Sting Paul Simon? What? No. Relax. I don’t want to sting the poor chap. I am merely leading into the latest Finish the Sentence Friday prompt: “I went to a concert …” Yes. The last concert I went to was
Sting Paul Simon.
- Paul’s the one on the right …
Photo credit Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Yes Sting and Paul Simon performing together; no Police, no Art. They were equal partners. One wasn’t backing up the other. I’ve read that this combo tour format was adopted because both of them couldn’t fill arenas on their own. Probably true. However, on my night it was obvious two songs in that they had the audience of thousands in rapture. Two bands, two performers? Yes, somehow it worked. The performances were seamless. Check out this brilliant Rolling Stone review for an on the money summation of the concert.
This concert was last month. Before that, the majority of concerts that I’ve attended within the past 20 years or so had been of a rather childish nature. They were either the school concerts of my children where little Suzy vomited discretely into the folds of the stage curtain or Billy forgot his lines and spoke someone else’s instead or the children’s entertainer concerts where I found myself happily singing along to every line of ditties such as “I’m a Pizza” remarkably in both in English and in French.
Yes, this Sting Paul Simon concert was one of the first grown up versions I’d been to in a very long time. But don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I’m not fond of big people concerts. I’ve loved them since I first saw Led Zeppelin at 15. That experience was magical and one I achieved by default. My older sister had an extra ticket and nobody else could go. It didn’t matter that the backup band was horrid, the sound system muddy or that Led Zeppelin came on stage late and played for a very short time. When it was all over my hair and clothes reeked of pot, my chest continued to vibrate for hours and I couldn’t hear properly for days. I was enthralled.
Once I had kids things changed. Their musical tastes became mine. It was their music we listened to in the car on all the car rides. Of course as they grew older we gradually morphed from Disney right on up to Indie. With my brain on hold due to what I like to call “full on mommyhood” I struggled with band names and tended to remember just the unusual ones. This habit led to some pure just typikel moments that are firmly entrenched in family lore. No one will ever let me forget the time we were away on a trip and sitting around a concert campfire with a bunch of strangers from all over the world. The guitar strumming “farm hand” leading us in song pleasantly asked everyone to share their family’s favourite bands. With folks chiming in with faves such as”Donny Osmond,” “The Bee Gees,” and of course”The Beatles” I drew a complete blank when the spotlight was on me and my family. I looked at my two for help. However their embarrassed and decidedly closed faces telegraphed just one message. I was on my own. Mercifully a name swam to the surface.
“The Black Eyed Peas! MY darlings love the Black Eyed Peas!” Dead silence. Horrified eyes swiveled in my direction. Rather than do the sensible thing and hand off to the pleasantly sweet cardigan wearing woman on my left, I trudged on.
“You know! Don’t Phunk with my Heart?”
I suspect that earnest family from Switzerland is still dining out on the story of the crazy Canadian woman who blatantly encouraged her preteens to listen to “gangsta rap.”
Fast forward to Sting Paul Simon. Naturally I couldn’t help but compare this concert with those of my youth. Especially the audience. Similarities abounded. Everyone was about the same age as me or a little older and the majority knew every word of every song. However, there were obvious differences. Pot? Not a whiff. The air was oddly unscented. Cigarette lighters waving in the air? Not a one. Appreciative light was provided by the copious cellphones beaming flickering “candle flames.” And booze? It was in plain sight, not hidden in socks or buried in purses. I won’t soon forget the gray-haired chap in front of us who downed at least six beers with the air of a chap in his twenties nor his wife who randomly shouted “Good thing we’re taking a cab!”
Sting Paul Simon isn’t the last of my concerts. I’ve already bought tickets for my next one. Rod Stewart and Santana in August. Who’s in?
Enough about me and Sting Paul Simon. I’m curious about you. What type of concerts have you been to lately? Have you mortally embarrassed your offspring found them similar to those of your youth? Or are you bouncing around to the best of Disney? If you’d care to share, I’d love to hear.
This wraps up my post for Finish the Sentence Friday. Many thanks to my marvelous hosts Kate’s Can I Get Another Bottle of Wine, Janine’s Confessions of a Mommyaholic, Stephanie’s Mommy for Real and Kristi’s Finding Ninee.
38 Responses
Totally awesome and I know what you mean, I haven’t gone to a concert since having my girls and I used to go all the time. I am with you though and even made a promise to go to one (special) one hopefully soon in my own post tonight, too 🙂
Ok so let’s make a pact. When Billy Joel hits town we go. Nothing stopping us. We just go. K?
