DNC Musical Guest Update

By Jeralyn, Section Democratic National Convention 2008
Posted on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 05:31:11 PM EST
Tags: Denver National Convention (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

A few weeks ago I beat Denver Post gossip columnist Bill Husted to the punch in reporting that Bruce Springsteen was free from Aug. 24 to Aug. 30 and could be coming to the DNC. Last week, I beat him by a day in reporting Kanye West, reggae/hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean and the rap/rock fusion band N.E.R.D. were scheduled to perform at DNC events.

Today, Husted beats me with some DNC musical guest news I haven't heard about: The Temptations will be performing for three nights at a "mansion" near 1st and Humboldt in the Country Club area.

As to the Aug. 24 Red Rocks concert with Sheryl Crow and Earth, Wind & Fire, Husted says even though Dave Matthews' people told him this weekend that Matthews is not scheduled to perform, he's convinced Matthews will be there.[More...]

In non-musical news updates, Husted reports Sen. Barack Obama will be staying at the Englewood home of Level 3 CEO James Crowe and using various hotel suites for meetings. (I've heard the hotel hosting the Obama campaign is the new Ritz-Carlton.)

Finally, Husted says Bill and Hillary Clinton will be at the Brown Palace. I heard Hillary will be at the boutique-y Hotel Monaco(directly across the street from my downtown office building) but that didn't sound right, so I'm going with Husted's info on this one.

I'm mainly interested in the musical performers, but for those of you following the movie star attendees, colunist Penny Parker at the Rocky Mountain News has the latest.

< When Is An Execution Decent? | McCain Blames Obama for Rising Gas Prices >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

DNC Musical Guest Update | 19 comments (19 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

Wyclef (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by Paprika on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 05:40:24 PM EST

I saw Wyclef in Toronto a few weeks ago and he worked variations of "Obama for president" into his set several times ... I think he had the crowd chanting it at one point. A crowd of Canadians. But oh well.

He's got heaps and heaps of energy and as long as he doesn't get pervy again and encourage women to take their tops off, it should be really good.

What's the classical music lineup? (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by oculus on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 05:49:59 PM EST

Didn't she say? (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by LarryInNYC on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 06:45:52 PM EST

Earth, Wind, and Fire and the Temptations.


: That's classic, for sure. (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by oculus on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 06:48:27 PM EST

Schubert, Mozart (none / 0) (#15)
by squeaky on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 10:58:25 PM EST

Yo Yo Ma, and friends, playing Death and the Maiden, Rosamunde Quartettsatz, C major Strings Quintet, Winterreise, with a few piano late piano sonatas thrown in.

Maybe we can get Radu Lupu, Mitsuko Uchida playing Mozart D Major two piano sonata (K 448) , I would love to hear either one or both of them play the Goldberg varrations


I was thinking John Lill playing The Emperor (none / 0) (#16)
by oculus on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 11:06:39 PM EST

Concerto. Got to make the titles fit the occasion.


I Am Illiterate (none / 0) (#17)
by squeaky on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 11:13:34 PM EST

And only know a few performers, that I like. So I haven't heard John Lil. I think that the emperor concerto would not be a good idea, I would prefer the Brahms d minor instead, if we were going for a full orchestra. Personally I think an orchestra would be too much. Better to have super star type classical soloists and friends.

Jeffery Kahane is the current music (none / 0) (#18)
by oculus on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 11:18:36 PM EST

director of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and also a wonderful pianist who can actually conduct from the keyboard with terrific energy. The convention should include a performance by the orchestra. Plenty of room at the stadium.


A Full Orchestra In A Stadium (none / 0) (#19)
by squeaky on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 11:22:15 PM EST

Seems cheezy to me. I would rather rock star level classical musicians. Save the orchestras for the inauguration, imo.


: Although I didn't read it, there was a diary (none / 0) (#20)
by oculus on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 11:31:43 PM EST

yesterday on DK about whether Obama supports the arts. He does, at least a modern dance troupe in Chicago. But what better way to make a statement than at his acceptance speech event.

: You're right, it is cheesy (none / 0) (#22)
by gyrfalcon on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 11:52:26 PM EST

and it doesn't work acoustically. Total waste of a good band, IMHO. Otoh, you could have a great event with a local youth orchestra and make a real point about the importance of the arts. Nobody would really listen, but the kids would be psyched for months and the crowd would go nuts.

Dmitri Hvorostovsky (none / 0) (#21)
by gyrfalcon on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 11:48:44 PM EST

or if he wanted to make a real statement, Thomas Quasthoff. Either of those two gentlemen would get me to watch.


Ah, I love the Brown Palace (none / 0) (#2)
by Cream City on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 05:41:08 PM EST

and just was there last year, at that time of year, wandering around its splendors. So I will have the fun of being able to picture what the Clintons will see at that historic and lovely old hotel.

All of downtown Denver is just a terrific town to wander -- at least, for those of us who come for conventions of only a few thousand or so. I think it will not be so easy, at the end of August, to see much of anything in hotel lobbies, at the least, with all the crazy conventioneers in silly hats blocking the view.

1st and Fillmore? (none / 0) (#4)
by QuakerInABasement on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 06:20:37 PM EST

No mansions there. That's right in front of Cherry Creek Mall.

: it's 1st & Humboldt (none / 0) (#14)
by Jeralyn on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 10:01:31 PM EST

I got them mixed up, sorry.

maybe i'll have to come (none / 0) (#7)
by skippybkroo on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 07:36:54 PM EST

as denver (actually aurora) is my hometown, i considered flying in for the convention, even tho i had no passes to get in.

however it does sound like it would be a fun time just to be in the city, cuz denver rocks!

: you don't really need a pass (none / 0) (#11)
by Jeralyn on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 08:28:43 PM EST

the convention is only from 5 to 9 each night. The media pass gets you into the convention center for the speeches, but the Big Tent (you can probably get on a wait list for credentials) will be the better place to hang out.
The trick will be finding a place to stay at this late date.
You should come, it will be tons of fun.

I must say (none / 0) (#12)
by maladroit on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 09:10:34 PM EST

When I got the email that Dave Matthews endorsed Obama back in January, my hear broke a tiny bit since I was working for Hillary at the time.

That aside, I wouldn't be surprised if he showed up - he pushed quite a bit for Kerry too, and I also think the rest of the band will get involved again like they did in '04.

I will say as a 20-something Dem, the musical lineups are great!

: my *heart* broke, i mean. :) (none / 0) (#13)
by maladroit on Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 09:10:58 PM EST