Kari's Concert Collection

Front Row Fever

We left for Mankato around noon, and got to the mall the concert was at around 1:30. Not too many people were there yet; there were some Youngstown Promo Crew members there as well as a local radio station van. I spent the next several hours standing in line in a mall parking lot, sun beating down (I got the sunburn to prove it). They were supposed to let people in at 4, but the soundcheck ran late so it was about 4:30. When they let people in, it was a mad dash to the stage. I managed to get front row! The Promo Crew took up just about the whole front row. It was about another hour before the concert started.

Toya was the first act. There was an easel thing with a Toya photo sitting on it. It was kinda breezy, and kept falling off! The guy waving the Toya flag would put it back up, and it would just fall off again. Toya threw a lot of things into the audience- like CDs posters and stuff. At the end I think she got a little carried away- she threw her necklace and earrings! The dancers silly stringed the audience. I got some on me. It was pink silly string.

Next act was who I came for- Youngstown! When Youngstown came out, the first thing I noticed was DC was chewing gum! Second thing was the fact I was so close I could notice it. They started with �Machine,� which I think is a great song to start a show with. Great singing, dancing and everything. Next song was �Float Away.� I really like that song, it really shows off Youngstown�s vocals and harmony. After that was �Sugar.� The front row was singing along the whole time Youngstown was onstage. It was interesting because most of the audience, I�m guessing, never even heard the songs before.

Something cool happened between �Sugar� and �Down for the Getdown.� Dallas did a roundoff, back handspring, and back flip combo across the stage! I wish I had gotten a picture of it- the back flip part happened directly in front of me! That was one of the show�s highlights. Another was when DC was talking between songs and he read Nikki and Emily�s poster that said, "We want 2 C YT's undies!" He started laughing. I believe it was during �Down For The Getdown� when Youngstown did this dance with black baton/stick things. I can�t remember- I was changing rolls of film during that part.

I also can�t remember the order of the next two songs. �Dance Floor II� then �So Tight� or the other way around. �Dance Floor II� probably showed off Youngstown�s dancing abilities the best. The dance break was really cool. �So Tight� had audience participation with clapping and jumping stuff. I liked it when Youngstown sang the chorus a cappella so the audience could practice. It sounded good a cappella. Last was a Blackstreet song sang a cappella. That really showcased Youngstown�s harmonies. DC threw his sweat towel into the audience, Nikki caught it. I think Dallas threw his, too.

Plus One was next. Their dancing and stuff was awesome, which really surprised me. I have their CD and it�s mostly slow stuff, so I didn�t really expect dancing. Plus one was my second favorite act at the show. At one point one of the members, I think his name is Jeremy, looked right at me. That was cool. In the front row you can make eye contact with just about every act. Plus One sang the song �Last Flight Out.� I really like that song- it was the reason I got their CD in the first place. The last song they did was a new one from their next album coming out soon. The song was really cool, and I think I will be getting that CD when it comes out.

Next act was Eden�s Crush. They didn�t interest me much when they opened for *NSYNC, but here they were cool. I think maybe it was because it was so upclose. I really liked their dancing. Mostly because it was simple enough that I figured it out fast enough to do it along with them. During a slow song, Yvette sat down on the stage right in front of me. That was cool- except for the fact everyone behind me squished up to get closer. I can�t believe I didn�t take a photo of her sitting there. My fave part of Eden�s Crush�s set was when they did a cover of the song �Glamorous Life.� That was cool.

Last was Jessica Simpson. It�s funny I went to a Jessica Simpson concert, but couldn�t really care less about her. But it was still cool just seeing her upclose like I was. I really liked the live band. The band introduction was one of my favorite parts. They played a medley of Eve and Gwen�s �Let me blow ya mind� and Puff Daddy�s (or should I say P. Diddy) �Bad Boy for Life.� And the dancers/ dancing was cool. There�s one part where the dancers all look and point in different directions. The guy in front of me looked and pointed right at me!

PHOTOS

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