Yes I know it’s not really Fall for a few more weeks, but I always consider September 1st the beginning of Fall – and the beginning of my favorite time of year. I have always loved Fall because it is my birthday (October 4th) and it’s the return of football and basketball and of course the phenominal weather. This Fall is especially exciting because I have SO much planned. This Labor Day Weekend is the last weekend I will be able to stay home on the futon with my dogs reading and binge watching old tv shows. I am pretty much booked through the rest of the year – well at least through November. 

September is particularly crazy with five concerts and Broncos games on Sundays with the Baltimore fans in Federal Hill. I am driving down to Northern Virginia on Friday September 9 to see Bryan Adams at Wolf Trap and two days later on Sunday September 11 to see Heart / Joan Jett / Cheap Trick at Jiffy Lube Live. I can’t quite express how excited I am to finally see Bryan Adams in concert after all these years. Something has always gotten in the way of me seeing him the past few years he has toured. I have loved him since middle school when I proudly hung his poster on my bedroom wall. And it’s not just his hits from the 1980s, but his new album Get Up is really good. I have never seen Heart before, so I am also really excited to finally see them. I have seen Joan Jett and Cheap Trick, so I am looking forward to seeing them again. 

The following week on September 16, I am seeing Maroon 5 at the Baltimore Arena, excuse me I mean the Royal Farms Arena, with my best friend Cindy as it’s one of her favorite bands. I have no idea what they sing, but it should be fun going with Cindy and for once not being obsessed about the band I am seeing. I will be like a regular concert goer. 

The following Saturday on September 24th is the Main Street Music Festival at Merriweather in Columbia. This is usually a free festival on Main Street in Ellicott City, but since the devastating flood that obviously cannot happen. So now it’s a benefit festival at Merriweather with tickets for $12 and proceeds going to Ellicott City. Usually this is a festival of unsigned bands, but it has been confirmed Toad the Wet Sprocket is headlining. I couldn’t be more excited, not because Toad is one of my favorite bands but because I missed their show in Baltimore last month because I was sick – and this the 25th anniversary Fear tour where they’re playing the entire album. Also I missed my VIP experience with a meet and greet and photo with the band, bitbtheyvare also having this at merriweather so I didn’t miss a thing. And bonus my money goes to help Ellicott City! The next day I am going to the final Orioles home game with Cindy and Angela. I am not really into baseball that much since Cal and Brady left in 2001, but it is always fun to go to a game with my friends especially on Opening Day and the final home game. We have front row seats in the bleachers – good times!

That Wednesday September 28th I have tickets to see Ryan Bingham at the Lincoln Theater in DC, but I have a work event that night, so unfortunately I don’t think I will be able to make it. It is ok though because I have seen Ryan before. I end September seeing the Violent Femmes on the 30th at Rams Head Live in Baltimore. I was so impressed when I saw them in Memphis in May that I have been wanting to see them again. They played their entire debut album, and it was fantastic! Rams Head Live is such an easy venue to see a show – general admission hang out at the bar or up at the stage. 

October is especially amazing this year with my birthday, Broncos games on Sundays in Federal Hill, a concert or two, a couple of Grizzlies games and the piece de resistance a trip to Memphis! My birthday is on the 4th, and I am taking off work that day but not doing anything on my actual birthday. I am going to celebrate my brithday that Friday the 7th with friends and coworkers at Arundel Mills for Happy Hour then gambling at Maryland Live. On October 20th, I am seeing Lucero at Baltimore Soundstage. Lucero is this great band from Memphis. They are usually billed as “alt country rock.” Ben Nichols’ voice has this great raspy soulful tone. I’m excited to see them again.

Continuing with my Memphis in October theme, I am going to Memphis Wednesday October 26 through Monday October 31st for the opening of the new resort The Guest House at Graceland. There are going to be events Thursday through Sunday with Elvis celebs – sort of like a mini Elvis Week. I couldn’t be more excited for this trip! The night before the opening of the new resort, I am staying at the Heartbreak Hotel on its final night. My friend Caroline graciously invited me to share a room with her. They are having a little reception that I may actually have to miss depending on what time it is because as fate would have it, the Grizzlies first game is that night October 26. I am such a bigger Grizzlies fan now than I was when I lived in Memphis and had season tickets, so to go to Grizzlies opening night in Memphis is huge for me. I am also going to the Grizzlies game that Sunday night October 30 as the Guesthouse at Graceland events will be completed that day. So I will get to hang out on Beale Street and see my Grizzlies at home one more time!

In November, I will continue watching my Broncos on Sundays in Federal Hill assuming I don’t have to move to Canada if that racist sexist idiot gets elected. On what could be my last day in the US Monday November 7th, I am seeing Temple of the Dog at Madison Square Garden in New York City! This has been 25 years in the making. I have always maintained that I would have loved if there was no Soundgarden or Pearl Jam and just Temple of the Dog remained. I love their album! I have never been a huge Pearl Jam fan, but I am a huge Soundgarden and Chris Cornell fan. Temple of the Dog is touring for the 25th anniversary of the one and only self titled album playing a few shows in a few cities. I really wanted to go the first show in Philly, since it is the first show and Philly is closer to me than NYC. But tickets were nearly impossible to get at the small Tower Theater. Knowing MSG is a much larger venue, I figured tickets would be easier to get and I was right. I am sitting 7th row behind the stage. I would rather sit close behind or side stage than all the way across the arena. This should be an epic show! Two weeks later on Wednesday November 23, the day before Thanksgiving, I am driving up to Philly to see my Grizzlies take on the 76ers. 

You can follow along with my Fall adventures as I live tweet them @DeenasDays and then check back here to get the full stories. I hope your Fall will be as fun as mine!