Cello Madness at the Makeout Room

I've seen quite a lot of concerts over the years, at both small and large venues. Last month I attended Cello Madness at the Makeout Room in San Francisco (in the Mission District). It was an event very unlike most concerts, and one I am going to see again.

I walked in and four cellists and a violinist were setting up chairs in a circle in the middle of the club. The audience was arrayed around them. The whole event had the feeling of being in on a working session. Each player was asked to lead a song, to give a theme and a key. None of the music was rehearsed. Each piece had its own color and tone. There were elements of classical music, of country, of Irish, and of modern music. Other musicians trickled in: three more cellists, another violinist and an upright bassist. More chairs were found, the circle widened, the music broadened.

I walked away feeling very inspired. I hope I get to a point where I could plug into a circle of cellists and be able to hold my own. Here are some recordings I made with my iPhone:



contrast-and-dissonance.aiff (one of my faves)
funk-sparkle-foreplay.aiff (named for words shouted from the audience)
happiness-and-sadness.aiff
Perpetual-motion.aiff
pizzicato.aiff
d-and-c.aiff
getting-in-the-mood.aiff

There is another night of cello madness tomorrow night, April 27, again at the Makeout Room. I hope you can join me there!

He's Just Not that Into You

Saw this movie last week. It was very well done, smart and funny, and also poignant and, at times, cringe-worthy.

A scene from the movie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScWKul0JXp8

And here is the actor, Bradley Cooper, explaining his character (the married man who couldn't make a decision):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhENFIQx0RY

There were some very good points made. At one point, the single girl comes up to her two friends (one married, one in a committed long-term relationship) and announces that she has figured it out: whenever a girl is in a situation with a guy who's a jerk, or won't commit, there is invariably a friend who says something like "oh, i knew a girl who was dating a guy just like that, and now they are happily married!" The single girl says "But that girl is the exception. In reality most of us are the rule." She was trying to point out that we all give each other false hope instead of grounding each other in reality.

I also liked the fact that it was an ensemble cast. You don't see many movies like that these days. Go see it!