Madonna • The Virgin Tour • 1985

Back when it was all just starting out, a new artist released a DVD from her first tour/ 'The Virgin Tour' was recorded and released in 1985, featuring a very young Madonna and much of the music off her second album, 'Like A Virgin'. When I found this on YouTube, I knew I had to share it, and it seemed like a perfect was to start the weekend.

The songs included are 1. "Dress You Up"; 2. "Holiday"; 3. "Into the Groove"; 4. "Everybody"; 5. "Gambler"; 6. "Lucky Star"; 7. "Crazy for You"; 8. "Over and Over"; 9. "Like a Virgin"; and 10. "Material Girl". I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

You can purchase her iconic album 'Like A Virgin' from iTunes and Amazon.

Cover Boy • Gareth Asher

I was introduced to the music of Gareth Asher by Aiden James, and I will be forever grateful to Aiden for this. In fact, I have my fingers crossed that I will be seeing Gareth performing live tonight for the very first time. Excited! Like most touring musicians, he has a collection of cover songs, and can pull out one or two during a performance. As I have scanned YouTube for his videos, I was particularly fond of his cover of Jacksom Browne's Somebody's Baby. Browne had written it in 1982 for the soundtrack to Fast Times At Ridgemont High, and it because a hit, reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.



While I love this cover, it is really Gareth's original work I truly fell for. Whe I think about that first time listening, at first I was blown away by Gareth's voice, with it's hearty warmth and beautiful tone. And then I got to the music, and I knew Asher was stuck with having me as a fan for life. He combines the haunting beauty of the singer/songwriter with the aching soul of southern artists with the joyous spirit of an artist truly loving what they are doing. All this makes for great music. Here is a video made by Asher of his song On My Own from the beautiful album, Between the Smiles and Tears.



So I am hoping at 8PM Wednesday night, I was sitting in a seat in Easton, Maryland, at the NightCat. For more about Gareth Asher, check out his official website here. You can also find his YouTube account here and his Twitter account here. You can find his latest album, Between the Smiles and Tears, on iTunes here, on Amazon here and on CD Baby here.

Christopher Dallman Show in 7 Minutes

Recently Chris Dallman posted a compilation from his performance in Los Angeles at the club Show at Barre. It is his entire show reduced to a montage of 7 minutes, and it makes me want to beg for an East Coast show I can attend once again. The show includes his latest material, as well as songs from his first album, Race The Light. The show was shot by Andrew Giordano, and the footage is excellent.



Of course, it begs the question as to whether there might be a DVD of the show in the offing? I mean, if there is, where can I order it, Mr. Dallman? Cause I need a fix! For more about Christopher Dallman, you can check out his official website here, which was recently redesigned and relaunched. Check it out. You can purchase his music on Bandcamp here. I'd offer advice on which to purchase, but they are all great - you can't go wrong!

Garrin Throws Me For A Loop

I am just plain crazy about Garrin Benfield, and find his music to be irresistible. It has been quite disappointing for me that I have yet to see him performing live, so I was damn-near ecstatic when I checked his tour schedule and saw a date in December that I might be able to attend. So, I will keep my fingers crossed. Until then, I shall appease myself with clip from YouTube like this one, of Garrin playing his song The Loop.



For more about Garrin Benfield, check out his official website here.

One Week & Counting till Theo Tams

In one weeks time, I will be basking in the post-show glow of my very first Theo Tams show. Next Thursday night, I have a ticket for his show at the Lebovic Centre for the Performing Arts, and I am so very excited. I will be driving to the Toronto area while his Taking It All Back tour is in the area. I plan to take advantage, and catch two or three shows while I am there. I will be bringing my Theo-stuff hoping to get it signed. You see, at heart, I am a big fan of Theo, and have been hoping to get the chance to see him perform live since first discovering the 2008 Canadian Idol winner. The first song I heard was the single Lazy Lovers, which you can see him performing live here.



I have his post-win release, Giving It All Away, as well as his pre-Idol EP, Unexpected. I also have the book that was published about him after the win. I was thinking of which songs I would enjoy hearing, and just about any will do. I really have so many favorites! I will be bringing my camera and a videocam, hoping to catch something worthwhile I might be too excited to get anything worthwhile, but will try. Here he is singing Blacklight, a song from the EP.



