Concert – Page 43 – Concert Katie

Action Item Concert Meet and Greet Photos

Action Item 2-13-13

Katie February 15, 2013 0 Comments

Wednesday night Action Item brought their Resolution Tour to the Heirloom Arts Theater in Danbury, CT. Despite the fact that we might be getting snow that night, we all made it to the show. Then had to find a place to park. I ended up in a 24 hour metered lot with meters that took only quarters and each quarter was 15 minutes. Somehow I managed to scrounge up 3:15 worth of quarters. (Which is so odd for me because I usually hoard quarters in my bedroom for pressed penny trips!) Then spent the night watching my watch afraid my car would turn into a pumpkin (or get towed)

There were 5 opening acts and I didn’t really have a problem with any of them except Outasight. And we missed Brookline Drive, who was playing their last show so I have nothing to say about them. The first band we saw was Hello Highway, then Paradise Fears, Before You Exit and finally Outasight. He just seemed to be so out of place and there looked to be only 1 person who was actually enjoying him in the crowd.

Then it was time for Action Item. Although I ended up sitting for most of their set and couldn’t see all of them (and at times couldn’t see any of them) I really think this was the best performance I’ve seen of them yet. They just seemed to be ON.

We had VIP tickets for the show which meant that after wards we’d get to meet all the bands. But at the end of the show they told us to go stand by the stage and then it just kind of became a free for all to mingle with the guys. We were able to get pics and chat with all the members of Action Item, but it was not organized in the slightest. (I thought we were also supposed to get a signed poster but that didn’t happen!) We had a lot of ridiculous conversations with the guys (ok, the most ridiculous was with Brian lol) and it was great to see them again because it had been a looong time since I saw them last.

In my head this post was a lot longer, but now that my head is throbbing, you’re not getting much more out of me. Sorry!

I don’t know how accurate this set list is but…

Good or Bad
Brave
When Everything Falls Back Down
Thinking of You / Somewhere Out There
Last Day of Summer
Defenseless
Home
Blackbird
Marching Band
Resolution
Learn to Fly

Back To The Island Concert Hanson

Back To The Island – Day 4 and 5

Katie January 21, 2013 0 Comments

On the 4th day of Back To The Island – Maribeth went snorkeling while I hung out in the lobby and played on the WiFi. Hanson had announced they’d be doing it again next year and I was reading all the girls who were at home complaining because we got priority to book first and a discount.

We went to the beach for a bit and were going to go from the beach to the autograph signing, but ended up going back to the room when we noticed I was getting a bit burnt. We changed out of our bathing suits and then found out that we were not only getting an autograph but we were doing PHOTOS WITH THE BAND as well. Good thing we didn’t roll up in our bathing suits!

The funny thing at the M&G was – Isaac and Zac just kind of asked how I was doing but Taylor decided he was going to ask me if I was going to the show that night. I kind of wish I had said no – but I said Yes in what I am sure was a confused tone. Why would I pay all this money to fly to Jamaica and skip the last show? haha. I know he just was trying to make small talk, but it was amusing.

Then we just kind of hung out until the last show… We decided to bring a chair mid-beach so I could be a bit closer. Girls started standing on tables closer to the front completely blocking our view so we had the Island Gigs staff ask them to move. Very frustrating that they had to be that close and standing, but they listened and moved off to the side. I ended up standing behind my chair and hanging on to it for support once the show started though because more and more people were standing in front of us and not scrunched up towards the stage.

I also loaded up on glo sticks. Perhaps too many, but I wanted to use them all and not have to bring any home!

They did 2 new songs – their first single from the new album “Get The Girl Back” and another new one that Zc sings lead on called “You can’t Stop Us Now” which I absolutely am in love with.

During Give a Little they had 2 guys and a girl up on stage to dance and it was freaking hilarious. I wish I got it on video. Someone must have, I’ll have to track it down and post it because we were cracking up the whole time.

They were also joined by Warren Haynes for “Soul Shine” as well.

