Outdoor Summer Concerts

Last night I checked off concert #1 of 4 for this summer (although it's quite possible I will attend more than 4).  The concert didn't disappoint and I remembered exactly why I love outdoor summer concerts so much. 

First of all, they are usually cheaper and easier to get tickets to.  I have given up on big arena concerts....it never fails that I go online right at the start time of ticket sales and ALWAYS get nose bleed seats...what the heck???  I don't get it.  I pay good money and have to watch the concert from a mile away...no thank you.  I even sent my husband to the ticket office once and he was 4th in line...and we still got crappy balcony seats (as did the person 1st in line).....no one stands and dances in the balcony...boring! 

Second, who doesn't love to be outside on a beautiful summer night hanging out with hundreds of your "closest" friends listening to live music???....and lets be honest, at a concert everyone is your best friend!

And finally, my favorite reason that outdoor summer concerts rock....they are usually much smaller venues, making for a much more personal experience.  Last night's Frankie Ballard concert on Main Street in Ames was a perfect example!  There were several hundred people there, all standing as there wasn't seating at this concert (which also makes it awesome, because you can get close to the stage), and Frankie decided he needed to "party with his friends" and he came out and mingled with the crowd.  While the band played Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock & Roll", Frankie talked to people, took pictures with them, and even drank their beer :)  He made it all the way to the back...we got "high fives" from him...he even talked to people on the sidewalk who were watching the concert for free since you could see the stage from outside the gates.  It was so fun!  I especially loved when he talked about hanging out with Bob Seger's band in Des Moines one night...he mentioned the High Life Lounge and Hotel Fort Des Moines! 

Frankie and his band were about 2 hours late...TWO of their flights from Dallas got canceled yesterday and they ended up having to fly to KC and renting a car (actually he said it was a Dodge mini van) and driving "100 mph north on 35".  He said he hasn't missed a concert in 10 years and didn't plan to miss this one.  He definitely made up for being late by being so engaging with the crowd.  He also said he would stay out until 3am meeting everyone afterwards for pictures, autographs, etc.  He was a great entertainer...and much more enjoyable than watching a singer/band perform half an arena away on stage. 

I also got to hear a local singer, Danny Grause, out of Nevada for the first time.  They were very good too.  They played some original songs as well as some covers...Charlie Daniels even!  I will be seeing them again somewhere I'm sure!  ...and I ate Battles BBQ for the first time last night...Yum!

Even though I stayed up WAY past my bedtime last night (concert was over around 11:15...2 hours later than planned), I'm doing pretty well today --- I think I'm on a "concert high".  I love live country music, summer nights in Iowa, and putting them both together!!! 

Next up:  Florida Georgia Line and Jake Owen at the state fair (and maybe a couple of "free stage" concerts at the fair) and then Jerrod Niemann at another small outdoor venue in Ames....Can't wait!!!!  On my bucket list is to spend a week in Nashville, TN listening to live country music every night...who wants to go with me?? :) 

In case you have no idea who Frankie Ballard is (don't feel bad, I only knew 3 of his songs), here are a couple of my favorites; enjoy!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWv1HFenAA8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tQk7m2P3AU