Things I Learned This Weekend

You are never too old to slip 'n slide. Like last year, we decided to create an extra-long slip 'n slide in our backyard and invite some people over. It's so refreshing to watch 20-somethings act like 7 year-olds every once in a while.

Louisville is a really cool city. Thanks to a wonderful Christmas present from my awesome parents, Jenn, Morgan, Sib, and I went to Louisville for the Hullabalou Music Festival. The night before Hullabalou, we went to Fourth Street Live! for some fun. It's an incredibly cool pedestrian area in downtown Louisville filled with a bunch of bars and clubs. We went to Wet Willie's for some daiquiris before heading to Howl at the Moon, an awesome dueling piano bar.

You cannot beat a dueling piano bar. Whether it be Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans or Howl at the Moon in Louisville, I have never been disappointed by a piano bar. The musicians in Louisville were hilarious and talented, the atmosphere was fun, and the drinks were good (huge buckets of hurricanes and fruit roll-ups). We requested (and they played) "Chicken Fried" by Zac Brown Band, Elton John's "Tiny Dancer," "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson, and "Stay" by DMB. They had a number of fun sketches/dances prepared for bachelorettes and a battle of local college fight songs. The hot performer also covered "I'm on a Boat." We spent a couple hours watching the show and singing along. If I ever go to Louisville again, I will definitely go back to Howl at the Moon. Now, I need to check out Fat Cats downtown.

Hullabalou is awesome. First of all, it's awesome that a music festival is held at the legendary and beautiful Churchill Downs. It was so fascinating to see the site of the Kentucky Derby. The set-up of the festival was cool, too. The main stage (where DMB, Zac Brown Band, and the Avett Brothers performed) was set up in front of the grandstands. Four other stages were set up in the in-field, along with tons of food and drink tents and a couple misting tents (it was SO hot). Jenn and I caught most of Steve Miller Band's set and they sounded great! We heard "The Joker," "Take the Money and Run," "Abracadabra," "Keep on Rockin' Me," and "Fly like an Eagle."

Festival seating is dangerous. Right when we got there, we decided to wait in line for the best general admission seating to open up. We were very close to the front of the line, but after a bit, we were all re-located in front of five different doors. Eventually, the security staff moved the gates from in front of the doors and we were told that we had to make a mad dash for the best seats. Everyone was lined up, waiting for 4:00 to hit...I'm sure we looked like horses lined up at the gate. I was terrified as I looked behind me and saw the huge crowd of people. When it was time, everyone sprinted toward the stairs. Two girls in front of me tripped, so I had to wait. I saw the stampede of people rushing up the stairs and counted 6 other people on the ground and one girl with a broken flip-flop. Absurd. Luckily, the girls got an AMAZING box for us, center stage.

Dave Matthews Band = Oratory Orgasm. I suppose I've known this for a while...but DMB didn't disappoint. After waiting all day and fighting crowds for an amazing spot, we were treated to 2-1/2 hours of musical bliss. DMB opened with "Funny the Way It Is" and followed that with "You Might Die Trying." Jenn was happy when they played "Stay or Leave" and I literally jumped for joy when they started "Seven," my favorite song from Big Whiskey. Later, they played "Crush," "Don't Drink the Water," "Why I Am," "Spaceman," "#41," "Gravedigger," "Lie in Our Graves," "You and Me," and "Shake Me like a Monkey." They also played my new favorite DMB song - "Cornbread." I can't get enough of Dave's naughty lyrics, his ridiculous dancing, and his scatting. Mmm... Before the encore, Zac Brown came out and they did covers of Willie Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips Away" and Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower." For the encore, Dave did his solo "Some Devil" and they ended the show (unfortunately) with "Ants Marching," the one DMB song I've heard too many times to like anymore. I even got offered some pot by the guy next to us - he wouldn't leave me alone throughout the whole show. The view was absolutely incredible with four jumbotrons, the stage, thousands of people, the racetrack, and a full moon. I couldn't have asked for anything more.

...and finally...

Dave loves the front seat. As we were leaving Churchill Downs, I noticed a cop car with its lights on, so I pulled over to let it pass. It turned out to be an escort for some tour busses. I instantly remembered seeing Dave once in the front seat while the band was leaving Blossom. Sure enough, Dave was in the front seat of one of the busses...and I nearly passed out. After contemplating for a brief second on whether or not to follow the bus, I opted (sanely) to head back to Cincinnati.


As you can see, I had a wonderful weekend with my very best friends in the world. I'm one lucky gal.