An obvious affinity for Adams

The first cassette tape I ever purchased was a Simpsons soundtrack. I don't remember where I got the money or what on earth could've compelled me to spend it on music from a cartoon I didn't even regularly watch, but I don't suppose things like that really have to add up to a nine year old --plus, some of my fondest memories from childhood involve popping that tape into our household stereo and dancing around. Even now at twenty-four, all that really makes sense in my life is the music I listen to. In fact, now that I think about it, ever since buying that tape music’s the only thing that’s consistently made sense to me, so if Matt Groening has anything to do with the one thing I really know in life then I guess I owe him a thank you or two.

When I was eleven my mom started dating a guy who was really into alternative music, so I ditched the ‘toons and thus began my appreciation for the radio station live105 and artists/bands like Radiohead, No Doubt, Alanis Morissette, Butthole Surfers, the Smashing Pumpkins, Jewel (don't judge me) and the Counting Crows, who were my very first concert and full-fledged obsession.

I remember going home after school and plopping down on my bedroom floor with my bright pink cassette player and listening to Mr. Jones and Rain King over and over and over again. Alexis, my best friend at the time, would often come over to do homework, but instead of reading like we were supposed to I'd regal her with my tales of the Lilith Fair and the BFD while Adam Duritz wailed about depression, monotonous living and failed relationships in the background. Let me take this opportunity to point out that I wouldn’t question why my parents weren’t aware of the kind of lyrics their fifth grader was listening to because all that would lead to is a very unpleasant can of worms, and I’d like to remain in the positive mood I’ve been in lately.

I haven't spent much of my adult life attending shows because, I don't know, paying upwards of eighty dollars to see famous people bounce around on a stage hundreds of feet away for three hours before being herded like cattle out of a too-small parking lot just doesn't hold a lot of clout on my daily list of things to do. But when my friend Julie called last Thursday to tell me that she had tickets to see the Counting Crows at the Sleep Train Pavilion, I was overwhelmed by a feeling of nostalgia for the nineties and I accepted.

When we showed up to the venue I immediately thought, Why the hell are all these scantily clad girls here? I mean, Duritz is awesome but dude is like, in his forties, and last time I checked he was more famous for his vocals than his looks. But then some promoter handed me a stick of new 5 Lush gum and I was lost in a haze of sweet, tropical goodness and forgot about everything else.

I’m not sure how best to segue into my stupidity, so I’ll just go ahead and say I almost shit a brick when Julie handed me my ticket at the gate and I saw Maroon 5 in print next to Counting Crows. Had she told me on the phone that they’d be performing as well? Of course she had. Had I listened? Of course I hadn’t. I tend to do this thing where I hear one part of a story that’s exciting and then don’t really listen to the rest. So standing there at the entryway into what was soon to be considered I-am-only-yards-away-from-Adam-Levine-oh-my-god land, I suddenly understood the reason for what I’m sure was a pre-show pit stop at Forever 21 for hundreds of girls.

The concert had even MORE surprises, including gigantic, free cups of beer and cheeseburgers from a friend who was working the event, a handful of more will call tickets from a dude I didn’t even know that were picked up by three more of my friends, and Augustana, who opened the show. And can I say that the band blew me away? Because they did. Their chemistry is amazing, and Dan Layus has this quality in his voice that makes me feel like I just washed my brain; so clear and refreshing.

The Counting Crows were amazing too, of course. There’s no way I could possibly explain the feeling of seeing the very first band you ever truly loved for the first time since you were twelve, but I will say that Duritz likes to jump around a lot and seeing his ass crack over a dozen times was kind of funny. I know you’re jealous.

Maroon 5 performed last and after merely fifteen seconds of their first song I already couldn’t believe I'd even considered leaving early to get a full night’s sleep. Their stage presence was like a magnet, their performance perfect, and when they slowed down for just a second to cover a bit of Roxanne by the Police, I thought I might've died right then and there.

Levine opened the set by saying, “It’s good to be in California, which in my opinion is the best fucking state in the whole country” --and then I proceeded to fall truly, madly, deeply in love with him. I never told anyone this, but several months ago I had a dream that he and I were married and RIDICULOUSLY IN LOVE. Is that creepy? I mean, I’ve always been a fan of Maroon 5 (there was a period in my life when Songs About Jane could very well have been my personal sound track and the same goes for It Won’t Be Soon Before Long) but I wouldn’t say my love for them ever came close to what I felt for Counting Crows, so when I woke up from being Mrs. Levine I kind of chalked it up to the bologna I had right before bed.

But after seeing him on stage? WHERE DO I SIGN UP FOR MARRIAGE? And Adam, if you’re reading this, you stole the words right out of my head that night: