Unexpected Show Introduces Me to the World of Robots

Thursday, October 28, 2010
Emo’s – Austin, TX
Powerman 5000

You know how some of your family and friends ask for list of gift ideas around the holidays? Or maybe your birthday? You spend time thinking about suggestions based on appropriateness and cost. You might even be careful to not give the same ideas to different people so you don’t end up with the same gift. When you open that gift you are grateful, but not surprised, at what you find. But every once in a while, someone goes out on a limb to buy you something you didn’t ask for. And sometimes those are the best gifts of all.

Concert-going is a lot like this. I spend a lot of time planning who to see next. I check online resources for concerts and my favorite bands daily, keeping my fingers crossed for a show near me to be announced. But once in a blue moon, I happen to be in the right place at the right time. Unexpected. Unplanned. Fly by the seat of my pants kind of stuff. Such was the case with Powerman 5000.

Memphis Boy Comes Home for Rare Performance

Friday, October 22, 2010
Hard Rock Café – Memphis, TN
Zach Myers Band

Zach Myers looks back on a photo of the group from when he was just 14 years old.

It seems a rarity that I actually get to see a rock show at home nowadays. There just don’t seem to be that many coming through Memphis as compared to some other nearby cities. But this night was an exception as hometown boy Zach Myers took a break from touring with mega-group Shinedown for a rare performance with his original namesake band, the Zach Myers Band.

Back to Atlanta for Project 961

Sunday, October 3, 2010
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre – Alpharetta, Georgia
Project 961 Family Reunion Concert

Another outdoor concert in Atlanta. I feel like I was just here. At least this time I’m not melting from unbearable heat. Local station 96.1 put on a concert with a lineup strong enough to entice me into a quick weekend trip. Unlike last time I headed further into the “Dirty South,” this trip went smoothly. And a couple of unique concert experiences made it all the more worthwhile.