Words and Music
Nov. 3rd, 2005 12:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
caliente_ukThe last of my reports you'll be pleased to hear. :D
This time, Words and Music...
I had a wonderful time in London over the weekend. James looked and sounded great and his abridged version of Macbeth was outstanding. I loved the interaction he had with the audience during the Q&A. He's so passionate about this subject and it really was a sight to behold. Not only is James a talented actor, but he's also intelligent with it! I couldn't take my eyes off him. He listened intently to what everyone had to say and seemed so happy to be sharing his dream, his vision, with us.
This was a very different experience to the album launch in Coventry. I have to say that even though I had the up close and personal contact in Coventry, Words and Music was the better experience of the two performance wise. He played Macbeth with such passion and I was mesmerised throughout the whole thing. Sitting in front row for the first performance and then third row, more or less dead centre, for the second, I could have practically reached out and touched him. But I behaved myself and just sat there and drank in the whole experience. ;) And what an experience it was!
I wish all of you could have shared the experience with me, because it really was something special. Seeing James perform on a London stage was a dream come true for me and he didn't disappoint. I know it's no secret how much I admire James, but this performance was something else entirely. It literally sent shivers up and down my spine and at times I even forgot it was James up there on stage. He became Macbeth to me.
Wow! That is all I can say. I knew this man could act, but seeing him with my own eyes...well, it leaves me speechless to be honest.
I thought that Cheryl Puente (Lady Macbeth) did a wonderful job. The fact that my eyes were on her and not on James (when he was sitting on the chair at the back of the stage) says something for how good her acting was. I was completely engrossed in the story and not on the fact that this was the actor who played Spike standing on the stage in front of me.
To be honest, I never thought of Spike even once throughout the performance, which was a surprise to me. I still love him with a passion, but I also love James the man, too. I love the passion he brings to a role, and the way he makes me feel when I see him perform. I used to think it was only Spike that made me feel this way, but I now know that it isn't. I am so looking forward to seeing him in other roles in the future. Hopefully, I'll get the opportunity to see James do something like this again, but if not, then I'm so glad I got to see him this time. It's an experience I wouldn't have missed for the world and one I will never forget.
Now on to the second part of the performance...the music. I loved it. I enjoyed his performance at St James Church the night before, but this was even better. He broke an E string in the first show and then an A string in the second, but that just added to the experience for me. James is so comfortable performing in front of us now, that even when his guitar strings break he doesn't bat an eyelid. He just gets on with it. :) As I said in my St James report, James hasn't got the best voice in the world, but the heart and soul he puts into his music more than makes up for it. I could sit and watch this guy perform all day long. ;)
His voice is improving with every performance and I loved the new songs he sang. Up on Me, All She Wanted and Button Down Vandals (which he co-wrote with a friend named Gordon Hart, when he was 21) are now up there amongst my favourite songs, closely followed by Smile which always gives me tingles, especially when I hear James sing it live.
I met some wonderful people (JM fans really are a friendly bunch of people on the whole, although there were a few whose behaviour I found slightly bewildering) and had the experience of a lifetime. K was mesmerised by the whole thing (she went to the afternoon performance), which made the experience an even sweeter one for me. James should be very proud of the fact that a 14 year old (who doesn't find him in the least bit sexy) enjoyed his performance of Macbeth almost as much as I did...and that's saying something! :D
It was great to meet so many wonderful people from LJ, who really are as lovely in RL as they are online. I promise that next time I won't let my shyness get in the way so much! At least we know what we all look like now. *g*
Oh....![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
schehrezade_1 - try not to almost go flying over the top of the chairs next time. Ok? ;) That's one performance I'm not going to forget in a hurry! *g*
This time, Words and Music...
I had a wonderful time in London over the weekend. James looked and sounded great and his abridged version of Macbeth was outstanding. I loved the interaction he had with the audience during the Q&A. He's so passionate about this subject and it really was a sight to behold. Not only is James a talented actor, but he's also intelligent with it! I couldn't take my eyes off him. He listened intently to what everyone had to say and seemed so happy to be sharing his dream, his vision, with us.
This was a very different experience to the album launch in Coventry. I have to say that even though I had the up close and personal contact in Coventry, Words and Music was the better experience of the two performance wise. He played Macbeth with such passion and I was mesmerised throughout the whole thing. Sitting in front row for the first performance and then third row, more or less dead centre, for the second, I could have practically reached out and touched him. But I behaved myself and just sat there and drank in the whole experience. ;) And what an experience it was!
I wish all of you could have shared the experience with me, because it really was something special. Seeing James perform on a London stage was a dream come true for me and he didn't disappoint. I know it's no secret how much I admire James, but this performance was something else entirely. It literally sent shivers up and down my spine and at times I even forgot it was James up there on stage. He became Macbeth to me.
Wow! That is all I can say. I knew this man could act, but seeing him with my own eyes...well, it leaves me speechless to be honest.
I thought that Cheryl Puente (Lady Macbeth) did a wonderful job. The fact that my eyes were on her and not on James (when he was sitting on the chair at the back of the stage) says something for how good her acting was. I was completely engrossed in the story and not on the fact that this was the actor who played Spike standing on the stage in front of me.
To be honest, I never thought of Spike even once throughout the performance, which was a surprise to me. I still love him with a passion, but I also love James the man, too. I love the passion he brings to a role, and the way he makes me feel when I see him perform. I used to think it was only Spike that made me feel this way, but I now know that it isn't. I am so looking forward to seeing him in other roles in the future. Hopefully, I'll get the opportunity to see James do something like this again, but if not, then I'm so glad I got to see him this time. It's an experience I wouldn't have missed for the world and one I will never forget.
