Life Changing Moment

I'm horrendously late with this post, but better late then never I suppose...Months and months and months ago I went to the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival in Golden Gate Park. There were many bands I'd never heard of, a few bands I was really excited to see, and one in particular that I knew was a chance in a lifetime. Levon Helm. Ahhh...where to begin? I discovered Levon Helm when I was in high school and I watched The Last Waltz for the first time, and I fell in love with his voice. He sang with more passion then anyone I had ever seen (and, to be honest, I've always thought drummers were the coolest) and he just belonged on that stage. I couldn't get enough. The Band quickly climbed to the top of my list, as did The Last Waltz, but I sadly put them in my imaginary box of things-I'm-too-late-to-experience because I thought I would never have the chance to see my favorite musicians perform life.

But then. BUT THEN! Outside Lands rolls around. I was planning on going no matter what, but then rumors started swirling and hints about the lineup were dropped and I realized that Levon Helm was coming to my city. I was giddy. I was ecstatic. I was borderline delirious at the thought of seeing him live. AND I was going to see him twice, because I jumped at the chance to buy tickets with my dad to the surprise show the night before the festival (sidenote of awesomeness: my parents were at The Last Waltz. They were there. In real life. Amazing). So here I was, with tickets to TWO shows to see my favorite musician. And you know what they say about expectations, and how they never live up to the real thing? Well sometimes...that's complete bull.

The night show was beyond what I could have hoped. I had no idea he would play all of my old favorites, but he did. I was feet away from the stage. His band are all incredible musicians who love what they do. And he played The Weight. And honestly? I cried. I couldn't help it. It was an absolutely perfect moment and one I'll never forget, and I knew it at the time. Levon smiled at me. During the encore I mouthed "thank you" to him and he smiled and nodded and tried to throw me his drumstick (someone taller then me went home with it). I knew right then that this show would always stay with me as one of the best I've ever seen.

And the next day I woke up, drove into the city, worked my way to the front of the stage and saw him again. After battling throat cancer and years of tough living his voice is definitely shot, but the passion is still there. The man did not stop smiling. It was a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful thing to check this goal that I never thought I'd achieve off of my life list. I saw Levon Helm in concert. Holy Moly. Check.