Urban-ites

I took Connor to see his first real grown-up concert this week. Of course, he'd seen the Wiggles at a big venue and had seen other local kids bands and shows, but this was his first arena adult concert. I wanted to do this with him this summer, but had a hard time deciding which artist to go see. I didn't want to see something that might not be appropriate for an 8 year-old even though I know we both would have totally rocked out at Katy Perry or The Black-Eyed Peas. After assessing the summer's choices I decided on Keith Urban.

I grew up listening to all kinds of music and country music was a part of that. My first concert was, believe it or not, a Dolly Parton concert at Resorts International Hotel in Atlantic City. All I can really remember was the costumes and her boobs. (I'm sure Dolly would be just delighted to know this-really!) My Dad loved her, probably mainly for the boobs. But he listened to other country artists as well. I can remember long car trips listening to Charley Pride, Tanya Tucker, and the ever present Tammy Wynette. Long story short...I don't come with a closed mind about country music like other children of the 80's who grew up north of the Mason-Dixon line.

I also think that country music has changed an AWFUL lot from those twangy Tammy Wynette days. Certainly, its still there with artists like Miranda Lambert and Sugarland (and I love them both), but much of country music now is much more "pop" than country. The advent of hip hop and its influence on pop music has changed it a bit and I think that the more mainstream country artists represent a convergence of the styles. There are many more country songs that Connor and I can belt out in the car than there are pop ones...just because of alot of inappropriateness. I love Rhianna, Katy Perry, Kesha, Britney...but I can't really sing songs about getting drunk in Vegas, menages a trois and Jack Daniels with my kid. Mainstream country music solves that problem.

I was not the biggest Keith Urban fan on the planet. I loved two or three of his songs but only had two of his albums. But, I guessed correctly that Connor would love his show because he is such a fantastic guitar player. And I couldn't have been more correct. He totally rocked it out with some blistering guitar solos. He's been playing guitar since he was 6 years old and professionally since he was 15.

I've been to alot of concerts over the years.  And some of those are historical.  U2 Joshua Tree at Giants Stadium with 40,000 people.  Third Row at Madonna's Blond Ambition.  George Michael's Faith at Madison Square Garden. You get my drift.  I'm not an inexperienced concert goer and I have some context.  Surprisingly, even to me, I have to say that this show is probably in my top five.   He's a fantastic entertainer and the energy in the crowd was kind of only comparable to what you see at U2 or Bare Naked Ladies---fans that are really really into it.   And his stage setup is very open.  It has ramps and he walks right down into the crowd.  At one point he even went out into the middle of the floor and played one of his biggest hits sitting on a chair that eventually lifted up and began to rotate.  Pretty cool. 

I also think it was very interesting to note that the crowd was one of the most diverse I'd ever seen at a concert.  I guess I was thinking in a biased way that somehow the crowd would be pitifully white, redneck, and disturbing.  Boy, was I wrong.    In our row alone we had a 25 year old black guy, an asian couple, and a pair of 60 some-old year old retired healthcare executives.  One of the fans he pulled up on the stage was a gay male 20-something (who really wanted a kiss from one of the guitarists which made for a very funny interchange).   It was very interesting to me that I had been so closed minded about what to expect in the crowd.   But I guess that was stupid....I'm not a disturbing redneck and I like his music.  Why did I think I 'd be alone?  In fact, I have to say that I really didn't see any of that at all.  I did see alot of good looking 20 year old girls in cut off shorts and cowboy boots, though.  :)

Before the show we got some dinner and walked around near the Verizon Center and saw the equipment truck and Keith's tour bus.

They had a green screen set up that allowed you to rock it out with Keith and Connor put on a great show!

Here we are together waiting for the show to start.

And here's a shot I took with my crappy little point and shoot that shows you how close we were to the stage.

I think it was somehow just meant to be. I got these tickets only a few weeks ago and have no idea how we got such great seats...the place was sold out. Weird because I paid face value from TicketMaster and didn't go through a reseller. Also, Connor has a country song by Little Big Town that he really likes to sing....and Keith covered it! It must be kismet, because he didn't really do any other covers. Connor was so excited when he heard Boondocks coming out of Keith's guitar and mouth!

It was a great time. Connor really enjoyed it and so did I.