Concert Review: China Rider ->Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

We got there a little early because we'd heard they had a crazy parking lot scene, and we were not disappointed. The lobby was packed. People were jumping up and down (peaking too soon maybe?), crying, laughing, one or two were already throwing themselves on the floor -- you could tell it was going to be an awesome concert.

The doors opened and we rushed into our seats and immediately everyone broke out some munchies. Mostly organic whole grain goldfish snacks. I had a short moment of panic as I rummaged through my bag for my munchies, but thankfully found a small packet of biscuits wedged in the back. Milo would not have to go hungry for the entire hour-long concert, thank god.

As the band took the stage half the audience got up and rushed to the front of the theater, screaming, dancing, some tears every now and then. They rocked the house for a good half and hour, but then things started getting ugly. A few concert-goers were carried out in tears. I saw two more passed out cold, slung over shoulders and hustled out the door. Someone near me started trying to eat his own seat. Someone else complained that it was his turn to hold the ticket stub.

We approached the 45 minute mark and things picked up again. The band brought out bongo drums, tap dancers, rappers -- the works. The mosh pit at the front of the stage got so crowded that people were standing more than they were moshing. Milo stuck his thumb in his mouth and asked if he could sit on my lap.

"What was the last concert you went to before this one?" Steven asked.

I thought for a moment. "A baroque harpsichord concert in France?"

"Not counting that one."

"Um. I saw Lyle Lovett at Lincoln Center. Also the Allman Brothers at the Fillmore."

"I saw Elliot Smith in Seattle."

It occurred to us that we had not gone to a concert since we'd started dating, which means we hadn't been to a concert since 1999.

"Oh wait, didn't we go see some Armenian rock band?"

"Right," said Steven. "That was it."

On stage the band was approaching the finale. Milo had was ready to go home. All around us people picked up their tired concert-goers and plopped them down into strollers. I walked out the door of the theater humming the last song they'd played: Georgie Porgie (featuring Father Goose). Yes, it had been a kid's concert, but make no mistake: Dan Zanes rocks the house.