Who: The Goo Goo Dolls with Matt Nathanson
When: August 24, 2013
Where: Darien Lake Performing Arts Center / Darien Center, NY
With: Steph &Gary
Of Note: Oh, well you're a Ford. That's okay.
(Author's Note: This was supposed to be my BIG SPECIAL 100TH POST in honor of one of my biggest blog fans. Then I got distracted with Sing Off "live" blogs. So, this is my BIG SPECIAL 106TH POST.)
Okay, so. After a scant five months in San Francisco, it was time to head back to the Rough BUF for some fun time with friends, a wedding, and...well, let's be honest here - a complete and total shitshow. It was glorious.
So, on Saturday (after a particularly extra large evening on Friday, ahem), I met up with Steph & Gary for lunch and a trip to the Elmwood Art Festival. Gary and I had gone to MBA school together and then I met Steph when they started dating. I quickly appropriated Steph as a friend of my very own. And, while the two of them are each amazing on their own, I think they're one of the best couples ever. I was super excited to hang out with them for the day. (This post is functioning as a Happy Christmas At The Warehouse Substitute for Steph.) As we sat at lunch, Steph asked me what I was doing that night and though I had some vague "meet up with people at some point" plans, nothing was set in stone. As it turns out, Gary's dad, though some fancy-pants connections had procured VIP tickets to see the Goo Goo Dolls at Darien Lake. Would I like to go with them? Hell yeah!
Because they are lovely (and I desperately needed to lay down for 45 minutes), Steph & Gary went to grab subs & tailgating supplies while I took a cat nap. Then, I picked them up at their house and offered to drive - because they had gotten dinner and I thought my rental car was pretty slick. I was driving a brand new Ford.
When we got to Darien Lake, we were directed to a special lot, because of our VIP ticket status. Once we got there, we were directed to a parking place about 17 feet from the special VIP entrance. It was all pretty baller. As we stood in the parking lot, eating our subs, there was a lot of hullabaloo around where we were parked and where people needed to be parked. Several folks were asked to move their cars to the back of the lot. ("You can't park an Audi in the Ford section, duh.") There was some attitude thrown. We, however, were treated with the utmost graciousness. You see, we were in a Ford. So we got to be in the "special VIP Ford section". I'm pretty sure the whole thing was a myth and we were parked in some sort of fire lane but hey, we were just following orders. "It's okay; we have a Ford," became a recurring joke.
Still eating dinner, we checked out the tickets - third row? Not bad! We also had access to a special VIP section off the actual amphitheater. Plus our special parking. While talking about how cool it all was, I said, "Wow, I am really impressed at your VIP-ness!" It took Steph & I about 20 seconds. Gary caught on about 8 seconds after that. This was followed by 15-20 minutes of "VIP-ness" jokes that got increasingly funny the more you thought about them. Good times all the way around. You will note that Gary will not be "sharing his VIP-ness with the world!" as he's married. I am actually still laughing about this. VIP-ness.
Ha! Okay, so the little backstage area was awesome - sweet patio furniture, short lines at the bar and restrooms, a dude with an acoustic guitar playing a mini set in the corner. I don't know what I was doing hanging out with the unwashed masses in non-VIP all those years at Darien Lake, but man. I should have gotten my stuff together sooner.
And now, the music. Matt Nathanson opened. You will recall that the last time he played Buffalo, he rocked so hard that he ripped his pants, pretty much off. He told that story, which was hilarious. His set was exactly what you would expect- fun, funny, very gracious. Prior to the song, "Run", he talked about how it was usually a duet but that since he was all by himself it was going to be a "solo session" and made vague masturbation jokes. He also, hilariously, called out some guy in the crowd (wearing a bright yellow shirt) for not clapping, imploring him to "be a leader". Also, can I talk about how much I love the song 'Mission Bells'? Because I really, really love that song (even though the lyrics are kind of miserably sad). I keep thinking that Matt Nathanson is a good San Francisco guy and I like him so I should like San Francisco. Isn't there some sort of logic proof for that? P->Q and all that?
