay-Z concert. It made me smile :)

Jay-Z, you still got it, don't worry about the crusty critics.

xo Lizzie 

A Very She & Him Christmas

I started on a lot of holiday projects this weekend and A Very She & Him Christmas has been playing in the background the whole time. The album is mellow, cheerful and cozy. Zooey Deschanel has moments on some of the tracks where she reminds me so much of Patsy Cline. This album is perfect for holiday cocktail parties. Anyway, check it out, I love it!

Back to my holiday baking...

xo Lizzie

Beyonce!!!! For My Birthday

Last night I went to the Beyonce concert at the Izod Center in the Meadowlands. The tickets were a birthday gift from my husband. The show was awesome! I took a few quick shots with my cell phone (so not the best quality).

She flew between 2 stages! Very cool!

I was singing along to my favorite song, totally geeking out and my husband told me to turn around for a photo. 

Mrs. Carter killed it! Unforgettable night, such a wonderful present! I am always one for celebrating so I am stretching out the birthday celebrating. My birthday dinner is on Saturday. Can't wait!

xo Lizzie

JOSS STONE

Last night I went to the Joss Stone concert with JT at Best Buy Theater in Times Square. She is my favorite singer. For years I would wish that I could see her in concert but she only did shows in Europe and if she did come to the US it was to do a gig in California. This year I have been very fortunate and have gotten to see her twice in NYC! 

All I had was my iphone... it just doesn't do her justice.

I have gone to many concerts and have found my demeanor at a Joss show to be very different than at other artist's shows. I get mesmerized when I'm at a Joss Stone concert, and I barely move or speak. JT even asked if I was having fun because I wasn't dancing like a crazy person like I usually do. I was having a blast but my body went into a trance and was trying to make sure that it soaked in every single sweet note. Joss's voice is just amazing and so soulful. She is not just singing the notes, she is feeling every emotion of the song and makes the audience feel it too. When the crowd sings with her, she even stops and tries to teach the audience how to put feeling into it. She will say "Ok you just stubbed your toe on that thing, and it really really hurts. NOW SING IT!"  or "Ok, remember that ass you dated... yeah think of him... NOW SING IT".

I have to mention the opening act...

I admit, I didn't know there was an opening act and then when we showed up I saw a table with some shirts and CD's on it. JT said "I guess there is an opening act". Ok- bonus!

Then the opening band came out, I didn't know their name, and 1 song in - I was hooked. They were totally awesome. I was screaming, clapping and jumping around... It was 4 songs into the their set before I learned their name, Vintage Trouble.I downloaded their album on my iphone on the train ride home- they impressed me so much. I became an instant fan - Vintage Trouble is WONDERFUL!

It was a great night out! I discovered a new fun band and got to see Joss! It felt kinda strange being out that late on a work night though! I'm getting old!

xo Lizzie

Officially A Jersey Girl: my first Bruce Springsteen concert

Yesterday was the last day of summer 2012 and I attended my first Bruce Springsteen concert, ever. What better place to see my first Springsteen concert than New Jersey (in the pit!)?

I love Bruce, he's a rock icon, but I felt like some sort of fraud at last night's concert. It was evident to me that I was surrounded by thousands of Bruce fans who had been to at least 5 Bruce shows this year if not every Bruce show. His fans knew every lyric, every inside joke, they acted out his fist pump moves before he did. At one point he asked the crowd if there was anyone who had never seen the E Street Band before.... and I screamed my face off... pretty sure I was the only one. And he said "ok well we are going to make sure you have a great time tonight". Nothing like letting everyone know you aren't part of their club!

He couldn't be more deserving of these super fans... Bruce Springsteen is the hardest working concert performer I have ever seen. He gave the crowd every ounce of energy he had, neck veins throbbed as he belted out the lyrics of his classic songs and the sweat was flooding down him. I am not exaggerating the sweat- within 10 minutes of the concert Springsteen was soaked head to toe and the sweat was not dripping, it was pouring off of him. A few times during the concert I found myself wanting him to take a break because I was worried about him. I wanted to tell him to towel off, change into some dry clothes and take a breather. I felt guilty for just standing there while he ran circles around MetLife Stadium putting on such an amazing show!

Below is a video that I thought was pretty cool. It's an animated heat map of Bruce Springsteen's touring locations from 1973 to 2012 created by The Timoney Group.

Thank you to my fiancé for taking me to see this awesome show for my birthday. And thank you to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band for putting on such an amazing show!

xo Lizzie

superheavy releases their first music video

Since hearing that two of my music favorites (Joss Stone & Mick Jagger) were forming a new music group, Superheavy, I have been anxiously waiting to hear what kind of music this talented hybrid would produce. Well my wait has ended! I am happy to share with you the new music video, from Superheavy, "Miracle Worker".

click here to see "Miracle Worker" by Superheavy!

photo by Frank W. Ockenfels 3