My Musical Interests

In October, 1999, I went to Akron, OH to see Melissa in concert. It was an awesome show. We were in the 20th row and just to the right of center stage. We were gonna take a camera inside but I had this gut feeling that we should leave it in the car. Ends up we were sitting right in front of the soundboard and we woulda been caught for sure if we'd have taken any pictures. However, we did get an awesome picture of the marquis outside the theater where the show was held. And as an added bonus, we got the play list from the guy running the soundboard. We later met a couple of ladies at an Indigo Girls concert who had the same idea we had...and had actually see us get the play list that they wanted. Small world, huh?

The Indigo Girls

I got to see my girls twice in 1999: once at the Lillith Fair in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the second time about six weeks later in Fairfax, VA at the Patriot Center. It was the first time I actually got to see my girls in concert and my wife said I was grinning from ear to ear when they first came onstage. She took a picture of the back of my head and them on stage for "proof" that I was there. We were way out on the lawn at the Lillith Fair but we had really good seats at the Patriot Center. Someday, we'll have front row seats....

In April, 2000, we went to see them during their acoustic tour at IUP in Indiana, PA. A small venue where we were in the seventh row. A very awesome show it was, but still not that front row...

In August, 2000, we saw them yet again at the IC Light Amphitheater in Pittsburgh. The tickets we originally had were in the back half of the amphitheater. We got there early and parked and this car pulled in right beside us. The lady driving asked if we needed tickets and we said no, but out of curiousity asked her where they were. Ninth row!! We asked her how much she wanted for them and she said $15 each-- less than we'd paid for our tickets! So we bought them. Kept the other ones-- and it was a good thing too. After the show, we hung out by the tour bus and when they came out, they signed autographs. We had them autograph both of our unused tickets as well as the CD cover for Swamp Ophelia. They autographed the lyrics for "Power of Two" which was the song we played at our wedding. It was truly awesome.

They just announced some new concert dates for the summer of 2001, so we're hoping to get some tickets to go see them this year again.

Update: March, 2004, we finally got front row seats for the "All That We Let In" tour. It was an awesome show-- the Girls had the whole band there this time. I think it was the first show after Radio City Music Hall in NYC. I hope they come back again this summer...

Images © Joe Hamilton

Catie Curtis

I have yet to see Catie Curtis in concert, but I have three CD's, which I believe are all of her releases on a major lable. She has a beautiful voice and her lyrics are wonderful.

Amy Ray

On April 10, 2001, we went to Columbus, OH to Little Brothers, a bar with a stage, to see Amy Ray and the Butchies. The concert was to promote Amy's solo CD that she put out on her own label. (All proceeds from the sale of "Stag" go to fund other projects for the indie lable.) The place was small enough that no matter where you sat, you had a great view. Because there were no assigned seats (everyone had to stand), my wife was able to walk up front and get some awesome pictures right at the stage. After the show, we hung around a bit and once the majority of people left, Amy came back out on stage to start packing up her own gear. You could tell she was very tired and hot, but she took time out to sign a LOT of autographs. She even gave one girl a sort of "private lesson"-- the girl had asked about the chords for a song and Amy went over, got her own guitar and showed the girl the fingering for the chords. (If you happen to be that girl, email me! We have a GREAT picture of that moment you might like to have.) I got to actually talk to her and shake her hand and thank her for her wonderful music. My wife captured the moment on film and you can see it below.