The One With Imagine Dragons and Macklemore

 

 

Last night, we went to a concert at Fenway Park to see Imagine Dragons with opener Macklemore. 

 

We started the night by going to the Cask and Flagon. We arrived at 4:30, but  found out, unlike eating their before the red sox game in july which was on a weekday, the restaurant fills up quick on a weekend. We were literally there 2 hours....but the food was good1 I love their buffalo chicken wraps.

 

after that, we went next door to the concert. of course, we had to make our obligatory visit to the souvernir shop to get IG gear...which was fun.

 

We went in and - to be honest - it was the hottest it has ever been when I've been to fenway. but, it is still a swell place to watch a concert. we got to our seats shortly before macklemore took stage. i was only familiar with a couple of macklemore songs, but i have to admit, he is a true showman. What a show! He got fans excited on multiple occasions, told stories (he had spent a lot of time in MA as a kid), and had many guest singers on stage with him. He even performed a song for a crowd called "ManiaC' or the first time since it had been released the day before. Amazing Show...he was like a younger, rapping donnie wahlburg.

 

The Imagine Dragons followed and they were simply spectacular. in fact, i would now add them to my to 15 groups list. their songs told a story, much like the weeknd did earlier this year. The music was crisp and robust, as well as diverse, and i recognized many songs. we learned that three of the current members - the two guitarists and the drummer, who is a red sox fan - went to Berklee around the corner. The lead singer had so many amazing messages - including ones about therapy and overcoming obstacles - was phenomenal and definitely connected with the audience. He admitted that he wanted to go to berklee, but his mother said that byu was a better option because he was a member of the church of latter day saints (the other member who was on backup instruments went there, too). There were a lot of kids there, and he dedicated a song to them. they also dedicated a song to ukraine, as well as one to teachers (including mr. white, who taught the three berklee grads). They dedicated "Demons" to anyone who lost someone in their lives through death, breakup, and drifting away...emphasizing our need to be connected. They were fantastic.

 

one thing we did learn - don't park in our usual lot when you are at a concert and plan to stay until the end - there was a road closed that really, really, really messed it up.

The One With A League of Their Own

 

 

We had a little forced family fun today by declaring a "movie night." We had been talking about watching A League of Their Own, particularly after watching the first episode of the Amazon series two nights ago.

 

Needless to say, Emmie was all in, as were Bri and Kiff. It was neat to watch a historical fiction movie with so many stars in it - ones they know a little different than we do - with them and to share part of the history behind the movie with them, too.

 

They were both enamored of the story and the characters in it. They also noted how poorly women were treated at the time and were besides themselves. However, the movie won them over, particularly the transformation of Tom Hanks character. We also were amazed that the characters at the end were not photo enhanced age progressions of the actual actors, but were actual actors that were older but looked like them. Wow.

It was great to share it with the kids, particularly where they both played baseball and softball.

The One With The Perm

 

Earlier today, we had something happen that I actually never thought would happen. Kiff, deciding to update his hairdo, had been growing it out to get a perm.

 

I was not sure what to expect. In fact, Emmie spent the two hours at the stylist with him as he got it. She sent Bri and I some pictures so we could be prepared. And, it came out better than expected.

 

Of course, the whole situation reminded me of the Leave it to Beaver episode where Wally gets the "Jelly Roll" haircut. So, Kiff now has the nickname, "Jelly Roll."