[divider]Lizzy’s Take[/divider]
I was incredibly saddened last fall to learn that my Sun and Moon, Matthew was going to have to move far away from Seattle to New Orleans, over 2,100 miles away. Fortunately, before he even got on his plane Above and Beyond announced the glorious We Are All We Need tour, and lo and behold New Orleans was one of their stops. Without question I snapped up two tickets the day they went on sale, and the countdown was on before I knew it, and the months seemed to fly by until it was finally time to get on the plane and Fly To New ORLEANS!
The show took place on a Tuesday, which was perfect since it meant there would be a day to explore a slightly less crowded city. We had the bright idea of trying to go to the box office early in the day to get our tickets, but that plan quickly fizzled when we realized the box office window was shut tight. However, there were people that looked suspiciously like road crew outside, and sure enough we walked by just in time to hear some ask “Hey, where’s the bus?” only for a female voice to respond “Should be here very soon!” Phillip and I both looked at each other with a mischievous glint in our eyes, and we knew we wouldn’t be leaving the area for a while.
We loitered around a bit, including a quickly aborted bathroom mission that took us to a McDonald’s that was far more frightening than the infamous one on 3rd and Pike, and then next thing I knew we were walking down the street just in time for their unmistakable tour bus to roll up. My heart jumped into my throat and I had that wonderful man of mine put his hand on my pounding heart. We had hopes that Tony and Jono would come out of the bus to say hello but alas they were hiding from the New Orleans humidity. We did, however, have the opportunity to take a ton of obnoxious bus selfies. Once the excitement subsided it was time for Matt and I to go attempt to nap before what would become one of the best nights of our lives.
But first… lemme take a selfie with Above and Beyond’s bus
After a ridiculously delicious dinner, we walked the few short blocks from Phillip and Brenda’s hotel to the theater. As luck would have it, there was a line of maybe 15 people, so we gleefully got our photos, took our spots in line, and waited excitedly for the doors to open. The Joy Theater looked small from the outside, but once they let us in it really sank in how intimate the space was. Before I knew it we had easily found a spot on the front rail and we knew that would be our base camp for the night, front and center for Above and Beyond.
Another hopeful to push the button…
I had the opportunity to be interviewed by an incredibly sweet gal named Jessie of Little Green Eyes Media who was lucky enough to get to be one of the tour photographers. I got to share what Above and Beyond meant to me, and the magic that they have filled the Gorge with every time they’ve been there, especially the memorable experience last year when it was raining and the visuals on the screens blended with the rain falling to truly bring us to another plane. I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to share it and look forward to seeing what comes next.
16 Bit Lolitas was the opener for this leg of the tour stop, and he was the perfect person to get us going. His trance beats were a sign of what was to come from Jono and Tony and we enjoyed the chance to be so up close and personal with him. After his set a hush fell over the crowd as the stage went dark. It took a few moments to set up, and the opening bars of Quieter Is Louder started to play as Tony and Jono took the stage. We had all made a pact that our phones would be put away for the show, as this was a special opportunity being so up close that didn’t need to be ruined by looking at it through a screen. The next two hours flew by in a blur, but there were some moments that stand out in the stop-motion video that plays over and over in my mind. During Peace of Mind the lyrics all punched us right in the feels as we joined in a group hug and cried our eyes out. This was the first time I heard Sun and Moon and didn’t cry, having finally let go of a ton of baggage when it played at the Gorge last summer. Soon the moment we all were waiting for came, and it was time to Push The Button.
I had made a special sign that day for the show, as I was hopeful that we would get to push the button together. My heart leapt into my throat when Jono came by as I was sure he was about to pick us, but sadly it was not meant to be and he picked two other gorgeous women during Blue Sky Action for the honor. I was sad that I wasn’t the lucky winner, but as is the case with Above and Beyond shows my sadness quickly subsided as I quit making excuses and just got up and danced. The magic of the night wasn’t over yet.
As they finished their set with an encore of with On a Good Day we couldn’t just leave. I kept my sign out, and the next thing I knew first Jono and then Tony came to the front row with Sharpies and put their autographs on my sign. Tony kissed my hand, and I got to thank both him and Jono for their music. I had made a kandi bracelet for the night that said “I Still Lose Myself” and in a flash I knew what needed to happen. I quickly slipped it onto Tony’s wrist and he looked at it and smiled. Tony is one of the sweetest artists I’ve ever had the chance to meet, and I hope our paths get to cross again as I would love to chat with him more.
Don’t tell us you wouldn’t lose your mind if one of your heroes did this. Photo Credit: Nick Solari
All in all, despite not being able to push the button it was still our favorite Above and Beyond experience to date. We had the opportunity to meet some amazing residents of New Orleans and trade kandi with some of them, leaving our mark on a city that left a permanent one in our hearts. The hospitality in that city was incredible, and we cannot wait to go back and experience more of it and see more incredible artists on their way though the South. Above and Beyond will be ending their North American leg of the We Are All We Need tour in Tacoma this Saturday, March 21 and we hope to see you there! Tickets are still available on Ticketmaster and will be available at the door if there are any left on Saturday.
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