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Generally when family members ask me "what do you want for [insert holiday]", I have absolutely no clue what to say. So when my birthday rolled around last week, I was anxious about receiving a gift that I had actually asked for. For once I knew what I wanted and fully expected to see it on my birthday - tickets to see Soul Asylum. For over a month I resisted purchasing tickets for myself. Do you know how difficult that was? Very! If I don't buy something the instant I think of it, I'll never get around to doing so and curse myself afterward for missing out on a good opportunity.
Now, I had never had the good fortune of seeing Soul Asylum in concert back in their prime. Granted they had just a few well known songs, but every one was a gem of a tune. Misery, Runaway Train, Just Like Anyone, String of Pearls, Somebody to Shove. Train is probably the only one that everybody will recognize, but the other tracks had their fair share of air play. I had faith that every one of these songs would be played at the show and I could pretend it was 1994ish all over again.
I'll say this one time, and one time only. I was happy for once to look my age. Thinking back, I'm surprised I was never stopped at all, but I'm ahead of myself here. The concert I was attending happened to be held at one of the area casino's. I've been to concerts in the casino before; great sound, awesome vibe, no one under 21 allowed to gain entrance. It's guaranteed to be a great time when all is said and done. Being that this concert was a 21 and over show, resident cops were positioned at certain checkpoints for ID verification. Now, normally I don't get carded going into the casino, only when buying drinks. I thought of all this on my way through the main entrance when I saw the cops. Instantly I had an oh crap moment. Why? Well, my stupid self had left my ID at home. Twenty minutes away in good traffic, thirty minutes through road construction. Given that it was 8:52 PM and the concert started at 9PM I was worried. VERY worried. I didn't want to have to drive all the way home and miss most of the concert.
As I made my way down the hallway to the first gaggle of law enforcers, I found myself mixed in with a crowd of people my age-ish. I tried not to walk too fast or too slow, you know, to keep on the down low. The guys stopped some younger gals for an ID check, and I was in. Woo! So far so- dammit. More police ahead by the stairs where my "group" was headed. Thinking fast, I broke off for the restaurant around the corner where there also just happened to be an escalator. Ha, I win. I headed down toward the lounge where, good god, more cops. Now what! Gahh this just gets worse. I notice about six guys, plus the ticket-taking lady. Think, think! In a desperate attempt, I walk up past the cops, all the while rifling in my purse for the tickets. I figured that if I kept my head down I'd be ok. At this point I heard music. DAMMIT, the concert was already going on. This would be a really bad time to get caught. I'd never make it home and back in time for Soul Asylum. I made it past the badges and handed the lady my tickets. Luckily, she was in just as much of a hurry to get people through as I was to get my butt safely inside. Success!
I was kinda pissed off that the opening band had already performed as I wanted to see them. However, there was no time for complaints. I searched around for a seat, another near impossible task, until I spotted couple alone in a giant booth. I politely asked to sit with them and they agreed. Huzzah for old people. Huhwait. Old people. I was sitting with a couple as old as my parents. Then I looked at the table next to me. They were all at least 40. The table to my front, 50s again. What. The. Hell.
I was getting a little creeped out. I really should have been tipped off when My mom asked what I had gotten in the envelope the night before. Tickets for Soul Asylum mum, a 90s band, I said. I know who they are Windy She cut me off to say. Pardon me. I know my mom is pretty hep, but still. She doesn't listen to my kind of music often. So yeah, here I was, in the minority by age. Lucky I wasn't carded on my way in judging by the average age of the crowd.
It took about thirty minutes before Soul Asylum came on stage. I had plenty of time to gawk at the crowd of fans. There were the normal people(like moi), the preps, the groupies, a few goth-y looking patrons, plenty of leather-clad biker folk, men with mullets, women with mullets, older women in too-tight clothing, fat men in ill-fitting clothing and more. It was an "all walks of life" kind of crowd that night. It was nice though, to finally be at a concert where I'm one of the younger people around. Seeing bands like Blink 182 live was always awkward for me.
