Pastimes with a PellaPusher

Monday, November 14, 2016

PusherPix 11/13/16

PusherPix
Sunday, November 13, 2016

I really like this stylized photo done by the Google Photo Assistant...except maybe the trees that look like they're on fire.

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Bring on the Bass Man, Vocalosity!

Vocalosity

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Haugh Performing Arts Center - Citrus College

Glendora, CA

Back in August, I had asked Bryant what he'd be doing after he was done with his Rockapella subbing gig in Laguna. He said that he'd be finishing out his contract with Vocalosity, as well as touring with another vocal group. Wendy saw that Vocalosity would be performing in town in November, so we decided to see Bryant in his other gig. I'm glad we did!

Our seats were front row center. We weren't close in proximity to the performers, though, because the stage is huge, and they set their monitors about halfway back on the stage, so they didn't use the front portion.
Opening a/c group Premiere only did 2 songs in their set, which were both well done. I would have liked to hear a third song, maybe a ballad.
I like that they show off their different personalities already in the opening number, Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'".
They asked us to shout out our favorite band. Maybe if I had been feeling better, I might have yelled out, "ROCKAPELLA!!!". Would that have been rude? I did like the way they showed the evolution of a cappella with Beatles songs.
Kelli was my favorite female singer of the group. I especially liked her rendition of "Fever", and I liked the characters she portrayed. I also like the tone of her voice: not too high, never shrieky, just right.
Tracy's VP solo was fun, as he had the audience play call and response with him.
This should be of no surprise: I really liked the VP battle between Tracy, RJ, Bryant, and Sound Man Tony.
The posse and I think that Fred needs to do a surprise VP stint somewhere during Rockapella's show.
Whoo! That "Whole Lotta Love" by Amy and the guys as rock instruments was awesome!
The step song that started out the show again after intermission was really cool.
"Sound of Music" was hilarious, although there were a couple of intonation problems, which didn't happen very much during the rest of the show, which is why it stood out for me.
Bryant mentioned to us afterward that Tony was in The Sing Off, and his group lost to Pentatonix. I remember rooting for the other group, which was Urban Method. Now that I see the bios, I know why I recognize Hannah: she was on the show, too! So was Amy, whom was also on The Voice. (When I was watching her during the rock song, I thought, "She sounds like she's on 'The Voice'." Must have seen her back when I was watching the show.
I loved hearing the different paths to singing that some of the cast shared. It was quite emotional. Thank you for sharing that part of yourselves, Nattalyee, Cheeyang, Tracy and Nicole! Nattalyee's "His Eyes Are On The Sparrow" was especially moving. I love that song.
Their encore song, "Fix You", was posted on Facebook last week, so I was really looking forward to it. They did it off mic, and did not disappoint!

Afterward, we talked to Bryant for a little bit, and told him we'd see him with Rockapella in Malibu. Yay!

Great show. Thank you, Posse, for going with me and dealing with me and my cold. :)

Mister Doctor

I went to the movie theater to watch "Doctor Strange" with Glenndy on opening weekend. It's, like Cumberbatch season, I guess. :)

New Marvel logo/fanfare!
I spotted the Avengers building in the opening shot.
The visuals! Wow. They reminded me of "Inception", and they were quite dizzying, so I'm glad that we didn't watch it in 3D this time. If I see it again, though, I might see it in 3D format. The format got good scores on To 3D or Not to 3D, which is a site that helps me decide sometimes.
Nice car. Nice watch collection. Nice pad. This isn't going to go well, is it?
It took me a few minutes before I realized what was happening with the apple.
Do you think Rachel McAdams said to herself, "I'm in love with a time traveler? Again?"
"It's the wi-fi password. We're not savages."
I call that one scene the Groundhog Day scene.
"They really should put the warnings before this stuff."
I want that cloak. I mean, it even wipes away tears!

Great movie! I would definitely see this in the theater again.

Saturday, November 12, 2016

PusherPix 11/12/16

PusherPix
Saturday, November 12, 2016

There are too many chairs on this stage. Also, they should be stools.

