The Ballad of the Music Fan and the Stolen Mix Tape (Part 3): Sometimes you can't make it on your own...
Before you check out this post you should have a read of parts 1 & 2 of this story. This way you will be in the know and can follow along with part 3:
- The Ballad of the Music Fan and the Stolen Mix Tape...
- The Ballad of the Music Fan and the Stolen Mix Tape (Part 2): The Road Goes on Forever...
When we last left our hero, Mix Tape Guy, he was off to see the Allman Brothers courtesy of a couple free tickets from yours truly. He and the friend that he took along had an as advertised great time at the show. They got there early enough to enjoy the tailgate scene and left late enough to hear the last notes echoing off the trees around the arena and out into the late summer night's sky.
The set list was filled with old-time used-to-be's and some rabbit-outta-the-hat cover tunes. Have a look:08/29/09 - Comcast Center (Great Woods), Mansfield, MADon’t Want You No More
It’s Not My Cross To Bear
One Way Out
Midnight Rider
Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
Stand Back
Dreams
Can’t Find My Way Home
Statesboro Blues
Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad? (rabbit-outta-the-hat cover tune!)
Black Hearted Woman
Mountain Jam
Dazed and Confused (rabbit-outta-the-hat cover tune!)
Mountain Jam
Encore: Whippin' Post (ode to our "Mutual Friend")
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The set list was filled with old-time used-to-be's and some rabbit-outta-the-hat cover tunes. Have a look:08/29/09 - Comcast Center (Great Woods), Mansfield, MADon’t Want You No More
It’s Not My Cross To Bear
One Way Out
Midnight Rider
Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
Stand Back
Dreams
Can’t Find My Way Home
Statesboro Blues
Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad? (rabbit-outta-the-hat cover tune!)
Black Hearted Woman
Mountain Jam
Dazed and Confused (rabbit-outta-the-hat cover tune!)
Mountain Jam
Encore: Whippin' Post (ode to our "Mutual Friend")
_____
Mix Tape Guy's antennae are always up for great gigs. But when U2 comes to town he needs not rely on an aerial to tell him to tap out a few tickets on the interweb. This past Sunday night (20th September), U2 played Foxboro Stadium located right outside of Boston, Massachusetts. Mix Tape Guy and another Concert Crazy Classmate from Keene, New Hampshire went to the show.
$275 a piece got them tickets in the last row of the lower bowl. Good seats...if it wasn't for the overhang. This dang piece of steel and girder interfered with their line of sight to the "claw" stage and, even worse, blocked out half the sound system. Stadium shows have huge jumbotrons that allow you to see the action. Fine. When you can't hear the music the way you should, that is a deal breaker.
Mix Tape Guy and Concert Crazy Classmate considered the deal broken and scouted out two empty seats five rows down. They were empty and our heroes were game; off they went to better sights and sound.
Midway through the show, wouldn't you know it, some Dude comes up and claims one of the seats is his (where the hell was he for the start of the gig?). Mix Tape Guy appealed to the concert lover in the Dude and asked if he would mind if he and his friend (Concert Crazy Classmate) squish-stand in the other unclaimed seat. No problem, says Dude.
In between songs Mix Tape Guy strikes up some blah-blah-blah conversation with Dude. Dude says he has two club seats for the Monday night show and asks Mix Tape guy if he wants to buy them for $400 a pop (face value $500). Mix Tape Guy and Concert Crazy Classmate fess up and decided the tix were too rich for their blood. No worries. At least they are loving the U2 show they are at. Gig'ers can't be choosers.
Two songs later, out of nowhere, Dude says to Mix Tape Guy, "looks like you are enjoying the hell out of this show...here, you can have the tickets for Monday night".
Whoa. Repeat...Whoa.
Music-Karma is a strange thing. There is something about music...live music...that makes the fantastic, tangible. Live music is a sweet privilege. Music sometimes translates best live and speaks in native tongues. It is the kind of language that is primal and brings out a communal purpose of enjoyment in true give and take fashion. It is give and take with the artists and audience and give and take with each other...the concert goers.
I'll say it again: Live music is a sweet privilege. It doesn't matter if you are into U2, Black-Eyed Peas or Megadeath. That same communal spirit is alive and well in the rhythms and the rapture of the song and the scene.
Needless to say, Mix Tape Guy was floored by the offer. Dude gave the tickets. Mix Tape Guy took them. Give and Take.
_____
The next day was a bit of a mad scramble for Mix Tape Guy. Prior commitments were getting in the way of his attending the gifted-second U2 show. Concert Crazy Classmate was already a no-go. Ultimately, Mix Tape Guy just couldn't wrangle free of his prior commitments and would not be able to go to the show. Had Music-Karma hit a dead end? Was this the end of the line for a Good Song-maritan deed? Not with Mix Tape Guy at the helm. He knew what had to be done.
If you did not read Parts 1 & 2 of this story, you may be a little lost. A quick refresher for you:
Mix Tape Guy and I have been in a Music-Karma volley for almost two decades. The serves have been few and far between, but when it is in play it is a grand-slam event. Most recently I surprised Mix Tape Guy with a pair of free-of-charge tickets to see the Allman Brothers. Now, Mix Tape Guy is in the same position to pass on the Music-Karma to worthy dedicated music-head.
Mix Tape Guy remembered an old co-worker who fit the bill. He rang her up and laid the big-gig on her. Her response...?
Whoa. Repeat...Whoa.
Job well done, Mix Tape Guy. His friend and her husband are going to the U2 show tonight (Monday the 21st) and are probably fist-pumping as I type this. Mix Tape Guy would tell you that it felt great to do that. Almost as good as if he went himself (...even better than the real thing?).
Needless to say, the ex-coworker was floored by the offer. Mix Tape Guy gave the tickets. Ex-Coworker took them. Give and Take.
___
I'll say it again: Live music is a sweet privilege...and at times, a glorious gift.
Here is a gift for you. Two live tunes. One is an absolute Allman's fave of mine. I have stood in many fields on many days and nights listening to the Allmans play this live, while rocking back and forth to it's happy vibe. Whenever/wherever I hear it I take the the time to stop what I am doing and get carried away with it.
And, since we talked about U2, here is a classic live U2 song to put your ears on. This is one of my favourite live versions of this song off of Rattle and Hum. I love the gospel-y background vocals. I've seen U2 twice and unfortunately I have not yet heard this song.
Comments (3)
This is really great stuff. Kudos!
Apparently, she cries when she is happy. Cool. Three must really be a charm, because last night she turned on the water works three times during the gig. As far as she is concerned, "seeing those guys in concert is one of those special gifts in life".
It doesn't matter who she saw or where she saw them. What matters is that live music experience put life on pause and allowed you her to feel and flow to the tunes.
Nice work, Mix Tape Guy. You done good...
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