I was worried. I questioned the quality of a band that was, seemingly, a one-hit wonder 12 years ago. How good could they still be? I went into the concert at WorkPlay Theater last night not expecting too much. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I’ll start by telling you about the opening band. Hightide Blues is a Southern Rock band that’s roots are from Auburn, Alabama but has since moved it’s base of operations to the metropolis of Atlanta, Georgia. On our drive over, I made the mistake of telling Robin (my partner in crime for this particular evening) that if we were late it wouldn’t really matter because opening bands typically “suck balls.”

Again, I was horribly inaccurate. This 4-piece hit the stage with more energy than an atom bomb. Imagine the Black Crowes, with Ray LaMontange on vocals and a little Allman Brothers guitar work thrown in for good measure. It’s unusual to see a band that is so passionate about their music that it shows on stage. I suppose that burns away after playing songs over and over on the road. And as a former professional musician I know this plight. But these guys were different. Either they are GREAT actors or they are having as much fun playing these songs today as they were two years ago. Two stellar track that everyone should check out are “Let it Roll” and “Dreaming Alone.” The latter of which is receiving tons of airplay around this area.

I honestly thought after their stellar performance that The Verve Pipe could only let me down. Their set started off with many, many technical problems. During one such problem they broke long enough to tell us that they were playing with all borrowed gear seeing as how all their gear was lost in Chicago by the airline and had been subsequently flooded with water.

Fortunately the folks at WorkPlay and 100.5 FM were kind enough to go out and get them loaner gear. But a band without their own gear is like a portrait artist without a subject to paint. Gear is crucial to musicians – this is why guitarist name their instruments. So it took a few songs for this Michigan-based band to find it’s groove. But after a slow start these guys didn’t just hit their stride, they exploded with a ferocity of flaming solos over alternate vocal patterns and 3-part harmonies that absolutely blew me away. Singer Brian Vander Ark has incredible range and depth. I have never seen such a stellar concert in such an intimate setting. There was no “rock star bravado” from the band either. They were everyday down to earth guys, who love what they do – and do it as well as ANY professional band I have seen.

After hearing this set I was floored that this band was a one-hit wonder. I have the sneaking suspicion they were screwed by a record label – or as I have dubbed it – Blind Melon syndrome. Their one big hit – the Freshmen – which I most looked forward to hearing, might have been my least favorite song of the set. While no doubt a great song, it is in no way representative of their overall body of work. They rock and rock hard. Great guitar licks, a strong and solid rhythm section, fabulous keys and percussion support with some phenomenal harmony work thrown in made this an UNBELIEVABLE experience.

The two cover songs they did left my knees shaking. It takes a lot of rock balls to cover a Beatles song – and their rendition of Strawberry Fields Forever absolutely floored the audience, At one point towards the end of the song I gazed around the 400 or so people in attendance to see why no one was clapping. It was because everyone was simply drop-jawed. I’ve never heard anything like it. They also covered Supertramp’s “Long Way Home” to close the set – and with the help of their harmonica playing guest (who should be a superstar in his own right) they ended what might be one of the best set’s of music I have ever been party to. Songs to check out include Colorful (which Mark Wahlberg lip-syncs in the film Rockstar), Happiness Is and Villains.

I can’t recommend either of these acts enough; buy their albums, catch them on the road, request them on the radio. In today’s world of homogenized rock these are two unique bands with quality lyrics and unbelieveable musicianship, and passion and love for what they do. But they never forget that they too are just people. They check their rock and roll attitudes at the door – if they even have one. It was a night I won’t long forget. Head out and see them as soon as you can. You won’t regret it.

Despite my fruitless attempts to find a job in this crappy economy (not a good job, mind you – just a job period) things have been going remarkably well lately. My brother pointed out to me that reading my blog really makes me seem like a sad, unhappy person. Well, he didn’t say those exact words. But he pointed out that my ramblings don’t really mesh well with who I am in reality.

I think that’s mainly because I only write when I am down or have something on my mind. So as a New Year’s resolution I have decided to post and blog about many, many things in my life. Good days or bad, sunny or cloudy, for better or worse – I’m going to dive into my blogging a little more seriously. Wait…less seriously. Damn it. You know what I mean.

This is the first of such posts, I suppose. Things are going great for me! I went to a Whole Foods with one of my favorite people in the world last night and all I can say is WOW! That is the coolest store EVER! It made me really hungry. Post our trip into Whole Foods we went and hung out with some of Robin’s friends and had a great time. I had forgotten how awesome it is to get out and meet new people and have new experiences. I spend too much of my time staring at a computer screen. Yet another activity I plan to remedy this coming year.

I was debating going out and watching the UFC fight tonight – but as a boxer I’ll inevitably have a ton of UFC fans and amateurs telling me how boxing sucks and is a dying sport. I get tired of defending my pastime to people. If only I could punch them in the face one time – then they would see…or feel. So tonight might be fight night. And then tomorrow – concert in Birmingham at the Workplay theater. The Verve Pipe! I’m going old school and looking forward to holding up my lighter during Freshmen. So to answer my many critics, am I really that depressed? Nothing could be further from the truth. I keep living and loving and enjoying my time and life. La de dade da -and the beat goes on.

I’ve been dreading today for roughly 31,536,000 seconds. Well, maybe not quite the full 30 years, but at least the last few leading up to today. And here I am – 30 years old. I don’t feel any different, really. But I know something has changed. I’m no longer a foolish teenager and I can’t quite sneak by with the excuse of being a wild and crazy twenty-something anymore. I realize it’s just a number, and just a stamp we put on time – but I just seem to have had the strange realization that I am officially an adult. I can’t categorize myself any other way anymore. And that kind of sucks.

That scares me a little. I’ve never been Mr. Wonderful in terms of responsibility or “acting my age.” I kind of feel like I have to now. It’s as if I was running along and suddenly I realize I’ve been running a long, long time. Today I looked around and everyone’s gone. I just kept right on trucking while everyone moved on with their lives and started acting like adults far before me. Maybe being 30 means I’m going to have to swallow my pride and let my wild and crazy ways go? Nah…I think that would just make life really, really boring.

The truth of the matter is that I want the next 30 years to be as wild, carefree and fun as the last 30 have been. I’m not going to pack up and ditch all responsibility or anything – not just yet anyway. But I think trying to change or “tone” myself down purposefully would be a mistake. I am who I am. I always will be. When it’s time to change, I will. Right now I think I’m just going to keep on living and doing what I’m doing. If I can get half as much joy and passion for life out of each day as I do now – then I will have done something. I always try and remember what Jim Valvano said in a speech at the ESPY’s one year before his death – Everyday spend some time in thought, some time in laughter and some time being moved to tears. That’s a full day. And that’s exactly what I intend to do.

I’m not sure what will happen in the next 30 years, or if I’ll be here that long even, but it doesn’t matter. As long as I continue to be so happy and grateful for the moments I have – the friendships, people, places and love I am surrounded with everyday – time and age are of no real significance. I have been blessed to have lived an amazing 30 years. I feel like being that wild and carefree kid at heart allowed me to have those experiences. I wouldn’t trade or change any of it. I can’t wait to see what the next 30 years are like. Hopefully you are all here to keep reading about them.

It’s like Satchel Paige once said, “Age is simply a case of mind over matter – If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”