Ingrid Michaelson visiting Columbus...

One of my dear readers has requested that I blog some love Ingrid Michaelson’s way…and since I’ve never had a request for a blog entry before, how could I really say no? So Spencer - this one’s for you(thanks for reading btw!):

Maybe you weren’t aware of this, but lyrical sensation Ingrid Michaelson will be playing live right here in Columbus on Tuesday, July 29th at Crew Stadium. It would be understandable if you missed the news because she is opening up for the Dave Matthews Band. As far as I can tell, there are three types of people: those who are fanatically in love with DMB, those who fanatically hate DMB and those who don’t know who the fuck DMB is at all. So if you are not in the first category, you might have just glazed over the rest of the announcement of their impending arrival. This would be a shame, however, because then you would have missed the announcement that lovely Ingrid is also appearing.

The first thing that I should admit up front is that I am not going to this show. It isn’t that I wouldn’t love too (in fact I'm rather heart-broken that I can't)…rather it is that I am a poor girl. Tickets are $60 a pop! Now, I know DMB has a huge fan base and can probably demand such a lofty price, but that is just too much for me. (Especially if you consider that I’m paying about that much for two tickets to see Weird Al at the LC just nine days earlier. Totally worth it…go see him live!) When Ingrid announced that she was also launching a headline tour to coincide with her appearances at various other gigs (like the DMB concert) throughout the country, I held my breath and hoped that we would land one of those as well. I figured (hoped) the price would be much more affordable. She would be a great “Next at the Wex” headliner, in my opinion. No dice! Columbus isn’t one of those chosen cities…big fat pout!

Most of you probably know Ingrid from the catchy “The Way I Am” - a song which in only 2 minutes and 12 seconds completely hooked me as a fan. I think the first time I actually heard Ingrid’s music, however, was on a Grey’s Anatomy soundtrack. If my CD library could talk, it would reveal my leaning towards female vocalists. If I had to compare Ingrid to another lady rocker in my collection, it would probably be Lisa Lobe. Sweet but sassy… More guitar than piano… More depth than pop…Plus she has those funky/cool glasses!

It really is too hard to pick just one song on her Girls and Boys CD to rave about. I find myself really connecting with her lyrics on several songs. In fact, it is what her songs say (and not so much the sound of the music) which made me love this CD so much. Die Alone’s “I never thought I could love anyone but myself,” gets me every time. I think every person can relate to that feeling – if they were truly honest. I love the opening line of Breakable: “Have you ever thought about what protects our hearts?” Starting Now is the perfect post break-up song to me: “I want to start fresh like a baby in the sink. Scrub away all these thoughts that I think of you.” Corner of Your Heart is probably the song which I relate to the most of all her songs. It is just so lonely, so desperate…boy have I been there.

If you don’t own this CD – stop reading this and go buy it…right now! If you do, then I am sure you are just as big of a fan of her work as I am. Hopefully, you’ll be able to afford the tickets when she swings through town. If you get to go, let me know how you liked the show and clap a little harder for Corner of Your Heart just for me.

You can visit Ingrid’s MySpace Page to view her complete concert schedule, watch her newest video and read her often hilarious blog entries. (May I recommend ‘Here take my sweater doesn’t mean here take my sweater.’) Or visit her webpage at www.ingridmichaelson.com