"Working Day & Night"

Time ticks away...and life takes hold of us. Sometimes we don't know where the time has gone. Sometimes we wish we can pause a certain moment in life. And sometimes we wish we can have those who have have passed on, back to doing what they do best.

We've all been working pretty hard lately (at our jobs, school, biz, etc...), and sometimes we deserve to step out and enjoy each other's company; have a drink or two, laugh, and dance to some good music. The other night we went to watch a 14-piece Michael Jackson tribute band called Foreverland (formerly Neverland). They performed at the Mezzanine in the city last Saturday, and boy were they pretty good-they really were. They had the crowd dancing, singing the songs of the late and great Michael Joseph Jackson. Ironically, they haven't been around very long. According to their website, their first gig was last June 2009 here in their homebase of San Francisco, 5 days before the King of Pop's unexpected & shocking death on June 25th. But they formed the band in March wanting to share the music and appreciation they had for Michael Jackson (I mean who wouldn't want to if they had the talent to do so). And yes, they were formerly called "Neverland", but with legal issues from the Jackson estate, they had to change it to Foreverland. Here's what was stated on their website:

The letter from Greenberg Taurig cites an obligation by trademark law to stop the band’s use of “Neverland,” even though attorneys for the band can find no registered trademark for the name by the Jackson Estate. Okin says the band has no other choice but to succumb to the request...We are just 14 killer musicians who love Michael Jackson’s unreal showmanship and his complex, badass arrangements and want to keep his music alive, while maybe making a few bucks ourselves. Hence the term ‘tribute bands.’ We don’t even try to impersonate him, we just play the hell out of the music.”

Pretty dope, right? I think the horns make a huge impact. They don't try to impersonate MJ, but just play his music and spread the love:

With four lead singers, four horns and a six-piece rhythm section, the ensemble brings energy, excitement and musicianship to the music of Michael Jackson. Rather than be limited by a Michael Jackson impersonator and pre-recorded backing tracks, the band’s unique approach is to celebrate the larger than life performances, imagination and infectious spirit of a legendary artist. Hard core Michael Jackson fans love the band for respecting and performing his music. Band members report that fans often approach them after shows crying and thanking them for keeping the music alive. “That’s where we came up with Foreverland” explains Okin. “We want to keep his music alive forever.”

They portray the King of Pop's music in the right familiar tune. And because we are MJ fans, we definitely felt the groove and sensed the hard work Michael Jackson put into his music, his lyrics, his dancing, his life. He, as an entertainer, as a person, undoubtedly lives on.

I know Courtney was SUPER excited about this and least to say, she is now a groupie! Hahaha...she even got to meet Morty and show him her infamous MJ tattoo, which he thought was incredible. She's totally gonna book 'em. LOL!