The Great Big Show Review

Missie and I went to see my favorite band, Great Big Sea, in Cleveland last Saturday night at the House of Blues. We had dinner first at HOB. The catfish bites and sweet potato fries appetizer was delicious. I had the meatloaf (pretty good -- mine is better) and key lime pie. Our waitress was the real treasure of the dining experience. She was sweet and funny, attentive without hovering. She held Missie's leftovers for us until after the show, which impressed the hell out of both.

Then came the show. When I bought out tickets online the choices were general admission (standing, first come, first served) downstairs or more expensive balcony seats. Imagine our surprise to see the general admission area lined with chairs, right up to the stage! Had I known this, I would have paid less and gotten better seats. As it was, we couldn't see the entire left side of the stage. Fortunately, we could see Alan, Sean and Bob, so all was not lost.

There was no opening act, just two glorious sets of GBS. The Cleveland show happened to be the 13th birthday of the band, and much merriment was made by all. Alan was as gregarious as usual. He was also in particularly good voice for this show. Bob played so many different instruments, I lost count. He also sang lead on his songs with gusto.

Sean was the biggest surprise. His hair is on the longish side -- the longest I've seen it. And while I would never accuse him of being bashful on stage, he was the most animated I've ever seen him! He danced jigs and jumped around. At one point, he even took to the drum kit. He made a double entendre of the word "boat" that will forever color the way I listen to some of their songs. Like Alan, he was in particularly good voice. And have I mentioned how goddamn cute he is?

The show set featured a good mix of the traditional Newfoundland songs from the new record and their popular older tunes. As usual, everyone in the audience knew the words to every song and sang along. Most every song encourage clapping and jumping around. I spent most of the second set on my feet.

Finally, after two encores, the show ended and the lights came up. I was tired and sweaty and had a 45-minute drive home ahead of me. I can't imagine being in a better place.

God, when's the next Great Big Show?

Oscar Reflections

Okay, let me get the bitterness out of the way first. I can't believe Brokeback Mountain didn't get the Best Picture award. There, I said it. I know I am not alone in this regard, if the collective gasp from the Academy Award audience was any indication. Was Crash a good movie? Yes? Better than Brokeback (and the other contenders)? No. But that's just my opinion. That and a fiver will get you a grande latte' at Starbucks. Obviously, many in the Academy don't agree with me. Fuck 'em. Let them get their own blog.

Having said that, Brokeback did get the other three awards I guessed it would. What's up with Ang, in his acceptance speech, thank the characters of Jack and Ennis but not the actors who brought them to life? Sheesh.

And speaking of actors, Heath, Jake and Michelle got robbed -- as I suspected they would. Heath doesn't have a large enough body of work and Michelle is considered by many to be a television actress. Nevermind that their portrayals were flawless. Heath, in particular, so disappeared beneath the skin of his character as to make the acting seamless.

And then there's young, adorable Jake. Damn, he even managed to make an awkward-looking tux look sexy. The boyish grin he flashed while delivering that inadvertent gag line during his montage intro made me melt. (Yeah, I know it sounds all 16 Magazine. Sue me.)

Michelle looked ravishing. Seriously, she absolutely glowed.

Other thoughts:

George Clooney is such a stud. Warm, funny, spontaneous and sexy as all hell.

I thought Jon Stewart did an admirable job hosting this year. I was afraid he would get too political, but he did a nice job of keeping things light. He didn't seem 100% comfortable, but hey, it's a tough gig.

Can Dolly Parton get any prettier? Granted, all the surgery makes her look completely different than she did in her 9 to 5 days, but she certainly doesn't look, sound or act her age. And that's a good thing. I was surprised her song didn't win the award, but her performance was such a delight in and of itself, I felt like I was the winner by getting to see it.

That's it for now. Jarhead (Jake!) comes out tomorrow, along with Harry Potter. And I have to start counting the days until Brokeback is released on DVD.

Speaking of DVD releases, I've watched RENT three times since I picked it up. I saw the stage version years ago in New York and forgotten how much I loved the story and the music.

I think I'm developing an addiction to sad movies. I mean, tears can be so cathartic and... cleansing. Weird.