The Bridge Sandwich, Carnegie Deli Style

The Bridge
Lion's Den, New York, NY
November 29, 2007

The Bridge brought their brand of Baltimore blues, funk, jazz, and Jacob's style shredding to the newly renovated Lion's Den last night in the West Village of NYC. What was once a dilapidated hole in the wall venue in the immediate vicinity of The Bitter End, the now defunct Bottom Line, and numerous other folkie/rocker venues has been spruced up with a new coat of paint, a new hardwood floor, and hotel-style bathrooms. In other words, the soul is gone. But what is dead, can still be reborn. And the Bridge raised the spirits of the venue voodoo-style when they took the stage.

They had some help with Afroskull performing the opening duties playing a Headhunters brand of funk and jazz. The musical sandwich was completed with Jamie McLean, the badass guitarist from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, closing the show post-Bridge, tearing it up like Clapton fronting The Black Crowes.

I've seen The Bridge on multiple occasions, being born in Baltimore and all, yet most times I see them it is in New York when they make the trip. And what amazes me so much about their shows, other than the solid musicianship of Chris on guitar, Dave on bass, Kenny on electro-mandolin, Mike on the drums, and Patrick on sax is that there always appears to be an extra unseen member of the group that raises the whole game. It is the hidden presence in their melded sound that makes them better than the sum of their parts. The Bridge fans know it. It's the feeling that you can lose yourself in the haze of their sound and soul and mentally refocus minutes later thinking "How the hell did that happen?" Many bands are talented, but few bands do what The Bridge does.

I am not an expert in Bridge setlisting so I won't take a stab but it was a real treat to have Jamie McLean join The Bridge for most of their too short set. I've seen Jamie with Dirty Dozen play the main stage of Bonnaroo and to see him share the stage with my hometown boys years later was awesome. Chris and Jamie appeared to have a kindred spirit of white-boy blues inspired singing and guitar slinging while sharing the stage. The entire band was definitely pleased with their newfound member who was clearly listening intently to the tunes as he appeared to be learning them onstage as he went. That pleasure was evident in Jamie's face as well as his contorted expressions of improvisational bliss were only interrupted to smile at Kenny, Chris, and the gang.

If you don't know The Bridge, make the effort. It ain't just a way to get from borough to borough across troubled water. It is also the way to hear a band playing blues->funk->rock->bluegrass without hitting shuffle on your iPod. This was a Carnegie deli style musical sandwich I wouldn't mind paying $16 for. As for the actual Carnegie sandwich, not so much.

The Bridge @ Myspace
The Bridge @ Live Music Archive

Grammy's Best Moments

A show called 'My Night at the Grammy's' is currently on CBS highlighting the fan's choices for best Grammy moments at the award shows of the past. Two things I hate are so called "fan's choices", because it usually involves Avril Lavigne or the entire cast of High School Musical, and the other thing is award shows with their scripted banter and celebrities in attendance only because they won.

Once in a while an award show does something right. An example:

The 2003 Grammy Awards honoring Joe Strummer with Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Dave Grohl, and Lil Steven Van Zandt performing 'London Calling' by The Clash. It's badass and worth the click.




Interesting 'London Calling' Fun Fact: The song was performed by Bob Dylan in 2005 during his short residency at Brixton Academy in London, the site of many legendary Clash concerts.

Charles Barkley Chatter

I love Charles Barkley. Here is his quote regarding the safety of Isiah Thomas's job as the coach of the NY Knicks if they lose again tonight:

"He's about as safe as me in a room full of cookies."

"Let's make it a true daily double, Alex..."

Baltimore has never really been known for its notable celebrities. Sure, we have Sisqo, Babe Ruth, Rick Ocasek and Barry Levinson, but for the most part, many of the renowned Baltimorians abandon their "Charm City" heritage once stardom hits.

In any event, I was watching Music Choice last night when a song came on that I'd heard a few dozen times in the 80's, but never really knew who sang it. In fact, the version most people, including myself, are most familiar with is Weird Al's memorable spoof. The song: "Jeopardy." The artist: Greg Kihn. Greg Kihn's hometown: Baltimore.

Who would have thought? Growing up in the suburbs of Baltimore myself, I have always prided myself as knowing the entire list of A, B and C-list Baltimore celebrities. Not sure how this one slipped by...

