Joe Dunn: Live Concert Report

I attended a blues concert in Hayward and it was one of the most culturing experiences of my life. I learned a lot about the culture and context surrounding the blues music. I found the lyrics thought provoking especially, B.B. King’s “Why I Sing the Blues” sung by Billy Dunn. Prior to me attending this concert I hardly knew anything about the blues music or historical roots. I never listened to the blues before, so I am unaware of this type of music, but I learned a lot about this style of music and enjoyed it. I also learned about the impact Hayward had on the blues and blues musicians when African Americans migrated from the deep south to the then unincorporated area of Hayward, known as Russell city. Ethnically, the majority of the attendees were African American, the second highest ethnic group attendees were Caucasian. This makes sense, since the blues and jazz were developed in the south of the U.S. and is associated with Africans. For African Americans, the blues and jazz goes a long way back in history, more specifically their history. It is associated with African American history in America, as well as African oppression and liberation.

Smithville High School presented two winter concerts. I got the opportunity to view both performances. The first show was by the Vocal Music Department directed by Mr. Marcus Duncan and aided by accompanist Emily Rowland, and the second show was by the Jazz Ensemble and Symphonic Band conducted by Mr. Tom Brockman and Ms. Brittany Terwey. There were very similar aspects of the two concerts and very different aspects of the two concerts.

On Saturday April 29 in the downtown area of Las Cruces I went to the country music festival. The band I went to go see was the Eli young band. The band was American country band made of a lead singer who also played guitar, as well two more members playing bass guitar, and electric guitar, piano as well as a drummer. There was so many people to see Eli young band I was scared I was going to be crushed being so closed on the stage. I don’t remember the title of the first song they played but it was more of a rock country then regular country and I liked it. It was something different to hear. People assume all country sounds the same, but they really mixed it with more a modern day country. From the beginning the one the guitar had an amazing

Eric Patrick Clapton was an English musician, singer-songwriter, and guitarist of the 1960’s, who was influenced by the legendary blues guitarist, Robert Johnson. Robert Johnson had a brief career, but inspired many rock ‘n’ roll musicians, such as Clapton. When reviewing Clapton’s songs, there are many musical attributes that come from Johnson. In fact, Clapton made an album called ‘Me and Mr. Johnson’ as tribute to Johnson, because of the impact he had on Clapton’s musical career. Clapton has been through many bands, but he always ended up leaving them because their style was not similar to his own. His musical style was rock ‘n’ roll, but the blues and Johnson’s style were always incorporated within Clapton’s songs.

On April 21, 2014 I watched the online performance of Sleeping Beauty performed by the Jacobs School of Music at the Musical Arts Center in Indianapolis. I have never personally been to the Musical Arts Center, but from the online streamed video, the place looks magnificently huge and phenomenal. The stage was absolutely stunning. It was big, vibrant, and breathtaking. It made it look as if you actually went back in time and were a part of the performance. The stage was enhanced with beautiful cool, calming purples, pinks, and blues that matched the performers’ outfits to a tee. It reminded me of royalty. Each performer had gorgeous outfits for every act, and I must say, the designer did a fabulous job.

Trio M, a pliable collective co-led by pianist Myra Melford, bassist Mark Dresser, and drummer Matt Wilson, made an appearance at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola in the heart of New York City on March 30th to perform a repertoire of old and new material. The group is active since 2006 and has plans to record their third album of originals very soon, which will follow up the ones already out there: Big Picture (2007) and Guest House (2013). Since all three bandleaders contribute with their own compositions in an equal share, the outcome is a compound of different ideas, tones, atmospheres, and rhythms served up with a forward-thinking attitude.

On November twenty-ninth, I attended APSU Student Recital at the George and Sharon Mabry Concert Hall. The performance consisted of only three pieces, yet both were met with enthusiastic applause and praise. When I attended the performance I hear and seen exactly what I expected which were student performing amongst their peers. This particular performance was different because I never experience a student recital. I was very pleased by the performance I thought it was very entertaining and interesting.

