Copeland in Concert

House of Blues

Yesterday we drove to Anaheim to see four bands in concert at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney. Lovedrug and Copeland were playing with Acceptance and Eager Seas. Eager Seas opened. They're new. They stood up at the end of their set and said, "Our stuff is out there with the rest of them. We're new. We're poor."

Lovedrug was second. I really liked them. A lot. They looked smart -- all in jeans, brown dress shirts and ties. Even their movements were coordinated (but not choreographed), and the lead singer switched back from guitar to keyboard. They played a lot of songs I knew from listening to CD's while co-piloting -- even my two favorites.

Acceptance was good too. I'd like to get their CD. And find out if they are a Christian band or not. Aaron thinks that all four might have been, but only one was definite. But with a name like Acceptance, and lyrics like "you took the fall" it kind of sounded like it. Adam asked, "Was he singing about God or a girl." The question I ask about a LOT of praise and worship music. But that's another rant for another time. One audience member tried to crowd surf, but the bouncers got him right away. A guy from the band who appeared to have no purpose but sit with a laptop also surfed. He made it a little farther into the audience.

And finally Copeland. They were good. I thought I knew their songs better than that, but I didn't. They played the "fireflies in a jar" song, which I sang the line I knew with them. The crowd sang along the whole concert. I could see other people like me taking videos and pictures with their cameraphones. They didn't move as much as the other three bands, but I enjoyed watching it. Lovedrug was my favorite all night.

Six Flags Magic Mountain

Yelling my head off on the X

Monday morning the whole crew minus two got up at the crack of dawn and drove to Six Flags Magic Mountain to spend the day. (We got a discount)

The second ride we went on was one that dangled your feet, took you up a tower and dropped you into a loop, then you repeated it all backwards. Deja Vu. So we did the first half of the ride, raced back to the top, prepared for the big drop, and started inching slowly back down. A voice over the intercom told those waiting in line that we were experiencing "technical difficulties" and those wishing to leave the line now could exit. Those of us on the ride wanted to know why we weren't being given that option. We hung there for a few minutes. Tasha began offering salvation to the masses. A few rows back Jonathan was preaching "If any of you don't know Jesus, now would be a good time!"

The ride started up again, and instead of backing us back to the loading area, it took us up to the top and dropped us into the ride. I could have done without being the guinea pig. From the next ride we saw them run it empty a few times with the maintenance man looking worried.

But after that we rode every coaster. We went on the Riddler -- my favorite ride that morning -- and the Batman ride, which was much better than the one in Dallas. Mainly because I didn't have to wait in line for three hours to get on it.

For lunch we went back to the vehicles. Two guys in front of us didn't want to spend oodles of money on food either, so had gone to Burger King and spread the feast on the trunk of their car. About halfway through lunch he dropped some fries. We noticed, and began taking bets on whether or not he would eat them off the ground. That's when we saw it. A seagull had noticed, and was moving in to check things out. And he brought friends. Lots of them. They began inching closer, taking over neighboring cars. The ones flying overhead began circling closer. Soon they were within inches of his head. The guys finally noticed and threw their shirts over their heads and ran.

So, the married couple were by themselves in the truck, and someone got the bright idea to run over, sprinkle a bran muffin on the hood, and watch the seagulls swarm. Aaron was the brave one who ran through the flock with the muffin. And the whole truck was covered. From underneath we heard the horn honk. Then we decided that such a great photo opportunity shouldn't be passed up, so we put one on our own hood. And Jonathan threw out half a sandwich. One grabbed the whole thing and flew off with others in pursuit. "Mine!"

So really, the best entertainment that day was free.

After lunch I rode the Goliath twice in a row. And we went up the hill to the Superman ride -- overrated except that if you hold a penny in your hand at the top it hovers. And then we hit The X. Suspended in the air on a track that throws you around as you loop and twist. The people behind you are suddenly in front. And you go backwards over the first drop. I went on it twice.

We rode a few more rides before the park closed. Then Austen and I got in the front car on Goliath. That was a great way to end the day.