We finally made it to the concert on Jan 14th, which was rather lucky, as a snowstorm came in a few days later, canceling their Pennsylvania show. Since this was a bit worse for timing than the original December date, being after work instead of on a Sunday. Of course, this became a day I was up an extra hour early, for no good reason. Ironically, my wife's job shut down that day due to staffing issues, so she didn't have to go in. This actually made things a little easier, since we had a long weekend trip planned before the concert was rescheduled. I was really happy to have gotten my favorite coat back that same day we were to leave, but a cover for my car so luggage and such wouldn't be visible failed to show up as scheduled. (It was due to be in on Friday, but did not arrive in time.)
After I was done at work, I actually made great time getting back home to pick up my wife, got the car loaded, covered the gear with my Flying Pig blanket, and we headed south. We probably should have stopped for diner, but where is the fun in that?
We got a great spot in the parking garage next to the Heritage Bank Center for $20, and about the time the doors were set to open, we headed up. I probably should have had my coat on me for that, since we ended up standing outside in the dropping temperatures for a good 20 minutes, and I did not have my warmest kilt on. Or a jacket. I debated buying a hoodie from one of the merchandise scalpers that were walking around the lines, with handheld card readers for ease. It wound up that the shirts they were selling were not actually inside the area at all, there were no shirts other than the scalpers with both of the headlining bands listed. We actually were a bit disappointed in that.
Finally, as the line sort of moved a few feet, we found out that our floor seat tickets meant we were on the wrong side of the building. This meant a quick trip around the building, and after they checked our Covid status and ID, we were in the warmth of the building. We found the merchandise windows and looked over the gear. The shirts were easily double the price of the outdoor hawkers, at $40 each, and $70 for hoodies. Initially, we got a shirt for Evanescence and headed to our seats. It was a long way down, being on the floor, but it was not too bad.
I headed back up to get snacks, and I found a few different things. More than I could carry, and I knew that Garmin was going to give me my stair climbing goal that day. For the first trip, I got a Lilith Czar hoodie for myself, and two soft pretzels. The second trip up was for two drinks in Tiki cups. They were amusing, but it probably was a bit cold for frozen drinks. Not that I was going to let it stop me from getting a Tiki cup. I got back to our seats, and my wife mentioned a bag she saw someone else have from the vendors to hold stuff. Once more onto the breach, this time I ended up buying an overpriced Halestorm tote bag. (I would discover later that the hoodie has the ♀ sign on the hood. I wouldn't have bought it had I seen that. Wearing that with a kilt could send some mixed messages.)
Eventually, the show began, the opener being Lilith Czar. She did a few songs, and I had heard a bit of her stuff on Spotify before the original tour date was postponed. She did a few songs, then Halestorm got set up. We were more familiar with their music, We stood up for most of their songs, and noticed our feet were getting cold. Really cold. Once we were standing, and not in the temporary seating that they put on the floor, was realized that ice for the hockey rink was still on the floor, under the wooden floor they placed for the concert. And that ice was a lot colder when standing.
There was a short intermission that followed, as they rebuilt the stage, transforming it between the two headliners. It was rather impressive, and soon the show continued.
I wouldn't be able to say what my favorite part of the show was, they weren't my favorite artist per se, but I enjoyed the music. It was interesting the times the other headliner would come out and have both of them singing together, It was also interesting when the artist encouraged people to use the lights on their phones like previous generations used lighters. Thousands of cell phone flashlights lit the area surprisingly well.
Once it was over, we began what felt like a long drive to the hotel we had booked in Indiana. It was about the same drive time from the concert to the hotel as it would have been to go home, but I hate to say, we really wished we had more to eat than a soft pretzel.
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