Pergola

We decided last summer that we needed to do something about our patio.  The patio receives full sun from mid-afternoon till evening.  Even with an umbrella  the patio would be unbearable sometimes.  With the full sun the stone tiles would become very hot to the point that we really didn't get to enjoy our patio.  The decision we made was to build a pergola.

This project of ours would last two weekends.  The first part was putting in the post and letting the cement harden.

The second weekend was to add the supporting beams and the stringers.  Brian and his dad most of the work.  But I was able to help Brian finish putting up the stringers.

The final day was to stain the pergola.  Man that was hard work.  In the end we both ended up with deck stain all over us and sore muscles.  But it shore does looks nice.

After a long weekend, we did reward ourselves with a nice sangria.

In the end we are going to extend the patio to the fence and try to get nice outdoor furniture to complete the patio.  I believe that will wait until there is a summer clearance sale at the local Home Depot or Lowes.

His Turn

April seems to be our month of concerts.  This time it was Brian's turn.  I had found out on Facebook that Reel Big Fish was coming to our little town to headline a beer fest.  As soon as I told Brian, he said that we were going.  It was like Christmas had arrived early for him.  I think the last time that he saw Reel Big Fish, he was right out of high school.

The weeks leading up to the event he would send me emails or links to the site.  I could tell that this was sort of a big deal.

Reel Big Fish is a ska punk band.  Not at all the type of music that I like.  But since Brian sat through an Alabama concert, it is only fair that I stand through a ska concert.

I have to admit.  I had fun.  I was mostly intrigued by the purple trombone.  I had never seen one before.  I was mesmerized.  I couldn't take my eyes off the thing.

Now being able to take pictures of the band this close meant that we stood near the stage.  During a normal concert this wouldn't be such a big deal.  However, I was at a ska punk concert.  This meant that we were near the Pit.  The pit is the area where concert goers body surf the crowd and push each other around.

For fun.

For the enjoyment.

In the picture above, you see those feet in the air.  The dude is body surfing.  Basically, people pick you up and then move you around above their own heads, in the air, over the crowd.  If you are lucky you won't end up on your head.  Just before I took this picture someone did.  They just got back up and body surfed again.  What is the saying, "If at first you don't succeed, try try again."

Their show was pretty dang good.  I realized about half way through, that these guys must have been band geeks in high school.  I was a band geek in high school.  Maybe I just found another genre of music to listen to.  I know that this would make Brian happy. He wouldn't have to listen to country all the time.

Agreed Upon

We have an agreement in our family.  We each get to go to a concert of their choice and then a concert that we both agree to.  Mine is for the most part always going to be a country concert and Brian's is going to be a punk or ska concert.  This years agreed upon concert is The Avett Brothers.

How to describe the type of music The Avett Brothers play.  They are a folk-bluegrass-country-rock-pop type of band.  They seem to attract people from all genres of music.  This would be why both Brian and I like them.  I get the bluegrass-country-pop side and he gets the rock-folk-bluegrass side.

You didn't know that Brian likes bluegrass.  He does, he really does.

In fact, The Avett Brothers was our first concert we went to when we first started dating.  They seemed to be the only music we both could listen to when riding in a car.

This year's concert was a bit different.  Usually they play in a smaller venue, but since it was Azalea Fest, the show was in a parking lot.  When I've seen them in a smaller venue before where you can feel the energy and the crowd is charged.  It is hard not be excited and be in the moment.  This time, I didn't get that feeling.  Don't get me wrong, it was still a good show.  I just missed the electricity.  The overall excitement of the crowd.

This will not stop us from seeing them again.  I just hope it'll be a smaller venue.

Alabama

When I heard that Alabama Band was going back on tour, I was not going to miss it.  Their last tour was in 2002.  At the time, I could only hope that one day they would do a reunion tour.  Most bands seem to do these days.  So like I said, when I found out they were doing a 40th Back to the Bowery Tour I was not going to miss it.

You have to understand, Brian is not that big on country music, so I thought I was going to have to do some arm twisting.  He's heard me talk about them before and he knows that one of my favorite songs of theirs is Dixieland Delight.  We played it at our reception.  I sent him the link letting him know that I wanted to go and how much it was.  Next thing I know, I have an email from him confirming his purchase for two tickets to see them at the Alabama Theatre in Myrtle Beach.  We were able to see them in the town where their music career started.

When we got there I was very excited.  I was finally going to see one of my favorite country bands.  Brian was a bit concerned because he thought that we were the minority.  Read the youngest ones there.  I didn't care.  I knew that they were going to put on a good show and that I was going to hear good music.  They did not disappoint.

At one point in the show they would read comments from fans.  People want shout outs, people wanting autographs.  I would say that they read a good handful of them.  Two stood out.  One was from a man where I think he has been to about every Alabama concert and he was wondering he they could say hello to him and his wife.  Alabama did one better.  They called him on stage and signed his letter and he got to meet them.  

The other was a tear jerker.  A father wrote to them saying that is daughter's husband had lost his life fighting for our freedom and that they were there that night.  They brought the young woman up on stage and as she is walking, every single person in the theatre gave her and her husband a standing ovation.  The band thanked her and her husband for all that they gave to this great country and then to go back stage because the had items for her.  They also asked her to say a few words on behalf of wives and families of the military and through her tears she said just to support our troops because they support us.  Alabama then proceed to play Angels Among Us.  There was not a dry eye in the house.  Even the bands.  As I type this I have tears.  Just remembering the energy and atmosphere, it was really moving.

All in all we both had a great time.  Brian was surprised that he had heard or knew most of the songs that they played that night.  The best part, we were home before 11.