I don't really know if the folks in Northampton like it to have their city/town referred to as "Noho". I say that because I was at a nightclub there last night (The Pearl Street Nightclub) to watch and listen to Dia Frampton. For those who don't know who she is, she was the runner up in the TV singing competition show, "The Voice". I remember watching that show in 2011 and I was torn between the two finalists. I wanted her to win, but I felt strongly that both contestants deserved it (as did many of the quarter finalists).
Anyway, here's what happened. In the previous morning, my daughter called to tell me that she had just won tickets to see "Dia Frampton" via a radio show promotion. (She's always winning these things.) In fact, she was so sure I'd want to go that she had already given them my name for the Will Call pickup (she couldn't go, herself).
She was right, I did want to go.
I didn't know what to expect at the venue. The website did say it was general admission and standing room only. I wanted Lee to come along, but as she is still healing from her broken ankle, I was concerned she might not be able to stand and see the entire show. Well, the good news is that a bartender there got us a chair and she was able to sit comfortably off to the side.
(Note: the photo here is from Wikipedia and it's not the nightclub site. Dia is on the left and Meg is on the right in the photo.)
The venue has two raised floors. One is for the band and the other is for folks getting to the bar and then being able to stand around and still see over the heads of the floor crowd. On the floor, you can get very close to the performers. (Really, Dia was only a couple feet away from the closest audience members.)
There were two acts that warmed us up: Eric Stepanian and Andrew Allen. Both were excellent and folks reading this should check them out.
I don't remember which of the two asked the question, "How do you pronounce, Northampton?"
Folks in the crown offered suggestions and someone shouted out, "Noho". That was followed by some "yeas" and "nays". So, I'm guessing that, maybe, Noho isn't correct for all? ...so, I'll play it safe and call it Northampton...with my "h" slightly and imperceptibly stretched as if I'm saying north and hampton together almost. I dunno. Is that right?
Then, we got to hearing "Dia and Meg". That was the name of Dia and Meg's band before Dia became famous from The Voice. Now, the name of their band is Dia Frampton. Why not build off of success. Oh, and Dia and Meg are sisters and they (and the band) were awesome.
So, I like Noho...err...Northampton.
But wait! ...there's more!
This morning, I was checking out the Iron Horse Entertainment Group's schedule. Iron Horse is the company that runs several of the music venues in Norhampton. Dia's band was performing at Pearl Street, a small night club, but there's a bigger theater in town that I was curious about. It's their Music Hall. What I learned was that Lucy Kaplansky was going to be performing.
Lucy Kaplansky?
For a mere $20, I get to go to her concert on the 26th. Sweet. I already bought the ticket. Now, I'm going to look for my Lucy Kaplansky CD's and load up my iPhone just so I can listen to her while I walk the two miles it takes to get to the fitness center for my workout later today.
I wouldn't have known about Lucy Kaplansky had it not been for Jen's good fortune winning the Dia Frampton tickets. (Thank you, Jen.)
This, in a very small way, takes the sting out of the Patriot's Super Bowl loss. I'm sure I'll be completely through my greif by the time Lucy hits the stage.
