Monthly Archives: November 2015

George Sigolas, meet Bonnie Raitt…

After a lovely evening with good friends at the Carriage House in Rye, NH, I wanted to post this video, so my friend, George Sigolas would be introduced to Bonnie Raitt.  Long story short, Sandy is a fan of Bonnie, George is a fan of Sandy, so I suggest that George become a fan of Bonnie!  This couldn’t be a better time as Bonnie Raitt is coming to the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, MA on March 29th.  Sandy informed us that tickets just went on sale (George, that’s you’re cue).  Let’s take a look at this video.  Bonnie Raitt is playing lead/slide guitar, Jimmy Vaughan (older brother of Stevie Ray Vaughan) is playing rytham guitar (on the white Stratocaster) while Gary Clark, Jr is playing along side Jeff Beck.  Tracy Chapman also makes an appearance.  That’s quite the lineup.  Everyone is playing for President Obama.  In the audience is none other than  Buddy Guy, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, along side a host of celebrities.  What I would have given to be there….  Ms. Bonnie Raitt is playing “Sweet Home Chicago”, which is a song that was written by Robert Johnson and recorded for the first time in San Antonio, Texas in 1936.  This song was written during the time of the great migration for blues players, who traveled up to Chicago from the South, many times riding the blind (the empty boxcar of the freight train) in order to seek out the new sound of Chicago.  This era brought us Muddy Waters, Big Bill Broonzy, Howlin’ Wolf, Bo Diddly, Sonny Boy Williamson and many, many more.  These are the musicians that influenced the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and many others with the sounds of the Chicago Blues.

Matt Becker

Live from Matt’s House

I was 8 years old.  Men at Work, a new band from Australia had just released their debut album “Business as Usual”.  It was 1981.  “Down Under”, “Who Can it Be Now” were the biggest singles from the album and I remember it clear as day.  Their next album, “Cargo” came out in 1983.  “Overkill”, “It’s a Mistake” were the biggest hits on that album.  Yes, these were the MTV years.  Years later, Colin Hay performed an acoustic version of “Overkill” on the popular TV show “Scrubs”.  Colin Hay has had a brilliant solo career since Men at Work.  Above is a clip from his latest album, “Next Year People”.

The album’s title track, “Next Year People,” is a stand out composition – a stark but beautiful homage to the depression-era farmers who kept going by holding on to hope that next year would be better. “They kept doing the same thing and expecting a different result,” explains Colin. “I can relate, although their situation was so much more bleak.”

Colin Hay, much more than Men at Work.

Enjoy…

Matt Becker Morgan Stanley

Live from Matt’s House

I was 15 or 16 when I heard my first Elvis Costello song.  I was in the back of a Volkswagen GTI.  Gary was driving.  Charles was in the passenger seat, and I was in back, with Veronica, Gary’s girlfriend.  That was over 25 years ago.  Must have been a spring day because we were still in school and I remember the windows were open and the music was cranking.

“Well I used to know a girl

and I would have sworn

that her name was Veronica”

It took me 25 years to hear the song again and realize what the song is about.  Costello’s inspiration for this song was his grandmother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s.  When talking about the song on a VH1 interview, Costello reminisced about his grandmother having “terrifying moments of lucidity” and how this was the inspiration for “Veronica”.

“Well she used to have a carefree mind of her own

and a delicate look in her eye

These days I’m afraid she’s not even sure

if her name is Veronica”

Matt Becker Portsmouth, NH

Live from Matt’s House

Matt Becker Portsmouth, NH

Everyone loves lasagna, but unless you’re having 10 people over for dinner, you’re going to have leftovers for days…  I of course can eat lasagna breakfast, lunch and dinner, but I hear that isn’t normal.  So, what can you do about it?  Lasagna Cupcakes!  It’s easy to do.  I would recommend a DEEP cupcake pan, that way, one cupcake will serve one person.  My favorite lasagna is with hamburger, spinach, ricotta cheese (salt, pepper and cheddar cheese mixed in) and extra marinara sauce.  When I don’t have time to make a sauce, I’ll use Prego Meat Flavored red sauce, which is Gluten Free.  Speaking of Gluten Free, my favorite GF lasagna noodles are Tinkyada Brown Rice Pasta Lasagne, which can be found at Fresh Market and Market Basket in Portsmouth.  The box is blue/light blue and brown.

A couple of quick tips on making lasagna – I like to slice up a tomato or two and use it in the layers.  Also, don’t be shy on the red sauce.  The lasagna noodles and ricotta cheese will soak up moisture, so I always add more than you think is the right amount.  For the lasagna cupcakes, make sure the noodles are hanging out of the cup a bit,, it will make them nice and crispy….  Don’t forget salt and pepper!

I would bake them at 350 in the oven until they are golden brown….  Good luck out there making lasagna cupcakes!  They’re a fun treat to make with the family.

Matt Becker Portsmouth, NH

Live from Matt’s House

Omelets for Everyone during the Annual Staff Appreciation Week at Morgan Stanley!  Below is our manager Richard and myself, Matt Becker.
To our staff below, our office could not run without them…   Thanks goes out to Lisa, Briana, Joni, Cory, Sandra, Yvonne, Nancy and Chris! Even Alby learned to make pancakes!  All of the financial advisors helped to put this event on.  Thanks go out to everyone in the office.  We really worked together to put on a fun time.  Special thanks go out to Laura who brought pastries, cakes, as well as the china and some sparkling grape juice!
I love to make omelets, but nothing’s better than making them for all of the people that you hang out with everyday.  Morgan Stanley makes an effort to thank our staff for all of the hard work that they do – and they deserve it!  Thank you again!

Matt Becker Morgan Stanley

Live from Matt’s House