Havin' a good time ... or not?/Part 3

I wrapped up the details of my Knoxville trip the other day, but I want to do a compare between Birmingham and Knoxville Widespread Panic Shows.

If you check out this post from April about my Birmingham WP experience, you will notice I mentioned I cried during most of the first set.

What???????????????? How can anyone cry at a WP concert?

The day of the show, I was running my own errands, and then meeting up with people who were going to buy extra tickets and then didn't show up or return calls and texts. While all of this was going on, I was keeping an eye on the weather and tornado sirens, and getting texts and phone calls from people wanting to know where and what time to meet, what to wear, etc. I had been going over this with these people for weeks and they could not get it together.

The concert venue had changed the night before due to weather and I let everyone who was going know we were to meet at Nana Funks at 5:00 and we were to leave promptly at 5:45. Because the venue changed, the seating opened up for general admission. No one was ready to leave at 5:45, and I was about to flip out! That person I was supposed to meet earlier never showed up, no one wanted to pay face value for their ticket (I was getting offers for half and less!), I didn't even have time to get as ready as I wanted to, but everyone else could do whatever they wanted. Talk about entitled!

Some of my tickets were VIP first tier seats, and if you had those tickets, you got a special armband and special seating. Well, you were supposed to. The ushers at the door gave Space (who was with me) the right armband, and I got the "wrong" one. It took nearly an hour to figure that out. I kept showing my ticket and asking why I wasn't allowed in the VIP or reserved section, and FINALLY some usher got me the right armband. Well, Charlie Daniels had started by then.

My friends that were supposed to sit with me had no problems at all and I was finally able to meet up with them and sit with them, but someone in the group had to ask me where someone else was THE WHOLE TIME. I finally was able to see a couple of Charlie Daniels songs. During "Devil Went Down to Georgia," between ignoring the annoying person and constantly having to show off my armband to the ushers, these other people come up and start shoving me, and yelling at me that I couldn't save seats.

Yes, Charlie Daniels was ruined for me.

Between bands, I was still having to show my armband to ushers, and I noticed a ga-zillion groups smoking pot around me (this is supposed to be a non-smoking venue) and letting their smoke go wherever it may, and those shovers from "Devil Went Down to Georgia" a few rows down without the appropriate armbands. They aren't getting bothered. The smokers aren't being stopped. But me, who is not smoking or drinking, has the apropriate armband, and is just minding my own business, trying to have a good time, I'm the one the ushers want to harass, and I'm the one being harassed by everyone else breaking the rules. WTF?!? THAT, my friends, is the whole problem with Birmingham. There is this sense of false entitlement that you can do whatever you want, take whatever you want, infringe on other people's rights and soveriegnty, and no one is going to stop you or bother you. Actually, I would venture to say that wherever there are inherent problems, that is the root of them.

I found my "point person," who had lost her cell phone, and tried to introduce myself. But she was too preoccupied with her lost cell phone.

When the band started back, Space and I found a couple of seats again, and we tried to sit back and enjoy the show. But those ushers just wouldn't let us sit anywhere we tried. We had to show armbands, we got kicked out of one seat, we had to find another, repeat, repeat, repeat. All the while, all these people are dancing in the aisles, without proper armbands, smoking their joints.

Here's the deal: That section was supposed to be marked off. It wasn't. It was up to the ushers to enforce it. They clearly weren't. Pot is illegal. The security, cops, and ushers clearly didn't seem to think so. Smoking is not allowed. Again, the people hired to maintain the rules and laws and help the patrons clearly did not have their job responsibilities in order. I had missed most of the concert to this point and had been walking all over the BJCC, trying to find where I should be.

Sick of it, I marched back into that VIP area, got my point person, and told her what was going on. She took me and Space to the handicapped row and told us to be there and if anyone had a problem with it, to say she put us there. So then the ushers tried to move us. When we straightened that out, I was told I couldn't dance, that I had to sit (I was dancing in place). At that point, I lost it. I started bawling. Y'all, there were people all over the aisles (i.e. the path to the exits), blocking the aisles, dancing away. Everyone but me and my friends were having a good time. Most of my group left because it was such a fudgecluster.

