barry manilow

now this is exactly the kind of show i would have kut.

i'm a barry manilow hater -but thanks to having been raised in the US in the 70's, and having a girlfriend who was a fan (i've actually bought a barry manilow album in my life, believe it or not)- i'm overly familiar with his work.

however, i also get that BM is an entertainer -- love or hate, he's not going to go out and do nothing.  and he's got a multi-million dollar showroom in a vegas strip hotel.

that means i want to see him, but on the cheap.  my ticket service came up with the tix before i had to use advanced kutting moves (actually, they've been running sporadically on craigslist for $25 apiece) and scored me four $75 tickets.

in one of those weird quirks of fate that only kutrating provides, i gave the other pair to the parents of a kid who had scored me a free ozomatli ticket ... for exactly the same night ...

i'd originally thought i wouldn't see BM this go 'round (for sure i'd only go if i went with someone else), but an old semi-flame of mine was able to go at the last minute ... i ended up sitting next to the parents of the kid who gave me the ozo ticket ... and they treated me like i was the star.

and yes, just for the record, barry manilow was good.  two very clever arrangements where he played recorded duets with himself ... one when he was six and another from an early TV appearance.

i'd go see him again, but i wouldn't pay face.

as if i have to tell you that.