Jun
20
2009

New Lenox, IL

Gin Blossoms and Semi Infernos

Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 11:31:54 pm
(Posted Under: Travel, Gin Blossoms Shows)
Photos

With a much shorter trip to New Lenox, Illinois, we were able to take it a bit easier this morning, which was nice.

Very little of our stuff had dried out, and I noticed that even my passport, which was in my pocket and inside a plastic pocket had even gotten wet. But at least this morning there was no sign of rain. Around 11 we packed up the car, and headed over to the near by Fuddruckers, which Katie had spotted a sign for last night.

Pulling in, we parked next to a SUV, with both right hand side tied slashed. Ahhh, the true Detroit experience. [smile] After the fact it was considered that possibly the tired getting slashed happened in travel, but who knows. Either way, we sat where we could keep an eye on the bug, just in case. Which, once we sat down, I saw the irony in - if someone had come up to slash our ties, what the fuck was I going to do about it? Go out there and put a cap in the ass?!?!? [smile] In any case, after 2 and a bit weeks I've finally got to go to Fuddruckers.

On the way out of Detroit I pulled out the iPod and we listened to Michigan - Tramps & Thieves take on Michigan, rather than Katie's. [smile] We didn't really experience the freezing cold winds that Scott sings about, though it was tempting to change the words to be about the pouring rains of Michigan. [smile] Otherwise the trip back across Michigan was fairly uneventful. I will say that out of all the states we've traveled, Michigan seemed to be the less interesting scenically to me. It might have been different if I'd gotten to see the Great Lakes (ironically we drove from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron, though didn't really see them).

We arrived in New Lenox around 4pm, just after the doors opened. The girls were somewhat concerned, or at least surprised by the police presence, which admittedly there was quite a bit, however the show appeared to be put on by the New Lenox fire department, and possibly police department. Someone had forgotten to put us on the guest list - in Detroit, I was willing to pay 10 bucks to get into the VIP area if we had to, but paying $45 each for this 3 concert series was going to be a bit pricey, so it made sense to wait why Krissy followed up on that. Despite the 83 degree heat we waited until 5:30 without any shade. But Billy came through, and we got in.

The second opening band was a cover band playing the hits of the 90's. What I thought was cool was that the mayor of New Lenox got up and sang Close To Me (The Cure). While the band was playing we say Gary setting up the merch table, and once before heading closer to the stage we went up and checked it out. It was nice to finally be able to check it out in daylight without anyone around. Immediately I knew that the "20 Miserable Years" t-shirt had to be mine! And Katie was thinking the same. They started selling them either last year or 2007, but I'd not seen a picture, nor really heard anything about it...and hence had not really thought about it in a long while. But finally, they've come through, the t-shirt is perfect. It was also an opportunity to see what the deal is with the charity that Robin mentioned at the Wisconsin show - and to stuff a dollar in the jar and take one of the postcard / flier.

After the trip to the merch table we moved down to the grass. I was keen to get up front tonight. Being a few rows back in Wisconsin was fine. I'd planned to be closer up in Detroit, but given the circumstances, it was fine hanging back. But tonight, it was front row, or bust...at least for me, making Kristin and Katie somewhat uncomfortable, given that they've been yelled at similar type of shows. Which I wasn't ready to stand for. [wink] We stood by the side of the stage, and once the band started and more people moved in front of the stage, I darted for the front of the stage...almost leaving the girls in the dust.

Arguably this was the best show of the last 3 nights. It was also the first show I've been to where we weren't uncomfortably crowded at the front, although the front of the stage did fill up once the band started.

The setlist was much the same as we saw at Waterfest.

  1. Follow You Down
  2. Until I Fall Away
  3. Fool For The Taking
  4. Found Out About You
  5. Long Time Gone
  6. As Long As It Matters
  7. Miss Disarray
  8. Allison Road
  9. Supergirl
  10. Lost Horizons
  11. Til I Hear It From You
  12. Hey Jealousy
    13. Encore
  13. Rocket Man
  14. Hands Are Tied
  15. Now


Stand out moments were Johnson losing his shit at the end of Long Time Gone, bending the neck of the new Fender against the amp - trying to achieve what exactly, I'm not really sure, but it was rocktastic! And surprising to see the level of rocking out so early in the set.

One thing very evident with Robin is how good he is with the kids - not that this wasn't tre is Oshkosh as well, but it did seem that there were more kids front of stage at this show, and Robin played to them quite well. I'm sure that part of it is having a kid himself. The other noticeable thing is that Robin perfectly plays the rockstar frontman these days.

Being right up front made for some really good photos, especially when Johnson came right out front of stage rockstaring it up. With the stage so low, and Johnson so far forwards, on two occasions I almost got taken out by his flailing guitar neck.

Another highlight was the dueling outro solo on Super Girl, where Johnson went over and jammed with Jess. It did however also make me think how much I'd like if they brought the Hands Are Tied closer with the ridiculous solo back. With that said, they still did a blistering version of Hands.

Again, Hey Jealousy sounded fantastic, like the other night, better than I've ever heard it. They closed out again with Now, which is such a great rocker, which I could really get used to them doing it.

Again, Robin mentioned working on the new album before playing Miss Disarray, and there was no mention of the new live album, not were there any copies for sale, which really makes you wonder what the hell is up with that album.

After the show we milled around for a while discussing it, because I'd virtually ditched the girls for the front row (they were right behind me). Little did I know that they were waiting for a setlist, and if I'd known I would have done more to try get one. Daryl did come out later and said 'hi' and handed us some Scotty picks.

Given how good this trip had been, I was good to go and we headed towards the exit, interrupted by Katie's announcement about 'shirtless Robin'. It was cute how quickly Kristin diverted to the fence on the side of the stage. [smile] I was clearly in the presence of giddy school girls - yes, the both of them. [wink] We said 'hi' to Robin, had a photo taken, and I had my pass signed.

Videos from the night:

Scotty soloing on Super Girl

Scotty & Jesse duel guitar attack on Super Girl

Scotty rockin' out on Hands Are Tied

Scotty on Now


The decision was made to make the trip back to Marshalltown tonight, facilitated somewhat by the fact that the Blossoms show had started at 8pm, which worked out conveniently. The trip was largely uneventful with the exception of a semi inferno in the middle of the highway in Iowa. Another first for me. Though, pretty much for the girls as well. It was quite impressive of a fire, and had must of just happened, as there were fire trucks, but no police or signage away from the accident.



After taking a short smoko break, and Kristin taking over the driving for the last part of the trip we got back to Marshalltown a little before 4am and crahsed on Kristin's floor again.

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