After the show we ended up waiting for the guys to come out from the “backstage” area. Isaac came out and a bartender asked for his autograph but Isaac didn’t have a pen – but guess who did? Oh right, me. So he borrowed my pen and then all 3 of the guys left a little while later.

Turns out they went to the piano bar, which Maribeth found out about when she was in the lobby for WiFi. I was in the shower so I missed out on most of the fun, but I did get to hear Zac singing from outside our door because they had opened the doors at the piano bar so at least I got to feel a little special! (And considering how crowded it was, I probably wouldn’t have wanted to get much closer anyway!)

Then next thing we knew it was time to have our bags outside our door so that we could take our shuttle. We went for breakfast, packed up our carry ons and I managed to break my leg brace… when the dresser tried to eat me. (Not looking forward to how much the replacement is going to be!)

But we made it to the airport and only got my bug spray confiscated. (Not sure how I got it there but couldn’t take it back, but that’s ok. I almost left it behind anyway!) then we had a few hours to kill at the airport.

The rides home were uneventful except that I definitely got a cold from SOMEONE on board… and then I made it home without a problem from the airport and was happy to have the next day off to relax!

Back To The Island Concert Hanson

Back To The Island – Day 3

Katie January 20, 2013 0 Comments

We kicked off Day 3 with tie dye with Zac. The staff was hanging out when we got there and we were told to stay cool and they told us a bit about how no one paid any attention to them once Zac had come with the first session. Zac showed us a couple of tie dye techniques and and then came around to each of the groups to see how we had done. Tricia, one of the staff members, was helping Maribeth with her design and then taught Zac a new technique while he was with our group – which ended up in him draping his shirt over my shoe for the demonstration!

After Tie Dye we hung our shirts out to dry and then we went to hang out at the pool for a bit. Then I ordered a wood carving of the Hanson symbol and then we went to the beach to hang out for a bit. We saw some crabs at the beach too.

While Taylor and Isaac’s events were going on with the other session, we hung out in the lobby to snag some wifi and also to see if we could catch a photo with Taylor or Isaac when they were leaving / going to their sessions. Of course, many others had the same idea and while some were successful, we were not, mainly because I am not aggressive enough.

Night 3 the show was Charlie Mars and Robert Schwartzman. We had hoped Robert would be on first, so we could catch his whole set, stay for maybe 1 Charlie song and peace out. Instead, Robert was at dinner with us so we knew that Charlie was on first. We actually timed it perfectly though because we heard maybe 12.5 Charlie songs and he was done and then we hung around for all of Robert’s set.

Isaac came on stage and did “Ain’t No Sunshine” with Rob and then they traded covers and did “Tell Me Why” which Rob knew and Isaac didn’t. It was interesting to see it all come together on stage!

Back To The Island Concert Hanson

Back To The Island – Day 2

Katie January 19, 2013 3 Comments

The second day we slept in until 11! We also found out that our neighbor was Hanson’s backup player Dimitrius. (Later we found out their bass player William was also our neighbor) We took a tour outside of our back door and one of the water sports guys showed us where some fish hang out. We also spotted the nude beach – complete with a guy on it. Of course.

We went to lunch at the Reggae Cafe near our room and there was a cat with no eyes that sacred Maribeth. We were going to make a stop at the pool but there was some light rain going on. We went back in the room and waited for the rain to pass and saw that 2 lounge chairs outside our door were open so we went to hang out there – immediately spotting a crab in the water!

At 3 it was time to make our way over to cooking with Taylor. We found a table that also had wifi, so that was exciting as I could “live tweet” what was going on. Taylor was taught by the chef how to make a couple of things while we all watched. Honestly of the 3 events we did, this one was the most boring. They first made Jerk Chicken, then some salt fish and finally Taylor asked them how to fry plantains because he likes eating them and wanted to learn.

After that it was time for mixing drinks with Isaac. To get in the mood we got strawberry daiquiris. Isaac was hilarious and had to watch the bartender make a drink and then try and copy it. It seemed to be a lot more interactive than the first event and Isaac was joking around, enjoying himself and enjoying the drinks.

