Looking Forward to Summer Concerts

Seeing how I live in Buffalo, New York and the weather is only warm and sunny for a few months out of the year it makes it tough to have outdoor concerts. We get a few arena shows over the winter months but I am not a big fan of the acoustics of First Niagara Center. I have seen many incredible acts there and must say it the arena does not do them justice. We all look forward to summer shows 8 hour tailgate parties and ice cold beers. Here in Western New York the summer concert series is kicked off with TASTE OF COUNTRY at our minor league ball park and is hosted by WYRK 106.5fm a great station and usually a rowdy show. Everyone lets out there pent up party energy and some get a bit out of hand. I will say I have had to leave the show early a couple times myself. I have been known to face plant and take amazingly funny pictures at this show. Over the past few years the ticket prices have gone through the roof and it is getting very tough to justify spending the money to see the show. I would rather spend the $65 plus fees to see someone like Keith Urban instead of the usual suspects. I have fun when I go but not enough lately to make the trip downtown. This years line up is Tyler Farr, Montgomery Gentry, and Jake Owen. I decided to pass on this line up and instead spend the money to see Dierks Bentley in Canandaigua, NY its a longer drive but a better line up, it also helps when I can score front row and not have to stand for 5 hours. Last summer the taste line up was a mix of country and 90's pop stars. I went because I was given free tickets and really wanted to Rodney Atkins for the 15th time(he is a personal Favorite of mine. Tee headliners were Sheryl Crow and Darius Rucker wow what a show if this had been 1996. The atmosphere is more like a bar on the field than a big show which makes it fun and enjoyable but until the prices drop or the acts justify the price I will be staying away. Darien Lake Performing Arts Center is the main venue for summer shows around here. It is a great place to have fun and see concerts but a terrible place to park and leave from. PAC has gotten so bad after the shows that we have had people drowned and hit by cars and killed. Unless you have purchased the VIP parking be prepared to leave before the encore or wait up to 4 hours to get out of the lot. I have so many great memories of this place it will always hold a special place in my life. I have been on stage for the opening of a Toby Keith show looking out in the crowd of 30,000 people was amazing. I have been able to meet Alan Jackson, Eric Church, Sean Patrick McGraw,and Toby here over the years. The line up this summer is much better than usual we are getting our yearly show from Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean is making his 3rd straight summer show stop and also added to the list this summer are Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, and Miranda Lambert. Every year they offer a Mega Ticket and every year I saw I am going to buy it but never do. I am normally trying to score tickets with pre sale codes and using 3 different devices. I have normally been lucky with seats this year however besides Brad I am in the back sections, not happy about it but it will have to do. I have heard disturbing news about the Luke Bryan show it is being said that Stub Hub had bought all the non mega ticket tickets and there was never a on sale date announced. This seems to be a trend lately with PAC and some how all the pit and 100 section tickets are gone even before presales. The trend is upsetting knowing that if I want my daughter to experience the thrill of front row I will have to shell out $1000's. I know money drives the industry but at whose expense the fans like always. First it was high fees that seem to grow every year then it was 1 presale which has turned into 5-6 for each show. Can't we go back to first come first serve it was such a better life back then. Rant is over! I am looking forward to spending the many hours playing Kan Jam Beer Pong and Flip Cup in a grassy parking lot surrounded by country music fans. July 4th weekend brings us our local multi day country music festival Jam in the Valley. It is a great weekend capped of with the largest fireworks display I have ever seen. The 2 day fest has turned in to 3 and the camping situation is party haven. The camp sites are varied and go from family friendly to straight up Frat houses on wheels. Every year the line up seems to switch between traditional country and popish country, this year we get all in one weekend. Thursday night is Chris Janson and Dustin Lynch. Thursday is generally set up camp site day and the show is usually filled with campers and a few 3 day pass holders. Friday has the best line up I have seen in a long time. It kicks off with LoCash Cowboys, if you have not seen these 2 guys you are missing out on a great night they are up beat funny guys who go out of their way to please the fans. The headliner this year is non other than Hank Williams Jr. I am lucky enough to have won Backstage passes for the weekend so I get to spend my 4th of July with these men. What is more American than Independance Day and Hank Jr. Saturday is normally the most crowded of the days because it is the fireworks show night. I am seeing a younger crowd headed out this year with Danielle Bradbery, Colt Ford, and Brantley Gilbert all taking the stage. I am pumped about meeting Colt Ford I have always liked his music and his ability to collaborate with amazing artists. This will be a great 3 days of music food friends and drinks. The situation i am facing this year and I am sure others are as well is the fact that after 3 days of partying and music I have to drive 90 minutes home on Sunday to pick up my daughter drop off my camping gear and then drive the hour to Darien Lake to see Brad Paisley on Sunday the 6th should be a great show to end a hectic weekend. For the first time I am going to be making my way out to Canandaigua, NY and CMAC. There are generally good shows out there but I either never have a concert buddy or I am out of town for them. This year I made it a point to be home for them and to have a road tripper with me. My daughter insisted that we go see Tim McGraw because she wanted to see Cassadee Pope again. Tim will be there on May 30th a great way to start my summer series. I will then be back out there for Dierks Bentley on June 20th. I have not seen Dierks in a few years so I am excited about this show. I am still looking for someone to go with but I am sure I will find someone. I am going to be spending the night out there because on the 21st Willie Nelson and Allison Krauss will be there. I am going to see them twice this year. My last show of the summer will also be at CMAC Lady A with guests Billy Currington, and Joe Nichols. All in all it will be a great summer stayed tuned for reviews updates and pictures. Also follow me on Twitter @scottbutts80 for my latest news. I know I will be adding shows in to my already busy summer but why not when it will be snowing again in October. I am going to try and hit up shows in Pennsylvania and Ohio this year and hopefully I can catch a show when I am in Disney with the family in Sept and Oct. If you have any shows I should see or any ideas of where to see them let me know I am always looking for new places and acts.

