Rocco's Pop Revolution: Seen through the eyes of someone living it

(This is really long and I am sorry. Go make some tea and get some pretzels. Get comfy if you are going to delve into this because I got carried away… But thanks for reading! And a note… I didn’t take a lot of videos because I was “working” so thanks to the people who did and posted them on YouTube…. soldiers you are! Soldiers!)

Lee didn’t suck. He sang in tune. Engaged the audience and has really nice teeth to go along with his hair. And that’s it.

What if that is all I wrote??? That would be funny. But don’t worry there is more.

I’m going to start by saying, I was the most out-of-place individual in the room.

It was a Sony sponsored event so there were a lot of suits, a lot of real bloggers/journalists (and by real I mean people who know what they are doing and get paid for it) and then little old me. My hair was a mess (which is pretty much a day-to-day thing… hence my jealousy of Lee bear’s hair) and I felt nauseous. I was up really early, ate sporadically throughout the day, and was really excited…. not a good combo for my tender tummy as Mamadukes later scolded me.

Me and my friend (who was my plus 1 and then part of my press team… and by team I mean the 2 of us who have no idea what we are doing) got to the venue and were standing around with the suits the and looking real out-of-place.

I'm a suit. MWAH HAH AHA. Who is that girl??

As we were standing around waiting (I was waiting just because the others were looking like they were waiting and I wanted to look like I belonged) a real professional photogropher was taking test shots of the mini step and repeat  and guess what??? I was in the way! But, it was okay because the photog immediately fell in love with my friend and her teal scarf. (more on that later) And because she stole his heart he continued to take tests shots of her in front of the step and repeat. The people must have thought we were the venues minions doing the dirty work.

This was all starting so perfect. It was just how I want to look with people who could potentially sign my pay check one day.

Lee bear came strutting out with his bouncy, body-ful (yes I made that word up… it needs a made up word) head of hair and met with the suits and took pictures.

So, there we were standing in the way, chatting with a what we thought was a friendly woman with painted Jackson Pollack pants, when Lee bear glanced our way. He obviously thought “who are these girls who don’t belong with the press and why do they have matching clothes on??” (we had a similar color palate on… all by accident, but once again it made us stand out), and as eye contact was made and what would have been my awkward description of why I was there and who I was (This was the moment I speak of in the title… yes I embellished. So shoot me.), Jackson Pollack woman thwarted me!! She stepped in shook his hand and took a picture because she was one of the important people apparently. Important and a dream squasher.

We (meaning Lee bear and awkward me… the moment) exchanged smiles and he went on joking and being charming with the suits and I continued to stand there and just check out the sitch. He was very enthusiastic to meet the people and take pictures, always kind and laughing. And as I stood a foot from him all I could think was “his hair is so fluffy”.  Nice teeth too! He must use those electric toothbrushes and floss daily.

So the concert started and since I had VIP I stood in front and ironically bonded with Jackson Pollack woman… which is a part of my master plan to squash her dreams in the future (that is a lie… the master plan part, not the bonding) Things started rough… I lost my pen and had to borrow one from a kind fan behind me (so thanks girl!), but I was roaring to go with pen in hand, heart beating, wanting to vomit, and adjectives running through my mind…. All but the vomit had to do with Lee.

Lee came out in plaid and looking like he fell out of Williamsburg in Brooklyn (right off the L train… for you New Yorkers) and he started off with how much he loved the fans and how awesome it was to be playing his new music. Again, he seemed very appreciative and amped about his new music…. someone has been eating his humble pie.

He started with “Stay Here” and it was a great opener. Hottie McHottie Chris Wrate was the perfect “oohhh oohhhh” -er in the joint. By the way he was stunning. I mean breath-taking. He had a butt chin and my personal photographer (the other member of my “press team”) loves butt chins and therefore set her eyes on him (more on this later)

But back to Lee bear… his voice was in top form. Someone was on their A Game. Very gravelly and raspy, but not one note out of tune. Again….shocking. (That was sarcastic in case that went over your head)

He went right into “Live It Up” for the second song, after some banter about something that I don’t really remember… and this was a fun one because most of the people in the crowd knew the words. You saw his face light up when people sang along. Adorbs Lee bear… adorbs. Oh and great with the ad libs… I am confident in saying that he will never sing a song the same. So avant garde.

