The concert list

As a follow-up to the last post, here is my complete concert list, divided into 2 sections. The first includes anyone who I’ve seen perform as the main attraction (however the numbers may include festival performances and openers). The next section is mostly made up of artists I've only seen as part of a festival (CMA fest) or as an opening act.

• 1. Clay Walker (14)
• 2. Chuck Wicks (11)
• 3. Luke Bryan (10)
• 4. Love & Theft (8)
• 5. Backstreet Boys (7)
• 6. Keith Urban (5)
• 7. Craig Campbell (4)
• 8. David Nail (4)
• 9. Adam Gregory (3)
• 10. Josh Gracin (3)
• 11. Lee Brice (3)
• 12. Rodney Atkins (3)
• 13. Terri Clark (3)
• 14. Tim McGraw (3)
• 15. Alan Jackson (2)
• 16. Blake Shelton (2)
• 17. Heidi Newfield (2)
• 18. John Michael Montgomery (2)
• 19. Kenny Chesney (2)
• 20. LeAnn Rimes (2)
• 21. NKOTB (2)
• 22. Rascal Flatts (2)
• 23. Trent Tomlinson (2)
• 24. Beach Boys (1)
• 25. Little Texas (1)
• 26. Lorrie Morgan (1)
• 27. Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels (1)
• 28. Rod Stewart (1)
• 29. Shania Twain (1)

Only seen as opening act or at a festival:

• 1. Sara Evans (4)
• 2. Due West (3)
• 3. Jake Owen (3)
• 4. Jason Michael Carroll (3)
• 5. Miranda Lambert (3)
• 6. Sugarland (3)
• 7. Zac Brown Band (3)
• 8. Bomshel (2)
• 9. Brad Paisley (2)
• 10. Darius Rucker (2)
• 11. Jack Ingram (2)
• 12. Josh Turner (2)
• 13. Lady Antebellum (2)
• 14. Little Big Town (2)
• 15. Montgomery Gentry (2)
• 16. Phil Vassar (2)
• 17. Reba (2)
• 18. Taylor Swift (2)
• 19. Trace Adkins (2)
• 20. Blackhawk (1)
• 21. Dixie Chicks (1)
• 22. Chad Brock (1)
• 23. Gary Allen (1)
• 24. Gloriana (1)
• 25. The Farm (1)
• 26. Edens Edge (1)
• 27. Thompson Square (1)
• 28. Sarah Darling (1)
• 29. Katie Armiger (1)
• 30. Ashton Shepherd (1)
• 31. Sisqo (1)
• 32. Destiny’s Child (1)
• 33. Mandy Moore (1)
• 34. The Click Five (1)
• 35. Williams Riley Band (1)
• 36. Caitlin & Will (1)
• 37. Holly Williams (1)
• 38. Jessica Harp (1)
• 39. Whitney Duncan (1)
• 40. The Trailer Choir (1)
• 41. Willie Nelson (1)
• 42. Jessica Andrews (1)
• 43. Kid Rock (1+)
• 44. Brooks & Dunn (1)
• 45. Randy Houser (1)
• 46. Carrie Underwood (1)
• 47. Andy Griggs (1)
• 48. Ty Herndon (1)
• 49. Brett Kissel (1)
• 50. DJ Miller (1)
• 51. Ash Bowers (1)
• 52. Jason Aldean (1)
• 53. Justin Moore (1)
• 54. Easton Corbin (1)
• 55. Chris Young (1)
• 56. Alabama (2 songs)
• 57. Joe Nichols (1)
• 58. Dierks Bentley (1)
• 59. Eli Young Band (1)
• 60. Aaron Lewis (1)
• 61. Billy Dean (1)
• 62. Jamey Johnson (1)
• 63. The Judds (1)
• 64. John Rich (1)
• 65. LeeAnn Womack (1)
• 66. Martina McBride (1)
• 67. Scotty McCreery (1 song)
• 68. Troy Olson (1)
• 69. Josh Kelley (1)
• 70. The Band Perry (1)
• 71. The JaneDear Girls (1)
• 72. Clint Black (1)
• 73. Kevin Costner & Modern West (1)
• 74. Josh Thompson (1)
• 75. Craig Morgan (1 – GOO)
• 76. Andy Gibson (1)
• 77. Brent Anderson (1)
• 78. Frankie Ballard (1)
• 79. Dustin Lynch (1)
• 80. Kix Brooks (1)
• 81. Brett Eldredge (1)
• 82. Jana Kramer (1)
• 83. The Lost Trailers (1)

Please note that my memory is imperfect & so the list may not be entirely accurate. I may have left someone out or put a lower number than is correct.

My Top 5

A friend asked me a while back to compile a list of the artists/bands I've seen in concert. Rather than just throw a list up here & call it a day I'm gonna start with just the 5 I've seen the most of. Coincidentally I've actually met everyone on this short list. Anyway, here goes:

My #1: Clay Walker at 14 live performances:
I saw him the first time on September 10, 1998 from row K at Pine Knob after begging my mom to get tickets. Earlier that year his "Rumor Has It" album was the first cd I bought with my own money. Fourteen years later I still adore him.

2. Coming in 2nd at 11 performances is Chuck Wicks:
I first saw Chuck in 2008 & was hooked by his smooth voice & goofy personality. Now we're still waiting on album #2 to be released.

3. Coming in at a close 3rd with 10 performances is Luke Bryan:
I discovered his music when I first saw the video for "All My Friends Say" in June 2007. His fun, care-free spirit is contagious and I was craving more from then on.

4. Love & Theft takes 4th with 8 shows (6 when they were a trio & 2 after they became a duo):
I first discovered these boys by accident or fate. I bought tickets to a show of newcomers in Flint with the sole purpose of seeing Adam Gregory. When Adam was dropped I considered trying to get a refund, but I did end up going & found this incredibly talented group of guys.

5. And picking up the #5 spot is the Backstreet Boys with 7 performances (2 with NKOTB last summer):
The first came in 1999. My friend Edi introduced me to this group in '98, and when tickets went on sale for this show we were in line outside the Harmony House for hours to get tickets. They moved the line around the building & did some stupid lottery thing where they broke up the line again (trying to make things more random to dissuade people from camping out all night). The show sold out within minutes. Then another show was added, but that one sold out too. Then when we were 3rd in line the 3rd & final show sold out. BUT on the day of one of the concerts my mom & I went to Ticketmaster in the mall & BAM, new tickets had been released & we got 10 rows from the stage in the round.

Maybe tomorrow I'll post the whole list separately just for Kim. Until then, enjoy. ;)

Where does the time go?

Today I realized that I've sort of been living in a state of suspended animation. I feel like whenever I'm in school full time (or doing rotations now as the case may be) I put my life on hold, and all that exists is that educational commitment. I start a chunk of education & the next thing I know, all this time has gone by and I don't know where I've been. I don't know exactly when it began, but it's been like this for a while. During the school year (so to speak) I pour myself wholeheartedly into fulfilling my objectives, and I think that if I take time away to be a whole person and do volunteer work or take dance lessons or even go to church I might sacrifice my future. But if that's the case, is it really worth it?

So my next goal is to remember to try to be alive at the same time as while committing to what I have to do for my career. Medical school is a serious commitment, but it shouldn't be everything.