Sean Henri

 

Paul McCartney Joins Billy Joel at Shea

July 19, 2008 // 1 Comments  // Add yours »

(Source: NYT; Photo:Kevin Mazur) 

So last night, while I was home relaxing.. Paul McCartney joined Billy Joel on stage for the "Last Play at Shea" - the final concert at Shea Stadium before it is to be torn down.  It was two of my favorite singers/songwriters side by side, and I missed it.  I found out about the surprise performance a few hours prior to the show, but it was too late.  Needless to say, I regret not buying tickets in advance.  But I have an idea for next weekend that could make up for it.

McCartney wasn't the only one to join Joel on stage.  Roger Daltrey of the Who, Steven Tyler, and Garth Brooks came on to play a few songs as well.  Videos are floating around on YouTube.

On another note: I went to see  a Brian Wilson concert in Torrington this past Wednesday.  It felt like more of a tribute to Wilson than it did a performance.  His band did the bulk of the singing and he hardly played an instrument, but they were playing HIS songs, and it was an honor to witness it.  If you aren't familiar with Brian Wilson's life and work ("God Only Knows", "Good Vibrations", "Wouldn't it Be Nice", etc.), you should read a bit about him.  He's the genius behind the music of The Beach Boys, and one of the greatest songwriters/producers in American pop-music history.

Posted in:  Billy Joel, Concerts, NYC, Paul McCartney, The Beatles | Permalink |  Digg This | Share on Facebook |Comments (1)

Paul McCartney Receives Honorary Degree From Yale

May 26, 2008 // 2 Comments  // Add yours »

This morning I caught Sir Paul McCartney in New Haven as he received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Yale University.  I had no idea he was going to be there until around 10am when my phone started ringing off the hook.   Once I had all the details I gave Jenn,  Mindy, Justin, and Brooke a call and we all raced downtown.  It was a short ceremony, and he didn't say anything.  They serenaded him with a quick rendition of Hey Jude,  gave him a bit of praise, and after a quick bow and a wave it was all over. 

I thought it was a great way to start of Memorial Day.  It's not every day one gets to see one of The Beatles receive a degree.  Here's some video:

Posted in:  A Day In The Life, New Haven, Paul McCartney, The Beatles, Videos | Permalink |  Digg This | Share on Facebook |Comments (2)

The Beatles For Beginners

December 28, 2007 // 3 Comments  // Add yours »

Making a Beatles mix is really tough.  It's like making a greatest hits compilation for a band that only wrote hits... and did so for 7 years.  There's no automatic inclusions. For example, if I were to make someone a Billy Joel mix, I can guarantee I'd include "Piano Man".  It's not that easy with The Beatles because there's far too many great songs to chose from.  But this Christmas I gave it a shot, and came up with a list of songs I'd suggest listening to if you wanted to introduce yourself to their music.  Here's how it looks:

1. A Hard Day's Night
2. I'll Follow the Sun
3. Help!
4. Ticket to Ride
5. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
6. Michelle
7. Eleanor Rigby
8. We Can Work It Out
9. Got to Get You Into My Life
10. Hello, Goodbye
11. Strawberry Fields Forever
12. Drive My Car
13. The Fool on the Hill
14. Lady Madonna
15. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
16. Blackbird
17. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
18. Helter Skelter
19. Across The Universe
20. Let It Be
21. Here Comes the Sun
22. In My Life
23. A Day in the Life
24. Hey Jude
25. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
26. All You Need Is Love

Keep in mind this is not a "greatest hits", but more of a "recommended listening" list.  I kept it somewhat chronological, and saved the best for last.  I think i came up with a nice representation of how their music evolved over the years. If anyone would like a copy, just send me an email with your address and I'll send you one.  I've got a bunch already made - each with it's own unique fun label.

Posted in:  The Beatles | Permalink |  Digg This | Share on Facebook |Comments (3)

Video from the NYC McCartney Show

October 27, 2007 // 3 Comments  // Add yours »

I came across some really good footage from the Paul McCartney show I attended this past June.  It's shot from right about where I was standing.  In fact, I think I can hear my friends voice on the video.  Anyway, enjoy.

