Summer Concerts!

I'm over at Houston Moms Blog today talking about hot summer shows and venues in Houston. 

 

I'm super excited to see Counting Crows later this month when they roll into town. 

What summer concerts are you looking forward to?

Concert Review: The Fray

Last night, Jason and I saw The Fray at the House of Blues.  This was the third time I've seen them and the second for Jason.   The first time I saw them I didn't know who they were because they were just the openers for Ben Folds. The last time we saw them we were in the pit and caught a guitar pic.  We also danced to a Fray song for our "First Dance" at our wedding.  We sort of like this band. 

They did not disappoint last night!  Words can not express...

Favorite song performed:  Happiness
Best surprise moment:  Performing a Cover of Maps by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, accordion style
Favorite moment: Look After You (our wedding song) during encore...major surprise since this song has not been performed during most of their tour, it was fate!

Excited

Seeing The Civil Wars Tonight at Cullen Theatre!

Happy Friday

Who's happy it's Friday?  I'm getting two cavities filled this morning (yuck), but am counting down the hours until tonight because I get to see Incubus!!!  Love me some Brandon Boyd!!! 

I have wanted to see them since my senior year in high school...and my parents wouldn't let me because it was during finals week.  And then my best friend at the time, Rebecca, met them in an elevator and I was really jealous.  Finally it's here...and I think we have pretty great seats too!

TGIF,
Chelsea

Weekend Recap

Friday
Jason and I decided to celebrate the end of the week by eating out at our new favorite neighborhood restaurant, Frank's Chophouse.  For all of you Houstonians, this place is a must try near Highland Village off of Westheimer.  We just discovered it a few weeks ago with The Farmers.  We can't wait to go on a Sunday night when they offer a special on their famous fried chicken (heaven on earth) and half off all bottles of wine!  If you aren't in the mood for fried chicken, my favorite dish is the Shrimp and Grits...and I don't even like grits!

Saturday
Jason was busy all day so I took myself to the movies to see One Day.  I just finished the book so I was dying to see the movie even though it got crappy reviews.  I enjoyed it, although they cut out so much from the book.  I recommend it if you enjoyed the book, but keep your expectations low.  If you haven't read it, you may not appreciate it as much.  Bring tissues!

After the movie I did a few things for a baby shower that my mom and I are planning.  Saturday night, Jason and I met The Bouwers for dinner at Chuy's to celebrate both of their birthdays and their upcoming move to Tyler...sad day for me, but happy for them!  All four of us stuffed ourselves with yummy burritos then the boys went home while Ashley and I were just kicking off the evening. 

We went to House of Blues to see Foster the People!  We paid triple face value for the sold out tickets, but had a great time...so worth it!  There were two openers: Reptar was AWESOME!  If you like Vampire Weekend, you will love them.  Second was Cults.  I wanted to like them so badly because the lead singer was a chick, but they were a little sleepy.  Foster the People did not disappoint.  Great band, with tons of energy.  Not that you go to a concert for the visuals, but their light show mixed with pounding drum beats was amazing!



Reptar




Cults


Sunday
After my typical Sunday chores, I headed to my mom's for a family cookout which included wonderful homemade ice cream.  Then home for Golden Globes!  So far, these six are my faves. 

Any other favorites?



Gwyneth Paltrow




Minka Kelly




Jon Hamm & Jennifer Westfeldt



Maria Menounos



Lea Michele




Claire Danes



Weekend Recap

Friday

We were pooped from the week (a typical Friday feeling) so we just grabbed a bite down the street and headed home to chill. I had my head in a new book, The First Husband by Laura Dave, the rest of the evening.

Saturday

I had a haircut and added some beautiful blond highlights for the summer, while Jason did some stuff 'round the house. More reading Saturday afternoon. Saturday evening we had reservations at Post Oak Grill in Sugar Land. My parents gave us a gift certificate there for Christmas that we forgot we had! It was such a treat! Since we really never got around to properly celebrating our 2 Year Wedding Anniversary, Jason told them we were celebrating that when making reservations...

Way to go Jason! They gave us the best table, had rose pedals sprinkled on the table when we arrived and surprised us with one of our favorite desserts, Tres Leches. It was so much fun!

Sunday
I was so excited to spend the morning and early afternoon at home.  I didn't have anywhere to go so I was able to read, clean, do laundry and relax!  It was so nice.  I finished The First Husband and started the third and final book of The Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay. 

