I miss you, Anberlin.

I was going through a bunch of pictures that were on my phone and I had transferred (finally) over to my computer. (Because you know me, I have to organize those as well. So phone pictures get sorted into folders by event/thing and then put into a "new pictures" folder. Until they get printed, then I move them into the "Printed" folder. It's all very organized, you see.)

Anyways.

But I found the pictures from the Anberlin concert from last September. It was their farewell tour and I knew I absolutely HAD to go because I'm a total nerdy fan girl. But I didn't have a date, so I made Matt come with me even though he hates crowds, doesn't really have a clue who Anberlin is, and he'd have to go to work the next day despite driving us home and us getting home around 1 a.m. And he goes to work at 4 a.m.

That guy, he's a trooper, I tell you.

So anyways. The concert was at the Varsity Theater in the Twin Cities, and I hadn't ever been to a show there so I figured it'll totally be an adventure. And boy was it.

Keep in mind, this was September, so I was pregnant and I made Matt stop in  Hinckley so I could pee and get Pringles. Because obviously.

I'm so glad the show was sold out. I think they are such a great band. I'm also super thankful I just impulsively bought two tickets without having a clue who I would go with because had I missed this, I would have been pretty damn sad.

So before the show, we decided we were going to eat somewhere nearby. This is what is called the Dinkytown neighborhood and U of M is literally right there. So we found some random restaurant that had food I would eat that wasn't obscenely expensive and decided to eat outside because it was a perfect 75 degrees and a slight breeze. Halfway through dinner, which was actually super gross and I'm sorry I can't remember where we even ate, we realized this was the first time we had ever eaten outside on a date. We decided eating outside in our yard doesn't count.

Anyways. We ended up standing outside of the venue for well over an hour waiting to get in. It's becoming glaringly obvious that I am getting really too old for this. Not only did my hips hurt, but I had to pee. And I knew if I got out of line, we'd be dead last in and I'm short so I wouldn't see anything. It was then that I decided that Anberlin is worth a urinary tract infection.

Once we got in, it's kind of a bizarre layout for a venue? I wasn't impressed. I'm also at the point where standing room only is hard on the ol' knees. BUT! We got front row! Well, for about 30 minutes and then I got pushed out of the way by an already highly intoxicated frat guy and a bunch of skanks with skirts barely covering their asses.

And as a side note: WHY get so drunk at a concert you aren't going to remember it? Secondly, WHY come to a concert, and push your way to the front, if all you are going to do is text on your phone about what you're going to do after? Yeah, because when we're inches apart, I can read everything on your phone AND see the NSFW pictures you're sending from what clearly looks like an office cubicle.

End rant.

Anberlin was SO good. I can't even remember who opened for them, but I remember them being pretty good. They played a short set because clearly, it's a farewell tour, we want as much Anberlin as we can get. The really amazing thing? Is that it was almost virtually dead silent before they came in and pretty much everyone had their hand up and fingers crossed like their latest (and last) album cover.

 It kind of felt like a Hunger Games moment, to be honest.

Anberlin played all of their hits and fan favorites. They didn't play much from the new album though, maybe one or two songs? Which was kind of a bummer because the Lowborn album is so solid. 

I sang along to every song. Meanwhile, Matt was making sure I didn't get covered in beer from the guy behind him who was so drunk I think he forgot he wasn't at a Metallica concert. He kept screaming, "Enter Sandman!!" and head banging and sloshing his beer everywhere.

So after the show, I really wanted one of the black t-shirts that just said "Anberlin: Twin Cities" and all of the farewell tour dates on it. So Matt dutifully got in line while I sat on a suspiciously damp couch with my feet propped as much as I could because they had swollen quite a bit. He stood in line for two hours only to find out that they were long gone and he waited all that time for nothing.

Again, such a trooper.

So I left with no memorabilia, and that was a bummer. But it was also then that I realized I very much had to pee. Like, I could not get into the car without peeing. So we walked to a nearby McDonald's and I figured I'd pee, get a soda and some ice cream for the road.

The bathroom? Well the bathroom was absolutely filthy and there were used needles everywhere. And I mean everywhere. The toilet I got to use had what looked like blood sprayed all over the handle and tank lid of the toilet. It was pretty disgusting. So after, when I ordered my things, I mentioned to the cashier that oh by the way, your women's bathroom has blood all over and used needles. She says to me, EXACT WORDS, "So? Half of us are high right now working."

Well then.

I think the lesson I learned that night was unless it's a band I absolutely HAVE to see, I'm not going to go out of my way to go to Varsity. That and the parking garage was kind of sketch and I'm really glad I had Matt with me because I saw two women walking down the street (looked like students) who had pepper spray in their hands ready to use.

I'm just getting too old for this.

*sigh*

But that's the story of the last Anberlin concert I went to. It was kind of a nice surprise to see those photos this morning and remember. Plus, that was our last actual date. So... yeah. You see we're on a twice a year routine, if that. Which is a whole other blog post. But yes, Anberlin- I miss you already.