Blackbird:

I'll Follow the Sun (Intro):

Posted in:  Concerts, NYC, Paul McCartney, The Beatles, Videos | Permalink |  Digg This | Share on Facebook |Comments (3)

Paul McCartney's Ecce Cor Meum on DVD

October 23, 2007 // 0 Comments  // Add yours »

Footage from the world premier performance of Paul McCartney's "Ecce Cor Meum" comes out on DVD  this November 20th.  I don't tend to listen to much classical music but I found this to be quite good.  So good I went to go to see the US premier at Carnegie Hall last November. Of course there were a few other factors in my decision to go see it, one being that this guy was a part of the most important band that ever existed, and I must admit I'm a big fan.  But seriously, I think it's worth a good listen.  It's fantastic stuff.  So pick this sucker up.

Update: The release of Paul's Ecce Cor Meum DVD has been put back until early 2008. Dates are currently being rescheduled, but a February/March release is most likely.

On another totally unrelated yet somewhat similar note:   If you like good music I'd suggest listening to Silverchair's "Young Modern".  I was a bit skeptical about how much I'd like it after seeing the very bland / pop-like video for the song Straight Lines, but now that I've heard full album a few dozen times I think it's one of the best group of songs I've heard all year.  It's creative, melodic, and has some interesting orchestral arrangements composed with a little help from former Beach Boy collaborator Van Dyke Parks.

Personal favs:

• Those Thieving Birds (Part 1)/Strange Behaviour/Those Thieving Birds (Part 2)
• Insomnia
• If You Keep Losing Sleep
• Low

Thus concludes my statement of the night.

Posted in:  Concerts, Culture, Paul McCartney, Stuff, The Beatles | Permalink |  Digg This | Share on Facebook |Comments (0)

John Lennon's Birthday

October 10, 2007 // 0 Comments  // Add yours »

I'm a bit tired so I don't really wanna sit here and type much so I'm gonna be quick and vague here:

Last night I went into Manhattan with Jenndy (aka Jenn and Mindy), and we all partook in a little sing along with a few dozen other people in Central Park to celebrate what would have been John Lennon's 67th birthday.  We sung some songs, hung out with some hippies, saw a drunk man cry and proclaim a death wish on Mark David Chapman as he dramatically clenched his first and reached towards the sky, got soaked from the pouring rain, ate some pizza, had a few drinks in a bar where we bumped into Soprano's actor Steve Schirripa, then went on a little stroll back through Central Park, got a bit lost, and then finally made it home.

So that's how I spent my Tuesday night.  And I bet you five bucks my night beat yours. 

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Paul McCartney's "Ever Present Past" Video

October 02, 2007 // 3 Comments  // Add yours »

The coolest 65 year-old I know.  Just came out today.  Great song, interesting video.

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Toasting freedom in Queens

September 16, 2007 // 1 Comments  // Add yours »

Here's my recap of the past 24 hours:  We go into the city for a movie, and stop for some vegetarian pizza on 2nd Ave.  We learn that Mindy would instantly throw up if Paul McCartney were to ever randomly walk in the same room as her. We're told that Michael Jackson is too old and that the girls should find somebody younger.  Across the Universe was fantastic.  The music is a bit watered down, and the story is a bit corny at times, but it was still very enjoyable.  It turns out that "Come Together" sounds great when it's sung by a crazy homeless person.

After the movie we stopped in at McSorley's, Manhattan's oldest pub, for a round of beers and a few toasts to freedom, Lincoln, and The Beatles. The place was packed and a little too rowdy to hold a convo, so we left and found a much more quiet atmosphere at the Thirsty Scholar. 

It was getting late and we had started to head back to Grand Central, but then Jenn presented us with the brilliant idea of crashing at her sisters apartment in Queens.  So we hopped on the subway, piled into the apartment, busted out the cards, sung some songs, had some intense conversations about music, learned how Jenn would properly utilize her favorite band, and I created some brilliant artwork. 

For me it felt like the last night of the summer.  And I'd say it was one of the best nights I've had so far this year. 

