I am deaf and hoarse

Last night was the Nickleback concert. Amazing.

Let me start at the beginning before I get too ahead of myself.

The concert was scheduled to start at 6:15PM. So we arrived at Rexall Place at about 5:50. I figured that this would be lots of time to get inside and find our seats before the show started. Man, was I wrong. There were huge line ups at every door. So we picked the shortest line up that we could find and waited like all the other human-cattle. None of the lines moved at all. I don't know when they finally opened the doors but we didn't get inside until 6:55PM. It was crazy!!! By the time we got in there, we missed State of Shock and half of Puddle of Mud's sets. I was so pissed off and really wanted to give somebody a piece of my mind. I don't know who State of Shock is or what they sound like and I'm not a big fan of Puddle of Mud. It was the principle of the matter and not so much that I felt hugely ripped by not seeing them.

Daughtery (Chris Daughtery off American Idol a year and a bit ago - I'm not 100% how to spell his last name, I would have to look it up) was good. The instruments/voice was not balanced properly. The instruments were so loud that if he was singing quietly, you couldn't make out what he was saying and the lead guitar, specifically, was so loud that it really grated on my nerves. Over all, good. I would love to go and see him again when he has more experience performing. I find that a lot of young artists hide behind their bands until they gain more confidence.

Shortly after 9PM, Nickleback hit the stage. Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! It was one hell of a party! By the 3rd song, I wanted to stand up and dance along but I was in a section that wasn't standing so I had to wait. This is the story of my life at concerts. About half way through some people were standing so I thought, "To hell with it" and stood up. They were on the stage until almost 11PM.

By the time it was all said and done, I couldn't hear a thing, I was hoarse from screaming so hard, and I was soaking wet from dancing along. I had a quick shower when I got home and something to drink. 2 problems down. Now, if only the walls would quit making noise (the reverse of true noise that happens when your eardrums have been over exposed - think of the spot you see on the inside of your eyelids when you look into a light).

I was so impressed with Nickleback that I wasn't even that upset about not seeing the opening bands. Well worth every penny and I would totally do it again even if the getting in was such a mess again.

(Cautionary note for anybody thinking of going and seeing this concert - don't take young children with you. Some of the content is not appropriate)

Concerts I've seen to date - In order of best to worst.

1. Dixie Chicks / Nickleback
1. The Chicks had more energy but Nickleback was just rocking awesome.
2. Great Big Sea
1. It's just one big kitchen party
3. Avril Lavine
4. Guess Who
5. Toby Keith
1. I was so unimpressed with him that I can't even listen to his music anymore. When he was scheduled to start playing, he wasn't even in the building yet and then he only sang his songs half-heartedly. I'm glad that I didn't pay for this one.

I think I may have seen one other but I can't remember who it is. I would most definitely pay the money to go and see GBS, Dixie Chicks, or Nickleback again.

Woot for great concerts!