The best venue - The best artist - The best night

Have I mentioned how much we love Dan Godlin?  I mean seriously - he is wonderful.  His music is beautiful, he is a blast on stage, and is the most welcoming performer we have ever met.  We. Love. Dan. Godlin.

Okay.  Gushing done.

In my last post I mentioned that we went to the Anna Nalick show to see the opener, being Dan Godlin.  He made a huge impression on us when we saw him in the fall - and we want to help support him, his music, and hang out whenever we can.

As usual - Dan put on a great show.  His energy is infectious.  His pure joy in enviable. 

Have to say - I love this picture!!!

(So every time that Dan performs this song "Dance Baby" he says that despite what it might sound like - it does not say Dan's Baby - but now that is all I hear!)

Dan has promised us a new album soon - hopefully this summer - and also promised another trip back to Seven Steps Up (cause really there is no better venue out there).  The next trip he will be headlining with a full band.  In return we have promised him that we will be front row and cheering.

There is something truly amazing about an artist who loves his fans.  If you follow him on Twitter, or have ever met him in person, you know that he really appreciates everyone who supports him.  We are stoked for a new album - as all of his music is amazing. 

This is my song of the day the day - in honor of Dan's amazing show.  It is one of his new ones and I cannot wait to hear it performed again.

So here it is - "Love You Forever" by Dan Godlin

Where is your happy place?

So a lot of people that I know have commented on how I go to a ton of concerts.  When I look at it, it doesn't feel like all that much.  Really, it is my hobby.  And truly, I love going to small concerts.  While there is nothing better than the energy created by thousands of people all excited to see a favorite musician, there is also nothing better than an intimate gathering.  A gathering where the people are TRUE fans.  Fans who know every word to every song, fans who have followed the musicians when they were small and will tell all their friends about them, in hopes that they will make it to the stadium - one day.

The concert on Monday was one of those intimate gatherings.  As I mentioned before, Seven Steps Up is a venue with just over a hundred seats.  A venue designed for you to be able to hang out with the artists.  And this came true time and time again on Monday.

Beth, Lainie, and I arrived early - as we do.  Dan Godlin was still on soundcheck, so they closed the door.  Then we see Todd Carey heading down the stairs.  We had the opportunity to chat with him, about the tour, about his music, and about the StageIt concert where Beth tipped enough to get a dedicated song - so plans were made for that.

Pretty soon we headed in for our seats.

Not a bad view, huh?

We were ready.  Ready for Dan to take the stage.  We had been listening to his music, talking on Twitter, and ready for an awesome show.

Once again, we weren't disappointed.  Dan Godlin is an awesome performer.  He engaged those of us in the crowd, played beautiful music, and looked happy while doing it.

After the concert was over, we got to meet all the artists.  I do not think we spent less than 30 minutes talking with Dan.  He was such a great guy - very down to earth, very enthusiastic about his music.  And he was also appreciative of his fans.  Always awesome to feel like our enthusiasm helps. :)

So let's back up a step.  The name of this post is "Where is your happy place?".  There is a reason for that.  Dan's newest single is called "Summer Roads."  As he got ready to perform the song, he talked about the feeling of driving down the California coast, wind in the hair, music on the stereo.  The funny thing - is that is my definition of a happy place (well - that or being at an awesome concert).  After the show I talked to Dan about that fact.  It's fun to find something that you have in common.

So this next video is Dan's song "Summer Roads."  While you listen to it, think about your happy place.  Where do you go, or what do you do when you just need to be happier.  What can turn your mood around, no matter how rough the day has been?  Everyone has something (or two or three somethings).  I think that it is important for us to know what that something is, so that we can find strength, even on the toughest day.

And for me, this song will give me that feeling even while I wait through the long, slow Michigan winter. :)

Home Again?

This weekend was another one for the memories.  Saturday was darn close to perfect.  But I will talk more about that in my next post.

I was driving home last night, after a long but wonderful day.  And I was listening to music by some of my favorite artists.

And low and behold, a song came on that made me think. (I know you're shocked!)

"Long Way Home" by Dan Godlin.

If you haven't heard of him, check him out.  Trust me, well worth your time!

But back to my point.  We can never go home again.  We are unable to go back to what life was like.  We cannot take back what has happened in the past.  But I'm not sure this is a bad thing.

Our mistakes and our pasts make us who we are.  Without them, we wouldn't learn the valuable lessons that they teach us. 

I'm not saying that these mistakes aren't painful.  I'm not saying that we can't have regrets.  I'm not saying that we can't remember things longingly at times.  What I'm saying is that we can't go back and shouldn't wish we could.  I know that there are times in my life that I wish I had done things differently.  There are times that I should have made a different choice.

But here I am.  I am the person those decisions have formed, good or bad.  So I keep taking a step forward.  Every day I try to do a little bit better.   I look back on my past with both smiles and tears.  I look back in order to try and see the future more clearly.  I dream of what tomorrow may bring, and then, with all my might, I try to live in today.  We can dwell in the past, we can live for tomorrow.  But the past is dead and gone - the future is not a guarantee - so why do anything besides put most of our focus on today.  I'm not someone who says we shouln't plan for tomorrow, just as I don't say to never look backwards.  I'm just saying that we need to remember that today is here.  Let's enjoy it.

Maybe Dan Godlin is right.  It is such a long way home from here.  But the question is.  What is your "home"?  Is it a place of peace with your family and friends, is it a promotion at work, is it finding fulfillment where you never expected it?  Whatever it is, it may appear to be a long way off.  But remember, each day, you can find your home just where you are.  You can strive for contentment with what and who you have, or you can strive to make a change.  As I said.  We can't go backwards, we can't change the past.  So please, don't make your home your past.  Make it your now and your future.  For it is all we have.

Now I give you "Long Way Home" by Dan Godlin

These are the lyrics to Dan's song (at least I hope I got them all correct!).  Enjoy the music.

I wish you could read my mind

Cause I can’t mastermind the breakout

I’ve been locked inside of life

Scared to roll the dice on you

I’m the stranger in the crowd

No one like me around to talk to

No entry on the side

No exit I can find

For me

Are we leaving our best behind?

I’ll never know, but I gotta go

Leaving to redesign

The story to be told

It’s such a long way home from here

Walking the miles we lost last year

Counting the promises and tears

It’s such a long way home

It’s a long way from here

I wish I could lift the weight of the choices that I made about us

All the voices in my head, the echo in the things you said

There’s no credible defense from the emptiness that rents this heartache

Just a groom without a bride

A train without a track to ride

Are we leaving our best behind?

I’ll never know, but I gotta go

Leaving to redesign

The story to be told

It’s such a long way home, from here

Walking the miles we lost last year

Counting the promises and tears

It’s such a long way home, it’s a long way from here

It’s a fire that won’t burn out

It’s a time you can’t turn around

We can never go back, we can never go back again

It’s a princess without a crown

It’s an army of soldiers in a no war town

We can never go back, we can never go back again

It’s such a long way home from here

Walking the miles we lost last year

Counting the promises and tears

It’s such a long way home, it’s a long way from here

It’s such a long way home, it’s a long way from here