This is Toby Mac. He’s a Christian pop/rock/hip hop artist who has been singing for thirty-one years. Some of you may remember him from his days with DC Talk.
Toby (and his enormous stage show) were in Manteo last Wednesday night, along with another band called Newsong.
Just to demonstrate how small and interconnected our community is, the organization that brought the bands in is headed up by Matt Meekins. Matt is our BCBS health insurance agent, he teaches the weekly Outer Banks college group that Sarah attends when she is home, and he is also a former druggie/rock guitar player who used to play in a band with the husband of a woman on our worship team.
So pretty interconnected, right?
Steve, Sarah and I had been given tickets to the concert and we had been planning all along to attend, although Sarah and I (the inveterate introverts) were a little ambivalent about going to a big, loud and crowded event; it’s not really on our list of favorite things to do. And yet we both know that doing something out of the introverted ordinary is also important and since we both love great music, it wasn’t too big of a hardship to contemplate.
Well, on the day of the concert, Steve didn’t get home from an overnight trip until about 5:30. p.m. He hadn’t slept well, had a sore throat and was feeling run down. He gave me a hug and went straight to bed.
Sarah and I pondered our options. We hadn’t paid anything for the tickets and we had lost our fun concert escort. Should we just stay home in our happy, quiet house and be happily quiet?
It was indeed a temptation but we finally decided to sally forth on our own.
The concert venue was just about a 5-minute drive from our house but we knew the parking would be limited so we decided instead to park at the church and walk the ten minutes from there.
Just to give you an idea of where we were headed, this is the concert venue. The back of the stage is made of glass doors which can be kept closed when it’s cold outside but opened up on balmier days. It is really cool to see a musical group perform with that beautiful blue water behind them.
Outer Banks Magazine
You can see an aerial video of the site here.
Steve and I even sang there a few years ago. (click to see larger)
This is the bridge leading to Roanoke Island Festival Park where the venue is. And this is my intrepid travel companion.
Since we decided to walk to the event, we opted not to carry lawn chairs but instead rent them for five dollars.
However. When I first saw the chairs, my heart sank. They were less like lawn chairs and more like beach chairs, meaning the part reserved for one’s behiney was twelve measly inches from the ground. Once we got the chairs into position on the lawn, I stood and contemplated mine for a while. With a bit of decreased alacrity due to RA, I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to maneuver myself into position.
I finally just took the plunge. I planted myself in front of the chair and just sort of flopped backward into it, kind of like a trust fall– except done with a chair and not a person.
Sitting success!
I tried not to think about how I was going to get back out when the time came since Steve is usually around to give me a hand in situations like that. I thought that if worse came to worse, I could always send Sarah off to find a sympathetic looking fella who could give me a hand.
At any rate, here we are. Momma/Daughter in our (flung back, low flung) chairs.
One of my favorite things about the event, apart from the good company, balmy weather and Carolina blue skies, was the opportunity to watch people. There are few things I love any better.
As Newsong got started, I glanced around and saw a woman about my age who was standing by herself. She was just dancing her heart out to the song, completely unselfconscious. I pointed her out to Sarah and said how much I admired someone who could do that without thinking twice about it, especially since she wasn’t hanging out with a bunch of dancing friends. I wanted to give her a round of applause for being so comfortable in her own skin.
And then I had to laugh as I thought about a meme I had just seen earlier in the week.
Her dancing must have been infectious, because after seeing her, Sarah and I also turned into dancin’ fools.
Or not.
We were dancing inside our hearts, THAT much is true!
As you can see, our view of the stage was not that great, but I did love taking photos of the lights. They looked like fiery clouds shooting into the sky.
The opening band, Newsong, has been around for over 35 years. Sarah and I especially enjoyed one of their most famous songs, “Arise My Love.’
We have used that song for at least four years in our Easter drama production so we are familiar with every beat and every syllable. Sarah has been part of a dance production to the song several years and she has also run media for our productions where that particular song incorporated a couple dozen different screens she was in charge of timing just right. And of course, I had spent hours finding all those videos and practicing the timing of them all before handing the whole thing over to her for performances.
The song brought back so many memories. We commented and giggled all the way through it, remembering downbeats, and cues, and arrangements that we had worked so hard to master.
About 8:45, the two Introverted, Early-To-Bed gals decided that it had been a fabulous evening but it was time to head home. Thankfully, I was able to semi-gracefully extricate myself from my chair without having to involve any strangers or the Jaws of Life.
Back over the bridge we went . . .
leaving the band, light show, and lawn dancers behind us.
