17 July 2015
Fab Four Friday
Being (probably overly) intertwined in the coolest community in the world - The Beatles -
I made a friend who offered to give me a backstage peek at Let It Be Live, currently playing at the Garrick Theatre.
Theatre ... and The Beatles ...
As if I could ever be more in my element than this day.
We got to watch a bit of soundcheck from all over the theatre,
and I'm back to report that YES - the view from the box is actually as good as they say.
Making our way backstage, we saw sound guys doing sound things, recreated guitars
(mighty fine & almost exact, I will say!),
and the many many costumes that are used throughout the night.
And more guitars. A LOT of guitars.
And no - was not successful in taking one home with me.
There's always next time.
How many can you name?
We also got a glimpse from the stage,
where we could get a view of what the guys see every night.
I'll tell you - imagining a sold out house felt incredible in an empty theatre;
I can't begin to understand how thrilling it would be when it's actually real.
While I tried and tried,
ultimately I was shot down as a sub-drummer for the night.
It just seemed like SUCH a big deal that I've never really played before?
I didn't get it either.
'John' has got a mini set list underneath the piano to follow with,
along with a few starting words to a certain song to help him remember the lyric order.
Which I thank him for - because after seeing that, I'm never going to forget that order either.
It was very cool to see how the show looks from the other point of view.
And I'd never actually been on a West End stage before, so I was a bit giddy about that too.
And having the centerfold for this entire visit was The Beatles.
And there's nooooooooothing in the world I like more than some rousing good ol' Beatles things!
Let It Be Live runs at the Garrick until 5 September 2015 - see it while you can!
Performances run from Monday - Saturday 7:30PM with matinees Thursday & Saturday 3:00PM.
Get your tickets HERE.
10 July 2015
Fab Four Friday
This will forever be one of my favorite Beatles tunes.
Just because it's great.
And sometimes you don't need a better reason than that.
We Can Work It Out has two distinct melodies in it - both way too catchy.
I remember the first time I really heard a lot of Beatles songs, and this is one of the most memorable.
On our first visit to the Cavern Club, we decided to catch the tribute band that plays on Saturday nights,
and this song specifically played, and I was - of course - jamming hard.
The next day we woke up in the hostel, I was talking to Heather about the songs I knew and liked.
And I specifically remember saying,
"There was this one that is really fast, then gets really slow, then it gets fast again... and that's the only way I can describe it.."
& Heather was all - "OKAY. I TOTALLY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT"
We spent about 20 minutes searching on her iTunes because it was right on the tip of her tongue.
Really slow .. then really fast .. then gets really slow .. then fast again ..
Um .. what?
She finally found it and absolutely knew it was the exact song I was talking about.
And I still tell her to this day I will never be more impressed by anything she does after finding that song
from that poor, poor description.
FUN FACTS:
- The song was recorded in only two days, amounting to about 11 hours.
- The song was written about arguments with Paul's then girlfriend Jane Asher.
Who I love. And hope Paul is still regretting ruining the relationship.
Because, to put it simply - Jane. Is Perfect.
- It was released as a double a-side single with Day Tripper.
There were disputes about which song should be the a-side and which the b-side.
So instead of figuring out who gets their way,
they just went on and made them both a-sides - releasing the world's first double a-sided singles.
Because they are THE BEATLES. And they can do whatever the hell they want.
I could watch the promo videos for this over and over.
How cute is Paul cracking up at John - they're having so much fun!
JUST THE GREATEST DUO EVER.
Just because it's great.
And sometimes you don't need a better reason than that.
We Can Work It Out has two distinct melodies in it - both way too catchy.
I remember the first time I really heard a lot of Beatles songs, and this is one of the most memorable.
On our first visit to the Cavern Club, we decided to catch the tribute band that plays on Saturday nights,
and this song specifically played, and I was - of course - jamming hard.
The next day we woke up in the hostel, I was talking to Heather about the songs I knew and liked.
And I specifically remember saying,
"There was this one that is really fast, then gets really slow, then it gets fast again... and that's the only way I can describe it.."
& Heather was all - "OKAY. I TOTALLY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT"
We spent about 20 minutes searching on her iTunes because it was right on the tip of her tongue.
Really slow .. then really fast .. then gets really slow .. then fast again ..
Um .. what?
She finally found it and absolutely knew it was the exact song I was talking about.
And I still tell her to this day I will never be more impressed by anything she does after finding that song
from that poor, poor description.
FUN FACTS:
- The song was recorded in only two days, amounting to about 11 hours.
- The song was written about arguments with Paul's then girlfriend Jane Asher.
Who I love. And hope Paul is still regretting ruining the relationship.
Because, to put it simply - Jane. Is Perfect.
- It was released as a double a-side single with Day Tripper.
