Front Lines of 25,000

I've watched a ton of YouTube videos of live performances in my day. It's kinda my thing. Late at night while trying to fall asleep or while on my dual screen at work while working on a spreadsheet (only listening, I still do work!). Most of them are ones that I wasn't alive for. The Beatles, Elvis, Elton John (his younger days I wasn't alive for), and Otis Redding to name a few. I often find myself focusing my attention to the crowd. Taking in their enthusiasm, their excitement, the shear joy that they are obviously filled with my thoughts just run rampant... "Who bought that girl her ticket?" "How long did they wait in line to get that spot?" I have always admired those people who land that front row position. Always wanting to be one of them.

Recently one of my favorite bands came to Atlanta. I knew without a doubt that I was going to go. I asked around to a couple of people if they wanted to come with, but I got a resounding NO. I get it. Not many people want to take a day off work, drive 4 hours to go to a general admission show and drive back that night or take another vacation day, but I wasn't letting that stop me from seeing them. I sucked it up and decided to go solo adventuring in the great city of Atlanta.

The show was on a Tuesday and the Friday before I just decided to ask my good friend Kate if she would consider going. After a quick look through craigslist and a chat with her boss, Kate had a ticket and I had a sidekick!

Kate and I got out of Nashville and with rich quality conversation and a little Starbucks help we were in Atlanta in no time! A quick lunch and walk around downtown we headed to the area of the show. It was 3pm and the gates didn't open until 5:30pm and there were already people lining up!

This is where the story gets good.

Kate and I decided we had better get in line if we wanted to be anywhere near the stage. You see, this was at the Centennial Olympic Park and the tickets had sold out at 25,000! Being front row isn't always a big deal for me, but I have bad vision and sometimes it really is hard for me to see! (i know. i know... it's called an eye doctor Cass...)
With all this Kate had never seen this band and they were one of her favorites as well so we decided we were on a mission! I stayed put in the line we were in while Kate tried to see if there was a better way in. No lie, the girl offered a security guard $20 if he would let us in an unopened gate! There was no way. The place we were was the only option. To spare you an even longer story I'll be brief, there was a lot of line cutting, a security guard with no control, and some very unhappy people who had been waiting in line for a while (that being us)! Kate had had enough... she decided that she was going to cut the people who cut us.

A few texts back and forth and we decided we would keep our phones near and whoever got the closest, the other would find. I honestly have never been so anxious/excited in my life. I'm not that competitive, but man sometimes something takes a hold of me. After gates open people were booking it. I had lost Kate in the crowd. I finally got through and took off running only to be told to stop running by every security guard, but I didn't listen. It was then that I received a text from Kate...

"FRONT RAIL FRONT RAIL! LEFT SIDE!"

Sure enough Kate did it. She landed the most perfect spot. It wasn't until about three songs into the headliner that I realized... I did it. I am on the front row of 25,000 people and I am seeing my most favorite band at this moment.

One checked off the bucket list.

Mumford and Sons
Centennial Olympic Park
Atlanta, GA
September 10, 2013