Charlotte FC v Miami CF @ Bank of America Stadium

 

Choir! Choir! Choir! at Carolina Theatre

For something different, A & I went to Choir! Choir! Choir! tonight.  I've seen some of their stuff on Youtube and thought it would be fun.  Tonight they are dedicating their show to the songs of Queen.  I thought it was usually one song, but in this case we did a a number of songs. 

We had seats near the back, but unfortunately the show was not well attended, and the band wouldn't start till we all moved tot he front to be together.  From the first song this was a success.  The sound of the crowd together was magic, and the band obviously fed on that.

We sang Don't Stop Me Now, Somebody To Love, Under Pressure, We Will Rock You among others.  A couple of practice runs where sections of the audience were give parts (alto, melody, harmony, tenor etc) and then a sing along to Choir! Choir! Choir! playing an acoustic, and vocally directing the crowd.  There was somewhere in the show where they broke into the rap from Barenaked Ladies' One Week.  Didn't finish it, but a group in the crowd made it known that their friend new ALL the words.  She was brave enough to perform it into the mike (wouldn't get on stage though).  And she killed it.  Almost the best applause of the night.  Of course the show finished with Bohemian Rhapsody.  By this point, everyone was really into it.

What a great night!  An interactive concert.  That's a first for me (and A).  TO sing aloud every song was a soul-positive experience.  Definitely took a while to come down from this.  Choir! Choir! Choir! have played in Charlotte before, but we were out of town when it happened so I am so glad we got to go this evening.  And I'll come back for more when they come through town again.

The Crap Facts
This is my 531st concert.
Carolina Theatre is the 142nd venue I've seen a concert at.
This is my 128th concert in Charlotte.
This is my 152nd concert in North Carolina.
This is my 331st concert in the USA.
Choir! Choir! Choir! are the 624th band I've seen.

Simple Plan, Bowling For Soup & Lolo @ Skyla CU Amphitheater

Another warm day at work, where I greet all the fans coming in for Simple Plan tonight.  I love this job.  I greet people as they walk into the venue and provide direction for their evening.  People are always in a good mood, and why wouldn't they be.  Great venue.  Here to see a favorite band of theirs.  Good atmosphere all around.  Plenty of Fineas & Ferb tshirts, for the Bowling for Soup fans (and even a Professor Doofenschmirtz), while the Simple Plan fans went for the full Scooby Doo outfits.

There's not a lot I can tell you about Lolo.  I was still guiding people in while she was on, and I'm not familiar with her stuff.  Though her cover of The Killers Mr Brightside stuck with me.

Lolo Setlist

Bowling for Soup came on and I was surprised that I knew some of their songs.  Girl All The Bad Guys Want was a song I haven't heard in forever.  A modern classic, and a great kick off to the set.  A medley that included Mickey & Fight For Your Right was also well received.  My boys went through a Fineas & Ferb phase, but i wasn't aware that the show's song was Bowling For Soup.  But the audience did, and they went nuts when Today Is Going To Be The Best Day played.  As the set finished Bowling for Soup gave the best introduction to a song.  "Everyone thinks we wrote Stacy's Mom, we didn't - it was Fountains of Wayne - so we're going to play it anyway.  And then their big hit 1985 finished a fun 40 minute set.  Way better than I expected.  I will lookout for them again if they come through town.

Bowling For Soup Setlist

In complete contradiction, I don't know any Simple Plan songs (well, 1 but I only learnt that tonight).  Simple Plan's pop punk was was well received by their crowd, whose only mission tonight was to have a blast - And they did!  Half way through the set, Simple Plan's singer Pierre Bouvier, came out to play Untitled (How Could This Happen To Me?) on a piano at the back of the seated section.  Staff was made aware of this and we moved to be in a spot to stop too many people coming too close.  There was one couple that said they were told to wait near the sound booth, but I moved them back a bit.  It wasn't until one of the crew grabbed them that I found out he was proposing to his girl before the song played.  I almost ruined it - felt like shit - nut it all turned out for the best.  Thank God!  My favorites was a medley near the end with All Star, Skater Boi & Mr Brightside.  This was followed by the song I did know.  As Simple Plan got people up on stage, who had come dressed in costume, they ripped through the their theme song from What's New Scooby Doo?.  Awesome.

Simple Plan Setlist

I love having a job that is this fun.  Sure I might not like the music, although tonight I came across a couple of new-to-me bands that were fun, there is usually 3000 - 5500 people that are into it.  And their energy is addictive.  They want to talk to you about their band, how many times they've seen it, and how good this smaller outdoor venue is.  Can't wait to work more shows here.

The Crap Facts
This is my 530th concert.
This is my 22nd concert at Skyla CU Amphitheater.
This is my 127th concert in Charlotte.
This is my 151st concert in North Carolina.
This is my 330th concert in the USA.
Lolo are the 621st band I've seen.

Bowling For Soup are the 622nd band I've seen.

Simple Plan are the 623rd band I've seen.