*** origingally written, June 24, 2009, but sat in my drafts folder for some unknown reason ***
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When I was something like 10 years old, I was KIX 106‘s 10th caller and won a gift certificate (back then they were still slips of paper) to a local Italian restaurant. I remember thanking them, having to stay on the line so they could get my information, and reveling in my luck.
I don’t remember having won anything from a radio station since then. Then again, for a two or so out of the last five years I was working in a business that made me ineligible to win anything from a radio station since I (my company) was paying them in ad revenue.
Anyway, that all changed this week. First, a week or so ago, I was Steve Seel’s and Jill Reilly’s 10th caller on my way to work and won tickets to June”s Phoenix show. A few days later, I entered vita.mn‘s contest by sharing my favorite festival memory (La la la la LOLLA!) and won tickets to Rock the Garden. So, don’t get too jealous, but in the last 4 days, I’ve seen Yeasayer, The Decemberists, Amazing Baby, and Phoenix.
Let’s start with RTG.
It was freakin’ HOT out, but not totally unbearable, and we kept cool with a couple of Summits and hanging back on top of the hill away from the big crowd. We missed Solid Gold because we didn’t get there on time for that (oops), but LOVED Yeasayer. We [accidentally] skipped Calexico because we’d moved inside to 20.21 for some air-conditioning and to visit our former housemate at the bar. (Next time you’re in there, tell Kevin hi for me)
The show closed with The Decemeberists, with the sunset and the city as the backdrop. This was a beautiful, beautiful thing. The music was incredible, the sunset magnificient, and the Minneapolis skyline in the background.
And then, Ashley and I were lucky enough to catch Phoenix at the Varsity in Dinkytown. First of all, this has been one of my FAVORITE places to see a concert since I saw Louis XIV there a couple of years ago. The lights, the plush and velvety antique chairs, the set up of the whole place – I just love the ambiance and interior.
And the music? We caught just the last few songs of Amazing Baby, but they’re a band I’m definitely going to have to check out more of. Phoenix ROCKED it. They were INCREDIBLE. Opening with a few of their radio hits, playing both new and old songs, and closing with an encore of 1901 (if memory serves me right).
you’re going “hey hey hey hey hey hey”
Anyway, the [sold out] crowd was great, the bar was accessible and the music blew me away. Live music, for the win!
Did you see any good shows this year? Anyone get to Lollapalooza this year?
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice! You girls are so cute!
So fun! Live music is the absolute best! I won tickets to Prince on the radio about 4 years ago. He is a tiny, tiny man. I mean extremely tiny. But he put on a good show!
Ok seeing Prince live would be an awesome experience! How fun!
So fun! I'm so jealous you got to see the Decemberists, I saw them last summer and it was the best show ever.
I love The Decemberists! Lucky you.
I haven't been to a live show in far too long, but I'm hoping to catch Brand New (for the 4th time) this fall.
Q: Did you see any good shows this year?A: Too many to remember!
NIN/JA in Atlanta, Bonnaroo (esp. NIN, Gov't Mule, Ani Difranco, Paul Oakenfold), JJ Grey & Mofro in Nashville, Buckethead in Huntsville, and I'm sure more. In the next month or two, I'll see U2, Muse, KMFDM, Clutch, and THEM CROOKED EFFING VULTURES.The past few years were equally as awesome with Lisa Loeb, Bonnaroo (Metallica! Pearl Jam! Jack Johnson! Clutch! The Roots! Ben Harper! Galactic! STS9! Gov't Mule w/ JOHN PAUL EFFING JONES), some incredibly epic NIN shows (including Halloween in Nashville … TWICE), a couple of Tool shows, KMFDM, and lots more really, really great shows.
WAIT! Such a lie. I can't believe that I saw my longtime favorite, Third Eye Blind, along with The Offspring, Puddle of Mud, Papa Roach and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus back in May. That was an awesome show.
Nice! You girls are so cute!
So fun! I'm so jealous you got to see the Decemberists, I saw them last summer and it was the best show ever.
So fun! Live music is the absolute best! I won tickets to Prince on the radio about 4 years ago. He is a tiny, tiny man. I mean extremely tiny. But he put on a good show!
I love The Decemberists! Lucky you.
