We've Been Stepping Out

Hubby surprised me with tickets to Joe Jackson at the Warfield Theater on Market Street. To be honest, it was really a show that he wanted to see, but I like Joe Jackson, too. The Warfield is a great venue, I have seen some fun shows there, like the Grateful Dead and most recently, Carlos Mencia.

I was kind of in a funky mood and not at all in a concert mood. I love concerts, mind you. I love all live performances. My mother and I had season tickets to SF Ballet since I was 13 because I danced from the time I was 5. My mom has had season tickets to the SF Opera for the last 40 some odd years as well. Oh, and theater, oh how I love, love, love the theater. That is by far my favorite form of entertainment ever!

Oh, but I was at the concert, right.

We were getting into the line and I looked around at the other concert goers. It was the whitest, oldest concert I can remember attending, maybe ever. Oldest, for sure. 

Save for the odd child with their parents, I would say the average person there was, oh, I don't know, somewhere between 45 and 55. I was feeling pretty good...until we got inside.

Once inside, a guy asks us if we would be drinking this evening, and we said we would. (I almost never drink, but I thought a cocktail didn't sound half bad!). When my husband asked if he wanted id's he looked at us and said, "Uh, no, not for this event!"

I just looked  up into his eyes, and let him see just how disappointed I was. My husband pulls me away and points out to me that another couple is being id'd by a different person. This couple looked at least 10 years older than us! I was miffed! OK, fine, so I don't look 21, BUT NEITHER DID THEY! I looked WAY younger than she did. I made a quick decision to not go over and say something so as not to offend the couple being id'd.

Good decision. I am just glad it was before the cocktail and not after!

The concert opened with an Irish singer named Gemma Hayes. She was fabulous. She told little stories about her life and her songs and had the voice of an angel. We ended up purchasing her cd after her performance. I can't wait to listen to it after my husband brings it back from his studio.

Then the main event. It was really Great! The music was better than I had remembered. When I looked down from our seats it had gotten Packed! Our seat...our seats were the best in the house, according to the usher who directed us to them. They were in the first row of reserved seats, which were balcony, but the venue is very small so it was quite close, really.

The only problem with my seats, however, was the enthusiastic fans seated two rows behind me and one seated behind me and to the left. They had the most piercing whistles and yelled ALOT! When Joe Jackson was talking....they whistled. When he played, they whistled. They even yelled things a few times, which I find obnoxious. Dude, he can't hear you. He is not going to stop his concert and have a conversation with you...really, he isn't...so shut your pie hole and let us hear the music.

Fine, I am cranky. Not even the smell to ganja wafting up from the crowd on the floor mellowed me out. I had to cover my ears and stuff my fingers into them to block the shrillness of the whistles in my ears! 

Overall, we had a wonderful time. The music was GREAT. I really need to get out more!