Now this guy really needs to make it onto a t-shirt:

Posted in:  A Day In The Life, NYC, Paul McCartney, The Beatles | Permalink |  Digg This | Share on Facebook |Comments (1)

Across the Universe

September 14, 2007 // 4 Comments  // Add yours »

A new movie-musical built around Beatles songs opens nationwide next week.  Across the Universe features characters like Jude, Lucy, Max, Sadie, Mister Kite, Prudence, JoJo, and Dr. Robert.  I've just seen a few clips as well as the trailer and it looks very promising.

I'll be heading into Manhattan tonight with a few fellow Beatles fans for an early showing!  I figure a movie based on some of the best songs ever written has to be at least somewhat decent.  Even if the plot sucks, I know I'll love the music.  According to Wikipedia.com, the movie features the following songs:

1. "Girl" Performed by Jim Sturgess (cast member)
2. "Helter Skelter" Performed by Dana Fuchs (cast member)
3. "Hold Me Tight" Performed by Jim Sturgess, Evan Rachel Wood, Lisa Hogg (cast members)
4. "All My Loving" Performed by Jim Sturgess (cast members)
5. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" Performed by T. V. Carpio (cast member)
6. "With a Little Help from My Friends" Performed by Joe Anderson, Jim Sturgess & "Dorm Buddies" (cast members)
7. "It Won't Be Long" Performed by Evan Rachel Wood (cast member)
8. "I've Just Seen a Face" Performed by Jim Sturgess (cast member)
9. "Let It Be" Performed by Carol Woods, Timothy T. Mitchum (cast members)
10. "Come Together" Performed by Joe Cocker, Martin Luther (cast members)
11. "Why Don't We Do It in the Road?" Performed by Dana Fuchs (cast member)
12. "If I Fell" Performed by Evan Rachel Wood (cast member)
13. "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" Performed by Joe Anderson (cast member)
14. "Dear Prudence" Performed by Dana Fuchs, Jim Sturgess, Evan Rachel Wood, T. V. Carpio (cast members)
15. "Flying" Performed by The Secret Machines (not cast members)
16. "Blue Jay Way" Performed by The Secret Machines (not cast members)
17. "I Am the Walrus" Performed by Bono (cast member) and the Secret Machines (not cast members)
18. "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" Performed by Eddie Izzard (cast member)
19. "Because" Performed by Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs, T. V. Carpio, Martin Luther (cast members)
20. "Something" Performed by Jim Sturgess (cast member)
21. "Oh Darling" Performed by Dana Fuchs, Martin Luther (cast members)
22. "Strawberry Fields Forever" Performed by Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson (cast members)
23. "Revolution" Performed by Jim Sturgess (cast members)
24. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" Performed by Martin Luther (cast member)
25. "Happiness is a Warm Gun" Performed by Joe Anderson (cast member)
26. "Blackbird" Performed by Evan Rachel Wood (cast member)
27. "Hey Jude" Performed by Joe Anderson (cast member)
28. "Don't Let Me Down" Performed by Dana Fuchs (cast member)
29. "All You Need is Love" Performed by Jim Sturgess, Dana Fuchs (cast members)
30. "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" Performed by Bono (this song plays over the end credits and is not performed on camera)

Also featured in the film

1. "Across The Universe" Performed by Jim Sturgess (cast member)
2. "And I Love Her" - brief extract incorporated into instrumental score

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"Help!" to be released on DVD

September 04, 2007 // 1 Comments  // Add yours »

Stop worrying!  Help is on the way!  The Beatles' 1965 movie, titled "Help!" will be re-released as a 2 DVD set on October 29th.

There will be two editions, the standard, and the collectors.  The Collectors Edition will feature the director's original script, a 60-page hardcover book, a 30-minute "making-of" documentary, a reproduction of the original 1965 poster, a reproduction of 1965 theatrical lobby cards, and the movie restored and remixed in 5.1.

In my opinion this is their best movie, and it's enjoyable even if you aren't a die-hard fan like I am.  Here's the original 1965 trailer:

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Paul McCartney's new DVD

August 26, 2007 // 2 Comments  // Add yours »

I'll be buying this.  I know I'm just rehashing info that's already out there, but here's the press release:

McCARTNEY YEARS’

FEATURES EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY, BEHIND THE SCENES FOOTAGE, OVER 40 MUSIC VIDEOS AND TWO HOURS OF HISTORIC LIVE PERFORMANCES ‘THE MCCARTNEY YEARS’ IS SET FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 12th 2007

Continue reading "Paul McCartney's new DVD"

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Paul McCartney talks about his younger fans

June 26, 2007 // 2 Comments  // Add yours »

In this interview with Sir Paul McCartney about his recent show in New York, the interviewer expresses his amazement at the growing number of young Beatles fans and mentions how two of his contest winners, possibly my friends Steph & Bret, were born in the 1980's!!!  Paul then responds with his thoughts.

Paul: A lot of people (from) my generation would think: 'Well the only people that are gonna really like my music are the people who grew up with it'.  You know?  People who are my age.  Maybe a little bit younger...but, that's it.
Interviewer: Two of the five winners (Steph & Bret) we had on Wednesday morning were born in the 1980's!
Paul: Ha!  Is that possible?  Haha nobody was born in 1980..
Interviewer: No it's possible
Paul: Er, no exactly that's the thing.  And I see that at my shows.  You get these generations - you'll get the people my age, and then you'll get their kids, and then their kids.  And, I love it!  Cuz, these kids know the music.  They know it better than I do.
Interviewer: Well I tried to make it a little difficult to win the tickets to the show, because I wanted to make sure that real Paul McCartney fans would win, obviously.  So I didn't just say.. be the 25th caller and you're in.  I asked questions that Paul McCartney fans would be able to answer.
Paul: Mmhmm.
Interviewer: And those two young people, born in the 1980's, knew the answers!
Paul: You know, it's phenomenal, I must say.  But it's great!  It's kinda, you know, very satisfying to think that young kids are into it.
Interviewer: What would you say to your young fans... ?
Paul: ...What would I say? I would say thank you for like, appreciating something we did a long time ago.  But, I'm with them.  I understand that thing.  Cuz, I'm wrong to assume that it's just my generation that's gonna like it.  And I know that, for instance, cuz I like Fred Astaire, Nat King Cole - and that wasn't my generation.  So, I suppose that what they're doing is they're liking good music.  You know, and I can say that now about The Beatles.  Cuz, you know, it's not being conceited.  I know that the stuff we did was really good.  You know?  And I think that somebody appreciating it now is just great.  It's just very gratifying.  So there you go.  I love it.

You can listen to the full interview by clicking HERE.
Paul talks about the show at the Highline Ballroom HERE.
And you can read my recap of  Paul's secret concert in New York and see the pictures HERE.

Posted in:  Culture, NYC, Paul McCartney, The Beatles | Permalink |  Digg This | Share on Facebook |Comments (2)

Paul McCartney's Secret Gig at the Highline Ballroom

June 14, 2007 // 8 Comments  // Add yours »

I'm back from the Paul McCartney concert!  Time for the recap:

Let me go back a few weeks to explain this.  About a month ago I found out that Paul McCartney would be doing some type of live performance in NYC to promote his new album Memory Almost Full.  Any large-scale world tour would be postponed to next year due to "personal issues" (his divorce from Heather Mills).  So being a huge Beatles/Paul McCartney fan, I did some intense research until I found out the details of what would be going down.

I found out that the show was going to be a small-scale "secret" show about two weeks ago and that I'd have to win tickets through a radio station contest in order to go.  Only a few hundred contest winners and invited guests would be given tickets.  So after looking through the websites of nearly every FM radio station from the country's major cities, I finally found a contest where you could enter a raffle to win tickets by correctly answering 20 questions about Paul.  I didn't win.  But my friend Steph did, and she offered to take me.  Amazingly, my friend Bret won as well and offered to take my brother Justin.  So now we had 3 people from CT's smallest town attending a concert that thousands of people from around the world were trying to go to, and I was one of them.

More below the cut.

