Hey, Friends. So remember that surprise I was planning for my niece? (Probably not, but I'm going to pretend that you do if you are reading this. It works much better than realizing I am, for the most part, talking to myself here.) Well, I still haven't told her about it, but in the meantime a second surprise has come along for her -- and I am so excited about it!
I don't know about you, but I have a pretty wide range of music that I like. If I'm being completely honest, Country is about the only type I really just can't get too excited about. It's okay, but I have never once felt the overwhelming urge to just turn on a Country station and listen. I like a few songs, but I really can't get into it -- that's just me. I'm willing to give pretty much anything a shot, though. When suggestions of bands I might like pop up on Spotify or Twitter, for example, I'm game to check them out. I've found a few bands I really like that way, although I would be hard-pressed now to tell you exactly when, where, or how I first stumbled across them.
One such band that I found in this manner is Heffron Drive. I fell in love with their music immediately. You should check them out if you haven't yet had the pleasure of listening to their albums. I also started following them on Twitter, to keep up with concert announcements, new music -- you know how it works.
What does this have to do with my niece and a surprise? I'm getting to it, but it's a round-about story.
Back to how I like to explore the "suggested" bands that pop up. A few months ago I noticed on Spotify that it kept suggesting that I might also like Big Time Rush. I liked their music when I gave it a listen. I had no idea who they were, although the name sounded vaguely familiar and I couldn't place why. I had to Google it, of course.
And then I felt silly. Of course they sounded vaguely familiar -- my niece had mentioned them before. I had no clue that it had been a huge television show/band hybrid thing on Nickelodeon. One of these days I will have to catch an episode of the show to check it out. I'm kind of intrigued to see how the music and the show fit together.
Which brings us back to the recent past. I had seen on Twitter that Heffron Drive was going to be playing a concert in New York City. Hell yeah! I am so there. I don't give a rat's ass if I have to go by myself, I will be going to that concert. Music is music. If you like it, then go support the artists so they can keep making it.
And then I had a stroke of brilliance.
My brother, my niece, and my nephew just arrived here on Friday for vacation. Maybe my niece would like to go with me. I brought the idea up with my brother.
Me: Does Lili still like Big Time Rush?
Brother: You mean BTR?
Me: I take it that's a yes.
He was cool with the plan for her to go to the concert with me. My niece was all kinds of excited for going, especially once I told her that I had gotten tickets that included the Meet & Greet. She knows BTR, but she is only now becoming familiar with Heffron Drive since I told her she was going to the concert.
My mother? Not happy with these plans. She is convinced I am going to get us completely lost or get her granddaughter axe-murdered by taking her to New York City. Some highlights from the conversation:
"Your brother is okay with this?"
"What if you get lost?"
"Do you know what kind of a nervous wreck I am going to be?"
"I'm not worried about you getting there -- I'm worried about you wandering around in the dark afterward."
Seriously? I'm slightly offended. I'm a responsible adult. I have a job, I own a home. Most importantly, I would f$%king die before I let anything happen to my niece. Of course, this is also the woman who would not let my brother and I ride a Ferris Wheel -- ever -- when we were little because she had read a news article about one that fell apart at a fair somewhere. She was slightly more perturbed when my father also had no problem with this plan.
I had to swear that I would have my best friend, who has worked in the city for years, on speed dial in case we have a problem. My friend found the situation amusing, and even said that I should tell my mother that she said we would be completely fine. Don't think it made much of a difference.
Long story short: this is happening. Surprise #2 for my niece this summer will be happening on Wednesday. I'm stoked to see Heffron Drive perform, and my niece is excited about getting to see Kendall from Big Time Rush. Two different perspectives on the same concert. I'm sure it will be awesome!
