The Black Cat's Changing Colors

My tests are over! BWAHAHAHAHA!

We had a couple of 50+ degree days here in Blacksburg this week, which got my mind out of the winter doldrums and looking ahead to spring. It's coming! Another sure sign of that is Wesley's Spring Tour, which is a scant two weeks away. And one more sure sign of warmer months is that many of my favorite artists are beginning to announce their summer tour dates. Most notably, DMB. It looks like I'll most likely be hitting up the Hershey Park and Charlotte shows in July.

Now, some people would call me insane, addicted, or other terrible things when I say that I've seen these guys in concert about 10 times now. But really, I don't care too much about what they would say. I'm a fan, and every show is a unique experience. On top of that, I see plenty of other concerts to round out my musical horizons. So there. Nyaaaaah.

What these dates really mean to me are not just a great three-hour show put on by my favorite band. They also mean great road trips, visiting friends during the summer, seeing new cities, and lots of fun memories on top of everything else. The show is often just the centerpoint of an even greater weekend. So think about that the next time you have the urge to shake your head at someone who's a deeply committed fan of something. It's the same principle, to me, as going out to Hokie football games or to the ballpark night after summer night. Maybe it just costs a bit more.

Aside from DMB-related news, I'm finally getting to see Guster again. My first Guster experience was when they opened for John Mayer a couple of years ago, and their set's end left me wanting more. Since they've had great success with their Keep It Together album this past year, they've been touring non-stop, and they're finally coming near here. Twice. The second time is in March, here at Tech. The first time will be tomorrow, at a taping for West Virginia Public Radio's Mountain Stage show. Gerritt, Sarah H., and I are heading up to check it out. Guster will be doing three or four songs, then the rest of the night will be filled out by four bluesy/folksy/twangy acts. I'm really looking forward to this; it's a great way to kick off my 2004 concert season and hear some new artists, to boot.

I'm usually game for a good show nearby, so if you find one, let me know. We'll talk shop.