I actually saw Rod Stewart in concert for work. We used to buy a lot of customer tickets and so every now and again, our ticket agent would give us free ones. We got like the best seats ever, but I took my husband and there were all these single women there with roses, and it was kindof too much for the hubs. Also Sting and Paul Simon? In concert together? I had no idea! Love the idea though!!!
Also who doesn’t like The Black Eyed Peas???
What a treat to be able to visit with Rod for work! Thanks for the heads up on roses. I’ll take him tulips. Ha! Yes and who doesn’t like The Black Eyed Peas? Oh I wish I had a picture of those shocked faces …
A Sting Paul Simon concert sounds awesome. Right now I’m in the midst of constant requests for either Dora the Explorer music or the Frozen soundtrack, but I’m holding onto the hope that someday soon I’ll go to a really cool grown-up concert again.
Oh yes – I am still in the dark with Frozen. Have yet to see it!!!!!!!!! Can you believe it? I can’t. The number of times my pal and I would take our kids to the movies on “opening day” was well a tad over the top let’s just say. She fell asleep at Rug Rats In Paris I remember. Then there was that time I walked smack into a plexiglass wall thing and the resounding boom caused a collective gasp in the movie crowd. Thankfully it was dark …
I bet they put on an amazing show! Was cracking up at your Black Eyed Peas blurt out! BWAH! The last concert I attended was Selena Gomez. I am taking my girls to see Katy Perry in June, and I honestly don’t know who is more excited…them or me! I know, I know. The last concert I went to without children was Bon Jovi. And oh yes, it was just as amazing as you think it was!-Ashley
Katy Perry – Love her! Now that is one for Firework(s) and a Roar! Lucky you. And Bon Jovi- well how fun is that? Enjoy Katy. Am now thinking MY daughter might like to go … hmmmmmmmm….
Discreet vomiting in a curtain …. still giggling!! 🙂
I can imagine there would be significant differences in the experiences at Led Zepplin and Sting Paul Simon concerts!! Very different! I’d prefer the latter!!
(I have the lighter app on my phone, just in case I ever find myself at a concert again!)
Yes, the discreet curtain upchuck was masterfull. If not for the accompanying aroma I truly wouldn’t have noticed. I’ll be watching for your flickering lighter! I’m sure I can pick it out of the crowd!
Glad you had a good time.
Hubby and I don’t go to a lot of concerts, and many of them are by local bands (i.e., you wouldn’t have heard of them). We did, however, see Alton Brown of Food Network fame last month. His show was a hoot.
Well that is very cool Kathy. I would love to see Alton Brown in person. What did he make? Or did he?
The show (which was held in a theater that usually hosts Broadway-type shows and big musical events) was an interesting mixture of stand-up comedy, multimedia lecture, live music, and food experimentation. Or as he put it…things the Food Network wouldn’t let him do on TV.
So interesting. He sounds like an all rounder.
Rod Stewart and Santana…I’m in envy!! I saw Rod Stewart in the 80’s. Me and my husband, my two sisters and their husbands, and my brother and his wife all went. We however, gave the dubious task of getting tickets to my youngest sister who happened to be, at that time, shall I say, a very frugal person. We ended up at the very top of the nose bleed section barely able to make out which person was Rod. My wonderful brother in- law, a fantastic salesman, somehow managed to acquire binoculars from the person next to him. Those binoculars went from the owner, to each one of us. When it arrived at the end of our pack it made its way back to the owner. Laughing..All throughout the show we did this. Bless that man that shared his binoculars and bless my brother in law for his ability to talk to anyone anytime. 🙂
Oh this is hilarious! Thank you for sharing Kelli. I can picture it. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth … Here’s hoping the screens are HUGE for our Rod Stewart adventure. Maybe I best take our binocs.
For me, it’s Arlo Guthrie with my husband next month. Does that make me old? Oh, well. Lots of cassette tapes (anyone remember those?) in the basement with children’s music. Feeling nostalgic lately, hoping I can find a cassette player to go with them!
Not at all old. Not at all. How fun to see Arlo Guthrie! Cassette tapes? I remember 8 track! Good luck hunting down the cassette player. I’d give you ours but I can’t find it!
I had a similar experience at a Simon & Garfunkle concert a couple of years back. The entire audience was over 50. There was no partying or pot. And we all applauded – :-)!!!
Sounds like a wonderful concert experience!!!
Laughing at the applauding and no partying or pot aspect. Ours was so tame the police (not the Police) huddled in the stairwells and watched the concert too!
I as a couple used to party hard before my kid and went to many shows but after the kid it’s either watching him or watching via the screen of my TV.
Darn it dunno where all the energy goes…lol
Kelly the sting paul simon show must have been a brilliant one!!
