So, yeah, I had myself a nice little week starting last Thursday. Oh sure, it sucked for the first 10 hours. Then there was 4 hours of brilliance. Another 12 hours of awful. Then about 60 more hours of amazing. Let’s do a recap, ok? This will be one of a series cause there is no point in making this just one post, right?

THURSDAY

I barely even slept. My alarm was set for 3am and my cab to Dulles was outside of my door at 4am. I was through the TSA line by 4:40 for a 6am flight. Once I landed in ATL after the first leg, I grabbed a shitty chicken biscuit from Popeye’s and then PTFO. Eventually, the Chillest Bro In The Land, Matt T, showed up and we had the first of many beers over the course of the weekend at the airport.

We hit the Motor City around 3 and our friend Becky ICED us in the hotel room. It was horrible and delightful all at once. A fine way to start the party. After a beer down at the hotel bar, we made our way over to Greektown for dinner and more booze. We met up with the rest of our crew for the night - my college buddy Dave and also a fellow former Deadspinner, The Bad One and his brother. After that we headed over to The State Theatre - one of my favorite venues and one that I will not refer to by its new corporate name.

Tim Berry was on stage when we got there. Perhaps he is actually quite awesome, but it all sounded like dirges from the back. An odd choice considering the lineup. Hence we hung out in the lounge and had more boozeahol until The Whigs took the stage. We worked our way down to the floor and staked our claim about 15 feet from the rail. The Whigs put on a very energetic set and I’d love to go see them again. Surprisingly, no “Kill Me Carolyne”, but we got personal favorite “Hundred/Million” and the previous album’s single “Right Hand On My Heart”. Great opener for the night (ignoring Tim Berry) and they set the mood right.

This was my first time seeing The Gaslight Anthem in person and I was 100% sold. It reminded me a lot of the old emo shows (think Jade Tree not that shit they play on your local HOT WHATEVER station when I say that word) with people’s arms outstretched and dedicated singing along. Great mix of songs from American Slang and ‘59 Sound, as well as a few other tracks. Brian Fallon sold every song with all of his heart and they were everything I had hoped they’d be. I don’t think it hit me until that night what an amazing breakup record American Slang is in places. I was moved, I was probably singing with tears at point because I just FELT that shit, and I felt amazing afterward. What a night. We can all go home happy. EXCEPT THERE IS A MOTHER FUCKING HOLD STEADY SET STILL TO COME.

I’m guessing Craig Finn and crew haven’t taken The D over the way they have the East Coast, because there were quite a few folks who left after The Gaslight Anthem were finished. We moved up on the rail and prepared for the rock. However much hand raising and singing I had done before hand was amplified elevenfold for THS. “The Weekenders” just about brought me down - it’s gotten a lot more personal ever since I first heard it. Great set, great mix of songs, and the usual ridiculous energy from the band. They brought Brian Fallon back out for “You Can Make Him Like You” and I immediately wanted these bands to go cut a split 7” covering each other’s songs. Hell, lets get a full album from them both. 

I’ve been to a ton of shows all across the country. This was a Top 5 show all time. It was every thing I had wanted it to be. We were all hugging strangers and singing with them throughout the night. It was the Unified Scene. These are two bands that can bring that out in people. It is impossible to be in that room with these guys and not be ready to go change the world and keep it positive at all times. Brilliant evening. I can’t wait to see The Hold Steady again in October and I hope Gaslight rolls through DC soon.

We all left in an amazing mood, if exhausted. Unfortunately, Becky got some bad news about her dog as we were leaving the venue. The moment was gone, but it did exist. For a few hours, a thousand or so people were best friends in the world and it was the most beautiful place you could have ever wanted to be.