David Cook at The Troubadour

I can tell you exactly where I was when I first heard David Cook sing.  I was in Newport Beach doing a photo shoot and my friend JB lived down there so we had just gone out to grab Dinner and catch up before I headed back to LA.  We walked into his place and his roommate had American Idol on and I heard this incredible voice coming from the TV and I had them rewind and play it again.  David Cook was singing 'Hello' and I was hooked!  I watched the rest of the season just for him because I knew he should win.  His original takes on all these songs was so innovative and I knew he had a long career ahead of him.  Of course, he did win, has had multiple albums released and I saw that he was playing a show at The Troubadour this past Sunday so I immediately bought tickets to see him play.

David Cook at The Troubadour in West Hollywood

Rachel had heard of David Cook but didn't really know his music so I was hoping she would enjoy it as much as I knew that I would!  We had a fabulous Happy Hour at Toscanova beforehand and then made our way to The Troubadour.  We found FREE parking across the street and as we walked up to the venue I turned to Rachel and said, 'we're going to meet David Cook tonight, I just know it.'

I had never been to The Troubadour before but Rachel had seen a show so she knew it was a smaller and more intimate venue.  I realized when we walked in how close we would actually be to him while he was singing and was like a giddy little girl opening my first Christmas present years ago.  We saw the opener, Andrew Ripp, performing a couple songs including one dedicated to his wife, who was all the way in Minnesota and then it was time for David's set.  We made our way closer to the stage, just about 10 feet from the microphone that was set up and waited for David to take the stage.

Personalized autographed copies of 'Digital Vein'

At about 9 pm, David walked to the stage to the screams of lots of women and also a few men.  Not only is he talented but as he talked in-between songs to pump the crowd up, he shared cute stories, engaged the audience, and made all of us laugh.  He just released his new album 'Digital Vein' and I had listened to a bunch of his music before the show so I could re-familiarize myself with it.  He opened with 'Heartbeat' which is the opening song on the album and one of my favorites.  By the time he got to 'Broken Windows' and 'Wait For Me' I knew I needed to get the album.  Next up was one of my favorites, 'Declaration,' and another off his new album,' Laying Me Low' which I absolutely loved.  I asked Rachel what she thought and could see she was enjoying it just as much as I was...success!  She recognized 'Come Back To Me' right away and I was so glad that he played his cover of Chris Isaak's, 'Wicked Game,' because it was beautiful.  'Kiss & Tell' was another upbeat and fun song and at some point during the beginning of the set, he threw one of his picks at us and Rachel scooped it up and gave it to me!  YAY!  He had to play his new single 'Criminals' which I really liked as well as 'Light On,' which was his first major hit after American Idol.  David started acapella and then just as the song kicked in, he played his guitar, and then the entire band joined in.  Not only is he a talented singer but also a skilled guitarist.  He played for almost 90 minutes and it went by so quickly I wanted to hear more!

Rachel and I with David after the show...dream come true!!

After the show I asked one of the security guys if we could wait for David since I had the pick and was hoping he would sign that or a CD that I had brought with me and he said if we waited out back that would be fine.  We walked behind the venue and were shortly joined by two other people and waited there for about an hour before we saw David come out of nowhere and he politely asked us if we could wait just a little bit longer but that he would be out soon.  I saw why when he was helping his entire crew break down the stage and pack all of their equipment up.  During that hour we actually talked to the opener, Andrew Ripp for a little bit, got a picture with him, and saw that he was heading out to a party with Andy Grammar (although we didn't figure out it was him until later).  Luckily, we only had to wait another half hour and David came right up to us and we got our chance.  Another security guy came out and had given Rachel the new album and I had bought one since I was hoping David would sign it, and sure enough he did, even asking how to spell my name.  We chatted for a little bit, as he was left-handed (like me) and I complimented him on his acapella version of 'Light On' as he replied that he had laryngitis but was appreciative of the comment.  There was no laryngitis to be seen or heard from him as he sounded like perfection!  We then got hugs and pictures and as we walked back through the alley towards my car I collapsed on the ground in utter disbelief that all these events just really happened!  I was elated to get to meet my favorite American Idol!

Needless to say, I've been listening to the new album non-stop and have found some more new songs that I love!  I would definitely see him again and think he's a great performer that anyone who loves rock and roll should absolutely check out :)

Sara Bareilles at The Greek :)

Last week Monday was my last day of celebration for my 31st Birthday (as far as I know)!  Neil and I had talked about seeing Sara Bareilles again when she came to town since we had missed her show in Santa Barbara last year due to the wrong time being listed.  There was no way we were going to miss her "Little Black Dress" Tour when she played here in LA at The Greek Theater in Hollywood last week!

Todd, Tiffany, Neil and I before the show!

