Why I Love Erasure

February 24th, 2008 by Brian Wood | Posted in Pictures | No Comments »

My friend bruyninckx37 asked me why I loved Erasure so much. I’ve been thinking about it, and this is what I have to say on the subject.

I had first heard of them in May/June of 1987. I was a Junior in High School and working in the Toy Department at Sears. We got tickets to see Duran Duran that summer at Cobo Arena. Listed on ticket stub as the opening act was “Erasure”

I mentioned to my cousin Steven who was working at Sam Goody I hadn’t heard of them, although I did know who Vince Clarke was and I had both of the Yazoo cassettes! He made me purchase the cassette release of “The Circus” and I immediately put it into my car and began listening.

I was hooked as quickly as the opening bars of “It Doesn’t Have To Be” and singing along to the Swahili chorus the song contains.

The second song started, and I was paying attention to the words “One day the boy decided, to let them know the way he felt inside, he could not stand to hide it, his mother she broke down and cried.” Sure enough, I had the break down and cry reaction and I had to pull over and listen to the song again, starting from the beginning. I’d say I was a big fan at that point.

I went on to become a huge fan. I saw them in concert so many times I lost track at some point. I made some great friends because of them, both online forums and at the shows. I got to meet both of them several times, they’re both great people, although once you meet someone like that, you don’t listen to their music the same way again.

I’m glad Erasure is still around and making music as good or better often than their earlier works.

The lyrics

One day the boy decided
To let them know the way he felt inside
He could not stand to hide it
His mother she broke down and cried

Oh my father
Why don’t you talk to me now?
Oh my mother
Do you still cry yourself to sleep?
Are you still proud of your little boy?

Don’t be afraid (be afraid)
You don’t have to hideaway

The boy he was rejected
By the people that he cared for
It’s not what they expected
But he could not keep it secret anymore

Far from home now
Waiting by the telephone
There’s a new world
You can’t make it on your own
Are you still proud of your little boy?

Don’t be afraid (be afraid)
You don’t have to hideaway
No

Don’t be afraid
Love will mend your broken wings
Time will slip away
Learn to be brave

Oh my father
Why don’t you talk to me now?
Oh my mother
Do you still cry yourself to sleep?
Are you still proud of your little boy?

Don’t be afraid (be afraid)
You don’t have to hideaway
No

Don’t be afraid
Love will mend your broken wings
Time will slip away
Learn to be brave

Over The Rainbow

February 24th, 2008 by Brian Wood | Posted in Music, childhood, influential | No Comments »

One of the things that never ceases to amaze me about the universe, is how small that universe really is. I only came to this conclusion after having moved to New York City and realizing that almost every person who was a childhood or young adult idol of mine, were a mere one or two degree of separation one from me now.

One of those people who was influential to me as a young’un was Sam Harris, he of Star Search fame. I loved seeing him on Star Search, knowing that we shared that shameful secret. I was amazed when he opened his voice and out came Patti Labelle’s version of Over the Rainbow. In my mind he still may be one of the best male theatrical/cabaret artists ever, of the male genre that is. My friend Marty would call him a singing actor.

I saw him in the late 90s perform in the truck and bus production of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Detroit. He was fantastic in the part (and in the loincloth). That performance remains the first time I’ve ever seen a performer get a standing ovation, during a performance.

I met him 8 years ago, on my 30th birthday. At the time, he was working with Liza Minnelli on her Minnelli on Minnelli show, I don’t know what exactly he did for the show, he was just one of Minnelli’s in crowd. Aren’t all gay men part of Minnelli’s in crowd? I didn’t mean to be redundant.

I was so excited to see him there in the audience and I went and spoke to him after the performance. When he discovered I was there for my birthday he so sweetly wished me a Happy Birthday and was honestly interested in what I had to say about the show. I explained to him how as a youngster he helped me to see a world outside of New Baltimore, Michigan, where a gay man could go on Star Search and belt Over The Rainbow. He slightly blushed and thanked me for it. Oh, and at the time he wasn’t out yet, the Advocate article in which he officially came out, was released the next day. Maybe that’s why he blushed a little.

