I love summer concerts.
Since birthing children, my attempts to buy tickets and attend concerts has diminished significantly. As kids are getting a little older and the ability to stay up later than 9pm is increasing, I think we are starting to see an upswing in Piper’s concert enthusiasm.
I knew Brad would love the bluegrass undertones of the Avett Brothers. So I purchased our tickets a month ago and they’ve been hanging on our fridge in wait. The band played here in Salt Lake City two days ago at the Gallivan Center with openers City and Colour. I’m not even going to try to write about the amazing performances because I’m not a music critic and I would probably sound like an idiot.
Let’s just say they were good. Bordering on amazing. If they head your way, you must go listen. Worth every penny for tickets, a babysitter, and ten dollar beers!
I have to stoop very low now and make it known that all these young male band members can ROCK SOME JEANS. I’m not kidding. Google the Avett Brothers and check out some images. If I were fourteen again I would totally hang posters of them in my bedroom. ON THE CEILING.
When I go to any type of interesting event these days, I like to see if I can catch the general feeling with some pictures. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much. I think that I was halfway successful at this show – and was trying my best until halfway through the headliners when a security guard in a light blue shirt approached me and told me that I was NOT ALLOWED to take pictures. Since I had at least two huge ten dollar beers in me, I told him to piss off because I KNOW MY RIGHTS. And then he argued with me that I was at a “private” concert using a “professional camera” and I laughed in his face because I’m nowhere near a professional. It had something to do with the fact that my camera has a detachable lens. Then I told told him to bugger off and pointed out that half the crowd was holding up iPhones and RECORDING THE MUSIC LIVE.
Which I was not doing because you are not supposed to do that. I have standards, you know.
He finally gave up and told me to “keep it down” and then he walked away and I stuck my tongue out at him and gave him a big FUCK OFF in my head. The couple standing in back of me witnessed the whole thing and said GOOD FOR YOU SISTER, which boosted my confidence greatly. So I started devising an escape plan should the goon in light blue come back and try to hassle me again. The escape plan involved pushing my way to the left and charging to the gate at center stage, jumping up and over flimsy white gate, then running onstage to curl up in a ball at the base of Scott Avett’s microphone stand. Because I figured he might take pity on me or perhaps I could get a closer shot of his face. Either way, I win.
Sometimes when I’m out, I find people who fascinate me and I just have to snap them. Here are a few from the show. Some pretty young people and a roadie with a very, very disturbing bellybutton piercing.
(*note – you can click on any individual picture for a better view with better resolution)
We start with City and Colour. Founder of band is Dallas Green of Canada – he’s the dude in the hat and glasses. After the opening band wrapped, I was walking near the stage doors watching roadies scurry around and I saw this guy in a plaid shirt and trucker hat. I liked his moustache and asked if I could take his picture. Then I did a double-take and realized the other dude sitting next to him was a guitarist for City and Colour. So I handed Brad my camera and they were gracious enough to take a picture with yours truly. Even though the trucker dude told me he doesn’t like to pose. Plus I don’t know their names. Sorry, man. BUT YOU ARE TOTALLY FAMOUS.
So we make it to The Avett Brothers. I wasn’t sure what was up with the smoke stuff they had on stage in the very beginning of the show…was it there to mask their entrance? Was it there to purge any bad vibes that might be hovering over the stage? Do they like to feel as if they are walking out of a mist and into a huge crowd of believers? So many unanswered questions.
The last (and best) picture is of Joe Kwon, the cellist from The Avett Brothers. He is hands-down my favorite. He ROCKS that cello. Thank you, Joe.
Thank you, City and Colour and The Avett Brothers. Because of you, I woke up in the morning determined to ignore my hangover and determined to sign up my son for banjo and cello lessons. You rocked my socks off.
