NEVER being boring!

The Pet Shop Boys concert at Seattle's Moore Theater was almost the best show I've been to this year. I say almost because Five For Fighting will always be Number One in my book. Hey, what can I say? Loyalty runs deep. But, I CAN say I loved the Pet Shop Boys more than Depeche Mode, mainly because I know their music so much better. I enjoyed their music from the beginning, when their videos first played on MTV back in the mid-80s. I also have ALL of their CDs...I can't say the same of Depeche Mode.

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe put on quite a show tonight! With Neil's vocals, Chris' musical mastery, backup performers and colorful video graphics, it was truly a memorable concert. The Pet Shop Boys have been performing their synth pop style of music for almost 25 years, and they haven't lost a thing over time. They played songs from their new album, Yes, and stuff from the past, like West End Girls, It's A Sin, and one of my favs, Being Boring. There were several wardrobe changes, but they never lost a beat. I took a lot of pics...I hope some of them came out. The only downer...I found out I really DIDN'T have a front row seat. I was led to believe they weren't going to use the 3 rows of orchestra seats in front...WRONG! No matter...I was plenty close enough, and I could see Neil and Chris just fine from my vantage point. Toward the end, shiny confetti fell from the ceiling. I stuck some in my pocket as a memento to add to the autographed lanyard and CD from the meet and greet.

So, that takes care of another favorite musical artist that I hadn't seen before but have now. Who's next on my list? Well, I have yet to see my other fav piano guy, Bruce Hornsby. He visits Washington every year, so it's only a matter of time before I go to one of his shows. But, November will bring another groupie road trip with my all-time favorite, John Ondrasik. He'll be doing an acoustic tour, and I'll be going to 4 of his shows...Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles. I NEVER get tired of seeing John perform...he's THAT GOOD! I know I'm not the only person who feels that way. Talk to anyone who goes to a Five For Fighting show and they'll say the same thing. Like The Pet Shop Boys, John is never being boring either!

Giada was right!

Well, I'm in Seattle for my date with destiny. I got a VIP ticket for the Pet Shop Boys concert at the Moore Theater, which means a meet and greet with Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe. I'm excited because I've been a fan of their music since the very beginning...from the day their video for "West End Girls" hit MTV to the present. I have all of their albums, but there was one glaring omission in my admiration for them...I had never been to a Pet Shop Boys concert! Sad, but true! But, in my quest to play catch up in a lot of things in my life, I'm finally fulfulling that void tonight. Not wanting it to be just an ordinary event, I decided to go for the VIP experience. Not only will I get the backstage meet and greet with the guys, I'll be sitting in THE FRONT ROW! It will be worth every penny, and I made sure to bring my earplugs...I think it will be a bit loud, but pleasantly so!

After I checked into my hotel...just a few blocks from the Moore...I decided to check out a restaurant that was recommended by Giada De Laurentiis on the Food Network show The Best Thing I Ever Ate. This downtown Seattle eatery, Lola, makes fresh to order doughnuts, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and served with vanilla mascarpone cheese and seasonal jam. It sounded so good, and since the restaurant was conveniently just a couple blocks from my hotel, I just had to try it. The doughnuts arrived in a paper bag, which the waitress shook to cover the doughnuts with the cinnamon sugar. She then placed the doughnuts on my plate with the cheese and huckleberry jam. I had a huckleberry spritzer to wash it down. Giada was right...the doughnuts were heavenly! Piping hot, perfectly delectable, and wonderful with the cheese and jam. I highly recommend this place to everyone, but come early! The doughnuts are only served for breakfast, and it's so popular, they often run out!

Well, I'm off to the Moore! I'll post another blog when I get back!