Neil and I got there just after 8 pm and caught the second opening act, Hannah Georgas, before Sara began her set promptly at 9:15 pm.  Hannah actually reminded us a lot of Sara, similar in both sound and fashion.  We located our seats and then went to grab a drink and met up with our friends, Todd and Tiffany, who were also going to the show, before we all got seated for the main event.  Our seats were in Row M so they were amazing, and we had a great view of the stage.

Sara opened with 'Little Black Dress' which is such a fun and catchy song, you can't help but dance and sing along to it.  I hadn't heard 'Love on the Rocks' much since it was off of her 2004 Album but I really liked that song; definitely had a blues vibe to it, which of course was followed by 'Love Song;' one of her biggest hits.  One of my favorite songs is 'Come Round Soon' and I got to see her play it at the El Rey Theater last year, and this performance was even better!  I just love the evil lyrics to that song ;)  Another new favorite became 'Manhattan' as that's off her newest album from 2013 "The Blessed Unrest."

Mood music for 'Come Round Soon'

Sara debuted a new song from the musical "Waitress" called 'She Used to Be Mine' and if she hadn't won the crowd over already, this was it!  She's composing for the musical and it was yet another beautiful song.  She did one cover that night singing Sia's 'Chandelier' and went to 'Gravity' right after.  It's one of those songs when you hear it live, at least for me, I can't not feel every word of the song, as it brings tears to my eyes.  Of course, she knows all of the audience is captivated so she helps all of us out by being goofy and singing the poppy and upbeat 'Gonna Get Over You.'  'I Choose You' was one of the singles off of her new album and once again had everyone singing along with her.  Sara closed out the set with her other single off "The Blessed Unrest" doing 'Brave,' which has such an inspiring story behind it.

It was a two song encore which brought another wonderful melody and an a capella version of 'Bright Lights & Cityscapes' which was amazing and finally 'Satellite Call.'  The show was just about 90 minutes and it was a perfect evening near the Griffith Observatory.  I loved singing along and dancing to her music and the crowd just loves her!

Sara Bareilles at The Greek...talented in so many ways <3

One of the best things about Sara Bareilles is that she sounds just as great live as she does on her album.  Plus, the concertgoers are able to see more of her personality; she's so cute and quirky.  You can tell she really enjoys interacting with the audience, she's the type of person you know you'd have a blast hanging out with!  This was my third concert I've seen her play, and definitely the biggest one.  And I can't wait till she's in town and I can see her again :)

Neil's Acoustic Show & Katy's Birthday :)

A couple weeks ago Neil played his first Acoustic Show in over a year!  I was excited to see him play at Universal Bar & Grill and also very happy that my friend, Katy, was having her Birthday Party in North Hollywood that night as well!

Neil's show started promptly at 8 pm as he had a bunch of new music to play but also some crowd favorites, and was hoping to get everything in with his 50 minute set.  He opened with 'Dizzy' which is a great starter to get the night going since most of the people at the show had seen him play before.  He swapped between new and old music, and also adding a couple covers too.  Since his parents had taken down his childhood basketball hoop, Rimmy, just that week he even made a dedication to his life-long friend growing up, doing his first cover of the night, 'Born To Run' by Bruce Springsteen and even played the harmonica.  I finally got to hear 'Winona' for the first time since he wrote it almost four years ago and the crowd loved it.  Well-written lyrics and a gorgeous melody equals a winning combination!  'The Seagull' is another crowd-pleaser but I love 'Veil of Tears' and he made it new by adding a little Lady Gaga 'Bad Romance' before he went into the song.  Neil's been writing a bunch of new songs lately so he played 'Like We're Brand New' which has more of a country feel and beautiful lyrics.  He had a great turn-out and I think everyone enjoyed hearing the new music and we're all looking forward to his next show :)

At Bow & Truss with the Birthday Girl!

After Neil's show, I knew I had to see my good friend, Katy, since she was in town from Sacramento for a few days to celebrate her Birthday with friends and family.  I've missed her so much so I was glad to catch up with her at Bow & Truss which was just down the street from Universal Bar & Grill in North Hollywood.  It was my first time there and although they had a great cocktail menu I decided to stick with wine.  It looked like they had an awesome menu, and one of the girls at the party, said her brother was one of the chefs, so I'll definitely go back to try the food!  Katy had a bunch of activities planned throughout the weekend and just a short time to fit everything in.  I knew I had to speak in Church on Sunday to the Confirmation class so I wanted to spend as much time with her as I could before she left for Nor Cal.  Lucky for me we got to see a movie together on Saturday night, and she was able to squeeze in some more time for me during her busy schedule.  There's a post about Maleficent here on my blog!  Katy, I hope you're moving back to LA soon because I miss you like crazy and love our 'Bachelorette' nights in or going out for drinks!

