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 the Red Sox Game

 

 It is 11:08 PM and 15 minutes ago we got in from a Red Sox game. Although the Red Sox lost to the Rays 8-4, the game was perhaps the best I have been to for many reasons.

 

1. We realized if we left at 3:15 for a 7:10 game, we had plenty of time to get in. Traffic, though a little tough because of Rush Hour, was awesome! We were able to get through Kenmore Square rather easily and found a parking lot just past (and down in the back left) of where we normally park. So much easier to get out of.

2. We went to Cask and Flagon. It was the first time we had been there as a family. It was not too crowded when we got there (about 2 1/2 hours before the game, but was picking up by the time we left).

3. Emmie was very excited because this was PEANUTS Bobblehead Night. We were able to track down where to get them - which was cool - and now we all have a Linus Bobblehead.

4. We also learned that Emmie has to check prices on Red Sox apparel more carefully. WOW!!!

3. We took some pictures of different World Series tributes, including the tribute wall and the 2007 and 2004 championship. We choose 2007 because that was the year Bri was born and 2004 because that was the year we were married.

5. We got to our seats early and were able to see pregame festivities and even saw a 10 year old girl do an AMAZING job with the National Anthem.

6. The flag was blowing out - which meant it was going to be a hitter's game. We saw the Red Sox fall down 3-0 early, but they came back by hitting 2 home runs to tie the game. It was awesome to see two homers, one hit by Xander Bogearts and the other hit by Trevor Story.

7. We saw two spectacular catches on the wall, one by the Rays and one by the Sox (we saw the Sox one while getting ready to leave on the TV).

8. We saw a great stolen base by Jarren Duran.

10. The crowd did the wave in two directions and it actually went all the way around the park in one direction crossing over once.

11. One kid kept saying "I want a pitcher, not a belly itcher" which was hilarious. That kid will have no voice in the morning.

12. We saw people get kicked out of a section for drinking alcohol (we ended up in the CVS family section, which, apparently, has strict rules about that).

13. We saw Nick Pivetta hit Yandy Diaz with a pitch, which caused a quick shouting match and benches started to empty. It quickly got under control. However, the ensuing booing that happened introduced Kiff to booing at Fenway Park. The home plate umpire also got booed during the game for a really faulty strike zone. It stunk!!!

14. There was an awesome tribute to Luis Tiant - who was also there. We sent a pix to Mark because it was his birthday and also had Bri and Kiff look at his wind up.

15. We saw a marriage proposal on the Jumbotron, which I have never seen in person.

16. We did have rain fall several times throughout the course of the game.

17. Perhaps the most epic thing - of a great night at the park - was the fact that the ushers asked us if we wanted to move closer around the 6th inning. Though we had thought we would take off because of the approaching rain, we decided to go down and it did not disappoint. We were on the 3rd place side behind home plate, thirteen rows up...the best seats I ever sat in. It was amazing.