Ingrid Michaelson: Live at Indigo Hotel

Last week I was invited to see Ingrid Michaelson at the Hotel Indigo in East Village. I was looking forward to the show that was supposed to take place on the 9th floor deck bar, but as the day got colder and the chance of rain increased, it was clear the hotel would probably have to make other accommodations. I wish that was all that went wrong...

Having seen Ingrid several times before, I agreed to do an interview, something I generally don't do at all, but I guess I got that feeling you get with some very accessible artists...I've met her at least twice before, I've seen her perform a handful of times and three of those times were in "private listener" type performances, and we've even "talked" to each other via Twitter. I just imagined it would be relaxed and easy. I got to the hotel and had no problem getting in and finding Robert, the publicist for the hotel. We waited a few minutes and chatted before going to the suite where Ingrid was getting ready.

I suppose it's my fault for not clarifying things in advance, but until now, when I'd get invitations for special events, it was always because of this site, or back from relationships I made while in advertising. Now I'm working with SoundDiego, and though I'm only contributing listings to the site, there was some confusion about me submitting more content. We're figuring it all out and with any new site, we'll build as we move along, but Ingrid's people were clearly under the impression that I was "a reporter from NBC" and not "a blogger", which I would've clarified if the next thing they said to me wasn't, "Ingrid is losing her voice, so try and keep it brief." An interview. Brief. Really? So suddenly I felt more like I was at a press junket, get your question in and get out. I basically gave Ingrid a topic to speak to and if we don't use it over at SoundDiego, I'll post it here later.

In the meantime, I'll say that for a guest of the event, the night was pretty great...amazing tray-passed appetizers, waitresses with champagne, wine, and little mixed cocktails made with ginger infused vodka and orange juice, and in the corner of the room, a stand with Fortaleza tequila where there were tastings and pomegranate margaritas being generously poured. On the other hand, for the band and anybody who actually wanted to see and hear the music, it was less than ideal, with bar patrons talking the entire set. I recorded the whole performance which you can see in the playlist below, including Ingrid's attempt in quieting the audience with no results, which when all is said and done, is a bit of a bummer, because I dig the record, I like seeing Ingrid perform live, and Hotel Indigo is stunning. Maybe they'll continue the "artist in the spotlight" series and make some tweaks to make the events better all around.

Win VIP Tickets To Ingrid Michaelson

A couple months ago, I wrote about seeing Gomez at House of Blues San Diego. The show was part of (RED)nights, a partnership with Project (RED), whose mission is to educate and bring awareness about AIDS in Africa, and LiveNation.

Ultimately, it is the goal of (RED)NIGHTS to build a community—of artists,
concertgoers and music fans everywhere—that is passionate about helping to fight
AIDS in Africa. A portion of the proceeds of each (RED)NIGHTS concert goes
directly to the Global Fund.

San Diego is the proud host of another (RED)Night this Saturday night at the House of Blues with Ingrid Michaelson. Her tour has been selling out across the country but we have tickets for one lucky winner and their guest.

SD Dialed IN & (RED)TM are giving away a pair of VIP tickets to Ingrid Michaelson's (RED)NIGHTS show at House of Blues on October 3rd. As a VIP, you'll get to meet Ingrid and score some (RED)NIGHTS goods.

To win, all you have to do is e-mail us at sddialedin@gmail.com for your chance to win. One lucky winner will be selected this Friday morning. For full sweepstakes rules and information, click here. Here are some photos of the last time I caught Ingrid at HoB. She's a stellar performer and her set will not disappoint. Just don't try and steal her sweater.

For more information about Project (RED), click here and sign up for the mailing list for updates, artist bios, and to share photos and videos with the (RED) community.

Ingrid Michaelson Album Available As Full Stream

I admit that I was hooked on Ingrid Michaelson because of that silly Old Navy commercial. I'm glad to say her records and live performances have kept me as a fan and now you can stream her full album, Everybody, before the official release next week. Ingrid will be back at the House of Blues on October 3 and tickets are available now.

Everybody

Show Recap – 102.1 FM KPRI Holiday Show 2008 – Ingrid Michaelson, Matt Nathanson, Tristan Prettyman at The Abbey, Hillcrest, 12.11.08

The thing I love about KPRI as a local radio station is that they consistently put on free concerts with decent name artists on either a free boat ride around the bay on a nice summer evening on a Hornblower cruise, or in a beautiful former church called The Abbey in Hillcrest in the chilly winter months. This holiday season, KPRI put on a listener concert at The Abbey featuring Ingrid Michaelson, Matt Nathanson and local singer / songwriter Tristan Prettyman. The show sold out pretty quickly and the night of the show it turned into a full house.

Tristan is a home town San Diego singer who has had a great run touring in support of her album “Hello…”. Her performance was spot on with her full band and I ended up sitting next to her beaming grandmother who was very proud of her success.

Matt Nathanson did a great set with his full band using his trademark quiver of new songs, 80’s covers, and dirty jokes. His final song he did a beautiful fully unplugged cover of the Everly Brothers’ “All I Have to do is Dream”.

Ingrid was a fun headliner. I always love it when female singers have girls in their band. Ingrid’s band all had serious chops and style. Matt did a duet with Ingrid. The music was all top notch and it was yet another great KPRI concert.