It was definitely a fun night out and great to catch up with friends, hear some awesome music, and enjoy being out!  I have so many friends with Birthdays in June so this is a month of celebrating especially since my Birthday is in a few days.  It's nice to have a couple days off before the craziness begins...

'Still falling for you...Like we're brand new.'

Check out Neil's music here: Neil Daly on YouTube

My 2013 Resolutions Redux

Last year I made some positive resolutions for the new year.  You can read all the details here: 2013 Resolutions and Goals.  For the most part I kept true to them and much more!

I wanted to create my own web series and post episodes on social media.  Although, I haven't yet gotten that far, the ball is rolling and it's closer to production than before.  Throughout this year I have posted videos and am working towards creating a brand.  I also created a Fantasy Football section on my blog that I updated on a weekly basis.  While it may not be my own show, I am Hosting for Afterbuzz TV which airs LIVE weekly on their website and has all the episodes on YouTube.  Host Lyndsey Wegner for Afterbuzz TV.  My Co-Hosts and I bring viewers a recap, opinions, gossip and news for Supernatural and Shahs of Sunset.  That's me Hosting a show where I can be myself and that's what I wanted!

Hosting for Afterbuzz TV

I was waiting to share the news until I could tell my family and close friends and am happy to report that I now have Representation for TV/Film and Hosting by Chez Chic Talent.  We are currently putting together a portfolio of headshots and photos as well as a video section with all my projects, commercials, and reels.  I finally feel like I have someone who is as excited as I am to find and book work, that wants me to succeed in a business and career sense.  It's a great feeling and hopefully there will be some big work to come this year.

My favorite resolution of last year was to do more new things and get out of LA on a regular basis.  From a trip to Carmel and Clint Eastwood's restaurant with my Mom and Dad, to hitting up Las Vegas for an impromptu trip with my roommate, going to Santa Barbara with Neil, and having a family vacation in Punta Cana; it was nice to travel and do something different and fun.  There were tons of concerts I saw this past year, Sara Bareilles, Keith Urban, Matchbox 20, and Buckcherry to name a few as well as seeing Jekyll & Hyde at The Pantages Theater and other theater performances that were incredible.  I also got involved in the Creating Arts Company and had my first theater experience here in LA being cast as Mary Contrary in Babes In Toyland.

Goo Goo Dolls at The Gibson

As I'm looking back on this past year and the goals I set for myself, I didn't realize how much I've achieved with my hard work and dedication.  I'm getting to do what I love, I'm working at a few bars here in Los Angeles and having a blast and I even get to enjoy some fun experiences.  This 2013 was pretty good but I truly believe that 2014 will be even better!

The Catch Up Game

It's November and that means Pumpkin Pie, Cranberry Sauce, Green Bean Casserole and other fun Thanksgiving treats are making their way to the front of the grocery store.  It also means Christmas commercials, holiday music, and Santa will all be here very soon.  Even though the change of seasons in LA isn't as noticeable as in Wisconsin, I can still tell that it's Fall because the air gets a little crisper, it gets darker sooner, and people are walking outside with hats and scarves on the 40ish degree nights.  I'm playing the catch up game and reflecting on my resolutions and goals for this year and I'm really happy with where I've been at the last year and past couple months!  

Find me on Twitter.com/LyndseyWegner or Facebook.com/LyndseyWegner

In August, Neil and I played a live show at The Garage for a friend's Birthday Party and that was something completely new for me, singing a whole show with Neil, just us and his acoustic guitar.  Totally different than Karaoke but absolutely addicting.  We also saw an 80's Cover Band play at Canyon Club in Agoura Hills which I had never been to before and is known for it's performers and shows.  I heard Pat Benetar plays there, so the next time she's playing I hope I can go!  I saw 'Women Are Crazy, Because Men Are A**Holes' because I had friends who were in the show, and it certainly made me want to get more involved in theater after seeing such an awesome production!  And to top it all off, my brother's band, The Hussy, came out to LA while they were doing a West Coast Tour and performed at Redwood Bar!

Keeping an eye on my goals!

When September rolled around, I had already worked on a friend's music video (we just filmed some more footage this past week and have a couple final scenes before the video is completed) which will be coming out in December.  Neil and I took my first trip to Santa Barbara where we went Wine Tasting at a couple different Wineries and walked all around the city, eating Dinner at a quaint little Italian Restaurant in downtown.  Even though we missed the Sara Bareilles show we still had a blast!  At the end of the month, Neil and I saw Keith Urban perform at the Hollywood Bowl (my first show there) and he was incredible :D

By October I had decided to launch a new concept for my blog so I filmed a Fantasy Football Teaser and now currently feature a weekly blog about Fantasy Football Pick-ups, Projections, and Stats, along with my Weekly Match-Up.  I also did my first ever show for Afterbuzz TV, where we do a post-game wrap up of the show 'Supernatural.'  I filmed my 5th episode this week and love working for the company and getting to Host on a weekly basis!  Neil and I worked on a Halloween Music Video, where he rapped and I sang, (in the style of Eminem & Dido) and the music video came out just before Halloween.  We also saw 30 Seconds to Mars perform at the Hollywood Bowl as well (our second time seeing them together)!  I spent a lot of time with my girlfriends in the past month, grabbing Dinner, hitting up a party, and even seeing a Kings Game from the Luxury Box thanks to Marty.  In the midst of all the crazy I did a workshop at ACT Now for 2 weeks so that was a fun learning experience too and also uploaded my Commercial Reel to be viewed on YouTube!

Talk about a busy couple of months but I wouldn't want it any other way.  I'm paving my own path and when things start to get frustrating or I wonder what I'm doing, something makes me realize everything is happening for a reason and that's when the big things hit!  I can't wait to see what's next...

30 Seconds to Mars!

This past Saturday Neil and I had tickets to see 30 Seconds to Mars at The Hollywood Bowl, the last of my Birthday concerts...thank you Daly!  We didn't want to miss the show (or be late) but thankfully an insider tip from my lovely friend, Thi, said the band wasn't starting until 9 pm, after the two openers including Panic At The Disco!

'Night Of The Hunter'

With a bottle of wine packed and some candy after being at The Hollywood Bowl a couple weeks prior for the Keith Urban concert, this time we came prepared.  Our seats were incredible, the boxes to the right of the stage with a great view of both the stage and a giant TV screen.  We sat for a few minutes but as soon as the band started there was no more sitting down!  There was a short instrumental but then they opened with 'Night of the Hunter,' went into 'Search & Destroy,' and then 'This Is War.'  During the first song they had giant beach balls in different colors that were lit up and glowing so that was super cool and people kept them going for a long time so that was really neat to see.  The video for 'This Is War' was really graphic and interesting and had the words going across the screen so people could sing along.  I was actually really surprised because maybe it was where we were sitting but I felt like we were the only ones in our section that knew the lyrics to all of their songs.  Why go to a concert if you're not going to enjoy it?!  They had acrobats between songs and perhaps they had a bad night but I thought the two guys on the teeter-totter were going to fall off the stage and the guy dancing with the hoop was going to fall flat on his face.  It was more nerve-wracking than exciting.

'How awesome is this photo!'

Jared talked before 'City Of Angels' as he said that he remembered when they had a studio on Melrose & Highland and were just happy to have Air-Conditioning finally, and here they were, playing the Hollywood Bowl in their city.  He seemed super appreciative and then moved from the main-stage to the lawn area, and where he said the fans were way better, louder, and more fun.  He also told us that he was sick, and for some reason, that always happens when he comes to play in LA, but to be honest, you couldn't really tell, especially when he started his next set.  Before he started an acoustic set a guy jumped on-stage with him and got a picture (how flippin' cool) and said he had driven 30 hours just to get to the concert!  Jared sang 'Hurricane' acapella and it was absolutely beautiful, and probably my favorite song, and followed that with 'The Kill' which was also awesome and probably their most well-known hit!  Then he did 'Stay' originally sang by Rihanna and just blew her away, it was so beautiful that I actually cried.  After that he made his way back to the stage and closed out with 'Closer To The Edge' and 'Kings & Queens.'

Neil & I at The Hollywood Bowl for 30 Seconds to Mars while they sing 'This Is War'
"It's the moment of truth and the moment to lie."

He announced when he came back on for the Encore that he would be showing us something that no one else had seen, and played a short film, called 'City Of Angels' to accompany the song they had played earlier.  There were famous actors and musicians giving commentary and beautiful scenery of Los Angeles, it was such an inspiring video and made you believe in the good faith of LA, which is definitely hard at times.  They closed out with 'Up In The Air.'  On the way out, I noticed Derek Hough next to me and at this time 2 years ago I was sitting with my Aunt watching 'Dancing With The Stars' while she said she really enjoyed Derek's dancing.  It was a nice little reminder that she's still looking out for me, even if she's not here :)

30 Seconds to Mars at The Hollywood Bowl

Overall, I was really happy with the concert but do wish they would have played some more of the new songs off their album because I think they'll be hits.  The problem was they required Jared's strong voice and since he was sick, he probably wasn't up to doing them.  My only frustration was that I went to the concert to see him sing, and not have him point the mic to the crowd and have them sing throughout the show.  His voice is so amazing, I just wanted to hear all him; perhaps I'm just being selfish!  They were the first band and big concert I saw in LA almost 3 years ago so it was really neat to see them again, playing at such a huge venue!

Keith Urban at The Hollywood Bowl!

Two weekends ago Neil and I were gearing up for the Keith Urban Concert at The Hollywood Bowl.  I don't know why I was dreaming about Keith Urban last night (it was a phenomenal dream) but perhaps it was just the push I needed to write about seeing his awesome Concert in my blog today!

