Posts Tagged ‘live performance’
Basilica Luminisced
We kicked off the season of family events for the holidays with a pre-Thanksgiving night out last night for dinner in downtown Minneapolis at Crave restaurant before seeing a performance of LUMINISCENCE at The Basilica of Saint Mary on Hennepin Avenue.
What a spectacle! 360° 3D projection set to a recorded track of dialogue and music, interwoven with a live choral performance. The light show was ever-changing, but Cyndie captured some samples that show a little of the variety of impressions they are able to create.
There were seven of us in attendance, including our kids and Cyndie’s mom. Somehow, we navigated getting us all to the restaurant and then into and out of the Basilica with relative ease. That’s a little surprising since there was a second show after ours and people were coming in as we were trying to get out, both from the Basilica and in the parking lot.
We had a little help from Marie’s superpower of advanced age, using her handicapped parking permit and being allowed to use the handicap accessible entrance and elevator to get to the sanctuary.
Elysa and her cousin, Althea, had been out the night before to hear music at The Palace Theatre and turned to find Elysa’s cousin, Monty, from the Hays side of the family. Julian reported having attended a different music show on Friday night, and Althea said her brother, Trygve, had also attended the same show.
I won’t be surprised if I learn there were other family members at last night’s Basilica show that we didn’t know about. In three days, we’ll be with more of Cyndie’s side of the family for Thanksgiving.
It definitely feels like holiday family time is off to a good start for us this year.
.
.
CAL Concert
We were out on the town with our friends Barb and Mike in St. Paul last night to see a “Classic Albums Live” performance at the Ordway Theater. Why didn’t I know about this organization that’s been around for more than 20 years? Cyndie found this event when looking for something to do and added a reservation at Kincaid’s Fish, Chop & Steakhouse within walking distance of the theater for dinner before the show.
Irish Whiskey Seared Salmon for me and Prime Rib for Cyndie. Yum!
The classic album that we saw performed was The Beatles’ Abbey Road. The musicians admit to being nerds for the sounds of the albums, note for note, cut for cut. They don’t dress in costumes or strive to imitate the original artists. Instead, they put all their focus on performing live renditions of the recorded songs of classic albums from the period of music I grew up listening to. They don’t talk between cuts but just roll from one song to the next, the way my brain is used to hearing it.
What a trip!
Watching the effort they put into reproducing each effect of the recordings was particularly entertaining. On “Octopus’s Garden,” the horn players appeared on stage for the first time, holding cups with straws, to join the violinist and cellist in blowing bubbles in a way that worked perfectly to replicate the recorded version.
Of course, “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” had the violinist striking metal with a hammer. From hand claps to harmonies and impressively precise musicianship, the artists brought the album to life in front of a full theater of passionate fans.
The Abbey Road album is only 47 minutes in length, so the musicians took a break after completing “Her Majesty” and then came out for a second set of Beatles’ songs from a variety of albums.
They closed the show with a rousing performance of “Twist and Shout” that had the audience on its feet, singing and dancing along. A good time was had by all.
On the drive home, Cyndie was checking the Classic Albums Live website for albums we might want to catch in the future. In just two weeks, they will be back at the Ordway to perform U2’s Joshua Tree. The Ordway announced they would be releasing their 2025-26 performance schedule soon, which will include more CAL shows, so we will be watching for that to see if there isn’t another nostalgic opportunity that strikes our fancy.
As I wound down from the excitement last night, I found myself thinking that I should do more listening to my music library by entire album instead of the usual random shuffle of every song in my collection that I most often choose. I think the first one I will pick might be Abbey Road since the live concert version is still fresh in my mind.
Since my library is digital, no flipping of vinyl will need to occur half way through.
.
.
Special Privilege
It felt like a special privilege to be in the presence of Brian Wilson performing the Pet Sounds album last night. It was a great experience that brought us a lot of joy.
We have seen a relatively recent rendition of the Beach Boys in concert, with Mike Love and Al Jardine, and now we have this in comparison, a concert by Brian Wilson and an amazing combination of supporting musicians, including again, Al Jardine.
Last night’s show was aimed at an audience that is passionate about the full depth of what goes into a song, performed by artists who share that same passion. The difference was significant. The concert last night was transcendent.
The mental challenges that Brian Wilson has lived through resonate for me. I have always felt an appreciation for his artistry, and feel a morsel of connection with him.
It was thrilling to be able to stand among thousands of others who feel similarly, to thank him with a rousing ovation at the end of Brian’s singing, “God Only Knows.”
It was a privilege.
I couldn’t get myself to interrupt any part of the evening’s performance with the cell phone lifted into someone else’s view for a photo, so all I have is a before and after.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
It’s all I need to remind myself of the magic that took place in between.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Relative Something 