So where is Greg Kihn now? According to Wikipedia:

Since 2001, the Greg Kihn Band has been one of the opening acts at the annual Kihncert, which is organized by San Jose, California radio station KUFX-FM (promotional name 98.5 K-Fox), where Kihn is the morning DJ.

Kihn has also written four novels, Horrow Show, Shade of Pale, Mojo Hand, and Big Rock Beat, and released a collection of short stories by himself and other well known rock musicians, named Carved In Rock: Short Stories By Musicians. Contributors include Ray Manzarek of The Doors, Pete Townshend of The Who, Joan Jett, and Ray Davies of The Kinks.

Greg Kihn in 2007 was inducted into the San Jose Hall of Fame.

Unfortunately, like many before him (and surely, many more after), it appears that Mr. Kihn has also abandoned his Baltimore roots for, of all places, San Jose. C'mon Baltimore, we can't lose guys like GREG KIHN to SAN JOSE -- where the hell is our Hall of Fame???

On the other hand, I guess we'll always have "The Thong Song..."

Greg Kihn
Jeopardy
1983


Editor's Note: This clip contains all of the "accoutrement" of the successful 80's music video: mullets, tuxedos, mock-skeletons (think "Touch of Grey" and Taco's "Puttin' on the Ritz"), and a plot that makes entirely no sense.

The Felice Brothers: Upstate Revivalists

Authenticity. The word gets bandied about in regards to new music releases these days, specifically the lack thereof. (Actual talent is also missing these days, but that is for another post.) Ultimately though, isn't everything these days derivative of preceding bands and therefore lacking in authenticity. Well, I must remind myself there is a difference between authenticity and originality. The Felice Brothers are not originals. But with all of the crap being released today, isn't a great derivative band worth writing about (and listening to). And with chops like theirs, authenticity does not seem like a problem for them.

Slinky, greasy, and vampy are words that are brought to mind when listening to The Felice Brothers. So are the names Lou Reed and Bob Dylan. And The Animals a la an organ sound ripped from 'The House of The Rising Son'. How's that for derivative.

And I got all of that after listening to just one song on The Felice Brothers Myspace page titled 'Helen Fry'. The Felice Brothers are from the Hudson Valley of Upstate New York. For you out-of-towners, Upstate NY is a far, far cry from the Lower East Side by about 60 miles and 10,000 hipsters. In other words, they are the only band on my radar from that part of the country.

I really enjoy the loose, roots rock feel of the band. I don't get a sense that the band is too proud to beg like The Kings of Leon or other hipster bands like The Killers who seemed ripped out of a GQ spread rather than a garage practice space where true bands hone their skills. Derivative, maybe. But probably because like myself they LOVE the music of Dylan, The Band, a touch of Bowie, and did I mention Dylan? I'll take this any day. Thanks for the tip on these guys and let me know when they are coming to town. I'll bring my leopard skin pill box hat, me and all the young dudes will take a walk on the wild side, and after the show we'll crash at Big Pink. Sound like a plan? Or has that been done before?

Listen to my favorite track, called Frankie's Gun, on their Myspace page.

Update: And come see them live with me in NYC at The Highline Ballroom with The Dirty Dozen Brass Band opening on Friday, 12/7.

Update to Update: Dirty Dozen is the headliner, The Felice Brothers have the opening slot.

Sweet Home Seattle

Kurt Cobain just smiled. That is what drove me to write this post while watching the recently released Nirvana MTV Unplugged DVD. The man, who is now remembered as being a brooding individual uninterested in fame and ultimately uninterested in living, is cracking jokes with bandmates on MTV of all places. He is chatting in between songs. He is, well, an artist clearly relishing the spotlight (although he wouldn't have admitted it) and projecting a maturity in his music that does not appear to support the tortured soul theory very well. Ultimately what is really so great about the DVD is that all of the MTV editing and commercials have been eliminated and the uninterrupted essence of the concert bleeds through with a tiny glimpse at what it would have been like to attend this show.