We found parking about a mile away and were happy to enjoy the walk and then find our seats.  We had terrace seats and Little Big Town which was the 2nd Opener before Keith Urban was still playing, and songs I actually knew!  I really miss having good country stations here in LA like I did back in Wisconsin.  We thought it might be fun to have some wine while we enjoyed the show knowing it was going to be around 2 hours long as he had lots of songs to play so through the line we went and $45 later, one bottle of wine and one bag of sour patch kids, we were ready to enjoy the show.

Neil & I at The Hollywood Bowl for Keith Urban

Keith Urban is not a 'Stupid Boy'

The show started with some singles off past albums and a more recent song 'Long Hot Summer' as it was The Light The Fuse Tour all Summer long!  He slowed it down with 'Cop Car' off his new album and then 'Stupid Boy' a song he originally wrote for a female singer but ended up recording himself giving me a little idea to do a recording or cover of it!  One thing I really loved about this concert was the lighting and production of it because each song really evoked emotions from you through the colors and shadows they created on-stage.  Using blues, reds, purples, and yellows to fit the mood of the song, I thought that was awesome!  Next up was 'Even The Stars Fall 4 You' with lyrics up behind Keith on the stage so everyone could sing along.  One of my favorite songs 'Without You' was played next and it was neat to see Keith working the whole stage, singing to the seats all the way in the back, and also changing up guitars for each song.  I never knew what a talented guitar player he was not to mention how fantastic he sounded live; just like he does on his albums!  The crowd went wild when he did 'Kiss A Girl' and in between his first few songs he actually brought a girl from the crowd up on-stage and she asked for advice on her upcoming wedding with her fiance who was also in the crowd and he said he had more advice to give to him than her.  Funny, talented and handsome...Keith Urban has it all!

Keith went into a cover of The Who as he moved towards the sound and lighting board where he played a bunch of songs on the lawn area!  How cool that he moved to the middle of the Hollywood Bowl to play a set to the people in the back.  Once again he got the whole crowd involved by singing 'Days Go By' and this was the Cover set with 'Rumor Has It' sang by his Bass player, Jerry Flowers and then 'Hollywood Nights' a Bob Seger cover.

Keith Urban singing 'Who Wouldn't Want To Be Me'

Awesome concert!

After a couple more songs he made his way back to the stage through the crowd of people and then went into one of the first Keith Urban songs I ever heard, 'You'll Think Of Me' then picking it back up with 'Who Wouldn't Want To Be Me.'  'Somebody Like You' had the whole crowd standing up and singing again as that was the song he closed out the show with.  We knew he wasn't finished and had an encore coming so when he came back to the stage and told everyone to pull out their lighters or flashlights on their phone and light it up, as 'fireflies' were now everywhere at The Bowl.  He took a seat at the piano and started singing 'Tonight I Wanna Cry' which was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes...clearly I wanted to cry!  Of course, he couldn't end on a sad note, so there was a snippet of 'Locked Out Of Heaven' a Bruno Mars cover which was sang by his guitarist, Brian Nutter, and then his final song of the night was 'You Look Good In My Shirt' and as he sang the song, he walked down into the pit and actually took his guitar, signed it, and gave it away to someone.  WHAT?!  Yes he did!

This was definitely one of the best concerts I've ever been to, not only because I knew a lot of his music and this tour was about playing his Hits in addition to promoting his new album 'Fuse' but because he was such a performer.  His singing and guitar skills were so impressive and he made it such a fun concert!  It was his first time playing The Hollywood Bowl and I'm certain he'll definitely be back :)  

Karaoke and The Hussy in LA!

Last week started a very musical week and in just 7 days, I had 2 nights of Karaoke and saw 2 different bands perform!  You can find Karaoke all over the City of LA, and even if LA isn't a big music scene, it sure has plenty to offer!

Em & I at The Hussy's Show

For Karaoke I sang a couple new songs but opened with 'Dreams' by Fleetwood Mac and then got into one of my new songs, 'Bitch' by Meredith Brooks which was something fun and goofy to do.  Next up was challenging myself again to Whitney Houston's 'Saving All My Love For You' which went really well and I'm happy to try something more difficult and see the crowd really liked it.  Another new song for the night was 'Love The Way You Lie' with Neil doing Eminem's part and really killing it.  That's a super hard rap!  I closed out the night with 'Criminal' by Fiona Apple which has scared me since the last time I did it years ago, but it went so much better this time around, and I know I've improved on being able to harmonize and find melodies when they're difficult to hear.  Karaoke has definitely improved my musical skills :) 

Bobby and Heather, of The Hussy, were playing after midnight on Sunday Night at the Pirate-Themed, Redwood Bar, in Downtown Los Angeles.  I was excited to see a bunch of my friends at the show, Emily & Shane, McCracken, and Neil, too!  I haven't seen The Hussy perform since last year at Redwood Bar so I was excited to hear new songs off the album in addition to some old favorite songs.  I helped them sell a little merchandise, but it really sold itself, and I could tell T-shirts and Albums were in high demand so that was awesome to see!  They played mostly songs off their new album, and a couple of them I really liked including one that was currently Untitled and another one that had both Bobby and Heather singing 'oh, oh, ah, oh oh, ohh.'  It was really fun and catchy!  I was happy to see so many people at the show for a Sunday and when they closed with 'One Time' they had all of us dancing around the stage so that was really cool!  Overall, the show was awesome and it was great to see The Hussy performing in LA yet again!

