There will be NO personal gossip about the members of Little Texas or their family on this page. This blog is strictly to talk about my experiences with Little Texas concerts (show reviews), fun times had with fellow LT fans, and basically my addiction to all things Little Texas. I am not a groupie. I do not strive to sleep with the band. I am a fangirl with a slight LT addiction, living the dream by going to as many LT shows as I possibly can.
Our 40th Little Texas show was reason for us to celebrate. We were excited that our brand of crazy obsession/dedication, whatever, had put us at this perfectly even pretty number just days before our birthdays. So essentially we were calling this particular LT road trip, a birthday trip for both me and hubby.
The road trip itself was delightful. The big white poofy clouds were the lovely sort where you see all kinds of critter shapes. They looked so innocent. Little did we expect that their poofiness would turn evil.
Evil really is in the eye of the beholder I reckon. Rain is a good thing. Especially for our drought stricken cornfields here in Ohio. But as far as rain goes, the kind that brings lightning can suck it.
The Streetsboro Family Days is one of those nice little town events that brings a couple thousand out to mingle with each other, eat fair foods and listen to the free shows provided by the city. This year was their 10 yr celebration. The entertainment this year was of course Little Texas. (or else I wouldn’t be writing this now would I?) I was just excited when we rolled up into the festival and found out that one of the booths was selling one dollar hotdogs. I ain’t nothing if I ain’t frugal and dollar hotdogs meant hubby would be a happy camper cause he could eat his fill of his favorite food.
We roamed the smallish festival while sharing a chocolate ice cream cone. We staked out our seats for the show. The city was gracious enough to provide metal chairs for seating so we didn’t need ours. My butt wasn’t very thankful but I thought them providing seating was nice. We haven’t been to many festivals that did that.
We picked out some seats right in the front row but we were moved to the fourth row after being told the first couple rows were for sponsors. We completely understood and we chatted with the “Guy in Charge” for a few telling him that we drove all the way from the Cincinnati Ohio area to be here for our 40th Little Texas show. Of course goofy me acts all bubbly and super excited like this is my first show rather than 40th. The “Guy in Charge” was happy that we had come up there to enjoy the show. He was impressed with our brand of crazy obsession. I know this because later that evening, he come and got me and Donald for a meet and greet with LT. Of course goofy me gets all googly starry eyed like I’ve never met the guys before. Just cause that 12 yr old girl inside of me can not believe I’m living this dream where I get to “meet and greet” my favorite band. My inner 12 yr old girl would have never believed what this 33 yr old lady gets to do.
So we get escorted back to the meet and greet tent with a few others, me bouncing the whole way. “Guy in Charge” seemed pleased to offer us this opportunity even making comment that he wanted us back here because we were such big fans. The guys walk in. “Guy in Charge” says, “Fellas, these are some of your biggest fans.” The guys smile and say “Hi” and when Porter in particular lays his eyes on us, he shakes his head laughing. “Guy in Charge” mentions to them that we drove all the way from the Cincy area and the guys are like, “Yeah, we know these two.” I promptly hid behind hubby. So, the guys come around and we all chit chat. The guys introduced themselves and shook our hands. LOL. Porter laughed when I told him how we got pulled from the audience to meet them. Anyways, once that is all over, we return to our seats, me floating on preshow LT high.
Glad we got that chance to hang out then cause the stormy skies had other plans for our fun time. But before that happened, because of the impending rain, a lot of the sponsors didn’t show up to fill the front rows so “Guy in Charge” told us to move up and sit in the front. YAY!! I made a bee line for front center.
Finally, after listening to a couple opening acts, pretty good ones, I might add, it’s show time. Little Texas comes out singing “That’s Why I Brought My Boots”. I really LOVE this song. I love the vibe, the lyrics, everything. The guys were really rocking it out. The potential for a great show was showing itself loud and proud. (just had to add that in there since L&P is one of my fav LT songs lol) We got to hear, “Boots”, “Life Goes On”, “Amy’s Back In Austin”, “Party Life”, and “Some Guys Have All The Love” before the lightning shut us down. Fun was had. I had my beach ball going and Duane threw me a little small one to blow up and get started. The crowd was having a blast. The guys sounded good. I got a few pictures. I got to jump. We danced, we laughed, we sang and just as it was getting good, it had to end. It’s the only show we have been to, to date that got shut down by weather. I was sad. The fangirl in me was even more sad. But, you can’t mess with lightning. I like everyone alive and safe. At least hubby got to hear his favorite song, “Amy’s Back In Austin”. and you can’t really say that the show wasn’t memorable.
