hootie...gives a hoot?: September 2017

"Do I love you? Do I hate you? I can't make up my mind.

So, let's free fall and see where we land."

~Ed Sheeran, Where We Land,
from the album 5 (2009)

Ed, I love you!

I don’t have the words to describe how wonderful it was to hear Ed Sheeran live for a second time.

THIS time I was prepared.

I knew his tour playlist. Well, I knew the general playlist, and I do know all the words to all his songs, so I was good to go.

In March, I had an opportunity to buy tickets to his current Divide Tour, and he would be playing in Indianapolis. I was lucky enough to purchase two tickets on the floor. Row 19…hmm, for my first concert of his I was in row 10…clearly, I was feeling snobbish. What was I thinking!? This time, I would be taking my sister! I would still be close to Ed. His energy, and positivity would reach me.

I had foolishly hoped to buy four decent seats at Ticketmaster prices, but I wasn’t willing to settle for seats that would give us “just the experience”. I experienced that once when I saw Genesis in concert. I’m not even sure they were really in the same arena we were in that night. So, go big or go home. I went big.

My sister had a birthday in June, and guess what I gave her? She needed to be my date for this concert. She needed to be with me because, years before she had been the one who introduced me to Ed. "You should listen to this guy" she said. "He has this song called Lego Houses. I really think you'd like it." I have to admit, I was too busy to take a even a few minutes to listen to her suggestion. I was deep into student teaching at that time.

Six months later however, a guy I was dating played some Ed for me. This guy had a guitar and he actually PLAYED, and sang to me. I was smitten! Not by that guy, but by the music. The words and melody captured my heart. I HAD to find out about this young artist. It was mid-June, and my divorce had just been finalized. I was suddenly very free, and I was obsessed with a new artist. Two CD's purchased, my detective hat askew, and I was finding out all I could about the wordsmith who created the poetic songs I was now in love with. I talked to my sister on the phone one day, “Hey, there’s this singer I'm in love with, and I don't mean like I’m in love with him, he's like 24 and that’s gross, I'm in love with his personality, with his drive, with his word choice, and rhythm, and language. His music is intoxicating! Have you heard of Ed Sheeran?" I'm sure if she was with me face-to-face, her look would have been one of her shaking her head at me while she had that 'I-told-you-so' look in her eyes. I suspect she was rolling her eyes at the heavens as she patiently responded, "Yes (long pause) I told you about him months ago. He has this song called Lego Houses, remember?" As a Lego lover, I did kind of remember that song name now that she mentioned it. As a Harry Potter fan though, I also recalled my sister telling me this singer looked a bit like Ron Wesley in the Harry Potter movies. Which I suppose he does. lol It’s funny how and what our brains choose to recall, and when.

Well, in my obsession, I realized that just a few weeks later (7-7-15), Ed Sheeran would be playing in Indy, just over an hour from my house. I asked the guy I was dating if he wanted to go see Ed. He was a fan, too. He hemmed and hawed, but was noncommittal. I was all in. If I was going to this concert, I was going to spend a little money and REALLY see this guy. I found two tickets close to the stage. They cost $400, a piece. This guy I was dating could afford it, but he had excuses. I wasn't asking him to buy my ticket, just go to the concert with me. He wouldn't pull the trigger. I gave him an ultimatum...let me know by a certain time, or I’d buy myself a ticket and go alone. He didn't respond, so I bought myself a ticket. Go big, or go home. I went big.

Two weeks later, I drove myself north to attend my first rock concert, alone. My seat was in row 10, dead center. It was A! MAZE! ING! I was in awe of the young performer before me. One guy on stage, making magic happen. He worked his loop pedal and recreated the tracks I had purchased. I couldn’t get enough.

As many others, I became an instant Sheerio. That’s what Ed Sheeran fans are called. After the concert, I made sure my music library included all the songs he has recorded. NOT every song he’s ever written, this guy is a prolific writer. I just want to own everything he’s recorded. I check periodically to make sure my library is still up to date. I believe in buying CD's to support artists, so what ever I can get a disc, I do. Ed likes to keep things simple and digital.

I follow Ed on Twitter, and Instagram to see what is happening in his life. I know he doesn’t manage his official sites, but still, I love feeling in the loop. I can’t imagine having my life in the limelight as celebrities do. Yet, I willingly follow him, always wanting to know what he's creating. There are a lot of wanna bees in the world, but Ed Sheeran is the real deal. I knew from the moment I truly listened to him that his talent puts him in the same league as Michael Jackson, Elton John, Prince, George Michael, etc. He IS a big deal. I hope he’s around for a long, long time. I love his positive energy and I think the world needs what he has to offer.

So, in March…I had an opportunity to buy tickets. This time I wanted my sister to share this with me. I persevered, and found two seats on the floor, pretty close to the stage. I pulled the trigger. Sold. Next, we just had to wait for September 8 to arrive.

The next six months allowed me to do even more research. What would the playlist be? Who would be the opener? Did I really own all Ed’s music? Did I know all the words to his songs? I’m pretty sure that if Berlioz and Toulouse could talk, they’d be able to sing along with Ed, too!

When September 8th arrived, I couldn’t believe it. The day didn’t feel real to me. I took my first personal day, and left school at noon to head north to Indianapolis. My sister arrived a few hours later. We haven’t spent any real alone, sister time together, since I turned 50 back in 2014. We have stolen away a few hours here and there, but just a few hours. We needed this weekend. We walked to the venue, stopping for a drink and an appetizer. Then it was time to go see Ed!

When I saw Ed the first time, I knew Rixton was opening for him. I educated myself with their most popular songs. This time I hadn’t been paying attention to opener James Blunt. I found out that Ed and he were friends and not surprising, Ed has written several of his songs, too. I was surprised when Joshua Radin came on stage. I am not familiar with him, but he was a nice opener for the evening. Apparently Blunt was sick. I didn’t really care. Sorry for the lack of love James, but I was there to sing with Ed.

I apologized to the people sitting next to me. “Im sorry. I will be singing every single song tonight, and I’m not a professional singer!”

They laughed. “That’s fine.” They approved. It mattered not, I was going to sing even if they didn’t. My sister had been warned months ago.

In my research, I found a YouTube of Ed singing a song that he’d be singing live…Feeling Good, by Nina Simone. Last spring I took a history of Jazz class, and this song and artist fell right into that genre. How cool! Nina started her recording career in 1958. She was the daughter of a female Methodist minister. She was also a civil rights activist as well as recording artist. I was excited to be able to hear Ed singing her song live. I knew he’d be fusing it with his song I See Fire. He was commissioned to write that song for the movie The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013). The songs are opposite in mood and message, but melodically they work well together. I was ecstatic to have my new phone fully charged, and with loads of memory, in my hand. To see Ed singing Feeling Good/I See Fire in Indy on September 8, click here.

With my Anna!

I took photo after photo of Ed, and longed to have my big camera with us. In the end, it didn’t really matter. I was in the moment; going big. I was with my sister, singing with Ed, and having the time of my life.

I was feeling good.

The next time I see Ed, I'd like to hear him singing unplugged, and in a small, intimate venue. I want to hear him sing all his early songs I love from the album 5...Sunburn, So, Be Like You, Firefly, The City, Let It Out, Homeless, Where We Land, Wake Me Up...Oh my, I want it all. I want to go big!

~Lisa Kroll
hopelessly romantic, music junkie, Sheerio

Cell phone concert pictures: