Weekends in Review - STOMPing and Rocking

It's been some time since I last posted...I have this issue with logging on to the computer after I get home from work and writing after already writing all day. I can't say how many times I've had a blog in my mind that I never actually get down in writing. So, to break the procrastination cycle, here I am, blogging. Of course, this means I'm actually procrastinating on something else I have due for work by tomorrow, but I digress...

The past two weekends have been pretty eventful, thanks to some cool things going on in the cities. First, Derek's parents gave us tickets to STOMP! at the Ordway Center in St. Paul, so that's where we spent last Sunday afternoon (Father's Day). This show has been around for, like, nearly 20 years, I think, so it's almost surprising I haven't actually seen it until now, since I saw all these sorts of things growing up. But in retrospect, who hasn't seen STOMP! in some way or another? I'd bet that it's probably one of the most marketable and repurposed shows out there. Commercials, movie appearances, movie soundtracks...I know I've seen a rough looking guy making music with a broom and a trash can lid numerous times. And while it wasn't THE show, I knew it was STOMP.

The show was everything I expected...no surprises. However, it was undeniably entertaining, and more athletic than I expected. STOMPing is hard! The centerpiece theme was music coming from all sorts of crazy and kooky places, etc. etc. I didn't expect so much comedy, either. The show had the token "goofy guy," complete with Krameresque hair. And I think he was really the only one who made any sounds -- albeit just sounds, no words. There was also the shorter and stumpier guy, not as athletic-looking as the others, who everyone sort of beat up on. And one female was pretty forgettable, while the other one was sassier and stood up to the guys.

All in all, it was pretty formulaic for any sort of collaborative stage act involving a group, but the medium through which they communicated was different and edgier. I'd say that's probably what has made STOMP so successful all these years...a slightly different format in terms of the actual content, but as far as structure goes, it's the same cast of characters every stage act has used since the beginning of stage acts, with everyone filling their prescribed cookie cutter roles. While the formula was familiar, the presentation was pretty appealing, interesting and entertaining. Thanks to Jim and Karen for the tickets!

After the show Sunday, Derek and I brought leftovers down to the St. Paul riverfront and ate dinner there. No one was around, but I think this is one of the best spots in the city. It'll probably get more attention (the attention it deserves) when the RNC comes to town in September.

Catching up, now it's the following weekend and I'm feeling a little disappointed while I write this. Yesterday was Rock the Garden at the Walker Art Center, a concert I had been so excited for since March when I bought the tickets. Presented by 89.3 The Current, the concert featured some of my current musical favorites -- Bon Iver, Cloud Cult and the New Pornographers. Andrew Bird rounded out the lineup -- a pleasant-sounding guy who has like one song I know. All in all, cool premise, cool lineup, cool locations -- all the makings for a great show.

The afternoon got off to a slightly rocky start when we had to wait about an hour to get into the show. Gates opened at 4, and by the time we parked and walked to the Walker, it was ten to 4. Perfect! No. Turns out there was another entrance that other friends easily got into -- hindsight's 20-20, but we should have tried that. Strike one.

Bonus: The guy standing behind us in line. I'm sure he noticed my shoulders shaking with laughter in response to his hilarious quips about the craziness and stupid things going on around us. I was surprised his date was laughing harder...maybe she was tired of it or used to it. Definitely helped break up the monotony of waiting. Thanks, guy in the plaid shorts!

Strike two: Missing most of Bon Iver after standing in said line.

Bonus #1: Having Derek with me throughout all of this -- we have similar temperments for these sorts of things and complaining freely with someone who agrees can sometime feel good! Also: seeing my dear friend Alex, as well as Dan, Martin and Josh. Alex has a knack for one-liners that crack me up about anything and everything going on around us, so this was the perfect spot.

Bonus #2: Cloud Cult! These guys never disappoint and always sound great live. I'm humming them in my head as I type this. Best act of the show for me, hands down.

Strike three: Several Summit Beer stands, a Chipotle stand, a Joe's Garage concession area, a couple of corn dog vendors, some vendor selling pot pies...and MASS CHAOS. Imagine putting all those things in your back alley and then releasing 7,500 people into the narrow space. Yeah, we didn't eat. I couldn't find a line, let alone a pathway to get through it after we somehow found ourselves trapped in the crowd. At one point I said to Derek we needed beers to start feeling and acting as happy as those around us, but there was that issue of trying to get one...

Toward the end of our time at the show I noticed Josh's girlfriend Leah hadn't been around for quite some time...and then a few minutes later noticed she was back and everyone had burritos. Turned out she waited 1.5 hours for them...

Bonus: New Pornographers. I don't think Neko Case was with them this time around, but they still sounded great. Fun act.

So, Rock the Garden was a bit of a logistical nightmare, but a nice idea in theory. I think I'd go for maybe "Rock the Wide Open Field" next year, or something like that, in a bigger and more open space!