After battling through 30 degree weather and sleet, Swirv and I put on an extra layer and drove down to the Tabernacle on New Years Eve-Eve to see one of our favorite bands perform, Band of Horses baby!
Thank goodness we were early birds and arrived right when the doors opened, because this venue packed out quickly with BOH groupies quicker than you can say.....well....anything actually. The Tabernacle gets my vote for best musical venue in Atlanta, hands down. The interior is filled with quirky art inviting to all walks of life. It's big enough to hold a good crowd for fist pumping, lighter swaying or crowd surfing, whichever is relevant to the show you've bought tickets for, but not so big you can't meet up with friends or get a quick brewskie and walk the 20 feet back to your spot. I suggest everyone sign up to get emails when shows play here. Do it.
We quickly stationed ourselves three rows from the stage, and vowed never to leave until the show was over. This proved to be difficult as I unexpectedly played "bladder burst" after consuming too much water before hand and a 16 oz bud light. Oops.
To kill time before the opening band started, we bonded with the people we were sharing zero personal space with, and met three very entertaining and charming young men. Here's your shout out Gus, James & Bob...if those are in fact your real names. All three rando's were such avid BOH followers they actually came solo, and befriended each other and us by chance. I must admit it made the show even better sharing the experience with people who were above the age of 16, below the age of 50 (aka their drivers) and actually new the lyrics to the songs. Plus it didn't hurt that they were down for some kriss kross jumping when the mood struck us right.
Onto the show....the opening band was.....FANTASTIC. If you've been following my path through Atlanta you now know my crush with soul music, and this satisfied that feeling over and over again. I cannot for the life of me find the band name, so someone educate a sista if you find it! They had the sound of Black Lewis and The Honeybears to give you an idea. SO much fun to groove to.
The urge to go pee-pee for coco puffs subsided as the BOH band members made their cameo on stage while Phil Collins "In the Air Tonight" blasted above us. It was an AWESOME entrance. Kudos to the genius who came up with that one.
I fell in love with the band all over again as they played song after song from their new album, and some oldie favs from back in the day. They were even better live then they are on the track, which kept me engaged even through the songs I had never experienced before.
The night completed with a "We Are the World" cover in honor of Michael Jackson - well done, boys. So, if you haven't noticed it was pretty much the most fun and fulfilling musical night in 2009. Buckhead list worthy for ever and ever until death do us part.
