I Love Tulsa

I've mentioned that, right? I love Tulsa. Granted, I loved it a great deal more before they redid the downtown streets and made it more of a nightmare than it needed to be, but that probably also has a lot to do with the fact that I seem to find a need to turn around more often than the average person. Turning around when you have only one way streets to choose from will make you feel like a mouse in a maze.

None of that is the point. Well, I suppose it partly is. See, I love Tulsa, so pretty much anything that happens there is going to be made better simply because it happens in Tulsa. Likewise, even though my Ticket Luck wasn't quite as strong there, it was good enough to make me happy. ((Many of these pics are going to look awfully familiar, but when you see the same person half a dozen times in one year, your pics are can only have so many variations. I promise to see someone besides Keith Urban, Little Big Town, and Dustin Lynch soon. Like, November 15th soon. :) ))

The day began rather sluggishly. I confess that I was a wee bit grumpy that my brother and his friend were joining us. That's not to say I have anything against my brother, but his friend irks me. I chalk this up to me actually being 82 and set in my ways. They had a show to go to at Cain's Ballroom (one of my all time favorite venues) and my brother's plans had already fallen through in several different ways. Since Mom had lucked into getting a minivan rather than a compact car through the rental place, it wasn't as bad as I was anticipating.

Dustin Lynch and his band

Dustin Lynch playing acoustic guitar

Little Big Town when they first come on stage

Little Big Town seconds before the final bow

So, the show. Mom and I split up, actually. She wanted the ticket at the back of the arena since she knows he likes to play a few songs from a stage right behind the mix board. I chose a seat in a different section. Honestly, I thought the section backed onto the second stage, but no. There was a giant mix board in my way. I was prepared to be disappointed, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that my seat was almost dead center with the stage. Sure, I was a few rows back, but straight ahead was center stage. My row buddies were nice and kept mostly to themselves. No one taller than me in front of me. Aside from a couple of people with signs, my view was pretty good.

Kimberly

Philip

Karen

Jimi

My brother's friend made a comment at dinner that he only sees artists once or twice. That way he can "savor the memory" of that experience. I took a minute to think that over. I am not that kind of person, I decided. I like seeing the growth, the changes. I like hearing new songs from the new album that might never be played again once a new album comes out. I like seeing the set changes, the line up changes, alterations in the set list. I even like to watch the artists themselves and see if their personalities change. For the record, Keith Urban is a lot more relaxed than he used to be. He also doesn't do as many guitar solos - at one point, nearly every song had an extended solo.

Granted, there aren't many changes when it comes to seeing the same tour multiple times in the span of a month. Some artists constantly change their set lists. These people don't. Still, there were some minor changes and some impromptu moments that make every show special. Sometimes it's even the crowd and how energetic they are or aren't. To each their own, I suppose.

The opening, when he just walks on stage

also, the only time he ever plays banjo the entire set

I just like this one. Everyone center stage before they take their corners.

It's slightly (ahem) out of focus, but I'm a sucker for weird lighting.

It's the smoke and the lights and the guitar and the tattoos...

These girls had a Happy Birthday sign and gave him a gift.

It was a cross on a necklace.

He put it on and wore it the entire show.

Then they sang a new song off the new album and knew all the words. It was really cute.

If I had photo editing software, I'd go crazy with some of these.

It's a smile and a pretty background and his face isn't completely obscured by the mic.

I dig it.

I chose this one (out of the twenty or so I have) because he's standing behind them.

How classy is that?

It's his stage and his song but he lets them take the spotlight for a bit.

They each have their own panel on the screen.

Please don't hurt your eyes trying to squint to see the actual people.

Ahhh!

Love lights!

Love that silhouette.

This one makes me smile because it's so candid.

And then Keith and Karen doing "We Were Us"

 

"Little Bit of Everything" backdrop

The final bow at the end of the show.

 

Granted, this one didn't have as many bells and whistles for me as last time. No pics, no contact, no third row seats. Still and all, it was a great show and a fun time and always better than spending Friday night where I'm supposed to - at work.

 

Oh! Mom got fairly close to the back stage. I had set the camera aside while he was back there - couldn't get a shot either way - so I was watching the screen. There she was, plain as day, in the crowd shot. What else? I got a bracelet. Yeah, I've been to show after show, but I still love getting the little paper bracelets when you have floor access. :)

 

Thanks for reliving these moments with me! I hope you hear your favorite song on the radio today.