Top 5 Concerts

July 14, 1999: Went to The Moffatts concert with Jessica at the Saskatoon Exhibition. Cost: $5.00. Concert: 8pm-10pm. Opened with Crazy. My first concert. Bought the Moffatts CD: Chapter 1: A New Beginning. I LOVE THE MOFFATTS.

That was how I carefully chronicled my first concert. Honestly, I didn't even like them until I saw them live. Perhaps if I hadn't heard Girl Of My Dreams, I wouldn't have agreed to see them. Secretly I was a little upset they were like Hanson, and I didn't want to like them. This opened up my just turned 14 self to the concert world and decided right then and there that concerts are what it's really all about as a music lover. It's what makes you love or not love a musician. It takes you on a whole other level as a fan.

I went about writing down every detail for every concert throughout high-school very diligently. I made a cute little scrapbook with receipts from cds I bought (even the bag they came in), ticket stubs, setlists, picks, newspaper reviews, a snap bracelet, and of course autographs and pictures (negatives as well). It was in one of those photo albums you had to pull back the pages, so old school.

January 10, 2000: Our Lady Peace with Stereophonics opening for them. We had nosebleed seats, but since it was my first show in a big arena, well big for me, it was quite an experience.

July 14, 2000: PSYKOBLAST. No I'm not kidding! I had to go, I really did, it had been exactly a year since I had seen The Moffatts. Plus the other artists included Christina Aguilera, SoulDecision, Mytown, and McMaster & James. I had a bloodcurdling scream at the time, 15 year olds, eh?

More concerts followed, Serial Joe (x2), Clarknova, Jet Set Satellite. I could list all of them, but seriously, do you want to know them all? I might miss one or two and that would be disastrous. So I'll just mention my faves now.

February 3, 2001: The Moffatts with Wide Mouth Mason = BRILLIANT. This was a moment I will never forget. Sweet Home Alabama was expertly played as the final song with both bands coming together to jam to rip out this classic song. 

May 4, 2001: Matchbox Twenty with Lifehouse. Rob Thomas was smoking on stage, and a lovely solo piano version of 3am was played.

July 15, 2001: O-Town with Wave. Amy and I actually drove to Regina to see this concert. We were big fans of Making The Band, and I got a sweet T-shirt. The show was good, but we got lost trying to get out of Regina. Not gonna lie, I STILL don't like Regina and kind of avoid it.

March 12, 2002: Amanda Marshall with Jordy Birch. I need to mention this show because we were 4th row and NO ONE was standing up for Jordy, poor guy. My sister and I took pity, along with 2 other girls near us. We stood and danced. As it turned out, 5 years later, one of those girls became one of my best friends.

February 12, 2003: Keith Urban opens for Carolyn Dawn Johnson. I know right? Seems a little backwards, and I have seen Keith since, but this is still my very favourite performance of his.

I went on to see Hilary Duff (x3), Mariana's Trench (x6), Three Days Grace (x3), Theory of a Deadman (x3), Nickelback, Pearl Jam, Buckcherry, Default (x3), Velvet Revolver, Saliva, and yes even Backstreet Boys (thanks Kerry). Aerosmith and ACDC were supposed to be more epic than they were. For one thing: I can't remember much of Aerosmith, due to free drinks (thanks Mike), and I feel Angus Young's solo was much too long, and "Who Made Who" was left out. Plus that show was in Regina, enough said. Please don't hurt me for not being too excited about these two shows.

September 28, 2005: Collective Soul at Sask Place. I decided I LOVE this band. Ed Roland is a GOD. Some of Compliment was sung by the crowd, as well as big parts of Run, and Better Now. I felt connected, and completely drawn in. I have seen them two more times and was equally impressed each time.

July 7, 2009: Green Day. I was randomly invited last minute. GREAT decision to go, was even better than I figured it would be. Incredible fan interaction. These guys are really talented.

Other faves include Matthew Good, Green River Ordinance, Justin Nozuka (where I met one of my good friends), Wideawake, Jonny Lang, Augustana. You could argue that these bands deserve to be in my top 5, they are not, but they are in my top 10.

And now we come to the good stuff. Thanks for sticking with me thus far.

TOP 5 GREATEST CONCERTS I HAVE EVER ATTENDED

September 7, 2002: John Prine at Centennial Auditorium in Saskatoon. This the ONLY show my entire immediate family attended together. I grew up listening to my dad play him on guitar. We are all major fans of Mr. Prine, and this show will hold a special place in my heart forever.

September 12, 2008: Hanson in Calgary. It was at a college and it was acoustic. I was front row on Taylor's side and just got so caught up and lost in it. I feel this show deserves an honorable mention: December 2, 2007: My first out of province show. My first flight. My first time in Toronto. My first time meeting them. This was a big deal. I had liked them for 10 years by this point. The show was electric and had so much energy. Perhaps my crush on Taylor only got worse. Oh and of course on The Rock Boat IX on Lido in January of 2009: longest Hanson show ever.

October 29, 2010: Josh Ritter at Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon. I am sometimes behind on checking out musicians. An American friend of mine told me I HAD to see this guy, and actually sent me a ticket. I went early for front row and fell in love. I felt I was a part of the music, and Josh's charm sets him apart. This venue is absolutely fantastic, acoustics were unreal, and it smelled like popcorn.

December 28, 2009: Kyle Riabko at The Refinery in Saskatoon. I attended the show the night before as well. Just Kyle and his guitar. This guy is FULL of charisma, incredibly talented, and it all felt so short. The venue was meant for this: small room, amazing acoustics. If you ever get the chance to see him live, DO IT.

November 27, 2010: Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers at The Bowery Ballroom in New York City. I cried, I smiled, I felt my heart turn inside out, and I felt happiness. Plus it was eve of SK's birthday so they played right til midnight. There is no band with greater passion than SK6ERS.  I know what you're thinking: REALLY? What about The Rock Boat? Let me tell you about it. TRB has moments, moments like: Hearts In Pain, See Yourself, Sweetest Goodbye, Goose's dance on TRB IX. The pyramid, Father's Day, In Front Of The World, solo SK performances, You Win on TRB X, and many more. November 17, 2009: Fargo? YES, incredibly intimate show: Milwaukee and Such A Way, A (With Love) really stand out. May 21, 2008: they open for George Thorogood and the Destroyers. This is my first time seeing them, and believe me, I don't think you can understand this band until you have seen them live. I FELL HARD for them. Piano Man, SK with a kazu, My Old Man, and it's the only time I have seen them with just 3 members. I was mesmerized and upon meeting them after, (I actually didn't even know what they looked like before this show (besides seeing Boots as Bruiser in a Trevor Jackson video)) I was definitely hooked. And just maybe that's when I decided that Boots is "really good looking".

I am deeply moved by these amazing musicians and the people they are. I can only thank them, and I hope through my music I can in someway touch my audience as well.