I will honestly say that trying to describe the concert itself would do the band no justice. Everything sounded superb and the band performed with such enthusiasm that if anyone there didn't have a good time, I'd really be amazed. The band played for a good hour and a half before taking a short break and coming back for another 30 or so minute encore. Speaking of encores, they opened it up with a cover of Rhinestone Cowboy. I couldn't believe my ears. I'm not a huge fan of the song, but they played it well. Also done was a cover of Cruel Intentions. Again, not a fan of the song really, but it was done with such heart and soul.
Anyway, remember the table full of old people in front of me? I mentioned it, up there^^. This was a drunken wacky bunch of folks. First of all, they had to get up and dance at every given moment. Dancing is ok but do it down front so I can still see the band :mad face: One of the women had to constantly call someone and wave the phone in the air for the whole song. I had a few problems with this:
This same woman also later appeared to be on acid or something. During Shove, she began to do what I'd describe as playing piano. Only she was using the table. And her hands were going all crazy-like, bouncing quickly along like that dot over words in a Disney sing-along. I couldn't help but become fixated on her hands, and it seemed I wasn't the only one. People all around were pointing and snickering. It was more distracting than the cell-phone waving. As funny as all this was, nothing tops the teapot dance.
Out of nowhere, this rotund little woman came twirling through the crowd and stopped her travels to the right of where I was sitting. She was oblivious to everything but herself and the music. It was poetic really, and enjoyable to see someone lost in the moment. However, I have no doubt she was three sheets to the wind. I loved watching her dance though. As my friend described it, it "looks like she learned the teapot dance at the age of 5 and never learned anything else". For those not familiar, she had one arm out - bent up at the elbow, and again at the wrist - like a spout, and the other arm bent down with a hand on her hip, like a teapot handle. Then she just sort of rocked back and forth while slowly twirling around.
In Conclusion
If I had to rate the concert, I'd give four stars out of a possible five. They never played String of Pearls, which made me sad, so I took away a whole star.
Ambiance, five of five. There is something about the concert hall in the casino that makes me fell gooey and happy inside. The lighting and backdrop are like no other. There isn't a bad seat in the house, and getting close to the stage is easy as pie.
Price of admission, five of five. Granted my tickets were free, but at a cost of $20 per, the price was way reasonable for the performance.
Would I see the band again, hells yes. I hear they will be back in WI for another show later this year, though it's subject to change. I'd definitely make the trip to go see them, and hopefully have my song played so that I may one day die happy.
Now, I had never had the good fortune of seeing Soul Asylum in concert back in their prime. Granted they had just a few well known songs, but every one was a gem of a tune. Misery, Runaway Train, Just Like Anyone, String of Pearls, Somebody to Shove. Train is probably the only one that everybody will recognize, but the other tracks had their fair share of air play. I had faith that every one of these songs would be played at the show and I could pretend it was 1994ish all over again.
I'll say this one time, and one time only. I was happy for once to look my age. Thinking back, I'm surprised I was never stopped at all, but I'm ahead of myself here. The concert I was attending happened to be held at one of the area casino's. I've been to concerts in the casino before; great sound, awesome vibe, no one under 21 allowed to gain entrance. It's guaranteed to be a great time when all is said and done. Being that this concert was a 21 and over show, resident cops were positioned at certain checkpoints for ID verification. Now, normally I don't get carded going into the casino, only when buying drinks. I thought of all this on my way through the main entrance when I saw the cops. Instantly I had an oh crap moment. Why? Well, my stupid self had left my ID at home. Twenty minutes away in good traffic, thirty minutes through road construction. Given that it was 8:52 PM and the concert started at 9PM I was worried. VERY worried. I didn't want to have to drive all the way home and miss most of the concert.
As I made my way down the hallway to the first gaggle of law enforcers, I found myself mixed in with a crowd of people my age-ish. I tried not to walk too fast or too slow, you know, to keep on the down low. The guys stopped some younger gals for an ID check, and I was in. Woo! So far so- dammit. More police ahead by the stairs where my "group" was headed. Thinking fast, I broke off for the restaurant around the corner where there also just happened to be an escalator. Ha, I win. I headed down toward the lounge where, good god, more cops. Now what! Gahh this just gets worse. I notice about six guys, plus the ticket-taking lady. Think, think! In a desperate attempt, I walk up past the cops, all the while rifling in my purse for the tickets. I figured that if I kept my head down I'd be ok. At this point I heard music. DAMMIT, the concert was already going on. This would be a really bad time to get caught. I'd never make it home and back in time for Soul Asylum. I made it past the badges and handed the lady my tickets. Luckily, she was in just as much of a hurry to get people through as I was to get my butt safely inside. Success!