We also had tickets for Houston's Free Press Summerfest, a two-day music festival at Eleanor Tinsley park.  We skipped out on Saturday's shows.  We weren't jazzed by any of the bands and it was HOT outside.  Sunday afternoon we headed out there, mostly to see Weezer at 8:30, but we got there around 5ish. 

Call us old, call us boring, call us lame, but we were so not prepared for what was Summerfest. 

It smelled HORRIBLE. 

Everyone there smelled because they were sweaty and gross from baking all day in the 100 degree heat, There was trash EVERYWHERE. 

We walked around, grabbed a cold beverage and found our spot on the hill, pretty typical.  But this was not your normal hill, it was so steep which made sitting very uncomfortable...

then the ants started...

then the thunder and lightning started...

then the rain started...

then the dread of the inevitable port-a-potty trips started...

And we still had hours until Weezer...

I'm ashamed to say it, but we left before seeing my beloved Weezer!

My judgement was clouded by the stink.  I'm feeling a little regretful today, but I've seen them plenty of times and promised myself next time they are in Houston, we will go.  

Summerfest...and yes, that's a huge butt crack.  Sorry- that was our view!

2 Tickets to Summerfest: $100.00

Parking at Summerfest:  $10.00

2 Beers at Summerfest:  $9.00

Not having to use a Summerfest Restroom:  Priceless

 

Weekend Recap

 CoFriday night we stayed home and even cooked.  We were pooped from the week (and getting up way to early for the Royal Wedding), so we rested, caught up on the DVR and did a little laundry.

Saturday, we both got up early - I was volunteering at the Junior League Tea Room so Jason went to work to catch up on a few projects.  We met back up at the house around 3pm, had a late lunch and headed to the Houston International Festival to meet my Dad and Karin. 

We had so much fun!  We walked around and ate terrible, but yummy food (corn dogs, sausage on a stick, cobbler, you get the idea), browsed the local vendors and caught a few concerts!  It was great people watching too. 

Jason was very excited for this Turkey Leg.  Boy loves his meat!  A sausage on a stick followed.

Sunday, we slept in and spent the entire morning resting because we had Buzz Fest later that day!  We got to the Woodlands around 4pm just in time for Puddle of Mudd and Seether.  Our seats were awesome... just a few rows back from the stage!  Unfortunately, I was feeling a little under the weather, so we didn't stay for all of the bands, but we still feel like we got our money's worth.  Favorite part:  Seether covering Nirvana's Heart Shaped Box. 

When we got home, we learned of Osama Bin Laden's death and were glued to the news for a while until we passed out. 

Can't believe it's May now!  My favorite month...have a great week! 

This Weekend

Is Coachella!  Kings of Leon, The Strokes, Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons, Black Keys, Duran Duran, Cage the Elephant on and on and on.

Totally not going, but one can dream! 

Next year, Ashley? (and yes, I copied your blog post) 

Have a great weekend!

Looking forward to...

It is so gorgeous in Houston today!  Blue skies and not one cloud.  My pale legs even made their spring debut today.  Days like these get me excited for summer music festivals.  Jason and I already have a few on the calendar to look forward to:

The Big Dance Concert Series - April 2

Discovery Green Park, Houston - The Big Dance is a free three-day concert series (April 1-3) open to music fans in celebration of the NCAA Men's Final Four in Houston, TX this year!  We are going April 2 to see Kings of Leon, the headliner of the day.  This is a free concert so it's going to be absolutely bananas, but Jason got the hookup since his client, Coca-Cola is sponsoring this day.  Kenny Chesney is rumored to be the headline on Sunday, April 3. 

Houston International Festival - April 30

Downtown Houston - iFest is two weekends and have tons of options for food, entertainment, art and music.  We are going Saturday, April 30 to see Johny Lang.  Can't get too crazy because Buzz Fest is the next day.

Buzz Fest - May 1

Woodlands Pavilion - Bands haven't even been announced yet, but this is always a fun day.  Rumor has it that Jane's Addiction, Weezer and Seether are on the bill. 

Free Press Summer Fest - June 4-5

Eleanor Tinsley Park on Buffalo Bayou, Houston - 2 day music fest.  Probably wouldn't try and make this because I'm sure it is going to be CROWDED and HOT, but Weezer is headlining.  Duh, winning!

Glee Live!

Why aren't you coming to Houston?????  I would SO be there. 