As you may also recall, I had seen the Goo Goo Dolls the month prior, in California. Isn't that overkill? Two shows in two months for a non-jam band? NO. And here's the reason why: as I've said before, seeing the Goos in Buffalo is one of the most magical things ever. Hometown heroes feeding off the insane energy of the crowd and giving back even more than they're getting. It's an amazing thing to be a part of. Plus, neither Steph nor Gary had seen them so I was with some first timers, which makes it even more generous that they shared their VIP-ness! (Ba dum, bum!)
The setlist was mostly a gift to the crowd that adored them - all their hits plus some other favorites. I was super pumped about 'January Friend' (my favorite Robby song!) and 'Big Machine' (off Gutterflower, which I loved). There was a really cute thing that prefaced their newest single 'Come To Me' where they were helping with a proposal - he held up a sign and then said, "(I forget the name), this will be your favorite song!" and it was recorded and that video was going to be part of a proposal, which was adorable...even if Johnny kind of screwed it up. The end of the set ascended up a mountain of frenzy, from 'Better Days' to 'Stay With You' to 'Iris' and finally erupting in an absolute fever pitch with 'Broadway'. We were so close that Johnny Rzeznick briefly stared into my soul and I squealed. (Don't judge.) Echoing their famous Juy 4 show, the last song of the encore was 'Give A Little Bit'.
Less important than the set list though (which felt, as I said, like a gift to the fans) or the actual music (which, obviously flawless) was the feeling. This show felt like Buffalo. From the guys in front of us in Goos shirts & Bills hats to the cold Labatt to the absolute adoration in the air... this felt like home. I often struggle when people are incredulous that I had reservations at leaving the BUF because it's hard to put into words why the place is so great. This night? This is why this place is so great. Such a really great night with really great friends.
When: August 24, 2013
Where: Darien Lake Performing Arts Center / Darien Center, NY
With: Steph &Gary
Of Note: Oh, well you're a Ford. That's okay.
(Author's Note: This was supposed to be my BIG SPECIAL 100TH POST in honor of one of my biggest blog fans. Then I got distracted with Sing Off "live" blogs. So, this is my BIG SPECIAL 106TH POST.)
Okay, so. After a scant five months in San Francisco, it was time to head back to the Rough BUF for some fun time with friends, a wedding, and...well, let's be honest here - a complete and total shitshow. It was glorious.
So, on Saturday (after a particularly extra large evening on Friday, ahem), I met up with Steph & Gary for lunch and a trip to the Elmwood Art Festival. Gary and I had gone to MBA school together and then I met Steph when they started dating. I quickly appropriated Steph as a friend of my very own. And, while the two of them are each amazing on their own, I think they're one of the best couples ever. I was super excited to hang out with them for the day. (This post is functioning as a Happy Christmas At The Warehouse Substitute for Steph.) As we sat at lunch, Steph asked me what I was doing that night and though I had some vague "meet up with people at some point" plans, nothing was set in stone. As it turns out, Gary's dad, though some fancy-pants connections had procured VIP tickets to see the Goo Goo Dolls at Darien Lake. Would I like to go with them? Hell yeah!
Because they are lovely (and I desperately needed to lay down for 45 minutes), Steph & Gary went to grab subs & tailgating supplies while I took a cat nap. Then, I picked them up at their house and offered to drive - because they had gotten dinner and I thought my rental car was pretty slick. I was driving a brand new Ford.
