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Dropping $75 on a babysitter for a night out makes Beth & I strive to make it special. Last night’s plan was to leave the house at 7 and make it to The Bridge (I’m going to continue using this nickname until it catches on.) somewhere around 8:30 with dinner in-between. 

We valeted at Chuy’s, was quoted 45 minutes, and left. We also checked at Tavern which quoted us 60 minutes. I will not valet at Chuy’s again because they have to park the cars all over Midtown, resulting in very slow service. It easily took 10 minutes to get our car back. Next time we will park at Palmer and walk one block. Easy peasy.

After getting the car we knew our options were limited so we pulled a tried and true, college hoodie type restaurant, Jason’s Deli. It’s close. It’s quick. It isn’t bad. We wished it didn’t have to go down like that but we also didn’t want to feel rushed.

We made it to The Bridge to hear the last two songs from  Social Distortion. I enjoyed their rendition of Ring of Fire as we made our way to the floor. I thought our seats (1-2) were near the outside of the section but they were actually dead center in the four row behind a small GA area. Once the show started we moved back one row to an empty swath of six seats which left us room to breathe, jump, & dance.

I figured our second Avett Brothers concert wouldn’t be as special as our first at The Ryman. But it really didn’t feel special at all. I read about their high and consistent energy at the Carbondale show but I couldn’t describe this show in the same way. I noticed a lot of technical problems with instruments that killed the flow. A guitar string broke during Scott’s “Murder in the City” solo. A new guitar was brought out immediately and he picked up exactly where he stopped. I think he was lucky that was the end of the verse.

I loved show even with my observation. Their music makes me smile a mile wide. I think I will hold off a few years before I return so regain the specialness I seek.