Practice Practice Practice

i'm so excited, i can hardly stand it.

we got tickets to the two night only performance of Rufus Wainwright at Carnegie Hall. i am absolutely cukoo for Rufus. ever since his 1st album (self titled) was released, i've been hooked. it's the combination of his nasal/morose voice, his poetic lyrics and his piano playing. Jenn and i have seen him a handful of times in very small and intimate concerts; just him and a piano (and the odd family member singing backup), and we even tried to snag his autograph outside the Glad Media Awards one year (our efforts proved fruitless, but we did see Bruce Villanch and Kate Pierson). Somehow i even got Stephen into him, and was amazed when i found him ripping his last two cd's (Want One and Want Two) to his IPod Shuffle. Can you imagine how tickled i am to see him in such a grand venue as Carnegie Hall? don't answer yet, it just gets better: his concert is a complete reproduction of Judy Garland's epic 1961 concert. can you stand it?!?

ok, i know, it's a little trite and cliche` for a fag to be excited about Judy Garland, but have you ever heard the concert? it is beyond legendary. sure she slurs a little here and there, and yes there is that one part during You Go to My Head where she forgets what she's singing, but still...it is probably one of the best live albums i've ever heard. the 1st time i heard it (on the original vinyl, at the house of this man i was seeing) i was absolutely floored. till then i had heard a few Judy diddies and i was already well into Keely and Ella, but i'd honestly never heard anything so plaintive and passionate as Judy singing live. i'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it.

anyway, the concert is tonight and like i said: i'm so excited i can hardly stand it. we're all the way at the back of the Hall, but i don't care. i'm sure this is gonna be one helluva show. i just hope i can get a t-shirt...

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else"~ Judy Garland