Imagine the setting. There are about 170 choristers onstage at the Paramount Theatre, along with the Oakland Symphony. We’re at final dress rehearsal for today’s holiday concert. It’s Oakland Symphony Chorus, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, along with choirs from Cal State Hayward and like four area high schools.

The orchestra conductor has his baton up for the downbeat of What’s Love Got To Do With It, when several dozen cell phones START PLAYING THE bereal CHIME.

Oh my god the youth energy, 🤣, I love it. Happy holiday concerts to everyone else performing today! (Original post.)

Least flattering, most heartwarming photos of precious time with my Boston best beloveds Saturday night. Catching up since the last time (six months or four years) amid pizza devouring, cookie baking, genial mockery, and all of the laughter. We love and miss you all. 😘 (Original post has more pictures.)

If you ever get a chance to hear Sam Beam (Iron and Wine) perform Flightless Bird, American Mouth a cappella in person, DO IT. One of the most beautiful things I have ever heard.

Also, he’s a decent vocal percussionist, too 😁 (Original post.)

Still have a longer entry coming up about both Death Cab/Postal Service shows, but I totally cracked up tonight at Sam hyping up The Postal Service: "You guys ready for some hot licks and electronic love?" Which I promptly texted to Hyoun, telling him, "Yeah, this is what some married guy said to me tonight. Okay, and 18,000 others, he was the guy with the mic at that point." ggl

Biker on the Bay Trail; me in the car on the Eastshore Freeway, wishing I was there instead. (Original post.)