100 Monkey's

So I wrote most of this right after the show. Some things were tweaked, but mostly these are my right-after thoughts:

Tonight was amazing. We were front and center, the best spot in the place. I still haven’t completely found words for it all yet, so I’m going to jot down some thoughts and home something coherent forms tomorrow. I don’t want to forget this night.

I’ve already forgotten the opening band’s name. I’ll look it up tomorrow. (Altar Kourt maybe?) They were good. The lead singer sounded like Pat Monahan. They had sort of a funky thing going. But frankly, after about 30 minute the white boy funk got old. On a side now, the lead singer looked like Bronson Pelletier. Yes Octavia, once the pack mistress, always the pack mistress.

The very first thing I noticed is that they came out and set up their equipment with no fanfare. They are chill, no-frills guys. The epitome of down-to-earth.

All of the Monkeys are wonderful. Jackson, who makes the world a more beautiful place with his smile. Ben G, who puts teeny boppers in their place and has more energy than a room full of 5 year olds. Uncle, the coolest cat around. Jared, with his sweet smile and mad skills. And Ben J, with the fantastic moppy hair and stellar drumming ability. So happy. So enthusiastic. So obviously in love with what they do. So obviously in love with their fans. Their gratitude for our presence was palpable. Imagine that. Musicians grateful to the people who support them. If I lived in Utah I would marry them all.

Several times Jackson smiled at me, sang to me, mugged for my camera. He has a beautiful ability to make you feel special. Beautiful seems to be a common adjective to describe him, in one way or another. At one point he sang me a lyric about being lovers. Sadly I don’t think I caught it on camera. I vowed to remember the line, but I didn’t and now can’t find the lyrics. I will have to look tomorrow, when I’ve slept. (I slept, looked, and still can’t find it. Boo.)

Jackson got schooled in red and green chile after telling a joke about chilli beans. Someone in the audience pointed out that chile means something different down here. Surely a west Texas boy knows the difference? Ben g, a desert boy himself, finally came to the rescue and straightened Jackson’s confusion out. We reminded them several times that we’re New Mexico. People don’t come here often. We’re proud of our state and fiercely defensive of it.

No time for autographs after the show. They left the stage, walked out the door and hit the road to Dallas, 14 hours away.

So much I feel I’ve already forgotten. Lots of wonderful banter:

Ben: Larry, have I told you I love you today.
Larry: no. (pouty face)
Crowd: Awe… we love you Larry!
Larry: I love you all very much too. Happy New Year.

And lame jokes:

Jackson: What do you call a dog with no legs? Anything you want, he ain’t gonna come!

Jackson: Man walks into a bar and orders a beer. Bartender gives him his beer, but a monkey comes up and steals it. Man says, “Bartender, who does that monkey belong to? He just stole my beer!” Bartender says he belongs to the piano player, so the man goes up to the piano player and says “Do you know your monkey just stole my beer?” Piano player says “No, but if you hum a few lines I can play it.”

OH! The Ben G teeny-bopper story! I almost forgot. So these obnoxious girls were right beside us, and talked through the whole-freakin-show. (I HATE all ages shows. With a passion.) Between two of the songs they scream out "Play Ugly Girl!!!" So Ben smiles real big and says "OK!" Then he looks at them and says "But tell me what it's about." Silence. Some snickers. Nada. They had no clue. Then he made some comment about them not really being fans, or something along those lines. I may, at that point, have developed a teensy little crush on him. I love smart-asses and hate prosti-tot groupie whores, so it was a win-win situation.

Before one of the songs Jackson said it was written in al “alternate” state of mind. Um, baby boy, we’ve heard your music. I’d be surprised if any were written in an un-altered state of mind.

Our made-up song was about spandex bananahammocks. Much thrusting and crotch grabbing ensued. Jackson apologized to his mama at the end of the song, in case she happens to run across it on youtube.

As strange as this sounds, I just kept thinking how blessed I felt to be there, how thankful I was that God had allowed me to go, and how strange it was how everything fell into place. The concert was, very much, a blessing.

Oddly, having trouble now reconciling pretty actor Jackson with musician Jackson. It’s like two different people.
If you have an opportunity to see them live, go. It was possibly the best concert I’ve ever seen. Definitely top 3. And of allllll the bands I’ve seen, I was the absolute most star-struck with this one.

Also, for those of you who were wondering, yes Jackson is amazing in person. He's a good man, truly exudes joy and warmth and love. He has one of the most amazing auras I've ever seen, and that is definitely not the fangirl in me talking, that's just the truth. I hope I can be that kind of person one day, who can smile and make someone they don't even know feel better. And when you add in the joy and warmth of the other 4 boys, it was just indescribable.

Ok, so there’s my concert recount. I wish I could be more eloquent, and normally my writing is much better, but it’s 2 days later and I’ve still yet to truly find the words to describe it. Hands down one of the best nights of my life. I've got pics and vids that I'll get up.