The Hussy performing at Redwood Bar in Downtown LA

It was definitely a musical week, which you'll see in addition to my next blog, and it's nice to hear new music.  I'm always excited when The Hussy is in town and hopefully they'll be back again next year!

Catch up time!

I can't believe 2013 is over half-way gone and we're nearing Fall!  I'm proud because I've got some great jobs that keep me very busy and I'm able to save up money to do all the fun things when I've got some free days.  I've been keeping my Resolutions for the New Year; I'm going out of town and traveling to new places, having spontaneous vacations, seeing tons of live music and bands, and trying new restaurants and recipes.  I'm also working towards getting Representation and had fantastic headshots taken by Hillary and am just choosing my favorites so we can get them sent out to Agents and Managers soon!

At Universal Studios for the Matchbox Twenty
and Goo Goo Dolls Concert!

Just last month in July I went to Punta Cana for a week-long vacation with Family.  I had never been to the Dominican Republic and while we all had a blast, it'll be a while before I go back to the Caribbean anytime soon.  I also saw Matchbox Twenty and The Goo Goo Dolls perform; two fun bands from the 90's!

I had my 30th Birthday in June and got to spend it with friends and family throughout the month (including our week in Punta Cana).  I've been working on new recipes and posting them on here more often and had the last photo shoot of my 20's with my friend, Kristina, the day before my Birthday.  June also started my Lector Duty at Church and I've been doing that for the past 3 months and just got our schedule for the next 3, so that's a fun and exciting way to enjoy Church!

In May, I had my first ever BIG SAG Audition since I had joined the Union which was exciting.  Even though I didn't book the Audition I did film a couple Match.com Parodies and got to put my Princess Leia costume to good use, once again.  I also got to see one of my favorite artists, Sara Bareilles, perform at The El Rey Theater and to make the month even more exciting, Emily and I made a spontaneous trip to Las Vegas for 2 nights and had an absolute blast.

I made my first move towards creating my Web Series this past weekend, pulling out Neil's brand new Canon Camera and just playing around with the video and photo functions.  We took a couple headshots and also filmed me doing an opening sequence for my show in a few different ways so that was a lot of fun and super creative!  I've got some ideas for the show already written down and now it's a matter of filming a couple episodes so I can put together a Trailer and get the show up on YouTube.

Testing the new camera...

I can't wait to get started on a show that's all my own :)  Set those goals and you can reach them!

The Goo Goo Dolls & Matchbox Twenty

A couple weeks ago I was excited to be going to The Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox Twenty Concert at The Gibson at University City Walk with Neil.  I'd gotten back from Punta Cana and was ready for some LA fun and great music!

We grabbed a bite to eat at Camacho's, along with a Margarita beforehand and headed over to The Gibson just in time to catch Kate Earl sing a few songs.  Neil and I both loved her song 'Honey' and thought she was a great opener for the 2 main acts.  Our seats were on the far left of the theater but we were 6 rows back and felt super close to the stage.  Neil had told me before the concert that in an interview with Johnny Rzeznik about their tour, he said that they play to the crowd; yes, they're out promoting their new album, but it's about the fans and the songs they love.  I think that's pretty awesome of them!

Johnny Rzeznik of  The Goo Goo Dolls!

I couldn't believe how excited I was when The Goo Goo Dolls took the stage first and Johnny Rzeznik walked out; I was screaming like a little girl at a Justin Bieber concert!  I had been listening to a Goo Goo Dolls CD for the past couple of weeks to re-familiarize myself to their music (along with a Matchbox Twenty CD) so I could sing along at the show.  I remembered most of their big hits in addition to some favorites on their CD's throughout the year, as well as new music that's made it's way to the radio.  I loved singing along with 'Slide' and their new song 'Rebel Beat' but my favorite moment of the Goo Goo Dolls performance was when they did 'Black Balloon.'  They released black balloons from the stage and I had completely forgotten how incredible that song was.  Another song I really enjoyed was 'Let Love In' and 'Come To Me' because they played the lyrics on a screen so the crowd could sing along to one of their new songs off the album.  I actually called my Mom when they did 'Name' because it's her favorite Goo Goo Dolls song and of course, their set wouldn't have been complete without 'Iris' from the movie, "City Of Angels" which takes place in Los Angeles.  Johnny played a bunch of different guitars and I've always known that each one is tuned differently for each song and his voice sounded just like he did on his albums, so that was fantastic!

