In Which I Sing (off key) The Phrases Of Ingrid Michaelson

Okay, so I'm on a roll here with the music at this year's Arts Festival. Thursday night I hit the river rowing, then hightailed it to town immediately after to catch Ingrid Michaelson perform FOR FREE at the Festival.

I'm familiar with several of her songs, their catchy melodies and slightly off lyrics, but I really had no expectations about her showmanship. So I headed for the park, in all my post-rowing smelliness (more on that at the end) in hopes of spending a lovely evening outdoors listening to music. I had no idea what I was in for.

Wow!

Really...

WOW!

She was so entertaining! I had no idea. Her band of two girls and three guys perfectly accompanied her adorable ukulele. From the onset, she engaged the packed crowd of devotees--who stood from the first note to her last wave-- with energetic renditions, charming tales and witty banter. This young woman in her Lisa Loeb inspired spectacles is funny with a capital F.U.N.! She had the crowd eating out of the palm of her hand. Everyone was singing along to virtually every song. She even had the rapt audience doing silly hand gestures to her choruses.

Dude. When was the last time you ever saw white males, young or old, willingly do hand gestures to music? High-Lar-Ious! Oh the power she has.



Here she is in Berkley playing with the audience.

And boy, the pipes on this young lass!

Holy crap!! Her voice is gorgeous! Clear. Strong. Effortless. I swear she can span at least 28 octaves. I know. That's impossible, but you get my drift, right? Right? She's that amazing.

You and I... live in Albany

Everybody ... again live in Albany

Maybe... live from Webster Hall

Last one. Promise. Far Away.. live at Webster Hall. She's so good with the crowd.

Clearly, she loves what she does.

Remember how I said every band I've seen has ended with a cover? Well the lovely Ingrid was no exception. Her contribution was a take on Britney Spears' "Toxic" complete with inane Brit line dance performed precisely by her entire band. It was a hoot! They finished with a completely punked out version of one of her most popular songs "The Way I Am". It was fabulous! Joey Ramone would be so proud. I wish they'd release that version on iTunes. Imagine this gentle tune all screamy and guitar screechy.

The Way I Am (non-punk version)

I didn't take my camera with me because, well...I really didn't think I'd LOVE her so much. My major bad. So no vids from me. :-( I won't make that mistake next time.

Oh, yeah. There will definitely be a next time.

P.S.: One funny side note: When I got there a kid of 12 (why is it everyone around me lately looks 12?) made the flippant comment that no one would mind if he lit up a cigarette right beside me. Well I did. As I was breathing in his cig stench I thought. The jokes on you, buddy. I came directly from rowing practice. I smell like a wet hobo. I win.

P.P.S.: I know you're probably wondering where my fantasy husband's been. I have neglected to write about him lately. Well he was competing in an online Words With Friends tournament in Dallas. WWF is you-can't-sue-me-cause-I-didn't-use-your-name-for-it code for Scrabble. My honey and his exquisite brain made it all the way through to the semi-finals before succumbing to the pressure of one minute postings televised live over the interweb.

Look at him with the wheels of his adorable cranium turning. It doesn't matter that he lost. He effortlessly maintained his title as the hottest thing in the room.