When I got home from work on the Friday night before Halloween, I found out that my Aunt Helen who was just diagnosed with terminal liver disease in September was getting worse - the pain medications she was on weren't helping much with the pain she was experiencing, so I figured she didn't have a lot of time left. Early the next morning, the call came in that Helen had passed away peacefully at home. Needless to say, my family and I weren't in the holiday mood, as we sat by the phone waiting to hear when the services in St. Paul would be.
Finally on Sunday night, we found out that Helen's funeral was going to be at St. Bernard's Church in St. Paul the following Saturday morning, the same church that my mom, Helen and their other sisters and brothers attended, walking across the street from their home on Woodbridge Street many years ago. I had already planned to attend the Sevendust concert at First Avenue in Minneapolis the night before, and my cousin Libby invited me to her singing gig in the Legends Club inside Target Field that Saturday night, so I knew it would be an eventful and emotional weekend.
After a busy week at work (which included a 4-hour stint as an usher at the Taste of Home Cooking Show at the St. Cloud Civic Center on Thursday night), I took last Friday off, and drove to the hotel in Bloomington where I'd be staying the next couple of nights. After taking some time to unpack, unwind, and have a quick snack, I left for downtown Minneapolis. I got to the parking ramp, getting out on the street by the Rod Carew statue outside Target Field.
I walked to my right, finding First Avenue just a few blocks away. I was waiting for traffic outside O'Donovan's Pub when I noticed a guy in dreadlocks and sporting a nose ring waiting to cross the street. Holy cows, I thought to myself, hey, that's Lajon from Sevendust! When he and a roadie crossed the road, I said hello. Lajon immediately walked up to me, said hello, and hoped I'd have a fun time at the show. I'd met the band a few years ago during their acoustic show at the Pantages Theatre just a few blocks from First Avenue, so I was pleased but not surprised by LJ's friendliness.
After a hearty supper at the nearby Hard Rock Cafe, I went back to First Avenue standing in line waiting for the doors to open. A little after 7pm, the doors finally opened, and I followed the crowd's rush to the stage. Remembering the advice of a friend who was just at First Avenue for a show a few weeks earlier, I perused the merchandise table and bought a Sevendust meet & greet lanyard, then found a stool on the top floor with a perfect view of the evening's action.
The show was sponsored by rock station 93X, as the concert was also the finals for their 2010 X-Girls competition. I got to see 11 lovely ladies take the stage (in my opinion, I thought last year's X-Girl was the best of the bunch) before the first band, My Darkest Days, took the stage. The band played a quick five-song set, ending with their radio hit "Porn Star Dancing" although they were a bit crowded in by the X-Girls who were grinding to the song.
After a set break, and the girls parading on stage in bikinis, the second opening act, 10 Years, took the stage. I was surprised how short lead singer Jesse Hasek was, and as he took the stage wearing his grey striped hoodie and ballcap, he reminded me of actor/Robot Chicken co-creator Seth Green. The band played seven songs from their last 3 albums, ending with their current single "Shoot It Out," but not before Hasek took a dive and surfed the crowd.
After another set break, the new X-Girl champion (Tayeler) was crowned, and then Sevendust hit the stage, with a blistering version of the song "Splinter," the first track from their new album Cold Day Memory. The band continued the heavy mood with hits "Denial," "Enemy" and "Waffle," "Suffocate," and other hits along with songs "Strong Arm Broken" and the new single "Forever" from the new CD.
In the middle of the set, the band brought the tempo down a notch, as guitarist Clint Lowery and frontman Lajon Witherspoon took out stools and an acoustic guitar to play the song "Xmas Day." This was then followed by a Sevendust favorite of mine "Angel's Song." I play this song off their great album Animosity every time someone I know has passed away, because the very first Sevendust concert I attended was the night that Lajon's brother was killed. Although the band could've understandably cancelled or postponed the show, they decided to go on, an abbreviated effort yet memorable nonetheless. As Clint and LJ sang this song at 1st Ave., I said a silent prayer to my Aunt Helen.
It was then time for Sevendust to start rocking again, as they transitioned from the acoustic "Angel's Son" to another favorite of mine, the throbbing, pulsing song "Black" from their self-titled debut. The energy continued at a fevered pace, as the band wound its way through the songs "Unraveling," Driven," "Pieces" and "Praise" before finishing the concert with the encore song "Face to Face."