Continue reading "Paul McCartney's Secret Gig at the Highline Ballroom"

Posted in:  A Day In The Life, Concerts, Contests, Culture, NYC, Paul McCartney, Photos, The Beatles, Videos | Permalink |  Digg This | Share on Facebook |Comments (8)

My plans for the evening: Attend a secret Paul McCartney Concert

June 13, 2007 // 0 Comments  // Add yours »

Tonight I'll get the incredible opportunity to see Paul McCartney in concert from just a few feet away.  Along with my friends Steph, Bret, and my brother Justin, I'll be among just 300 contest winners and invited guests who will watch McCartney play Beatles classics as well as some of the best songs of his new album Memory Almost Full.  The show takes place at 8:30 pm tonight at the Highline Ballroom on 16th St. in NYC.  It's extremely rare for a guy who usually performs in front of 50,000 people to do a show in a venue this small.  What makes tonight even more interesting is that his album debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 this morning with his highest weekly sales since 1982.  I'll post a recap after the show.

Thanks for MaccaReport.com for the heads up on the secret gig!

Posted in:  A Day In The Life, Concerts, Contests, Culture, NYC, Paul McCartney, The Beatles | Permalink |  Digg This | Share on Facebook |Comments (0)

New Paul McCartney album - Memory Almost Full - out today

June 05, 2007 // 1 Comments  // Add yours »

Today's the day Memory Almost Full comes out - Paul McCartney's 21st solo album since the breakup of The Beatles.  Every single Starbucks on the planet will be playing the album back to back throughout the day for a "global listening event".  They estimate that somewhere around six million people will hear the album through Starbucks alone.  It's a great album and it's well worth buying.  I've had it for over a month now and it's all I listen to.  You can buy it at any Starbucks, most retail outlets, or download it via iTunes.

Related Posts:
"Meeting Paul McCartney"
"My Night at Carnegie Hall"
"McCartney on his new album"

Posted in:  Culture, Paul McCartney, The Beatles | Permalink |  Digg This | Share on Facebook |Comments (1)

Paul McCartney's Dance Tonight Video

May 23, 2007 // 2 Comments  // Add yours »

The new Paul McCartney video.

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My thoughts on Memory Almost Full

May 11, 2007 // 0 Comments  // Add yours »

I just gave Memory Almost Full a good listen and I love it.  "Mister Bellamy" is amazing.  It's a very unique sounding song.. which is what I love the most about McCartney's music.  Some of my other favorite tracks at this point are "Dance Tonight", "Only Mama Knows", "Vintage Clothes", "That Was Me", "House of Wax" and "Feet in the Clouds".  All the other songs are good too, I just need to listen them a little bit more to get a better opinion.  The album goes back and forth from pop to rock.  But it all flows nicely.  There's a Brian Wilson-like harmony in the song "Feet in the Clouds".  The songs at the end aren't anything like the medly at the end of Abbey Road.  Now sure where that idea came from.  But it's great album.  Everyone needs to buy it when it comes out.
www.paulmccartney.com  www.meyesight.com

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McCartney on Memory Almost Full:

April 28, 2007 // 0 Comments  // Add yours »

Above: McCartney plays air drums and sings along to one of his new songs called "Only Mamma Knows".

"I actually began with the work on this new album, "Memory Almost Full", before my last album "Chaos and Creation in The Backyard" (released in September 2005). The first recordings took place in the autumn of 2003 at Abbey Road with my band and David Kahne as producer. I was already in the middle of it, when I began to talk with Nigel Godrich about a completely new project - this became then "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard". When I was finished with all work to "chaos" and had received a Grammy nomination (2006) for it, I noticed that there was still this other album, which I wanted to absolutely finish.

Continue reading "McCartney on Memory Almost Full:"

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Memory Almost Full

April 25, 2007 // 5 Comments  // Add yours »

Paul McCartney's new album Memory Almost Full comes out June 5th.  I just heard the first single - "Ever Present Past".  Very upbeat, light, melodic, catchy song.  It fits more under the pop label than it does rock, but I absolutely love it.  Seems to be a Heather Mills reference in the lyrics.  He just shot a promo music video for the song Dance Tonight with Natalie Portman.  You can view the making of that video HERE.  And here's another video of him welcoming you to his new website Meyesight.com

I strongly dislike the album cover.  Click here to listen to the single Ever Present Past.

New album means new tour.  And you know I'll be there.

