To Mars and back...

Nicole: Alright, I'm failing a little bit here on keeping up with the posts.  Let's see if I can get back on track for your reading enjoyment!

We went to see Bruno Mars!  In the previous post Justin mentioned going to see some KSmith for his birthday/anniversary gift. And he surprised me with tickets to see Bruno!  It was fantastic and really great performing from all three bands.

The show was at the Aragon Ballroom here in Chicago, which neither of us had been to so we didn't really know what to expect.  I had read some reviews on the place and wasn't expecting much because people kept talking about the awful sound quality, the lack of seating, and how there was only one bathroom aaaaaaaall the way on the first floor.

I had a half day the day of the concert due to the holiday weekend and Justin left work early so we could head uptown and try to get in line early.  So we get there and we see this short little line full of fans and we think "Yes!"  We're towards the front this will be awesome.  While we are in line, I ask around just to make sure we are in the right line and everyone seems to agree even though no one really knows for sure.  Then a girl comes up to her friends and explains how she asked the bouncer guy and the real line is actually on the other side of the building!  So we get out of that line and hightail it to the other side before everyone else from the wrong line gets there.  We walk around the corner and the line is like 57497529 times longer than the first one we were in!  We make the long trek to the back of the line and start waiting and making friends as we have about 2 hours till the show starts.  Even though the line was sooo much longer, we actually lucked out because as the minutes passed the line grew and grew to a crazy extent.

 We finally make it inside and head to the merchandise area because we both know we want to get something and while we are deciding on what the get and heading to the bathroom (which really wasn't that bad) the place fills up fast!  We walk out onto the main floor and its already getting crowded.  Even though, we knew there weren't many seats in the balcony area, we decided to take a chance and check it out.  So we head up there and all the seats are taken, maybe we can just stand behind the chairs?  It was a pretty good view.  So we are walking around trying to get the best view standing up and not be in people's way when, in the corner of the area we are in, we spot three empty seats and a girl hovering over them with her Eagle Eye.  We brave the Eye ask if they are taken and only one of them is, we're in luck!  We managed to get really decent seats close to the balcony front and stage and we get to sit for the concert! They also had large screens just in case you couldn't see from far away, but we really lucked out and didn't need them.

The opening acts were both amazing.  They were Janelle Monae and Mayer Hawthorne  Two very different styles but very good.  We actually bought the Mayer Hawthorne album and they have a fun contemporary jazz vibe.

While the reviews were right about the acoustics, everything was waaaaay to loud and you couldn't make out a lot of the words being sung, the whole experience was a great time.  The crowd was singing along with Bruno and you could tell he really loves performing.  He was having as much fun as the audience was.  It was great to hear his songs live and an overall great experience.

I would definitely go see Bruno Mars live again if I had the opportunity.  As for the Aragon, unless it was someone really really amazing, I think I'd have to pass, just because of the awful acoustics, or maybe just bring some earplugs ;o)

Thank you Love for the great gift!  I absolutely loved it  :o)