Big Town

So I went to see Little Big Town last night with my brother at Joe's on Weed St. We got there pretty early, around 7, after a cold walk, a short L ride, and a longer, colder walk to the bar. We found the band room floor pretty sparse, so grabbed a beer and headed to the main bar and relaxed for a bit, throwing in a few app orders to get some food in us. It took a while for the food to come, so we plowed through a pitcher of green coors light, which we didn't get charged for, and when the food finally came, we wasted little to no time. Seriously we went through chicken tenders, fries, and a quesadilla in less than five minutes. The band room was filling up, We had to get over there.

The opening band started around 845. The room got crowded, not quite shoulder to shoulder yet, but definitely an effort to get anywhere productive. We nestled in a spot near a beer vendor and the only bathroom and watched a bunch of guys play songs we didn't know and could barely hear above the disproportionate sound levels.

About halfway through the set, in talks of obstructed views, challenging heights, and unfortunate standing locations, my brother and I struck up conversation with two sisters standing in front of us. These two were our company the rest of the night.

Meeting them made the rest of the wait go by rather quickly, so before we knew it, Little Big Town was taking the stage. They came out to a raucous crowd that loved and sang every word, living up to everything I thought it might be. For my brother and I, this experience was a new one. Usually people are piling in and in to the middle of the floor, being almost mindlessly attracted to the central mosh pit. In general, the concert goers are sweaty. The music is so loud you can't carry on a conversation with yourself, nevertheless someone next to you. The lights are low on the stage, and the band is high energy. Lots of running. Lots of screaming. An ensuing total body soreness.

This show wasn't quite the same. But I sit here to tell you that while it was different, there was nothing lost as far as a concert experience goes. LBT owned the crowd from first sight, and the packed band room responded. I would have to imagine that Chicago holds its own as far as places to perform. So while they sifted through The Boondocks, The Chain, and Life in a Northern town, they brought a show that was as memorable as anything I've ever seen, and I am so glad that I decided to go country.