Ho Hey

Now, I'm not trying to sound like a hipster, but I loved the Lumineers long before they were cool. I discovered them through a blog-and watched a few youtube clips of them. I purchased their album immediately, and it became the soundtrack to my 2011 Summer.

And a couple weeks back a dream came true and I got to see them live! There was something magical about being out on the shore of the Great Salt Lake, the fall breeze coming in, listening to some amazing musicians bear their souls through song.

Sadly-there was some crazy wind the night of the concert, and the Lumineers only made it through five songs before they got kicked off due to weather, and safety concerns. I was heartbroken to have it cut so short but for the time they did play they sounded absolutely wonderful. So even though it wasn't for very long-I'm sure glad I got to hear them perform.

It was seriously the most stunning view for a concert

 Nathanial Rateliff

 Dr. Dog

 So glad I got to go with my dear friend Allison

 The Lumineers

"I don't gamble but if I did I would bet on us. 

Like the dead Sea 

You told me I was like the Dead Sea 

You'll never sink when you are with me 

Oh like the Dead Sea

Whoa I'm like the dead sea

The finest words you ever said to me

Honey can't you see, 

I was born to be, be your Dead Sea."

Ingrid

Thursday night one of my wildest dreams came true.

I saw Ingrid Michaelson in concert.

Can I say that just one more time please? I saw Ingrid Michaelson in concert.

Oh boy did I ever.

And she was...indescribable. From the first chord of Fire, until the final bow she took my breath away. She was the perfect blend of a stunning vocal performance and awkward, reassuringly human words. I was in awe the whole night.

Most of the stuff she sang was from Human Again, her newest album, but she did throw in a few old favorites. And she may or may not have had me choked up when she sang Can't Help Falling in Love.

Honestly, it was probably my favorite concert I've ever been too. I love going to a concert and feeling, when you go to leave, that you couldn't have enjoyed it more. And that was the case with this one.
And since I know many of you couldn't be there here are a few photos to let you in on how great it was:

Honestly I can't really explain what Ingrid's music is to me. In a lot of ways it's been the soundtrack to my life. It's like they've became little pieces of me.  I remember a few years back listening to one of her songs, sitting at my parents home and just thinking "wow, i really get this." So it was stunning to get to hear those songs live performed by her; those little pieces of my life.

Really beautifully stunning.

And the company was great too.

The look of two girls whose dreams came true

PS. Her opening act was surprisingly great. They're offering a free download of their newest album, and you can find that here if your interested.

Joshua Radin

Basically one of the best decisions I've made while in this country was to go to the Joshua Radin concert last Tuesday. It was with great anticipation that we approached the Roundhouse for what was Joshua Radin's largest headlining concert.

After maneuvering our way pretty close(these Brits have no idea about the art of maneuvering) and two mediocre opening acts our shoes were sticking to the beer on the ground, and the smell of weed was slowly increasing.

(Side note-is weed legal in Europe? Because it is everywhere. Disgusting.)

It was at that moment that he appeared.

Him. Joshua. Joshua Radin. The Joshua Radin. My lover.

(I wish)

He started out with one my my favorites-No Envy, No Fear-before telling us in his much deeper than anticipated voice how much it meant to him to play here, and for us, and how great we were-at this moment I swear he looked right at me as if to say

"Nicole, I'm talking to you. Thank you for being here."

I can't just make this kind of stuff up people.

He proceeded to play my favorite of his-Everything'll Be Alright. It was beautiful, and by this point I may or may not have felt a little misty eyed.

The night continued in much the same fashion:

Joshua played a song amazingly well. The drunk man standing next to us sang along way too loud. We enjoyed Joshua. Joshua looked right at me. He spoke in his attractive voice. He took a swig of his whiskey. We fell in love.

Repeat.

Much like lather, rinsing and repeating. Just this time I get a better result than clean hair :)

It's true that I did not get a song dedicated to me like Grace or Molly (two other girls here with BYU), or a kiss on my hand like my friend Morgan, but those looks I got do not lie.

I loved Think I'll Go Inside and She Belonged to Me, which you can hear on his new album. They both mention England where he has been spending lots of time the last few months. It's cool to me to hear him sing and mention things that mean so much to him, that also mean a lot to me now.

And, when he talked about Brand New Day I felt that I could totally relate. He explained how he had been depressed, writing songs on his couch in his underwear for 4 years(I may have oh oh-ed at the nothing but underwear comment...) and one day he just woke up and the world was beautiful, and he was ok. Sometimes it just takes time, you know? Time to heal.

That is one lesson I can definitely appreciate.

Overall, I was super impressed with his talent, graciousness, and his love for the audience. It was one of the very best concerts I've ever been to and I'm so glad that I got to go!

And of course he is too, since we're in love and all ;)

(thanks for being patient with my little girl style crush!)