Now on to the second part of the performance...the music. I loved it. I enjoyed his performance at St James Church the night before, but this was even better. He broke an E string in the first show and then an A string in the second, but that just added to the experience for me. James is so comfortable performing in front of us now, that even when his guitar strings break he doesn't bat an eyelid. He just gets on with it. :) As I said in my St James report, James hasn't got the best voice in the world, but the heart and soul he puts into his music more than makes up for it. I could sit and watch this guy perform all day long. ;)
His voice is improving with every performance and I loved the new songs he sang. Up on Me, All She Wanted and Button Down Vandals (which he co-wrote with a friend named Gordon Hart, when he was 21) are now up there amongst my favourite songs, closely followed by Smile which always gives me tingles, especially when I hear James sing it live.
I met some wonderful people (JM fans really are a friendly bunch of people on the whole, although there were a few whose behaviour I found slightly bewildering) and had the experience of a lifetime. K was mesmerised by the whole thing (she went to the afternoon performance), which made the experience an even sweeter one for me. James should be very proud of the fact that a 14 year old (who doesn't find him in the least bit sexy) enjoyed his performance of Macbeth almost as much as I did...and that's saying something! :D
It was great to meet so many wonderful people from LJ, who really are as lovely in RL as they are online. I promise that next time I won't let my shyness get in the way so much! At least we know what we all look like now. *g*
Oh....
schehrezade_1 - try not to almost go flying over the top of the chairs next time. Ok? ;) That's one performance I'm not going to forget in a hurry! *g*
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no subject
Date: 2005-11-03 02:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-08 10:00 am (UTC)I'd love him to do more stage work here. I don't think I'd go all the way to London just for a concert, but I'd definitely be there for something like Words and Music. Such an amazing experience!
no subject
Date: 2005-11-03 03:37 pm (UTC)I've been humming All She Wanted all week ... now I need him to release it, so I can actually hum it correctly!
no subject
Date: 2005-11-08 10:02 am (UTC)I hope he puts the new songs on to a new album. I thought they were great!
no subject
Date: 2005-11-03 04:49 pm (UTC)I love James the actor as much as I love 'Spike'. He is an amazing talent. There are very few actors out there who are as talented as he is and I only hope that his name gets out there more, so that he is offered projects that showcase him :)
no subject
Date: 2005-11-08 10:08 am (UTC)I feel the same way about James. I'd love to see him being offered some wonderful new roles. We know he's got the talent, I just wish that everyone else did!
Spike is the best fictional character ever written imo, but it was James who brought him to life. Without James, I don't think Spike would have touched as many people as he did.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-08 02:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-08 03:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-08 03:49 pm (UTC)I think James has the same kind of talent that Ron has. And I think Ron is one of the best actors I've ever seen.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-03 05:01 pm (UTC)I was glad to read how much you enjoyed your Saturday , Cal. Like you said , this experience was absolutely wonderful , even more than expected , and I believe we were truly blessed to share this with James.
His acting left me in awe.
And his songs . ..Right with you on thinking how comfortable he seemed with us! The atmosphere was intimate , relaxed , and it was obvious that he was confident and so happy.
I have to admit that i really do love his voice , especially in the soft songs. And "All that she wanted" is almost my favourite now !
Hoping he will gift us again with something like this in the next months. His success at the Mermaid will certainly make him see things positively.
That man is just too amazing for words. :)
And I look forward to another - longer - encounter with you.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-08 10:12 am (UTC)It was such an amazing experience. I have so many wonderful memories of it! I'd love him to come back some time in the not too distant future. I'll definitely be there!
Looking forward to meeting you again, Caroline. *hugs*
no subject
Date: 2006-04-12 07:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-12 08:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-03 06:01 pm (UTC)he was wonderful:D I hope he changes his mind and comes back next year because of work commitments he may not :-(
But I live in hopes he will be back next year and see you then :-)
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Date: 2005-11-08 10:13 am (UTC)I'll definitely see you there, DeeDee! It was so lovely to meet you. *hugs*
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Date: 2005-11-03 08:01 pm (UTC)Oh well done! Yours is the only report I've seen where the writer has been able to remember the poor woman's name!!
no subject
Date: 2005-11-08 10:18 am (UTC)I thought she at least deserved to have her name mentioned! It can't have been easy to get up on that stage and act in front of all those crazy JM fans. ;)
In all seriousness, I thought she was excellent! I've got a good memory for names and I made sure I remembered hers. She really does deserve the rcognition.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-03 09:21 pm (UTC)Lovely to meet you again, Cal. Hope to see you again soon. And ....um...I hope I'm not one of the fans whose behaviour you found bewildering!!! *hugs*
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Date: 2005-11-08 10:22 am (UTC)Oh, me too! Without James in the role, Spike would never have touched as many people as he did in the first place. I adore James! But you already knew that. *g*
I hope I'm not one of the fans whose behaviour you found bewildering!!!
Hee! Definitely not. I love how passionate you are about James. It's one of the things I adore about you! *hugs*
no subject
Date: 2005-11-03 11:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-08 10:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-07 04:19 pm (UTC)Lovely report - I am still trying to work out what to say in mine.
And I promise no more pitching over seats - I am very accident prone as I child my mother despaired over me numerous broken legs and arms! And right now a bruised tailbone from slipping on wet leaves last night *blushes*
Am a danger to myself!
XXX
no subject
Date: 2005-11-08 10:29 am (UTC)And right now a bruised tailbone from slipping on wet leaves last night *blushes*
Ouch! Sounds painful.
Do you find that you're even more accident prone when you're nervous? I always seem to do something embarrassing when I'm nervous! *g*
*hugs*
no subject
Date: 2005-11-08 12:19 pm (UTC)