It was a privilege to get to spend the evening with my grown up girl who is also my built-in friend. It was a joy to chat, to laugh, to listen to music and at the end of it all, walk together into the fading twilight of a Southern summer night.
What about you? Are you a concert goer?
What are one or two favorite concerts you’ve attended? And why?
While in Toronto vacationing last summer, I walked from our hotel room alone, leaving my son and husband to relax while I took some photos and grabbed a snack. I wandered into an area where a crowd was gathering, and decided to see what was going on. Turns out I’d wandered into a free Barenaked Ladies concert in the middle of Nathan Phillips Square! It was a great show!
Melissa,
You picked a great time to wander. I love to hear when big acts give free concerts in a public area.
What a beautiful setting on a beautiful night to go to a concert. It’s really too bad that Steve was not feeling well. I have gone to many concerts over my years. they kind of date me I suppose 🙂 Started out with Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius. I have since seen Rex Allen Jr. Johnny Duncan. Statler Brothers, Kenny Rogers, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Don Williams, Oh my, I have seen a lot. I have tickets now to see Oakridge Boys and Keith Urban. I go to concerts with my sister. We have sooo much fun. We too love to people watch and wonder about some of the get ups they wear. Ha ha!
Wendy,
That is QUITE the list!
You are obviously a big country fan with all of those wonderful names. (And even better that you got to do some people watching in the process.)
What a beautiful place for a concert! Large crowds and the loudness are not my thing anymore, lol. Attended two outdoor concerts years ago, The Beach Boys and Donna Summer. Indoor concerts were Alice Cooper, KISS, ZZ Top, T Rex. Very crowded, very loud, and the parking and lines to get in were awful!
It was nice for you and Sarah to have a nice “Girls Night Out”.
Kari,
You have seen some major names in concert. The crowded, loud part of it would have done me in. That’s the nice thing about outdoor concerts; you don’t feel quite as closed in.
And yes, Sarah and I loved our Girls Night Out!
Love the pictures again – what a beautiful night for a concert. I too am not a fan of concerts, especially the contemporary music type concerts. It is waaayy to loud for me. We left our church of 50 years because I ended up in the hallway until the sermon started. I have sensitive hearing and It just didn’t seem right to me that folks wore ear plugs to church. And some did. We are now going to a church (not the same denomination, but gospel preaching) that has a classic service, choir, special music, bell choir, orchestra sometimes and songs that are played on the organ/piano and ones we sing that seem to be lost in the shuffle. They do have 2 other services that are contemporary, with the loud music, and flashing lights. In the service we go to there are many different ages and in the contemporary services, that holds true also. My son and daughter both listened to Toby Mac and probably still do.
Sharyn,
I actually enjoy contemporary music concerts if they aren’t too huge or crowded. But I also love hymns and traditional music.
You are fortunate to attend a church that offers a variety of music and styles!
Glad you had fun! I’m not really a concert goer, been to a few. Went with. Of daughters to see Jimmy Buffet last summer, combined with a few days at the beach, fun time, going with friend next week to see Barry Manilow at the casino. We saw him together in 1979 should be a good time!
Michele,
I didn’t even know Jimmy Buffet was still performing! The beach would be a great place to see him.
Most of the concerts I attend are either in church or convention hall or Dollywood. I have no problem being in a large crowd for that. In college I attended The Letterman concert in the Campbell U gym and also The Platters. That was in the middle 60’s. Dates me! I enjoy gospel concerts. Glad you and Sarah ventured out.
Ann,
How cool that you got to see the Platters!
Yes, it DOES date you, but in a good way! 🙂
What a lovely evening. I hear ya on the low chairs, I would have had to ponder my landing as well. Beautiful venue, it’s great that one can rent chairs. Sarah looks great. I’ve only ever been to one concert. Not a huge fan of crowds or being in a place that I can’t get out of easily. Anyway, it was Celine Dion in Boston about 10 years ago. She was great! I went with my sister and a girlfriend. If I had to choose another concert to attend, it would be Coldplay. I love Chris Martin. He performs with such joy, is a bit out of the box and I like those kind of people lol. Maybe someday…
Lesley,
I had actually never heard of Chris Martin so went to YouTube to take a listen. REALLY like his style!
I’m sure Celine Dion put on a great show. She is a consummate performer.
I love Toby Mac! I have seen For King and Country, Matthew West and other bands on the Roadshow Tour but I would really love to see Toby Mac. Jimmy Buffett is a great concert too – We see him in Vegas every year. What an awesome experience – especially since you could walk to the venue!
