Main Street Market

The Lumineers, Sam, Missy and me!

Every once in a while, something happens that just seems surreal. That was true for me last night.

Main Street Market is a big supporter of the Door Community Auditorium; we’ve sponsored  shows every year for the past 20 years. (Disclaimer: I am a member of the board of directors of the DCA.)

One of the perks of  show sponsorship is that you get to meet the artists backstage after the show. Over the years, we’ve met lots of great artists – some well-known, some not so much! Kathy Mattea, the BoDeans, Mary Wilson, The Bellamy Brothers, The Neville Brothers, Bob Hope – it’s a pretty good list! (I really should find a place to display all the pictures from our photo ops!)

Our kids aren’t usually too keen about going  backstage to meet the artists. That was not true of The Lumineers! Especially Sam – he was so excited to both hear them and meet them!

I did not know anything about The Lumineers. In early May, Sam sent me an email with a  link to their Ho Hey video. He said they were coming to the DCA in June – could we sponsor them?

I knew the DCA Mainstage season lineup and didn’t recall seeing them on the schedule. I followed the link Sam sent and saw that The Lumineers were opening for Brandi Carlile.

Brandi Carlile performed at DCA the summer of 2010; Main Street Market sponsored her show. She was amazing – it was one of the best shows I’ve seen at DCA. When Cari Lewis booked Brandi for June 2012, we jumped on that show sponsorship. Therefore, we were already sponsoring The Lumineers!  Needless to say, Sam thought that was pretty cool.

The entire evening was awesome. The Lumineers were fantastic – received a standing O from the sold-out crowd! Brandi Carlile was even better than the first time – more polished and man, what a voice!

Sam, Missy and I were so excited to go backstage after the show. They were all jazzed  – and so nice. The Lumineers are young – early-mid 20′s! Crazy. They were just happy to be playing their music on the road and happy for the opportunity to open for Brandi. That was only 7 months ago! And last night, they performed at The Grammy’s. And I watched, along with millions of other people.

However, unlike the vast majority of those people, I’ve seen them perform live, met them and have this photo to prove it!  Today, I am going to display our signed poster of the concert somewhere in the store. I might even look for a place to hang a picture or two.

One other cool thing from The Grammy’s  last night. Preservation Hall Jazz Band backed up the Black Keys on one of the night’s performances. The Preservation Hall guys were also at the DCA last summer – and brought down the house! That should tell you something about our venue and the quality of the shows we present. (Plug for DCA!) The 2013 Mainstage schedule will be released in late April.