My First Concert On The Quad

Okay... well, the cool kids never show up right when the gig starts right? WRONG. I showed up 30 minutes late and they were already putting out more seats. Apparently this concert thing is a big deal. Due to poor weather it was held in the Student Union Building (SUB)... Which is tough because there's infinitely more seating on the quad. There were short food lines for free BBQ and soda (with "summer" student ID).  And summer program t-shirts and lunch boxes and merchandise available for trade - they accept canned goods as monetary compensation.

There were all folks of all ages running around. Little kids spinning in circles to the music and elderly people clapping along. A smattering of college students here and there. I ran into a few friends like Emma Doupe, Cory Winter and Natalie Keezer, along with a couple of ex-boyfriends that shall not be named... and few kids who I went to high school with. Seems to be a great mixing place.

Now the thing about concerts and being schooled in the way of classical music...  I feel so out of place at things like this. Because people are standing and dancing... talking... cellphones going off... running... eating. This is nothing like what i'm used to. I had Emma remind me on two different occasions "Relax Nanette, this is not a symphony."

That being said... I have an appreciation for music of all sorts. The opening band, The Wild Coyotes, was something that should be enjoyed on a front porch while enjoying sweet tea, or whiskey sours. It was a blue grass night. However, I will give it up for The Clumsy Lovers... they started slow with a violin solo but as soon as the rest of the group joined in they had the audience clapping and children spinning and dancing all over again. Bouncy and fun... the bluegrass just seemed so out of place in the Canoe Room. It belongs in a field, or barn, or county fair or place where the feet are free and skirts are flow-y. Though that didn't stop people from kicking off their shoes and dancing away.

I'm sure that once i break through this shell of discomfort these events will turn into really cool experiences. Probably even meet a concert going crowd... or create my own and bring them. but I still just cannot wait until the sun comes out and we get to have fun outdoors on blankets... it's a great venue for a picnic with friends, lovers or whole family. Plus, it was a lovely walk home.

XO, Nanette