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty singing 'Long Day'

Neil & I at The Gibson!

Matchbox Twenty played after The Goo Goo Dolls and Rob Thomas was a ball of energy, dancing, jumping around, and really getting into the music, even playing the piano at one point which I thought was awesome!  I knew even more Matchbox Twenty songs than Goo Goo Dolls and that was probably because they were slightly more popular with my friends' musical tastes when I was in High School and listening to them.  They opened with a bunch of my favorites, 'Parade' which is one of their newer songs, as well as 'Bent' and my all-time favorite Matchbox Twenty song, 'Disease,' which was spectacular!  I was singing along with it at the top of my lungs, and I could sing along with a bunch of their songs knowing all the lyrics and loving that Rob Thomas was so fun to watch!  We heard '3 AM,' 'Real World,' as well as 'If You're Gone,' and some more new songs I really liked.  The new ones I liked were more acoustic and focused on Rob which were 'I Will' and then 'English Town' which was edgy and I couldn't wait to get home and listen to them again!  They had a great encore, after closing out with 'Bright Lights' by coming back on and doing 3 more songs including 'Push' but I really wished The Goo Goo Dolls would have joined them on stage for an encore too.

I'm assuming both bands switch off in each city with who opens and closes the show and that's totally fair.  It worked out for the better in this case because Matchbox Twenty had just a little more pizzazz than The Goo Goo Dolls but I would totally go see both play again!  I was super surprised to remember as many songs as I did with both bands.  I loved that both the Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox Twenty musicians and singers worked the stage and really got the crowd involved in the music.  They were energetic and fun and it totally got me excited for each song and what they were going to be singing next!  I knew I would enjoy the concert and it would be fun but I didn't expect to love the concert as much as I did, get really into the music and lyrics, and be even more excited to listen to their songs at home as I was.  It was an incredible concert experience!  Thanks Neil :)

Sara Bareilles Concert!

I was so excited to see Sara Bareilles in Concert at The El Rey Theater a couple weeks ago with my friend, Courtney!  I had tried to get tickets the day they went on sale but they sold out within minutes and after trying to find extra tickets on-line, saw they were going for over $450 for 2 tickets (when they were originally $35 each plus processing fee) so I just figured I'd have to wait till the next time she was in town.  Then, lucky for me, they went on sale again, and Courtney and I were headed to the show early since it was General Admission standing room only.

Ebony & Ivory at the Concert :)

We waited in line to get into the theater for nearly an hour and then waited over an hour for her to take the stage but since we were only 10 feet from the stage it was totally worthwhile!  Not to mention the show was absolutely incredible.  I was impressed by each and every song because this was her solo tour, so she could take her time, and hold these beautiful notes and give me goosebumps!  I didn't realize how many instruments she knew how to play as she opened playing the piano, then an acoustic guitar, switched to an electric guitar, and then the harmonium and back.  I was so happy to see Courtney taking pictures and videos of her, and I knew that I took the perfect person to the show with me :)

So close to her!

Edgy 'Come Round Soon'
on the electric guitar!

She opened with a song I wasn't completely familiar with, 'Love on the Rocks' but went into 'Benny & The Jets' which was really fun.  In between songs she chatted with the audience, was so endearing and humorous, and all I could think was that I wanted to hang out with her because she would be a riot!  Next up she did 'Uncharted' and 'Love Song' to which the crowd happily sang along.  It was back to a cover doing 'Sitting on the Dock of the Bay' and just impressing the heck out of everyone with her range and tone.  'Bright Lights and Cityscapes' made me nostalgic and fall even more in love with that song and her voice.  Somehow she transitioned into 'You Belong to Me' by Taylor Swift because it had the same riff as 'Let the Rain' which is one of my favorite songs!  Then it was another song I was unfamiliar with but that was absolutely beautiful and then came my favorite edgy song she sings, 'Come Round Soon' which she sang while playing the electric guitar and adding a jazzy feel to it, which was so new and fresh.  I LOVE that song because it has such a Fiona Apple feel to it.  She played 'Brave' which is off her new album, and I wasn't necessarily in love with it after seeing her initial video for it, but after hearing her story about wanting people to write on note cards at her show why they're brave because she's creating this project, it made me get more into it, not to mention the notes she was holding and the power behind her voice was so inspiring.  I still can't believe that I only discovered how much I truly loved her music just a couple years ago...I have been missing out!  She closed out her set with 'King of Anything' but after lots of cheers and chanting she came back out for a short encore doing one of my all-time favorite songs, 'Gravity,' which brings tears to my eyes every time.  She exudes talent, happiness, fun, and appreciation which is an awesome combination.  The last song she left us with was 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' another Elton John cover which was just as beautiful as her opening to the show.