JBaj5,
King and Country were actually in Manteo, too, about six months ago. Steve was planning on going but injured his hand and spent the night at Urgent Care instead. I hear they put on an AMAZING show.
And yes, walking to the venue is a lot better than dealing with a thousand cars and a parking lot/deck. Very blessed!
Sounds like a lovely evening! I’m sorry Steve was under the weather and couldn’t join you, but sometimes Mama-daughter time can be pretty special too! And I don’t think you could ask for a prettier setting, it looks like a gorgeous venue!
SueEllen,
Pretty daughter. Pretty setting. Pretty weather.
Doesn’t get much better!
Good for you for getting out there and going to the concert.
I’m not much of a concert goer anymore but I was when I was younger. The last concert I saw was Casting Crowns. A band called Royal Tailor opened for them. They are not together any longer, but one of the members, Taryn Wells has a good solo career going for him. Matthew West was with them. It was a fun concert!
Toby Mac may just be one concert I’d go to. He is a lot of fun and I love his songs. I’d love to see him with Mandisa.
I also like to people watch. Sometimes I’m so busy people watching, I miss some of the event I’m at because I’m so busy watching them =)
Krista,
So much talent out there, isn’t there? I love Casting Crowns’ music; they have a different, soulful sound which is a nice change of pace.
Here’s hoping you can see Toby and Mandisa at some point down the road. A great combo!
I’m not much of a concert goer but I did go to three in Tampa that I enjoyed – the first was Mercy Me at an outdoor amphitheater. Great show and their encore was i Can Only Imagine. The second was indoor – Josh Groban. He puts on a great show and had two stages so while we were quite a ways from the main stage, the other one was pretty close to us. The last concert I saw in Tampa was indoors also – il Divo. That was a great experience as the boss of my friend’s sister paid for a limo ride for us along with dinner before the show. This was right before I left Tampa so was a great going away event. Oh, I guess I did go see Elton John in Springfield with my cousin. We pretty much had nosebleed seats but still a great show. I’d love to see The Tenors but have never found them close enough to me.
Phyllis,
For not being much of a concert goer, you have seen some GREAT shows! And to get to go to one in a limo? Well, it doesn’t get much better than that!
I love concerts, but rarely go due to ticket prices and I hate nosebleed seats! The most fun concert was Jimmy Buffett just showing up at a park – word got around an off I went! No $$ involved!
Lynard Skynard just to hear Sweet Home Alabama (then left), Michael Bolton threw a surprise (week notice) concert and Kenny G showed up, Eddie Rabbit.
Guerrina,
I love that Jimmy Buffett just showed up at a park to play. That is too cool.
Newsong actually did a 1 minute version of Sweet Home Alabama. I MELTED. LOVE that song.
I used to go to lots of concerts when I was young and single. 🙂 Nowadays, not so much. I just don’t enjoy large crowds and concert tickets are just so expensive any more! Back in the day, I went to a Beach Boys concert in Boulder, Colorado. It was in the University’s football stadium and my friend and I had tickets to be on the field. It was so hot but we danced and sang the entire concert! So, so, SO fun! Then about three years ago, I went to a Kenny Chesney/Billy Currington/Zac Brown Band concert in Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium. Lots and LOTS of people but I was with my good friend, her 19-year-old twin daughters and my own adult daughter which made it so fun and do-able. My girl is a take charge kind of gal so I just follow her lead and she looks out for me. Great arrangement!
Your concert venue looks really awesome right next to the water. It is also a size that I could handle! 🙂
LeeAnne,
Yes, getting to follow an adult daughter around is kind of a nice change of pace, isn’t it? It’s nice when the roles are reversed and our daughters start watching out for US instead of the other way around.
A Beach Boys concert would be quite a treat!
Toby Mac and NewSong in that beautiful setting? I would have been a dancing fool, too. But, I do know what you mean about the chairs…the older I get the more I know that, even if I get down, the getting up is NOT going to be pretty.
I love concerts…the music, the lights, the people. The hours long traffic jams getting out of the venues? Not so much. But, it is part of it in St. Louis. What a blessing to have a venue close enough to walk into.
Janet,
I can’t even imagine being in a concert traffic jam that is HOURS long. I guess you would have to love a band a WHOLE, WHOLE lot to endure that.
And yes, we are immensely blessed to have a venue that is small and accessible by walking over a bridge with lovely boats on all sides. Kind of helps to make up a little for hurricane season. 🙂