Greg Laswell’s concert was SO amazing. I was hooked from the start.
His opening act was Elizabeth Ziman from Elizabeth and the Catapult. She was cool. Her voice is beautiful.
She played several songs, and then Greg Laswell came out with his band. Elizabeth was there again, too, because on his new album, he’s got a few songs with female vocals. Or, as he accidentally said, making the audience crack up, “lady parts.” ;)
The first song he played is my favorite one from his new album - “New Year’s Eves.” So great. I was grinning from ear to ear.
I wrote down all the songs in my bucket list journal that I’d brought along, but I’m not going to list them all out. There were two I didn’t know, also. One was because it wasn’t his song. But, anyways…
When he sang “Dragging You Around,” also a new song on his album, that he sings with Sia, although of course on stage, it was with Elizabeth, he said it was supposed to be an “apology” to someone, but as he was writing it, he realized, he just didn’t care. So, it became the song it actually is.
Right after that, he sang “How The Day Sounds,” which is his song, but he was covering a cover someone else had done of it. So, it was slower than it is on the album. This isn’t on Landline… it’s an older one. It was great.
When he sang “Late Arriving” off his new album, I THINK he said it was written for his dad? Anyways, it was beautiful.
When he sang “I Might Drop By” he said he wrote it from the point of view of his wife, who he married this past year, to him. He’s married to Ingrid Michaelson, who sings “Landline” with him. Apparently, this song is what he thought she was thinking when they were just good friends at first.
The second to last song he sang was “Amazing Grace.” He said he hadn’t sang it yet on this tour (we were only the 4th show) but he wanted to do it, because he had some friends from Nashville who were “good Christian folks.” It was so… just amazingly beautiful. I was tearing up. Seriously, it was so beautiful and moving. I didn’t actually cry, though.
And then… his final song? He didn’t announce it. He just started playing. But I recognized it right away, and went “Oh My God” out loud. My friends who were with me glanced at me and were all, “what?” But I couldn’t explain. I was speechless after that. The song was “Your Ghost.” It’s the first song I really heard and noticed by him, that really got me into his music. His music is so great, and is just so inspiring, and “Your Ghost” sung by Greg Laswell has a really special place in my heart. I could’ve probably started sobbing then, but I held it together. A few tears got down my face, I think. But I held it together, other than that. I was just… so happy. I hadn’t expected to hear that song played by him live. It was really a great, wonderful moment.
Anyways, that was his final song. There were 17 songs total. It was a fairly long concert. Which made me happy! Then, afterwards, I went over and got in the merchandise line. At the end of it was Elizabeth, waiting to greet people and all. I told her how great she was, then was all, “This is weird, but I have my bucket list journal with me…” and then she was all, “Well?” then seeing me embarrassed, “Do it! Do it!!!” I laughed and explained that meeting Greg was on my list, and she said he was coming out from backstage soon. So, I bought a t-shirt (which I’m wearing today. I love it.) and then went and stood by my friends. Then they said, “look, Taralei! There he is!” So I turned around, and there he was, by the bar! We started walking towards him, he was taking a picture with some guy by the bar. Then, I went up to him after he was done, and explained about my bucket list. I was so awkward. But he was so nice! He said, “Well, you’ve done it now!” And then asked my name, and shook my hand, signed my bucket list journal, and chatted a little bit. He also took two pictures with me, because the first one, his eyes were closed. Also, I’m glad, because I look super freaked out in the first one. Haha!
I was so flustered after, gathering up my things to leave. But I was so HAPPY. I was on such a high! I had just met someone whose music I loved, whose music makes me happy, who inspires me! GAH. I’m just so… ecstatic! :D
I’m feeling kind of empty, today, actually. But I’m still happy, because I got to meet him! I got to meet Greg Laswell! And I was so looking forward to the concert, and really hoping there’d be some way I could meet him… and I did! SO. GREAT. I just… can hardly believe it. But I’ve got proof. And I’m so happy. I keep saying that… but really, I am. So. So. SO HAPPY. :D