About a half-hour after the show, I was talking with some people I'd met waiting in line for the doors to open. Everyone was excited about the show, talking animatedly until the band members showed up for the meet and greet. I enjoyed getting to talk with each one individually - I talked with guitarist John Connolly about concert venues, drummer Morgan Rose about baseball and how his beloved New York Yankees keep beating my Minnesota Twins in the playoffs, I thanked Clint Lowery for playing "Angel's Son," said hello again to Lajon who had remembered me from our brief meeting before the show. I was also humbled by bassist Vince Hornsby who insisted on hugging and sincerely thanking every fan in the room for attending the show. I can't think of too many other bands who are this accomodating, accessible and incredibly friendly to their fans, so this was a great night that I won't soon forget.
The following morning, I got up slowly, realizing I had to be at St. Bernard's Church by 11 a.m. I got there early and caught up with my Aunt Marianne and Uncle Felix, and got details on the evening's show from my cousin Libby and her husband Evans. I met up with my parents and brother during the funeral mass, and enjoyed my cousin Margie's thoughtful eulogy - I thought it represented her mom perfectly, as it talked about some of Helen's favorite things in life.
The weather for the funeral at Roselawn Cemetery was wonderful, and I enjoyed catching up later with Helen's kids at the reception on Rice Street, a street I've gone down many times over the years. Although the reception area wasn't clearly marked from the street, getting there was well worth it, as I soon found myself surrounded by family and some very nice photo boards honoring Helen. As I left to go back to the hotel and freshen up for Libby's performance that night, I knew that Auntie Helen was up there in heaven smiling down at us, probably alongside her husband Jack and son Mark, with their old dog Duke resting comfortably at their feet.
I got off to a late start, but eventually found the parking area at Target Field, and was soon on the elevator up to the Legends Club. I'd found out earlier in the week that Libby was singing for the Phillips Eye Institute Benefit, and it was a very posh affair, with a silent auction and VIP seating. For most of the night I sat at the merchandise table with Libby's husband Evans, taking in the music and good conversations. I took some time to wander the spacious event area, and even walked outside to admire Target Field all lit up at night.
The next morning, I took advantage of the Daylight Savings Time extra hour of sleep, and arrived home that afternoon, tired but happy. I got to hear a lot of great music, and spend quality time with family. Although it was a sad morning on Saturday, I think we were all glad that Helen wasn't suffering anymore, and was now at peace. I think I'm going to need this weekend to recover from last weekend!
Sevendust concert setlist:
Splinter
Denial
Enemy
Strong Arm Broken
Waffle
Suffocate
Forever
Xmas Day
Angel's Son
Black
Driven
Unraveling
Pieces
Praise
Encore: Face to Face
Finally on Sunday night, we found out that Helen's funeral was going to be at St. Bernard's Church in St. Paul the following Saturday morning, the same church that my mom, Helen and their other sisters and brothers attended, walking across the street from their home on Woodbridge Street many years ago. I had already planned to attend the Sevendust concert at First Avenue in Minneapolis the night before, and my cousin Libby invited me to her singing gig in the Legends Club inside Target Field that Saturday night, so I knew it would be an eventful and emotional weekend.
After a busy week at work (which included a 4-hour stint as an usher at the Taste of Home Cooking Show at the St. Cloud Civic Center on Thursday night), I took last Friday off, and drove to the hotel in Bloomington where I'd be staying the next couple of nights. After taking some time to unpack, unwind, and have a quick snack, I left for downtown Minneapolis. I got to the parking ramp, getting out on the street by the Rod Carew statue outside Target Field.
I walked to my right, finding First Avenue just a few blocks away. I was waiting for traffic outside O'Donovan's Pub when I noticed a guy in dreadlocks and sporting a nose ring waiting to cross the street. Holy cows, I thought to myself, hey, that's Lajon from Sevendust! When he and a roadie crossed the road, I said hello. Lajon immediately walked up to me, said hello, and hoped I'd have a fun time at the show. I'd met the band a few years ago during their acoustic show at the Pantages Theatre just a few blocks from First Avenue, so I was pleased but not surprised by LJ's friendliness.
After a hearty supper at the nearby Hard Rock Cafe, I went back to First Avenue standing in line waiting for the doors to open. A little after 7pm, the doors finally opened, and I followed the crowd's rush to the stage. Remembering the advice of a friend who was just at First Avenue for a show a few weeks earlier, I perused the merchandise table and bought a Sevendust meet & greet lanyard, then found a stool on the top floor with a perfect view of the evening's action.
The show was sponsored by rock station 93X, as the concert was also the finals for their 2010 X-Girls competition. I got to see 11 lovely ladies take the stage (in my opinion, I thought last year's X-Girl was the best of the bunch) before the first band, My Darkest Days, took the stage. The band played a quick five-song set, ending with their radio hit "Porn Star Dancing" although they were a bit crowded in by the X-Girls who were grinding to the song.
