So last night was the concert with Chuck Berry and, as rumored, Nelly. It was pretty great. It was in Kiener Plaza so the crowd was tiny, and there was no beer so everyone was freakishly well-behaved. Apparently, going to the show means I’m now a volunteer for the Democratic National Convention? I didn’t find that out until this morning. That’s cool.
They didn’t point out the DNC selection committee but I’m pretty sure I spotted some of them. There were these three couples who were so good-looking and perfectly polished that Justin remarked, “They’re clearly not from around here.” The girls’ shoes gave it away. The guys were all the same height, same build, and had their sleeves rolled up to the exact same length, like they mastered this look together in a class at Yale. I wanted to whisper to Justin, “They look like that cafeteria table full of vampires in Twilight,” but Justin is a pop culture vacuum and sometimes I get baited into explaining totally stupid things like they’re important.
Thanks to Joe, I know we were on the news. J’s in red, I’m in black:
I would show you the clip but I’m chomping my gum in it like a psychopath. Also, try to imagine all those older people around us singing “Hot in Herre”, because that happened.
I didn’t cry but there were a few parts where I really missed my dad:
1. “Maybelline”
2. Mike Shannon. He’s the voice of the Cardinals and therefore, he was my dad’s eyes when watching baseball. Unexpected.
3. Nelly’s latest song. It’s about a breakup, but the bridge goes, “If you ever loved somebody put your hands up/ And now they’re gone and you wish you could give them everything.” If he sang that line one more time, I would’ve burst into tears.
My favorite moments:
1. Mayor Slay loses Mike Shannon
2. Chuck’s daughter wailing on the harmonica like a boss
3. No set list – Chuck just kept saying, “You call ’em, we’ll play ’em.”
4. Chuck forgets part of a song and blasts random chords, grinning
5. So the world’s greatest rock and roll legend is playing onstage and half the audience becomes enthralled with bouncing around a beach ball
6. A teeny tiny adorable hunched-over old lady hobbled onstage to dance with Chuck Berry
7. Awesomely inappropriate sing-a-longs to “Ding-A-Ling” and “Country Grammar”.
8. “St. Louis, y’all. You may not like us but you will respect us.”
9. Running into RØB, Coolhand, Switchblade and Jason’s mom.
10. My FAVORITE BOOTYJAM OF ALL TIME, “Shake Ya Tailfeather”. YES. OH HELL YES.
If the Democratic National Convention comes to St. Louis, Justin and I decided to rent out our loft and parking spot for like $1,000 and crash at my mom’s.
Did you guys know it’s been 10 years since “Country Grammar” came out? And did you know that 50 years ago, my mom worked in a shoe factory next door to where I’ll be living downtown? And my new next-door neighbor makes the world’s best milkshakes at the Washington Avenue Post? Fun facts. I’m so sleepy today!
Secretly Stephie 