Someone gave me a glow stick, and then someone else was trying to grab it out of my hand. Again, really?!? We are supposed to be mature people. Just because the band is called Widespread Panic does not mean you need to create it.

During the intermission, I went to the restroom, and left Space to hold down the fort. While I was standing in the beer line, where people got to slide on up next to me and get served, then finally I was told they quit serving beer (again, say it with me, people, REALLY?!?), Space found me and said he got kicked out.

As the music started back, I marched Space and Alan right back up to that place we were sitting, explained to the ushers, again, that we were allowed there, and did my best to have a good time. Alan and I did our little jam dancing a bit, got a little bit harassed by ushers, and we made it to the end of the show.

Was that necessary? No. Do I feel entitled to something? At this point, yes, and rightfully so. I paid good money for those tickets, and I missed most of the concert and was constantly disctracted. I wasn't causing any trouble, and everything I did was done in safe parameters (i.e. I wasn't blocking any paths).

Saturday, I was able to chill a bit. We met up in the lot before heading in, and I got some cool lot tees and some feathers in my hair.

Saturday was much better and my only complaint was I had to defend my box a bit from some "entitled" Birmingham people.

Going into Knoxville, I was slightly apprehensive, but I didn't know I had as good of seats as I did. I thought I had seats on the balcony, a few rows back. As the ushers at the Tennessee Theatre (beautiful, by the way!) walked me closer and closer to my seats that first night, I started to get nervous. I was really close and I was not in the mood to defend my territory. (And I was on steroids and pseudo-ephedrine, so it was going to be a brawl if anyone crossed me! Haha!)

No need to worry in Knoxvegas, baby! Those people were so cool and laid back. Like I said, a few people actually came up to me and ASKED if I minded if they stood near me. Of course I didn't mind. They asked, nicely, first of all. They didn't push or shove me. They didn't yell at me. They weren't smoking pot that was blowing directly in my face. They didn't invade my personal space (except to hug me <3!). I "had a good time" in Knoxville and it's all because of the "good people" there. Thank you, Knoxville, you are awesome!

Havin' a good time, part 2

Hey y'all

I'm getting back on schedule, here.

I posted the pictures from my Knoxville trip earlier, and I am actually following through and posting about my actual trip.

The back story: Back in April, when I was gearing up for Widespread Panic in Birmingham, I mentioned to some friends I would love to follow them around, maybe for a week or so. Since I didn't have it together enough in the spring, I said next time they came to the Southeast, I would do it. When they announced their fall tour, I checked the dates and locations. As I was exploring the logistics, I realized just going to Knoxville for three nights would be the most feasible. Not a whole week of Panic, but basically half a week. (I had already booked my trip for the Harvest Moon Festival at Callaway Gardens, and that was a week and a half after Knoxville, so I knew my early fall was booking up quickly.)

So, in July, I started trying to find someone to go with me. None of my loser friends would take time off work (with three months notice!) to do this trip with me. Guess what I did? I made that trip happen! I changed up my itinerary a bit to stay in Knoxville longer to visit the kids I used to babysit while I was in college.

A few days before I was scheduled to leave, I began getting the symptoms of an annoying sinus/upper respiratory infection. It seemed to get a little better, but on Saturday, two days before I was supposed to leave, it seemed worse. Worrying about the painful cough I was developing and flying with head congestion, I went to the doctor. Doctor hooked me up with some cough syrup and a steroid shot, and I was good to go! What I wish they had told me was I may not be able to sleep for a few days.

After five hours of sleep Saturday night, and another five Sunday night, I got myself out of bed at 5:00 to shower and catch my shuttle bus to Atlanta. Got on an airplane in Atlanta and landed in Knoxville before 11:00 Eastern time!

I was very strung out on lack of sleep and that damn steroid shot (and Sudafed).

I laid down for a bit that afternoon, but my phone kept blowing up with trying to figure out who would be attending the show with me that night. I decided to go ahead and check into my hotel. I laid down a bit longer, but with no sleep luck.

I went to the little cocktail/hors d'oeuvre reception at the hotel and met Savannah, who hooked me up with people to go to the show with me that night.

I went to a bar she recommended, where I met a fourth person to share my tickets with. This guy was a pilot and his sons are big Widespread fans. I talked him into going, at least just to get his kids a shirt, and he stayed for a few songs.

