As I mentioned in my last post, I began my concert fiesta last week when Matt Nathanson stopped by San Jose's Music in the Park (photos above are from his sound check). My friend Jill and I got downtown early...we got a spot center stage, about 10 people back from the edge. We had our blankets, had our sunscreen...we were ready to go.
We didn't realize San Jose Idol was going to start the show...could have done without that, but the opening band wasn't bad. MIGGS. Ever heard of them? I thought I had, but couldn't place why...then, upon doing a little Internet surfing, I discovered that they also opened for Mandy Moore at Music in the Park a couple of years ago. Weird. They weren't bad...until their lead singer invited everyone to get closer and basically rush the stage.
Jill and I, along with our friend Veronnica, almost got trampled as people literally started pushing forward. We quickly packed up our blankets and got ourselves up off the ground. It was so uncool. Then someone threw a beer, and that was a treat. Security anyone?
We stood there in the middle for a bit, waiting for Matt to get on stage. When he came out, the pushing forward only got worse. In fact, somebody pushed someone behind us, she fell, we almost fell, and well, that's when I decided I hated Music in the Park and free concerts in general.
The idea is nice...free music for the people. I get it. But there just HAS to be better control over the crowd, and really, shouldn't they check to see if people even know who the artists are before they let them in the park? And is it really necessary for me to see drug paraphernalia all over the place? Seriously, SECURITY????
I'm pretty sure I have a bruise in the middle of my back from the couple that was standing behind me while we were still in the middle. They kept having "moments" and the girl kept turning around and whacking me with her back each time. And when she was facing forward, his hands were around her and they kept pushing me forward. I kept trying to push back a little, but to no avail.
After about 4 songs, I'd had enough. I moved out of the scene to the edge of the park. Jill and Veronnica followed. We could still hear of course, but couldn't see much. And there were still annoying drunk/druggie people everywhere. They couldn't have cared any less about the music.
It's not that I'm a concert snob...maybe it is, but I really don't think so. I really don't mind standing to hear a band/artist...I've done it multiple times at The Fillmore in San Francisco. But I also know that everyone there PAID to be there and actually know who they're coming to see. They're not pushing and shoving and puffing on illegal drug pipes. Plus, at The Fillmore, there are apples...but that's a separate story...
Bottom line: Free concerts? Buh-bye. Done. Finito. The end. Evicted.
Lots of love for Matt as always...but one other negative of these sorts of events, there is just not enough music from the artist. I needed much, much more!!!
My name is Carrie, and I'm addicted to music...all kinds of music, but especially live music. As many of you know, I'm a concert junkie...an addict, if you will. When each new year begins, I wonder which of my favorite bands will tour and how many will come to the Bay Area so I can see them in person. So many bypass us that I typically start the year as a skeptic thinking that this will be the year I don't get to see anyone in concert. But then...I'm surprised...and excited...and full of concert tickets!! Oh yes. I feed my addiction. And it is JOY!
Here we are in July, and so far, I've seen only 2 concerts. But oh. They were joyous. They were both the same tour...Third Day, with Revive & Brandon Heath. One in Modesto and one in Fresno. But now, the real fun begins...
July - Matt Nathanson (that's tomorrow!)
August - Switchfoot, Green Day, Daughtry
September - Pink
October - Rob Thomas, U2
November - Billy Joel/Elton John, Kelly Clarkson
Crazy, right? Yes. I'm completely addicted to concerts!! That's nine concerts in five months. NINE!! But I don't care. There is nothing like live music. Nothing.
So, I totally cheated and stole this idea from Facebook...and it's an old one too...I don't care. My blog. My decisions. Anyway...the game is this...using only song names from ONE ARTIST, respond to the questions...so, because again, my blog/my decisions, I've done it twice. The first is my original set of answers from the Facebook note...the second, my updated version with a different artist...because you know, I can. Let's see how it goes!
Artist 1 - Matt Nathanson
1. Are you male or female? Princess 2. Describe yourself: Clean 3. How do you feel about yourself? Amazing Again 4. Describe your ex boyfriend/girlfriend: Gone 5. Describe your current boy/girl situation: Suspended 6. Describe your current location: Curve of the Earth 7. Describe where you want to be: Parade 8. Your best friend is: King of the Mountain 9. Your favorite color is: Bare 10. You know that: Then I'll Be Smiling 11. What’s the weather like? New Coats and New Hats 12. If your life was a television show what would it be called? To the Beat of Our Noisy Hearts 13. What is life to you? Little Victories 14. What is the best advice you have to give? Don't Worship Me 15. If you could change your name what would you change it to? Angel
Artist 2 - Rob Thomas
1. Are you male or female? Problem Girl 2. Describe yourself: I Am an Illusion 3. How do you feel about yourself? Natural 4. Describe your ex boyfriend/girlfriend: Still Ain't Over You 5. Describe your current boy/girl situation: Something To Be 6. Describe your current location: Real World '09 7. Describe where you want to be: Merry New York Christmas 8. Your best friend is: Lonely No More 9. Your favorite color is: Her Diamonds 10. You know that: Believe 11. What’s the weather like? Fire on the Mountain 12. If your life was a television show what would it be called? Ever the Same 13. What is life to you? Streetcorner Symphony 14. What is the best advice you have to give? Sleep Til the War is Over 15. If you could change your name what would you change it to? Dear Joan
As the news of Steve McNair's death unfolded today, I couldn't believe what I was reading. And I couldn't help but think of all the other celebrity deaths I'd read/heard about over the last few weeks. Too many I was thinking.
Then, I thought of my friend who lost her grandmother this week. And how that is so much more personal, but nothing you would have read about in your local paper or on CNN. I wondered how frustrating it must be for everyone who loses someone in this world to watch all the hoopla on the news about Michael Jackson or Farrah or Steve McNair. What about the other 149,999 people who died today (per WikiAnswers, an average of 150,000 people die in our world each day)? Where are their stories? Or should we even know?
How much should we really know about people when they die? Is it really important for us, the public, to know about a celebrity's will? I soooo do not care! It has nothing to do with any of us. Why does our media push it on us? And why do I keep reading/listening? I'm contributing to the problem I just threw out there for you. I hate that.
I do get that celebrity is a part of our society, and I get that people want to know about them in both life and death. I just hope that as we're reading/watching about the 1.5 million who are trying to claw their way into Michael's memorial next week, we think about the 2 million others who have died since he did.
Frankly, at the end of the day, I'm just tired of all the dying. Celebrities, grandparents, soldiers, sons, daughters...enough already!
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