Mike King

Sigur Ros

A few of us scurried away early from the Summer Institute to attend the Sigur Ros concert at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City.  My daughter, Jessica, and boyfriend Micah saved me a seat because Uptown is general admission.  The last time Sigur Ros came to Kansas City I wasn't there but I heard for weeks from the likes of Aaron Mitchum, Nick Pickrell, Tim Keel, Moe Didde, and many more how unbelievably awesome and other-worldly the music and performance of Sigur Ros was.  I decided I couldn't miss this show especially since the word on the street is that this band from Iceland were only doing a handful of US shows this year - Kansas City being one. 

Wow, they almost lived up the unrealistic expectation that had been created by my circle of friends.  This was an intriguing show.  I kept trying to compare the music of Sigur Ros to something that seemed familiar to me.  Halfway through the show, I made the connection with the similarities of this music with some Chinese Opera that I've heard.  Chinese Opera?  Well, I would say Chinese Opera set to a very contemporary and way cool world music.  The combination of string quartet, brass section, percussion varieties, and the antique foot pump organ, along with all the other instruments common with Sigur Ros added up to quite an amazing demonstration of musicality and showmanship.  I particularly loved lead singer Jonsi playing his electric guitar with a cello bow. 

Sigur Ros are legendary for 7 to 10 minute songs and even refused an appearance on the David Letterman show because they wouldn't live within a four minute time frame.  "Celebrities that have either attended sigur rós concerts or raved about them in the press include brad pitt, madonna, tom cruise, gillian anderson, jason lee, tommy lee, natalie portman, david bowie, björk, moby, and bands such as metallica, red hot chili peppers, bush, coldplay, foo fighters, rage against the machine, no doubt and radiohead."  Sigur Ros was great fun and very inspirational... don't miss them if they come near you.

Bucket of Babes

Last weekend we added one more thing to our busy weekend – the late night shooting of a music video at HyVee Supermarket.  Nick Pickrell, who I relate to more and more as “friend” and “fellow revolutionary” instead of “the kid who grew up in my youth ministry,” is always creating something… most of the time – really good things.    Nick and Dane Casey (also one of my youth ministry kids turned adult friend) wrote a song called "Bucket of Babes" about going to the grocery store to meet “babes.”  You gotta know these guys to realize how funny this is.  Anyway, a bunch of college kids we know participated in the video, including our daughter, Jessica and her boyfriend Micah Thomas.  Of course, Blue Springs is ecstatic right now about David Cook (American Idol) so several people thought the shoot might have something to do with him.  It was funny to watch people coming in the store to shop take pictures and speculate whom the celebrity was.  Nick, in an attempt to make the “babe ratio” go up, forced Vicki into a couple shots which totally humiliated my wife who wants no attention.  And a fun time was had by all.  I love my full life.

The Swell Season

I remember being absolutely captivated within the first few minutes of the movie Once by the music of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.  Vicki, Micah, Anne and I went to the movie because we knew it was set in Dublin, Ireland and we heard that the music was good.  The music was more than good and the movie turned out to be one of my favorites of the year.  The song "Falling Slowly" won an Academy Award for the Best Original Song of 2007.  Last night Glen, Marketa and a cast of amazing musicians performed Swell Season at the Uptown Theatre.   This was a perfect venue for this show.  It was also excellent to be there with more than two dozen YouthFront staff and/or alumni, more than 50 Jacob's Well staff and/or members, and a handful of friends on staff at Christ Community Church.  Wow, what an experience, what a night.

Khrusty Brothers

The Khrusty Brothers CD Release Party was last night at the Record Bar in Kansas City.  I knew that I should get there early in order to get in but it just didn't work out.  Chris Folmsbee and I arrived around 6:30 to find a line stretching down the sidewalk.  I peeked through the window and saw a venue full of close friends all snug and warm inside, laughing and have a grand time.  I stood at the window a bit to ponder how much I would enjoy being on the inside participating in the party instead of standing outside in the deep freeze.  The icy winds quickly caused me to abandon the hope of getting inside...  bummer.

