The 6th Man {In A Band}

On Saturday night, I went to the BOK Center and saw the Arctic Monkeys and The Black Keys.  I'm not the biggest fan of AM - they had a few good songs but most of them sounded the same to me. The Black Keys, on the other hand, were sensational. Loved them. I especially loved it when Patrick and Dan {THE Black Keys} played just the two of them. Here's a few pics from the night:

Arctic Monkeys  

The Black Keys

The Black Keys

The Black Keys - Encore

The Black Keys - Finale

During one of the songs, I noticed that the lights were super in sync with the drum beat. My immediate thought was “that’s some spot-on programming.” Then I realized, it’s not like a loop or click track you follow. So, I looked down at the sound booth and started watching their lighting technician/producer guy. The part of the song that I’d noticed the light synchronization came up and sure enough, he was basically “playing” along with the music. 

My first “realization” of what a lighting technician did was when we had THE ADDAMS FAMILY at the Tulsa PAC. Part of my job has to do with press and promotions. On opening night of each show when the curtain goes up, I walk station cameras in and we stand in the back so they can shoot stills for an article or broll for TV interviews. They typically can shoot for the first 30 minutes so I get a little antsy standing with them {because I’m usually in heels}.

Watching THE ADDAMS FAMILY in
NYC with my coworkers

I had already seen THE ADDAMS FAMILY in NYC {with Nathan Lane & Bebe Neuwirth, see pic above} so I wasn’t really paying close attention to the show when I noticed the lighting guy was really working during the first scene. I guess I’d thought they only turned the house lights down, stage lights up, and then just sat back and relaxed for the rest of the show. Boy, was I wrong. The lighting guy functioned not only as a member of the orchestra bringing the lights up as the music crescendo, but also as a member of the cast “setting the mood,” quite literally, as the stage danced with colored lights following the movements of the characters. 

So, as I watched this "hidden" member of the band play along with The Black Key and I remembered the lighting technician for THE ADDAMS FAMILY, I thought to myself here’s the “sixth man” in a band, like the movie. This may not be the greatest example but I think you get the gist. This is my shout-out to all the lighting technicians: thanks for making concerts, plays, musicals, etc. be that much better and add to our experience in ways we may not always fully comprehend.  

Props lighting guy, big props.

The Black Keys Lighting Technician
{apologize for the fuzzy picture}

Calli

Listening to

Pulling Back The Veil 

by Elenowen

The Triple Threat Trifecta

Hi Blog, my name is Calli, your author...do you remember me?

This past weekend I went to Stillwater, OK and it was one of the best weekends I've had in a long time. Why, you may ask? Well, since you ask, I will tell you. This weekend consisted of three of my favorite things, the "triple threat trifecta," if you will: gorgeous weather, excellent music, and great coffee. I call it the "triple threat trifecta" not because I want to be redundant but because I got to do/experience all these great things with my best friend, Rachel.  And, that to me, is a formula for a "triple threat trifecta."


Gorgeous Weather
Saturday morning, after enjoying an awesome cup of French Pressed coffee (see below), a walk around Boomer Lake, and lunch at Red Rock Bakery, we wound up in Downtown Stillwater in the middle of a Street Festival. We were pleasantly surprised and very thankful that we stumbled across this little event.

Excellent Music
Exhibit A: The Non
Instrumental band from OKC. First heard them at The Conservatory in OKC when I went to see The Rocketboys. Saw on Facebook last Friday that they were playing on the Willard Lawn. So after we ate our weight in chips, salsa, and queso at El Vaquero, Rach and I took a ton of blankets and set up shop on the Lawn. Excellent band - awesome music. Czech'em out: TheNonBand.com

Exhibit B: Random Jam Session Outside an Antique Store
While we were wondering around Downtown Stillwater, Rachel wanted to go to look in this antique store.  We walked up to this store and these two gentlemen were sitting outside, jamming away and enjoying the gorgeous weather as well.  I just love this picture:

Great Coffee
Introduction to French Pressed Coffee: First off, where have you been all my life? My mind was blown as I sipped my first cup of French Pressed coffee Saturday morning that Rachel's husband professionally brewed - I experienced flavors in coffee that I never knew existed. I'm not over-exaggerating at all. It was just...wow.  So, I went and bought some supplies to have my own French Pressed coffee experience every morning.  No more office coffee for me - I'm a coffee snob. And proud of it.