And then one of my favorite parts of the concert happened. During “Earth Stood Still” he asked if it was anyone’s birthday and I hilariously hollered (love alliteration) “LEONARDO DICAPRIO’S!!!!!”  Lee bear either didn’t hear me or didn’t think I was funny… we will go with the former. So, some chick goes up on stage and we all think, this is great, and so adorable, and it was…. for the first 27 seconds and then he ignored her! Legit did not look at the girl once during the song… it was so funny. Even Jackson Pollack woman said something to me about it. But it wasn’t that he was being rude… I think he was just performing like he normally would, but it was great because he invited this girl on stage and ignored her. What a boy!

let's ignore each other

Then he did “Weightless” and he said it was one of his favorite songs…. and ironically it was probably one of my least favorite songs. We must end this Lee bear… it’s over.  It wasn’t bad… just not one of my favorite. It had an awesome instrumental section that worked into the bridge. So I guess I like that song???? WE’RE BACK ON!

Then they broke out into this jam session. Chris Wrate is sick on guitar! Shredding like a king… is that jargon for a good guitar player?? And this whole impromptu jam session was used to show off Chris’ beauty and how great the rest of the guys are on their instruments. Bravo boys!

(Let’s back up and talk about how Chris Wrate saw me talk about him: My fake photographer sidekick  loves butt chins as mentioned above… and Mr. Wrate has an inkling of one. So, I pointed it out and we laughed… and I literally pointed and he saw. Awkward! He refused to look at me the rest of the night. I then felt guilty.)

So, as we cheered for their little jam sesh and I cheered a little too enthusiastically…. I dropped my words of wisdom book that has all my ideas for blogs, adjectives for this concert, my life plans, my hand drawn subway map, etc. I looked around in a panic thinking “OMFG, my life just fell underneath the stage….” but no, my friends lover (aka professional photographer) came to my rescue and saved my book. So, I dedicate this post to you good sir… and your future wife; my friend. (They are dating right now. She might have went home with him. Just kidding. Or am I?)

Lee  ignored the love fest that was occurring before my very eyes and began to sing “Beautiful Like You” and though he didn’t write this song.. it is one of my favorites. It is just a great pop song… and I believe single material. Oh, and he flashed that million dollar smile once again. I wonder if he had braces??

“Dear Isabelle” was next… his Chicago tribute and the song was great. I don’t really hear the “Hey, There Delilah”-ness.. it sounded very country live. Kind of had a twang. But it was good…. he dug it, therefore I dug it. He then surprised the crowd with “A Song About Love” that wasn’t on the playlist we snuck a peek at…. it was good. Stripped down… it was just Lee and the keyboard player, Lincoln Cleary. Very pretty….the piano melody, not Lincoln. Although, my friend loved him and wanted to leave her photographer beau for Lincoln. What a whore! Just kidding… or am I?

“It’s Gotta Be Love” was great and it is pretty much about a one night stand. And during his banter before the song he definitely made a joke about kicking his brother out of their shared bedroom to bang a chick. Nice Lee bear… let’s be more of a dude for a second. So, that little convo segwayed perfectly into his song about banging chicks. I’m gonna say this is definitely about a drunken hook up, not about love….but to each their own. Oh, and his parents were definitely singing and dancing along to his song about banging chicks while drunk. Niiiiice.

Then he did “Sweet Serendipity” and guess what??? He messed up the words!!! What an idiot!
I’m just kidding. He didn’t mess up once again. That is two times in a row! Whoa!

This dude is TA-LAN-TED!

The encore was “Hallelujah” and it was beautiful. Started stripped down, then Chris Wrate got all sexy on his guitar and spiced it up. Lee sounded great!

Annnnnnnnnd that was the show. Broke my phone as I left, tried not to vomit on the train, and smiled all the way home…. it was all because of Lee bear

On a serious note, he did great and I am so excited for his album….he seems excited and it was nice to see people sing along.

Also, his brother and parents were there and I looked over at one point and saw them beaming. Great little moment. I wanted to call Mamadukes and Big D and ask if they were proud of me.

Oh and btw Lee bear said he does read all your tweets and messages so definitely tweet him!! He will read it… He’s sees all that shit. And he chuckled when he said this…. so I am guessing naughty tweets have been sent????

Shredding Aladdin

I confess. I had braces

I’ll try to post some videos tomorrow and I will share the link to my actual legit, music post for Culturemob tomorrow.

-Rocco