Civil Twilight! Crash Kings! Anberlin! Oh My Baby!

I am so excited to write this post I'm doing it early! Just for you  my lovely lambwhores AND goatsluts. Yes. OK, so most of you remember me rubbing it in your faces that I was going to a concert, an Anberlin one to be exact, and because I'm awesome I'm bringing you everything.

When Krysten and I go to concerts we always eat at this great restaurant in Roseville called Flame. You'll remember me raving about the bathrooms here. The only deal was that Krysten and I wanted to know if the guys' bathroom was equally nice. Or if the urinals had rocks in them. It'd be kind nice, right? Well Matt and I ate there because he's sick of hearing about me rave and tease him so I reluctantly agreed. I pretty much felt like I was cheating on Krysten. (I still love, you K!) So Krysten and I decided to make it fair, Matt would need to photograph the bathroom to satisfy the curiosity. And he did.

 But he doesn't think the fries are that great. Fucking loser, right Krysten??? Guess what he ordered with his burger? MASHED POTATOES. Who the hell does that? My husband. *sigh*

Anyways. So the concert was at First Avenue & 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis, which is in the same little radius as the Target Center. Pros to the place is that it's small, it's usually not overcrowded and the tickets are cheap. The cons are that drinks are high priced and you have to stand for at least 4 hours because there are few chairs. Which is fine, but no doubt- by the end my knees hurt pretty bad. My VANS, although adorable and comfy to bum around in, are not meant to stand 4 hours in. Anyways.

So here's Matt and I waiting for Civil Twilight. Matt actually doesn't know much music and that makes me sad. It also makes me wonder how I decided he'd be a good life partner if his love of music isn't like mine. But he does know a bit of Anberlin mostly from listening to it when I drive. We take sucky pictures together.  

The opening band was Civil Twilight who I really freaking love. If you don't know them, you  need to get to know them. Or else. Go HERE to sample. I will confess that PART of my love is that the singer kind of looks like Robert Pattinson. AND he has an accent. I love boys with accents. *swoon* They hail from Cape Town, South Africa and are great. Go HERE to see one of my fav's from their set last night. But my fav song from Civil Twilight? Well that's Something She Said. This song? Kicks the girly bits in overdrive every.damn.time.

But they put on a great live show and I would definitely travel to see them again.

 Next up was the Crash Kings. And to be honest I had never actually heard of them. I heard one song, Carry On, and then part of another and I was just "meh" on them.

 But let me tell you something. This band? You MUST see them play live. That set was so energetic and even if you are new to them you cannot help yourself- you will be dancing and jamming with them. THIS song was great to see live. I really liked It's Only Wednesday and thought it was fun to watch. The singer's voice is out of control and he sounds fabulous live. The energy out of this entire band was amazing and they really got everybody ready for Anberlin. And the drummer? Sick. Out of fucking control. All of them were so good live. I not only wanted to buy the album immediately after that set but I'm already hoping they tour around here soon. Oh- and they did a Black Sabbath cover- AH - MAZING.

So after Crash Kings we had like 15 minutes before Anberlin came on. We were standing right behind the sound board and it's times like this that make me wish I bring my fucking glasses BECAUSE the set list was like right there. The guys in front of me (all but one) were totally douchebags and wouldn't let me squeeze in to see it. AND they were all 6 feet tall. Hi- I'm 5'3. Assholes. One guy, the blond one who had the punk/nerdy look going was really nice and he asked twice if I could see. And I could because he left just enough room for my head be right next to his nipple. Which was weird. My head was between nipples. Anyways.

I can't remember every song off the set or what they opened with, but I can tell you it was like 15-20 songs total. They only played a few off the new album, so if you are a fan of their older stuff you'd like this show.

 Stephen (the singer) crowd surfed and while my blog bestie, Mr. O, said I should go and touch him--- I doubt Matt would have been ok with that. But let's just say it's clear that Stephen is well endowed. *sigh* If only I could have used my god given talents. *double sigh*

I love this picture-this was during Paperthin Hymn.

 They closed with Feel Good Drag, which I love, and then the encore was Lost Causes. Which is kind of a weird encore if you ask me. I would have liked to hear Glass to the Arson or at least Blame Me, but nope. Not this time. The set was great and I loved how they put some acoustic songs from their Lost Songs album in there.  They also did a Danzig cover which was... it was good but it was weird because it was mellow and acoustic. They did Dismantle.Repair and I really, really loved that live. I called Mr. O and I really hope it went to his voicemail and he could make it out. :)

 The concert was great and I would highly recommend you to see any of these bands live. I officially popped my see-Anberlin-live-cherry and I'm glad. We got out of there at 10ish.

Then we drove the 2 1/2 hours home. I had to drive the entire way because Matt slept. And snored so loud I had to crank the volume on my music. But I had fun with my mini jam session while he slept.

The best part (Simple Dude-- prepare yourself) I not only got out of the Target Center parking ramp without getting lost (Krysten! I found the easiest place to park for Maroon 5!!) I got us home. WITHOUT the GPS.

Folks? This? Is a big fucking deal.