Anyway, a few years ago, I learned a friend of mine through LJ who shall remain nameless, was actually friends with Sam. Well, his partner is friends with Sam. I was fond of teasing him and saying when I come to visit we’ll have to do lunch, etc.

Two weeks ago, Sam sent out an email to a group of friends letting them know he had a new song which he was making available as a free download from his website. That email went to my friends boyfriend, said boyfriend received a copy and forwarded it to me. I quickly emailed asking if I could send Sam an email. My friend said that I could, so I did and he wrote back.

He’s a very nice man, I just wish he was more successful, he certainly deserves it! I didn’t say anything stupid or fawning or anything like that, I’ll save those comments for when I get Liza’s email address! (I know, I Know, she doesn’t have one, two people who know her have told me that already ;)

Anyway, that’s the end. The whole incident provided a few minutes of sheer enjoyment and elation when I saw his name popup in my inbox.

Just wanted to share.

Poor Unfortunate Souls

February 7th, 2008 by Brian Wood | Posted in Theater | No Comments »

This is my review of the unfortunate broadway musical I saw on Thursday, February 7th.

I waited for awhile to write this review because I hoped that my opinion of the show would change, it didn’t really.

The show is pretty much awful and if you spend top dollar price for one of those tickets, you will be wasting a good deal of money. In the interest of honesty, I will tell you that my seat was free, even that didn’t change my opinion much.

I wanted desperately to love the show, even before I saw it. It has one of my favorite songs in it “Part of Your World”.

The set design is horrible, I can’t imagine what they were thinking. It’s all clear plastic and it doesn’t even look good. At one point Arial looks like she is sitting in a soap dish, singing when she has no voice. King Triton rides around on a segway like thing.

Disney shot itself in the foot with the Lion King I think, because every show they do from now on will be compared to it, and it will never match it up to the sheer evening of entertainment that it turned out to be. I even loved Beauty & The Beast, which was pretty much an exact recreation of the movie, with a few special effects and some new songs thrown in.

There are a few good things to say about the Little Mermaid. The first, the cast is stellar, every last one of them. At times you are almost embarassed for them that this talent is being wasted there. Sierra Bogess as Ariel I loved. Sheri Renee Scott as Ursula stole the show, her first act number, the Good Old Days, is the one reason I will buy the cd for. But not at full price, I will buy it used on Amazon. Titus Burgess who plays Sebastian the Crab was amazing as well. His two big songs, Under The Sea and Kiss The Girl were the two best scenes in the show, oh and they used the same set for both of them.

My friend Scott has his particularly scathing review here

With all that said, I still have promised my niece I would take her to see it when she comes to NYC. Maybe then I can actually enjoy it, watching it through the eyes of a 7 year old.

You can see the Time Out NY link here

Young Frankenstein

January 15th, 2008 by Brian Wood | Posted in Theater | No Comments »

I saw Young Frankenstein on Tuesday, January 15th. I found it really enjoyable and I did laugh a lot as I expected to be, but it’s no Producers. Complaints aside, it is well worth seeing as pure enjoyment. Your life won’t be changed in any way.

I really had no complaints about the show. Megan Mullally is great, although she basically plays Karen with a different voice. She does her scene in the first act and then disappears, and I expected her to show up in the second act singing “Whatever Happened To My Part?” Alas, she appears singing “It’s me, it’s me, it’s me! it’s me me me” basically every gay man’s theme song ;)

Roger Bart I thought was also great, I could even forget at times Gene Wilder’s amazing performance in the movie.

The best part of the night goes to Andrea Martin as Frau Blücher (cue horse whinny). She was eeriely brilliant.

Well, I’m not a professional critic but that’s what I liked about it.

