I've grouped Ariana Grande and Jess Glynne together because I enjoyed seeing them both during the summer of 2015.  Ariana in big venues and Jess in an intimate Club.  I saw them both twice, and the second time that I saw each of them was odd for different reasons.

ARIANA GRANDE

With Ariana it was an odd situation because she had purposefully done something to the backdrop of her stage setting so that people could not get good footage or pictures of her. Her staging had a zigzag and percolating pattern in the background.  This had been mentioned/debated on social media at the time. The fan's thinking that the obfuscation in her second concert at San Jose was because everybody had posted so much footage from her earlier concert at Shoreline - and maybe it was just too much or not so flattering. Only Ariana knows.

I love Ariana's vocal prowess and pop songs. It was amazing when she was on Jimmy Fallon perfectly imitating different female singers; showed just part of the scope she's able to do. She's recently made an announcement that she will not be touring for "a long, long, long time" after this upcoming 2025-26 mini-tour that she's doing. And I feel her. She's been busy with "Wicked" obligations and other opportunities. Touring is mentally and physically trying, and so I say, "Take a break, girl - and do as you like". She deserves it.

I know I’m bad with a camera and not a Gen Z but you will see from this video it was purposeful staging to avoid a flood of recording (but I still love her) – WARNING if you’re prone to epileptic seizures: 

AUTOGRAPH - I was able to snag one of those autographed postcards during the 7 minutes they were available before they completely sold out on her website. Did she really sign them? I hope so.

These two remixes by Ariana rode the same wave, giving me Z-like energy, and making me dance every time I hear the bumping remixes of these pop hits: 

JESS GLYNNE

September 29, 2015 was when good-natured Nico T. joined me once again at The Independent to see an artist he barely knew. Nico was an excellent wingman as we were waiting for Jess to leave the venue and get an autograph. He was eagle-eyed on other possible collectors, where they were lurking and what items they had to sign. LOVED THAT! When she walked out, she was a bit grumpy, but it was probably post-show tiredness. Or maybe she recognized me as the guy who had been blasted by her security guard for filming her with my light on like a senior citizen.  Yep, so bad with my phone.

The odd thing was that she refused to sign or even acknowledge us as she got on her bus; literally like everyone was invisible. I asked another person who was hopping on the bus if they could kindly ask her to sign the two pictures you see here. The pictures were returned to me signed, but they said something like "She doesn't usually do this" or "She doesn't like to sign autographs". I kinda went, huh? And then thought, "Did somebody else in that bus sign these photos?" Only Jess knows.

Here's some clips of Jess performing that September night in 2015:

At another date shortly thereafter, I saw Clean Bandit performing with Chic and Duran Duran at the Greek Theater. But without Jess Glynne They had another female singer to sing "Rather Be" and "Real Love". Interesting how the rights to a band's name works and how singers can be interchangeable - back to the days of Phil Spector and Philles records. I wonder if Jess cares/cared? She DID take a 5 year break starting in 2018, so maybe all of the music industry craziness made her want to be by herself and process/be alone. I don't blame her.

With Clean Bandit it’s really the strings and slow vocal intro by Jess of the recorded version that still touch me. 

And the piano intro on this one before the song really warms up … I still love them both.