Somer's Concert Series

I am a concert junky! I admit it. No if, ands, or buts! I have always loved music. There is definitely a sound track to my life....and these are just a few of the bands on it!

BON JOVI

March 22, 2011

   Bon Jovi was the first concert Ashleigh and I ever went to.....way back in 1995...and we haven't missed a concert since! (Okay, that is not completely honest. They came in concert a week after I entered the MTC. I tried to get my MTC admission date changed, but the Stake President did think wanting to attend a concert was a valid reason.) Ashleigh and I scream and danced through the entire concert! They still put on an amazing show!

My Chemical Romance & Neon Trees

April 8, 2011 

There's a reason why Bekky is one of my BFFs! She braved the packed house of an all ages show to see two bands she didn't know just because I wanted to for my birthday. There were some seriously hilarious times...The def guy on trax that basically fell into my lap to cop a feel, using toilets with no seats, pushing our way into the the bar (to escape the under 21 crowd) Bekky with her hands in the air trying not to touch any one or any thing while repeating "Unclean! Unclean!" over and over, bonding with the drunk people around us while some unknown person kept farting, and being caught in a great big bear hug by some drunk gay guy at the end of the night. Although we did not get any pictures of the bands, it was a blast!

Yanni

April 30, 2011

  Ever since Ashleigh and I took Mom to see Yanni Voices she hasn't stopped about how much she loved it! So, when I found out Yanni was coming back to SLC I got her tickets for Christmas 2010. The show way as amazing as ever and I loved spending time with my mom!

The Daylights

May 11, 2011

  After 3 long years, my favorite boys were back! Amber and I hung out back stage with Ricky, Ran, and Svend before they went on stage and then had front row for the show. After the concert was over, we visited with the boys some more. Ricky totally made my night when he said, "Whenever I think of Utah, I think of you!" I pinky swore them all to singing "Good-Bye Summer" as long as I promised I wasn't planning on that being any time soon.

Motley Crue, Poison, & NY Doll

June 19, 2011

   Happy Father's Day! Tiffany and I celebrated together by screaming at the top of our lungs to some of my favorite bands EVER! After bumping in to the guy next to me, he became my BFF -- putting his arm around me, singing in my ear, and smacking my backside...even after his girlfriend came back from the bathroom! Tiff and I had a fantastic time, but it looks like the girl behind us in the picture could use some cheering up. Perhaps she'd have felt better if my neighbor grabbed her caboose!

Kenny Chesney

July 9, 2011

 Girls night out with Ashleigh, Kylie, and Amanda....Although you'd never know it since they refused to get in the picture, even when I threatened to disown them. Guess they knew I love them enough that I'd ever do that! We spread out our blankets on the grass and kicked up our heels! The most interesting part of the night was when some drunk lady pretty much went head over feet into Amanda! What a night!

 

Tim McGraw

August 6, 2011

   Imagine my joy when Tim started out the concert right in front of us! He is some serious eye candy! And...he squoze my hand and winked at me! 

Josh Groban

August 13, 2011

  I truly believe Josh Groban's music is laced with subliminal messages. One minute I was listening to his melodious voice, the next I had purchased two tickets on the fifth row. Since I have not dating life to speak of, I asked Mom to go with me....unfortunately, she fell off a small retaining wall and shattered her wrist the day before the concert. So, Ashleigh graciously stepped in and took her place. Through the entire concert, Ash kept hitting me and grabbing my arm while saying, "I'm so glad mom broke her arm!" We have decided Josh might have to be a new tradition! As Josh walked passed us, I couldn't help myself and reached out and squeezed his arm! The next time he passed us, Ashleigh got the High-five. Josh has true talent! He was as amazing in person...funny, witty, and that boy can sing! His tweet that night summed it all up: joshgroban: "Landed in LA! salt lake you were a hair pulling, arm pinching, pants biting group. you know how I like it! Sorry i couldn't serve you booze." I highly doubt his "arm pinching" was in reference to me....but I'm happy to claim that it is!

Def Leppard

August 31, 2011

  One of my favorite bands of ALL TIME! On the soundtrack of my life, Def Leppard occupies a great deal of space! Wendy, Tiffany, Ben, and I laughed hysterically through the entire night! The best line of the night was Wendy looking at me like I was a crazy person and saying, "You know all the words." My favorite part of the night was when they sang "Love and Hate Collide" acoustic.