Creature Discomfort

When Linda and I were in the movie theater to watch "Young Frankenstein", we saw an ad for Nick Dear's "Frankenstein", starring Benedict Cumberbatch, at the National Theater, via Fathom Events. We immediately turned to each other and agreed to go together, so when I got home, I bought our tickets right away.

The show was prefaced by some making-of clips, which showed that the two leads sometimes played each other's parts. Our showing was of Benedict Cumberbatch as the Creature, with Jonny Lee Miller as Dr. Frankenstein. They also showed Mary Shelley's actual manuscript of the novel, and I was not happy that the dude was touching the pages with his bare hands instead of using gloves.

The set was incredible, with the center portion of the stage rotating between scenes, and a beautiful chandelier of thousands of light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, to give the feeling of the era when electricity was the most significant discovery of the time.
The opening scene is of the creature adapting to the world as he comes to life, learning how to control his body, eventually learning to stand and walk. There is no dialogue in this scene until the doctor discovers that his experiment worked, and immediately shuns the creature out of fear.
Eventually, after learning a little bit of speech and being cruelly treated in the streets, the creature finds a blind man, whom is alone in a cabin while his family is out in the fields during the day. Linda and I simultaneously remembered one of my favorite scenes from "Young Frankenstein" and couldn't keep from giggling when this scene started. For those that are not remembering what I'm writing about, it's the scene wherein the monster visits blind man Gene Hackman and Hackman pours soup onto his lap. Love that scene.
In this play, though, the blind man educates the creature, teaching him all kinds of culture and philosophy. The transformation is at times humorous, and overall incredible.
Horrifying events occur after this enlightenment, though, because the blind man's family comes back and the creature is again treated like a monster. I mean, it IS a horror novel, so stuff does happen and it's not pretty.
This is why you should treat people kindly, even though they're different from you. That's my take on this story, anyway.
Cumberbatch is AMAZING. I love watching genuine actors in genuinely meaty roles.
Miller is also quite good, although I am glad that we saw BC's version of the creature, because the doctor isn't in most of the first half of the play.
This makes me want to watch BC in "Hamlet" again, although I won't do so in the coming week when that will be aired again.

Next up: BC again, but this time as Dr. Strange!

DLR LotD 11/11/16

Disneyland Resort
Line of the Day

Friday, November 11, 2016

"You should have told her that you're in the backyard!" -- Michelle, to Sherry, on Main Street, USA

PusherPix 11/11/16

PusherPix
Friday, November 11, 2016

Flag Retreat

Thank you, Veterans, for your service!

Thursday, November 10, 2016

PusherPix 11/10/16

PusherPix
Thursday, November 10, 2016

Three years ago today, this kid was the Rebel Spy.
#ThrowBackThursday

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

PusherPix 11/09/16

PusherPix
Wednesday, November 9, 2016

I just needed something to make me smile today.

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

PusherPix 11/08/16

PusherPix
Tuesday, November 8, 2016

If this wasn't a week night, there would probably be at least two more empty bottles in this picture. #ElectionNight2016

PusherPix 11/07/16

PusherPix
Monday, November 7, 2016

I know Hallowe'en was a week ago but look at the cute pin I got after I was done with the Expo!

PusherPix 11/06/16

PusherPix
Sunday, November 6, 2016

Acquisitions from the Dapper Day Expo

Sunday, November 6, 2016

ROCKAPELLA - Better 2gether

Rockapella's newest video, filmed when they were Artists in Residence at the Laguna Playhouse this August.

Love the Easter Egg of Sean / Elliott. Wish they had Easter Eggs of the other guys, too.

The song makes me bounce in my chair while I listen to it. It's probably Mitch's fault. He's bouncy.

DLR LotD 11/06/16

Disneyland Resort
Line of the Day

Sunday, November 6, 2016

"Look, that's so '90s vintage!" -- Hipster Doofus at Dapper Day Expo, looking at jackets from the 1990s.

PusherPix 11/05/16

PusherPix
Saturday, November 5, 2016

Back when I was in high school, this was the banner for the marching band. When they got their new banner, this one was only used for special events, like the Rose Parade.

This year, though, Arcadia has a new Junior Varsity marching band, so they get to use the awesome banner. Seeing it always makes me happy.