family TIES: part II (alternately titled: the snoop dogg review)

So, Dad and I went to Snoop Dogg on Thursday night.  And, as per usual, it was a scene. 

One of my favorite things about the House of Blues is that if you go there for dinner before the show, you are let into the concert venue before doors open.  While dinner usually ends up being pricy, it is worth it to be able to stake your claim on a decent view before everyone else.  Dad met me after work and we headed downtown to House of Blues.  Of course dinner began with:  

gin and juice.  While at dinner our waiter informed us that Snoop had decided to go to the Cavs game, so instead of going on at 8 PM, he would be going on at 11:20...It was a Thursday!  It was a work night!  But, we were on Eastern Standard Snoop Time, so we had to wait it out.

After dinner we went into the venue.  We found spots outside of the pit area along the railing and decided to perch there.  They showed a short film based on Snoop's new album, Malice n Wonderland.  The opening act was The Constellations.  I enjoy that they refer to themselves as "ghettotech".  They were a good opening act, very eclectic, broad spectrum of sound, and great stage presence.  While this band isn't necessarily who I would have anticipated opening for Snoop Dogg, I'm not really quite sure who I would have expected to...It's kind of a tough act to precede...

In the end, Snoop did not go on stage until 12 midnight.  So, essentially, we waited six hours for the show to begin.  While we were waiting I was blogging in my head.  Would I rant and rave?  Would I smile and say, "Oh, that Snoop, you know how he is!"  Should I have expected it from the beginning?  I mean, isn't that kind of part of the rap game?  The time that we spent waiting felt dangerous at times...People were rowdy and getting impatient.  People had plenty of time to get drunk.  There were people all around us being held up by their friends because they could no longer stand on their own, yet their friends refused to leave and not see the show.  However, it was one of the most diverse concerts crowd-wise that I have ever attended.  All races, colors, creeds, and genders love Snoop.  We had time to make friends with the people around us, as well as time to see some crazy stuff go down.  I was nervous that the venue would exceed capacity and then we would all be forced to leave.  I thought maybe he wouldn't show up at all.  I'm not going to lie, I was disappointed in him.  The perception I've always had of Snoop was that he was the Gentleman G...Sure he was raw, but he was real and respectful...I decided that I would let the experience of the performance determine my reaction.

And, after the performance, I decided it was all worth it.  He played (Who Am I?) What's My Name?  We gave props to Pac.  We dropped it like it was hot.  There were strippers (locals, even...)  It felt like when I saw BB King.  Felt like when I saw Kenny Wayne Shepherd.  Felt like when I saw Jean-Luc Ponty.  I was witnessing the person who is the best at what they do.  There is no schedule for that, no time frame.  I was in the presence of greatness with nearly a thousand of my drunkest closest friends...Would I go see Snoop again?  I don't know...But I'm glad that I did.