So most of you are probably wondering why I have been going crazy over last night's concert and blowing up your news feed... I mean it was just a concert, right?
WRONG.
Well, first off I am going to tell you all of the crazy things that happened last night. Then I'll explain why it's such a big deal.
Last night was a celebration for my good friend Erica and I because we both just landed new jobs. We saw Gavin DeGraw last summer at the Ohio State Fair and, being the huge fans that we are, really wanted to see him again. We really like Train, too, so it seemed like the perfect show. Well... Her new job is in Virginia. And she is moving TODAY. (::insert crying emoji here::) So the concert ended up being our last hurrah together here in Ohio. Because she is moving today, there was some stuff she had to get done last night and we kind of got a late start getting on the road. Like, 5 o'clock. The concert starts at 7, so no biggie right? Ummm... Yeah, until we hit major traffic on 271 and sat for a long time. THAT was fun. Once we got moving again, we decided to take the back way into Blossom and we got right in until we met up with Steels Corners traffic. At this point it was 6:45. Remember... concert starts at 7. We were stopped, trying to get into the lanes for general parking, when a lady jumped out of the car in front of us and handed us their extra VIP parking pass! She told us they were going to give it to the car in front of them, but they were smoking. We were not. See? Good health pays off!
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| Our golden ticket! |
So we made our way to Lot A which put us right into the venue. We rushed in, hit up the bathrooms (hey, it was a long car ride) and as we were coming out of bathroom we heard the opening notes to Gavin DeGraw's set so we rushed to our seats.
Honestly, without that parking pass we would have had to park way out in the general lots and walk all the way to the venue. We would have missed his whole set. And what was about to happen next.
Our seats were in the back of the pavilion. Not horrible, but you don't expect the artists to EVER come back there. Gavin is singing and next thing you know, he hops off the stage and is walking into audience. He makes his way to the middle and I just kinda figured he'd head back to the stage. Except HE WAS HEADING RIGHT TOWARD OUR SECTION. The next thing I know, I'm standing right next to him, holding on to his arm. HOLDING ONTO HIS ARM. Mostly to steady myself from all of the girls behind me shoving.... And ok, maybe I did want to touch him ;-)
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| Does that curly head look familiar? ;-) |
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| How about that hand? (If you zoom in, you can see my wedding rings...haha) |
And THEN he started singing to us... Which was pretty awesome. Even more awesome? He sang Justin Timberlake's "Mirrors." And he did the song justice for sure!
After GDG was The Script. They put on a pretty good show. We enjoyed it, we just weren't as excited about them.
And then came Train. They opened with "Calling All Angels" which I did NOT expect!
They put on such a good show... There is nothing like being able to stand there and sing at the top of your lungs the songs that you have loved for so long. We also had the pleasure of seeing the lead singer, Pat Monahan, up close and personal as he visited us there in the back of the pavilion. Again, totally unexpected!
There was just so much energy, everyone dancing and singing along. I know I sang every word to every song. My voice is paying for it today.
They closed up the show with "Drops of Jupiter" and then Gavin DeGraw, Danny O'Donoghue from The Script, and Ashley Monroe joined them to sing a cover of "The Weight" which was AMAZING and I hope they record it!
The whole experience was just amazing. Easily one of the best, if not THE best, show I've ever been to and I got to spend it with some great friends. As for leaving the show, getting out of the parking lot was just as easy as getting in--- always a bonus at Blossom!
Now, here is the big deal behind the concert. If you know me pretty well, or even a little bit, then you know that music is a huge part of who I am. I associate songs with important parts of my life. I have a song for everything and I look to lyrics for inspiration, to cheer me up, whatever. The thing with Gavin DeGraw... I've been a fan since I was 16. I can tell you every detail about the day I bought his first album. The short version; I was with my best friend, Carley. I bought it at FYE at the mall and I didn't have a CD player in my car, but I had a tape deck and an adapter that I plugged my portable CD player into. I had the CD unwrapped before we were even back to the car and I haven't stopped listening to it since. Even as an adult, his songs have held significance: "More than Anyone" is a special one for my husband and I. There is the One Tree Hill connection as well (which is HUGE) ... But that's a whole 'notha blog post!
As for Train, I can hear Drops of Jupiter or any song from My Private Nation and instantly think back to that summer when I was 16.. It was a good summer :-)
To be able to see the artists I love and have loved for so long play live, to meet them and be so close to them, to hear the songs that mean so much to me--- there is nothing like it. So while it might appear to most that I am crazy, I'm okay with that because my heart is so happy right now.
Gavin DeGraw setlist:
In love with a girl
Radiation
Make a move
Chariot
Save us
Mirrors
I don't want to be
Best I ever had
Not over you
Train setlist:
Calling all angels
50 ways
If it's love
Get to me
Meet Virginia
Feels good at first
Save me San Francisco
Free/Beatles
Mermaid
Bruises
Weed instead of roses (w/ Ashley Monroe)
Drum solo
California 37
Soul sister/can't hold us
Drive by
Encore :
We were made for this
Drops of Jupiter
The weight
