Relient K Concert 10/12/08

As some of you know, My sis Jessica and I are avid concert goers. One of our favorite groups is Relient K . We have each seen them several times in concert. I know most of their songs by heart, have been waiting for the chance to see them again. We went to Columbus last year to see them with Switchfoot. Now THAT was a great concert. Well, they are now on tour, with 3 lesser known bands (House of Heros, This Providence, and Ludo). I really didn't know anything about these bands before, and still don't know that much about them. They were OK, one or two songs were actually a bit good, but we didn't know them so it's a bit hard to appreciate them live. The third band, Ludo was actually a bit weird, but entertaining. Their signature song is titled "Love Me dead." Yeah, like I said, weird.

So in deciding when and where to go see Relient K, we decided to go to the Pittsburgh show 10/12 instead of the closer Cleveland show 10/31 because Jess couldn't go that date. Another friend from church, Caleb, went along. I think the overall experience was OK, but not great. A bit disappointing for a two hour each way commute. I am still dragging from lack of sleep 2 days later. A few lessons were learned from this endeavor (even this old dog can learn a new trick or two. probably 3 would be pushing it).

Lesson 1: you are taking a chance going to a new place to see a concert that is two hours away, and you have never been to. A pig in a poke, so to speak. Be especially wary if the name is something like Club Zoo. Ok, I know, should have known better than go to "Club Zoo". Hindsight is 20/20, and there is very little info out there on the internet about it. Suffice it to say, this may be an OK dance club, but not a great concert venue. Small main floor, and off the main floor was a dance floor/bar area on which we were standing (for 4 hours). very crowded, people in front of us standing on chairs, rails, etc. so seeing the stage was a challenge. Small stage, big speakers combined to allow about 6 feet of stage frontage on which to see the band. large columns were spaced throughout the converted warehouse that (in)conveniently blocked your view. Jess was able to purloin three bar stools in the back of the dance area that we stood on for Relient K. At least we could see them. You get the picture. If you check out my high quality cell phone video, you can just see the gray column on the right of the picture.

Lesson 2: NEVER go to a concert with three opening acts that you have never heard of. Contrast this with the Music Builds tour with headliner Third Day, and under card of Robert Randolph, Jars of Clay, and Switchfoot. Check out Jessica's blog for pix of this awesome event. It is painful standing for 3 hours to wait to hear your band, with long set changes between, etc. Which leads me to...

Lesson 3: NEVER go to a general admission club concert. Pay the extra bucks to see your favorite band with reserve seating, preferably in the front.

Oh well, enough complaining. like I said, next time I will plan better. A quick shout out to Jess and Caleb, had a great time with you both, hope we can do it again at a better place.

FYI: coming soon, Patrick's First Buckeye Game. Yes, believe it or not, he got to go to the Purdue game with me...

-Scott