{"id":15307,"date":"2019-05-25T16:07:45","date_gmt":"2019-05-25T23:07:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cahighways.org\/wordpress\/?p=15307"},"modified":"2019-05-26T12:03:10","modified_gmt":"2019-05-26T19:03:10","slug":"%f0%9f%8e%b6-pop-stars-and-folk-musicians-lea-salonga-and-noel-paul-stookey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cahighways.org\/wordpress\/?p=15307","title":{"rendered":"🎶 Pop Stars and Folk Musicians | Lea Salonga and Noel Paul Stookey"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Lea\"\"This week was a week for concerts. The first was Wednesday night, when we saw Lea Salonga<\/a> (FB<\/a>) at the Saroya<\/a>\u00a0(FB<\/a>), which was known as the Valley Performing Arts Center at CSUN the last time Ms. Salonga played there in April 2016<\/a>. If I had to characterize this show, which was the penultimate stop in her\u00a0The Human Heart <\/em>tour, it would be: Ballads and Anthems. Unlike back in 2016, where we were treated to a number of upbeat songs, including some songs in her native language, this was primarily slower songs and power songs. The two act show had the following songs:<\/p>\n

Act I:<\/p>\n

Feeling Good
\nGo the Distance
\nReflection
\nFast Car
\nDrops of Jupiter
\nWill You Still Love Me Tomorrow
\nPart of the Human Heart
\nI Give My Life for You<\/p>\n

Act II:<\/p>\n

Another 100 People
\nIn a Very Unusual Way
\nStory of My Life
\nTake On Me
\nBlurred Lines
\nBurn
\nA Whole New World
\nDead Girl Songs: I Dreamed A Dream \/ On My Own
\nEncore: You Will Be Found<\/p>\n

Accompanying Ms. Salonga was Larry Yurman<\/a> (FB<\/a>) –\u00a0Piano, Music Director<\/em><\/span>; Kevin Axt<\/a> (FB<\/a>) – Bass<\/em><\/span>; Paul Viapiano<\/a> (FB<\/a>) –\u00a0Guitar<\/em><\/span>; and Ray Brinker<\/a> (FB<\/a>)\u00a0– Drums<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Salonga had a great rapport with the audience, telling wonderful stories before most of the songs. Her duet on “A Whole New World” was wonderful. On the whole, it was an enjoyable show, but I did find myself wishing for a few more upbeat numbers. We did support the artist by picking up one CD: The Story of My Life: Live from Manila<\/em>, with the BYU Chamber Orchestra.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Noel\"\"Our second concert saw us in Santa Monica at McCabes<\/a> (FB<\/a>) for a favorite artist of ours: Noel Paul Stookey<\/a> (FB<\/a>), who is best known as Paul in Peter Paul and Mary<\/a> (FB<\/a>). We last saw Noel Paul in a concert with Peter Yarrow in Thousand Oaks in 2017<\/a>; our last solo visit with him was 2015 at McCabes<\/a>. Noel Paul just recently did a concert in Ventura<\/a>. Paul, and his musical companions, hold a special place in my heart: My first favorite group was PP&M, and folk music was a constant in my life even before there were the tunes from Broadway. McCabes also holds a special place: I remember seeing Shep Cooke<\/a> (FB<\/a>) there many many years ago with my uncle, back in the 1980s.<\/p>\n

Noel Paul’s repertoire at this two set show was a mix of PP&M tunes and many of Noel Paul’s more recent solo tunes. There were just a few that I had never heard before. Alas, although he teased in the first act that he might do “Impeachable<\/a>“, he didn’t. But the sentiment was clearly there.<\/p>\n

Noel Paul’s sets were (🌟 indicates new songs):<\/p>\n

Set 1<\/p>\n

Standing on the Shoulders🌟
\nNot That Kind of Music
\nPuff the Magic Dragon
\nIves🌟
\nRight Field
\nThe Winner
\nImagine (Alternate Version)🌟 \/ For The Love of It All
\nRevolution (1 x 1)
\nWhere Have All the Flowers Gone
\nLove Rules!<\/p>\n

Set 2:<\/p>\n

Whatshername
\nCabin Fever Waltz
\nCue The Moon
\nLove With a Capital “L”🌟
\nThe Wedding Song
\nOne & Many
\nJean Claude
\nAmerica the Beautiful
\nBlowing in the Wind
\nIn These Times
\nEncore: If I Had a Hammer<\/p>\n

Noel Paul has roots as a comedian, and it shows in how he tells stories before each song. He clearly loves performing at McCabes, which holds a special place with folk musicians. His shows there are extremely enjoyable, and are not to be missed.<\/p>\n

🎭<\/p>\n

Ob. Disclaimer<\/strong>: I am not a trained theatre (or music) critic; I am, however, a regular theatre and music audience member. I\u2019ve been attending live theatre and concerts in Los Angeles since 1972; I\u2019ve been writing up my thoughts on theatre (and the shows I see) since 2004. I do not have theatre training (I\u2019m a computer security specialist), but have learned a lot about theatre over my many years of attending theatre and talking to talented professionals. I pay for all my tickets unless otherwise noted (or I\u2019ll make a donation to the theatre, in lieu of payment). I am not compensated by anyone for doing these writeups in any way, shape, or form. I currently subscribe at\u00a05 Star Theatricals<\/a>\u00a0(FB<\/a>), the\u00a0Hollywood Pantages<\/a>\u00a0(FB<\/a>),\u00a0Actors Co-op<\/a>\u00a0(FB<\/a>), the\u00a0Ahmanson Theatre<\/a>\u00a0(FB<\/a>) [2018-2019 season], and the\u00a0Musical Theatre Guild<\/a>\u00a0(FB<\/a>). Through my theatre attendance I have made friends with cast, crew, and producers, but I do strive to not let those relationships color my writing (with one exception: when writing up children\u2019s production, I focus on the positive \u2014 one gains nothing except bad karma by raking a child over the coals). I believe in telling you about the shows I see to help you form your opinion; it is up to you to determine the weight you give my writeups.<\/p>\n

Upcoming Shows<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

This weekend brings one last show for May: Bronco Billy \u2013 The Musical<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>at\u00a0Skylight Theatre<\/a>\u00a0(FB<\/a>).<\/p>\n

June, as always, is reserved for the\u00a0Hollywood Fringe Festival<\/a>\u00a0(FB<\/a>). If you are unfamilar with Fringe, there are\u00a0around 380 shows<\/a>\u00a0taking place over the month of June, mostly in the stretch of Santa Monica Blvd between 1 bl W of La Brea to 1 bl E of Vine, but all generally in Hollywood. On a first pass, there were lots I was interested in, 30 I could fit on a calendar, but even less that I could afford. Here is my current Fringe schedule\u00a0as of the date of this writeup. [Here\u2019s my post with all shows of interest \u2014 which also shows my most current HFF19 schedule<\/a>. Note: unlike my normal policy, offers of comps or discounts are entertained, but I have to be able to work them into the schedule with\u00a0the limitations noted in my HFF19 post<\/a>]:<\/p>\n