Aspen Coffee: You can't go to Stillwater and not hit up Aspen Coffee, especially the one on Western.  Rach and I went after our Street Festival experience and it just topped off the day for us.  Rach had what she called "a cup full of yummy sugar" and me, of course, the White Chocolate Mocha.  We sat outside, soaked up some more gorgeous weather and solved all the world's problems. Yes, you can rest easy now, we have everything under control.

I'm very thankful that I was able to spend the weekend with my bestie and we got to do all these great things plus have awesome conversations.  But to be honest, I set out to do this blog post because I haven't updated in literally four months and I like sharing new bands/music. As I wrote and came to the end of my post, I realized that the real "triple threat trifecta" is that my friendship with Rachel revolves around Christ.  This weekend could not have been what it was without the grace and love of Christ. Yes, the sun gave us endorphins and the coffee gave us energy but spending time with someone who desires to know and be used by Christ with all their being creates an encouragement that exceeds everything.  That, my friend, is wow, just wow.

Calli

Listening to
Pala
by Friendly Fires

{Find Your Smile Now}

When I was looking for the music video for last week's post I stumbled across the music video for one of my other favorite songs by Future of Forestry.  The band made it as Song #4 on my "Summer Playlist" this last year so my faithful readers {all six of you :) } should be familiar with them.

After watching this video, my level of respect for the band and love for the song grew immensely, not to mention the desire to see them live!  While they were rehearsing for their 2010 tour, they filmed a few of their songs and put them out before the tour began. "Find your smile now"...and enjoy!



{Slow Your Breath Down by Future of Forestry}


This chest is full of memories
Of gold and silver tears
I'll give you more to own than all of this
And I'll give you more than years
For you were once a child of innocence
And I see you just the same
Your burdens couldn't win or lose a thing
Oh, I'd tell you once again
But you're always on the run

Slow your breath down
Just take it slow
Find your hear now
You can trust and love again
Slow your breath down
Just take it slow
Find your smile now
You can trust and love again

If you leave I'll still be close to you
When all your fears rain down
I'll take you back a thousand times again
I'll take you as my own
I would sing you songs of innocence
'Til the light of morning comes
'Til the rays of gold and honey cover you
In the sweetness of the dawn
But you're always on the run

Slow your breath down
Just take it slow
Find your heart now
You can trust and love again
Slow your breath down
Just take it slow
Find your smile now
You can trust and love again

You're not alone
You're now a part of me
You feel the cure
I'll find the toil it brought you

Slow your breath down

Just take it slow

Find your heart now

You can trust and love again 

Slow your breath down

Just take it slow

Find your smile now

You can trust and love again

Calli

Listening to:
Travel II
by Future of Forestry

Listen to the whole album here.

{Love Waits For You}

{Speak To Me Gently by Future of Forestry}

Sadness and rhyme

These are the times

These are the memories

We find a way

Pushing through the day

So speak to me gently.

Can you just feel the time

Falling from some place new?

Can you just feel the sign 

love waits for you?

Love waits for you.

I'm searching the stars

In desperate hours

Bound to find meaning.

God show me a face

In this desolate place

And tenderness meets me.

Can you just feel the time 

Falling from some place new?

Can you just feel the sign

Love waits for you?

Love waits for you.

Stories untold

Of redwoods grown old

Reside in the forest.

And there you can hear

A whispering tear

That speaks to our loneliness.

Can you just feel the time

Falling from some place new?

Can you just feel the sign

Love wait for you?

Can you just feel the time

Falling from some place new?

Can you just feel the sign

Love waits for you?

Love waits for you.

Calli

Listening to:

Twilight 

by Future of Forestry

Listen to the whole album here.
It has nothing to do with vampires of any kind.

My first original Pinterest pin

Hi there! Been a while!  It's Thanksgiving Day and I'm cooking and "cleanting" with the rest of the nation :) As I'm in the process of doing my annual "Fall deep cleaning," I started thinking about Pinterest and how I haven't been on in a while. Well, I started cleaning my little creation pictured below and thought I should share it with the Pinterest world as I am very proud of it.  So, here it is ladies and gent.  Be astonished. Be amazed. Hehe

Here's how I did it:

1. Floating shelf  I used in my room at our old house, came in a set of 4

2. Clearance frame with a few scratches, about $2ish

3. Black glass vase, $3.50

4. Three orchids, on sale for $1/stem

& voilà, there ya have it!

Happy "pinning" & creating!

Calli

Listening to:

Up To Now

by Snow Patrol