Twilight 2011

Loving

Twilight Concert Series Part Deuce

Girl Talk!

I am a firm believer in listening to the band who you are going to see live at least once before you go. Apparently, I'm the minority in this theory. For those of you who have never heard of Girl Talk, let me explain. It's one dood. One dorky dood. And his computer. And a bunch of top 40 pop songs from the 80's all the way until current pop hits. All thrown together and selectively picked apart so only the best portions of the songs make it into the mixes.

I am a nerdy girl. I love what can be done with computers and Girl Talk is a prime example.

The Show:

Firstly, we were late. Not really late, but late enough that there was no line! What a welcome change that was. Also, we came packing this time. I did not want to bring a purse, because dancing with a purse is annoying. Not only to you smack yourself with it, but those poor people standing to the side and rear of you also get in their fair share of smacks too. So yeah, I filled Bri's flask with peach deliciousness and used a handkerchief to tie it to my thigh at the gas station across the street. I was so embarrassed after realizing I had waddled like a duck with a cold egg trying to slip out from between my legs for absolutely no reason. They could have cared less about the water bottles we had in our hands, that were not filled with water. I swear I could have just carried it in and I doubt anyone would have said a damn thing about it. Noted...

To my utter amazement, not only had the line situation greatly improved from the previous week, but the inner fence was gone! Sweet potatoes!

We immediately start our way towards the stage. Another draw of Girl Talk to me is that he not only allows, but encourages people to get on stage and dance. He readily invites people to join him. I wanted to do that. So in we go...

Unfortunately, we never quite made it to the stage. The peach vodka and peach primetimes had a hold and I no longer cared about anything but finding a hole that I could dance, which we did. So I did also. "Hustling, hustling..." Brian started up a random conversation with a couple random doods, and next thing you know, we've got special buddies with presents. So much fun!

Dance we did until the show ended...

After a quick jaunt through the sprinklers at the trax station and a truly awkward conversation with a young man that thought way too highly of himself despite or inspite of the fact that he was sloppy drunk, we were on our way home.

I had yet another blast. It was not quite the all night affair that the previous week had been, but that's cool. My Friday morning sure appreciated it.

Twilight Concert Part Uno

I am going to have to say that this year's concert series has been my favorite thus far, beginning with one of my all time favorites!

I was not naive going into this thang. I knew it was going to be packed, but I can't say that I have ever seen 40,000 people so peacefully putting up with one another in as confined spaces as central Pioneer Park has to offer. There was more than once that I thought, holy shit, if all these people decided that they are not going to wait in this line or behind this fence, I would surely be crushed to death. I anticipated an uprising, but it never came.

Let's touch on the venue for a moment, shall we. I must admit that I was not a believer in the Pioneer Park. I have only heard stories of drugs being buried and the city's homeless finding refuge there. I knew that Gallivan was not longer an option. I only went to one of the Twilight shows last year, because it was almost unbearable. Not being able to move more than 3 inches in any which direction for hours at a time. I understood that Pioneer Park was a larger and more open venue, but how could they manage the entrances and exits like Gallivan does? It was not until first glances after walking our shapely behinds to the corner of 4th South and State that I realized how... Fences... Blast!

I could not believe the length of the lines at Modest Mouse! It seemed insane to me that they had sidewalks full for blocks and blocks only to have 2 entrances for people to stream into. Fortunately for myself, we walked from home, so the corner we ended up at was the corner right by the entrance, but I felt it for those folks lined all the way up 200 and 300 West.

Once in the park, we headed straight for the beer line, as any proud Utah citizen does, right? Double fisted that shit (2 was the limit or I would have tried more, trust me). Then went to go see how close we could get to the stage. That when the second disappointment of the evening hit. ANOTHER FENCE! A fence inside a fence. Who came up with that idea? Epic fail on their behalf.

I suddenly understood the notion of a sea of people. It was literally like riding a wave. People would be streaming out of the 8 foot gap in between what I dub the inner layer (inside the second fence). It was like the when the tide washes out and leaves mini-streams cut deep into the sand. Then everyone would push on forward, then the stream would form of people heading back out. Over and over. I had found my little happy spot. No one around me seemed to want to be anywhere but where we were. Well, until we smelt that old familiar smell of pine trees and skunk. Follow that!

Off we went... and before you know it, we were standing in front of the culprit, who quickly became a new found friend. I had my glorious hand held fan, which everyone in my close proximity immensely enjoyed the relief from. Brian had grape Primetimes. We all spent the next 20 or so minutes enjoying what each had to offer. Then off we went to ride the wave some more.

Now I must say, I don't know if it was my dress, which yes, is adorable on me. Or my gleaming smile or glazed eyes, but I have never been accosted by so many women in my entire life. As I was tailing Brian as he found the holes to slide in and out of, one girl blatantly smacked my ass. Hard! I turned around, expecting to see some perverted old dood, but there she was. Some super hot chick. The guy that she was with sarcastically explained that "she was super sorry..." I could do nothing at that point but laugh and get away quickly.

Onward ever onward... (yes, I even sang church hymns while weaseling my way in an out of 40,000 of my fellow comrades.)

Finally, we make it to a great, GREAT spot. There was plenty of room to dance. Plenty of chicks that wanted to dance with me, some more seductively than others. I could even see the stage at this point! And let me tell you how glad I was to be able to see that one guy almost get clobbered because he ran onto the stage. Hilarious! We stayed there for the remainder of the evening. I gave plenty of hand fan love to the surrounding homies, while Bri worked on his jedi mind skills of keeping our hole open. Never once did my flip-flop feet even get one stomp!

After the encore, we walked to Dick's and Dixie's. What a fabulous bar! I think it may be one of my new favorite watering holes. The music was fantastic. The service was awesome. Those two girls behind the bar were working their asses off, but they were getting paid well to do it. I was nothing but impressed. A couple stein's down and the long walk home from 5th East and 3rd South to 3rd East and 17oo South began, which seemed much shorter once I had a pile of 7-11 nachos in my hot lil hand.

Once home, we started a fire in our lil fire pit and topped the night off with a delicious round of smores.

I could not have been happier with Modest Mouse's set. It was fantastic. I was surprisingly very impressed with the venue although I did feel like a few changes should be made. And most importantly, I was so happy that not once did I run into some of the douches that I later found out went including, but not limited to, Bri's ex-wife and the whore crew from work. I was bummed that I did not see some of my missed friend's though, including but not limited to Rian and Tiff.

Overall, I must say it's in the top ten of amazing concerts in most impressive register of attended concerts.