This will also mark my first time visiting Canada, so that is exciting as well. It seems strange, since I lived in Vermont, just about an hour from the border, and never made it there. I look forward to seeing Toronto, and am sure I will have a great time, meeting some Theo fan's I have met online!

SIRPAUL Says Hello to You!

Saturday night, I hit the town to see SIRPAUL in concert, along with my niece Mandy, and friend and blogger Rickey Yaneza. The show was outrageously good, and I will get to that in another post very soon. But in the meanwhile, here are some pictures and video Rickey graciously took after the show.



Yes, that is you he is talking to, dear readers. I will have more on the show of this talented, sweet, and handsome man soon, I promise. Such a great night!

Two Concerts in Two Countries

I mentioned in an earlier post I would be in New York City tonight at a concert, drinking in the music of SIRPAUL. I have been a fan for several years, collecting & loving his music, so it was a big thrill to interview him a while ago. The following are short clips of SIRPAUL performing from several years ago. Enjoy this partial clip of SIRPAUL singing Carry You Home.



However, I haven't seen him perform live, at least until tonight. So I have had these tickets for a couple of months, and just ecstatic. Not only am I getting to see him live, I will also be meeting him after the show! He has been so gracious and fantastic so far, this is just pure bonus. Here is a short clip of him performing the song Thrust.



At the same time, Theo Tams will be live at a show in Toronto. When Theo first announced he had a show coming up, I tweeted him to say if it was any day but the 26th, I would be there. Oh, well, best laid plans.



I still wanna see this boy live at some point, but he is soon taking off for some shows in the UK. I am hoping to catch him soon when he returns! Until then, enjoy this clip of of Theo's acoustic performance of I'm Gonna Say.



Here's hoping everyone will have a great time tonight, not only those in the audience, but also these two performers, as well as anyone else putting their music and soul out there on a Saturday night!

Eric Himan at the World Cafe Live!

Eric Himan & me Wednesday night in Philly.

Eric Himan brought his acoustic solo show to Philadelphia last Wednesday night, although acoustic might be a misnomer. While he spend some time with the acoustic guitar, he also enlisted the sound of the piano and the electric guitar, mixing it up quite nicely for the show at the World Cafe Live.





Speaking of mixing it up, there was a great selection of songs from the early albums, as well as the latest solo album, Resonate, and the recently released Eric & the Adams EP. From I Ain't Done With You Yet from the 2002 release I Go On to rocking out the Himan/Jimmy Adams song Sugar You Ain't So Sweet, Eric was in top form and delivered a show that covered most genres and emotions. That includes adding new depth to the Grammy-winning song by Kings of Leon, Use Somebody.






So, if you get a chance, go see him live - it won't disappoint. Check out his tour schedule here. You can also buy his music from a variety of places, check it out here. I have it all, and have been loving it for years. I am also checking my schedule to see about catching Eric, Angel, and Jimmy live in July. Because I can't get enough of hearing gifted musicians playing live!

Casey Stratton Live At The Wealthy Theatre

Despite the fact there is no birthday shoutout on the album (he did online, so I shall forgive him), I would highly recommend you purchase the latest offering from Michigan-based singer/songwriter Casey Stratton. Casey is in amazing voice for the live show, and he would almost have to be with the intricate and amazing songs he performs. Whether he is handling the beautiful aural landscapes of songs like Starry Night or Violet Room, or high-powered pop songs like For Reasons Unexplained or Blood, or listening to the moody selections like Opaline, you are feeling like you are sitting in a concert hall, listening to a master at work. Below you can find a preview video from the concert DVD that will be available later this summer. Casey is singing the song Slow Motion. You can also check out three songs out of the more than hour and a half of music with the widget below the video. Make sure you check out all three tracks!





And, I might add, Mr. Stratton was looking quite fetching that night, as the pictures by photographer Terry Johnston would attest.





Photos by Terry Johnston

You can purchase a download copy of this amazing concert at Casey's online store, which you can find here. The 16-track offers some of my all-time favorites from Casey's catalog, sung with that amazing voice and backed by his own amazing keyboard skills. The package also comes with a 16-page scrapbook with great shots by Johnston from the concert, some featured above. What a perfect way to celebrate a holiday weekend!