Photos By: Dan Chusid - http://www.pbase.com/camera0bug

Radio Sophie 1 yr. Anniversary feat Ingrid Michaelson & Greg Laswell

When I babysat on Tuesday night, I didn't get home until after 2 am, so I was looking forward to a short nap after work before heading to the House of Blues, but at the end of the day, my friend who works over at Sophie, called to invite me to the private pre-show performance and party at the Delta Room, so how could I say no? I had enough time to drive home, let my dog out, change, and went to House of Blues. I got princess yellow-curb parking and tried to pick up my tickets and photo pass, but the list hadn't been submitted, so instead I went to the other side of the House of Blues and gave my name to get into the party. The performance was supposed to start at 6:30, but fortunately they were running a little late, so my 6:45 arrival was still in time to catch Ingrid as well as catch up with other friends at the station.

Ingrid took the stage and sounded perfect. She sang a few songs that were interspersed with an interview by Jennifer White and broadcast on the station's website. You can see the session in it's entirety here.




After the session, I caught up with Kallao and finally met Jen, had some more of the free champagne, then went upstairs and waited in the lengthy line at the box office to get my tickets. By the time I got in the venue, Greg Laswell had just started his first song. Unfortunately there was no photo pit and there were camera guys in the tiny space between the railing and the stage, but some kind people let me up front when they saw my photo pass. It's really nice when people are nice, so thanks to those anonymous strangers who let me in.

It had been a while since I've seen Greg, and it's so clear that he's embracing the spotlight he deserves, owning the stage and playing strong enough to drown the HoB chatty crowd. He joked about how sad his songs are by introducing "Sing Theresa Says" with a story. "I had a dream I was visited by my grandmother and she told me to sing a happy song. So I wrote another sad one."








After his set, I got a quick chance to say hi to him before he whisked off backstage. I hung out in the Delta Room between bands, and talked to Dave about pictures, so he gave me the go ahead to get in the space between the stage and the railing, and I talked with the camera guys to make sure I wouldn't be in their way. They were cool and shot mostly from onstage so I was never in their way. I was happy to be the only one in that space with a photo pass because otherwise I might not have been able to get close.

Ingrid Michaelson and her band took the stage to some excited fans. The crowd was probably 80% female with a significant lesbian following which I only mention because there were a lot of sighs, like 'this is our song' when she played "Breakable".

Standout songs of the night were "Die Alone", "Oh What A Day", and of course, "The Way I Am." Oh, and my favorite part of the night was an all crowd singalong to Death Cab For Cutie's "I will follow you into the dark," which is the lullaby I've been singing to Johanna since the day she was born. For her encore, she played a song solo on the Eukelele which was pretty damn awesome, too.













I was really happy to finally have the chance to see Ingrid and especially happy to see Greg again. I got home relatively early, so decided to take my laptop to the Ken, but unfortunately I couldn't get a signal, so I hung out with some friends before finally calling it a night. I probably should've gotten more sleep for my Thursday plans, but I'll get to that later. time for sleep.

Contest: Tickets for Ingrid Michaelson & Greg Laswell

Ingrid Michaelson and Greg Laswell are on tour and will be in San Diego on Wednesday, June 25 at the House of Blues. I've got a pair of tickets to giveaway to one lucky winner. E-mail sddialedin AT gmail DOT com for a chance to win. I have to submit the winner's name by Tuesday, so get on this.

Ingrid Michaelson "The Way I Am"

Have you ever seen a cuter clown than Greg Laswell?

Ingrid Michaelson Coming To San Diego

A few months ago, I posted "The Old Navy Sweater Song" on my site and it was obvious by the number of people who landed here by googling the song, that Ingrid's star was rising. She's been in numerous magazines, her song is on Billboard's top 200, and her independent album has sold almost 90,000 copies. Then she pleases all of us San Diegans by featuring our local hottie, Greg Laswell, in her music video for the song.




Ingrid is criss crossing the country over the next couple months and will be part of the Hotel Cafe tour, which kicks off in San Diego on March 6 at the Belly Up (tickets onsale Jan 9). In addition to Ingrid, the San Diego stop will include Cary Brothers, Greg Laswell, Kate Havnevik, Jessie Baylin, and Jim Bianco.

And for the other Laswell Lovers out there, you can catch Greg performing at the Casbah this Friday, along with Dialed In fave Emery Byrd.

Who Knew? Old Navy Sweater Song is H.O.T.

Friday this site netted (is that a word?) 708 hits, and more than half were searches for "Old Navy Sweater Song"...I'm hoping that post cumulatively surpasses my "Band Of Horses Hates Me" post. That shit is so tired.

Thanks to everyone who came out for my birthday last night and tonight. I hope everyone takes the time to check out the Adams Avenue Street Fair this weekend. It will not disappoint.

Old Navy Sweater Song

I'm not against bands selling their songs for music licensing in various forms, though I guess I hope (or trick myself into believing) that music I like ends up representing certain companies who are (or appear to be) more socially responsible or at least not representing uber evil like Hummer (or Walmart, ahem) or some shit. Feist's 1-2-3-4 on the iPod commercial, for example, is cute. So there's a commercial that has been coming on and I had to investigate because the song makes me look forward to those December nights in San Diego, where the air is crisp, Adams Avenue is hardly visible from the fog rolling in, sitting in my living room with friends around my Christmas tree and perhaps a white russian. So, Old Navy's marketing is at least working on me, and I suppose I'm smack dab in the middle of their target demographic.

The song goes (at least the part in the commercial) says, "if you are chilly, here take my sweater cause I love the way you call me baby...) then the commercial fades.

The song is called "The Way I Am" and is by New York singer songwriter Ingrid Michaelson. She is on tour, but unfortunately will not be playing in San Diego. fyi.

Here's the song being performed on Carson Daly (note the absence of an old navy sweater):



by the way, Zach Braff recommends Ingrid for whatever that means...