Savannah's friends, Oslo and Johnny, met me at the bar and hung out with me. Oslo introduced me to a great sandwich shop that gives you way too much food for a very reasonable price!

When I got to my seat, was I surprised! Y'all, I was eight rows from the stage! No joke!

Even more surprising, my fellow concert goers were very polite and asked if they could stand near me. I'm going to have to tell you about Widespread in Birmingham later, just so you know how strange this was to me.

On Tuesday, I went back to the house and got to see the kids for the first time. I still only got about six hours of sleep Monday night, so I was still a bit out of it, but getting used to the lack of sleep. (Seriously consider getting a steroid shot and use Sudafed wisely while on one. You probably won't sleep. Also, I am so thankful Knoxville people are NICE because I was also rather edgy and ready to kick any one's ass who crossed my path. Luckily, that Smoky Mountain high is contagious!)

Back to Tuesday ... Christy and I went to the bar from the night before for dinner and to get rid of my two extra tickets. We sold them to a girl who was offering more than face value (I sold them for face value, since that's they way I roll. Keep it just, people.) Christy got to hear her favorite, "Hatfield," and I got to hear "Little Lilly." We left during the (what seemed like) half-hour bongo solo in the second act. The lack of sleep, light show, and bongos were really getting to me. I'm kind of sad we did because we missed "Jack" and "Walkin' (For Your Love)."

I got about six hours of sleep again.

Wednesday, I went with Christy to get the kids and checked back into the hotel. This night I took the kids old number one Knoxville babysitter, her roommate, and his girlfriend.

Y'all, this was the night! I can't remember every song, but remember "Bust it Big," "Blackout Blues," "Imitation Leather Shoes" and "Travelin' Light."

They played a lot from "Dirty Side Down", which the more I hear it, the more I love it.

(I had great seats the last two nights, as well.)

The rest of the week, I hung out with Christy and the kids and did some cooking and sightseeing.

The vibe in Knoxville is great and the people are awesome. I'm not quite "in love" with it, like I am with Gainesville, but I am going back about three times between January and May/June, so that might change.



I'm even still on Eastern time!

Havin' a good time, Part 1

Here are my pictures from Widespread in Knoxville. They're crazy out of order, so mind the captions. Check for another post about the whole trip!

Night 2 - My favorite shirt ("Walkin")

Night 3 - Me and "Santa Hippie." Nearly every guy in Knoxville has facial hair and he was my favorite!

Day 3 - Shopping center with the initials "WP"

Night 2 - Christy's favorite shirt (back)

Night 2 - Christy's favorite shirt (front)

Night 2? - Crowd in the balcony

Night 1 - Eight rows from the stage!

Night 1

Night 1

Night 1

Night 1

Night 1

Widespread Panic

These are my pictures from the Widespread Panic concert in Birmingham. I didn't take any pictures Friday night because, to put it nicely, people were not very nice that night. I missed most of Charlie Daniels, cried most of the first set (the stress got the better of me :/), and finally was able to enjoy the second set (for the most part). You wouldn't have wanted to see those pictures, anyway.

On a happier note about Friday, the energy from the band was AWESOME!!! They covered "Riders on the Storm," which was pretty cool and very fitting for a stormy day, and later they covered "Feelin' Alright," and I was in LOVE. I freakin' love Joe Cocker! They also played "Bust it Big," and "Porch Song." It's kind of foggy on the rest of the set list, due to my little meltdown (note sarcasm).

The pictures here are from the second night. I chilled out at home in Birmingham on Saturday, locked myself in my bedroom, blasted some Panic CDs, took a hot shower, and just centered myself in a much better mood. And it worked! Ain't life grand, y'all!

Saturday night was much more laid back, and we all had fun, especially Space, as you will see.

Go order the DVD of the shows! It's the best $30 I've ever spent. While you're at it, go download them, too. Loves it!

 

Space-man was SPACED! He definitely had a good time. Don't judge - he's been pretty responsible lately.

Me and Shannon. So freakin' excited for a good night!

Me and Space. He was all over me all night. I gave up on dancing when I found myself with a Space backpack :/