Another fun part of the DVD: Dave Grohl looks like a preppy youngster in his navy blue turtleneck and clean shaven face rather than mired in his "posterboy of hipster fatherhood" look of today with his ever-present facial hair and tattered rock duds . Also, when an audience member predictably shouts "Freebird", Kurt says, "I've been waiting for that." Then the band breaks into a full on "Sweet Home Alabama" tease with guitar, bass, and drums and Kurt mumbling a couple lines. Truly amazing.

Its funny. It seems as though the "Nirvana in an acoustic setting" concept just makes so much sense and is so familiar. I, as well as a large portion of folks in their 20's, associate the band as much with acoustic guitars as anything else. But this show was a HUGE departure from their typical sound. The band typically rocked out; acoustic tenderness did not appear in their vocabulary. But the band, so understated in their sound, appears born for this night. It was like the stars were truly aligned. Whatever intern recommended Nirvana for this show should be knighted.

This Unplugged episode became so iconic not just because of how opposite an "unplugged" setting appeared to have been from Nirvana's typical sound, but also by how this show gave MTV actual artistic credibility. Instead of airing videos shot in advance on soundstages just to promote acts, the channel was presenting a true forum for artistic creation and risk taking. Nirvana without a net, if you will. And here we are a decade later and MTV now has no true cultural relevance anymore. The more things change, the more they stay the same, I suppose.

Yes, Nirvana unplugged is a time capsule. It reminds me of high school and signing up for the BMG music club (Anyone else get Nirvana Unplugged for just 1 cent?). But ultimately all of the songs stand on their own. Not because a rock/punk band changed their sound for a tv show. That novelty would have worn out long ago. Its because Kurt Cobain and the band laid their souls and hearts on the line without the benefit of amplifiers and let us into their living room jam session for a night. And luckily its documented to watch over and over.

Happy Thanksgiving from The Weight

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody. What do you have to be thankful for this year?

If you are like me, you have traveled home for the holiday and are sleeping in your childhood bed, surrounded by your childhood things, as well as all the crap that moved from dorm room/fraternity house/keg holding apt and then back home after college. Part of that mess is the holy grail of a concert goer's life, the concert ticket pile.

With the advent of online ticketing and Ticketfast (I pay extra to print my own tickets for what reason exactly?) the days of the torn ticket stubs are numbered. But from 1995 until recently, the pile was a formidable presence.

And this year I am thankful for that first fateful concert that tore a hole in my brain, that fried my soul, and freed my mind. The show was George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars at the University of Maryland in the summer of 1995. I had the pleasure of telling George himself this at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square a few years back. He was actually very humbled, extremely friendly, and half awake during the day which was a pleasant surprise

The show was a free concert on the "mall" at Maryland, which is a huge field in the middle of campus. Still being in high school, and being surrounded by throngs of people both in the crowd and on stage, was a life changing experience. We were all one nation under a groove witnessing George and band clad in nun's outfits, diapers, wizard costumes, extremely phallic noses, and who knows what else romping around. The funk was thick and more importantly I was growing up and into a concert lover. Concerts aren't just about the music but what your life is about at the time, the trip to get there, who you are with, the venue, the parking lot/ride out, and analyzing the night's show. This, my friends, is my favorite activity. So thanks once again George, and thanks to all of you concert lovers out there, on this turkey week 12 years later.

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic
Flashlight
Washington DC, 1979

The Cult to Open For Zep in '08??!?

This would be the best indicator/rumor yet that the one-off Led Zeppelin gig at the O2 in London next month is not a one-off after all.

Ian Astbury has accidentally on purpose revealed that his own reunited Cult will be supplying opening duties for a 2008 Led Zeppelin tour. To be honest, Ian Astbury is an idiot for letting this information out in this fashion. If the Zeppelin people have approached him and his band to open for Robert, Jimmy and John, they should now find someone else just to prove a point.

Read the Billboard article here.

Phish Not Playing NYE

For all those still holding on to the possibility of a Phish reunion in 2007, you'll have to continue holding your breath...

From phish.com

Jon Fishman has been added to the the Del McCoury Band and Friends New Year's Eve Concert, December 31st at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. Tickets are on sale now at ryman.com or at the Ryman Box Office. For more information, please click here. Other guest performers include Ronnie Bowman, Drew Emmitt & Vince Herman (of Leftover Salmon) and Steep Canyon Ranger.

For those keeping score, that would be 2 consecutive posts mentioning Jon Fishman.

