Haven't blogged in a while, been busy with other priorities in life. 2017 was a challenging year for a lot of us. For me, I had to deal with a stressful job, the loss of a couple of favorite aunties, and some family health issues, among other things. There were also a lot of great times, too. I know I'm probably forgetting some, but here are some of my favorite moments of this year.
I didn't get to many shows early in the year, but one great show was the Cold Kingdom EP release show in March at the Fine Line Music Cafe in downtown Minneapolis. I got to see locals Eris and Omaha, Nebraska natives Arson City play live for the first time, and I got to catch up for the first time this year with some great friends.
It was nice to attend a Flipp reunion show in Uptown Minneapolis with a good friend. Despite a lack of close parking and a ton of traffic, I still had a good time rockin' out to Flipp classics and a few covers. The highlight of an otherwise disappointing week in late April.
The following weekend, I attended the Saving Abel show at the Cabooze in Minneapolis, my first of several VIP experiences for the year. I got to meet the band and have a few items signed, and was treated to a private acoustic performance of their hit song "Addicted" on their tour bus before the show. A great way to wrap up a busy month!
A few weeks later, I flew out of the Minneapolis airport en route to Phoenix and then Salt Lake City, from where I drove three hours north on Father's Day weekend to my hotel for my godparents' 50th wedding anniversary celebration.
It was great seeing my godparents in person for the first time in over a decade! They had a very nice celebration at their assisted living complex. They also own their home in town, which is where I went with several of my cousins and their families afterwards. It was cool reminiscing and catching up, watching my cousins' kids play in the same backyard that we played in during my family's first visit to Idaho some 40 summers ago.
Most of us rejoined the next afternoon for a brunch with my godparents and spending a little more quality time together before saying our goodbyes. My godmother had Alzheimer's, but I know she was definitely glad to see everyone. Sadly, she passed away three months later. If I had known that would happen, I would have made more efforts to visit them, but I'm glad I had the chance to reconnect with everyone.
The following weekend, I went to my only Sevendust concert of 2017, flying out to Boston en route to the band's 20th anniversary show in Worcester, MA the next day. Soon after I got to my hotel, I went out to dinner and a nice night out in nearby Newport, RI with a couple of my Sevendust friends..
On the day of the concert, I got to the Palladium a little early. I browsed a local record store, and when I left the store and headed to the venue, I saw my friends and Sevendust rhythm guitarist John Connolly chatting! We said our hellos, and my group and I decided to have lunch at a cool little Mexican restaurant just down the hill. We sat outside on a beautiful June day, and as we were chatting, we noticed Sevendust drummer Morgan Rose enter the restaurant with some of the road crew. He nodded to us, and came out to talk with all of us a few minutes later, a very nice gesture on his part.
After lunch, most of our group went to the pre-show meet and greet and sound check. We said our hellos, got some photos, and went back in line, where I got another pic with Sevendust lead guitarist Clint Lowery.
We finally were able to enter the venue for the show soon afterwards. The Palladium was being renovated, so we were without the luxury of air conditioning. Despite that, I stood tough with my Sevendust family throughout one of the best and most intense shows I'd ever experienced.
I was so happy to have had a great night with friends from across the country! After hearing Sevendust's entire debut album and a few other favorites played live, some of us hung out with the band on their tour bus. I got my band photo that I wanted, and also spent close to half an hour talking baseball and music with Morgan. My 21st Sevendust show was a rousing success!
I flew back home the next morning with another friend, one of two friends in our group who attended all five Sevendust East Coast 20th anniversary shows in 5 days. I was supposed to see the band play again at Rockfest in Cadott, WI on my birthday in July. Unfortunately, the band had to cancel their appearance, but I still had a great weekend, nonetheless. I got to hang out with my friends in Seasons After, hear new music from the Rachel Lorin band, Scarlet Canary, He-Nis-Ra, Chicago rockers Veilside and witness great performances by Drowning Pool, Failure Anthem, Korn, Stone Sour, Emergent, Megadeth, Gemini Syndrome and Mushroomhead, among others. I also was able to meet Hardrive radio host Lou Brutus and the members of Hellyeah on my birthday, so I consider that a great weekend!
On the the last Thursday in August, I went to the Minnesota State Fair for the first time in years to attend the Daughtry/Nickelback show in the grandstand with a good friend. I wasn't a huge fan of either artist, but I enjoyed their performances and I'm really glad we had a great time on a beautiful fall night in Minnesota. The next night we went to support our friends in local band Fixated at the Red Carpet Nightclub in downtown St. Cloud. While it was a good show, I felt bad that it was sparsely attended. We still had a great weekend enjoying live music!
On Labor Day weekend, I found myself driving four-plus hours to Madison, Wisconsin for the annual free Taste of Madison two-day music festival. The first night was headlined by Nonpoint, a band that a buddy of mine was drum teching for. I don't think I'd ever seen as many crowd surfers during one set before, but it was a great performance that was recorded on audio and video. I had a great time catching up with some of my Sevendust friends afterwards, along with brief chats with the lead singers of supporting acts Shallow Side and Stitched Up Heart.
The second day was headlined by Powerman 5000, and it was great seeing them live for the first time in a couple of years. They happened to play their new song "Sid Vicious in a Dress" just as a wedding was taking place on the steps of the state capitol behind us.
A month later, I fulfilled a bucket list goal by getting to meet Monty Python and Fawlty Towers co-creator John Cleese after a screening and Q&A session at Northrop Auditorium on the University of Minnesota's campus. I've been a fan since junior high, so it was an honor to meet a comedy legend!
This was my first event since my Mom's leukemia diagnosis, and I needed a fun night full of laughs in the worst way. She is now in remission, but it's something that really put things in focus for my family and I. I had to cancel some weekend plans later this fall to help my folks and take Mom to some of her appointments, but I didn't mind that at all, because family always comes first. I was able to attend a few more shows before the holidays, like the Skywind 20th anniversary show at the Doghouse in Maplewood in October, the Cold Kingdom free show at Route 47 Pub & Grub (formerly Pickle Park) in Fridley, MN in November, and the Fire Fight CD release show at the Coliseum in Hastings earlier this month. I didn't get many pictures with friends, but getting to spend quality time with friends enjoying live music and supporting the local music scene was enough for me to be happy.
I don't know where 2018 will take me, but I will be starting the new year with a new, less stressful job and will be looking forward to a new Sevendust album and tour to follow. Until my first show of 2018, Happy New Year, everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment