I'm a Little Bit Country...

If you told me 5 years ago that I would one day be jamming out at a Country concert, I would have said you were smoking something wicked. Not only did the country music fail to make the cut on any of my playlists, but I flat out refused to listen to such nonsense. Come on...who can take a genre with songs such as "She Thinks my Tractor's Sexy" seriously? I certainly couldn't. And the Dixie Chicks -- ugh! Just hearing their twangy voices made my skin c-r-a-w-l. Noo, Thank you!

Around this time my best friend Elizabeth (and the biggest country fan you can IMAGINE!) got a gig on FM 106.1 and she tried talking me into giving the music a chance. I just couldn't. She offered to let me take some CD's home and I usually just brushed her off. I then met Jim and lo and behold, he was a mediocre fan of this crap. I told him right off the bat that I was more of a pop, top 40's kind of gal. You know, I preferred music I could shake my booty to until the wee hours of the morning.

The summer of 2004 Phil Vassar was playing at Summerfest. Elizabeth, Aaron and Jim were big fans of this dude and I agreed to tag along. Elizabeth swore I would love this guy. I wasn't convinced. However half way through the night, I found myself being entertained and slightly jamming out to the music. As I looked around and saw a million of country freaks singing along to every word and having a blast, I felt jealous. "Dang it!", I thought, "Why didn't I listen to Elizabeth's CD's before I came?" And the kicker? - When Phil and his gang busted out "Baby Got Back" and "Shook me All Night Long", I was immediately hooked.

Well, here we are 4 years later and I've yet to miss a Phil Vassar concert at SF. Jim and I go every stinkin' year and let me tell you...I'm now one of those crazy country freaks who sings along to every word and boogies down on the picnic table.




Jim and Elizabeth have successfully converted me to the other side. And although my conversion was quite easy, my boyfriend here closed the deal:



Hello, sexy Keith Urban. I love you. You're welcome to make memories of us any day.

Oh, um, sorry.

Anyway, this past summer Jim and I attended the Gary Allan concert at State Fair. I knew little about this guy but yet again, after hearing the live music, I was an instant fan. And Jim..? Well, let's just say that Jim has a minor man crush on Gary.

Country fest 2008 (yee-HAW!!) was Saturday night at the Bradley Center and Jim's whole family was on board to see Gary Allan and Montgomery Gentry. Let me tell you...it rocked! It rocked my socks off! I'm so embarassed to admit it but Country fest was awesome. I haven't had that much fun in a looong time.

Anyway, we all met at Jim's cousin's Mike house for a little pre-party. Immediately entering the house, we were greeted by Jim's brother, Joe:



Here are me and my sister-in-laws enjoying some classy martinis:



The boys:



Yours truly was designated driver and carted 8 slightly intoxicated individuals downtown in a big a$$ Expedition:



I can't remember the last time I was driving around with the windows down, radio blasting and my passengers singing at the top of their lungs. Good times, I tell ya!

Here are some shots taken at the concert.

Steve and Mike:


Of course we needed a group shot:


My future brother-in-law Jason displaying some major skills:


Guys and their beers:


Recent parents, SIL Ann and BIL Steve:


Future Mr and Mrs - Jason and Sheri:


Jim and I (and I wish I didn't have such a messed up look on my face!)


The best part of the night though was when we were about to leave. Montgomery Gentry was still on stage but we decided to take off. Right when we were about to exit the arena, MG busted out a MAJOR hit. Suddenly, I was surrounded by crazy Weiss' jamming away like no one's business right in the usher's area. I snapped as many pictures as I could but unfortunatly a video camera is the only way to truly display how hilarious this was. The usher was not pleased and insisted we "stay behind the line", whatever that meant. Jim's family is quite polite in these situations but I've never seen them push the limit as much as they did that night. Even my own quiet hubby was performing his "air guitar" over this imaginary line without any fear of getting in trouble.







And of course, there were the shinanigans that took place on the way back to the car:



And on the way home...:



Ahh, good times.

So yeah, I'm a little bit country, I guess. I don't mind. If any of you are thinking about crossing to the other side (and I highly suggest you do), feel free to join me at the Phil Vassar concert at Summerfest this year. I'll be the kook jamming it out to the country rendition of "Baby Got Back" ;-D