After a set break, and the girls parading on stage in bikinis, the second opening act, 10 Years, took the stage. I was surprised how short lead singer Jesse Hasek was, and as he took the stage wearing his grey striped hoodie and ballcap, he reminded me of actor/Robot Chicken co-creator Seth Green. The band played seven songs from their last 3 albums, ending with their current single "Shoot It Out," but not before Hasek took a dive and surfed the crowd.
After another set break, the new X-Girl champion (Tayeler) was crowned, and then Sevendust hit the stage, with a blistering version of the song "Splinter," the first track from their new album Cold Day Memory. The band continued the heavy mood with hits "Denial," "Enemy" and "Waffle," "Suffocate," and other hits along with songs "Strong Arm Broken" and the new single "Forever" from the new CD.
In the middle of the set, the band brought the tempo down a notch, as guitarist Clint Lowery and frontman Lajon Witherspoon took out stools and an acoustic guitar to play the song "Xmas Day." This was then followed by a Sevendust favorite of mine "Angel's Song." I play this song off their great album Animosity every time someone I know has passed away, because the very first Sevendust concert I attended was the night that Lajon's brother was killed. Although the band could've understandably cancelled or postponed the show, they decided to go on, an abbreviated effort yet memorable nonetheless. As Clint and LJ sang this song at 1st Ave., I said a silent prayer to my Aunt Helen.
It was then time for Sevendust to start rocking again, as they transitioned from the acoustic "Angel's Son" to another favorite of mine, the throbbing, pulsing song "Black" from their self-titled debut. The energy continued at a fevered pace, as the band wound its way through the songs "Unraveling," Driven," "Pieces" and "Praise" before finishing the concert with the encore song "Face to Face."
About a half-hour after the show, I was talking with some people I'd met waiting in line for the doors to open. Everyone was excited about the show, talking animatedly until the band members showed up for the meet and greet. I enjoyed getting to talk with each one individually - I talked with guitarist John Connolly about concert venues, drummer Morgan Rose about baseball and how his beloved New York Yankees keep beating my Minnesota Twins in the playoffs, I thanked Clint Lowery for playing "Angel's Son," said hello again to Lajon who had remembered me from our brief meeting before the show. I was also humbled by bassist Vince Hornsby who insisted on hugging and sincerely thanking every fan in the room for attending the show. I can't think of too many other bands who are this accomodating, accessible and incredibly friendly to their fans, so this was a great night that I won't soon forget.
The following morning, I got up slowly, realizing I had to be at St. Bernard's Church by 11 a.m. I got there early and caught up with my Aunt Marianne and Uncle Felix, and got details on the evening's show from my cousin Libby and her husband Evans. I met up with my parents and brother during the funeral mass, and enjoyed my cousin Margie's thoughtful eulogy - I thought it represented her mom perfectly, as it talked about some of Helen's favorite things in life.
The weather for the funeral at Roselawn Cemetery was wonderful, and I enjoyed catching up later with Helen's kids at the reception on Rice Street, a street I've gone down many times over the years. Although the reception area wasn't clearly marked from the street, getting there was well worth it, as I soon found myself surrounded by family and some very nice photo boards honoring Helen. As I left to go back to the hotel and freshen up for Libby's performance that night, I knew that Auntie Helen was up there in heaven smiling down at us, probably alongside her husband Jack and son Mark, with their old dog Duke resting comfortably at their feet.
I got off to a late start, but eventually found the parking area at Target Field, and was soon on the elevator up to the Legends Club. I'd found out earlier in the week that Libby was singing for the Phillips Eye Institute Benefit, and it was a very posh affair, with a silent auction and VIP seating. For most of the night I sat at the merchandise table with Libby's husband Evans, taking in the music and good conversations. I took some time to wander the spacious event area, and even walked outside to admire Target Field all lit up at night.
The next morning, I took advantage of the Daylight Savings Time extra hour of sleep, and arrived home that afternoon, tired but happy. I got to hear a lot of great music, and spend quality time with family. Although it was a sad morning on Saturday, I think we were all glad that Helen wasn't suffering anymore, and was now at peace. I think I'm going to need this weekend to recover from last weekend!
Sevendust concert setlist:
Splinter
Denial
Enemy
Strong Arm Broken
Waffle
Suffocate
Forever
Xmas Day
Angel's Son
Black
Driven
Unraveling
Pieces
Praise
Encore: Face to Face
