Just Say No

So Frack went to a concert last night. It was the DJ Avicii Concert at Boston's TD Garden venue. As a full fledged member of the "Moms That Are Overly Protective" club, I had a brief chat with Frack about concert safety and drugs and drinking. It was one of those talks that when finished, the response is ALWAYS...
"Ya, I know mom". I am a strong believer in sharing all the wisdom and warnings to my children so that maybe, just maybe, they will hear their mother's words in their head and think twice.

Well that mother's intuition thing I got going on was dead on....

Today's Boston Herald had this headline:

Dozens hospitalized during DJ Avicii show at TD Garden

EMS: Many teens were being treated

I immediately texted Frack a pic of the story. He was at work. Last night when Frack arrived home safely, I was waiting up for him. We had a pleasant conversation and off he went to bed warning me that he had to get up early for work today. I saw no evidence of hard partying, to which I was grateful. Frick, Frack, My Guy and I have had many a conversation about drug use. My Guy and I shared our experiences with them both, as they don't amount to much, and by that I mean neither of us had ever even tried hallucinogenics of any kind. Call us square, but I'm not completely innocent. I may be part of that 80% of adults that recreationally use marijuana, or I may not. But it always stopped there.Whatever the case, at the ages my kids are, My Guy and I try to have honest conversations about drugs with the kids. 

And Frack's  response to my text this morning?

"Yeah, I know" 

"A lot of kids on Molly. That would suck to be those kids."

I'm glad that Frack is a very good listener. 

He's Bringing Sexy Back

So I had the wonderful opportunity to go to the Justin Timberlake/Jay-Z concert at Fenway park last night. It's Frick's birthday and we went with a couple of friend of hers and a couple of friends of mine. It was SPECTACULAR! I was very impressed with both artists and the music was great. 

While there I noticed a few things I thought interesting:

The crowd was eclectic! Lots of women and men in my age demo and lots of people in Frick's demo.

There were plenty of couples, which was interesting, to say the least. I would have thought it would have been more of a "chicks" thing, dripping with young women. Not the case at all.

Sexy was in the air. Beside the great show, we had an interesting show going on right in front of us. Three young, handsome guys and two girls in the row in front of us. You couldn't help but notice that they were feeling sexy. Very sexy. There was a lot of bumping and grinding going on and a lot of "tonsil hockey" and swapping of partners. So here we are trying to enjoy the concert, but the show in front of us was unavoidable. Being much older than the people in front of us, I tried to focus my attention on the stage but Frick and her friends were mesmerized by the side show. They were horrified and kept commenting on the logistics of what was taking place in the row before us. I guess I'm lucky I raised her right, and after the show the girls involved beat a hasty retreat. It was then that we asked the boys if they had decided which one of the two they would take home? "No matter," the boys replied. "We have a deal. Whoever scores tonight will no doubt share the wealth with all of us." What the hell? 

Ok and yes he really did say that. I'm just grateful it wasn't Frick and her friends in that row.

Justin and Jay-Z put on a killer show and Justin played at least three instruments during his sets.I had no idea that the former Boy Bander was so talented. While Justin danced and sang, Jay-Z came out and rapped during his set, but he seem tired. Kind of like I was tired at that point. Then we googled his age and I immediately knew why. Jay-Z is in my age demo. Hell yes he's tired! We're old...compared to the others. 

All in, it was a great night and something I truly enjoyed doing with my daughter. They superstars commented that this was the best crowd of the entire tour, which made the place erupt! 

But, I bet they say that in all the city's they travel to. 

An Afternoon Of Jazz

I got an unexpected treat yesterday when my BFF called and asked me if I would like to join her to see Wynton Marsalis at Boston Symphony Hall. Being a blues gal myself, I was happy to oblige, as Jazz runs a close second to my love of the blues. Somehow I knew this had the makings of a great afternoon.
We entered into Boston's storied Symphony Hall, where music's finest artists have showcased their talent for decades. Mr. Marsalis proudly proclaimed Boston's Symphony Hall, "the greatest hall in the country" to the delighted packed house.

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis did not dissapoint. The 15 member band, including Mr. Marsalis, put on a show to remember. Yes, these boy's can blow! The afternoon's program, which was announced from the stage, began with wonderful, soulful renditions of everone's favorite nursery rhymes. Beginning with "Old MacDonalds Farm" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" to a swinging rendition of "It's Not That Easy Being Green"with the afternoon's only vocal accompanyment.
Who knew that childhood nursery rhymes could sound so hip and so smooth!




The knowledge of these Doctors Of Music shone through in every piece performed, each one arranged by a different and talented member of the band. After a brief intermission from the first act, the band came back to perform a solid blues piece,"Blues Walk", which literally brought a tear to my eye. Mr. Marsalis noted that the piece performed was their best, perfection. "It don't get any better than that," he said. "Like the Blues, it arrived perfect. We can only add to it."





The afternoon was capped off in a jammin' style with the crowd erupting after each master had showcased his craft in a solo by demonstrating a complete command of the instrument they posessed. The result was some of the finest display of Jazz mucisians I have ever seen.

The crowd was then treated to what seemed like an impromptu encore, with Mr Marsalis, accompanied by the piano and bass, playing a rockin, swingin Jazz piece while he walked the stage, engaging the audience to their feet. The music so fine, the tune stayed with me for hours afterward.

There is no better was to spend a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Boston. If you have the opportunity to catch the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis I highly reccommend you do so. You won't be disappointed.

I give it a Daily Dandy two thumbs WAY UP!!