Music is a powerful thing. We all have our styles and reasons behind the types of music we enjoy, but every so often we come across a song, an album, or an artist that completely changes our world. For me that artist would be Gregory Alan Isakov.
LIVE at Benaroya Hall!!
I had always enjoyed his music, but it wasn’t until nearly two years ago I really immersed myself in his magic. Listening to him helped me not only blossom after a breakup, but gave me a sense of hope that I hadn’t had before.
OK enough mush, time for a recap! From the top.
These treats were actually mine, brought to me by my wonderful boss all the way from Portland. I resisted the urge to eatallthesugar and saved half for my mom.
As if my birthday weekend wasn’t enough, my mom happened to be born two days after me. Well two days, and a few years ago or so. For Christmas I selfishly purchased two tickets to see Isakov play with the Seattle Symphony, because when you’re already a fantastic artist having the symphony back you up just happens.
Her birthday fell on the day of the show, but to ensure that this was not her birthday gift, we made a day of it. Starting with the coffee and treats from above, followed by a hop, skip, and a twirl over to Seattle for a trip to the Roastery, Pike Place, & dinner.
Drinking good coffee makes you glow. It’s a fact.
After satisfying my monthly sugar quota with a vegan cinnamon roll the size of my face, we wandered like two lost souls in search of a land filled with glistening eggplant and oven crisped potatoes. Isakov will want to hire me after reading that sentence.
Lyrical genius.
HOLY yum to my face. Glazed Tofu Banh Mi: Glazed 5-spice tofu, char-grilled eggplant, house-pickled carrots, white cabbage. Fresh jalapeños, basil, cilantro, mint leaves.
Dinner knocked my non existent socks off. I felt the overwhelming urge to roll around in a sea of mint and basil leaves. This flavor combination was insane. Equally insane? The inside of Benaroya Hall. It was a shame I left my opera glasses at Walmart.
I was excited enough to take an awkward bathroom selfie. And the concert?…
He was fantastic, and he is the most humble artist I’ve ever met. Yes…met. Shook his hand and everything. I wanted a photo with him, but we weren’t allowed. It was a shame I had already broken all my allotted rules for the day.
He.Is.Adorable. His poster had trees on in and we talked about gardening while he signed mine.
His performance was so fantastic my eyes started to swell at times and this liquid stuff filled into the corners. I also looked like a fearful cat thanks to the hairs on my arms standing up from the chills the acoustics gave me. What an experience.
Q: What’s the best concert you’ve been to?
Blissfulbritt 
72 thoughts on “Music for the Soul”
mikeytbull
I love your blogs! For me it’s like waiting for a weekly episode of my fave drama/light entertainment on TV! Can’t wait! Also, must check out Gregory too – I’m curious now… 🙂
Brittany
You are too kind my friend, thank you!! YES, check him out he is wonderful. You must be into the indie/folk like music to enjoy him though. 🙂
Tiffany J.
holy tastebuds, batman. that all looks amazing and delicious.
also, thank you for the tunes. I needed something new to spice up my Thursday in the office.
ArtTherapyGirl
Lovely. Just all-around lovely. Thank you for introducing me to a fantastic musician to add to my playlist. I’ve been listening for the past 20 minutes. In quite a good mood now. 🙂
Brittany
This makes me swoon! So glad you checked him out. 🙂
50statecanuck
And now I have Gregory playing as I work… :)))
Brittany
YES, I love it!!
pickyrunner
Oooooohkay that cinnamon roll though. YUM. I’m hungry and I had breakfast less than 2 hours ago. Best concert I’ve been to? John Mayer was pretty good when I was about 15 but I think that was more because my mom kept pointing out all the people that were on illicit substances and it made for a good laugh haha it sounds like you had a great time. Sometimes those “selfish” gifts are the best kind 😉
Heather @ HeatherRunsFast.com
You trying to beat my “largest cinnamon roll” purchase? I think you might win. I’m all about a bahn mi! Love the flavor combos. Seems like you made your mom’s bday as special as she made yours! I need to download some Isakov when I get home 🙂 Handsome and humble? AND he gardens… swoon. Don’t laugh when I say T.Swift is the best concert I’ve been to.
Brittany
I love me some T.Swift, I’d never laugh! 🙂
Laur
I love the acoustic songs which make your hairs raise on your arms!!! AKSLNDFN One of the best feelings, I swear. I could live the rest of my life listening to piano and acoustic cover songs. And coffee “after glow” is definitely a thing.
sissyjupe2
You always brighten my day and week! Thanks for the heads up about Isakov. Lovely!! Immediatley made a Pandora station and listening now! 🙂
Brittany
His Pandora is amazing!! The similar artists always put me in a relaxed and lovely mood! THANK YOU, your comment is so very nice.
Amy @ A Desert Girl
Ahh, how wonderful! I’m so glad that it not only met but exceeded your expectations!
Heather P. at Fancy Alter Ego
Wow…what a birthday treat (for both of you)!
The best concert I’ve ever been to was one of my first – B.B. King! I was required to see a concert for a college music class, and after showing my dad the list, he insisted on taking me. It was a great show, and one of the best memories of me with my dad. 🙂
tiffany@ with sparkles
your boss sounds AWESOME! so nice of him/her!
that sandwich is making me slobber over myself.
happy belated birthday!
i’m totally jealous of the great relationship you and your momma has!
AlexF
That sounds like a fantastic weekend! I love orchestral music infused with modern music. It just adds a layer of amazingness. To answer your question, the best concert I’ve ever been to was an outdoor Mumford & Sons Concert. I cried. I actually cried because it was so incredibly beautiful. The day they announce another tour… I will buy tickets instantly. Anyway, Happy belated birthday to you and your mum!
Brittany
I would LOVE to see Mumford live. I would cry too, and as I said in the ending paragraph of this post I definitely started to cry during this performance. It was just so beautiful and I got ALL THE FEELS. No shame.
AlexF
ALL THE FEELS! Girl… I feel ya. (yup, I went there).
Lindsay @ A Runnaroundd Life
That sounds like a blast! Mom time is the best of all time. The best concert I’ve ever been to was the only one I’ve ever been to by myself haha! I saw Timeflies at a small bar here in Tampa, and it was definitely one of the best nights ever 🙂
Pamplemousse
My husband surprised me with a Squirrel Nut Zippers concert years ago. It was sooooo fun! At the end I jumped on stage and asked the singer if he could give me his awesome hat. He said ” you gotta come to Memphis for that.” They are so much fun to dance to!
amysrecipefordisaster
What a great write up! I miss Seattle… a lot.
paleovirtus
My best concert was undoubtedly Morrissey here in Malmö during the “Ringleaders of the Tormentors” tour.
Second best was the one and only Adam Ant in London last year when he celebrated 25 years since the release of “Dirk Wears White Sox”… 🙂
Amy
As a former band geek, this makes me so SO happy that you went to see a live symphony performance!! It reminds me how much I miss those days… And how long it’s been. 😉 I’m so glad that you and your mom enjoyed your birthday “day” together!
P
That sandwich and cinnamon roll both look AMAZING. Glad you had fun at the concert 🙂 !!
Brittany
The sandwich…VEGGIE GRILL!! Go get one.
Jane
I would have loved to attend that concert and I think that bathroom selfie was adorable and cute! On my recent rainforest walk I came across a lot of edible food including bunya nuts and lilly pilly fruit. I was reminded of you and your healthy raw foods. You’d find a lot in our rainforests to survive on! No coffee though, unfortunately! 🙂
Brittany
I love it!! I suppose I could take a vacation from coffee while exploring the wilderness. Fresh raw foods would more than suffice!
Jess @hellotofit
Your writing is awesome and it makes me giggle :). The last concert I went to was Bruno Mars, and he was sooo awesome. Great stage presence, has dancing feet, and wonderful singing live.
katalysthealth
1. you are gorgeous.
2. are you wearing slippers?
3. I need that cinnamon in my mouth. Right now.
Brittany
Ahhhaha no, they’re not slippers!! Funny they do kinda look like them, just casual flats. I’m not a shoe person as you can see. Thank you my friend, and come visit Seattle I’ll buy you two cinnamon rolls.
GiGi Eats Celebrities
Dude I don’t know how you can save 1/2 for your mom! HA HA! I’d be like YO MOM – sorry but my mouth is far faster than you are, step up the mouth training game, yo! AHHHH HA HA HA AH HA AH A HA!
And dude I have a feeling you would have loved that concert I went to last 4th of July, the one with Steve Martin and the Banjo! It was the sheez!!!! ha ah ha!.
PS stop having a life and text me!