Tonight - Seeing Eric Himan Live

I am a big fan of Eric Himan - I try to see him whenever I can. I missed him last year - I was in New Jersey babysitting my niece and nephew - and this is the longest I have gone without seeing him for several years.

So, yes, I am passing up watching the selection of the next American Idol - I will most likely post who won when I get home - but will gladly miss it to see this charismatic and talented man. I am going to the World Cafe Live, one of my favorite spots in Philadelphia. So, I figured while I am enjoying myself, I will remind everyone why you should buy your tickets to see Eric Himan if he is playing anywhere new you! The following clip is from a show in Pittsburgh, where he is playing one of my favorites, A Good, Good Cry, from his All For Show album.



For more on Eric Himan, check out his website here. And I am serious, if he is in your area, go see him. Buy his music, you won't regret it.

Sunday Night with Anthony Callea

In March, Anthony Callea opened for Whitney Houston for the Australian leg of her world tour. Reports were flying left and right about the issues with Ms. Houston's performance, from fans who were highly disappointed to those who thought she did well. What never varied were the reviews for Anthony's performance, which were steadfastly excellent. I am not a bit surprised, for Anthony has never failed to impress me in the fan videos of his concerts, or the DVD I purchased. I happened across some videos of Anthony from the tour, singing a few new songs, possibly from a new album, due out later this year.

My All



I'll Be The One



Can You Feel It



Just a warning to Australian and US postal workers - when it is available, I will be buying the album, so please hurry that shipment along, OK? And Sony, how about sharing the love, and letting Anthony's music hit the US airwaves? And maybe, just maybe, perform a couple of shows in North America? And, if you really wanna be brave, have him do a show or two with another of the Sony clients, Theo Tams, and make this man damn near giddy. Sure, I understand Sony Australia is separate from Sony US and Sony Canada, but it really isn't, right? I know I won't be the only one who would appreciate it. For more on Anthony Callea, check out his official website here.

Live Music - Aiden James Preview

This weekend I had a double shot of Aiden James, singer/songwriter extraordinaire, and had a great time. The first night I saw him at the Tin Angel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was fantastic as ever, in perfect voice and showcased a couple of new songs, as well as songs on his recent albums. I also caught him at Burlap And Bean Coffee in Newtown Square, PA, on Saturday night. Again he amazing, and I could listen to that boy sing any night of the week. At the Burlap and Bean, I managed to overcome my obvious technological deficiencies and tape a few songs, on of which is Just For A Second, a song featured on the album Live At Tin Angel. Please forgive some silliness at the beginning as I was trying to figure out these fancy moving pictures...



More on the shows to come.

Live Music - Christopher Dallman

Photos by Bounmy Sayasane

As I attend the live show for Aiden James tonight, I thought I would share a few videos of Christopher Dallman's performance in Double Trouble, the tour Aiden and Christopher recently played on the West Coast. I'll start with a song with special significance, Motel Room. As the first cut on his debut album, Race The Light, and the first of Chris' songs I heard. I purchased the CD from CD Baby after reading some great reviews. After hearing the entire album, I had to agree with them.



Next up is another cut from Race The Light, Mistake, another song I really love. It just completely showcases the amazing voice of Christopher.



I love the song Little Bit Of Blue, the song that opens the Never Was EP. The song is quite sweet, beautiful, and a bit haunting.



There is also a song he released last fall, Anthem. Inspired by the discussions about Marriage Equality, as well as his own relationship with his partner, Josh, Chris definitely speaks from the heart on this one.



The final entry I am posting is a cover, which Christopher does so very well. This time he covers Borderline, the 1984 hit by Madonna. Of course, Chris does it in his own acoustic style.



The videos were taken by lagaringer at the Skylark Club and Cafe in Seattle, Washington, on March 28, 2010. To date, Christopher has the debut, Race The Light, single releases Anthem and Subterranean, and the EPs Sad Britney and Never Was. Each is fantastic, and on my iPod. His lyrics are personal, touching and melodic. And that voice, so crisp and inviting, like clean sheets on a bed. For more on Christopher Dallman, check out his website here. You can also purchase music directly form him here, both in CD and mp3 download form. You can find him on iTunes, especially his outstanding Sad Britney, here or at Bandcamp here.

