Concert Trip, May, 2022, day 1&2

Back in March I began returning regularly to see concerts. Pre-pandemic, I was going to shows regularly, sometimes flying to a city where a band I wanted to see was playing.

In March I flew to Las Vegas to see Incubus play. I saw them two nights in a row and loved both shows.

A couple of weeks ago I went to see Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains at Ace of Spades in Sacramento.

This weekend I flew into LAX then drove to Santa Barbara to see Smashing Pumpkins at the Santa Barbara Bowl. I’ve seen SP twice before, first back in the early 90’s and then 5-6 years ago. Both shows were great and I am a fan of a bunch of their music. That combined with my love for seeing shows at the Santa Barbara Bowl (arguably one of the best places to see a concert) and the fact that I am going to an 80’s music festival in Pasadena on Sunday made grabbing tickets to see the Pumpkins an easy choice.

A 6am (too early) flight had me from Sacramento to LAX in a little over an hour. I stopped by the Centurion Lounge on the way out since is was 8:30am and time for breakfast and more coffee.

I grabbed my rental car and zipped to Santa Barbara, a two hour drive. I was too early to check into my hotel so I took a drive down to a beach (Arroyo Burro Beach) my family used to go to when I was between 6-8 yeas old.

I started getting hungry so I went to the returns right on the beach and had this.

Then I went and sat on the beach and meditated. It was lovely.

Still too early to head back to the hotel I headed over to the house we lived in back in 1876-1978. Our school was behind the house, just down a little path through a park. There’s a mosaic my sister and a bunch of 4th graders made back then that’s still on the front of the school.

I was exhausted and it was finally time to check into my room so I made it back the the hotel and took a lobster roll/every morning flight induced 2 1/2 hour nap. Then I headed over to the Santa Barbara Bowl.

The Smashing pumpkins did not disappoint.

Here’s a few photos.

I’ve experienced such a since of fellowship with the people who’ve sat around me at the last few concerts. This one was no different. Even got a random hug after one of the songs from the gal in the row behind me. It was kinda sweet.

A band called Bones UK opened for the Smashing Pumpkins. I’ve seen them once before when I saw Bush, The Cult and Stone Temple Pilots a few years ago. They were impressive live but I’ve tried to listen to their recorded music and it’s somehow less impressive.

The concert ended at 10pm, strangely, no encore. Still great show and wonderful venue.

After a decent night’s sleep I headed off to Los Angeles. In a Tesla. Did I mention the Tesla…?

I rented a Tesla. I’d yet to drive an all electric vehicle despise wanting to try it out so this was as good a time as any, gas prices being in the $6.30+ range.

I got a Tesla 3 and it’s pretty fun to drive. It reminds me of the slot cars I used to play with as a kid. You can hit the gas (hit the electric…?) and it goes like a bullet, take your foot off the accelerator and it doesn’t coast, it begins to slow.

I don’t think I’d get a 3 if I were to get an all electric car. First, the all glass roof is like a radiator in 90 degree heat, quite hot to the touch. I couldn’t find a way to shade the roof (the Ionic 5 has a shade you can pull across it’s giant glass roof) so I think it would be an impractical car in Sacramento. Also, the cargo space is a little tight for touring puppet shows. Still, fun to drive.

I check into my hotel in LA and headed over to the Fabric District in the downtown area. As a puppeteer this place is magical.

I’ve come here before and gone crazy with fabric purchases but since I only have one suitcase I stuck to a very specific shopping list. I escaped with around 24 yards of fabric.

Stick a fork in me I’m done. Time to rest up for tomorrow’s music festival…The Cruel World Festival in Pasadena with The Church, Blondie, Missing Persons, Violet Femmes, Psychedelic Furs, Berlin, Morrisey and more.