The last time we went to PNC Bank Arena in Charlotte,
Charlie and I misbehaved. We were there to see Kelly Clarkson and Maroon 5 and
Kristen (my sister) ended up babysitting us.
Since then, we’ve done Red Rocks twice and basically gotten
our shit together. So the concert before the eclipse was not such a disaster.
In fact, we did several things I’ve never done at a concert:
We arrived late.
Our friends Mike and Melanie live in Charlotte and we spent
the afternoon pre-gaming on their back patio. Craft beers, snacks, shade, and
comfy chairs are all better than sweating it out in the parking lot. Plus,
Melanie is an old friend and Mike a new one so it was good to spend time
getting to know them.
After we checked into the hotel, we wandered next door to
TGI Friday’s for another pre-game beer and snack. Again, no hurry to get to the
arena.
When we finally got parked and started walking in, we had
missed the first two songs of Counting Crows’ set. Fortunately, our section was
basically empty so finding our seats and settling in wasn’t too tough.
We sat down.
I only typically stand if the people in front of me are
blocking my view. But that’s pretty much always the case. Except not this time.
Our section was the first part of the outdoor half of the amphitheater, so a
wide sidewalk separated us from the inside folks who all stood. We could see
over them just fine. And we were only two rows back and no one sat in front of
us.
So we sat. When it is so crazy hot, sitting or standing doesn’t
really matter.
During our favorite Counting Crows songs we stood and
danced, and the people behind us urged us to stand for Matchbox 20 and we did
for the encore. Mostly, though, we just sat and enjoyed the live music and the
light show and seeing Rob Thomas, who looks rather old by the way, on the big
screens that flanked the stage.
We left early.
Apparently sitting and being hot is boring because by
mid-way through Matchbox 20’s set we were kind of done with the whole thing.
It may have also been that our buzz was wearing off and the
beers were $25 for two tall Budweisers and water was $5.
“You know it’s just water, right?” I said to the girl at the
concessions. “And that $5 is way too much to charge?”
“Yes,” she replied.
When you can buy a case for $5 and that’s the retail markup you know you’re being
gouged. Five dollars per bottle is $120 per case, or $115 worth of additional
profit. What the hell? Price gouging always makes me angry but at concerts when
it’s 100 degrees and it’s water-for-fuck’s-sake, I can’t hold my tongue.
“That’s ridiculous,” I told her.
“I agree,” she said. Then handed me my change and turned her
attention to the woman behind me.
Anyway, we left early. We pretty much never leave early. I
told Charlie I only cared about one song and as soon as
Rob-looks-too-old-to-be-him-Thomas sang it, we could go. It was the first song
in the encore.
So, we left.
Maybe it was that the tickets were Groupon and only cost me
$17 each. Or maybe it’s that Charlie had to work on Monday so we needed to get
up early. Maybe it was us trying to save money and therefore not drinking $25
beers or paying for an Uber.
Whatever the cause, we did this concert like grown-ups.
Counting Crows did not play as long as we would have liked
but we did find that Matchbox 20 was better than we expected. We are now
renewed Matchbox 20 fans. So, there’s that.
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