So even though it was short, it was sweet. Sweet to be hanging with my best friend (hubby) on a Friday night with our favorite band. So we readily admit, it does suck to travel 4 hrs to hear just a few songs that we’ve heard over and over and will hear over and over again. BUT we also readily admit, that we don’t have any regrets and that we would do it all over again. And that my friends, is what being a crazy, obsessed, dedicated, loyal fangirl is about.
It's always exciting when Little Texas announces that they have posted new tour dates. That's the stuff that gets my heart pounding like, "Oh please, please, please, be close!". Most of the time, the shows are too far away to even consider traveling to. But several times a year, ok, last year it was 10 times... but who's counting... we are lucky enough to see a show date posted that we are able to just up and go to. This year, we got lucky.
A show was scheduled for St Marys, PA, and it was only six and a half hours away. Now I know what you are thinking, six and a half hours?? Well, considering last year, when we decided our first show was going to be in Lula, Mississippi, which was a nine hour drive, we thought we lucked out with the St Marys show. The absolute best thing about deciding to go to St Marys, was that I had an internet friend, a fellow Little Texas fan, who would be going to the same show and we had never met in person. I must say, that in my experiences, meeting up with other Little Texas fans has been a major joy and really, by spending time talking on the internet with them, it kind of feels like you are going to meet up with family. It's so cool to finally see someone and throw your arms around them and hear their actual voice.
So, this particular show, we had planned in advance. A lot of the shows are outdoors during festival season, free, and general admission which means we can just decide at the last minute to go. But with this one, tickets were ordered and the seats were assigned. Now this gives time for excitement to really build. Having the tickets in hand for weeks, staring me right in the face saying, "your show is coming up!", has a tendency to hype me up even more. The thing is, usually, I loathe assigned seats. I am not like this with other shows I go to but for Little Texas, I am a front row brat. I simply am not a happy camper unless i am in the front up at the stage in my "spot". Now this is a matter of major anxiety for me. I will plan, wonder, worry, and bust my butt at these shows if I have to, just to get up there. Because as a girl who has been to multiple shows, I know there is usually some point where Porter Howell announces, "Y'all can come right up here.", pointing at the front of the stage. You can bet that I do not have to be told twice. No matter where I am, my butt is hauling towards that stage. Well, for this show, our seats ended up being about midway in our section. The view was great and I went knowing that we wouldn't be right in the front. I figured, we would get there, enjoy the show, and just see the guys after and say "howdy". I wasn't stressing because I already had all that in my head. So because the seats were assigned, we didn't have to spend hours waiting and holding a good spot. This left the day free so we could go check out the town and see the sights.
Pre-show: We roll into town around 10am. The drive was good but it was rainy. Not enough to even be considered a hard rain, just a light constant rain. We didn't have a hotel room so our plan was to basically camp out in the Walmart parking lot after driving around seeing what we wanted to see. Now being a nature nut, the one thing that interested me about this area was that they had a huge herd of elk roaming around. From our past trip to Estes Park, Colorado, we knew that we just had to go see if we could see these guys.
We knew in what general direction to look so we set out hoping that we could actually find them. I must point out too that this area of Pennsylvania, well, it is just gorgeous. It's mountains, forest, small towns, just really pretty country. So when we got to the town where we had heard the elk liked to frequent, we were able to find them no problem. Instead of being in some elk viewing area, they were right in the town, in peoples backyards, laying and grazing away. We were able to see a large male with his harem of cows. They were simply majestic. It always shocks me when I see them at how big they are. They are HUGE compared to our local white tail deer.
Also before the show, we checked out this adorable historic chapel that is billed as smallest church in America...