Girl Talk Plays Wash U Fraternity

Another day, another college campus tasering...only this time, the incident resulted in partying! An inebriated unclothed man attending Greg "Girl Talk" Gillis' gig at the Gargoyle on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis was subdued by local police after being "...tasered in the ass for a prolonged period of time."

After the WashU gig was cut short, the university's Sigma Alpha Mu house opened their basement up to Girl Talk where 200 to 300 students witnessed a continuation of the ill-fated concert. This must be the most significant artist appearance on this St. Louis college's campus since Phish drummer Jon Fishman performed a late-night impromptu gig in the dorms in 1999 following a concert by his then side project Pork Tornado.

Controversy seems to be following Gillis around, as his unconventional opening slot for Widespread Panic was cut short earlier this year due to overly intoxicated fans not being able to keep it together after being invited by him to dance on stage.

Read the full tasering/WashU article here.

Editors Note: The writer of this post is an alumni of the above mentioned university and he is still not over receiving the news of Fishman's jam session in the dorms a few hours too late.

P.S. - Forgive me for posting this more than a week after the incident occurred. I was out of the country at the time.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Blows...

...City’s Power Grid

JACKSON, MS (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) -- While performing at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Mississippi the Trans-Siberian Orchestra came to a sudden halt in mid-show, during their seasonal rock Christmas concert, when the city’s power grid went down, reportedly due to the strain from the show.

The experience was recapped by violinist Anna Phoebe in a blog update:

"WOW!! Our first matinee day of the tour! And we make the show even more memorable by blowing the entire power during 'Good King Joy'! First ever time in TSO history!! Hilarious! The first 3 seconds you think it's just the monitors in your ears or on the stage, then the lights all went out then we started looking around and then realized it was EVERYTHING! Except the spotlight on Al! We kind of left the stage - the arena was SILENT...15 minutes later (just when the slow clapping had started) they manage to get the extra generators going and we went on as normal.

I tell you - there is nothing so eerie as going from 100 or so decibels to SILENCE in a split second in a huge space filled with thousands of people. Spooky!!

The audiences were FABULOUS and LOUD both shows! I love it when it feels a little bit more like a rock show rather than a 'concert'."

They Want You Back

Call me crazy, but cost aside, I would probably go to this show. It would sure be one hell of a spectacle. Do you think this could actually happen? Dangle a few million in front of Michael and I believe he'd be in.

The man behind Michael Jackson's Off The Wall tour in the late 1970s and early 1980s - admits he has been in touch with the infamous Jackson family to discuss reforming for a number of live dates. And Rowe claims Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon have already confirmed their involvement.

Read the full article from music-news.com

We Are Everywhere

Bill Walton, Al Gore, Ann Coulter, Nancy Pelosi, Al Franken, Pete Carroll.....and the newly appointed head of British Intelligence....yeah baby, yeah!

The new head of Great Britain's Joint Intelligence Committee, the country's top intelligence body, Alex Allan, is a "Deadhead" by his own admission. Allan maintains a personal website fully devoted to the Grateful Dead where one can find information on all their music, concerts etc.

Allan who is 56...has been British High Commissioner to Australia and private secretary to both Prime Ministers John Major and Tony Blair. On his website Allan writes, "I first saw the Dead in the mud at Bickershawe in 1972, and was so knocked out I went to all the Lyceum concerts after that. I have been a Deadhead ever since, and saw them whenever they came to Europe, but sadly never managed a U.S. tour."

Read the article from the UK's The Independent here.

Allan is pictured above windsurfing on the Thames.

Willie Nelson: Imperfectly Perfect

Earlier this week, I borrowed a homemade compilation of Willie Nelson songs which I have been listening to on each car ride ever since. On it he sings everything from Paul Simon's 'Graceland' to Danial Lanois' 'The Maker' to Kermit the Frog's 'Rainbow Connection'. And on each of these songs as well as the 17 other tracks, I cannot get over how perfectly imperfect (or is it imperfectly perfect) Willie's singing is. He falls into a long line of other favorite singers of mine who have have far from what would be considered innate singing talent. This list includes Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Rick Danko, and most recently Warren Zevon. They each have a way of conveying emotion through their voices, which I find so much more poignant than the singing of many others with far superior vocal talent. Maybe the true appeal of these singers for me, and others, is that they sound real. That it's the emotion and the feeling that you get when you listen to them which makes them so attractive. Willie Nelson just has that intangible 'something' about his voice which connects with me every time.

Having decided to share a favorite song from this disc, I called upon YouTube to see what I could find. I had the great fortune to find Willie Nelson performing onstage with Paul Simon on the aforementioned "Graceland". The video features a nice pictorial tribute to Willie over the first minute.

Always Take the Weather With You

Hi there.

I enjoy surfing, hiking, long walks on the beach, dining at trendy restaurants with a bottle of wine, roadtripping along the coast, and trying new and exotic foods.

And that, unfortunately, was only accomplished while on vacation the last two weeks. At home, um, no so much. Not even close. My typical interests include miserably waking up entirely too late for work, attempting to remain awake and/or interested at the office, dejectedly commuting home, ordering delivery for dinner, and then delaying going to sleep as late as possible (hello, Tivo) so that I don't have to awake the next morning to repeat.

To the layman, this may seem like two completely different people enjoying (for lack of a better word) their day. Surfing vs. sleeping in. Hiking vs. ordering General Tso's Chicken. Two different people? It is in fact...just me.

Vacations are like new year's eve...you go out, get decked out, spend a bunch of money at a new and hopefully excting place. And then you commit yourself to resolutions about getting up early, being productive, going to the gym, being active, actually leaving the apartment. On vacation, I get motivated. In "real life", which is 99.2% of the time, not so much.

But this time, is different. After a trek half way around the world, as my jet lagged haze is wearing off, I want to do things differently. I want to wake up and smell the Sanka, I want to actually use my $80 per month gym membership (lately I'm averaging $80 per session...that should be easy math), I want to see more of New York City then the blocks between the subway and my apt/office. Australia and New Zealand have breathed new life into me. Go if you can. I really did accomplish all of the things I mentioned in the beginning of the post.

Seeing Crowded House at the Sydney Entertainment Center left a song in my mind to remind me of the trip, the energy and spontaneity I had, and the ability to get off my ass. Maybe it will help you too.

Weather With You
Crowded House

Phil Lesh & Friends: Nokia Theater, 11/3/07

"Every silver lining's got a touch of grey"

I'll keep this short because there isn't a whole lot to say. Regretfully, it was one of the more boring Phil shows I've seen. After reading Friday's set list online(which included "Midnight Rider," "Dire Wolf," "Dead Flowers," "Mama Tried," "Terrapin," "Stella Blue," "Wharf Rat," Pink Floyd's "Eclipse," and Ryan Adams), I knew it was a long shot that Saturday's show would even come close to comparing.

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with the band per se; they are tight and they know the material quite well. I just found the show somewhat dull (especially the first set -- which seems to be the trend on this tour) coupled with the fact that both sets included some of my least favorite songs (e.g. Good Lovin', Lovelight, Playin', The Wheel). Ironically, right before the second set, I vowed to my friend that I would walk out if I heard either "Playin" or "The Wheel." Well, they played both, and some 20 minutes later, we were in a cab heading downtown...

The one highlight for me was Dylan/The Band's "This Wheel's on Fire" which was a nice surprise. I've got one last show tomorrow so wish me luck...

Phil Lesh & Friends
Nokia Theater, NYC
11/3/07

Good Lovin'> Downhearted> Pride of Cucamonga, This Wheel's on Fire, Mississippi Half Step> Jam> So Hard To Find My Way, Big Boss Man 2: Playin' in the Band> Spots of Time> The Wheel> Somebody Loan Me a Dime> Jack Straw> Jam> Unbroken Chain> Jam> St. Stephen> Jam> The Eleven> Jam> Lovelight E: Casey Jones

Phil Lesh & Friends: Nokia Theater, 11/1/07

What a long (not so strange) trip it's been...literally. Just two days ago, I returned from a mini-European vacation ( "Rusty!" ), visiting Paris and Barcelona. Both cities were incredible and I'll share some of my observations/memoirs for a later post. For now, back to the review:

So, this was the first Phil show I've seen since S.O.B.'s earlier this year. Because those shows were nothing more than a gag jam session (not including Warren's rendition of "Ship of Fools" which was Jerry-esqe), I wasn't all that optimistic before last night's show. In fact, I started having flashbacks of Phil re-starting "Terrapin" (which should NEVER happen) along with two nights of forgotten lyrics, "pitchy" vocals, and untuned guitars. Naturally, I was fearful of another trainwreck, but this time in front of 2100 people, not 400. In any event, I had already read the Halloween set list and wasn't all that impressed, especially after a collegue and long-time "Head" gave it a lukewarm review. So I decided to just go with the flow and hope for the best.

The lineup:

Phil: this man needs no introduction; however, at the last few shows I saw, Phil was tense and understandably aggravated with the band's sloppy performances. Last night however was different -- Phil was all smiles and he really seemed to enjoy the band's vibe. What a relief!

Jackie Greene: admittedly, I know very little about this guy. At first glance, he comes off as quietly arrogant (as did Ryan Adams) and I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but his stage presence remotely resembled that of a young Bob Dylan (circa 1965). That being said, I thought he did an overall fine job. His vocals were melodic, his guitar work was steady and he seemed to know the material quite well (except for parts of Help/Slipknot! where he flat out just stopped playing). My one criticism was the lack of "soul" in his delivery, but then again, he has some tough footsteps to follow...

Molo: Perfect as always.

Steve Molitz: When I first saw him at S.O.B.'s, he was far more energetic and was given much more freedom to experiment with his trippy, high-tech style of playing. This time around, there wasn't as much improvisation and he kept it much simpler -- maybe he's been consulting with Rob Barraco... So, unless you're a big fan of ecstasy and Particle, this was a good thing...

Larry Campbell: It looks like Larry has without a doubt become Phil's "right-hand man." Although I have no complaints regarding Larry's technique and interpretation of the songs (and much respect for his work on the mandolin and other instruments), it would be nice to see Warren back w/ Phil...even if for a few shows...is that too much to ask??

My overall thoughts:

I have a hard time admitting this but, I was rather bored during the first set. There was definately a lack of energy and I thought the song choice was average at best. On the other hand, the second set was a drastic improvement. The crowd finally got goin', the band was much tighter and the songs were great. In fact, I thought their rendition of "Don't Let Me Down" was one of the best I've ever heard and in my mind, the highlight of the evening. (Help/Slip/Franklin's was a close second).

The rumor last night was that Bobby would show up as Ratdog had just finished a two-night run in Westbury, NY (about 45 min. away). I'm not sure what the deal is between Phil and Bobby, but there have been several opportunities over the past few years for them to sit-in at eachother shows, yet it hasn't happened. Looks like the hopes of a "Dead Reunion" are growing slimmer and slimmer. In any event, I'm heading back to Nokia tommorow and on 11/6 for 2 more shows and I'll keep everyone updated. Until then...

Phil Lesh & Friends
Nokia Theater, New York, NY
11/1/07

Setlist:
First set: Friend of the Devil, Another day has come and gone?, Deep Elem Blues, Like a Ball and Chain, Deal> Jam> Tell Me Mama> Jam> Alabama Getaway
Second set: Jam> China Cat Sunflower> Jam> Althea*, Jam> Dance with the Devil?> Jam> Cumberland Blues> Jam (Larry on mandolin)> Wheel tease)> Uncle John's Band> Jam>
Don't Let Me Down, Help on the Way > Slipknot!> Franklin's Tower E: Ripple

*Jackie on organ


(photo courtesy of Phillesh.net)

Hello Sydney

Two-thirds of the WeightStaff have arrived in the land down under where we will spend the better part of the next two weeks exploring the sites and sounds of Oz and New Zealand. The Australian leg will be capped off with a concert by local heroes Crowded House at the Sydney Entertainment Center. What better place to see Neil Finn and the reunited band than in the same city where they played what was believed to be their farewell show in front of 150,000 people almost 11 years ago. Its currently 10 AM here in Sydney and 7 pm back at home on the east coast of the US and A. It took us a full 24 hours of travel to reach our destination of Kirribilli and a 2-bedroom apartment directly across from the Sydney Harbour.

Check out the view from our friends' living room. This is an actual shot I took last night. It's simply a stunning view.

Stay tuned for more reports from the land of Jet and Kylie Minogue...