This is the post where I gush like a little girl. Prepare yourself.
Wednesday confession: we're old rockers. Neil Young, Grateful Dead, Tom Petty, Dire Straits, you name it, we listen to it. But that's the era we grew up in, we are in our mid-40's now and all. We really don't go to concerts that much anymore, the prices are just way too much these days and we have children nearing college (that's going to cost enough right there).
Scott works with a woman (Sharon), whose husband (Gerry) is one of the attorneys for the Allman Brothers, and they get to see the band all over the country, with unlimited passes. So 3 weeks ago, Sharon mentioned to Scott that they had 2 extra tickets to the Allman Brothers at the Greek Theater, did we want them? Since today is Scott's birthday, we thought, sure! We still had to pay, we had no idea WHERE the seats would be, but knew they'd be good.
After driving forever (we live in the boondocks!), we finally arrive and pick up our tickets. Not bad seats, Section A, Row M, Seats 17/19. We were quite pleased.
It's amazing how much things have changed over the years with regard to cameras at concert venues. There really is very little they can do about it now, and I don't think they even try. The concert had *just* started here, when I looked over toward the aisle and saw Sharon waving us over. We go out and she says, We can get you backstage. We're like, okaaaay!
I thought we were just going to loiter backstage, but no. We are ushered ONTO THE STAGE where they have three rows of 4 chairs lined up. Scott & Sharon immediately sat down in the second row and I was planning to stand, until a very nice gentleman, in the FIRST ROW got up and told me to sit in his seat.
And that is how I was upgraded to this.
Dudes. That is fracking Gregg Allman, 10 feet away from me, jamming on his old school keyboard/organ.
It didn't end there. 5 minutes later, Bruce Willis came in and sat NEXT TO ME. Okay, I died. I couldn't look over because I was afraid I'd bust out laughing so hard. Bruce got up at the next song to jam with them on his harmonica - and let me tell you, Bruce looks DAMN NICE jamming on that harmonica!
That's him in the baseball cap. It doesn't end there. Tom Petty & a couple Heartbreakers...looking a little scruffy, but man, he's still got it too.
The first guy on the right is rock legend Warren Haynes, who plays with the Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers and his own band, Gov't Mule, and who my husband is just a huge fan of.
Some interesting observations from the stage: the sound is totally different. You don't hear the vocals very well because obviously, the speakers are pointing out. It is a VERY good people watching vantage point - I was amazed at a couple in the front row that just sat there. Just. Sat. There. People - you're in the front row! Do something!!! As soon as we walked on stage, I was holding my Blackberry (planning on Twittering the concert, of course!) and was immediately told no texting, no cameras. As soon as I saw other people taking pictures on stage, I did also, very discreetly.
This was a once in a lifetime experience, and we couldn't stop thanking Sharon & Gerry. And one final picture for the birthday boy:
Scott & Warren Haynes backstage. I can't think of better birthday present. Happy Birthday Scotty! ♥
P.S. I got him a shirt too, but that's buptkiss at this point, right?