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!
