The Guilty Parent

It’s not every day I get to go out without the kids to do something I really love. Back in the day (before kids and car seats) I used to go to a live concert every summer. The last time I went to one was when I was pregnant with Bug, so imagine how thrilled I was to get offered two tickets by One 2 One Network and bloggy pal Arianne (also the Director of Community Development for One 2 One) to see Diane Birch at the House of Blues in Cleveland on May 3rd. (Thrilled does not even begin to describe it, just so you know).

I only had to think for a nanosecond to know who I wanted to take with me – my sister, Chrissy was my first phone call. Admitedly she had heard of Diane but not really her music  so I told her to check out some of her tunes on the Diane Birch Music page at Myspace. However, Diane wasn’t the only treat to this venue, we also got the chance to see James Morrison as well (Yay!)

I love live music and so does my sister (becoming a mom hasn’t stopped her from seeing many great names in concert) and the last time we went to a concert together? Sheesh, that might of been when I was pregnant with Bug!

The show opened with a group called Parachute (a group we’d never heard of), whom my sister and I both thought were a great act to get us warmed up and ready for Diane. Their music was wonderful, toe tapping and the lyrics were catchy. Music you could walk away singing and not feel doomed because a song was stuck in your head.

When Diane hit the stage though, she lit the place up. I immediately fell in love with Diane’s soulful voice. Even though you get a good feel for her music and voice on her Myspace page, it’s nothing compared to listening to her live. When you listen to Diane, her voice washes over you. To me, Diane’s voice was a mix of the great Carol King and Natalie Maines (from the Dixie Chicks). I’m not sure why those two singers popped into my head when Diane began her set, but when I told Chrissy, she agreed and threw in Stevie Nicks as well. All powerhouse voices combined into one amazing artist! I could easily envision myself kicking back and unwinding to Diane’s singing and her masterful piano playing.

We stayed on to see James Morrison take the stage and crank out hit after hit. Unfortunately neither my sister nor I remembered a DECENT CAMERA so I snapped a couple of pictures with my BlackBerry but this one of James was the best among all of them. I love the House of Blues in Cleveland because the floor is totally open so you can move around as you please. We started out downstairs (where my really cruddy pictures were taken) and then moved upstairs to the balcony where shock! I could get a clear shot of James, if only I had gone upstairs while Diane was playing!

The music that night was the perfect escape for both of us (for two sisters who don’t get to “hang out” much anymore). Our only regrets were that we hadn’t brought cameras and that it was a Sunday night! We’re not as young as we used to be and getting up to get kids off to school reminded us of that!

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