Sunday, September 9, 2012

Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake and Dave Matthews…It Should Have Been a Perfect Evening.

Last night was the night we’d been waiting for!  The Dave Matthews Band was coming to Cali and we had tickets…since March as a matter of fact!  Marcie, Mike, Elana and I jumped in the car and met Tami in Irvine for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.  The evening was off to a great start because the only dessert I ever crave is sold at the Cheesecake Factory…Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake! 
dave matthews 2While eating most of it all by myself I sighed, “Red velvet cake cheesecake and Dave Matthews…it’s a good night you guys.” 

That was until we got to the venue – the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.  Actually, we hadn’t completely arrived yet because, although we were on the property about 6:30, we didn’t get to park until 7:30.  That’s right, it took us about an hour to just park the car!  The parking lot was so poorly organized and executed.

Once out of the car, we forgot we were irritated and excitedly walked into the amphitheater.
Dave Matthews

Our seats were general admission on the lawn area.  Since we were late getting in (due to parking)  much of the lawn was filled up.  It took us awhile to find a spot.  Luckily, it wasn’t too long after making ourselves comfortable that the show started.  We jumped to our feet and cheered when Dave and the rest of the band got on stage.  At that point, the cheering literally drowned out the music.  Not because the cheering was so loud, but because the sound at last night’s show was atrocious.  It was quiet and somewhat distorted.  Even though there was a bank of speakers directly in front of us we could still hold conversations with people 15 feet away and some were able to talk on their cell phones.  Mike described it to be like we were all standing outside a car playing the music with the windows rolled up.  We could hear it, but it just wasn’t very loud or clear. 

After the first  hour of the show people started getting up and leaving.  After the second hour we decided to head back down the hill too, thinking that the exit traffic would hardly be worth the show we had just seen.  Dave usually plays 2-3 encores at each show, and I would never leave before they were over usually.  It was such a disappointment. 

What makes it even worse is about two months ago, the band announced a show at the Hollywood Bowl to be performed next week.  We never would have gone all the way to Irvine had we known about this show.  In addition, the Bowl sounds incredible all the time.  There are still tickets available for that show, and I’m almost tempted. 

But at least there was red velvet cake cheesecake!

Update:  Mike, Marcie, and I are headed to the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday for DMB’s show.  Mike texted me tonight and it said, “I want a do over."  Me too!

17 comments:

  1. What a bummer! Good thing for cheesecake! ;)

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  2. I love DMB, and it's been so, so long since I've seen them live. It sucks that the sound sucked at the venue. :-(
    However, that absolutely decadent, scrumptious-looking cheesecake would certainly go a long way making up for sucky sound...in my opinion, at least!

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    1. The concerts are usually great! I don't think I've ever sat down during a DMB concert because it's so loud and dance worthy. We stood up when he came on stage and then sat the rest of the show. Such a bummer.

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  3. Well why on earth not. It's hardly that you'll be taking the bite for the six kids mouths if you do go to the Bowl.
    There does seem to be a theme in the LA area with Epidaurus. What's the place in Orange from you anyway. It's wicked difficult to judge beyond a good spitball and say it's 40 miles between the HB and the place in the OC. HA I never thought I'd have cause to write that in a honest to god sentence.
    Did you meet Penny and Sheldon at the CCF :-D.

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    1. Ha ha ha! Do you get that show there? That is so funny. The real CCF looks nothing like the one on the show and Penny's waitress uniform looks like she works in a diner. In real life they are very well dressed. It's very trendy.
      It's about 60 miles from LA to OC, give or take. We are so spread out here that it truly depends on where you are coming from to gage distance (that sounds stupid and obvious, but it's true). Just getting from one end of the city to the other can take 30-40 minutes so the starting location makes all the difference.

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    2. Oh, and as I said, I'm tempted. It's on a school night though, and I'm usually in bed before the show would even start. Plus it's still a million degrees right now. The OC is a bit cooler so a concert in Sept isn't so bad. Here it just might be sweltering.

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  4. Red velvet cheesecake. Shut up!
    Do you think they deliver?

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    1. Perhaps but looking at the website they cater for parties.

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    2. I would like to learn how to make this dessert. Well kind of. I make a mean red velvet cupcake, but have never even attempted a cake let alone a cheesecake.

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    3. It doesn't seem complex at all. And how the CCF get the layer of cream in the middle is to freeze it. That was a bit of a revelation for you could do the same for chocolate butter top on a CHOCOLATE SIN, save the world of frustration and pain, that would.
      So it's a time consuming one. But again if you put the cream cheese in a round before you started the sponge mix. By the time it was cool enough to work the ring in the freezer would be like a rock.
      BUT, I see no reason why one couldn't soak a pound of cherries in brandy and pop then along the top. I can't find out what the heck they are using to get the red colour though.

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    4. I believe the red is good old fashion red food coloring/dye - tablespoons of it.

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  5. What a bummer!
    In Vegas a few yeasr back for a basketball tournament we went to see ZZ Top and Aerosmith...we were with a fun crowd but the acustics were so bad!
    The bowl is awesome...so is Dave!

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    1. I shouldn't be complaining because I've seen him plenty and it's always been great. On the bright side we had plenty of time to catch up with DMB as background music. :)

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  6. That stinks, sorry that you guys didn't have as much fun as you should have. I want my pals to be happy!

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    1. I'm glad we couldn't talk you into this one because you wouldn't have been happy. :) We're gonna try to get tix for Wed. Fingers crossed!

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