I need to cover a few events in one post; this must mean I had a great summer!!
Though it may seem strange to lump concerts and book signings together, last year I realized they have many similarities for me and sometimes book signings are even better!
Both types of events support the artists we love and allow us to enjoy their work in a different experience – outside of our headphones and off of our couches!
Pearl Jam
Though I love Pearl Jam, attending this concert was more for my husband; it was really important for him to see them while still “in their prime.” We almost went a couple of years ago but it didn’t work out. This year I was able to get tickets at face value through the Ticketmaster verified fan presale, so I felt OK affording the other aspects of the excursion (hotel, food, drinks etc.). The etc. also includes merchandise which I didn’t realize was such a big deal. And I still didn’t end up with the poster I really wanted or a set list t-shirt which now I’ll have to get on ebay for my husband for Christmas (good thing I know he never reads my blog!!).
We ended up at Wrigley Field on a Sunday night (of course I couldn’t get the Saturday night tickets!!) with a 100% prediction of rain. We sat out a 2 hour rain delay before the concert started. Our “affordable tickets” were SOOOO FAR AWAY from them, but I still really enjoyed the atmosphere and seeing the fan base out in full force. Eddie was full of energy and gave the show my husband wanted. I wish they would have played more of their melancholy songs (I love the Into the Wild soundtrack, for example). They did play “Come Back” which I have always liked, but it was super sad as they were dedicating it to their friend who just passed away.
Overall it was a great experience. There are not many, if any other bands though I would be OK sitting this far away from...of course for Bruce I would also be happy just to be in the stadium!
Counting Crows
Me and Adam from Counting Crows!
Seeing the Counting Crows was a totally different experience. As this band does not draw the extreme crowds of Pearl Jam, we were able to get up front (literally 3rd row) and it turned out to be a really nice evening that felt more like an episode of storytellers than a concert. I had read they don’t always play “Mr. Jones,” but we got lucky and they did play it for our show.
They played another song I loved and didn’t remember hearing before, “God of Ocean Tides.” He said he wrote it driving away from someone he thought he loved:
Gods of water Gods of rain
Cover up the sun again
We are crossing at the Mississippi line
I tried all my days
To love you just the way you hoped I might
But I’m leaving here tonight
I can’t remember yesterday
I tried
If I said I could
I lied
I left this event with a deeper appreciation for the poetry of their lyrics. And still the lead singer just seems like a normal dude we could hand out with.
Colson Whitehead
Finally, I had an opportunity to see this Pulitzer Prize winner speak, and he too was super entertaining. I read his Underground Railroad a couple of years ago and I do wish it was more clear in my memory for the talk. I tried to refresh my memory by reading my previous post on this book.
All the authors I have seen “on tour” have been really funny which has surprised me. Whitehead talked a lot about “hating people” and how a day where he avoids people is a good day. This made me wonder how he feels about these types of events.
He talked about calling his publisher with the idea for Underground Railroad – taking the railroad literally and into the fantastical. He said his publisher said “Get Out Mother Fuc&er” which is “old school publisher” for “That sounds intriguing; you should pursue it.” His talk was full of quick little liners like that making the crowd laugh.
Before taking questions, he answered several that he gets a lot. One was “why another book about slavery?” I actually can’t imagine anyone would ask this out loud (or even internally) but apparently they do!! As another sample of his humor, he joked, “I could have written about upper middle class people that feel sad sometimes.” LOL!!!!
It was great to see so many people come out to see an author speak. And I got my book signed which was very cool for me. I’m amassing a small collection of signed books thanks to my new appreciation for author events.
So that sums up the concerts and book signings from my summer, and although I didn’t attend nearly as many concerts as last year I will look forward to seeing what opportunities the next year brings.
Related: Here is my post on my epic West Coast trip this summer.