I was kinda pissed off that the opening band had already performed as I wanted to see them. However, there was no time for complaints. I searched around for a seat, another near impossible task, until I spotted couple alone in a giant booth. I politely asked to sit with them and they agreed. Huzzah for old people. Huhwait. Old people. I was sitting with a couple as old as my parents. Then I looked at the table next to me. They were all at least 40. The table to my front, 50s again. What. The. Hell.
I was getting a little creeped out. I really should have been tipped off when My mom asked what I had gotten in the envelope the night before. Tickets for Soul Asylum mum, a 90s band, I said. I know who they are Windy She cut me off to say. Pardon me. I know my mom is pretty hep, but still. She doesn't listen to my kind of music often. So yeah, here I was, in the minority by age. Lucky I wasn't carded on my way in judging by the average age of the crowd.
It took about thirty minutes before Soul Asylum came on stage. I had plenty of time to gawk at the crowd of fans. There were the normal people(like moi), the preps, the groupies, a few goth-y looking patrons, plenty of leather-clad biker folk, men with mullets, women with mullets, older women in too-tight clothing, fat men in ill-fitting clothing and more. It was an "all walks of life" kind of crowd that night. It was nice though, to finally be at a concert where I'm one of the younger people around. Seeing bands like Blink 182 live was always awkward for me.
I will honestly say that trying to describe the concert itself would do the band no justice. Everything sounded superb and the band performed with such enthusiasm that if anyone there didn't have a good time, I'd really be amazed. The band played for a good hour and a half before taking a short break and coming back for another 30 or so minute encore. Speaking of encores, they opened it up with a cover of Rhinestone Cowboy. I couldn't believe my ears. I'm not a huge fan of the song, but they played it well. Also done was a cover of Cruel Intentions. Again, not a fan of the song really, but it was done with such heart and soul.
Anyway, remember the table full of old people in front of me? I mentioned it, up there^^. This was a drunken wacky bunch of folks. First of all, they had to get up and dance at every given moment. Dancing is ok but do it down front so I can still see the band :mad face: One of the women had to constantly call someone and wave the phone in the air for the whole song. I had a few problems with this:
- 1. The phone is in my way!
2. The music will sound just as crappy whether you hold the phone in the air or place it on the table. PUT IT DOWN.
3. If I were your friend, I'd be so hating you right now. Stop it. Seriously.
This same woman also later appeared to be on acid or something. During Shove, she began to do what I'd describe as playing piano. Only she was using the table. And her hands were going all crazy-like, bouncing quickly along like that dot over words in a Disney sing-along. I couldn't help but become fixated on her hands, and it seemed I wasn't the only one. People all around were pointing and snickering. It was more distracting than the cell-phone waving. As funny as all this was, nothing tops the teapot dance.
Out of nowhere, this rotund little woman came twirling through the crowd and stopped her travels to the right of where I was sitting. She was oblivious to everything but herself and the music. It was poetic really, and enjoyable to see someone lost in the moment. However, I have no doubt she was three sheets to the wind. I loved watching her dance though. As my friend described it, it "looks like she learned the teapot dance at the age of 5 and never learned anything else". For those not familiar, she had one arm out - bent up at the elbow, and again at the wrist - like a spout, and the other arm bent down with a hand on her hip, like a teapot handle. Then she just sort of rocked back and forth while slowly twirling around.
In Conclusion
If I had to rate the concert, I'd give four stars out of a possible five. They never played String of Pearls, which made me sad, so I took away a whole star.
Ambiance, five of five. There is something about the concert hall in the casino that makes me fell gooey and happy inside. The lighting and backdrop are like no other. There isn't a bad seat in the house, and getting close to the stage is easy as pie.
Price of admission, five of five. Granted my tickets were free, but at a cost of $20 per, the price was way reasonable for the performance.
Would I see the band again, hells yes. I hear they will be back in WI for another show later this year, though it's subject to change. I'd definitely make the trip to go see them, and hopefully have my song played so that I may one day die happy.
haven't been to ac oncert for ages