I haven't been to a live show in far too long, but I'm hoping to catch Brand New (for the 4th time) this fall.
Q: Did you see any good shows this year?A: Too many to remember!
NIN/JA in Atlanta, Bonnaroo (esp. NIN, Gov't Mule, Ani Difranco, Paul Oakenfold), JJ Grey & Mofro in Nashville, Buckethead in Huntsville, and I'm sure more. In the next month or two, I'll see U2, Muse, KMFDM, Clutch, and THEM CROOKED EFFING VULTURES.The past few years were equally as awesome with Lisa Loeb, Bonnaroo (Metallica! Pearl Jam! Jack Johnson! Clutch! The Roots! Ben Harper! Galactic! STS9! Gov't Mule w/ JOHN PAUL EFFING JONES), some incredibly epic NIN shows (including Halloween in Nashville … TWICE), a couple of Tool shows, KMFDM, and lots more really, really great shows.
Ok seeing Prince live would be an awesome experience! How fun!
WAIT! Such a lie. I can't believe that I saw my longtime favorite, Third Eye Blind, along with The Offspring, Puddle of Mud, Papa Roach and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus back in May. That was an awesome show.
Wow. Way cool. I think. Me, I have not heard of any of these groups. If they didn't play at Woodstock or at least have been candidates for Woodstock, I haven't heard of them.
Your Aunt Wendy, used to win stuff off the radio because she worked for Jimmy Buffetts best friend and had the direct contest line to the radio station.
Wow. Way cool. I think. Me, I have not heard of any of these groups. If they didn't play at Woodstock or at least have been candidates for Woodstock, I haven't heard of them.
Your Aunt Wendy, used to win stuff off the radio because she worked for Jimmy Buffetts best friend and had the direct contest line to the radio station.
Nice! I won things this summer too, like a free night's stay at this swanky Hollywood hotel. Who says I'm not getting anything out of life by dilly dallying on the internet all day? I got free stuff, yo. I went to Coachella this year. I saw The Killers, MIA and TRVSDJAM, r.i.p.
Sounds like you saw a great concert!I won tickets to see No Doubt from our local newspaper via a Twitter contest a few months ago. Paramore opened for them, and even though we were older than a lot of the audience there (who were potentially in diapers when No Doubt first started to come into the mainstream scene) we had a fantastic time. Can't beat free tickets!
Sounds like you saw a great concert!I won tickets to see No Doubt from our local newspaper via a Twitter contest a few months ago. Paramore opened for them, and even though we were older than a lot of the audience there (who were potentially in diapers when No Doubt first started to come into the mainstream scene) we had a fantastic time. Can't beat free tickets!
SO jealous! I'd have absolutely LOVED to have seen that show, no worriesthat the audience would probably be 10 years younger than me… I havealways loved Gwen Stefani and Paramore is just FUN. Awesome!
I absolutely adore festivals and outdoor live music…well live music inside too but there's just something special about being outdoors with a beer in your hand, favorite peeps by your side, and amazing music happening. (whoa run on sentence! lol)
SO jealous! I'd have absolutely LOVED to have seen that show, no worries
that the audience would probably be 10 years younger than me… I have
always loved Gwen Stefani and Paramore is just FUN. Awesome!
I think you summed up one of my all-time favorite experiences ever. I lovethat feeling!
I absolutely adore festivals and outdoor live music…well live music inside too but there's just something special about being outdoors with a beer in your hand, favorite peeps by your side, and amazing music happening. (whoa run on sentence! lol)
I REALLY want to win tickets to Phoenix's coming show at First Ave. I was dumb and waited too long to buy them. I am hoping I'll be as lucky as you were last time!
And I also won tickets to Rock the Garden, 2 sets from 2 different places! Which was awesome since I had decided to volunteer after my plans to be out of town changed… !!! Hoping for more good ticket karma after giving away those 4 tix to RtG!
I think you summed up one of my all-time favorite experiences ever. I love
that feeling!
I REALLY want to win tickets to Phoenix's coming show at First Ave. I was dumb and waited too long to buy them. I am hoping I'll be as lucky as you were last time!
And I also won tickets to Rock the Garden, 2 sets from 2 different places! Which was awesome since I had decided to volunteer after my plans to be out of town changed… !!! Hoping for more good ticket karma after giving away those 4 tix to RtG!