Remembering the Encores

Who: the Sheepdogs When: June 29, 2012 Where: Lockport Canal Concert Series/ Lockport, NY With: Canadian rock star Ewan J Currie! Of Note: Sometimes I hang out with rock stars. I mean, again, it's really no big. So, we've discussed here how much I love The Sheepogs. When I found out they were playing as part of the free concert series in Lockport, I was super pumped. (Also, we're not going to discuss the fact that technically , The Sheepdogs were opening for Government Mule. The Sheepdogs should not have to open for anyone!) The website for the Lockport Canal Series is awful; nowhere on the site does it say what time the concerts start, so I headed out there right after work. I was, obviously, pretty early. As I walked around Lockport, I was talking to my mom on the phone. I asked here, "Mother, if I were going to stalk a rock star, how I would I go about that, do you suppose?" She asked me if she was going to have to bail me out that night. I t...

Who: American Idols Live! Season 7 When: July 27, 2008 Where: Blue Cross Blue Shield Arena/ Rochester, NY With: Becky Of Note: Sometimes we hang out with "rock stars", no big. So, we've established I'm a bit of a dork about American Idol. Based on my successful experience at the previous summer's show and Becky's raging crush on winner David Cook, we were on our way. We got out to Rochester early and decided to grab something to eat. Having just been there for my company's sales meeting, I suggested we just eat at the restaurant of the hotel (Dinosaur would obviously be way too packed) near the arena. While we were eating, an older gentleman approached the table (which I thought was odd) until he greeted Becky. As it turns out he was one of her bosses, part-owner in the advertising agency she worked for at the time. He explained that he was also in town for the concert because, being Australian, he had connections to Michael Johns, the eigh...

Who: Young the Giant with Bahamas and Apache Relay When: July 19, 2012 Where: Thursday at the Harbor/ Buffalo, NY With: Hillary Of Note: Children of Buffalo, you should be ashamed of yourself! So, we've documented here how much I love Young the Giant and how good they are live. I was so excited when I heard they were coming to Thursday at the Harbor, Buffalo's free outdoor concert series. A band I love! For free! Fifteen minutes from my house! I would love to use this space to tell you how good the opening act Bahamas was - it was just a guy with a guitar, a drummer, and two backing vocalists but the set was musically interesting, some blues guitar influences, a bit of soul, a big sound for the limited instrumentation. Also, he was hilarious, poking fun at the kids who had their parents drop them off, ripping on the Sabres vs. Maple Leafs rivalry, being Canadian. Or, frankly, I would love to tell you about how great Young the Giant is, again, so riveting live...

Ron Pope - A Drop in the Ocean Oh Netflix on iPad, how you have changed my life in encouraging me to consume even more CW programming.  How good is the Vampire Diaries?!?!  This song was used in one of the scenes and it captivated me.  His whole album is really good. The Wanted - Chasing the Sun Are One Direction fans and The Wanted fans currently in a BSB vs. N*Sync like stand off?  If so, I'm soooo team The Wanted.  I LOVE this song.  Oh-oh-oh-oh! Ed Sheeran - A Team His voice is so pretty. Fitz and the Tantrums - Moneygrabber It's so fun and old school and vaguely Motown-y! Aloe Blacc - I Need a Dollar I've been singing this song in my head for months, every time I have actual cash money in my wallet.  

Who: The Bonnaroo When: June 10-12, 2005 Where: A Big Field/ Manchester, TN With: Jenn Of Note: IT WAS THE BONNAROO So, congratulations to me! This is RTE's 50th post!! When I thought about what musical experience was important enough, big enough, exciting enough to be the 50th post, only one came to mind...the Bonnaroo. There are not a lot of people that I would spend more than 30 hours in a car and sleep in a tent with for four days. There are even fewer people who would elect to do that with me, I would imagine...particularly given my strict "only stop for gas" road trip mentality and intense festival schedule spreadsheet. Enter Jenn, one of my very oldest friends. I like to joke that I'd still be wandering around the first floor of our high school looking for my freshman homeroom if it weren't for her. "Hey Jenny, do you want to head upstairs to homeroom?" Oh, upstairs, right. If anyone was going to rock the Bonnaroo with me, i...

So, one of the great things about Darien is that there is a truly excellent lot for tailgating.  There's just a huge field where everyone sets up camp and you can spend the whole day cooking, Kan-Jamming, and mentally preparing yourself for a concert. The downside of this, is, however that the lot is nearly impossible to get out of, especially if you get parked towards the back, particularly because there's really just one little dirt road you can use as an exit.  At the 2012 DMB show, we got parked further back than I had ever been.  I pretty much knew that we were never getting out when the show was over. When we made our way to the car after the show, I decided that sitting in traffic trying to get out was not how I wanted to spend the next couple of hours.  The "children" were still high off the concert experience, recounting best moments excitedly.  I pulled out chairs and blankets.  Everyone grabbed a snack.  We sat for a while - and then de...

Who: Dave Matthews Band with Brandi Carlile When: July 3, 2012 Where: Darien Lake Performing Arts Center/ Darien Center, NY With: Zach, James & Chelsea Of Note: Influencing the next generation ... There are so many things I want to say, that I need to say about this show. Brace yourself. Seeing the Dave Matthews Band at Darien Lake is a summer tradition for me and I love all of it. The smell of sunscreen, the great lot for tailgating, the terrible traffic getting out of the venue, the (usually) day of roller coasters that precedes it...I love it all. Sadly, my comrades in Dave at Darien have either moved away or have new responsibilities/different priorities now so I was afraid it might not happen this year. No big deal, I'm seeing two other DMB shows this summer, right? Then, a stroke of genius hit me and I asked my nephew if he'd like me to take him to his very first concert. He agreed, asked if he could bring some friends (which, obviously!) and we w...

From Remembering the Encores I'm pretty sure I didn't go to this, but I found this with my ticket stubs and thought it was hilarious. I have a vague recollection of Mike & Ben doing this, though I don't remember what they sounded like or what the point was. Actually, I think the point was just to have a band named Bigger than Ryan, because, "Ryan is the biggest dude ever."