Jason and I have been wanting to plan a trip to Vegas...wonder if he would be game for this.  Highly doubt.  Anyone else planning on checking this out?  Dates are listed on Ticketmaster and go on sale 2/19.

Stone Temple Pilots - Houston Show

I love Scott Weiland and I love Stone Temple Pilots.  I have all of their CD's and even wake up to one of their songs every morning (for the past 2 years-that's love) thanks to a setting on my alarm clock.  I saw one of their shows when I was in college and was floored by how brilliant they were.  It was a show.  Weiland came out dressed as a Priest at one point, followed by him performing the encore naked, except for bring wrapped in an American flag. 

Weiland has been in and out of rehab.  The band has split up numerous times to do their own thing, including Weiland's other band with Guns n Roses members, Velvet Revolver.  I even am a huge fan of Weiland's ex-wife (Sidenote: check out her book Fall to Pieces.)

Anyway, I was beyond stocked when STP reunited and announced a tour stop in Houston.  I paid more than I normally would for good seats and dragged by husband to a Sunday night show (I have to REALLY want to see a band that is on a work night...yes, I'm way lame). 

Doors at 7pm.  We arrived at 8pm.  opening band, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club started about 8:15.  Never heard of them, but they were great...downloading some of their stuff as we speak.  BRMC finished their set about 9pm.  Bathroom break and hurry back for the big STP opening.  My heart was beating with anticipation...

and we waited...
and we waited...
another bathroom break...
lots of people watching...
excitement is dying...
booing...
booing...
hundreds are now booing...
the crowd is speculating if the show will be cancelled...
flashback to high school when Creed cancelled after seeing only one song...
back to reality...
It's 9:50pm and the venue must close at 11pm.  So happy I paid for a measley 1 hour set...

Finally at about 10pm, the band comes out.  Instead of the WOW opening I was expecting, we got Weiland holding a cigarette, staggering onstage and giving a drunken rant about quitting drugs, getting divorced, but still drinking.  Needless to say, I was disappointed.  They played all of the great songs, but they were just off.  I told Jason I felt like I was watching a car crash.

Well, we were.  After the Houston show, news came out that the rest of their shows on the tour were postponed.  Read more below.

I love you Scott Weiland and STP!  I forgive you for going on super late and being off.  I hope everything is okay. 

Houston Press Review

Scott Weiland's Drunk Rant in Houston

Photo from Houston Press





Shot from our seats




Screen shot from out seats



Love this shot of Weiland



Weiland's trademark bullhorn.  When I think of him, this is exactly what I think of. 



Happy Weekend!

I'm so excited for this weekend!  My brother, Carter and I are going to The Weenie Roast  hosted by 94.5 the Buzz on today...a concert with 5 bands!

On the bill is...(in case you are going, I put the times for ya - doors are at 4pm)

10 Years, 5:00 p.m.

Sevendust, 5:50 p.m.

Puddle of Mudd, 6:50 p.m.

Shinedown, 9:05 p.m.

And drumroll please....

Chevelle, 7:55 p.m.

I have been DYING to see Chevelle for a long time and it's just never worked out...just read this post from last September (scroll to the bottom of it). 

We certainly will be roasting because it's an outdoor concert in Houston and the high is 95.

Yikes!  Have a great weekend.

Countdown to Vampire Weekend

And I'm not talking about Twilight or any other "vampire" shows.  I'm talking about one of my favorite bands right now - Vampire Weekend!  They are coming to Houston in October and my bestie Ashley and I just scored tickets!

If you haven't checked them out yet, you need to!

BuzzFest Recap

Last Sunday Jason and I got our geezer butts up for BuzzFest...an all day long music festival.  I hoped that we would make it through the entire day & night because I was so excited about every band.  It was a gorgeous day and we had the BEST time...we even lasted until the bitter end...we didn't get home until after midnight on a worknight!!!

Before the show...we were ready to go!

In our seats...we paid extra to have a covered seat because I wasn't sure how long we would last on the hill.  We did one set on the hill to get some sun...look how gorgeous the weather was!

30 Seconds To Mars...yes, that is Jared Leto with a pink mohak!

Very end of the day...exhausted, but ready for some more!

Seether rocked it!

And then time for the head liner...Limp Bizkit.  The guitar player is notorius for wearing the craziest costumes...

And he did not disappoint!

Happy Friday!

- Chels