By The Numbers: Front Row Edition

Imagine attending more than 700 concerts in your lifetime. Earlier this week, I learned that’s what my friend Cindy’s boyfriend Jason has done (733, to be exact) – which got me to thinking about my own love affair with live music.

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing more than 50 concerts, a dozen of which have been my beloved Ricky Martin. Here are some of my most memorable live music moments, enjoyed with and without the opposite sex, By The Numbers:

Number of concerts attended with significant others: 4
Number of Maroon 5 concerts that figured prominently in reconciling with an ex: 1
Number of ‘farewell’ concerts attended of performers who later toured again: 2
Number of times I ended up within the first 20 rows despite having a nosebleed section ticket: 1 (Tina Turner, June 2000)
Number of times I saw Ricky Martin during his 2007 Black and White tour: 4
Number of miles flown to see Ricky perform in Puerto Rico: 3,206

Worth The Trip: Ricky Martin sizzles during his Black and White tour, San Juan, August 2007

I’ve been fortunate enough to see Ricky and some of my other favorite performers (e.g. Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews Band and Tina Turner) multiple times. The band I most want to see but haven't yet -- U2.

Jason has seen U2 five times. I look forward to catching up with him on that front – and, of course, to whenever Ricky hits the concert circuit again.

Standing Up For A Cure With Dave Matthews

The only thing better than a good concert is a good concert for a great cause. Last night, I had the pleasure of experiencing the latter at the Dave Matthews Band’s Stand Up For Cure show benefitting lung cancer research.

The night began with an engaging 45-minute set by Indie pop singer Ingrid Michaelson, including her hit “The Way I Am” and new single “Be Ok.” Next, Julia Roberts briefly took the stage at Madison Square Garden, looking sassy in jeans, an Obama t-shirt and her signature cascade of auburn curls.

"I cannot tell you how excited I am to be in the greatest city in the world,” she said, “to introduce one of the greatest bands of the world!"

Stand Up For A Cure Concert: DMB Rocks MSG

And with that, Dave and co. blazed through an electrifying 2.5 hour set. Along with hits like “Don’t Drink The Water,” “Number 41” and “Crash,” DMB dazzled with lengthy instrumental riffs that demonstrated why they’re one of the best and most enduring modern rock bands on the scene today.

Noticeably absent from the performance – sax player and founding DMB member LeRoi Moore, who died in August at age 46. Dave movingly told the crowd this was the band’s first MSG show without Moore and how much he is missed. Flecktones saxophonist Jeff Coffin did a great job filling in.

The evening’s other poignant moment came when Dave revealed he was just 10 years old when he lost his father to lung cancer.

"One day, we hopefully won't need to have events like this," he said.

DMB ended the night with a rousing, extended version of their signature hit, “Ants Marching,” that had me on my feet and smiling from ear to ear. This was my third DMB concert, and I’m looking forward to many more.

Visit DMB online at http://www.davematthewsband.com/. For more information about Stand Up For A Cure, log on to http://www.sufac.org/.

Remembering Mom

Today marks the tenth anniversary of my mother’s passing. She died one week before her 58th birthday, after a lengthy battle with breast cancer.

Mom was initially diagnosed in 1987. Though she went into remission for nine years, she didn’t take time or her health for granted, continuing to live each day with a zest that never left her.

Mom meant so much to so many. She was an adored wife (by my late father, whom she adored right back), a cherished friend, and a beloved sister and aunt. She took great pride in every one of these roles and with good reason. As I said in my eulogy, you could always count on her for honest, wise advice that made you believe you could survive anything.

I learned so much from my mother -- especially about the importance of fully inhabiting the present and not borrowing trouble from the future. Have all the fun you possibly can, she told me and my sister in her goodbye letter to us, it’s all we take with us when we go.

To that end, I’m heading to a Dave Matthews benefit concert for cancer research. Mom loved music, one of many passions (along with living in New York and snacking on Mallomars) that I’m so lucky to have inherited from her. Tonight, I’ll be celebrating her and the comfort of knowing that, no matter how much time passes, she will always be a part of me.

Opening The Vault: Part Seven

Every September, I’m always somewhat wistful when that first chill hits the air, signifying the start of fall. The change of season always finds me thinking of new beginnings--like the one that accompanied the arrival of spring years ago when I met my first love.

As I recently mentioned (http://melissa-singlegalinthecity.blogspot.com/2008/08/opening-vault-part-six.html), my first date with California native and “NYPD Blue” sound editor Mark (a.k.a. Sparky) delivered the unanticipated bombshell that he was divorced with a child. Since I was only 20 at the time, I responded to the news by deciding to have fun with him while he was in town and nothing more. Fate, however, had other plans for us.

I now Open The Vault and take you back to 1994...

March 23, 1994
New York City

Dear Diary,

While I was very intrigued with Sparky, his divorced dad status made me more than a little wary. I quickly shrugged it off, though, because the chemistry between us felt so effortless...Upon exiting the restaurant, Sparky turned to me and asked--

“Can I put my arm around you?”

“Sure,” I said, charmed by his tentativeness, and so we strolled with his arm around my waist. During a cab ride uptown, he sat thisclose to me. I could feel the attraction between us intensifying.

It turned out the nightclub I’d chosen was closed. We then ended up at a very different destination--the Plaza Hotel.

As always, there were several horse-drawn carriages nearby. We climbed into one and went for a heavenly ride through Central Park.

