The Confetti Clatter – September 2019

Sep 1   |   JohnG

The Finale that almost wasn’t

The following article is a fan-submission that focuses on our final performance of the 2019 season in Newark, NY. We would like to thank this fan for his observations and kind words — enjoy!

Fan submission:

My spouse and I definitely do appreciate the music, the joy, that you folks in It’s My Party give as a group.   
 
We’re fortunate to have caught several It’s My Party band performances in the 2019 season! Now, it’s a waiting game of nearly 10 1/2 months until such time when we can again receive that It’s My Party! brand of joy in live concert format.  We are indeed fortunate for those live concerts, and yes, recorded versions do help It’s My Party fans, to varying degree, in filling in that 10 1/2 month hiatus when no live performances are given. 
 
I offer some comments on the last performance of the season, the partially rain-eclipsed scheduled show in Newark on Friday 8/16/2019.  Awesome! …, the “partially unplugged” iteration of It’s My Party, while shorter in concert duration was even richer in presentation & enthusiasm level in some respects. Perhaps in part due to the vocalists being sans bright lighting in their eyes — the lighting gear was not functioning after the rain — and also due to the intimacy and enthusiasm of the audience, interaction with the band members, and adding one more It’s My Party Girl — Sarah briefly returns to make a foursome of It’s My Party girl vocalists — certainly helped.  As well, perhaps being the last summer 2019 opportunity to perform together, and the camaraderie — it is evident — that exists in It’s My Party lent to this uniquely dynamic performance. Oh, and then too, there was that new 3 year old sensation, Bianca — yes, her favorite colors are purple and pink — who sang the concert’s closing song along with the It’s My Party vocalists. She’s a band fan, a huge appreciator, and wow how cool to have opportunity to sing a song as an It’s My Party girl, replete with Sierra’s microphone, and be “killin’ it” at the tender age of 3 years old. The It’s My Party girls, especially Sierra, did a wonderful job encouraging this very young singing sensation, as did the audience. 
 

Bianca closes the night with her rendition of “It’s My Party.”

 
Those who did not wait out the rain surely missed a very special It’s My Party performance, while total it was probably less than an hour performance, none-the-less well worth waiting out the rain, sticking around for, and our making the hour plus travel to get there. To expatiate some, here is more about the 8/16/2019 Newark concert, and about the group.  John, the band manager, early on had apparently been monitoring weather radar on a mobile electronic device. Having some experience with thunderstorms, band performances and safety of band members and audience, John announced that it was not a question of “if,” but rather “when,” the thunderstorms would be tracking over the concert location and suggested to audience members they may consider picking up their chairs and waiting out the storm in safety of vehicles. The concert performance would be on hold, waiting for the approaching stormy weather to pass. Thereafter the majority of the audience dispersed, finding “cover” in one manner or another, albeit some waited out with their chairs on the warm evening, and some umbrellas appeared, … all this before rain started. Well, a possible turn of events and things cleared a bit, and It’s My Party in yeoman’s fashion started performing. Meanwhile, one It’s My Party fan had gone to the nearby grocery store, and decided in waiting for the performance, it would be “ice cream for all” and so bought boxes of ice cream sandwiches for handing out to band members and concertgoers alike. Rain sprinkles came, then rain, then rain and blowing, and of course the band stopped playing. Enough room existed under the pavilion that the audience, now pared down in numbers, was graciously invited to “come in out of the rain” joining the band in veneration under the pavilion to stay dry and safe. And it was Ice cream time under the pavilion, and too for those under cover of the gazebo and the “covered bridge,” for those who chose to partake in the sweet treat. Eventually the two separate banks of thunderstorms ran their course and the weather cleared. So, yep, … time for It’s My Party to perform.  And it was then that the lighting would not operate, so it became the “partially unplugged” It’s My Party performance. And what a performance it was! 
 
One of my observations, Emma, particularly at this 8/16/2019 unplugged concert was really into the performance, more so than usual. The vibes she sent out, in form of vocalizations, energy, and body language said so. If you’ve never seen It’s My Party in live concert, well, you may not realize that certain songs that are performed by respective lead vocalists are “owned” by the lead vocalist. What does that mean?, you may ask. Well, the vocalist and the song simply jive together so well, that the delivery can be received by audience members as nothing short of spectacular, beyond the usual great delivery of sound by this group. Sierra, Emma, and Frankie each exhibit this phenomenon, and too this evening so did the special duet of James and Sarah. Of course, instruments and back-up vocals may lend to this phenomenon. And, yes… it is possible to feel the “owning” in some back-up vocals as opposed to the lead vocal, and yes it can be both in some instances. I’m guessing this “owning” reception may be more likely felt by those folks who deeply connect with music, perhaps some folks may not feel the level of “owning” enthusiasm. 
 

Sarah returns, and with James sings “I Just Want to Stay Here.”

 
It’s My Party concerts provide multiple opportunities for those in the band. James the multi-talented instrumentalist gets in some singing, even Paul the bass player, and sometimes some other band member may get some vocalist line(s). And, yes, there are others in the band who also play multiple instruments and with versatility make the band larger for it. Beyond the vocalists, there is indeed “singing” by instruments. The violin section, in particular, has some showcasing “singing” segments. Respective wind instruments, prevalent saxophone, trombone & trumpet too, keyboards, guitar, bass, and numerous percussion instruments all have their moments and lend to the richness of an It’s My Party performance, and have capability at times to “own” particular parts of various songs.  
 
I’d not wish for rain when an It’s My Party concert is scheduled. Heck, most concert appreciators would not wish for rain when an outdoor music concert is scheduled, albeit folks who do not like outdoor concerts and prefer the indoors atmosphere may make such a wish, in hopes that a concert rain location, indoors, may be utilized. Those folks are in an extreme minority, I’d guess. I’ll say this, … it can be those oddity scenarios, such as when rain has come and gone yet the It’s My Party concert continues to be held, that creates opportunity which leads to unusual bonding moments between band members and fans. I’m fortune to have experienced this on more than one occasion, and the Friday 8/16/2019 Newark concert was indeed among such scenarios.         
 
Not lost on me, that the parents of the young performers in this band have lent huge developmental support to these capable vocalists and instrument players alike, and continue support of these musically talented performers. And for the older band members, long out of JHS, HS, & college, yes we recognize you too likely had some of the same support by parents, teachers, and mentors, and that support has lent to talents you showcase in It’s My Party band.
  
Disney World has been dubbed by its promoters as “the happiest place on earth,” I’ve “been there, done that” on multiple occasions. And while I’ve never been to a Beatles concert, I feel I’ve had enough exposure to numerous other concerts and “Beatles experiences” to have a flavor of what going to a Beatles concert would be like.  For pure joy, given the choice of going to Disney World, a Beatles Concert, or an It’s My Party Concert, my preference is, and continues to be, a concert performed by It’s My Party. Thank You, It’s My Party, for the joy you send into the world and for the unique way in which you do so! 
 

In Closing

Let us know if you have a special It’s My Party moment you would like to share. Contact us by email to share a full article, or simply leave a quick moment as a comment to this post.

Although our performance season has ended, we will continue to work on a new recording, possibly our first “long-player” in quite some time. Also, 2020 is our 35th anniversary as a group, and we are planning a special year. So, keep returning to our newsletter for updates on these events as well as other developments.

 

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