TRAVELS: Day Three_Drinks, Pool, PF Chang’s, DMB @ MGM
Jess, Fallon and I spent the afternoon getting some sun. No sun burn for this kid. Thank you Evian Brumisateur and Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 45.
Some quality time in the pool meant raisin’ed fingers and toes. We grabbed dinner and cocktails at PF Chang’s, where I realized Beef Short Ribs have a special place in my stomach. Then it was off to the Dave Matthews Band show at the MGM Grand Arena. Jason Mraz opened the show. He did like is customary at St. Joe’s Church in Camillus…say hello to your neighbor with a high five, hug, smack on the ass, before the show begins. It made the arena feel like a glorified living room concert with friends. Well played Mr. Mraz, well played.
Then it was time for Dave and the boys to hit the stage. Before they came out on stage the front of the stage was covered and backlit in a, dare I say, shroud…maybe you’d call it a curtain. The band walked up stage left and you could see the silhouette of the band, the drums, the amps, and Dave walking around with his arms up like he was a monster stomping around. It was kinda funny. And then “Boom Bam”, the curtain got sucked up in the air (I love how everything in Vegas is done with dramatic effect in mind).
At first I was a little bummed that there weren’t projections to enlarge the band from the stage. Now, granted our seats were good/great, but it’s always nice to see the band larger than life. The grates that acted as the stage’s backdrop had white/yellow lights shining through and made for a cool effect. After three songs the grates turned into jumbo screens. The camera guys did a god job of capturing all 7 band members on stage. And the still images that acted as a background in between the video feeds was a nice touch (flowers, rain drops, etc). Not sure what I mean? Look below and go see the band live this Summer. The band kept the old songs fresh, and the new songs exciting. I especially like the new tune, “Spaceman.” As Dave said, “It’s about a spaceman, *pause* only not really.”
After the show it didn’t make much sense to go to sleep as my flight left at 6:40 a.m. Did some wandering down Las Vegas Blvd., and some “see ya soon” time with the Fallon. As my taxi left the hotel the sun started to come up over the horizon (it sets over the Spring Mountains to the West), I could see The Strip and thought how the time spent in Vegas was just long enough. The time with my company, not so much.
photo via