Last minute

Last night on the way to Africa night at church we decided to drive by the Sprint Center since it was the opening night for the new downtown arena.  We had tried to buy tickets for Elton John but they sold out in a few minutes.  We tried off and on over the last month to buy something online but the ticket prices were ridiculous.  Driving around downtown, which was really cool because of the amount of pedestrian traffic, Vicki spotted a man trying to sell two tickets.  We bought two tickets which had to be among the best seats for this concert.  Elton John was facing us approximately 50 feet away.  We paid slightly over face value.  We still had an hour and a half so we still got to got to Africa night for awhile.  Downtown was definitely more congested by the time we got back but we still found a free parking spot just a few blocks away.  It was so exciting to see thousands of people walking around downtown and pass all the new restaurants and shops.  Downtown Kansas City has come alive from the River through the Crossroads.  I had the feel I get from Chicago, Boston, Seattle and other big cities.  If we could just have a big concert every night we'd arrive.  The new entertainment district opening in March will help accomplish the consistency of downtown traffic during evenings and on weekends.

Back to the concert.  The Sprint Center is beautiful.  The only negative was standing in line  for 10 minutes to get through the doors.  The bathrooms were great and expansive.  The concessions and sports bar were impressive.  The inside arena is awesome.  Our seats were perfect.

Elton sang in strong voice non-stop for 2 hours and 45 minutes.  The band was tight.  The sound was excellent.  By the time he got to the last two songs, Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me and Your Song I felt that it would have been worth paying scalper priced tickets although I'm happy I didn't.  Your Song was one of "our songs" when we were dating. 

When we hit the streets to return to our car we were entertained all the way by a fireworks show coming from the top of Sprint Center.  The fireworks, spotlights, pedestrian crowds, the full restaurants, and the great weather made be proud to be a Kansas Citian. 

now if I can get so lucky with Hannah Montana tickets...

Heart Attack Time Machine

Speaking of my friends Don and Lori Chaffer of Waterdeep (yesterday's post) their new album Heart Attack Time Machine is amazing.  It is about the only music I have listened to for many many weeks.  I was fortunate to get a pre-release of this project from Don.  I love it.  My favorite line is "I'm amazed by life and it's amazed by me..." from the song Good Good End.  Don's lyrics are rich and Lori's voice has never been better.  This is a sweet, sweet musical experience.  Do yourself a favor and get this gem of an album.  Now.

Doing the Shuffle

Stacy Sublett tagged me with this. He found this game on

Jason Powell's blog.

Open iTunes or your ipod, hit shuffle, and list the first 15 songs that play.

1. Tramp With Orchestra (No Strings) - Michael Riesman & Orchestra, Jesus' Blood Has Never Failed Me Yet, Alternative   
2. Dance of the Blessed Spirits - Christoph Willibald Gluck, Romance of the Violin - Classical  
3. Concerto à cinque, for solo violin, 2 violins, viola, cello & continuo No. 6 in D major, Op. Larghetto - Various, Albinoni's Adagios - Classical
4. Island Girl - Elton John, Sounds of the Seventies: - Rock/Pop 
5. All Blues - Miles Davis, Kind of Blue - Jazz   
6. When Your Mind's Made Up - Various Artists, Once (Music from the Motion Picture) -Soundtrack  
7. Goodnight Elisabeth - Counting Crows, Recovering the Satellites - Rock/Pop 

8. Don't Cha Wanna Ride - Joss Stone, Mind, Body & Soul - Pop

9. Can't Cry Anymore - Sheryl Crow, Tuesday Night Music Club - Rock  
10. Barber Adagio For Strings - The Choir of New College Oxford, Agnus Dei - Classical 

11. Life In Mono - Mono, Pure Moods III - New Age   
12. You've Got a Way - Shania Twain, Come on Over - Country   
13. Magnificat - Taizé, Sing to God - Gospel
14. Right Place, Wrong time - Dr. John, Sounds of the Seventies: - Rock/Pop   

15. Sunrise - Tribal Trance, Didgin' in the Dirt - World 

Talk Show Host - Radiohead, Romeo + Juliet - Soundtrack  

I'm tagging Moe Didde

Learn to dance like a white man...

I watched this video on my son, Daniel's Blog, too funny...

OK Go

Here is a very interesting video worth a watch.  Shout out to Jon Meyers.

What is your favorite Female/Male Duet combinations?

It doesn't get much better than

Sheryl Crow and Sting 

  singing Always On Your Side. 

   

  What are your suggestions?