Where: Jimmy Kimmel Live - Hollywood/Highland, Hollywood, CA
Accompanied by: Mark Ward
Genre: Icon legend; Rock -N- Roll
A week or so ago, 1iota announced that Jimmy Kimmel would be closing down Hollywood Boulevard for two nights - Monday, 9/23/13 for Paul McCartney - and - Tuesday, 9/24/13 for Justin Timberlake. The only way to get tickets to this event was through a lottery system. I won't lie...I really wanted tickets for JT. Don't judge me. Regardless, I put in a request for both shows and waited. Last week I received the email letting me know that I was chosen for priority tickets for two for the McCartney show. Absolutely thrilled at the opportunity to attend...but even more happy because I knew that my friend Nicole really wanted to go and I was going to be the most awesome friend ever for taking her.
Due to life and things, Nic called me and sadly told me that she would not be able to go. No fault of hers. Shit happens. I totally get that. I made a few phone calls and email inquiries and decided that I would fly solo. I figured I'd make new friends once I got there. Fate had other plans when I saw a message from my friend, Kathryn. She explained that her business partner's husband was a HUGE McCartney fan and had been trying to find a way into the show. Would it be okay if she passed along my number. Absofreaklutely!! Mark called around 1:00 and within an hour, we were on our way to Hollywood!! As were thousands of other people.
By 4pm, we managed to determine where we needed to be. The upside of being there that early was being able to enjoy the sound check which helped take our minds off the blazing sun. Over the course of an hour, we saw paramedics tend to two girls who had passed out from heat and dehydration. (Note to self: if you're gonna pass out, pass out in Hollywood. The paramedics are absolutely gorgeous.)
And let me tell you, if you can get priority tickets from 1itoa, take advantage of them!! I had no idea what that meant and as we discovered that it allowed us to bypass the miles and miles of people lined up, it was apparent that we had the golden ticket. As groups of fans were placed into select corrals, our group was escorted directly to the front pit area. I looked back at Mark with the "OMG" face and a huge smile.
By 5pm, we were situated and ready to wait. And wait. And wait some more. At least by now, the sun was no longer beating down upon us. But the body heat was a whole other element to contend with. Didn't matter...everyone was happy, friendly, and civilized. And the people watching provided endless entertainment. And the fact that Mark had amazing stories to share made the time pass by quickly.
It's now 7:20 and after a gazillion "cheer" practices for the camera, the night was about to get real. Sir Paul McCartney took the stage and the next hour became an absolute blur. The man is 71 years old. SEVENTY ONE!!! But proof that age is just a number. I can only hope that I am graced with such an abundance of energy and humor when I am that age. I'm not a big McCartney fan, but the magnitude of what I was witnessing was never lost on me. FIFTEEN songs over the course an hour and some change, I felt like I had just seen a piece of history. And for Mark...well, according to him, if it wasn't for Paul McCartney, his life would be much different. His turning point was the night he saw The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show and he knew that a life in music was his calling. I'm thinking that was probably the case for many.
What a night. What an experience. In fact, it was so amazing that it made me feel less sad about not being chosen for the next night with JT. Not 100%, but pretty darn close.
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