WYRK Fall Acoustic Show review

   

      This is the first time I have ever gone to any of the WYRK acoustic shows.  Normally the line up does not make me want to spend the money that I could save for a big time summer show.  However this line was a must see for me, Craig Morgan, Parmalee, and Cassadee Pope.  My daughter also really wanted to see  Cassadee Pope so I figured what a great show for her first true country concert.

       It was an intimate atmosphere very laid back and easy going. The show was at UB Center for the Arts.  It is a great venue for this type of show large capacity and comfortable seats.   All the artists took the stage at the same time.  I had a very good view of the show, we sat 3rd row to the left side of the stage.  Cassadee was right in front of us.  I am not going to lie I was not very familiar with Parmalee before the show.  That was a major my bad,  I am officially a big fan now.  Craig Morgan was sitting in the middle of the stage front and center.  He started out joking about the snow storm we had the previous day and how the owner of his label also owns the Sabres.  The Sabres for those you do not know is the NHL team here in Buffalo.

    He then made a joke about how is wife didn't like the song he was about to play until it became a #1.  The song of course was International Harvester.  You would not have known it was an acoustic show if you were to just hear it.  Craig brought his  mix of traditional style country and modern.  There were many times when the other artists on stage could be seen singing along with Craig.  There was definitely a shared respect of each other on stage.

      Cassadee Pope followed Craig in the rotation,  she did make a point to show her slight intimidation about that.  She had nothing to fear she blew the crowd away.  It was kind of nice to be able to just hear her sing since not many people knew her songs besides "Wasting All These Tears".  She would go on runs that brought the crowd to their feet.  It was incredible to see the reaction when she belted out her songs.  I feel she stole the show away from Craig and Parmalee.  She made one new huge fan in my daughter which is tough to do because she is not the biggest of country music fans,  a trend I am really trying to break.  However she liked Cassadee so much all she wants for her birthday is tickets to see Tim Mcgraw because Cassadee will be there.  I really need to meet Cassadee and thank her for converting a former Bieber lover to a country fan.

       Parmelee was last in the rotation and when they started the crowd was instantly divided between the young and old.  The younger people in the crowd went crazy when it was Parmelee's turn.  However by the time the full set was done the entire crowd was on board with them.  One of my favorite moments of the entire show was their cover of Miley Cyrus " Wrecking Ball".  I almost fell out of my seat with that song it was not only funny but hit home with my nights at the bar.  I could not help but show all my co-workers the following day.

       After the show they had a meet and greet with every single artist.  I asked my daughter if she wanted to meet any of them of course she said yes and chose Cassadee.  We walked over to get in her line and not only was it the longest line actually stretching out the door to the frigid cold but it was also cut off.  I guess thats what you get for great seats.  Overall this was a good show to be at.  It was a nice change from the normal summer shows.  I loved the intimate setting and calmer atmosphere.  The show was all about the artists and their songs and not the theatrics that normally go along with shows.  I will be at every acoustic show from here on out.  WYRK did not disappoint they continue to promote country music and newer artists.