For this assignment, I interviewed my brother-in-law, Jeff Meloen. Meloen is actually a musician, a drummer to be specific, himself. I thought it would be very interesting to hear about a concert/show from another musician’s point of view. Meloen began by telling me that this John Mayer concert in particular was his favorite live show he had ever seen. It took place the day after Mayer did a controversial interview with Playboy magazine in which he had made some sexual comments concerning Jessica Simpson, along with a racist comment that in turn sparked a lot of outrage. Meloen also mentioned that the opening act for Mayer was Michael Franti and Spearhead, who he believed to be an odd opener for Mayer, as their music seemed more reggae. Meloen could tell the crowd enjoyed Franti’s band but was ultimately anxious to see John Mayer.

Glassboro High School held a Board of Education and budget submission meeting on March 26, which lasted about 50 minutes.

I can imagine how his fingers must suffer as he did not have a guitar pick and used his fingers to play the entire piece. I did enjoy everything the concert offered including its performers, therefore, there was not anything that I did not like. However, for some of the performers, I wish they would not look as if they were uncomfortable or did not enjoy playing in the concert. Only a few I noticed did this as some had a plain still face or maybe that was just me. I hope that each performer young and old would continue practicing on their guitar to further improve the talent they have. Many of the performers have the talent to play the guitar with what I heard and with more time they can become even better. For a guitar concert, I did not expect electric guitars and percussion to be used to play La Bamba. Even though the audience was not as pumped up as I was as they played this song it was quite the surprise nevertheless. The audience was respectful throughout the performance even if Siri was heard from a phone once. The room was not huge or small which when I was sitting on the top level I could still hear what was being

On November 16th, I attended a Porter Robinson and Madeon concert at Echostage in Washington D.C. Porter Robinson and Madeon are both electro house, dubstep, synthpop, and EDM (Electronic Dance Music) music DJ’s, who have decided to collaborate and tour together. Doors opened for the concert at 9 PM, with DJ’s Robotaki (Ro-bo-ta-key) and Danger opening for them. Robotaki focused more on house music, while Danger was more heavy drum and bass electronic music. Although, the opening DJ’s varied in their style of music, they helped to set the mood and prepare the crowd for the main event.

Whatever your age, there will be an old or new favorite for everyone this Labor Day weekend, when the Great Geauga County Fair Band returns for its 78th season to the Great Geauga County Fair. Performances will take place at the Burton, Ohio fairgrounds from September 1st through 5th. They will be playing at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursday, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Labor Day. The Junior Fair Band will be performing on September 3rd at 11:30 a.m. and on September 5th at noon.

When I saw that we needed to attend a concert and write a paper for this class I must admit I was initially stressed about it. I’m not the type to go to concerts, so I do always struggle when it comes to going to them. Although aside from that I was taking on a lot on my plate and wasn’t sure if I would have the time to part in any concert activities. I also felt that I wouldn’t be able to find one due to the fact that I have specific tastes in music; and the fact that you gave us so many options, it was difficult choosing what was the norm kind of concert for this paper, or do something out of my comfort zone. Coincidentally, I was able to do both of the latter two: do what’s sort of normal but out of my normal taste for music. I was venting

On June 25, 2015, I attended one of a series of weekly garden concerts part of the Twilight Garden Concert Series. The performance was held at the Pavilion of the Two Sisters in the Botanical Garden of City Park in New Orleans, Louisiana. The gate opened at five p.m. and ticketholders entered through the main entry and into the indoor facility. The gardens surrounding the building were an elegant addition to set the mood. The atmosphere was pleasantly casual. The attendants of the concert were able to purchase Mint Juleps and local cuisine prior to the showing and during intermission. The symphony started promptly at six p.m. After the performers took their places on stage, the conductor, Mr. Steven Edwards began to direct the performance.

Being in the Youth Orchestras of Fresno for the past 5 years, I have had the pleasure of working on some of the most incredible pieces in orchestra literature. I’ve been a part of some special concerts, like performing Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring,” Bernstein’s “On the Waterfront,” “Symphony No. 12” by Shostakovich, “Short Ride in a Fast Machine” by Adams, and Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition,” but there is one piece in particular that has made a huge impact on me and many people in the Central Valley in California. Premiering “Water(less) Music),” by Dr. Ben Boone, was written for the Youth Orchestras of Fresno two years ago while California was, and still is, experiencing a severe drought.