marc broussard

unfortunately we misread the tickets and got to the 930 club at 7:45 thinking the show started at 7:30. oops - the doors opened at 7:30. bummer. and by 8:15 we were getting antsy (you can only play botticelli for so long) so we asked a bouncer for the timetable for the night. he told us that marc would be taking the stage at 9:00. so no, opener? according to him there would be one set played all the way through with marc and the opener. huh??

turns out he was spot on in his description. the band took the stage at about 9:10 (everyone knows that musicians are never on time) - and marc joined them shortly after. he sang one song and then brought out some girl to sing with him. turns out she was the "opener." and she was good. she probably said her name like 10 times, but i never did catch it. a quick google search this morning, however, turned up shannon mcnally. she has a very country/soul sound and she's a dead ringer for rena sofer.

and speaking of look-alikes, marc broussard has a striking resemblance to keifer sutherland (with a hint of susie's brother). and man can he sing. he just released a new album - SOS (save our soul) - and it's all covers of classic soul songs. he does some stevie, some temptations, some marvin gaye and even some doobie brothers!

i was getting a little worried when an hour into the show he hadn't played an original song, but then he played rocksteady and the crowd went crazy. so they show went on like that - a bunch of covers w/ some originals scattered in. and here are some of the highlights:

- the guys on the balcony basically doing a choreographed dance during one of the songs. everyone on the floor turned their back to the stage and watched these guys dance in awe. even marc was impressed!

- a stage full of people for home - the last song before the encore. there were at least ten people on stage. and pretty much everyone of them really drunk (some might say wasted, especially after that whiskey shot they all took on stage). i'm still laughing thinking about the random stage hand guy who wandered out w/ aviators and starts playing the rub board. and by far the best moment of the entire show was at the end of home when march started pacing back and forth and kicking his leg in the air to correspond w/ the drums. then the drums went crazy and so did he - he got down on his back and was bicycle kicking in the air. and then he rolled up the red carpet put it up to his mouth and the rub board guy took out his lighter and marc acted like he was smoking a huge joint. wow.

- encore w/ gavin's song. wow. i'm still amazed he could pull it back together for one last song. and that song is so touching. it's such a sweet tribute to his son, gavin.

even though the concert was absolutely amazing (and hilarious!), i definitely could have done without the the blackout drunk couple who managed to push into our space twice, spill their drinks (how did the bartenders even serve them alcohol??), grope each other and make out on the dance floor right in front of my face, start a fight right in front of the stage (i'm talking fist fight) and then ultimately get kicked out of the 930 club. and to think those two almost ruined the concert for the rest of the sell-out crowd. ugh.

i'll say the best way to start the work week is a great concert. especially when my work week only consists of two days. just one more day and i'm off to the beach! i can't wait for a mini-vacation!