Does anyone who reads this blog remember the Gear Daddies? They're a Minnesota band who was quite popular in the early 90s. I loved them when I was in college. I still love them - most of their songs have five stars on my itunes (which means they get played often, for those unfamiliar with the ratings).
I saw the Gear Daddies in concert once at SDSU Spring Fling in 1992 and Martin Zellar (former lead singer who's been on his own since the mid-90s) at Skinner's in 1998.
Their songs are fun, kind of folk-country-pop (I have no clue how to accurately describe music genres) and includes references to driving a zamboni and dream vacations in the (Wisconsin) Dells.
About six weeks ago, I found out that the Gear Daddies had a reunion concert planned as part of Music in the Zoo at the Minnesota Zoo. I immediately went online to buy tickets, as I knew Melissa would be up for it.
Unfortunately, most of the other Gear Daddies fans seemed to know that the tickets had gone on sale in May and snapped them up. I couldn't get two seats together! Not to be discouraged, I looked for single seats and was able to find two. I bought them, figuring that Melissa and I are small and could squeeze together since it's bench seating.
Last Friday, we arrived early at the zoo since we could visit the zoo with our concert tickets and not pay additional admission. (I'll try to get some pictures from Melissa.) We spend about two hours walking around before the concert.
We made our way to the concert amphitheater (capacity: 1,400) and tried to figure out which of the two tickets was a better seat. One was Row F, but all the way over on one side. The other was Row E (yes, 5th row), directly in front of the stage. No question, we went for Row E.
Being center stage also means being in the center of the aisle. Together, Melissa and I probably equate to 1.5 average Minnesotans, particularly the 35-45 year old Gear Daddies fans. But these seats were not made for 21st century folk. As I heard one person behind me say, the seats are sized for 1960s adolescents. (Thinner people, if you're not catching my drift).
I think you can see where this is headed. I will spare you the excruciating detail, but it included the following scenario:
- the (large) guy next to Melissa repeatedly asking to see our tickets and me pretending like I couldn't hear
- me spilling my sob-story (i.e., we wanted to see the Gear Daddies so very bad but couldn't get two seats together and how could we not sit together - all true!) to the woman next to me who kindly scooted over a bit to allow more room
- us still packed in like sardines (which in my defense we would have been anyway since even I would take up the tiny space allotted on these benches)
- me spilling same sob story to large guy who was not at all sympathetic
- large guy's larger brother essentially crushing Melissa
- no one behind us standing so we thought it would be rude to stand and avoid the crush (although we eventually did - their cover of Little Red Corvette is irresistible)
- large guy and brother (looked to be in their 50s, but probably 40s) sitting like two large bumps on a log throughout an hour of classic Gear Daddies tunes; who pays $60 for a ticket to awesome rock-out music and then just sits there? Seriously!
- leaving for a bathroom break, knowing there was no way we would get those seats back
- moving to the 'dancing area' for the remainder of the concert; although the view wasn't as good, that was a much better spot for rocking out!
Despite the seating issues, it was still a fantastic concert. I hope they return next year. This time I'll be prepared when ticket sales start!
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