Go see it. :)

December 14th

December 14th, 2007 by Brian Wood | Posted in Family | No Comments »

I’m not sure I ever want to have another December 14th happen.

Yesterday my Grandmother, who passed away in February, would have been 91.

Yesterday was the 11th anniversary of the death of my other Grandmother.

Yesterday my cousin’s brother commited suicide. She was my cousin by marriage, but I knew her for a long time, long before she ever married my cousin.

Can all of this be over now please.

Someone To Hold Me Too Close

November 12th, 2006 by Brian Wood | Posted in Theater, New York City | No Comments »

I had the chance to see John Doyle’s new production of Company on Halloween.

Mr. Doyle was responsible for last year’s production of Sweeney Todd, which was notable for the fact that the company also doubled as the orchestra. Well, it was also notable for Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris, who were both excellent.

Company uses the same routine, although the cast is a little larger. I do have to say that I thought Company was excellent.

It’s a musical about relationships, and the fact that 35 year old Bobby isn’t in one. In today’s society, I think most people who see the show will perceive Bobby as being gay. At one point in the show he talks about having decorated his fabulous apartment himself. Stephen Sondheim has adamantly denied this as being Bobby’s problem. In fact, he refuses to allow productions that even cast one of the married couples as a same sex couple.

My chief complaint about the show is it’s staging. The characters spend lots of time doing the same things over and over. Most of them walking around a square set in the center of the stage. It ends up that quite a few people sing with their backs to the audience, which gets a bit annoying.

This may have been the first time I have seen a show where I knew every song, and that’s from versions not including the cast recording(s). The show features songs such as “Marry Me A Little”, “Getting Married Today”, “The Little Things You Do Together”, “The Ladies Who Lunch” and “Being Alive.”

Barbara Walsh, who was a good friend of my friend John Story, was excellent as Joanne, though it was difficult not to hear Elaine’s voice in Joanne’s singing and speaking. She delivered a biting “The Ladies Who Lunch.:

Raul Esparza’s show stopping version of “Being Alive” marks the first time ever I have gotten goosebumps during a show.

Interestingly enough, the show’s whole theme and that penultimate moment coincides with what’s happening in my life right now, feeling very lonely and getting a little tired of sleeping alone :)

Now if I can just find “Someone to hold me to close”

GOP Backs Same Sex Massage

November 7th, 2006 by Brian Wood | Posted in Current Events | No Comments »

G.O.P. Backs Same-Sex Massage

Republicans Surprise Voters with Election Day Hail Mary

In one of the most stunning November surprises in recent memory, the Republican Party today declared its unequivocal support for a constitutional amendment legalizing same-sex massage.

Buffeted in recent weeks by sex scandals involving former congressman Mark Foley and conservative evangelist Ted Haggard, the G.O.P had been expected to steer clear of any issues that might remind the electorate of those controversies — making its decision to back a same-sex massage amendment all the more startling.

But at a press conference at the White House, top Republican tactician Karl Rove said that the G.O.P. had decided to adopt an “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” strategy to win over undecided voters on Election Day.

“This constitutional amendment defines massage as a rub-down between a man and a man, one of whom may or may not be selling crystal meth,” Mr. Rove said.

The same-sex massage amendment was not the only Hail Mary pass thrown by a Republican on Election Day, as Virginia senate candidate George Allen attempted to close the gender gap in his race by announcing that he was a woman.

Mr. Allen, who did not know he was Jewish until earlier this year, said he made a similar discovery about his gender on the eve of the midterm election.

“When I discovered that I was a woman after all of these years of believing I was a man, all I could think was, ‘Oy,’” Mr. Allen said.

Elsewhere, an Iraqi court sentenced former dictator Saddam Hussein to death by hanging or by living in Baghdad, whichever comes first.

Dreaming of The Pet Shop Boys

October 15th, 2006 by Brian Wood | Posted in Music | No Comments »

Yesterday was my first really good day (except for one small incident) in a very long time, which I am very thankful for. I went with the very handsome and sweet [info]sohipithurts to see the Pet Shop Boys at Radio City Music Hall.