Once our elk adventure was over, we decided to grab some grub at McDonalds so I could use the free internet. Then we thought we ought to go check out the school that was holding the concert so that we would know where to park, go in, and all that jazz. Upon rolling into the parking lot, we spied the Big Purple Bus and of course a shrill Squee escaped through my lips because that meant that the guys were there and possibly at that time of day, doing soundcheck. We found out where we needed to go, got a general idea of what doors we would be going in and decided to go to settle in the Walmart parking lot for a few hours. Once there, Donald, took a nap and i got in the back and played around with my make up and hair. The rain was not helping my hair situation but it all worked out. I changed clothes in the car and got myself together all while Donald napped and when it was a couple hours before show time, we went back to the school.
Show Time: AHHHHHHH!!! I was so excited! I always feel that way before the show but I hadn't been to a show since October so that made the excitement even more bubbly. We go in, sign a guest book and find our seats. This is a sold out show which makes it even better. Like I said, I knew we wasn't front row but I was relieved to find that we were near the aisle so that I could book it to the front if need be without having to move people out of my way or run right over top of them as my dear hubby would put it. So, we are just hanging out and my internet friend shows up and says Hi. She was so sweet. She made me a red rose out of duck tape and i must say, it is the cutest thing! The sweetest thing by far though was that she had two extra tickets and invited us to use them. They were front row!!! YAY!!! Oh the good times were about to be had! With little time to kill before the show actually started, we chatted with her and her family and got to know each other better. I also let them know that if we were allowed at the stage, I would be gone. I didn't want them to think i was abandoning them but that I have a spot I need to get to. Usually I am shy but LT shows make me show my brand of crazy. I warned them and they accepted it. We all got along fantastically and I am so lucky to call these people friends.
The opening act was called Six Pack. They were good. They got bonus points with me by singing "Rocky Top". As a girl that bleeds Tennessee Orange, "Rocky Top" is my anthem. GO VOLS!! I quite enjoyed them but in all honesty, I was really ready to see Little Texas. By the time the intermission was over, I was perched on the edge of my seat feeling really bouncy. My cameras were all ready and I was ready to go!
The guys finally came out and I jumped to my feet of course all the while screaming "WOOOOOOOO". I sat back down though cause no one else stayed standing and I didn't want to be rude and block anyone's view. The first three songs were done and then the invitation to come up to the stage was thrown out. I was the first one up and at the stage in my spot before anyone else had even got up out of their seated position. The guys (what I call the members of Little Texas) just laugh at me. They know I'm crazy. They know I love them. It's all good. I don't care what I look like to others. They were probably scared to come down to the front because of me, a crazy lady, jumping around screaming and just generally having myself a good ol time. People did actually come up front though. Donald stood behind me and my new friends all joined me in the front. I really think people at these shows really enjoy being let up right to the stage. I know I love it.
The show itself was great. The auditorium had awesome sound. Sometimes an outdoor show doesn't show off how good LT actually sounds. Little Texas is one of these rare groups that can actually harmonize and they do it beautifully. They did their normal set and threw in a couple new ones such as "Hot in Texas" (not sure about name?) and "You Can't Get In A Hurry Here", which is one of Donald's personal favorites.
The best and by far brightest highlight for me though was having Porter Howell, give me one of his new guitar picks. In my head, this moment was like those movie moments where time stands still. I actually got teary when he told me to look at it and it had his name on it. I blew him a kiss. I was seriously speechless and beside myself. I think my heart melted into a gooey little puddle. For those that don't know, I have had a puppy dog crush on Porter since i was 12 yrs old, I am 32 now and I still see him like I did when I was 12, out of those innocent childish brown eyes, just smitten. We actually have an inside joke between my friends and Donald about this. I am lucky to have a husband who gets it and has no issues because he knows me and knows it isn't about anything but innocent pure love. I guess most people would assume that it is me wanting and lusting over a famous singer but it's so not like that. It never will be. I love my life too much to let lustful sin enter into my heart. Anyways, this particular blog isn't to explain myself. I digress....
So, other highlights of the night include... group picture time. This is where the guys line up and let us all take pics of them. This particular show was great because, Duane, takes my camera and takes some pics of the crowd and he takes a picture of Porter for me. *sigh* Am I really that obvious in my crush? lol
Another highlight was "What Might Have Been". It is always a highlight for me at the shows because I LOVE hearing the crowd sing. My favorite part of the song though is the harmony at the end. Those guys and that last line just make me swoon!
