Lauryn Hill Concert Part Deux

I enjoyed the show in Miami so much that I decided to blow the whole concert budget on Lauryn Hill. My husband and I went to see her again on Wednesday, although we had just been on Saturday. Let me just say that was a great decision. However, my feet might disagree. Here's the skinny:

• We arrived at 9pm, but there were some early hardcore fans already piled in a room to get early general admission entry. They rushed to the front of the stage, and we filed into the room. We were only about 5 rows deep. Pretty great I would say. At the Miami show it was all jumbo tron viewing. This show was up close and personal.
• We stood around getting drinks and what have you until 10pm. Her DJ comes out and pumps up the crowd with Reggae (of which I am not a big fan), old school hip-hop, and some new stuff (not a fan of that either). The crowd was hyped for about an hour, and then all of the sudden we realized that she still hadn't shown up. The DJ was still spinning hits, but nobody really moved after 11:00pm. We all just waited with upside smiles and scrunched up brows. One lady who had heard me say I saw her in Miami a few days prior accosted me about the late arrival as though I was part of her crew. I didn't know what to say, but "we only waited about an extra 30 mins in Miami. My husband still maintains that is was an hour and a half in Miami, but that's just not how I remember it. I facebooked when she came out at both shows, so let the record show, blah, blah, blah.
• Around 11:30 she came out smiling, happy, fashion-enviable (yes, her outfit was right this time), and acting as though she had no idea that I had just stood on 6 inch heels for 2.5 hours waiting on her. I was a little grumpy (but it wasn't all Lauryn's fault). The woman next to me was super-grumpy.
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• I'm going off-road a little here, but I must explain why I was grumpy. I mentioned the standing in 6 inch heels for 2.5 hours part, but the physical pain associated with standing in my new Jessica Simpson 6 inch heels goes beyond explanation. I looked cute, but it was not cute at all. Plus, there was this annoying couple in front of me for like a two hours dancing. One of them kept backing up her squishy body against me and I was pissed and grossed out. I wanted to swing on these inconsiderate jerks explained that she was violating my personal space several times and finally in the middle of the show, they just pushed forward and got out of my way. I literally shouted "hallelujah." So with my hurting feet, and the squishy body and cig and weed smoke these two brought with them, I was a little pissy perturbed.
• Lauryn was happy and electric. She looked out in the crowd and I could see that she noticed me and Ms. Super grumpy that was next to me, so I was little embarrassed to look like a stick in the mud. I quickly got in the spirit of things. Ms. Super Grumpy next to me left. I wasn't going anywhere because I knew what was in store for me, a great show.
• This Tampa crowd was way different than the Miami crowd. They paid about the same ticket price to see Lauryn all by herself, as the other crew paid for a huge line up. They quickly forgave the lateness and partied all night long.
• The show itself was exactly the same, so I take that back about a formula for her show and a stage manager needing to step in. She has a formula, she has just chosen to push people to the point of total piss-offivity (by being late) and then start off with a song no one knows. I think that is counter-intuitive, but hey that's just me.
• The show was even more awesome and she was very engaged with the audience. She showed no fear only the desire to rock the mic. She did it over and over again! Perfect pitch, new notes, new rhymes, new arrangements. She was giving it all to us.
• She did some of the band reprimanding antics, but not too much. I also noticed, I guess because I was closer, that the band seems to get pumped by her directives. They actually looked excited and they played better, but they were already incredible. It appeared that she has all the music and vocals planned out in her head, and she really encourages her band to play it out the exact way she sees it.
• Anyway, we all loved the show and many many people were hobbling out of there smiling from ear-to-ear. Men and women, were complaining about their feet. All told we stood about 4 hours. Get your ticket if she comes to your town. You won't regret it!