"But do not ask the price I paid, I must live with my quiet rage. Tame the ghosts in my head, that run wild and wish me dead. Should you shake my ash to the wind, Lord, forget all of my sins. Oh, let me die where I lie, 'neath the curse of my lover's eyes." ~mumford & sons


Just a few (completely unconnected) things today.

1. Music Update: Mumford &Sons
Next week I'm heading to the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn for this concert, featuring Mumford & Sons with The Felice Brothers opening. I'm equally excited about both bands. I'm obsessed with The Felice Brothers, and they put on an amazing live show. I haven't seen Mumford & Sons live before, so I'm really excited about seeing them for the first time.

This is one of those concerts that sold out in seconds and left tons of fans angry because they were refreshing the ticketmaster page when tickets went on sale and still wound up empty-handed. I'm usually one of those frustrated potential ticket buyers, but this time a miracle occurred. By some stroke of luck that I'm sure will never be repeated, I managed to pull up a pair of tickets in the front row of the lowest level seats. It really is a miracle. So it'll be nice to have a great view.

I've been listening to Babel (their most recent album) nonstop for the past month. I always do this in preparation for a concert. I've stopped reading on the way to and from work; I just listen to this album. I spend an hour a day commuting, which means I've spent about 30 hours listening to Babel just on the train. I love exploring a new album like this. The first few listens, all the songs blended together and sounded alike. Then I began to feel each song as an individual piece. I love this album as much as Sigh No More, which I would have thought would be nearly impossible. Right now my favorite song on the album is "Lovers' Eyes," posted above, which I really hope I hear them play next week. If I hear that and "Dust Bowl Dance" (from Sigh No More) I'll be thrilled.
Check back next week for a concert update. 


2. Broadway Update: Picnic
Oh my gosh, this cast. Let me break it down for you.
Ellen Burstyn. The woman has been nominated for 6 Oscars (and won once). She's brilliant in everything she does, and seeing her perform onstage was an incredible thrill.  
Mare Winningham. I love, love, love Mare Winningham. She seems like someone I'd want to know. She seems like she'd be a perfect mom. She's also an Oscar nominee, and I've seen her onstage before a couple of times and I always enjoy her immensely.
Maggie Grace. Predominantly a film actress, she's probably best known for the Taken movies and as Shannon on Lost. This is her Broadway debut, and she's absolutely lovely. She perfectly conveys her character's innocence, frustration, and eventual anguish.
Sebastian Stan. Oh, Sebastian Stan. What is there to say? You're charming.
Sebastian Stan's Abs. Yes, I think these are their own character. Ben Brantley devotes the first five paragraphs of his New York Times review to these abs. Seriously. Watch this video for proof of ab awesomeness.
 The stellar cast also includes New York theater stalwarts Reed Birney, Madeleine Martin, and Elizabeth Marvel.

I love this play, which won the 1953 Pulitzer Prize. It's a thoughtful look at loneliness (especially for women) and the role beauty plays in our society (I think it's themes are just as present today as they were sixty years ago). The production elements were very well executed, and I had a fabulous night at the theater.


3. Words With Friends
I'm obsessed. If you play, find me through facebook or my Words With Friends username, CBBwordsmith.

4. The Super Bowl
I like the 49ers and have since seventh grade (when a teacher I loved was really, really into them and rubbed off on me). I really hope they win. I'm just happy the Patriots aren't in the Super Bowl, though. I'm also looking forward to the Super Bowl for two reasons other than football; I love the show Elementary and it has the coveted post-Super Bowl timeslot so it should be a really good episode (although every episode is good), and Amy Poehler is in Best Buy's Super Bowl commercial this year.