River's Edge Music Festival

I know, I know. I haven't blogged in forever and I have been getting a lot of grief about it from friends and family. It's not because I've been "too busy." My blog just started feeling a little too personal now that I have a "big girl job" (not that I'm not very careful of what I write on here), but I think I'm just being paranoid.

I decided to post again for a very important reason. This weekend I traveled to St. Paul to attend the River's Edge Music Festival. Mainly, I went to see Brand New. For those of you who have been here since the beginning, you know this blog's name is inspired by Brand New, so I felt like I owed it to "the blog" to share my experience. (I am also bursting at the seems with excitement and want to shout from the rooftops how AMAZING the experience was and how in love I am with Brand New!!!!!!!!) So I will. :)

The River's Edge Music Festival was a 2-day event on Harriet Island downtown St. Paul. This was a first year of the festival, and there were a lot of well-known bands there (Dave Matthews Band, Tool, The Flaming Lips, Sublime, Coheed and Cambria, Mutemath). So much good music, good food, and good people watching. It was an awesome atmosphere and I would definitely go again. I had never been to a music festival like this, and BOY was I missing out!

Brand New is my favorite band period. I have never seen them in concert and have been DYING to see them since I first started listening to their music 3 years ago (they've been around for 12 years...I was a late arrival.) Seeing them in concert was truly a dream come true, as lame as it sounds. 

Tonia and I arrived at the venue at 10am, 2 hours before doors opened. Completely unnecessary but we did it. We walked right up to the front of the stage Brand New was set to play on (at 6pm). Yes, again, unnecessary. There were 2 bands who performed before Brand New, so we were adequately entertained while we waited.

"Kinky" was the first band. They were a Mexican rock band who sang only in Spanish, but they were awesome! They were very entertaining to say the least. The best part was one band member dressed as a sort of police man (on accident I'm assuming) who occasionally played the accordion. He would strut to the front of the stage and play, as if he was saying, "That's right, I'm playing an accordion, I'm awesome."

Next up was Coheed and Cambria. I had heard of them but wasn't familiar with their music. Overall, wasn't impressed. The lead singer had a MASSIVE amount of hair and I never really saw his face. Their music was just OK. The highlight was when they covered "Somebody That I Used To Know," which you may know I declared my love for that song in this post.

Alas, BRAND NEW!!!! It was the coolest feeling seeing this man that I have watched on YouTube SO many times, literally feet in front of me. We were front row center, couldn't have been closer! My first thought: "Wow, he is so much more attractive in real life than I could have ever imagined!" He's beautiful. (Sorry, Kevin!) He was sporting a newly shaved head and scruffy beard, which just does me in! Ok, moving on... :). They sounded awesome. Even better than I could have imagined. Their set list was impeccable and I enjoyed every single minute. It was a great mix of songs from each album. They interacted with the crowed and looked like they were having so much fun. Their music means so much more to me now that I've seen it and heard it first hand. My 4 hour drive home from St. Paul was rather enjoyable, listening to the set list with my radio blared, jamming out by myself! I've been singing to myself all day, and going on and on to Kevin about how awesome it was. SO AWESOME!

For you Brand New fans, this is the set list:
Tautou (opener)
Sink
Sowing Season
Millstone
The Archers Bows Have Broken
Mix Tape
Soco Amaretto Lime
Jesus
Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don't
Bought A Bride
Gasoline
Degausser
You Won't Know (closer)

I promise, there are other band members who are also amazing musicians... :)

(Vinny)

(Garrett)

(Brian)

(Jesse)

More pictures for your viewing pleasure:

(I couldn't help myself)

We spent the rest of the night eating yummy food, taking in the atmosphere, and we also listened to Sublime. It was a great experience and I would do it all again in a heartbeat! 'Twas a beautiful day and evening!