Sparky was holding me as we reflected upon what a wonderful time we were both having. Suddenly, the words stopped. I turned my face away from the night sky and toward Sparky, and we kissed. It was a kiss like none I’d ever experienced before, one that ignited every part of me.

* * *

After the carriage ride, Sparky and I sat on the steps of the fountain in front of the Plaza. We couldn’t stop talking. It was like we were trying to tell each other as much about ourselves as possible.

Sparky spoke about how much he wants to share his life with someone, a sentiment that both excited and intimidated me given the 16-year age difference between us.

It was getting late so, hand in hand, we walked back to my building. Sparky asked me what I was doing the following night. Upon informing him that I had plans with my cousin, he declared--

“I don’t care - I’ll take her out too. I just want to spend every minute with you that I can.”

How could I say no to that?

* * *

Sparky and I packed quite a bit into those first couple of days together -- from strawberries and whipped cream at NYC’s posh Regency Hotel to a second moonlit carriage ride through Central Park. And before the weekend was over, much to my great surprise, there was a ring on my finger…

Coming up…Sparky’s transatlantic grand gesture and standing up to cancer at a Dave Matthews concert.

A Sweet Canal Room Concert

Nestled in the heart of SoHo lies the Canal Room, an inviting nightclub that regularly hosts tribute bands. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing bands pay tribute to The Police and No Doubt. And last week, for the second time, I enjoyed the sounds of One Sweet World (http://www.onesweetworld.net/), a tribute to the Dave Matthews Band (DMB).

One Sweet World performs at NYC's Canal Room

Over the course of a 2.5 hour concert, One Sweet World performed some of DMB’s greatest hits - including “Crash,” “Stay,” and of course, “Ants Marching.” The musicians’ easy camaraderie was matched by their perfect pitch in recreating DMB’s distinctive urban rock sound. An exhilarating rendition of “Gray Street” had me pumping my fists in the air and exchanging a smile with charismatic lead singer and guitarist Anthony Iglesias. Being a groupie has its privileges…

All smiles with One Sweet World lead singer Anthony Iglesias

Anthony, an NYC native who’s been playing guitar most of his life, performs with electrifying precision and tireless energy, making everyone in the crowd feel like they’re part of the music too. Fiddler Joe Davoli, bassist Ian Rafalak, sax and flute player Dean Keller and drummer Chris Cornish all hold their own on stage as well. The Canal Room introduced One Sweet World as the greatest Dave Matthews tribute band in the world. I couldn’t agree more with that accolade.

Upcoming concerts at the Canal Room will pay tribute to Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and U2. For more info, visit http://www.canalroom.com/.

Opening The Vault: Part Three

There’s nothing like getting hit by a truck to make you appreciate life’s fragility. On the night that happened to me in London, I was craving the comfort of my parents back home – and some comfort of the local variety from my on-again/off-again fling and floormate Fabian.

I now open the vault and take you back once again to Halloween night 1993.

Sunday October 31, 1993
Commonwealth Hall, London

Dear Diary,

I told Fabian about the accident and he immediately gave me a hug.

My room was a mess and I didn’t feel like dealing with it, so I suggested we go to his room. We did and I sat down on his bed. As I began to describe what happened, my voice quivered and I broke down in tears again. Fabian came over and put his arm around my shoulder.

“It was really scary, Fabian,” I said between sobs.

I began to shiver, both from anxiety over the accident and the sudden chill in Fabian’s room. I pulled his comforter over me and lying back, asked—

“Will you just hold me please?” Without hesitation, he replied—

“Of course,” getting up briefly to turn off the main light so that there was only the low glimmer of his bedside lamp.

Once he was beside me, he put his arm around my waist and pulled me close to him. I placed my hand over his and slowly, felt myself calm down. Fabian caressed my face and kissed my cheek, urging me not to think about my brush with death. He also told me about being hit by a car himself at the age of 5.

I turned to face him as he spoke and rested my head on his chest. He stroked my hair and we laid in silence for awhile. Sometimes, nothing surpasses the security and warmth to be had from this kind of quiet closeness.

…Of course, there is only so long that two youthful, excitable bodies can be in close proximity to one another before the hormones start getting charged up.

Soon, our cheeks were brushing and we were looking right into each other's eyes. Finally, we kissed, a long, lingering kiss.

“You know,” I said, planting kisses on his neck for added emphasis, “I don’t think (kiss) you and I are destined to have a platonic relationship.”

Before Fabian, I never experienced such physical excitement. Given the circumstances (i.e., he has a girlfriend), I often feel guilty about our intimacy, even though my virginity remains firmly intact.

Fabian's guilt was obviously resurfacing, because in the middle of fooling around, he suddenly sat up.

“I know I’ve said this before,” he said, “but I really think we should just be friends.”

I burst out laughing. Fabian had made this recurring suggestion as recently as a week ago.

“I think we should play it by ear,” I said.

It was late (after 2am), so I left his room. I had gotten what I needed from Fabian and felt much better for it--apart from lingering soreness in my knees because of the accident. Ouch.

* * *

I still remember the many nights I would creep out of Fabian’s room at some ungodly hour, hoping none of our floormates would see me. I could never have imagined that the real romance between us would blossom months and months later, after I was back in New York.

Up next…a sweet Dave Matthews tribute band and the downside of warp-speed romance.