John Butler Trio

After a series of events and multiple sets of tickets purchased (for three different cities), we finally found ourselves a John Butler Trio concert in Grand Rapids on Sunday evening.  JB3 is Wyatt's favorite so he was pretty excited to get another chance for a concert.  Since this one was on a Sunday, it started at 6:30 and was over just before 10 o'clock which was helpful since we had a little over a 3 hour drive home. The concert was at the amphitheater at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.  It was so neat.  We hope to go back some day when we can explore and enjoy it.

It was a sold out show and we didn't get there until the opener was already on stage so our options were limited for seating.  From our first spot, we couldn't really see the band because of the stack of speakers.  We both walked around a bit during a couple of songs to get a better view.  Eventually some families near us started leaving early and we were able to move over to have a good view.  The set was just great!

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness!

We may be just a bit crazy but we did it and we survived! Wyatt used one of his ticket vouchers to get us tickets to see my favorite, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness in Grand Rapids last week. I mean, how sweet can he be?! I've already dragged Wyatt to see Andrew twice this year in Indianapolis and at Hangout Festival but he used his voucher for me and drove me allllll the way to Grand Rapids on a work night.  We knew there were a couple of openers so it allowed us a little time after work to get ready and hit the road.  We made it to venue and only missed the first couple of songs.  Once again, I had the best time.  This Zombies in America Tour has been so fun!

Setlist
Fire Escape
Canyon Moon
Walking in My Sleep
High Dive
Dead Man's Dollar
Island Radio
Dark Blue (Jack's Mannequin Cover)
Don't Speak for Me (True)
Maps for the Getaway
The Mixed Tape (Jack's Mannequin Cover)
Swim (Jack's Mannequin Cover)
Shot Out of a Cannon
I Woke Up in a Car (Something Corporate Cover)
So Close
Synesthesia

Encore
Birthday Song
La La Lie (Jack's Mannequin Cover)
Cecilia and the Satellite

Something Corporate forever ❤️

A post shared by Amanda Condra (@ascondra) on Aug 3, 2017 at 4:32am PDT

Incubus and Jimmy Eat World

Like I mentioned yesterday, Wyatt met me in Indy (on his way home from Nashville) and we went to see Incubus at Klipsch Music Center.  They had Jimmy Eat World on tour with them.  Wyatt and I met up with Nichole and her friend once we got in the venue.  It was my first time seeing either artist live and I love it! I had listened to both for years.  I am so glad we ended up deciding to attend despite our busy summer schedules.

Jimmy Eat World Set List

Sure and Certain

Bleed American

Big Casino

I Will Steal You Back

Lucky Denver Mint

Futures

Pass the Baby

Pain

Work

Hear You Me

Always Be

Get Right

A Praise Chorus

Sweetness

The Middle

Incubus Setlist
Quicksand
A Kiss to Send Us Off
Nimble Bastard
Anna Molly
Love Hurts
Megalomaniac
Here in My Room
Stellar
Wish You Were Here > Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here Outro
State of the Art
Pardon Me
Drive
Love in a Time of Surveillance
Pantomime *we left early and this is what they were playing as we left*
Sick Sad World
Dig
Loneliest
Pistola
Throw Out the Map
Nice to Know You

Encore
Aqueous Transmission

Yes.

A post shared by Amanda Condra (@ascondra) on Jul 30, 2017 at 7:32pm PDT

Wilco

On Tuesday night we went down to Indy to go to Wilco with my sister.  We tried to have dinner at Burgerhaus before but they had a longer wait than we anticipated.  We also walked down the canal and tried to eat at Fresco but it was closed.  In the end we stopped in at Yats and had a quick dinner before the show.  We made our way over to White River State Park for the concert.  I love concerts at the Lawn.  I love being right downtown.

Wilco was great! I've seen them several times but hadn't seen them for a few years.  With storms and rain on and off throughout the day, we were worried we would have bad weather but we got lucky! We watched a lightning show off in the distance during the last portion of the concert and Wyatt and I drove home through some heavy rain but we managed to stay dry at the concert.

One of my faves by @wilco for this alone. #latergram

A post shared by Amanda Condra (@ascondra) on Jun 14, 2017 at 4:53pm PDT

Setlist:
Ashes of American Flags
Normal American Kids
If I Ever Was A Child
Cry All Day
Company In My Back
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
Art of Almost
Pickled Ginger
Sunken Treasure
Someone to Lose
War On War
Via Chicago
Impossible Germany
We Aren't the World (Safety Girl)
Box Full of Letters
Theologians
I'm Always In Love
Heavy Metal Drummer
I'm the Man Who Loves You
Hummingbird
The Late Greats

Encore
Random Name Generator
Jesus, Etc.
Locator
Spiders (Kidsmoke)

Encore
California Stars

St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra

Last night Wyatt and I attended our first concert together at the Elliott Hall of Music on Purdue's campus (our next concert there is Saturday).  We saw the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra.  I saw an ad for the event online a couple of weeks ago and purchased tickets on a whim.  It has been a long time since I've been to a classical music presentation and I jumped at the chance to see them in my own town.

The played two pieces last night.  The first was Piano Concerto No. 1 by Brahms with guest, Nikolai Lugansky, on the piano.  After the intermission, they orchestra performed Symphony No. 5 by Shostakovich.  It was a wonderful concert.  

I am not sure if I have ever mentioned this on here but I minored in Music Studies at Indiana University which meant I was taking courses in Jacobs School of Music for non-majors, or courses students of the school took as electives.  Admittedly, I ended up choosing that minor so that I had an excuse to keep taking courses like History of Rock I and a course on the Beatles.  But it ended up being such a great experience.  I also took a Music of the 70s and 80s, Jazz for the Listener, Music for the Listener (my required alternate to a performance course since I do not play any instrument), and Music Theory.  I really enjoyed all of the courses I took to complete the minor.  I even sat in on a couple of History of Rock II classes with my roommate one semester.  They exposed me to so much more music and music history than I likely ever would have had on my own.  As part of some of my courses, we were required to attend performances and write a report after.  I went to several recitals in the music school because of these requirements.  If you live in or around Bloomington, there are so many free events that you should take advantage of because I know I wish I had gone to more!