Then it was time for the acoustic show – which has been dubbed “the show no one remembers” – uhh yeah. We started in the back and I had one of the drinks that had been named the Isaac Hanson… then Maribeth found us a spot on the side of the stage right by Zac where we remained for the rest of the show.

Zac did another new song – the shocking song with a swear word in it! (shit.) After the show was over we went to the bonfire and then rested up to be ready for Tie Dye with Zac the next morning at 11!

Back To The Island Concert Hanson

Back To The Island – Day 1

Katie January 18, 2013 0 Comments

Day 1 of my vacation was off to an early start. After getting home from Kris Allen at 11pm, I went to bed and got up at 3:30 AM to finish packing and head off to the airport. My flight was at 7, but I wanted to make sure I got there in plenty of time. And I did. The shuttle at the valet parking got there immediately after I did, the security line was pretty quick and then I had an hour to spare before boarding.

Of course, that hour of waiting was not without excitement. A police officer went down the jetway of the gate next to mine and looking out the window there was a fire truck. A man ended up getting wheeled off the plane and EMTs with a stretcher went over to check him out. I stopped watching at that point because I didn’t want to be rude. Hopefully everything turned out ok!

The flight to Philly was quick and I was met by an attendant with a wheelchair who helped me get to my next gate. My friend Maribeth met up with me at the gate and then we waited until it was time to board. She had seats a row in front of me, but when we were ready to take off we realized the plane was nearly empty and we each had our own row! So she bounced back and forth to sit by me and play with our cameras a bit – AND we got free cake from first class.

We went through customs at the Montego Bay airport and then went to wait for our shuttle to the resort. Our name wasn’t on the list but they told us we could get on the shuttle anyway and it would be leaving in 20 minutes. Also on our shuttle was Kim and Christalyn and Jess and Val, which was nice!

The shuttle ride was 90 minutes and kind of bumpy. When we got to the hotel they seemed to not know who we were, so we panicked a bit but quickly our reservations were found and we were escorted to our beachfront room. We were very centrally located and the view from our room was amazing!

We ended up going to dinner at the Italian restaurant and then heard drums. When we walked out of the restaurant we found that Hanson was doing soundcheck on the beach! We heard them do Thinking Bout Somethin and And I Waited.

Then we headed back to the room to nap a bit before the show that night at 9:30. We also thought we would shower and were not so happy when we realized we had NO HOT WATER!

That night was the first electric show. There wasn’t anything too out of the ordinary, but Zac did debut a new song to us – “Save Me From Myself” as his solo. Then I was happy because concerts where I can add new songs to my list of songs heard live makes me very happy 🙂

Concert Kris Allen

Kris Allen at the Ridgefield Playhouse

Katie January 17, 2013 0 Comments

Thursday night Kris Allen’s Out Alive tour came to the Ridgefield Playhouse. Although Kris took the tour name a bit too literally and got in a head on collision and broke his wrist a week or so before the tour was set to kick off – the show must go on! (Despite Kris’ doctor telling him otherwise!)

Before the show I had a meet and greet with Kris and told him I felt bad making him sign left handed and he said he felt bad that it looked so bad! He also said it was kind of weird without his guitar, but his band is great and makes up for it.

Opening was Jillette Johnson who I had previously seen open for Honor Society. She has an amazing voice and adter nearly every song the woman behind me would say, “wow”.

At about 9pm Kris took the stage and started his set with “Out Alive”, he also did Loves me Not with special guest: Jillette!

On the tour Kris said each night the band would take requests of a cover – but he had tweeted that he had something “special” planned for our show. he did the song for Newtown (Amy) that he debuted at his stage it show. I think just about everyone was in tears or near tears and when he was done we gave him a standing ovation.

During one song (and i can’t remember what one now!) he was playing a tambourine with a “stick”, it fell, he kept on playing it on the ground then somehow it got caught on the stick (more like a wisk) and he picked it back up and put it back on the stool it was on. He said most people would pick up playing it in a day its taken him a week.

