Please Don't Stop the Music!

The Pepsi Center was a hot and happenin' place last week. With the Nuggets on their 5 game road trip, Denver was presented with some of the top artists in the music industry. I missed Jay-Z's appearance on Monday night, but Tuesday night Andie and I battled the blizzard to go see my personal favorite John Mayer! I haven't missed a John Mayer show in who knows how many times he's been to Denver. I always make a point to see him, and unfortunately when tickets went on sale, I was in Australia, not able to make a purchase. Lucky for me, though - I have a BFF that knew I would probably want to go and surprised me with a ticket as my Christmas gift! I still remember wanting to scream in the little Black Heath library that day I received an email from Andie with a cozy description of opening my gift :) I believe I even hit Garrett in my excitement since I could hardly contain myself to be quiet.

This show didn't disappoint. At all. Michael Franti and Spearhead opened the show, getting everyone some positive energy after being soaking wet from the weather outside. Eric and Marian got there just in time for him to start and was able to watch that part of the concert with us! Michael Franti spent most of his time out in the crowd, rather than on stage. My favorite parts came at the end of their performance, during their hit song "Say Hey (I love you)!" when he brought a group of kids from the audience up on stage. There was a little boy with huge earphones on jumping around up there having the time of his life and a little girl who sang a verse with Michael Franti ending "and I know, one thing, is I wuv yooo"!


John Mayer came out after a short break. Uncreatively, he opened with Heartbreak Warfare. That doesn't mean it was bad, though. The light show was great and I had such a blast singing along and trying to mimic the background singer's dance moves. At one point in the show, he announced that all the highways were closed, so everyone should get comfortable, b/c we were going to be there all night. That would've been the coolest thing ever! He could've performed every song he has ever wrote, plus more favorite cover songs that I love. That only happens if you're dreaming, though. He mixed in Fleetwood Mac's Dreams at the end of Half of My Heart and also performed his version of Tom Petty's Free Fallin, which I had never seen him perform before. His encore was two songs short, ending with Gravity. I was thoroughly entertained by a guy that came down for the last 3 songs, who was really feelin' the jamming and probably 5 times more excited than I was to be there (now that is excitement)! I was sad when the show came to an end, but SOO happy I was able to go - a billion thanks to Andie - you're the effin' bomb! :)


Later in the week, the Black Eyed Peas were coming with Luda and LMFAO. Andie mentioned something about going when we were at the other concert. I never thought I would be really psyched to go, but as the week went by, I convinced myself that it would be a great thing to do. After scrambling on Friday and Saturday, we still didn't come across tickets, but we headed to the Pepsi Center with Marian anyway. We walked around looking for tickets and everyone wanted at least $100 and we couldn't find any upper level seats available. Finally, around 7:45 (after the show had already started) a normal looking guy took our offer for $60/ticket on the floor! He was taking his daughter and her friend. The girls were cute and we seemed to have aquired a dad in the process of getting in the door, shuffling all 4 of us around. And that was the beginning of a really FUN fun, night! We skipped Ludacris and ate fries and boneless wings, then met up with Marian. She still had to take photos for the first 3 songs, so we split again. Andie and I got to the floor right after Luda ended and got in a good spot to later meet up with Marian and see the stage.


We happened to be by some obnoxious lesbians who later forced us to move, which ended up being better to see and closer to the end of the catwalk. They performed their hits from the E.N.D. album, plus more of their older favorites from Elephunk and Monkey Business. They also each performed solo with will.i.am previewing what it was going to be like at the after party later that evening. We danced and sang and jumped and had a ton of fun. We loved it!


When the BEP's ended their show, we hustled over to Beta Night Club for the After Party. And the fun continued! We danced more while will.i.am DJ'd then handed the turn table over to Apple D and then later LMFAO and finally Luda showed up to celebrate Fergie Ferg's birthday! SO MUCH fun, 4 days later I'm still psyched from the whole night's experience!



For more detailed and better descriptions of each of the concerts - visit Marian's Pop Music Examiner Blog.