Music

As promised, more on DMB Red Rocks Night #1.  After a night of sleep under my belt.  It seems pretty surreal that I got to see DMB at Red Rocks.  I remember the last time they came here, in 1998.  I was a junior in high school and I ditched class that morning to stand in line and try to get tickets.  I was there through the whole process, and when I was 9 people away from the front of the line before the both nights of the show sold out.  At that point, it was pretty clear that DMB couldn’t realistically do anymore shows at Red Rocks if they wanted to appease their fan base.  After going to shows at Mile High Stadium, Folsom Field, and two at the Pepsi Center, it was amazing to get the opportunity to see them at such a beautiful venue.

Getting there took a little longer than I thought it would, and we got a pretty late start.  First off I was waiting around for FedEx to deliver Monday Night’s tickets – which was pretty bogus because they’ve been in town since Thursday morning, but I guess the FedEx people wanted to take my package for a ride around town.  So after I finally got Monday’s tickets, I packed up my car with all of the tailgating stuff, and made my way down to Boulder to get my sister.  Traffic was horrendous on the way down, and even though we got a late start (4:00pm when I left Loveland), we didn’t get to Red Rocks until 6:30pm.  At that point the lots seemed pretty full, so my sister and I pulled off on one of the roads, oped up the back of the car, set up our lawn chairs and had our own personal tailgate.  We hung out with a few other fans down there, just chilling out, eating some Chipotle, listening to some music and having a good time.

Red Rocks Setlist: Night 1 Everyday Time Of The Season Say Goodbye Dream Girl Louisiana Bayou The Stone Stolen Away On 55th & 3rd Bartender What Would You Say Everybody Wake Up American Baby Intro Dancing Nancies >> Warehouse So Much To Say >> Anyone Seen the Bridge? >> Too Much Encore: Old Dirt Hill Ants Marching

When we made our way up to our seats, the opening act just about finished up.  DMB took the stage about 11:20, then played 2 & 1/2 hours of amazing music!  I attached the setlist of what they played.  I won’t bore you with going through every song, but I wanted to highlight a few things:

• They played Time of the Season – the oldie song by the Zombies that was written in 1968.  It was so out of nowhere and so awesome!
• Stolen Away on 55th & 3rd – ugh, I kinda hope they don’t play this one again at Red Rocks. The people next to us were getting trashed off of beer, and they kept asking my sister and I if we were going to go get any.  I finally told them "We are, but I’m waiting for a crappy song to come on." Of course I was joking because there are no crappy Dave Matthews songs, but then they started to play thing song and I thought "close enough", so I told my sister I’d be back and went and got us beer.
• It was funny that they played the American Baby Intro and not American Baby, but since I’ve heard that along with "Everybody Wake Up" I think I’ve heard every song on the Stand Up CD now.
• With the drunkies next to us – there was this girl that started talking to us half way through.  She was really nice, but then towards the end of the concert she was looking pretty distressed.  When I asked her what was wrong, she told me that she had the hiccups, to which I suggested she hold her breath.  I guess it worked, and she was so happy that she had to thank us like 5 times for it.  You’d think my sister and I saved her life or something.  Pretty funny.

I’m sad to report that I really don’t have any pictures to share (outside of the one of my sister and our make-shift tailgate).  We snuck a disposable camera in, but the flash went off every freakin’ time.  I was mad..  Security there was a joke though, so I’m going to try to smuggle in the digital tonight.  Wish me luck

Overall last night was an amazing night.  I always am so glad to go to Dave Matthews concerts (last night was my 8th) and the best part is that I get to experience this for 3 more nights!

Oh and one other note on my whole "ditching Pastoral Council for the concert".  Yesterday I sent the message out to the council talking about how I need to miss it for  "Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund Raising Event".  I thought I was being all cool and vague, but I GOT FOUND OUT!  This morning I went over to the Vice Chair’s house to run through the agenda with her and she says "So, you’re going to go to that concert at Red Rocks?"  Argggh….  I guess she saw it on the news.  But I’ve been had I guess that’s what I deserve…

"It’s crazy I’m thinking Just knowing that the world is round Here I’m dancing on the ground Am I right side up or upside down Is this real or am I dreaming" I saw Dave Matthews Band!!!!! One of the greatest bands at one of the greatest venues, equals one of the greatest concerts ever! So much to say, so much to say…. But now I must go visit the Dreaming Tree….. More to come.  Goodnight!

Oh man…  This is surreal…  I’m not even sure what to think.

So I went back onto the Warehouse site to see when they were shipping out the Night 4 DMB tickets (which sold out to the general public in 2 minutes this morning).  And before they ship them they reveal the seat/row locations your tickets are in.  Well mine are posted up….

…AND I’M IN ROW 3!!!!!

I can’t believe it!!  I am so psyched out of my mind right now!!!  Red Rocks has 69 rows, the first night I was in Row 50, Night 2 – Row 19, Night 3 – Row 31…  But ROW 3?!?  Wow…

"Celebrate we will
Because life is short but
Sweet for certain
We’re climbing two by two
To be sure these days continue
The things we cannot
Celebrate, you and me, climbing two by two, to be sure
these days continue, things we cannot change "

So safe to say that I’m skipping out on Pastoral Council, probably the most irresponsible thing I’ve done in the last year.  I just emailed the Vice Chairperson today, telling her that I won’t be able to make the meeting because I’m expected to attend a Hurricane Katrina Relief fund-raiser…

It’s not really a lie, is it? The concert is a benefit concert for the Hurricane Relief efforts, and after shelling out $58.50 per ticket I’m damn well expecting myself to attend it, so.. yeah…  It’s the truth, isn’t it?  I think I need to go to confession… at another church.. after the concert…

HOLY CRAP!

I still don’t believe it!  I’m still in shock…  But I GOT MONDAY NIGHT TICKETS!!!  Yes, tickets go on sale next Wednesday, but I have successfully managed to get them in advance!!

So this afternoon I was snooping around the message boards when I saw news that the Warehouse was planning on doing Instant Ticketing, but they hadn’t announced anything about it yet…  I got home this afternoon, and browsed over to the Warehouse site, checked to see if there was any news or postings… Not yet…  However I click over to Instant Ticketing and check it out…. AND I SAW TICKETS AVAILABLE!  So I put my info in, submit the form, and GOT CONFIRMED!!!

I’m going to all 4 nights!!!!

I still have that Pastoral Council meeting that Monday, and I’m going to have to come up with something (let alone how I’m going to come up with the money for another DMB night), but I’ll figure something out   At least this is all in the form of a donation to charity  

I’m so excited!!!

So I wake up this morning to find out that I was not dreaming – there is in fact a 4th Dave Matthews show over at Red Rocks!  And as the morning progresses things get more and more interesting (and in some ways, funny).

Foremost, please don’t think that I’m ignorant or apathetic of the Hurricane Katrina situation – the very reason they’ve scheduled the 4th concert.  Watching the news over the few days and seeing how this whole situation is unfolding it’s very tragic and sad to see things where they’re at.  My prayers throughout this week has been for those who have lost homes, loved ones, and lives.  It’s interesting how times like these can bring out the best in people, but also the worst in people as well (with all of the looting, taking up arms, and rampant crime).  I just pray that more good continues to come of this, and that the people of New Orleans find some kind of comfort and support.  I also think that it’s important in times like these to do what we can: volunteer & donate.  This morning I had the chance to kick some money towards the Red Cross, and it’s pretty cool to see that their web site is getting slammed, bogged down with so many people trying to donate money.  Secondly, it’s really cool to see people stepping up in their own unique ways to help where they can – like with Dave Matthews Band and the concert.  You also see people from all facets of society helping where they can.  A guy from a radio show I listened to last night offered a dinner, signed book and a personal "War On Terror Intelligence Briefing" for the first person who would match his $100 donation.  The phones rang off the hook, so he upped the offer to the first 10, then the first 20.  Finally he capped it out at 24, but it’s amazing to see all these different outlets available for people to help.

So getting back to the concert… It’s still pretty surreal that it’s happening.  The news stories are out there – location TV & radio stations are reporting the news, and the story has been confirmed by a few different media web sites – yet there is still no announcement on the official web site.  Also there’s nothing official on the Warehouse fan club web site.  Supposedly there’s supposed to be a news conference about the concert today, and rumor has it that tickets will go on sale next week.

What’s funny is that the news has made it’s way to the Warehouse message boards, and it can’t be any funnier.  One thing you have to understand about these Warehouse fans, they’re totally hard-core.  I know many of my friends out there think that I’m a DMB fanatic – but I have nothing on these guys!  A lot of these people spend huge jack flying all over the country and going to shows.  While the 3rd night of Red Rocks will make my 10th DMB show of all time, many of them have easily been to 10+ shows this year.  These people are nuts…  and now they’re all PISSED!

It’s pretty funny to see their reactions.  Of course they’re not mad about DMB putting on a benefit concert – they think it’s really noble (which it is).  The reason they’re pissed though, is because they’re all flying in for the weekend, and their flights home are all scheduled on Monday.  Hilarious!  So now a lot of them are scrambling, seeing if they could re-schedule their flights, take more time off work, and book an extra night in their hotels.  And yet tickets haven’t gone on sale yet!  And the reason that many of them (including me) got tickets is because 2,500 of the 9,500 seats were allocated for Warehouse members.  But getting an idea how the Warehouse ticketing system works, as well as the fact that this is a benefit concert, I’m predicting that Zero tickets will be sold through the Warehouse.

Time to dust of that Ticketmaster playbook… But honestly I don’t know if I’ll be able to go to the 4th night.  As it turns out I have a Pastoral Council meeting on that Monday.  No big deal, except for the fact that I’m the chairperson!  Ugh…  Hmmm, maybe it’s time for the Vice Chair to take over for a meeting…  We’ll see though.  What I really want to do is help some of my friends (like Matt) who tried really hard to get tickets to the original shows and lucked out.  So we’ll see how things go!

<edit> "Tickets will go sale Wednesday September 7 at 10 a.m. They will be available by calling 303-870-TIXS. Most tickets will go for $58.50, but some VIP tickets will be sold for $500 and $1,000."  </edit>

Also I heard that part of Saturday Night’s (Sept 10th) show is going to be on MTV!  Check it out:

NEW YORK, NY, United States (UPI) — MTV, VH1, and CMT said Wednesday they will simulcast a live performance special to raise funds for an ongoing Hurricane Katrina relief campaign.

The special, scheduled to air Saturday, Sept. 10, will raise funds for the American Red Cross and other relief organizations. MTV Networks head Judy McGrath said the campaign is also intended to promote volunteerism among the MTV, VH1 and CMT audiences.

Plans call for the campaign to kick off with a live programming block on Saturday from locations in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Nashville. Scheduled performers include Ludacris, Green Day, Gretchen Wilson, Usher, Alicia Keys, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews Band. Additional details will be announced later.

Look mom, I’m going to be on MTV (kind of)