Ryan Star Concert

I've been dying to post about this all day!  But I had to go to two courthouses this morning because I had a client with a felony and another with a misdemeanor, so it took a bit of time to deal with their issues, and then I had a client meeting this afternoon, so I'm just now getting around to blogging about last night.  Darn clients and court!  Don't they know I had loads of fun to blog about?

Last night  I went to see Ryan Star in concert in Dallas.  I coerced my friend Lisa into going with me.  I got her a copy of his new album, 11:59, so that she could be up on the music.  We started out the evening at Twisted Root Burgers because it was only a block from our venue down in Deep Ellum.  They give you a celebrity's name that they call out when your order is ready.  Lisa was Juno...

Then we went to get in line.  I was first in line (did you have any doubts) and very excited.  A storm started to kick up, so we were hopeful to get inside before it really started raining.  Turns out, the staff had me in the wrong line and Ryan was really playing their larger venue which was around the block.  So we hightailed it over there and got in line (not first anymore, but we were still able to get in before the rain started).

Of course I had attempted to smuggle in every camera I own after the April photo debacle!  Turns out smuggling wasn't necessary because this venue didn't care about cameras.  I experimented with different settings on my camera with the two bands that were on before Ryan.  Of course after photo number 1, I noticed that my battery power went from 2 out of 3 bars to 1 out of 3.  As soon as I saw that, I knew it would be just like a tank of gas...the first third goes way further than the last third! 

On another note, I think Lisa's highlight of the whole show came during the first bands performance when they declared "Now we're going to get back to our roots and play a country song.".  She clapped and yelled.  It was at this point that I knew this Baptist bred, former majorette from Terrell, TX was about to be out of her element.  I know, I know.  You're thinking, pot meet kettle...You're from small town Texas too.  Yes, but I love a great rock show.  I have sat third row at a Nine Inch Nails show (ie:  nothing can scare me).  I also knew that this show might be a little different than the album that I gave her to listen to because they made the album a little less rock and a little more pop than what Ryan's shows actually end up being. 

My fancy camera made it almost through the whole show without dying.  I am so pleased!  I got some great shots!  Here are several of my multitude of great pics...

At the end of all of Ryan's shows, he does a meet and greet with the crowd.  He is so gracious and signs CD's...

...and poses for photos.  I gave Lisa my point and shoot camera for a pic.  She got a horrendous close-up of my face and Ryan's right ear.  It was at this point, that I took the camera from her and gave it to some random guy standing there, whom unlike Lisa, I assumed was more comfortable using technology more advanced than a rotary dial phone.  I may have assumed too much... He took this slightly out of focus shot...

I was so fired up to tell Ryan two things at the meet and great and I got so distracted by the camera fiasco, that I forgot to tell him both things!  I was going to tell him that I became a greater fan when I saw that he mentioned his dogs in the dedication page of his new album (you know that totally won me over as fan for life) and also I was going to tell him that listening to his music got me through the crazy, kid screaming, pre-op for the repair of my severed finger earlier this summer.  I totally thought I was going to lose my mind that morning until I cranked up his tunes!

I also took several videos...problem is, I'm a complete idiot.  I turned my camera vertical (seemed like a good idea at the time) and now most of my videos are sideways.  I'm blonde...I don't know what else to say. Anyone know how to remedy this problem, other than turning your laptop sideways?  I made a first attempt at making a movie and blending together several bits of film from 3 songs.  It mostly is correctly oriented except right in the middle for a minute...

I didn't completely commit the set list to memory, but in case you're interested, he played:


We Might Fall
Right Now
Breathe
Last Train Home
Start a Fire
You and Me
Psycho Suicidal Girl
Back of Your Car


I was so sad I didn't get to hear one of my new favorites "Unbreak", but it was a great show and I had a blast and I'm so glad Lisa agreed to go with me!  So fun!