a-mae-zing!

firstly, i do have to admit that i lied yesterday when i said this was the first concert of the year for me. Earlier this year, in February or March I think, Kim and I went to the 400 Bar to see a Johnny Cash Tribute show with tickets I won off Drive105. It was pretty fun, there was one guy who has actually won competitions for looking and sounding like Johnny. But that was crowded with tough looking biker people.

The Varsity on the other hand, definitely a different group. The auditorium itself was really nice, fabric draped everywhere and lots of chairs set up all stadium-like. I like it. The kids were a lot younger - it was an all ages show, so we got a wristband for being over 21. We arrived in time to hear the last 2 or 3 songs from Vedera, who I really liked. The lead singer has a great voice that reminds me some of the Sundays, and they're interesting to listen to, very complimentary to Mae's style of music, I remember thinking.

So then they were done and the New Amsterdams came on, whose music I had never heard until the ride over there (which was amazingly fast, considering we were coming from Christine's place in the Tonks). Incidentally, the ride to the show also revealed an AMAZING amount of coincidental information, such as how Christine and I both work in the Interchange Towers (different tower, same complex) and never knew it. We were at the same tenant picnic and even frequent the same little convenience store on a regular basis, and still have yet to run into each other. So I think I'm going to go over and check her office out this week and see her baby roses. And Christine, if you go to the store today, you can find where I bought you your golden birthday gift! =)

BUT I digress...The New Amsterdams.....were cool because they had a stand-up bass, but Christine and I both agreed that the acoustic set they did seemed a little out of place sandwiched between Vedera and Mae, who were both very loud and plugged in. The amusing/annoying part to their set was the non-dating couple who were talking right behind us. The discussion ranged from how she was calling him "honey" because it came naturally due to the fact that she liked him so much to how the lead singer of the New Amsterdams was hot, but too short, according to the girl. She then proceeded to discuss in length how she really is short, she's just wearing high heels tonight.

Riveting.
Oh wait, no, that's just distracting.

Then it was time for Mae. We were going to move into an excellent little spot, then noticed that the tallest guys in the room would be standing right in front of us. Nevermind. We scooted around to be closer to the front and then they came on stage and were wonderful. They played almost every song off their Everglow album, which I love, and then most of my favorites off their first CD.

They're a very high energy bunch! Rob, the keyboard player, looked extremely intense in everything he did, he alternated between focusing intently onthe keys and making awesome faces while playing. The lead guitarist has this way of swaying that's so rhythmic; it's very unexpected from a tall, skinny, white guy. The lead singer has a very expressive face, and when he got into a song, he totally got into it. Overall as a performance, it was great. With the keyboard they were able to add in the extra sounds and noises that are on the album which gave an almost seamless transition between some songs. They deviated from the album versions of songs a little too, and it always turned out great. There was an almost Depeche Mode-like version of a song that was just amazing. The only issue I had with Mae was that a lot of what I like on the album is the vocal harmonies, and they did a lot less live than on the album, so that was a little disappointing. Not awful, but it would have contributed to the overall effect, I think. I did have a bone to pick with the sound guy, tho. The back up vocals were barely audible, the drums were super loud and almost drowned out the keyboard which plays a very important musical role in a lot of the songs.

I did feel a little old, partly because the 2 girls standing right in front of usfor the first part of Mae's set were SO EXCITED. They were regularly jumping up and down higher than anyone else (that also could have been because they were shorter than everyone else) and screaming and such. They were obviously enjoying themselves, and really, I just don't get that worked up over bands nearly that much anymore. Also, most everyone there looked like they were fresh out of high school or something, further contributing to my feelings of being aged. We did run into Krista afterwards, which was totally a surprise because neither of us had any idea she liked Mae. Krista Wax, you have great taste in music.

After the show and buying merch (2 stickers, I couldn't justify spending $15 on t-shirts I wasn't madly in love with), we went to McDonald's forRaspberry Mango shakes. It's not the Grand Ole Creamery or anything, but it was ice cream. Then on the way back to Christine's car we got hit up for cash by not one, but two people looking to get to a shelter for the night. I actually had cash on me, so I gave some away - it's only money. ThenChristine saw the lead singer of Mae jaywalking across the street and said "hey", but I totally missed it!! I didn't want to whip around and shout out"where? where is he!?" or anything overly embarrassing like that, but we almost got to the point of tracking him down to explain the Golden Birthday situation and how it had been the best birthday ever for Christine, partly on account of the concert itself. Then maybe got his phone number or a date or something for her, because that's a very likely possibility, since they're all on tour and stuff.

Thus ended our evening, we drove back to Christine's house and chatted a little bit and then I left to go home. It was a really awesome night out, and I would totally do it again next year when they come back to tour for the album they're going to record this fall. Christine, are you in?