Trampled by Turtles

Last night Offspring #2 and I went to see Trampled by Turtles at First Avenue.  Unfortunately they didn't start playing until 10:15.  From 7 until then we waited and listened to two warm up acts.  The first act was almost painful to listen to.  Most of the music was prerecorded and some of it was live electric organ and electric drums with some vocals.  The second act was better especially when they played someone else's music.  When they played original music they faltered but at least they looked at and interacted with the audience unlike the first act.  By 10:15 I was getting tired.  I'm usually asleep by this time.  Add to that the fact that we are all standing.  Maybe 30 or 35 people have chairs at this venue but the rest of us are standing.  Hours of standing is not easy on my aching back.  Lucky for me I had a railing to lean on.  When Trampled by Turtles came on the stage the audience stopped talking and started listening.  People were dancing.  Balloons and inflatable balls bounced across the crowd.  Marijuana fumes floated through the air.  A trio of older white haired men, standing right next to us, lit up a doobie and shared it (but not with us).  It was quite a crowd of hipsters.  Hipsters, according to Offspring #2, wear blue jeans rolled up at the cuff, plaid flannel shirts, hiking boots, and bushy beards.  She pointed at that moment of definition and we looked at a group of 5 men descending the stairs all wearing blue jeans, flannel shirts, hiking boots and bushy beards.  Trampled by Turtles has a couple guitars, a mandolin, a violin, a cello and a banjo.  They make great music; reminding me of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.  As much as I liked their music, after almost 5 hours of standing my back overruled my music appreciation and we had to leave early; if you call 11:45 pm early.  I'm glad I went.  Note to self:  If going to a Trampled by Turtles concert again wait for a weekend and make sure chairs are available.