We stood for the encore and a bunch of girls ran up front. He did River acapella with the whole band singing with him. Then he asked who was at the Bridgeport show he didn’t perform at and he said a lot of hands were up. So he did a song we probably missed heading – Heartless! He pulled out his phone and said he’d been forgetting words but his phone was dead. He ended the encore with 7 Nation Army (awesome!) and Shut That Door.

Out Alive
Better With You
Alright With Me
Loves Me Not
Red Guitar
Faith / We Are Young
Newtown (Amy)
(New Song)
Leave You Alone
Monster
Rooftops
Live Like We’re Dying
River
Heartless / Gangstas Paradise
7 Nation Army
Shut That Door

Concert Recycled Percussion

Recycled Percussion Weekend

Katie January 3, 2013 0 Comments

Over the weekend Kim and I headed to New Hampshire to check out Recycled Percussion. Kim loves them and had been out to Vegas 3 times in 2012 to see them. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into but decided to tag along anyway. We did 3 shows – Claremont on Saturday and 2 in Manchester on Sunday. I think it is fair to say I’m hooked. (Which is a good thing because I committed to 3 shows and if I hated them after the first? We’d have had a problem!)

The only issue was that on Saturday, we were getting 2-6 inches in Connecticut and 1-3 in New Hampshire. Reports kept changing and we left around 1pm once the show hit at my house. It took us a couple extra hours to get to Claremont for show #1 because we were driving so slowly so we would make it there in one piece. (And we did. And we made it back. So it’s all good.) There were piles of snow everywhere already because they had a big storm a couple of days previous. But everything looked so pretty and sparkly. (and slippery.) The front of Kim’s car actually froze solid – we couldn’t see her license plate at all in the front!

We had front row for all 3 shows. And while the general set up of the show was the same – since it involves so much audience participation, you never know what you’re going to end up seeing. Each night as you enter you get a colored sticker. That represents the “team” you are on for the night. Either Green – Todd, Black – Matt, Red- Justin or Blue – Ryan. The first night I was Green and Kim was black. The second night Kim was Green and I was black. The 3rd show they asked us what one we wanted and Kim got blue and I got red, but then they gave us the second color too so we each split our cheering for team Blue and Red that show.

The first night they tweeted a teaser setlist and Kim had gotten excited that it said “Grinders”, except for whatever reason they didn’t end up doing it. They did end up doing that at shows 2 and 3 though.

The first night, I was laughing so hard I was crying at a few points. It was just so great. I was worried that after having seen it once I wouldn’t have the same reaction again – but the 3rd show I think I was laughing harder and tearing even more than the first show. And the second show Ryan ended up right in front of us on the ledge behind the pit and he got Kim in the eye with some silly string. So every show is different even if the general idea of it is the same. (And yes, you may end up injured)

I’m finding it hard to accurately describe the show – the fact that I am writing this after getting home at 1 am from seeing them last night might have a little bit to do with it. And I’m also watching their live from Vegas DVD while writing. That probably wasn’t a good idea either. Their drum sets are made up from non-traditional drum material – buckets and pots and pans and other neat stuff. They do have cymbals though. It is amazing that they can put together all that “stuff” and get a great drum sound out of it.

The show is a lot of fun – almost like a concert and a comedy show all in one and I think that if you get the chance to check them out you definitely should. (They are the only band in the world to have a headlining show in Vegas every night – I’ll probably have to head out there this year to check it out!) And all 4 band members are super awesome, we had the chance to chat with all over them over the weekend and they’re great

I have to say this video clip was certainly one of the highlights of the show(s)

Backstreet Boys Concert

Backstreet Boys at Foxwoods

Katie January 1, 2013 0 Comments

Friday night I headed up to Foxwoods to see the Backstreet Boys! They added a few year end shows which unfortunately didn’t include Kevin because he had decided to re-join after these shows were booked. (OR it will just be easier to sell more tix in 2013 if he wasn’t at these shows.) My friend Kim was coming with me, but got stuck in traffic so she had to meet me up there instead of us going together.

There was no opening act and at about 8:20 the boys took the stage – except that the music started and where were the boys? I turned to my left and there was Nick Carter just walking down our aisle. Then he stopped about 3 rows in front of us and sang. I had lost 2 closer pair of tickets before their fanclub let me buy these, which I was NOT happy about. Until this point. I’m not sure where the other ones were but I was so close to Nick I was over it.

