NYC with MLE
2007-10-03
I’m just getting used to being back in L.A. and on a relatively normal schedule. Last week was a whirlwind! I feel so happy and blessed to have been a part of the promotion for Melissa Etheridge’s new record, “The Awakening.” The songs are so inspired, and everyone is so great to work with. I had high hopes of keeping up with my blog while we were in NYC, but I barely had time to eat a proper meal, much less sit down and write. So, here I am, piecing together all the bright light memories of our adventures in the big city…
We got to New York on a Monday. It was cold and dry in L.A. when we left, and it was hot and humid in New York. Our hotel was hip and tiny in Manhattan and we rarely saw it. We grabbed the little bit of time we had on Tuesday morning to walk up the east side of the park and visit our favorite little Italian café where they make the best espresso outside of Italy. Ahhh- coffee and perfect panini’s with Bernie and Mark- a great way to start the week...
Our first show was Tuesday night at the Hard Rock Café in Times’ Square. We performed “The Awakening” from start to finish for a DVD. It was a magical night. Melissa was amazing, and the band rocked. David Cole, who produced the record, was in the audience and said it sounded great. Sometimes it’s hard to know how it sounds to the audience when I’m on stage with the in-ear monitors, because I have my own mix going on (with mostly the vocals.) The other cool thing that night was that Al and Tipper Gore were in the audience, and we got to meet them. They were so nice! They’re huge fans of Melissa’s music, and were raving about the new album. Apparently they were really rockin out in their seats…
The next day, we went to Tyra Banks, where Bernie and I were immediately shuttled into the hair and make-up room. Wow. I don’t know if it translates on camera (it will air on Oct. 10th at 11:00 am), but I looked a LOT like Daisy Duke when I came out of that room. Huge wavy curls, and TONS of blush. We watched Melissa’s awesome interview with Tyra (definitely worth watching!) from the Green Room, and then joined her on stage for “Message to Myself.” That song is always fun to sing. I love the melody, and of course the super positive lyric…
That evening we did a special NARAS tribute to Bon Jovi at the Cipriani Ball Room on Wall Street. I had never been to that part of town, and was totally awestruck by the scale of everything. Security was really tight getting into the financial district, and there were guards and dogs checking our van for explosives. We also drove by the site of the Twin Towers, which was very heavy. It’s a huge area, and it’s impossible not to feel the loss of so many lives when you’re near it…
The tribute was amazing. Melissa had chosen to do “Wanted Dead or Alive,” and “Living on a Prayer;” and both songs shone like never before. I love the way we did “Livin on a Prayer”- really soft and heartfelt all the way through and then a rockin ending on that great chorus. I think I was actually most nervous for this show- probably because Richie Sambora and John Bon Jovi were sitting right in front of us… Of course they loved it though- Richie grabbed Philip on our way out and raved about his playing. It was all pretty exciting.
Day 3 was a 4:00 am wake-up for The Today Show. We set our cel phones, the alarm clock, and had 2 wake up calls from the front desk to make sure we would get up. Once we were out on the street, it was actually beautiful. I so rarely see that time of day, but I do love it. The sunrise was amazing. I usually have the job of singing Melissa’s parts at the sound check before she gets there, and for this one, I had to sing “I’m the Only One” at about 6:30 am- NOT easy! Every time I sing one of her songs, my respect for her pipes grows tenfold. Of course she and the band blew everyone at the show away with that one, and “Message to Myself” was awesome too.
We had a little nap at the hotel after that, and then piled back in the bus to go to David Letterman. For this show, I had had to buy a special sweater, because the set on Letterman is extreeeeemely cold (I think about 45 degrees). It was so surreal being on that stage. During sound check, Paul Schaffer came up and introduced himself and complimented me on my singing (woohoo!) The lights were bright (too bright to see the audience), the air was brisk, and the sound was amazing. I didn’t get to actually meet Dave, but I did exchange a friendly wave. The whole thing was over way too fast…
The next morning was another super early wake-up for Regis and Kelly, and by that time, singing “Message to Myself” was second nature. Melissa nailed it again, and we went back the hotel for our luggage and then off to the airport…
I still haven’t seen all of the shows we did, but have been getting the sweetest emails from friends all over the country. Thanks for all of your support and for tuning in! I love working for Melissa. She has such a healing message to convey, and it’s a great thing to be involved with. Love and light!
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