Love Today (actually, yesterday)

Whoa...what a night...First of all, today, Mika's debut album "Life in Cartoon Motion" is released in the U.S.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...if you're a fan of pop and catchy melodies, GO GET THIS ALBUM!!!!

Now to my story about last night...and what a night it was...

Last night, I went to Virgin Megastore at Hollywood and Highland for the Mika CD Signing/In-store Performance. I was still coming down from the giddiness of seeing his wonderful U.S. debut performance at the Troubadour, but really...can one get enough Mika? I think not!

A little background...Saturday, I pre-ordered the CD and got a wristband to guarantee myself entrance into the CD signing. Upon doing so, I was asked if I wanted to sing up for Virgin's V.I.P. card program. I figured..."what the hell..." I mean, it didn't cost anything and there are probably discounts that I could use down the line...

Back to last night...I arrive around 9:30-ish and take my place in line outside the front of the store. As is common on a Monday night, I was regaled with the site of street performers and celebrity impersonators on the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard....tonight, a Michael Jackson lookalike was the impersonator du jour.

Soon after taking my place in line, my friends David, Mark, and Jason joined up with me:


I took a little video as we got settled in the line. As you see, we were soon joined by some of the street performers who entertained the passersby for the Mika concert at the Troubadour.


Still don't believe me? I have video of the balloon-sculpting stilt walkers and the mohawked juggler. Needless to say, Mika really knows how to get everybody in the festive mood!

I'm not sure when...but a couple of red-shirted employees came out right in front of our part of the line to make a big announcement. Were they letting us in? Not quite...and this is where the background story comes into play...One of the employees (who had projected her voice quite nicely) said, "Who here has a Virgin V.I.P. card and a wrist band?" After some scrambling, I whipped out mine and she pointed at me! She said, "come with me!" Whaaat? I thought to myself, "what does this mean?"

At this point, David was the only person in line with me. Jason and Mark decided to shop around inside. I asked the Virgin representative if I could bring David. She said that she needed to just see me. I followed her into the store and she explained that by being the first person to show her my V.I.P. customer card, I would get to have my CD signed FIRST after the in-store performance and that I'd get to have a personal photo taken with Mika. AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I screamed a little bit. :-) She said that I had some paperwork to fill out because they needed a release just in case they used my pic for promotions. OH MY GOD!!! I was told to stay behind after the performance for the CD signing and photo op. I was VERY giddy and very excited.

After signing the paperwork, I returned back to the line. I told the rest of the gang the story and they were very excited too. We made some friends with the people behind us in line during all of this. It was very nice...

A little after 11, they let us into the store and guided us towards the stage that was set up at the back of the store. It looked like there was a keyboard and a chair for a guitarist.


The area filled up and it was time for the show to begin. We spotted Andy Dick off to the side of the stage as well as Perez Hilton.

One of the DJs from Star 98.7 hopped on stage and introduced Perez who then introduced the man himself...MIKA!

Mika told a few stories about his time in L.A. recording and visiting this particular Virgin Megastore. He performed a five-song set that consisted of:
GRACE KELLY
MY INTERPRETATION
LOVE TODAY
BILLY BROWN

ENCORE: STUCK IN THE MIDDLE

Even with just a piano and guitar, the songs sounded GREAT. The audience was totally into it. It was wonderful! I would have been happy had that been it...


But alas no...there was the singing and the picture! The audience was sent out of the store to reform a line outside after the performance, but I stayed back because of the VIP contest that I won earlier that night.

April, the VERY kind Virgin manager, guided me along as I picked up a copy of the CD and waited ever so anxiously but still patiently for Mika to take his place at the signing station. I even got a poster! After a little setting up and a meeting between Mika and some women from the Butterfly Lounge, I was introduced to him!

I admit, I was shaking a little bit the minute or so before I met him. He's quite a tall drink of water. And he's VERY handsome in person.

All that aside, he was so gracious, nice, and appreciative. It was more than I could ask for. He signed my CD, my posted, and posed for a couple of pictures. In doing my best not to babble, I mentioned to him how I found out about him from his Myspace and thanked him for the great songs and performances. He in turn thanked me for my support. HEE! And here is the piece de resistance...the picture:


What a great way to cap off seeing Mika during his L.A. debut! Here are the best pics from Sunday night at the Troubadour and last night at the Virgin Megastore:
Thanks again to Mika and Virgin Megastore for a WONDERFUL evening!!!

Sucking too hard on a lollipop

Just got back from seeing Mika at the legendary Troubabdour for his first U.S. concert.

(On a side note...it was Elton John's 60th birthday today and the Troubadbour was where HE made his U.S. debut...hmmm...)

And it was everything I expected it to be...and more! My friends, Ted, Drew, Matt, and Jason, Jon, and Rachel came along. We had quite the good time!

The set list pretty much covered the whole album and there were a few extra surprises thrown in. Here's the set list to the best of my recollection:

Relax, Take It Easy
Big Girls You Are Beautiful
My Interpretation
Over My Shoulder
Billy Brown
Everybody's Talking (cover)
Stuck in the Middle
Ring Ring (?)
Holy Johnny (new song!)
Love Today
Grace Kelly

ENCORE: Lollipop

You could tell that "fun" was the motto for the night. When we arrived at the Troubadour, we were greeted outside by stilt walkers and balloon artists. This was not going to be your typical concert.

It was a great U.S. debut for Mika. His voice was spot on...hitting all the falsettos. The band was tight giving a couple of the songs even more punch than the studio recordings - especially "Love Today."

Liked the non-album stuff like his cover of "Everybody's Talking" and the new song "Holy Johnny."

The encore was kicked off by Mika and his band coming out in animal costumes...I kid you not. They then launched into "Lollipop" which rocked the house. Soon after the song started, giant balloons were launched into the audience. It was quite the party!

I have to say I love the Troubadour...I saw the Scissor Sisters there a few years ago on their first big U.S. tour. There's not a bad spot in the house as it's not the biggest place in the world.

There were some familiar faces that we spotted at the show...There was Wes from "Boy Meets Boy" (swoon), Rob from Bravo's "Manhunt" (swoon-er!), Lisa D'Amato from "America's Next Top Model," Laura Dern, Perez Hilton, and Norman Lear!!! Norman Lear!!!!!! A few of us introduced ourselves to Norman after the show. EEE!

If you like good, fun pop...go see Mika and buy his CD when it comes out on Tuesday. As you'll see in a future edition of "Music Bickering," I'll go as far to say that this is one of the best CDs of 2007!

This is just the first of a few Mika-related posts this week. Tomorrow, I'll post some pics from the show and later that evening, I'll be going to his CD signing/performance at the Virgin Megastore in Hollywood.

And even later in the week, I'll post a brand new edition of "Music Bickering" where Sam and I will talk about Mika's wonderful debut. Needless to say, Sam and I don't agree...it's probably the most contentious "Music Bickering" we've ever done!

I'm so glad we had this time....

So as part of my daily routine at work, I'm over at the "Reality Remix" offices after each day's taping to oversee the final edit of that day's show.

As part of the daily routine at the office, a lunch service comes by to the office kitchen.

Today, I decided to pick up a snack from the lunch service. I started talking with another person in the room about the whole "Family Guy"/Carol Burnett lawsuit.

At which point, the guy from the lunch service says...."Who is Carol Burnett?".

AHHHHH! Yep...I ain't getting any younger... * sigh *

I went with my friend Drew to see The Feeling last night at the House of Blues and it was QUITE a show. They looked like they jumped out of a GQ fashion shoot, but it wasn't just about the looks. There was a lot of talent to boot. The set was good. The band's harmonies were TIGHT. The last time I've seen a band have that much genuine enthusiasm to be onstage was one of the first times I saw Travis in concert. Oh...And I've found a new musical crush in Dan Gillespie Sells. :-D

The guys did a meet and greet/CD signing after their set. They were very sweet. I even got to get a blurry phonecam pic with Dan:


YAY! Highly recommend picking up their debut album!

Is it bad...

...that I'm craving a McDonald's Angus Third Pounder Burger right now?

Such a thick and juicy patty and crispity crisp lettuce!!!!

It's no Anna Nicole story, but...

For those who missed it the first time around, here's the "E! True Hollywood Story" of my life that Ted put together with the help of Scott, Drew, and my sister, Marylauren.

I'll leave it to you to decide which parts are really true...


And...new episodes of "Music Bickering" with Sam and me will return in the next couple of weeks.