March 8

I just got out of the shower post-Macklemore show. Regardless of the fact that it is nearly 2am and I have yoga at 830, I want to take a minute and reflect on the show.

So let me outline my day…

Got up around 8, totally solid, went to the grocery store for breakfast, headed out for a run, showered, Went up to campus, took my Spanish oral final, went to Sociology section, went and did some time over at the radio station and headed back to the house around 445. Ate lunch, peaced the fuck out with only one thing on the mind

Macklemore

I was flying solo to the show, which ended up being great as far as having some me time driving and such. Finally hit the road around 545 after some necessary errands, which, as everyone in the Bay knows, is the worst time to be driving into or out of the City. But doors didn’t open until 830, so I figured I was solid on time.

Which I totally was. Got in line about 715 and it started drizzling a little. Saw Ryan Lewis and some of the crew and got to ask Macklemore a question on that lovely Canon they were shooting with (I asked what his favorite candy bar is…in retrospect I feel kinda lame for it). Then Ben and Ryan drove off in their big white rapist van to go do whatever it is you do before you perform.

Well they let us in right on time and I rolled up into the venue, which was smaller than I expected, which is synonymous with being better as far as venues go. Pre-Blueprint, I rocked a little Words with Friends and milled about the stage, getting more and more excited as the seconds ticked by. Finally Blueprint came on and he fucking KILLED that shit, no lie, the man can flow and I was feelin it deep. After 45 minutes of pure passion and energy, I was even more hyped on Macklemore walkin out on stage.

The atmosphere of the venue was getting to be a little nuts at this point. Some chick who was fucked up and not able to handle her shit was escorted out and everyone was crawling up the stage begging for the show to really start. As soon as the setlist got taped down, everybody (yes, guilty) busted out their phones to snap a shot. A few minutes later, Macklemore finally walked out and from this point on I was giddy, smiley, happy, a 12-year-old girl at a Justin Bieber concert. I was completely starstruck, bowled over by the fact that HOLY FUCK MACKLEMORE IS 3 FUCKING FEET FROM ME. Now, kids, let’s just check in with who we are talking about here: Miss Even-keeled, Keeps-her-cool-no-matter-what Gayle mother fucking Kouklis, and I had gone high school fan girl over this shit. He played tracks off of The Language of My World, The Unplanned Mixtape, The VS (the original and the redux), My Oh My, Wings, and a new song on which he spit so fast I thought the mic was gonna catch fire. Of course Raven Bowie made an appearance for And We Danced during which he busted out some filthy dance moves. At one point, during The Town, I was you know singin along and what not, and Macklemore and I had a moment where we were flowin together and homeboy straight FIST BUMPED me and needless to say the fan girl hidden inside of me fucking peed herself. It was as though Justin Bieber and the Jonas Brothers had simultaneously asked that same 12-year-old’s hand in marriage.

Ok well fuck getting married to Biebs or any of those Jonases. But you catch my drift.

And on a side note, I would like to acknowledge the fact that Ryan Lewis is straight bangin. Just a heads up, if you roll through the bay mid-July, those pesky little x’s on my hands will be gone and we could legally get a drink together after the show if you’re into that sort of thing…

(And Ben was lookin fine as usual, but I’m sure he got in enough trouble with his girl over those panties that ended up on stage)

Anywho, it’s nearly 230 and next week is finals week so ima be out.

I would just like to sincerely thank Ben Haggerty and Ryan Lewis for creating such fantastic music. It strikes a deep chord with me and has inspired me to work on getting a radio show up at school focused on the West Coast hip-hop scene. I have so much love and respect for these two guys, from the bottom of my heart. I hope to see you both again soon

Keep movin like the legends you are

—G