We did have a bit of trouble getting into the city, the traffic was really bad. We made a quick stop at Rebel Rebel, which is the best music store in the city. I scored all 3 versions of the single for Numb, both cd singles and the 12″. I really like the artwork for Numb, it features the Pet Shop Boys wearing “doctor of the plague masks” sitting in a bar. It’s quite visually interesting. After shopping we had to have a very fast dinner at Manatus, one of my favorite restaurants in the Village. Then we jumped in a taxi and headed to Radio City.

Last night was my first time inside Radio City and it was really beautiful, and huge. I was quite impressed.

The Set List:

Stavinsky (Intro)
God willing
Psychological
Left to my own devices
I’m with stupid
Suburbia
Can you forgive her?
Minimal / Shopping
Rent
Dreaming of the Queen
Heart
Opportunites / Integral

20 Minute Intermission

Numb
Se a vida é / Domino Dancing
Flamboyant
Home and dry
Always on my mind
Where the streets have no name (I can’t take my eyes off you)
West End Girls
The Sodom and Gomorrah Show

Encore
So hard (with vocals by Sylvia and the backup singers)
It’s a sin
Go west

The PSB were really at the top of their game. The stage consisted of a huge white screen (actually several pieces that split apart into a dozen or more configurations).

I loved the set list, I thought it was a well balanced choice of new material plus old favorites and things I’ve never seen them do live - like Domino Dancing, Heart and Shopping. The arrangements were also different on most of the songs, which also makes for a nice experience. Flamboyant was the most different. I think my only complaint may have been the absence of Being Boring. Of course, then Vinny would have had to see me stand there and sob :)

Afterwards, we headed down to the Virgin Megastore in Union Square where the boys were to be doing an in store appearance. On the way down, I got to experience my first taxi accident, fun! The big draw for me was the availability of advance copies of their new book, Catalogue.

We got there and were surprised to find not many people so we got in line. After several minutes of hearing one of the employees keep saying “anyone with a blue wrist band go inside” Vinny went and asked where we got a blue wristband. It was then that we were told that we needed to go into the store first and purchase something for them to sign and then return to this other part of the store (accessible by going back outside) to wait in line.

We ran inside and searched in vain for someone to tell us where to get the products and of course couldn’t find someone. Vinny finally asked a cashier who told us “Oh, the books are all sold out.” I was really angry. Nothing in any of the adverts for the appearance stated that you needed to get a wristband prior to showing up or anything, and it was clear that some of the people arriving had gotten their bands earlier in the day. So we left, I refused to buy something I already had (either Fundamental or PopArt) and mostly it was I refused to buy something at the store.

It took us awhile to find a taxi and we finally headed back to the village, where Vinny had parked his car. I suddenly had a craving for a Magnolia cupcake so we stopped in and grabbed three of them. One for each of us and one for Vinny’s adorable Jack, who was waiting at home, doing God only knows what.

It was a great evening after all.

At Last

July 16th, 2006 by Brian Wood | Posted in Pictures, New York City, Museums | No Comments »

I havent posted in a long time, as someone so kindly pointed out to me :)

I don’t have a lot of time at the moment so I thought I’d just give a quick hello.

In May I finally made it to Paris! You can see the pictures from the trip on my photos page (there’s a link on the right).

Today I went for a nice walk in Central Park and finally bought a membership at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I’ve been meaning to do that since I got here a year ago!

Push Carts

March 7th, 2006 by Brian Wood | Posted in New York City | No Comments »

New Yorkers can be fanatic about street vendor food, most of them love it, and at least one I know detests it.

Anyway, I found this very cool link…

The Street Vendor Project, Finalists

Hopefully I can try out the Hallo Berlin cart with my friend Thor soon, who also works in the same area of Manhattan as I.

Also, a blog dedicated to pushcarts AND the site where I found both of those links is here.

Enjoy