They seemed to do a lot of the older songs in the beginning – We’ve Got It Goin On, Larger Than Life, Get Down… which are the ones I know the best. I have all the albums but the later stuff I don’t really listen to all that much while the earlier stuff has been pounded in to my brain from back in middle school when there was nothing better to do than listen to boybands. (I wish that was still the case!)

Each of the guys did a solo song – AJ’s was PLARS “Party Like a Rock Star”, I was not really into it at all and the guy in the row behind us said something like.. don’t quite your day job so I guess he wasn’t really much of a fan of it either. After he was done – Nick asked AJ if he was going solo. AJ said he thought about it and Nick said that if he did, they don’t want him back! And… then it was time for “Don’t Want you Back” Ah Nick, you are so good at transitioning into songs.

They all sat on the end of the stage at one point, Brian asked everyone to take a couple steps back and teased about how as they start singing everyone starts creeping more forward. They talked a bit about how there was a storm and it was difficult for them to get to the show. Howie had the hardest time – getting suck in Jersey Shore where it flooded – Nick of course got him to talk about this for a bit about how he almost needed to swim to the show. Of course – this led them in to singing DROWNING.

At this point, Kim arrived so I ran off to give her her ticket so she could get in! When we got back to the seats it was time for Brian’s solo song and he was talking a bit about the Newtown shooting and how everyone didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. He sang a song called Gone Without Goodbye.

A couple songs later it was time for CLUB BACKSTREET where they had all the girls who got Platinum VIP packages ($500+) come on stage. They said they had never done it before and wasn’t sure how it would work out. It was pretty funny to watch. Girls were taking their pics with the guys, dancing with them, etc. I think it helped make the VIP package worth it!

Howie did his solo song of 100 kisses. He seemed to spend most of his time on the top level of the stage (they had stairs going up) and unfortunately that part of the stage was really poorly lit. It was really hard to see any of them when they went up there, let alone get some photos.

Then they did some more older stuff (hooray!) Quit Playing Games, As Long As You Love Me and I Want It That Way. (My second sing a long to that song this month!) Nick did his solo song – Burning Up. He was out of control on the stage by himself. Out. Of. Control. Then the other guys joined him for The One and then…. The Call started and the guys all marched through the crowd right up our aisle again! A bunch of girls ran to get a glimpse of them, but I didn’t really want to get trampled. Next thing I know, AJ is *right* behind me!!! Once everyone else realized it I ended up getting shoved into our seats but it was so awesome! (And then I was REALLY ok that we had the further back seats!)

They ended the show with Everybody! After the show, Howie did an after party at the club in the Casino. The line seemed out of control, so we didn’t even bother trying to get in. We walked over to the Foxwoods side of the casino instead to pick up some bears from the Hard Rock and to see if we found the other boys wandering (no such luck).

I am looking forward to 2013 when they will tour with Kevin being back!

Backstreet Boys Concert

Backstreet Boys Setlist

Katie December 29, 2012 0 Comments

I went to see the Backstreet Boys tonight at Foxwoods. I think this was the first date on their small new years run so I figured I would post the setlist incase anyone is curious. The review and photos will be posted sometime in the new year as I am off for 3 shows in 2 days in New Hampshire… find out all about THAT in the new year too

Incomplete
Larger Than Life
Straight Through My Heart
We’ve Got It Going On
Get Down
Aj Solo – PLARS (Party Like a Rock Star)
Don’t Want You Back
Inconsolable
Drowning
Brian Solo – Gone without Goodbye
Bigger
If I Knew Then
Howie Solo – 100 Kisses
Quit Playing Games
As Long As You Love Me
I Want It That Way
Nick Solo – Burning Up
The One
The Call
Everybody

Concert SK6ers

Stephen Kellogg Solo

Katie December 29, 2012 0 Comments

While Stephen Kellogg has done solo shows in the past, I was never able to catch one. However, Thursday night I was able to catch his Alone For the Holidays tour at my favorite venue – Fairfield Theater Stage One.