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Beatles Brunch

April 07, 2007 // 0 Comments  // Add yours »

Hey Beatles fans - If you ever get the chance I strongly suggest checking out the "Beatles Brunch" at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill on 42nd St. in Manhattan.  For $40 you get an all you can eat buffet and 2 hours of Beatles songs performed live.  The tribute band calls themselves Strawberry Fields and 3 of their members are former cast-members of the Broadway show Beatlemania.  They've got the music down to the exact note, do 3 costume changes, and they put on an incredibly good show. 

You get a wide variety of Beatles songs - from their early days with songs like "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" and "Till There Was You", through the psychedelic era with "Norwegian Wood" and a very interesting version of "A Day in the Life", and then later songs like "Dig a Pony" and "Rocky Raccoon".  They've got the facial expressions, hair, and performance styles down extremely well, and while they're a little bit overweight, you get a tiny hint of what it must of been like to actually see The Beatles perform live.  I guess that's why they were the ones chosen to play at the 40th anniversary of The Beatles' Shea Stadium performance in 2005.   Trust me... you get good food and a great Beatles tribute band.  You cant lose.

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John Lennon performs "Yer Blues"

January 16, 2007 // 4 Comments  // Add yours »

I'm always trying to find new Beatles stuff online.  I thought I'd seen just about all of it but tonight I came across a video of John Lennon performing "Yer Blues" with Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Mitch Mitchell in the film Rock and Roll Circus.  The video starts off with Mick Jagger interviewing John where he is referred to as "Winston Legthigh" (Winston being John's middle name).  I'm always excited to find performances of songs from the White Album, so this was a good find for me.

Also, here's a video of Paul practicing "Blackbird".

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Home Videos of Paul McCartney

December 14, 2006 // 1 Comments  // Add yours »

Here are some of Mal Evans' 8mm home movies of Paul McCartney shot back in 1967.  They feature Paul's trip to Denver to meet Jane Asher, and to LA to meet with Brian Wilson for a Beach Boys recording session, and Derek Taylor.  It also includes behind the scenes footage of the the filming of the "Magical Mystery Tour", and Paul's travels to places like Spain and Africa.  Beatles fan's like myself should find this to be pretty interesting.

Click the link below to see the rest of the videos.

Continue reading "Home Videos of Paul McCartney"

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Around Fairfield...

December 05, 2006 // 0 Comments  // Add yours »

I've been drinking a lot of coffee lately and I'm not too happy about it.  Say I buy a cup a day at 2 bucks a piece.  That's 730 bucks a year.... that's 730 double cheeseburgers I could buy. 

I'm just kidding, but it is kind of a pricey habit.  It's something to do though.  Been going to Las Vetas Lounge in downtown Fairfield sometimes during my free time.  It's a good place to relax. Has live music every now and then and they do a movie night every Sunday.  There's a few Beatles references in there too including a "All you need is love" quote on the counter.  Bryan tried applying here back in September and one of the questions on the application was "Who is your favorite Beatle?"  Anyplace that has that on their job application must be good. 

Another place I've been going to a lot for breakfast and lunch is Groovy's Cafe.  It's right down the street from Las Vetas, opens up bright and early and frequently has live music.  They have a wide selection of really good sandwiches and wraps.  Both places have good coffee and wifi.  So if you're ever in the area early in the morning or around lunch, give them a try.

Some things to check out:

• Mappy Hour - a map site that shoes you good places to go for Happy Hour.  You enter in your location and it zooms you in and plots out any place that has happy hour near you with a Beer mug symbol.  It looks fairly new, so most bars don't have their info added in.  But with some effortless contributions, it could be a really cool website.
• The Beatles "Love" - features 26 tracks of Beatles songs reworked and mashed together to make an all new and incredibly good Beatles album.  The album was produced by Sir George Martin and his son Giles Martin.  They were given one rule:  They could only use original Beatles recordings.  So while some of the songs sound completely different, it's still authentic Beatles.   "Get Back", "Drive My Car/The Word/What You're Doing", "Strawberry Fields", and "Hey Jude" are my favorites on the album.  DEFINITELY buy this.
• A few other new Cd's that I think are pretty good are My Chemical Romance's "The Black Parade", and Incubus's "Light Grenades".  But I'm still extremely disappointed with music lately.  I need a new, revolutionary sounding band to come around.  Any suggestions?