Ashley
Your dress is lovely! I have an obsession with floral prints and dresses. Also, I don’t know what looks better, the massive cinnamon roll or the banh mi…I’m so jealous of the vegan food scene in the PNW.
My most favorite concert was the one I went to last summer with my mom and sister, Center of the Universe in Tulsa. We’re all really into alt rock music so it definitely didn’t disappoint, and I much prefer outdoor, festival type concerts. Butttttt it was also 100 degrees and humid so that kind of sucked.
Brittany
Thank you love!! I also adore floral EVERYTHING! This area has such fantastic vegan places, you must venture this way. 🙂
Ellie
I went to the nutcracker when I was young and still think that was the best concert I have ever attended. I also love going to the Summer Music Concert series downtown each summer. I have seen the Gunpoets and Thousands of One both of which were FANTASTIC!
I love your dress by the way! Super chic!
avenuecamilla
After reading this post I want to listen to music and eat lots of yummy food! Such a great post 🙂
xxx
Camilla
http://avenuecamilla.com
di @ life of di.
The Stable Song by Gregory Alan Isakov = perfection. I listen to him on Spotify while I’m out walking 🙂 I bet that was just an amazing night. By the way, I’m listening to him right now. Figured it was fitting 🙂 I’ve said it a million times before but I truly do wish we lived closer to one another. I know I have a baby now but I think it’d be so fun to throw her on my back and go hiking with you (and the out for coffee afterwards, naturally.)
Best concert I’ve ever been to: Ben Folds. So unbelievably talented. I also really loved Ingrid Michaelson – her voice is on point!
Brittany
UGH, I want to be best friends with you!! For real we would get along so well I just know it. We must meet sometime in person…MUST!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
That really does look delicious!
The best concert I ever went to was probably my first, when I saw Iron Maiden!
harveylisam
Ah, I’m glad the concert was so great!! I miss me some classical music.
An Unrefined Vegan
Okay, I’ve got to check out this dude.
Britta
Is it weird that I got goosebumps reading this? ahhh, what a lovely day with your momma!!!! I want all the food and whenever I see your food posts I sometimes consider going vegan. Sometimes 😉
Is it weird that this is the kind of man I imagine you with? I mean, he doesn’t need to sing like our main man Greg here but a humble, slightly bearded fella that just warms the soul. ❤
I once went to see Matthew Barber by myself and I was the happiest girl on the planet. I think it was the best concert (it was more like a small show) I've ever been to.
Brittany
This is SO the kind of guy I imagine myself with too. Given I don’t ACTUALLY know this one, the way he presents himself is enough to know he is a good dude. I will have a bearded mountain like man with a calm spirit (this will be huge) and humble attitude!! When the time is right of course. 😉
Ohhh my, your Matthew Barber experience sounds lovely! I adore him too.
Lauren
Music really is so powerful! That looks like such a fun day. Happy birthday to you, two!
jennifer prod
brit, gah, you really are glowing in these pictures. you say it’s the coffee, but i say it’s a perfect day with your mom? i mean, the concert, the cinnabon, the excellent company? (okay, maybe a little bit of the coffee, too) OH, and your dress is perfection ❤
Kellybean
What an amazing day! Looks like you had so much fun, and all of your senses where happy too!
Angela
Oh those treats look delicious!!!!
Looks like you both had a fab time ❤
Best concert I went to was Coldplay or maybe Mumford & Sons…hmm both were amazing xo
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Lyrical genius indeed, my little lost soul wandering the streets of Seattle high on sugar and life. This sounds like the perfect day for both you and your mom.
Aja
That is an awesome birthday weekend. How did you manage to resist eating allthesugar? I’m terrible at that. I’m glad you got to go see this guy in concert because that is always exciting. I’ve actually only been to I think 2 concerts in my entire life, but the first one was for the band that wrote the song/album I’m named after, and I was 13 and hate my name so I had more fun at the second one when I got to see Fall Out Boy and I was 15.
Kayse
I’ve got to check Gregory out!! You look fabulous and it looks like it was an amazing birthday for your Mama!