Opening was Native Run. I had never heard of them before, but the moment they stepped on stage I knew that I was in for something special. Rachel came out and asked us all to check out her shoes because she’d be taking them off in a second. After their second song, Bryan said that they were done and he was exhausted! Of course, that wasn’t their last song but they were hilarious and so entertaining. They sounded great in harmony together and Rachel has a wonderful voice on her own as well. AND they even did an infomercial for the Water Sack Stephen was selling (or free with a shirt purchase) that evening. I definitely give them two thumbs up!

Stephen is working on a new solo album, so a handful of the songs were new and he didn’t tell us what the name of the songs were. So I made some names up for my setlist and we’ll see what happens there. Usually the setlists get posted at SK6ers.com, so I’ll keep an eye there to see how close I was to being correct and will then update the post accordingly.

He started off with a new song. I am calling it Heart of a Man. But I don’t know. Then he said that he would do some older stuff for us too and did Roots and Wings. During Fourth of July, you could hear a lot of giggling coming from backstage. Stephen has 4 daughters and no doubt they were all playing back there. At one point he turned to look at the back and just laughed himself. For the next song – he called the gigglers out on stage to be his special guest. His 2 oldest daughters came out an danced while he sang Gravity. So adorable. They got a standing ovation. Then he did 2 new songs – one I am calling Lost and Found. The other he had us echo back “It’s Arlight” so I’m calling it that. He also said that it was him singing a song he might get in trouble with and it was him being Andy Rooney. It’s a very political song about his beliefs and how It’s Alright because it’s just what is in his brain and his opinion.

Then he went back to some older songs – 1993 is the song he wrote after his record label told him to stop being so specific with dates and events. They thought if he was less specific, they could find more people to listen to him. Personally, I like that his songs are all specific and personal and tell his life story. Although I can see why the record label might not be too into that if they think that is what is hindering him from gaining fans. Then he went into the drinking song, Start the Day Early.

Next up Native Run joined him back on stage for a Christmas song. He said it was after Christmas but they always do a Christmas song on the winter tours so it was a tradition. Rachel noted that some people celebrate 12 days of Christmas so we were good. Stephen also teased that it was either the most racist of the Christmas songs or it was talking about how global warming would be coming. They did White Christmas. Native Run hung around to join Stephen for another new song – but he told us the title is Forgive You, Forgive Me.

Then he talked a bit about how on December 15th when he woke up he didn’t think any of his songs were good enough after the tragedy that happened. He went through his catalog and found one that he thought would work and dedicated it to those affected by everything that had happened. He was also wearing a green ribbon on his jacket which I can only assume was to honor those killed at SHES. He then sang In Front of the World and next up was Satisfied Man and Milwaukee.

Everyone gave him a standing ovation and soon after he returned to the stage with Bryan from Native Run to do The Bear. The last song… was interesting. I wish I had recorded it. I’m calling it Thanksgiving because that seemed to be what it was about. It started off soft but as the song went on, he seemed to be getting angrier and angrier. The song got louder and louder and it just had more and more emotion pouring in to it. It was quite the way to end the night!

Or well, I thought that would be how my night ended. Except that on the way home, I spotted up ahead a tractor trailer that was SPARKING. Everyone moved over to the far (fast) lane to avoid it, as it sparked its way to the shoulder. The air smelled really bad and when I went by it, the driver’s side front tire was completely GONE. I don’t know where it went, I must have missed it blowing off. But that was definitely very scary and I am glad it appeared no one was hurt and all of us on the road were able to get out of the way. Several cars pulled over right after it I’m assuming to call 911.

(setlist from SK6ers.com)

Men & Women
Roots and Wings
4th of July
*Gravity
Lost and Found
The Brain Is A Beautiful Thing
1993
Howl at the Moon
Start the Day Early
** White Christmas
** Forgive You, Forgive Me
In Front of the World
Tweets
Satisfied Man
Milwaukee

E: **The Bear

Thanksgiving

*with Sophia and Adeline Kellogg

**with Native Run