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Ecce Cor Meum at Carnegie Hall

November 15, 2006 // 1 Comments  // Add yours »

Last night Steph and I went back into the city to attend the United States premier of Paul McCartney's latest classical album Ecce Cor Meum.  The concert took place at Carnegie Hall, which was one of the few major places in the city that I had yet to visit.  We arrived minutes before the show was to begin, walked right in and took our seats on the main floor.  We were excited, but not shaking with anticipation as I had thought we'd be, probably because we had just met Paul the day before, but still, it was great to be there and I couldn't wait for it to start.

A minute or two before the performance was scheduled to start Paul entered a box maybe 10 feet directly above us and sat down with a bunch of celebrities.  The crowd went nuts and many got out of their seat to get closer.  Eventually they sat everybody down and the show began.

Continue reading "Ecce Cor Meum at Carnegie Hall"

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How I Met Paul McCartney

November 13, 2006 // 13 Comments  // Add yours »

I have now met one of The Beatles.  The other day I finally got to meet Sir Paul McCartney, the most successful popular-music composer and recording artist ever, at the Times Square Virgin Megastore in NYC.

It took some effort to get the opportunity.  Steph and I arrived 22 hours before he was scheduled to arrive.  We had expected maybe 30 people or so to already be standing in line, but instead found a line that wrapped all the way around the corner and down W 46th St.  A man towards the front of the line started passing down a list for people to sign, and we found that we were the 114th and 115th persons in line. 

Continue reading "How I Met Paul McCartney"

Posted in:  A Day In The Life, Concerts, Culture, NYC, Paul McCartney, Photos, The Beatles | Permalink |  Digg This | Share on Facebook |Comments (13)

Ecce Cor Meum at Carnegie Hall

October 05, 2006 // 2 Comments  // Add yours »

I was sitting home, bored and sick, when I get this email about a "new Beatles album" coming out next month.  So I get all excited and start doing some research.  Then another email comes telling me that Paul McCartney's new classical album Ecce Cor Meum is going to have a U.S. premier next month at Carnegie Hall in NYC!  Instantly I call up Steph and minutes later we had our tickets.  I suppose it's possible Paul won't be there, but I expect that he will be.  And even if he isn't it will still be pretty cool to see the one and only U.S. performance of one of his albums.  Can't wait!!

Posted in:  Paul McCartney, The Beatles | Permalink |  Digg This | Share on Facebook |Comments (2)

Ringo Starr

July 17, 2006 // 1 Comments  // Add yours »

I just saw Ringo Starr in concert!!!  He was great!  Soooo cool to see a living Beatle.  He sang "What Goes On", "With A Little Help From My Friends", "Yellow Submarine", "Photograph", and a bunch of other good ones.   My only disappointment was that he didn't come back for an encore and he never performed "Octopus's Garden".  His All-Starr band included Rod Argent, Richard Marx, Sheila E., Billy Squier, Edgar Winter, and Hamish Stuart and they were all great too. At the end of the show we walked around for a bit and got to meet Ron Campbell - the animator of the 1960's Saturday morning Beatles cartoon.  Now all I need to do is see Paul McCartney live.

Posted in:  A Day In The Life, Culture, Music, The Beatles | Permalink |  Digg This | Share on Facebook |Comments (1)

Helter Skelter

May 13, 2006 // 0 Comments  // Add yours »

Posted in:  Music, The Beatles, Videos | Permalink |  Digg This | Share on Facebook |Comments (0)

Playlist

May 09, 2006 // 0 Comments  // Add yours »

My most listened to songs of the week:

1. Paul McCartney - Monkberry Moon Delight
2. John Lennon - (Just Like) Starting Over
3. The Beatles - Helter Skelter
4. The Beatles - I Want You (She's So Heavy)
5. The Beatles - For You Blue
6. The Beatles - I've Got A Feeling

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Paul

May 03, 2006 // 1 Comments  // Add yours »

By Melissa Korik.

She's