When we got to Darien Lake, we were directed to a special lot, because of our VIP ticket status. Once we got there, we were directed to a parking place about 17 feet from the special VIP entrance. It was all pretty baller. As we stood in the parking lot, eating our subs, there was a lot of hullabaloo around where we were parked and where people needed to be parked. Several folks were asked to move their cars to the back of the lot. ("You can't park an Audi in the Ford section, duh.") There was some attitude thrown. We, however, were treated with the utmost graciousness. You see, we were in a Ford. So we got to be in the "special VIP Ford section". I'm pretty sure the whole thing was a myth and we were parked in some sort of fire lane but hey, we were just following orders. "It's okay; we have a Ford," became a recurring joke.
Still eating dinner, we checked out the tickets - third row? Not bad! We also had access to a special VIP section off the actual amphitheater. Plus our special parking. While talking about how cool it all was, I said, "Wow, I am really impressed at your VIP-ness!" It took Steph & I about 20 seconds. Gary caught on about 8 seconds after that. This was followed by 15-20 minutes of "VIP-ness" jokes that got increasingly funny the more you thought about them. Good times all the way around. You will note that Gary will not be "sharing his VIP-ness with the world!" as he's married. I am actually still laughing about this. VIP-ness.
Ha! Okay, so the little backstage area was awesome - sweet patio furniture, short lines at the bar and restrooms, a dude with an acoustic guitar playing a mini set in the corner. I don't know what I was doing hanging out with the unwashed masses in non-VIP all those years at Darien Lake, but man. I should have gotten my stuff together sooner.
And now, the music. Matt Nathanson opened. You will recall that the last time he played Buffalo, he rocked so hard that he ripped his pants, pretty much off. He told that story, which was hilarious. His set was exactly what you would expect- fun, funny, very gracious. Prior to the song, "Run", he talked about how it was usually a duet but that since he was all by himself it was going to be a "solo session" and made vague masturbation jokes. He also, hilariously, called out some guy in the crowd (wearing a bright yellow shirt) for not clapping, imploring him to "be a leader". Also, can I talk about how much I love the song 'Mission Bells'? Because I really, really love that song (even though the lyrics are kind of miserably sad). I keep thinking that Matt Nathanson is a good San Francisco guy and I like him so I should like San Francisco. Isn't there some sort of logic proof for that? P->Q and all that?
As you may also recall, I had seen the Goo Goo Dolls the month prior, in California. Isn't that overkill? Two shows in two months for a non-jam band? NO. And here's the reason why: as I've said before, seeing the Goos in Buffalo is one of the most magical things ever. Hometown heroes feeding off the insane energy of the crowd and giving back even more than they're getting. It's an amazing thing to be a part of. Plus, neither Steph nor Gary had seen them so I was with some first timers, which makes it even more generous that they shared their VIP-ness! (Ba dum, bum!)
The setlist was mostly a gift to the crowd that adored them - all their hits plus some other favorites. I was super pumped about 'January Friend' (my favorite Robby song!) and 'Big Machine' (off Gutterflower, which I loved). There was a really cute thing that prefaced their newest single 'Come To Me' where they were helping with a proposal - he held up a sign and then said, "(I forget the name), this will be your favorite song!" and it was recorded and that video was going to be part of a proposal, which was adorable...even if Johnny kind of screwed it up. The end of the set ascended up a mountain of frenzy, from 'Better Days' to 'Stay With You' to 'Iris' and finally erupting in an absolute fever pitch with 'Broadway'. We were so close that Johnny Rzeznick briefly stared into my soul and I squealed. (Don't judge.) Echoing their famous Juy 4 show, the last song of the encore was 'Give A Little Bit'.
Less important than the set list though (which felt, as I said, like a gift to the fans) or the actual music (which, obviously flawless) was the feeling. This show felt like Buffalo. From the guys in front of us in Goos shirts & Bills hats to the cold Labatt to the absolute adoration in the air... this felt like home. I often struggle when people are incredulous that I had reservations at leaving the BUF because it's hard to put into words why the place is so great. This night? This is why this place is so great. Such a really great night with really great friends.
(Photo Credit: Steph)
Matt Nathanson!
Squeee!!!
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