I thought her last show was incredible when I saw her at The Palladium and she had Laryngitis but this was out of this world, how on point she was.  I can't wait till the next time she's in town but with this show being at a more intimate venue, it's going to be hard to come close to the amazing talent she showed. Come back soon, Sara!

Buckcherry at The Viper Room :D

I've been a Buckcherry fan since 2006 when their album "15" came out and 'Sorry' became one of their biggest hits and I started singing along with it.  Along with 'Sorry' was 'Crazy B*tch' which was just such a fun rock & roll song, and reminded me that there are some great Rock Bands out there today!  *I hadn't quite gotten into The Foo Fighters yet until 'Pretender' came out and then I started to discover and fall in love with their music, as they are one of my favorite Rock Bands to this day!*  I had been listening to a CD of Buckcherry Music for the past year as Neil had gotten me into their music and not only could they write these awesome rock songs but some beautiful ballads with touching lyrics.  I was hooked.

Cocktails on Sunset Blvd at Rock & Reilly's

Neil had gotten 4 tickets to Buckcherry at The Viper Room for last Friday as they were playing 3 shows there last weekend.  Kristina, Chris, Neil and I got into Hollywood and had a drink at Rock & Reilly's (a fun and wild Irish Bar with awesome green wallpaper on Sunset Blvd) with Neil's friend, Cory, before we walked over to The Viper Room.  The Viper Room was a small venue for Buckcherry, but I found out from Kristina and Josh Todd that night as he was talking between songs that they wanted to pay homage to LA because this is where they got their start and they appreciate their fans support through all these years.  I think it was awesome that we all got a chance to see them at such an intimate venue.

I had never seen a show at The Viper Room aside from seeing Neil play in the Acoustic Lounge last year and taking a mini tour of the whole venue at that time.  The place was packed but not overly so, that we couldn't move or maintain some sense of personal space.  We got a round of drinks and found a good spot where we all could see and were about 10 feet from the stage.  I was so excited as soon as the band came out and Josh Todd was wearing a bandanna, jacket, and sunglasses as he opened the show.  By song #2, the bandanna and sunglasses were off, and just a couple songs later, he was shirtless and awesome!  The whole band was into the music and you could tell they were enjoying themselves.

H.O.T.

They played a bunch of songs off "15", "All Night Long" and some new songs off their new album "Confessions."  One of their first hit's 'Lit Up' was played in between 'Everything' which is one of my favorites and 'Gluttony' which is a new song.  Some of my favorite slower songs which I thought they might play since The Viper Room is a more intimate venue were left out but they brought the energy while they played, the lead guitarist throwing out plenty of picks, and Josh singing and dancing as much as possible.  They sounded just like they do on their album and it was fantastic to actually see them live and be that close to the stage.  One of their closing songs was, of course, 'Crazy B*tch' and I even threw in a little of my own head banging!

An absolutely amazing show and happy concert goer's!

Our American Idol :)

 Overall, I can't say enough good things about the Buckcherry show except that I wish it was longer.  It was just over an hour or so long and I wanted to hear more because they did sound so great!  I think we all wanted to hear more music from them and people of all ages were at the show considering they have been around for 15 years.  Of course, Josh Todd, had that rocker performance charisma that made me want to jump on stage, dance with him, and hug him in all his sweaty glory but I didn't...perhaps next time ;)  Seeing Buckcherry at The Viper Room definitely makes me want to see more shows there because it was so much fun but I can bet this experience will stick with me for a long time!

*A couple side notes and an exciting extra:  We found a secure parking garage down the street for $10 which was great and we only had to walk a couple blocks.  The Viper Room was actually reasonably priced for drinks, with a shot and beer for $10 or their own house shot, the Viper Venom, for $4.  Coors Light was $5 so that was certainly a pleasant surprise to get some inexpensive drinks!  Then, on our way out and as we walked back to Sunset Blvd, we ran into this wonderful guy, who happened to be enjoying Hollywood and The Viper Room as well.  Chris had actually asked to get a picture with him, when one of his friends said, he was on American Idol.  Vincent Powell had just been kicked off the night before, but as soon as his friend had mentioned that, I remembered exactly who he was and how incredible he performed.  American Idol lost out on an extremely talented singer with a fabulous personality, and I know he's got big things coming to him.  It was great meeting you, Vincent!*

Vincent from American Idol and Chris after the Buckcherry Show at The Viper Room!

Plus, I love that I'm continuing my New Year's Resolution of doing new things.  A new concert for 2013, seeing my first Rock Band, Buckcherry, at a new venue, The Viper Room, and having a blast with my friends!  Hooray :)