After parking over 1 mile away (to my surprise) in downtown Hollywood, and walking that distance to the Hollywood Bowl (after a great car ride with awesome conversation with my youngest daughter), we found our seats were really "obstructed".  Apparently it was more than just a warning on the ticketmaster site, it was actually a real thing.

We could see the stage, at this angle, but not the main screen.

After some talented opening musicians (they really are talented, the Hernandez brothers) but I couldn't help but think that every song was really long and I couldn't firmly tell when one song ended and another began because it all sounded similar.

It was desert themed guitar + slide guitar instrumentals, with some bongos thrown in there on a loop.

I'm going to call it experimental music that conjures up images and feelings.  It would be awesome for a long car ride, but sitting and waiting for the main performer made it a little monotonous and boring after about 20 minutes.

Then, Jack came on stage and we loved it! Plus, the nice guys sitting to the right of us decided to go swoop in on better seats and told us we could move over and take their.  Boom!  Now we could see the screen.

Jack played most of his popular hits, told stories about his beginnings and his Isla Vista/UCSB days back in '94.  "Those were the days" he said.

Squeak and I knew almost every song, and sang along for most of the concert. She's amazing with memorizing lyrics!

Then, he pulled the Hernandez brothers back on stage to jam with, then Ben Harper (who helped Jack and his band get comfortable with touring back in 2001), and then, the great surfing legend Kelly Slater came on stage, as a good friend of Jack's, and they played a song.

It was an awesome night with my little one.

One I'll never forget.  We both love Jack Johnson songs, and it was a night to remember that we got to see him live, together, at the beautiful Hollywood Bowl which even hosted a few rain drops! :)

It was an impromptu decision. I saw the Bruno Mars concert flash across the screen, and upcoming date at SoFi stadium in LA.

My mind flashed to all the Bruno Mars songs our family his listened to through the years, and the hip hop dance routine the girls performed to "Uptown Funk", going became a must.  And it must be all of us.

After hearing that Jen and Linda had left their BTS seats at SoFi, in favor of the standing room only section in the 400's, and seeing that those SRO tickets were only $137 a piece -- we made sure schedules were clear, and I got the tickets, along with a parking pass.

I am so glad I did.

None of us will ever forget that.  The girls sang along to most of the songs, and it was a magical night.

It started with "Pee Wee" the DJ, who we found out today was Anderson.Paak, a former FTHS student who graduated in 2004.  He was hilarious and got the crowd riles by calling out to different decades, and playing some of the most popular/recognizable songs of the day.

Next was the stunning Raye, a British artist who was playing on the biggest stage of her career.

She was very sweet and connected on an emotional level with the audience. Even though the lyrics were hard to understand due to the acoustic qualities of SoFi, the message and emotion was clear.

She felt like a throwback to a different day, a classic style with beauty and charm.

I admit I teared up when she got real about the peaks and valleys of life, and plead with the audience never to give up on this 1 life.  No matter how hard.

She was awesome.

And then...

Bruno.

He stunned and amazed me with his stage presence, vocals, and musicianship across the bongos, guitar, and piano.

When you combine that kind of natural talent with a lifetime of performances to over a 34 year career, starting when he was about 6 in Honolulu, Hawaii, the result is magic.

He excited, he moved you to tears, he made you feel, and run the gamut of emotions.

I just loved seeing my girls dancing and singing along.  They absolutely loved it.

I think today, we are all missing the moments of last night, and the artists who brought them to is.

This feeling will pass, but the memories will remain. I'm so glad we did it, and I'll never forget it.

Boom! Aced another quiz in the History of Rock and Roll course I'm taking through Ventura College.  (As an aside, the goal is to take at least ONE in person VC class every semester.  My first one was Music Appreciation, which I loved, and this one is The History of Rock and Roll.  Unfortunately it's an online course, which worked well for my aggressive schedule transitioning the business to the buyer...)

In chapter 39 I explored groups that combined different genres of music.  Either using multiple genres in one song, or drifting in and out of different genre's over time.

Rock and rap blends that were discussed included the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine, and Kid Rock.

Next, we went into bands that span many genre's, beyond just those two.  We explored Radiohead and Beck.

I'm still working toward some dedicated "active listening" time each day.  I have to admit it's a challenge to just sit and focus on listening to music.  Somehow I still feel like there are better things I could be doing and I get antsy and try to do other things - but then I lose focus on the music.

It's something I feel will be useful and enjoyable for me once I make it a part of my every day, even for just a few songs.  

I mean, I can meditated for 10 minutes or more - so I should be able to actively listen to a few songs a day.

Poof, new goal. :)

For now, I will say this: anybody who says they don't like Radiohead or Beck, likely hasn't listened to all of the different types of music they explore.  These two artists/groups change constantly, drifting back and forth between and around genres.

I'll definitely have to explore more of this, as it's so easy for me to write things off too early.