The very modern theatre is a delight for the eyes, both inside and out. Here's a view in the concert hall before the show.
The balconies along both sides are attractively constructed and gorgeously lit and the walls look like they've been constructed out of high-tech cardboard. I'm sure they are great for the acoustics, which were incredible.
As for the concert, it was a wonderful evening of melody and lyrics performed by Lyle Lovett and His Large Band. The musicianship was incredible. Several members of the band were from the Phoenix area originally. Others came from the great music venues of Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Nashville, Tennessee; and, of course, Texas.
We've been a fan of Lovett since we first heard his music when a fellow ex-pat brought us a tape when we were living in Guadalajara, Mexico, back in the 1980's. Lyle performed several of our favorites including my all-time pick "If I Had a Boat". And during the encores he did "North Dakota", which you may know is the state I hailed from many decades ago.
Signs and a public address announcement before the show warned that no photography was permitted in the concert hall. However, as the show went on, I noticed more and more smart phones being used to take photographs and finally I chanced a shot with my camera. It's not very good but it will give you an idea of the size of his Large Band.
Mr. Lovett, of course, is the pale-faced gent holding a guitar at the center of the photo. Other accompanists included a pianist, a violinist/fiddler, a backup singer, a bassist, a drummer, a cellist, a mandoline/guitarist, a lead guitarist, and horns: tenor, alto and baritone saxophone and a trombone. Every one got their turn to solo and all were of the finest quality.
It was a great show and now I'm attempting to calm down so I can finally get some sleep.
Thanks, Lyle.
14 comments:
Glad you and SWMBO could attend. Lots of things to do since you moved.
A very impressive concert venue. I love the impression of flying balconies. Do they also stage 'classical music' concerts there?
North Dakota and If I Had a Boat are two of my all-time faves. Love Lyle.
It must be hard sleeping with all that great music playing in your head.
It must have been an awesome performance! I can understand the fact of not being able to go to sleep. The MAC has always been our favorite place to go with wonderful souvenirs especially Joan Baez concert.
Among the upcoming concerts are dates by Itzhak Perlman and Renee Fleming.
It took a couple of stiff drinks and finishing a book shortly before 1 a.m. to do it.
SWMBO, in particular, would have loved that one.
What a beautiful theatre. Lyle Lovett is one of my favourite artists, and I listen to him all the time in the car.
Francesca, thanks for visiting. I hope you'll come back again.
He was just in this area, but we missed it-a conflicting calendar. Griff loved it.
That is a gorgeous Performance Center.
What a lot of fun! I think he was in Dayton recently - too bad we didn't attend.
If he had His Large Band with him, you truly missed a great show.
Too bad indeed.
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