Music and Nachos

The last few days have been filled with so many exciting adventures, I don't even know where to begin!  It seems that as the semester winds down (last day of classes was Wednesday!), life seems to realize that I only have a few short days left on this campus, and it is determined to make the most of every single moment.  Bittersweet is decidedly the word of the week - as much fun as this time is, it is tinged with sadness knowing that we'll all soon leave to go home for the summer, and not be here for three long months. 

Back to the adventures though - Wednesday night was the University Spring Concert!  I couldn't have thought of a better way to celebrate the last day of classes (there is nothing bittersweet about never having to go to public speaking again... that is all the sweet without the bitter).  The night started two hours early, when we lined up to get floor passes; always the way to go if possible.  Then after another hour of waiting once we got inside the arena, the show opened up with Ben Rector.

(sorry for the poor quality!)

 To be quite honest, I'm a little bit blasé about Ben... He's certainly talented, but I have never found anything particularly special about him.  Please don't let me deter you from checking him out, however- I have a huge group of friends who think that he is absolutely wonderful.  If you're looking for some happy, sunshine, driving-to-the-beach music, he's your man.  

Next up on the docket was Young the Giant. 

  
YTG could not have been any further on the spectrum from Ben Rector (which made for an interesting mix of fans at the show).  I'd heard of them before the concert, but never really listened to much of their music.  I'm much more inclined to start listening now though- they're a little similar to Freelance Whales (maybe even Cloud Cult?).  And p.s. I have never seen such passionate tambourine playing.  


Finally came the reason that I was excited for the show- Needtobreathe.

Their's was such an unbelievably good show.  They've got this stellar southern rock sound, great for dancing and soulful singing and feeling like you're reaching back to your roots.  Love the banjo, love the harmonica, love the energy. 

The crème de la crème of the evening came after the show, when we decided to wait outside the tour buses so we could shake their hands, tell them it was a great show, etc.  One of the band members, Bo Rinehart, came out and talked to us for a few minutes, then agreed to go get some nachos with us for a post-show snack.  It was very cool, he was a great guy, and it made for such a memorable evening.  

Stay tuned to read soon about an evening spent in Braves Country!