Big Ass Show

October 8, 2011

  Bekky and I hauled our Big A's to the Big Ass Show where we ran into my friend from the nursing program, Heather. It was a bit drizzly for part of the day, but over all we had a fantastic time.....

Brogan Kelby

She Wants Revenge

Switch Foot

Anberlin

Neon Trees

Panic At The Disco

Well, it was sort of Panic At The Disco...Unfortunately Brendon Urie had malaria and was unable to attend the show. So, the band was down one lead singer. Fortunately,  Brogan Kelby,  Tyler Glenn, and some other random people were willing to fill in and the band was able to play a partial set. 

My favorite part of the night was Bekky yelling, "I'm moshing! I'm moshing!" as we jumped up and down with the crowd.

Jason Aldean with Thompson Square & Chris Young

October 22, 2011

  In all the years that we've been friends, Tory and I had never been to a concert together. I decided it was time to change that! During one morning while getting ready for the day, Tory played music video, after music video of Jason Aldean on the computer. So, when I found out he was coming in concert, I knew we had to go! 

The Daylights...AGAIN!

October 26, 2011

  Twice in one year! Be still heart-that-thinks-it's-still-a-teenager-beating-within-a-thirty-something! As soon as I heard the boys were coming back to town, I rallied the troops. Liz, Pam, and Aburee (my friends from Courtyard) were there, and I introduced Tiffany and Julie to my favorite boys! After the concert I send them a little note, via facebook, that said: "So HAPPY that SLC was included as one of your 20 CITIES! It was time to say GOOD BYE SOMER much too quickly, so come back soon...I know you can MAKE IT HAPPEN...cause I GUESS I MISS YOU. For now I'll have to settle for last night's  QUICK FIX. In your presence, no one feels like an OUTSIDER! Remember to wear your seatbelts, SLOWDOWN, and enjoy the ride. Sending you a DIGITAL KISS! XOXO Somerset PS...I HOPE THIS GETS TO YOU!" All the words in capital letters are titles of their songs.  Pretty creative if I do say so myself. 

And now the summer is over....So lucky to have such great friends and great music to fill not only it, but every day of my life!

Indianapolis?

What can I say? I run in a circle of friends that includes some {Amazingly} Talented people... One of which is Nathan Pacheco. A BYU Graduate and returned missionary that is now a Yanni 'Voice'...

In the tradition of surprising/torturing my mom, I called and asked her out on another mother/daughter date. If you've read the posting of our last outing, you know she never can be quite sure if this is going to be a good thing, or a not so good thing. But, as usual, her curiosity, sense of adventure, and the fact that I am an awesome daughter won out, and the invitation was accepted. This time, I was taking her to see "Yanni Voices" in concert and I invited Ashleigh to come along too.

Ashleigh has a {BIG MOUTH} and cannot keep a secret to save her life...well, except for that time she bought a house...but that's another story...and while driving in the car said something about, "Oh, ya...that's when we're going to Yanni at the Acropolis." Luckily for her, my mom was only half paying attention and thought Ash said something about Indianapolis. So, from that point forward, our mother-daughter date was referred to as Indianapolis...such as, "What should I wear to Indianapolis?"

After a delicious dinner at Red Robin and some shopping at Ikea we headed to SLC for our date with Yanni at the Energy Solutions Arena. We arrived a little bit early and decided to walk down to the Gateway to get a treat from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. As we were walking, Mom could see the elctronic bill board in front of the venue as it flashed "Tool" across the screen. "I see Tool. Are we going to Tool? Who's Tool?" Another guess was that we were going to the circus...way far off on that guess. While walking back from the Chocolate factory, I decided to have a little fun. I said, "I have got to pep up! I've got a case of the Yanni's!" Ashleigh caught on (after I explained it to her in a whisper behind mom's back) and started getting a case of the "Yanni's" herself. Mom did not catch on. So, we finally told her..."We're going to see Yanni!" She was still so confused from our conversation of Indianapolis, Tool, and yawning that she didn't quite get it. She alsmost asked the security guard at the door what she was here to see. Once we got inside, however, and she saw the kiosks with all the Yanni merchandise, she kinda started to freak out! That was the reaction I was waiting for.
Our seats were amazing! We had the perfect view and could hardly wait for the show to begin! There was a gauze like drape hung all around the stage that had scenes of nature and cities through out the world projected onto it. Before the show, it looked as though you were flying through the clouds. The scenery was breathtaking! One of my favorite parts was when Yanni's shadow would appear and you could see him conducting the orchestra. If you look in the large picture below, you can see Nathan through the screen as he sings his opening number.
The talent and music that was shared literally brought tears to my eyes! What a fun night to spend with my mom and sister and be able to support a friend as he fulfills his dreams! Below is just a little clip of Nathan preforming. It's definitely not the best quality, so visit Yanni.com to hear how beautiful his voice really is!