There were disputes about which song should be the a-side and which the b-side.
So instead of figuring out who gets their way,
they just went on and made them both a-sides - releasing the world's first double a-sided singles.
Because they are THE BEATLES. And they can do whatever the hell they want.
I could watch the promo videos for this over and over.
How cute is Paul cracking up at John - they're having so much fun!
JUST THE GREATEST DUO EVER.
09 July 2015
Boozing for Brunch at Scarlets
Last weekend I was invited to check out the new & chic restaurant right in the heart of Covent Garden, Scarlet's.
And lucky for Heather and I, this brunch happened to be on the Fourth of July.
As the annoying American's the world knows best, of course we were celebrating.
A boozy brunch? What a perfect way to start.
We were welcomed with a delicious Bellini on arrival,
and after this being the second time it happening,
I'm thinking about sending in a formal request to everywhere I show up to, for champagne at the door.
Brunch, bars, work, home ... does it really matter where? It's Champagne.
And lucky for Heather and I, this brunch happened to be on the Fourth of July.
As the annoying American's the world knows best, of course we were celebrating.
A boozy brunch? What a perfect way to start.
We were welcomed with a delicious Bellini on arrival,
and after this being the second time it happening,
I'm thinking about sending in a formal request to everywhere I show up to, for champagne at the door.
Brunch, bars, work, home ... does it really matter where? It's Champagne.
ANYWAYS.
Scarlet's is a gorgeous place, filled with cute vintage-like furniture, wall hangings, and lights.
Flowers on the tables, water-colored menus - cute enough to contemplate if they could design my next flat's decor.
We were given Bloody Mary's to start the brunch with
which, while they aren't my thing, Heather downed hers. So you know it was good.
I grabbed a Rum Punch once the waiter came by and woooooow was it delicious!
Fruity, tangy, and very rummy - I absolutely loved it.
The food was just as tasty as the drinks we had before.
I ordered an Eggs Florentine - which I had never had before - and I think my life has changed forever.
These eggs were PERFECTLY poached, and the creamy hollandaise just completed it.
I was full as could be, but I could have easily eaten another one.
To finish off, we were given the new Alcoholic Popsicles to sample.
These come in three flavors - Mojito, Gin & Tonic, and Vodka & Perrier - all with fruit frozen inside.
Literally, I couldn't think of anything else except, 'this is what summer tastes like.'
AKA - Delicious. So good.
The morning was a great way to start off the day,
which was later filled with the only things that really matter in the USA;
more alcohol, country music, and a disgusting, overbearing amount of red, white, and blue.
06 July 2015
House of Song; The Piano Works
The Piano Works is a freshly opened live music venue just a short walk away from the Farringdon Station.
And I say venue because it is much, much more than just a bar.
Live music, delicious snacks, and, of course, cocktails;
some of the greatest cocktails I have EVER drank, to be exact.
Which is saying a lot ... I've had my fair share of cocktails.
Thanks to the lovely girls at PR&EI, I was invited to check out a launch event right before the opening this past weekend.
Being welcomed with Prosecco was one thing, but it was the dimmed lighting, alluring atmosphere, and live music that really caught me.
The Piano Works is essentially what it sounds like.
Two pianos along with a backing band take song requests from the crowd through napkins placed all over the bar.
Creative, if you ask me.
We challenged them with some of our favorite obscure oldies,
and they surprisingly pulled off most every one,
especially a great Maybe I'm Amazed.
Yes, obviously we threw some Macca requests in there.
Do you know who I am?
Throughout all of this were different presentations of drinks and nibbles.
I have to hand it to this staff - I have never been waited on so promptly.
It was like once I finished a drink, within 30 seconds
I'd have someone coming up to me asking what I'd like next.
And these drinks were so good, there was no way I was going to turn one down.
While all the drinks were incredible, the Almond Hazlenut Sour gets on only the spotlight on this post,
but of any drink I've ever featured on this blog.
Both almond and hazelnut liquors mixed together with egg whites and lemon,
this
drink is so good, I literally think it should be added to all buckets
lists as something that needs to be tasted before you die.
Life-changing.
Or over-dramatic. Either one.
But damn, it's good.
Mini rolls were also being brought around, for good reason.
With this many cocktails offered, food is a must.
The rolls were a variety of tuna, crab, chicken, and chili dogs.
Heather and I chomped on the Veggie Burgers, served with a bit of mint and mayo with fresh rocket.
We ate three - if you were going to ask if we enjoyed them.
Three.
It was one of the best venues I've ever been able to check out in London,
and I can guarantee if there's ever a place I'd go back to a second time - this is it.
I would recommend anyone with a free night to get out
and if for some reason, you are looking for more reasons to go,
GO FOR THE ALMOND HAZELNUT SOUR.
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