Concert Review - Aussie Style

Last week my four concerts in four weeks continued with the country boy from down under..... and only reason I watch American Idol.... Keith Urban.

As Keith reminded the crowd - he had not been to a Charlotte amphitheatre since he was opening for Kenny Chesney.  And yep - I was there.  I must say - I prefer Keith performing at the Arena.  But then again - I prefer anyone inside with air conditioning and where I did not have to battle traffic.  But I digress....

As always his show was electric and had some very cool effects - like the camera placed on the end of his guitar so we could witness his amazing talents with a guitar. 

But my favorite part was the opening.  When was the last time you saw a country super star walk out on stage before the lights went down and any of the musicians were there.  He just walked out and started playing his guitar.  Then about 1 minute later he was joined by his band... and about another minute later the lights were killed and the backdrop fell to huge video boards.

All in all - Keith Urban never disappoints! 

Photo credit to Twitter...

 And to Keith Urban Instagram...

Keith Urban Set-List
Long Hot Summer
Sweet Thing
Told You So
Stupid Boy
Even The Stars Fall For You
You Gonna Fly with Little Big Town
Without You
Kiss A Girl with Dustin Lynch
Days Go By
Making Memories Of Us
Better Life
You’ll Think O f Me
I Wanna Be Your Everything
Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me
Somebody Like You

Encore...

Tonight I Wanna Cry
Good In My Shirt

Concert Review - Country Boy Shake It For Me

(As you may know... I go to A LOT of concerts... so in an effort to journal my fun and memories I am starting a concert review of sorts.  I may go back and try to remember some of the memories from the others as we go along... but at least this way I have a record of when I saw some of the great concerts I see!)

Ok - so I have seen Luke Bryan before as an opening act for Kenny.  Not sure if it was because it was an opening act or I just wasn't paying attention (which is very possible) so I didn't notice the amazing talent that Luke Bryan has.

I will not even ruin this post by my review of getting to the concert.  But let me just say this... I AM NOT A FAN OF OUR LOCAL AMPHITHEATER TRAFFIC.  Not sure why there is always such chaos... but there always is!  But again... so not about that because the minute Luke went onstage...all was erased.

LUKE BRYAN WAS PHENOMENAL!  (Yes that was in crazy shouty caps) He put on an incredible show from the first moment until the last beer soaked chord (probably the only time in the concert that I was glad I was not in the first 10 rows near the stage).  Plenty of artists try to touch hands with fans, but in my opinion, Luke really connected with the audience.  From his eye contact to his OMG dancing ...he had the crowd in the palm of his hands. 

During one song Luke "borrowed" cell phones from the audience and would take a selfie with the person.  I mean the pressure of a selfie with Luke Bryan ladies!  One of the moments that told me he was truly doing this for the fans and it wasn't an act was when the song ended he was taking a photo with a fan.  Instead of handing the phone to the young lady and going about his business... he said wait... that he messed the photo up and had to get it right.  Who does this?  Only Luke Bryan my friends!

For the almost two hours he performed... he had me hanging on to every hip shaking word (are you catching a theme here?!?!?  Ladies... go check it out!).  A good test of a concert to me is if when I leave I am still wanting more... and I am!  I am researching ways to see his again before his Dirt Road Diaries tour is over.  I mean because road tripping to a concert is a given for me!  And my iPod has a little less room on it now after downloading all of his songs and singing along.

So if you are like me and late to the Luke Bryan train.... jump on because it will not disappoint.

Live performance video from last year CMA Fest for you courtesy of YouTube so you can get a glimpse of what I am talking about!

(Disclaimer on photos... for some reason I take horrible concert photos.  For as many as I go to you would think I would have it perfected... but I don't.  For all of you that take amazing photos at concerts... what is the secret?!?!?!  Share with a girl!)

And for those counting...Set List Here:

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Country Man
Someone Else Calling You Baby
Rain Is a Good Thing
Crash My Party
That’s My Kind Of Night
Muckalee Creek
Suntan City
One More Night (Maroon 5 cover)
Locked Out of Heaven (Bruno Mars cover)
If You Ain’t Here to Party
Too Damn Young
Dirt Road Diaries
Do I
The Only Way I Know
Drunk on You
All My Friends Say
Enter Sandman (Metallica cover)

Encore:I Don’t Want This Night to End
Dynamite (Taio Cruz cover)
Country Girl (Shake It for Me)

Tuesday Travels - of the Spontaneous Kind

So this week focuses on the travels of the spontaneous kind.  The kind that on Thursday you are not aware of, but by Sunday are filled with Memories. 

This past weekend I planned to spend the day with my Mom celebrating her birthday (Happy Birthday again Mom!!).  We had a great day and a fun night with family in the house I grew up in telling stories and sitting where we always do - in the kitchen!  (Not sure why... but I have no photos of the birthday celebration!)

On Sunday we got up early and headed to the lake.  I would have written lake such and such... but honestly I am not sure of the name of the lake.  I know... I know... details.  But trust me it is a very pretty lake and is a long drive.  (Luckily mine was spent with an iPhone that lasted the entire trip of me playing videos from LBTV.... long story and see next post)

My Aunt Martha has a house on the lake and we got to spend the day dogging the rain on the boat (read outrunning it at one point!), laughing at the hysterics when you put us all together and having a good old fashioned hamburger and hot dog cookout... complete with my favorite dessert - WATERMELON!

So here is to the great trips that just happen.  That sometimes become the best!

(Can anyone pass this and not take a photo??  I mean it is a must do type of thing!)

This was the coolest place on the lake.  I mean this waterfall was amazing.... and so peaceful!  Now my understanding is if you are not on the lake out chasing rain... then this is a packed sandbar!

No explanation needed... YUM!

Tuesday Travels - 4th of July Edition

As you may have noticed (ok the 1 person besides me reading this may have noticed...) I have been away for a few days.  Traveling.  I know... no shock there!  This time I was visiting one of my favorite places... Washington, D.C.

Ask anyone that knows me and they will tell you that I love visiting D.C.  I enjoy the history, love seeing the sights and really find a lot of the food incredible.  And since I have a slight Kennedy obsession... Washington, DC is the second best place to visit (see previous post about Martha's Vineyard... all making sense yet?!?!).  That obsession might have a little something to do with the photo below.  (Read: never pass up an opportunity to post another photo of my dream man!)

(complete side bar.... don't you just picture him as Christian Gray or Gideon Cross... I mean... perfection!)

Now back to the point... Washington, D.C.  Each trip I try to hit all of my favorite spots.... and the first on my list is the White House.  This is non-negotiable on my trip.

Typically the second thing I must visit is Arlington Cemetery (ummm....re-read above!).  Now the disclaimer on this trip is that I was tired and hot from 100 kids... so by the time I could make it to Arlington it fell by the wayside in favor of the Newseum... who was featuring a JFK exhibit (ummm... again re-read above!).  But at my last DC trip in May I was able to visit Arlington, so I didn't feel too bad about missing it.  But it will definitely be on the next trip.

(note picture does apply...because it was taken from the balcony of the Newseum! Side note if you are not familiar with Presidential politics... you are looking at the route from the Capitol to the White House for the Inaugural parade)

The third must have involves food... and specifically Clyde's chili.  I love Clyde's chili and had the opportunity to have it twice this trip... once at Clyde's and once at Old Ebbitt Grill. 

Those are always on my must see or do list each time I visit D.C. and recommend they make it to your list as well.  Promise they will not disappoint!

And now for the rest of the story... a few more pics from my last trip...