It's been a while since I last posted. This week, I've been in Tyson's Corner, VA and will be here until very late Friday night. This gig is really cool, it's Santa's arrival to the Tysons Corner Center mall. Doesn't sound like much, I know, but it's a HUGE show. I can't disclose the amount of money being spent on this show, but we've been setting up the show since Sunday for an event that happens Friday night, if that tells you anything. The whole thing will be purely magical. I've never really been a huge Santa fanatic, but I do adore Christmas and this show has so many things I love about Christmas in it. I did have a short Santa stage when I was 5 or 6, but that was short lived. In second grade, I had a teacher, Mrs. Schwartz, that walked in the first day and said, "There is no Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy or Easter Bunny, but we're going to learn why." We had a great lesson on the history of the big red guy after that. So here I am with a stage set up ready for the Rolling Stones, and it's all for Santa. I have to admit, I'm a little more nervous than I've been for past gigs. It seems silly because the star is an imaginary compilation of various cultural figures, but I'm more nervous about making this magical for the 2,000+ kids that will be there. I'm sure everything will be fine, but I guess I'm one of those people that still gets a bit of stage fright no matter how many times we do these kinds of shows.
Did I mention I love Christmas? I had this conversation with my buddy, Jeb, the other day. He doesn't like Christmas because of the commercial nature of it all. I guess I hardly notice that part because I'm so consumed by the nostalgic elements of the holiday season, the happiness that overwhelms me this time of year blinds me to so much bad in the world.
> I love the Christmas tree, I love having the gifts that I thoughtfully chose for each loved one stacked under the tree…I love the lights and how each ornament on the tree has some memory or symbol tied to it. I've had my Christmas tree up since October…
>I love the music, Christmas music is some of the greatest music because it's something almost everyone in the Western culture can share with each other. Most of it is so joyful, some of it just very emotional, but all of it great.
>I love the movie "A Christmas Story". I don't remember Christmas without it. "You'll shoot your eye out!" I can't say enough great things about the film, just a great cult classic.
>Then there's the actual Christmas story…I know there's a lot of debate over the historical accuracy of the story we know, but just the principles of the story should be enough to make you want to be a better person. Whether you believe in Jesus or not, the story and the season gives you an opportunity to grow in character and be happy.
There's a hundred other things, but that's my short list. Anyway, time to get back to work, happy holidays everyone…
I have been so psyched to see Disney's "Enchanted" and today did not disappoint. I was roaring the entire way through. I love fairytales: Princess Bride and Stardust are the most recent and this fun parody of the Disney classics was hysterical. Funny thing is, the entire time, I pictured the opening track of my upcoming album in almost any scene of the movie. The track is called, "Give Me A Fairytale" and fits in the story pretty well. That song was finally finished about a month ago and I still can't wait for everyone to hear it. Well, maybe if they do an "Enchanted 2" my little tune will be part of the soundtrack…hehe.
