Ticket Stubs

The Weekly Special this week has taken me way back. . and really makes me want to go see some more live performances!

In a vague attempt at chronological order (which is hard, because some cross lines as I continued to go to multiple shows):

Middle school days:

NKOTB - probably the same date and venue as Tempe, but I don't really remember. I definitely didn't have a mini skirt! But, I was sporting the side ponytail and was so bad-ass in my black high tops, NKOTB shirt tied in a knot and peach glasses. I have friends that really want to attend their reunion, but I'm not so inclined. (be on the lookout for this one on Niki's list tomorrow as well, because, I just might have gone with her and another friend - I can still clearly see the picture of the 3 of us sitting up on a rock just before the show, I had it in my bedroom for years)

High school days:

Live - outside at Legion Field, Athens - what were we all there?! how funny is that? And, were we all so young and naive. I was contemplating telling a story about seeing a guy from high school stoned out of his mind coming up to me in the crowd and it really freaked me out because I didn't know why his eyes looked like they did. He was creepy (and is normally hot!) and it totally made an impression on me. I was going to omit the story, but since the other girls mentioned the first smells of a real concert, I included it.

CountryFest '96 at Atlanta Motor Speedway - this was a wild experience, but so much fun! The line up was pretty increidble: Charlie Daniels, Hank Jr., Alan Jackson, Alabama, Pam Tillis, Patty Loveless and we had a blast rain, mud and all.

Kinchafoonee Cowboys at the Georgia Theatre and also at Music Midtown one year, I think.

Jennifer Nettles - x# times, 40 Watt, and even at the annual field party at Berry one year! I know Soul Miner's Daughter also performed at Berry one year, but I missed it. (Also, one Niki - and Greg - introduced me to! Our musical tastes actually align for a bit) Greg describes her performing as "sex on stage" and I have to agree; I love seeing her perform in those small, intimate venues. She's now part of Sugarland and I'm so excited for her success, even if it came at a twang rather than the underground vibe she had - I'm still a fan of twang, so no real problems for me there. I still love her and feel connected to her somehow.

David Allen Coe - ?? times! The Georgia Theatre, Cowboys what more can I say, really? We always joked about glad we were getting another show in before he croaked. He's definitely a strange-looking character.

College days (and beyond):

Shawn Mullins - outside at Berry, before he had one successful blip on the radar and got too good for us and wouldn't come back.

City Stages, Birmingham's equivilent to Music Midtown - Charlie Daniels Band is really the only one I remember.

I worked security with my Taekwondo instructor a couple summers in college when I'd come home and got in some good shows through that:

Trisha Yearwood - not sure of the venue, but it was a nice old theatre type place and I enjoyed the show, unlike some of the other folks that were working it that weren't country fans.

99X stage during Music Midtown one year (1997-1998ish?) backstage and performer tent - I can't really remember the bands that played on the stage save one: Creed. And I am not a fan, because he was an arogant prick that couldn't believe I wasn't fawning over him, much less that I didn't have a clue who he was and had to ask him to please wear his backstage pass. I have lots of stories from that experience - of working with the UGA football players also helping with secuirty and forming a line to feed out all of those daring crowd surfers that would get dumped out right at the foot of the stage and the really drunk lady who tried to sneak backstage and then slammed me against the trailer as I was escorting her out.

I know I worked the Roxy for a show at some point, but again, not sure who was playing - I really wasn't up to date on all the cool bands. I remember sitting at the lunch table and listening to some of the cool kids talk and thinking they were totally making things up: "smashing pumpkins, screaming trees, something monkeys?" those were really names of bands?!

Black Crowes -UGA coliseum; we were also slated to see them with Jimmy Paige, but the show was canceled when he hurt his back.

Indigo Girls - UGA coliseum, they were there for homecoming one year (also think this was a Niki date)

Kid Rock - Gwinnet Arena, twice. Say what you will, but he puts on a damn fun show.

Willie Nelson! 3 times: stadium at Auburn, at the Classic Center in Athens, and I'm fairly certain I worked security one other time for him at the Classic Center, because I had it in my head I'd seen him 3 times. I heart Willie.

Gov't Mule - Tabernacle (2x), Civic Center, outside at the Masquerade, and they also opened for Kid Rock at the Gwinnett Arena, which really rocked.

Little Feat - I can't remember the venue (maybe a sibling can help me out?) but my whole family went one year in the past decade for my dad's birthday. It was really awesome after growing up listening to it to be there in a small venue with my siblings that also grew up listening to it and have appreciation and with our parents who planted it in all of us.

In that same vein, I think the person I would most want to see would be Jackson Browne. I grew up listening to him and just love his music and think watching him perform in a small setting, with his piano would be really incredible. I'd want him to Stay just a little bit longer, I'm sure.