I remember those days Ruchira. It is exhausting! Hang in there.
Ugh, thanks a lot!! Your story about the sing-along around the campfire reminded me of the time I was dragged kicking and screaming to an Osmond family concert! I had a younger cousin visiting form out of town, and she had a HUGE crush on Donnie Osmond back then, so when my Mom saw they had a concert going on, she made me go with my cousin. She was thrilled! Me, not so much lol.
Hahahaha! Nooooooo. That is so funny. We saw him in Joseph and the Amazing Tech. Dreamcoat and he was good in that however I would prefer to see someone else perform in concert thank you very much.
OMG! I was the Susie who vomited not so discretely on the back row of the choir riser in the 5th grade Christmas assembly. IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE SCHOOL!!! I got to go home and the girl in front, the one I puked on, got to be grossed out all day. Maybe all her life. But at least she got to stay for the party and eat cookies.
Nooooooooooooo. Oh that is too funny. Bet she’s still dining out on that story. “There I was covered in puke chowing down on cookies…” I remember when John Sparling threw up in Gr. 8 just as school started one morning. It is something you never forget … Poor you.
My favorite concerts these days are smaller venues, usually featuring bands that I’m friends with. I do remember however, just like you, the smell of pot and being deaf for days. Oh, those were the days. lol
Being deaf for days! Yes. That whooshing in the ears that went on and on and on …
Oh how I love love love concerts. Sadly my ears have suffered over the years and I’m paying the price. Anyway, I’m seeing Elbow in a couple of weeks – really good live. Last summer I rolled back the years and saw Blondie – fab. When I was 18 … a few decades agoe… I spotted Sting walking through Covent Garden – oh my he was gorgeous!! I found the nearest telephone box to call my mum – she didn’t get my excitement!
So lucky to see him strolling through Covent Garden Helen! He is still gorgeous. Paul Simon was really funny making comparisons between his physique and Sting’s. “If I wore that shirt would it look as good on me? I think so.” kind of comments. So great.
My husband and I love going to concerts. This last one may very well have had pot because it was like going to the latest Rainbow Gathering. The musician was David Stringer, the current hottie in the kirtan music world. The venue? A converted church that was now called “Socrates’ Porch” that contained old basement couches instead of pews! Hilarious and fun at the same time. Before that it was Deva Primal, Krishna Das and my personal favorite, Rufus Wainwright. (That was the most “normal” one, funny enough!) Oh, and let’s not forget the concert of that guy from the Monkees. That was fun.
Of course, there were my daughter’s concerts. She is in middle school choir. Not exactly the same thing, but special in a different kind of way. 🙂
The Sting/Paul Simon concert sounds like a blast. One of those special things that you will remember for a long time.
It was one of those special things that I’ll remember for a long time Amy. So true. You do go to a lot of concerts. Love that. Oh! And that converted church venue sounds like such a hoot. I’d love to see Rufus W. And yes, that guy from Monkees! David somebody?
The only concert, besides orchestral or jazz, that I ever attended was a Billy Joel concert back when he was very svelte and had hair. He was in jeans and put a lot of energy into his show. I loved it!
I just remembered, I attended a Karine Polwart concert in London a dozen years ago! That was lovely. I went with a friend at the time. I’d almost forgotten that one.
Okay… back to the present. No concerts in my future… but that’s okay. I’m happy listening to music that I like and I will live vicariously through other concert goers and their stories.
Sting Paul Simon sounds like a fabulous mix! I hope you enjoy Rod Stewart Santana this autumn! 🙂 ♥
Billy Joel! Yes, I’d love to see him. Even now. I’ll keep an eye out for him. So great you are listening to music that you like Jean. Important to do that a lot I believe.
A dear friend asked me to go to a Barry Manilow concert. At first, I was like really….Barry Manilow…isn’t there a Kiss or Rolling Stones concert going on somewhere….BUT I went and truly enjoyed myself. We (the entire old fogies audience) were singing along with Barry…remembering those special moments in our lives. I noticed the same thing you did….no funny smells…no cigarette lighters….same thing with the cell phones. It was a night to remember.
Thanks for sharing that Debbie. Sounds just like our night. Barry Manilow has had such an amazing life hasn’t he. I haven’t seen him live but catch him the odd time on tv and I’m always struck with a zillion memories when he sings.
I’m going to my first concert after having kids this Fall (Katy Perry). A friend really wants to go and so arranged to get a few of us friends together to attend. This will be the first concert any of us have gone to since having kids 8-10 years ago! : )
Katy Perry! How much fun is that? I’d love to see her. Do hope she provides good value. Let me know how it was – I’d love to hear.