Best concert I’ve been to… took my niece to see her favorite musician, Charlie Parr, when she was three. She got all dressed up in an outfit she picked out herself (cat tights, fringed boots, and a 70’s style dress). We got there and she walked right up to him by herself, grabbed his hand and asked if he’d pleaaasse play Rattlesnake. He did, of course, and she was so excited it almost made ME cry. After he played it she yelled, ‘Thank youuuu!!!!’ and everyone in the whole place laughed. Pretty special night.
lizlicorish
I love this post. I have never heard of Gregory Alan Isakov before but I am listening him to now and he is great! I’m really excited to see Perfume Genius and Sufjan Stevens this spring. (Live) music is the best. And coffee does make you glow. 🙂
mikeytbull
Hey Britt, I checked out Gregory. Totally a fan now! Thanks for leading me there… Beautiful laid back sound, love it! https://soundcloud.com/suitcasetown (I love Neil Finn’s music myself!) 🙂
Brittany
I’m so glad you checked out his stuff, he really is fantastic.
The Vegan 8
Totally need to check him out, as I’m not familiar with him, thank you for sharing! So glad you were able to see him and have a wonderful birthday and those pastries look to die for! Seriously, it’s just not fair you have so many vegan pastries around…nothing here!!! Boo!! My favorite concert ever was Sting….one of the best nights of my entire life, no lie.
ｒｉｋａ
What a talented musician – I love all types of music including classical. Did you try the coconut milk yet at Starbucks (I know you worked there)? What are your thoughts about the new ‘mylk’? Your boss is so sweet…and oh my gosh, the cinnamon rolls look fabulous! And HOLY YUM TO MY FACE, too…I love that tofu banh mi…And your bathroom selfie…uhh, love your dress! I really want to go see Stromae play!!! This Belgian singer rocks my socks!
Brittany
I did try the coconut milk, the moment we received it I excitedly opened the box. Sadly, I wasn’t very impressed. For starters the ingredients aren’t the best, and the flavor is very mild…almost like coconut water. It’s a good option for a pinch, but not something I would order often. Same with the soy, too many extra ingredients. I appreciate the attempt, and still love me some Starbucks and am proud to work there, but I can’t say I’m a huge fan of the alternative milks.
I suppose it’s a good thing I don’t like “milk” in my coffee anyway. 🙂
Lucie Elizabeth (@CollectingLight)
Cant get over how adorable you are. Bahhhhh.
Ive never been to a concert…is that sad? Haha! Deffinately checking out Gregory Alan Isakov! Recently discovered Midnight Swim by St Grandson and I have it on repeat while editing!
Brittany
I had never been to one before this, so no that’s not sad! Haha.
Nicole
I’ve been to see Billy Joel, Josh Groban, and a few others that I can’t think of off the top of my head. LOL! I definitely am a huge Josh Groban fan, so that was probably my favorite. 🙂
Brittany
Josh Groban has the voice of an angel. He is fantastic.
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
I lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvve when people share music that they’re passionate about with me so thank you thank you thank you!
Also I don’t know why I’m just figuring this out today but your pictures from this post are really making me want to get a nose ring….my mother would die on the spot though. Just die.
jejansonius
Happy Happy Birthday girl! Looks like a marvelous time for certain! My best concert would have to be hands down, Taylor Swift with my mom! I get the wonderful opportunity to go again with my husband this fall! So excited!
Khushboo Thadani (@KhushbooThadani)
What fun- looks like you had a great time. Best concert I’ve been to is either the Jay-Z or Kanye West concert I attended a few years ago…both were unreal!
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melliedee
omg, I so want to go to a symphony. it’s been years! last I went was when my friend performed in the houston symphony. if you love symphony music try to make your way to Carnegie Hall. I played there before back in high school and it was phenomenal. the acoustics. gah … make your way there … you won’t regret it … I hope. haha
as for you and your mum. y’ll are adorable!
Brittany
Added to the bucket list!! I can only imagine how magical Carnegie Hall is.
Rach @ This Italian Family
Ahh! So glad you got to meet him! How cool! Happy (belated) birthday to your momma! That shot of you with the sunshine coming in on… GORGEOUS!
Shawna
you look adorableeee and this looks like an amazing day. so glad you had such an amazing time at the show — i love when music can move you to tears and make you feel alllll the emotions. best concert i’ve ever been to, oh geeeeeze….i’ve gone to so many, as i’m a huge music freak. maybe the Beach Boys for my 13th birthday with my fam, as they’re my parents’ fave band and i was raised on Oldies and it was a surprise for me? also love Counting Crows so their shows astound me. LIVE MUSIC. yes.
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