Sunday, October 28, 2012

Music, Music, Music

With new responsibilities at work and a heavy focus on studying new technology at home, I am finding that "down time" is extremely valuable. While I try to take an hour a day to relax, I find the occasional free night or day to be very refreshing more so than usual.

This past week was a great example of my new balanced routine. I have been super-busy with multiple projects at work, but I have definitely been able to relax in ways that turned out to be better than expected. Tuesday night I ventured to Frankie's Inner-City in downtown Toledo to see Sea Wolf with Colleen. An early 8:00pm entry did not keep Sea Wolf from playing late, however: three opening acts preceded their 12:30am start time. I did not stay for the whole show since I did have work in the morning. I am getting old.

Wednesday was a perfect balance of work and play. After a very productive day at work, I ventured out for some Lola's with Kristin and her nieces. The trip was quick but fun, and I spent the rest of the night studying for my MCTS Certification Exam.

Thursday was the biggest surprise of the week. I planned to see Sponge (the band) at Hollywood Casino for a free 9:00pm show. While I am not a huge Sponge fan, but I wanted to check them out to see how they sounded live. I ended up going with Laura, who herself wanted to enjoy a night out. About an hour of slots turned into drinks which turned into one of the best concerts of 2012. Sponge was surprisingly energetic, their songs a mix of great rock, alternative grunge, and classic rock covers. A great hour-plus show put on display some of their best songs, from "Plowed" to "Molly (16 Candles Down the Drain)" to "Party Till We Drop." The great show made the whole night a rare feat of unexpected fun. I will definitely see Sponge again.

This coming week sees at least one amazing concert: Thursday night, Candlebox will be at the Hollywood Casino in Toledo (another free 9:00pm show). Candlebox can still fill up a stadium-style venue, so I am expecting the whole night to be spent at the casino for dinner, drinks, slots, and a lot of anticipation for one of my favorite bands. "Far Behind" is among my favorite songs, and their 2012 album "Love Stories and Other Musings" is one of my latest favorites. This show also kicks off a three-day weekend as well. Oh, sweet success.

B3 out.

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