Concert Review: Pink - The Truth About Love Tour

This past Saturday, P!nk brought The Truth About Love tour to Staples Center here in Los Angeles. I was not prepared. I truly was not. I'm not sure what I expected to be honest. I would consider myself a fan but after this show, I'd say I am a FAN.

Click the RAWR and find out just how she blew my mind.

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Taproot Gift - Live Concert Review

Last night was the third time I've seen Taproot and once again, they did not disappoint! This tour is a little bit different because the band is playing their 2000 debut album, Gift, in it's entirety!

The show was great! Stephen, Mike, Phil, and Nick rocked out hard and got the crowd on their feet. Every person there was singing along to the entire Gift album. It was crazy! Stephen rocked out by dancing around the stage, shaking hands, and taking his own videos with fans' phones.

In addition to playing Gift, Taproot played the b-side to the hit "Again & Again," "Day by Day" (featured on the Dracula 2000 soundtrack). Taproot also ended strong by playing their most successful song "Poem."

It was great to see this tour because Gift is such a great album and the fans get to see some of the songs that aren't often played live.

If you get a chance, definitely check out Taproot's Gift - Live Tour this year! Check out the tour dates!

Taproot Gift - Live is a 10 out of 10 Gifts!

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Batman Live: World Arena Tour Review

Batman Live: World Arena Tour is a stage show featuring the Dark Knight in the iconic retelling of Robin's origin. Bruce is present when the the Graysons are murdered and takes young Dick Grayson under his wing. Dick runs away from Wayne Manor in search of his parents' killer, while Batman does the same. Eventually, Dick takes the mantle of Robin and stands at Batman's side to save Gotham from the myriad of villains the Joker has released in Arkham Asylum. Will Batman and Robin be able to stop the Joker from taking over Arkham and save Gotham City in time?

Originating last year in the United Kingdom, Batman Live has brought Gotham City and all of it's heroes and villains stateside!

This show is massive! There are a ton of different locations and great set pieces. Joker's Hot Air Balloon, Gotham's rooftops, and of course a sleek new version of the Batmobile all make an appearance. The sets are all so different and the changes were seemless during the different scenes. The costumes and actors are fantastic! You really feel immersed in Gotham City.

A giant 415,750 pixel screen (in the shape of a Bat of course) serves as the background of the stage. This background transforms to various locales such as the Gotham Cityscape, Wayne Manor, Haly's Circus, Arkham Asylum, and (obviously) the Batcave. This screen also serves as transitions between scenes by zooming out to a comic book and zooming into separate panels to change settings. Also, flashbacks, a Batmobile chase, and the Batcomputer screen, are all done on this screen in comic and CGI form. DC regular Jim Lee ("Batman: Hush") did all of the comic artwork for the show. Doors within the screen are where the actors and props come out of, creating a very unique effect.

All of the fight scenes are choreographed wonderfully and flow really well. The action is exactly what you would expect from Batman. Most sequences are acrobatic in nature, but it works with the themes and settings within the story.

The story drags a bit in places and for being about Robin, he isn't in it much as the Boy Wonder. I was initially worried that it would be geared more towards children, but it is actually fun for all ages. There is the perfect combination of comedy, excitement, action, and adventure that makes it fun for the whole family.

Be sure to check out Batman Live: World Arena Tour in your area!

Batman Live Tour Dates

Batman Live: World Arena Tour is an 8 out of 10 Flying Graysons!

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Glory Glory Patty Griffin

After years of waiting and missed opportunities, last night I finally found myself at a Patty Griffin concert. The wait was well worth it. From my seat at the top of the Wiltern Theatre, Row O in the Mezz, I bared witness to perfection personified.

Patty Griffin. You probably don't know her, which after this post will hopefully change. She is counted as an influence for an uncountable amount of singer/songwriters from Michelle Branch to The Dixie Chicks and anyone in between. Her songs and albums are genre bending gems with each album delivering samples of Rock, country, and even jazz. She can't be classified as a folk or rock or country. She is Patty Griffin and that is her genre.

My first dose of patty was years ago by chance hearing a song of hers on some skin care commercial. It was blue sky and the 10 seconds I heard of it stuck in my brain for quite some time. I could never figure out who it was. Then, I hear the song "You Are Not Alone" in the movie Niagra, Niagra (decent flick worth a watch for Henry Thomas/Robin Tunney fans). This haunting and sad song instantly grabbed my attention and sent me on a hunt for Patty. She had 2 CDs out by this time. Living with Ghosts, her first album which is mainly her and an acoustic guitar, and Flaming Red, a radical departure from her first disc featuring some heavy electric guitars and drums among her mellow ballads. Brilliant. Flaming Red also featured that long ago tune I had never tracked down Blue Sky, from that skin commercial. Pretty coincidental. From then on I devoured every CD she released. (PS anyone with her Silver Bells album that was never released...I need this badly) I have yet to hear a song or album of hers I do not love.

Last night, on a perfect LA day, my dream of seeing her live was fulfilled. She came on stage with her band to a roar of applause and let loose a set of rock and roll and heart breaking ballads that are unequaled in popular music. She is at the top of her game and she proved it last night. Her set was made of mostly of newer tunes from her most popular albums, including her latest release at highest career debut, Children Running Through. In fact, the highlight of the show was her performance of Burgundy Shoes, a song she described as being written after being challenged to write a happy song. It is a touching and startlingly haunting song of a girl spending a morning with her mother. It had me near tears I'm not ashamed to admit.

I have seen a lot of concerts in my life. Some large, some small and would count my first concert of Patty Griffin's as top of the heap. I know I regret missing her until now, and that missing her again won't be a possibility.

The good news is that you can get a taste of her live show by grabbing her live CD/DVD A Kiss in Time.

Do yourselves a favor and grab a couple of her CDs. You will not be disappointed.

Discography:

Living With Ghosts
Flaming Red
1000 Kisses
A Kiss in Time
Impossible Dream
Children Running Through

www.pattygriffin.net

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