Reneging on a Promise
Remember how I said that my son Declan’s first major concert would be at Red Rocks, no matter what? Um. I think you all are gonna cry foul on this one.
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Because we are taking him to the Mile High Music Festival this weekend.
Yes, Yes, I KNOW! Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – while very nice – is certainly NOT RED ROCKS.
But here’s the thing. John Mayer is playing the Mile High Music Festival.
And Declan’s history with John Mayer goes back a long way.
Exhibit A: When I was trying to be, um, “caught” with Declan, Room For Squares had just been released. And while we were incredibly lucky to be, errm, “caught” in just 4 months, there was a lot of “Your Body is a Wonderland” going on in the background. To this day, Bryan still thinks that album is one of the most boom-chicka-wow-wow collections of music there ever was. Besides Barry White, of course.
Exhibit B: I was 2 months pregnant when John Mayer toured Colorado the first time. I sat way way way in the back, nervously protecting my newly pregnant belly from the noise. But I like to think Declan became a John Mayer fan from the womb. The date was 4/13/02, which will become more important below.
[photopress:JohnMayerShirt.jpg,full,pp_image]Exhibit C: Declan decided to come 2 months early, due to a placental abruption. After a shocking mad dash to the hospital, a day wondering “is this was it?,” a final startling rush to the finish line, and 1 minute delivery via emergency c-section, Declan was born on Friday the 13th, 5 months to the day after John played the Fillmore. All the while, the hospital staff was too frantic to cut the John Mayer t-shirt off that I happened to be wearing that day. The one that featured the photo of John Mayer as a little boy, no less. (Don’t worry, that shirt is now in Declan’s memory box. After a proper cleaning, of course).
Exhibit D: Declan did really well for a 32 week preemie, but had to stay in the hospital for 6 weeks. I was released after 4 days. As I got in the car, weeping to be leaving my infant son back in the NICU, I heard the new John Mayer single on the radio for the first time.
Exhibit E: Flash forward to now. Happy, healthy 5 year old Declan loves all kinds of music. But there are about 5 songs he has COMPLETELY latched on to. One of them? “Waiting on the World to Change.”
Not a big surprise, I guess.
But when I had the opportunity to take the kid to see Mr. Mayer in a fun outdoor festival atmosphere, I couldn’t pass it up.
Even if it means his first real concert *won’t* be at Red Rocks.
Have you taken your children to their first concert yet? Who was performing and where?
I took my oldest to her first concert when she was 14. It was at the Ogden, and it was Mindless Self Indulgence. (Punk bank)
It was a KICK Booty concert and we had a blast!
what a great story! We should send that to John himself!
I don’t have kids, but my first concert was Christopher Cross (I KNOW!), and I totally remember my parents taking me there. It was a blast.
Aw, I love the JM connection story!
Oh and not to be a stickler, but JM was touring Colorado in fall of 01′ and came back to play the Aggie as well before he ever did the Fillmore.
You’ve completely ruined it for me.
That is too many coincidences to let pass. Ok, not red rocks, but very important indeed.
Have fun.
I along with my girlfriend took our kids (ages 5, 8 and 14) to the Lilth Fair with Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant, Joan Osborn, etc. We had a ball and now they are 15, 18 and 22 and still love music and concerts. Have fun this weekend….we thought about going but prior commitments and other issues are keeping us from this one.
Our son’s first concert was to see Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (not quite the same since my husband/his dad is in the band) but still quite exciting for him. I remember my first concert…..Journey…seated on the floor and totally loving Steve Perry (cause he WAS singing right to me). LOL
does the wiggles count as a concert? I love the meaning this concert will have for him. Really cool actually. And it’s great that going to Red Rocks is even something that could be a regular thing for him……that would be a major trip for east coasters like us!
My previous post on this discounted the Wiggles as a “Child Event.” I know! I’m stretching it!
Emerson’s first concert was Lucinda Williams, at an outdoor park near Pittsburgh when she was 16 months old
Hawkins hasn’t seen any big names yet, but goes to alot of things in the park here… but in August we’ll all be heading to the Folks Festival in Lyons, and I am furiously pumping Dar Williams into their brains, and Emerson is learning all the words
Color me jealous! I would love to see John Mayer in concert some day. My boys haven’t been to a concert and it will likely be a long time before they do. It’s hard to catch a good act in Oklahoma.
I took my 4 year old to see Ben Harper in Vail, this past April. It was fitting for her to see him, as she has many similar and odd universe paralleling moments with Ben (like Declan/John)… Her first show in my tummy, was Ben @ RedRocks in 03, I was 9 months preg-o and went back to back nights!
I love that story! Thanks for sharing it!
Aimee-
You HAVE to send that article to John Mayer. Very cool. I am all about fate! My daughter was born on 1-23-04 and Jake was born on 06-21 (I’m 02-16) etc. Thanks for sharing! Carrie
I took my daughter to see the Imagination Movers but I don’t think that counts. I have a feeling that we’ll be seeing The Cheetah Girls or Hannah Montana before anything cool. Anyone want to take her? I’m not crazy about joining the Cheetah Express.
I’m so glad we’ll all be together for that day! It should be a blast!
My son’s first concert was the Vans Warped Tour in 05. I was just week’s pregnant!!!!
At six months prego – He went to POD, Stained at the Filmore – He rocked out – kicking the whole time.
When I was almost due I got free tickets to go see System of the Down (not my fav by any means but my husbands) – Baby wasn’t to into it.
This weekend my baby is going to Cheyenne Frontier Days with his Auntie and is going to see Rascal Flatts and his favorite Taylor Swift!!!! He is two!!!!
I took Phoenix to see Gavin Degraw when he was 6 @ the Fox Theatre where we live. He still LOVES Gavin and we can’t wait to take him to other shows too now that he is 9!
I’m happy you get to see John Mayer with Declan.
I took Keira to see Francis Dunnery at an outdoor arena when she was two months old. I sat way in the back too. We own John Meyer music – I’ve never bonded. I think I’ll have to give him another listen!
I took Keira to a Francis Dunnery concert at an outdoor arena when she was two months old. I sat way in the back too! We own John Meyer music – I’ve never bonded though. I may have to give him another listen.
I did love him in Because of Winn Dixie! (Wasn’t that him?)
We do classical music at the Aspen Music festival. You can take a picnic and munch while listening to classical music, very soothing. I would love to take in a John Meyer concert though!
How fun!!! Wish we were there! Ridge’s first show in utero was an old school reggae favorite of mine Burning Spear and when I stopped dancing was the first time I felt him kick, it was as if he didin’t want me to stop. Very cool! He has since seen many including Michael Franti and Spearhead(3x), Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Sam Bush, GLove(2x), Ozomotli, numerous local street fests and celebrations in and around Baltimore/Annapolis and WashingtonDC and even just got back from his second All Good Music Campout Festival. He’s a very good lil man dancer!!!
I’m soooo looking forward to taking my little girl to her first concerts. Well, her first concerts OUT of the womb. Since I’ve been pregnant, she’s been with me to six concerts, with another four scheduled before her arrival in October.
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