The city of Vancouver is as quiet as the taxi driver, and groggy half open eyes take in the quaint shops along Granville one last time before I arrive at the departure gates. Next stop LAX, a bit of breaky and a bloody, then a final flight back home to see concert number two, The Shins.
I head straight up to the Red Butte Gardens venue to get a good place in line. Over the years, this tradition of tailgating before the show opens has become an art to perfect. I pre-plan and get set up in prime position.
Back in the SLC in mid-afternoon the temperature is near perfect, close to seventy degrees. I realize that I didn’t remember blankets or a jacket, but think that weather will not require these items. How wrong I was…
but I’m getting ahead of myself. Once the gates open, I set up in my usual locale, and gaze upon Red Butte like a long lost lover, glad to be reunited after a cold winter.
The first band up was Blind Pilot, a group I’ve never heard of before. Not too shabby.
As the sun started to set, the next group came onto the stage, the Head and the Heart, which was probably my favourite act of the evening.
As stars filled the night sky, The Shins took the stage. Ever since the movie Garden State came out, I’ve been a big fan of their music. Unfortunately this evening, Utah’s evening winds came roaring out of the canyon freezing all music lovers, including the band. Having no warm blankets to wrap myself in, I braved half the show until I succumbed to the cold, and headed home.
