Ok, so I'm finally getting back to blogging after a busy week at work - only 2 weeks ago at this time I was on my way to Walker to start my vacation week!
I was on my way to the casino for the Hinder/Saving Abel concert. When I drove into town, I noticed more traffic than usual - almost every parking spot in town was filled! After I checked into my hotel, I learned that they were having an ethnic festival that weekend, so I walked down and checked out some of the booths for a while until it was time for the first part of the concert to begin.
The opening act, Saving Abel, went onstage at about 4pm. Unlike previous concerts I'd been to at Northern Lights Casino, instead of the main events stage, this concert was held outside the casino in a large enclosed tent. Saving Abel played about a dozen songs from their first 2 albums, including songs off their current CD Miss America. Midway through their set, they brought out stools and acoustic guitars for a 3-song acoustic performance, including a cover of CCR's hit "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" and their current single "The Sex Is Good." Saving Abel closed their set with their breakthrough hit "So Addicted," and the crowd began to clear the tent area shortly afterwards.
After playing a few casino games, I grabbed a bite to eat on my way out, and then decided to head back to town, since it was only 6pm. I was hoping to experience more of the festival, but apparently it had closed down for the night, so I crashed at my hotel room until the concert headliner Hinder was scheduled to play about 8 pm - first concert I've ever been to where the performers play that many hours apart from each other.
The late September skies were getting dark as Hinder hit the stage. The five-piece rock band is releasing a new album called All-American Nightmare later this year, so they played four songs from that CD during the concert, including the title cut. The new songs were good, and seemed to be in the same musical vein as their previous 2 albums. The band ended their 2-song encore with their massive radio hit "Get Stoned." As I walked out of the tent with many other satisfied concert patrons, I realized it was only 10 o'clock! Plenty of time to grab a snack and catch the rain-delayed Twins game afterwards!
I woke up late Sunday morning and decided to explore the town. Unfortunately, the ethnic festival ended on Saturday, but I still had a good time walking around and enjoying the scenery at the park, where I also got some much-wanted time to do some writing and drawing, something I haven't had time to do in a long time. I enjoyed a hearty meal in town before retiring for the night to watch some NFL games.
Monday I spent the day in Bemidji, for the first time since I was a kid. Tuesday was spent in the Brainerd/Baxter area, and before I knew it, Wednesday rolled around and it was time to go home. If I was going to go home that day, at least I was glad the rainy weather didn't keep me from missing out on great scenery.
I spent Thursday and Friday relaxing, running some errands, and taking in a movie (George Clooney's latest film The American). Last Saturday I spent time with family at the community park in Richmond - my cousin Jay who just got married in Tofte last month was having a reception for friends & family. I enjoyed catching up with the couple and some old friends and relatives, including my old principal at Richmond Elementary and my godparents, who had driven up from Idaho Falls, Idaho for the occasion. I hadn't seen them since I flew out to their youngest daughter Roxanne's wedding in Salt Lake City, Utah about 8 years ago, so it was good to catch up with them and find out how my cousins out west were doing.
Last Sunday I got to watch the Vikings choke another game away while the Twins eked even closer to playoff contention. I also had a nice meal with the folks and my godparents. It was a good week - it was nice to get away from the daily grind for a while, but it really went by too fast!
I was on my way to the casino for the Hinder/Saving Abel concert. When I drove into town, I noticed more traffic than usual - almost every parking spot in town was filled! After I checked into my hotel, I learned that they were having an ethnic festival that weekend, so I walked down and checked out some of the booths for a while until it was time for the first part of the concert to begin.
The opening act, Saving Abel, went onstage at about 4pm. Unlike previous concerts I'd been to at Northern Lights Casino, instead of the main events stage, this concert was held outside the casino in a large enclosed tent. Saving Abel played about a dozen songs from their first 2 albums, including songs off their current CD Miss America. Midway through their set, they brought out stools and acoustic guitars for a 3-song acoustic performance, including a cover of CCR's hit "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" and their current single "The Sex Is Good." Saving Abel closed their set with their breakthrough hit "So Addicted," and the crowd began to clear the tent area shortly afterwards.
After playing a few casino games, I grabbed a bite to eat on my way out, and then decided to head back to town, since it was only 6pm. I was hoping to experience more of the festival, but apparently it had closed down for the night, so I crashed at my hotel room until the concert headliner Hinder was scheduled to play about 8 pm - first concert I've ever been to where the performers play that many hours apart from each other.
The late September skies were getting dark as Hinder hit the stage. The five-piece rock band is releasing a new album called All-American Nightmare later this year, so they played four songs from that CD during the concert, including the title cut. The new songs were good, and seemed to be in the same musical vein as their previous 2 albums. The band ended their 2-song encore with their massive radio hit "Get Stoned." As I walked out of the tent with many other satisfied concert patrons, I realized it was only 10 o'clock! Plenty of time to grab a snack and catch the rain-delayed Twins game afterwards!
I woke up late Sunday morning and decided to explore the town. Unfortunately, the ethnic festival ended on Saturday, but I still had a good time walking around and enjoying the scenery at the park, where I also got some much-wanted time to do some writing and drawing, something I haven't had time to do in a long time. I enjoyed a hearty meal in town before retiring for the night to watch some NFL games.
Monday I spent the day in Bemidji, for the first time since I was a kid. Tuesday was spent in the Brainerd/Baxter area, and before I knew it, Wednesday rolled around and it was time to go home. If I was going to go home that day, at least I was glad the rainy weather didn't keep me from missing out on great scenery.
I spent Thursday and Friday relaxing, running some errands, and taking in a movie (George Clooney's latest film The American). Last Saturday I spent time with family at the community park in Richmond - my cousin Jay who just got married in Tofte last month was having a reception for friends & family. I enjoyed catching up with the couple and some old friends and relatives, including my old principal at Richmond Elementary and my godparents, who had driven up from Idaho Falls, Idaho for the occasion. I hadn't seen them since I flew out to their youngest daughter Roxanne's wedding in Salt Lake City, Utah about 8 years ago, so it was good to catch up with them and find out how my cousins out west were doing.
Last Sunday I got to watch the Vikings choke another game away while the Twins eked even closer to playoff contention. I also had a nice meal with the folks and my godparents. It was a good week - it was nice to get away from the daily grind for a while, but it really went by too fast!
No comments:
Post a Comment