Live Music - Aiden James

Well, I couldn't partake in the Double Trouble experience, being about 3,000 miles away, so I plan to do my own version, and catch Aiden James live in two shows, Friday night at the Tin Angel in Philadelphia, and possibly Saturday night in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. And I just discovered Aiden will have a film crew there, I would guess either for a live video, or a live DVD. Either way, it will be fun to be there to watch! In the meantime, here is a video from the recent Double Trouble tour featuring Aiden and his song You and He, with Christopher Dallman joining in to support him. It was taped at the Skylark Club in Seattle, Washington. Special thanks for lagaringer for posting to YouTube.



Last year, Aiden recorded a show at the Tin Angel for a CD release, appropriately named Live At The Tin Angel. It featured twelve great songs, including a fun Diva Tribute.



A new song, Clock On The Wall, was also featured, and I like it very much. I like the entire album, which you can purchase at Bandcamp for $14.99 for the shipped CD, and just $7.99 for an MP3 download. If you enjoy Aiden's voice, I would heartily recommend purchasing it here. You can also check out his official webpage here.

New Single - Theo Tams - Manhattan Blue

This past Monday, Theo Tams released a new single, Manhattan Blue. While there is no official video yet, here is a live performance - I love this version of the song. The 'acoustic jazz' feel showcases his wonderful tone and amazing phrasing. The single is from his debut album, Give It All Away, and it can be found on Amazon.com here.



Theo has another show at The Supermarket in Toronto, tonight, Wednesday March 31, at 9:30PM EST. You can catch it online at Wednesday Goes POP! on MySpace here.

Theo Tams Live - Fan Videos

Since I am not sure when or if I will get to see Canadian Theo Tams in concert, I appease myself by searching out fan videos of him performing live. I am really impressed with his live videos, making me think about making the trip north to catch him for myself. I enjoy that his setlist is a combination of songs from his debut album, Give It All Away, and an imaginative group of cover songs, clearly defining him as an artist who plays music he connects with. So I try to make up my own list of songs I'd like to hear Theo sing, and came up with the following. There is Let Go, I'm Gonna Say, and Dead Wrong, all from his album. Dead Wrong is one on my favorites, I just love the inherent soulfulness, Theo's voice is tailor made for this type of song. I also will add The Sweet Ones, a song written by Sarah Slean. And there is a cover of Five For Fighting's Superman that I find particularly nice. The performances were videotaped at live shows as varied as a venue in Toronto, an outdoor mall as he raised money for children, and a private show at a radio station. So sit back and enjoy the show.

Let Go


Sweet Ones


I'm Gonna Say


Superman (Five For Fighting cover)


Dead Wrong


You can purchase Giving It All Away here. I still listen to my copy all the time, so it is worth it. And I have to figure out when I will make it to see Theo, or at least convince some fans to record my favorite song from the album, Reckless. To find out more about Theo, you can visit his official website here.

Live Music - Chris Dallman, kinda

I am hoping to be seeing Christopher Dallman this year, but in the meanwhile, I get to watch tapes of live shows from the West Coast, when I am luck enough to find them. In December he had two shows, and I was lucky enough to catch one on the web. Theoretically, at least, I am going to see Christopher and singer/songwriter Aiden James perform in late Spring/early Summer when they bring their 'Double Trouble' tour to the East Coast.

The first clip is Christopher singing Little Bit of Blue from his excellent Never Was EP, one of two EPs he released this past fall. You can purchase it here.



Next up is Over My Head, the song behind his first official music video. It is also a song off his first album, Race The Light, my introduction to his music a few years ago that still leaves me breathless. You can purchase it here.



In the Fall, Christopher released a second EP, Sad Britney. On it, Christopher put his own spin on the songs of Britney Spears, including for the song Gimme More. You can purchase Sad Britney here.



So I am excited to catch both artists live. I have seen Aiden on several occasions, including one night at the Tin Angel in Philadelphia. That show was released on CD, and you can purchase this great show here.

REPOST: Pictures I Have Taken

As part of a year-end review, I will be putting up an occasional repost of the first 6 months of Soundtrack to my Day this week.

In preparation for the Tom Goss show I am attending this coming weekend, I revisited some of the pictures I have taken over the last few years. I tend to bring my camera, and for the most part have had no problem getting it to the shows. I love taking the pictures, and they certainly bring back some memories of fantastic shows.

Aiden James




Eric Himan




Tom Goss






Ace Young