tap your toes, clap your hands

We have this friend named Matt who works at the local radio station (yea for Spirit 105.3) and is the person who always knows what is going on...you know what I am talking about...you have a friend like Matt too... the person who always knows the concerts going on sale that day and the best place to eat or play to see...the one who is always sending you email links to stuff you should check out? Well Matt's our friend.

He called me awhile back to let me know that another friend of ours (indie artist) Matt Wertz was opening for Jamie Cullum in the Moore theater in Seattle. I tried right away to get tickets, but it was sold out. Shawn and I were super bummed. For one, we wanted to support Matt and two, we love Jamie Cullum.

Well let me revise that last statement a bit: we liked Jamie Cullum, it was after the show that we became obessessed with him. Let me explain...

...well first of all, we did end up getting tickets thanks again to Matt...

I had heard Jamie's cd "twenty something" a time or two and really liked the song "All At Sea" that was popular on vh1. Other than that I wouldn't have called myself a fan.

That was before the show.

I would describe Jamie as a hilarious little jumping bean. He came onto stage with a blast of energy that he miraculously maintained for over 2 hours. He sounded better live than on a CD...and had personality coming out of his ears! He jumped off stage and ran around the theater singing without his mircrophone for one song and wowed us with his pipes. He covered several hip hop songs besides the Pharrell song on his album. In case you don't know, the boy plays piano and does jazz music..so the hip hop covers are especially creative and exciting. He played the piano this bum and elbows and feet...he managed to be a great showman without being cheesy...not an easy feat to pull off. He even opened up the grand piano and played the insides like a percussion instrument. That was the part that made me a die hard fan. Near the end of the night, he strapped on a big marching band kind of drum and the whole band broke down into an impression percussion section, ending with the original drummer walking around the stage (never losing beat) and drumming on everything from the floor to the microphone stands. The music never stopped, the humor was enough to make you giggle, and the background vocals made you smile. If you don't already love jazz music or think you can't, go see Jamie Cullum live. I dare you.