Do you want my flannel?

Jamie Cullum, you are a golden god.
1. These Are The Days
2. Frontin'
3. Twentysomething
4. It's About Time
5. What A Difference A Day Made
6. I Get A Kick Out Of You
7. Take the 'A' Train
8. Sydney Song
9. Love Is The Sweet Sweet Solution/Everlasting Love
10. Wind Cries Mary
11. All At Sea
12. Lover, You Should've Come Over
13. High And Dry/Singin' In The Rain
Encore:
14. I Could Have Danced All Night

I can't really put into words what took place tonight. Many of you may argue, but in my eyes, this was definitely one of the best, if not the best, concerts I have ever been to.

Tonight I went to see Jamie Cullum at Irving Plaza. And it was amazing. First concert I have ever been to alone and probably the best. He hit the stage at about 9:30, beer in hand, and got things going with "These Are The Days." A definite favorite of mine. Then he went into "Frontin'" which is a cover of N.E.R.D. Got up from the piano & grooved to the drummer & bassist as he sang along. When he started "Twentysomething" the energy that he exuded throughout the show came out. The crowd got going with handclaps and scatting. There was so much energy in that room, I can't even begin to explain. He performed "What A Difference A Day Made" a capella, just standing front and center, mic in hand and a green spotlight on him. He held the mic at his waist so you could barely hear him through the speakers and it had to be dead quiet. Of all his songs on the album, that's my favorite and to see him sing alone with his passion, almost made me cry...almost. When he got into "I Get A Kick Out Of You," he went absolutely nuts. He was all over the piano. Standing on top of it, taking his piano seat and banging the keys, playing the inside of the piano. Someone then requested "Take the A Train" and he did it. Just one verse and the refrain but still, good stuff. He also did 3 new songs I had never heard. He busted out the acoustic guitar for "Sydney Song." It was written in Sydney and is about how when you're at national monuments and you see all the couples so you end up taking pictures of them. But then it's all romantic because you end up meeting someone and falling in love or just hooking up. Haha. Now here's the story behind the next two songs. He was asked to write a song for the upcoming Bridget Jones's Diary movie. He wrote 3 songs and they rejected all of them so he ended up covering what he referred to as "the classic, classic love song 'Everlasting Love.'" But he played one of the songs he wrote and then "Everlasting Love." Jimi Hendrix's "Wind Cries Mary" was awesome and then he did the crowd favorite "All At Sea" during which the audience was singing every word. He stopped singing and playing at one point and just stood at the front of stage and stared into the audience with the biggest smile on his face. He looked back and forth between his band mates and the audience. I thought he was going to cry at one point. It was very cool. When the song ended, he just said "you all are amazing." Jeff Buckley's "Lover, You Should've Come Over" was beautiful as well. Another highlight was "High And Dry/Singin' In The Rain" which called for crowd participation. He split us up into the 3 groups and we did the "do, do do's." Fun times. Also at one point during the evening, he took his beer bottle and was rubbing the strings inside the piano & playing the keys...it was crazy! And the encore was, excuse my language, fucking amazing. For "I Could've Danced All Night," he brought out a saxophone player (don't remember his name) AND they got the disco ball going. It was the greatest encore I've ever seen. But then again, it was one of the best concerts ever so there you go. He thanked us for being the best audience they've had so far and took his bows with the band. Big props of course go to Sebastiaan de Krom on drums and Geoff Gascoyne on bass. Two of the most amazing jazz musicians I've ever been in the presence of. I bow to you. And you to, Jamie. The three of you make an amazing jazz trio.

Now you think that would be it right? Oh just wait. This is good...

So I walk out of Irving Plaza, in hand the poster I purchased, and I see the tour bus and a crowd of people by the side door. I figure, I've got nothing to do, why the hell not. So I wait for an hour with a bunch of other Jamie fans and at about 12:00 he comes out and people start to mob him. And I'm like ok girls, calm your asses. We are then reassured that he will sign everyone's stuff. So I wait patiently until he turns to me and looks me straight in the eye and smiles. He holds out his hand and politely says "hello." "Hi, I'm Anna." "Hello, Anna so nice to meet you." We shake hands and he pulls me in for a kiss on the cheek...and I went speechless. He takes my poster and as he signs it I remember that I can talk and tell him "The show was just amazing" to which he replied "thank you, well you were an amazing audience." He continues to sign my poster and I decide to tell him "I just want you to know, you make me want to be a better musician." Which is true. I honestly think he is incredible and I wish I could play like him. He looked at me and seemed somewhat speechless at first and then he smiled and became very flattered and said something along the lines of "well thank you, that's what I'm here to do, I try." The words didn't come easy. I could tell. It was cool though. I then told him thank you and congratulations on everything. And he said thank you and smiled again and I left in complete awe.

Thank you Jamie. :)

Current Mood: pure bliss