Nathan, you are {INCREDIBLE} Thanks for letting us share this night with you!

Daylight @ Nite

The DAYLIGHTS! Still love them!
In order not to repeat myself, please see here...
(But, change the age to 29)

Dancin' with Ricky after the show!
Yep, still melts my heart!

Can't wait until they'll be back this summer!
LOVE THEM! LOVE THEM! LOVE THEM!

Hangin' Tough

Remember when they said, "Girl please don't go" and that they would be loving you Forever? They taught us 'bout hangin' tough as long as we had the right stuff....and then they were gone. But then...TONIGHT! TONIGHT!

There they were....THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK!
All of them!

Jordan

Jon

Joey

Donnie

And Danny!

Be still my 11-year-old heart beating within my 29-year-old body! To think it began so long ago...Then, in April it began again! Middle aged women all over the world scream in unison, picked up the phone and squealed to their girlfriends...."OMG! New Kids are getting back together!" You can imagine the shrieking reply that followed, "Ahhh! We so totally have to go to the concert!" Packs were made, tickets were purchased, and the countdown began.

I literally squealed and giggled like a school girl! I couldn't help it! When they showed vintage footage, I jumped up and down screaming, "I have that! I have that!" I knew all the words to every song, and I sang them at the top of my lungs! Donnie came to the edge of the stage and pointed right at me! Unfortunately, I was too busy freakin' out to get a picture of the actual moment. Jordan came up from the stage in a fanfare of smoke....then the fan turned on and his shirt blew open...and I laughed hysterically like the 11-year-old I had turned into because...you could see his chest! All the childhood day dreams came flooding back... much more detailed and dirty. Oh how the mind has evolved!

They rocked us with the right stuff for almost two hours straight! We couldn't help but to get out on the floor and do the New Kids Dance! I would have stayed until 2 in the morning with childish daydreams of being their Valentine girl. It was a full service concert!

It's been years since we've dreamed of being their Cover Girl and I'm still Single. But I'm a Big Girl Now and they can give me some Grown Man any time!

UVUPhoria

It was the event of the century...or maybe the decade...or the year...well, of the day at least. The culmination of the Grand Celebration marking the transition from UVSC to Utah Valley University marked by a concert featuring Josh Gracin, Collin Raye, and Joe Nichols. And to top it off, there was even a Niel Diamond impersonator straight from Las Vegas! A Perfect excuse for a girls night...



...I'm so excited to graduated from a University! I thought that may have been the reason it's taken me so long to get through this higher learning experience--that was until I found out ANYONE who has graduated from UVU in any of it's previous forms qualifies for a diploma from UVU. Sure, now you tell me.

Hangin' Tough

I remember it like it was yesterday...Saturday, September 1, 1990 the {New Kids On The Block Magic Summer Tour} rocked the Marriott Center in Provo. And I was not there. I had planned on going. My cousins had an extra ticket and had invited me to go! It was the most exciting prospect of my life thus far! Then, the day before the big event they reneged the invitation. Someones 'best friend' was able to go...they were in and I was out. I was devastated! Instead of singing at the top of my lungs with thousands of other shrieking pre-pubescent girls, I sat on my twin size bed gripping my pillow adorn with a New Kids pillow case, staring at the New Kids posters on my bedroom wall, and sobbing as their melodic voices floated from my boom-box. My 11-year-old heart was broken! Now, close to twenty years later, I have found vindication! On Saturday, November 15, 2008, I will be singing at the top of my lungs with thousands of other post-pubescent 30-something women at the {New Kids On The Block} concert! YES! I have still got the Right Stuff to be Hangin' Tough!