Big Ward and the GrooGrux Bri

So, every year around this time I tend to get a little bit of Dave fever. As in Dave Matthews. As you all know I am a huge fan of them, maybe nerdily so, but I don’t care. It was my first concert at the tender age of 16 (that was 1996 for all of you math whizzes). I remember when Crash came out and listening to that cd from start to finish and reading the lyrics as if it was a good novel. I was hooked. Their music always seemed to be my summer anthems, and since my first concert I managed to make it to a concert every single summer (well almost) – sometimes twice.

Anyways, since I started getting older and summer wasn’t just time to sit in the sun and go to swim practice, the concerts sort of took on new meaning. It was now my time away, and going back to Deer Creek every year sort of brings back all of the memories of being a teenager with not a care in the world. Yes, I have turned into that older, creepy lady in the lawn at concerts (minus the weird jewelry and long, flowing skirts.) But, do I care? No.

Sure, I have missed a couple of years. Once when I was pregnant, and once when I couldn’t bear to leave my little boy again for another weekend. And, sure, the band has pissed me off with less than stellar performances and horrible songs from albums that shall not be named. But, I am a fan through and through, and will continue to go to Dave Matthews concerts as long as they are still around. It is my special Bri time, as Jake likes to put it. And I know that the only reason he goes is to see how happy it makes me. Heck, even Pheney just goes to “hang out with old Bri and Jake.”

But, back to my new obsession – so, this year the band has released a new album with more fanfare than I have ever seen around a new album before. They performed on the Today show (unheard of!), did a four-episode documentary, released a single online, etc. etc. But, this is a good thing, because the album is actually good. The problem is, the economy is bad so not that many people are buying tickets. Although, for Dave concerts, that just means that both nights are not sold out.

So, Ward tells me of a contest at the Indiana Blood Center that if you donate blood your name will be entered to win front row tickets to the concert, AND you can meet the band. Of course, Ward donates blood. Of course I don’t, because of my history donating blood, and since I have had enough of that stuff just recently having a baby and all.

So now I am trying to Secret-style will my positive thoughts into making this happen for me – I mean Ward. (He told me he would take me, and I hope he was serious). I have almost convinced myself that those tickets are ours, and that any second Ward is going to give me a call, and the next thing I know Dave will be at our house for a cookout before his Saturday show, because he just thought I was the funniest person he has ever met, and wants to spend all of his downtime in Indianapolis with me and my family. (This blog didn’t start sounding crazy until just now.)

I think the reason I think we have a chance to win is because I just won a pair of tickets to a Jason Mraz concert this week in a contest. Why I am being so irrational and thinking this crazy is beyond me. Maybe it has something to do with post-partum hormones creating unrealistic visions of luckiness. It must be how a gambling addict feels the first time they win big.

I will keep you posted if I am going to meet the band. Keep the positive energy flowing.