A Thursday Weekend Wrap-up

It was another concert weekend. We kicked it off Friday at Local 506 seeing regional bands Youth League, Knowne Ghost and Cuzco. Earlier in the week my son told me that he remembered seeing the bassist for Youth League at Wreckingball last summer. When we arrived at the club I saw the band outside talking. I told my son to ask him if he was indeed there last summer. Being too shy he declined. I on the other hand have not many reservations about approaching people on the street to talk to them. When asked, he confirmed that he was there. Knowne Ghost was a last minute replacement for Outbound and I was grateful because I was able to hear a "new to me" band.

Youth League

Saturday morning was an early start. I got up early to see Gina off for her trip to the SAS conference in Orlando. I watched the first half of the Merseyside Derby. Then I headed out to watch local soccer as some of my friends were playing each other before my own 10:00 kickoff.  My game was a victory, to extend our unbeaten streak. However, it was not a shutout. A free kick in the second half resulted in a bending ball over my wall into the back of my net. I was able to get fingers on the ball, but not enough to keep the clean sheet.

I returned home to pick up my son and then off to his girlfriends house before we made the drive to Charlotte. We checked in to our hotel and, because of the early start to the day, I took a nap. After we had some dinner we drove to the venue. I put the address in my car's GPS and just like the last time I was in Charlotte, I was guided to a strange dead end. This time I ended up here. Luckily, we live in an era in which phones have navigation capabilities. We arrived at The Fillmore a short time later and saw a huge line on the sidewalk and we shocked to see such a gathering. Turns out it was another venue next door and the act was this pile of steaming excrement.

Thankfully we were early enough to our show that the line was non existent. After a stop at the merch tables, we made our way to the front-center of the stage. The first band up was Wax Idols. They did not disappoint as an first up, opening act. They could have easily headlined their own show. In fact, all of the bands could have headlined their own show. The energy I felt coming from the stage was fantastic.

Wax Idols

Next up was Touché Amoré. I was first introduced to their music last summer and now knowing their catalog made this show even more enjoyable. The energy was ratcheted up at this point and I could feel a real buzz in the crowd. At this time, as with the previous set, I was standing a little to the right from my son and girlfriend. Some people think musicians shouldn't be "political" but not me. I feel like everyone has the right to express their opinion. While my primary reason for going to a show is entertainment I appreciate when artists take a stand to make a statement. As the shirt Jeremy was wearing said, "Dissent is patriotic."

Touché Amoré

Even before Basment took the stage, the guy standing next to me was bouncing and I could tell his excitement could not be contained. I knew too that this was my son's girlfriends most anticipated set of the night. Again, the intensity was overflowing from the stage and the patrons.

Basement

It looks like she enjoyed Basement

Finally, my favorite band of the night, and indeed one of my favorites for the last 17 years was ready to perform. Thursday was on stage and the crowd at this time was ready to release the rest of their energy and emotions for this final set of the night. I was still standing to the side but by the time they began to play Cross Out The Eyes I had to make a move to the center, just on front edge of the pit. The throng of people surged and I could feel the intensity of the mass of humanity surrounding me. Jumping, screaming, pushing forward: This is what I was waiting for. 

Thursday

Falling Bomb

After an amazing set and two song encore the show had come to an end. We drove back to the hotel. I called Gina in Florida. I was still on a natural high and I am sure she could hear the excitement in my voice.

Unfortunately, in the middle of the night I woke up to a horrible calf cramp. Maybe I am getting too old to play soccer, scream and jump at a concert in the same day. However, I would not change a thing, and will probably repeat sometime in the future