The show was a good 'un for sure. It was energetic and everyone seemed to love it. I overheard several different people saying how great it was at the end. Now that is something that always makes me smile. I love hanging around observing what people thought of the show. It is very rare that I hear anything negative. Seems like all who take the time to come out to see LT, end up really enjoying them. That makes me happy!! I am one to sing LT praises off the rooftop and it does my heart good to hear others love them too. Since they reunited, I have this fear that they are just gonna be snatched away from me again and just quit. I would be heartbroken again just like all those years ago when upon reading that the band was dissolving, I crumpled up that particular magazine article in tears. Anyways, it was a show that was just beyond excellent but I could just be a little partcial.
After the show: We hung around for the meet and greet after. We got hugs and pictures and chatted a bit. I won't gossip here about personal conversations had with the guys. I am just not like that. BUT I will say that there are times, that the little 12 year old girl in my heart just blurts out the stupidest stuff!! This night was one of those times. I get in front of of Porter, get a hug, and totally spazz out. Wow. Can we say embarrassed?? I really don't know how I don't scare that poor guy. LOL The funniest part was Donald standing there just letting me say stuff that he KNOWS I would never ever ever want to really say out loud. Donald is standing there in shock with his mouth open just listening. He sooooo should have just pulled me away from the table!! Ah well, as of now, my next show isn't until July 4th so I'm sure he won't remember anything I said. LOL One can hope anyways.
You hear me say this and now you say, "ooooohhh you're one of those girls".
Well, maybe I am. But it really depends on what your take on being a fangirl is.
So yeah, fangirl is a term that can be totally derogatory. It has various meaning from being a crazy lunatic stalker girl who thinks she is going to marry the object of her fanaticism or it can pertain to a normal girl who has strong fan loyalty to a particular band, actor, fictional character or whatever. The spectrum is quite long between the two extremes of the definition. I reckon that I fall somewhere in between the two but closer to the "normal" end of it all.
I am a girl who formed a fan loyalty to the "country" group, Little Texas as a tween. Now where usually a fangirl will grow out of her adorations, mine has only stuck with me and been made stronger through the years. I think this is based on the fact that their music has been a soundtrack to my heart of sorts and really, when you bond yourself to a particular song or whatever, it is with you always for whatever moment in your life you have tied it to. For example, people always remember what song was playing when they danced their first couple dance, or the song that was playing during their first make out session, or people even have songs that they make known that they want played at their funeral. Anyways, for whatever reason, I have loved Little Texas since their first single played on my little purple and white boombox. I remember setting up my cassette to try and capture it so that i could play it over and over. Their first single was "Some Guys Have All The Love". They have had my love for 20 years now.
So, lets skip some of the history. Anyone who knows me knows about my undying absolute devotion to all things Little Texas. Okay and lets face it, after seeing as many shows as I have, the guys in the band know about it too. I'm going to start out this blog with the Little Texas adventures I have during the year 2011. I hope to throw in a review here and there of past shows I have been to also. Some of those times have the best memories. In fact, ever since Little Texas has reunited all the memories have been the best. I have met some wonderful, dear, sweet friends who once I just considered fellow fans. My best girlfriend was made through our love of Little Texas. I feel absolutely blessed to have a Husband who loves Little Texas as much as I do. The Little Texas adventures I have are always with him. He is my partner in crime and seeing Little Texas live has become our hobby. This hobby has had us all over the eastern part of the country. We have yet to cross the Mississippi River for a show! Always on our concert road trips, we take time to see the area we are visiting and it's something we have really enjoyed over the past couple years.
Our Little Texas adventures have a tendency to start like this....
"So where the boys playing this weekend?"
insert answer with how long it would take to get there...
"Hmmm, that's do-able... ROAD TRIP!!!"
Anyways, I am basically compiling this blog is for other Little Texas fan's enjoyment. I know a lot of people can't just up and go see them like we do. I try to provide lots of pics and sometimes vids to share along with show details and travel experiences. A big part of the reason I am doing this blog is to also have my own memories preserved. I love having a log to look back on and enjoy. I hope you enjoy my ramblings about all things Little Texas. Feel free to follow, comment, suggest or whatever. Just try not to be mean. It sucks to have your feelings hurt.
