A Week of Concerts, Memories, and 600-Year-Old Knees

There’s something about live music that just hits different—especially when it’s a full week of it. From Mini Kiss to Bret Michaels to Def Leppard, I dove headfirst into a marathon of nostalgia, guitar solos, and sore muscles. Let's just say… I feel 600 years old now.

Music has always been my addiction. Silence makes me nervous, like something important is missing. So naturally, when I had the chance to stack a couple of concerts back-to-back-to-back...you know the answer. My ears, knees, and back would probably like a word.

Mini Kiss was the perfect way to start the chaos. It's crazy how what started as a hilarious night turned into being really impressive.

That tribute band took me straight back to seeing the real KISS live at the Pyramid in Memphis. I dragged my friend Carol to that show—bless her heart, she didn’t know who KISS even was. I made her paint her face like Paul while I rocked the Gene look. Her drink of choice was 7 and 7, and by the end of the night, her lipstick had bled into the white makeup so bad she looked like the Joker from Batman. We laughed so hard we couldn’t breathe. Carol passed away a few years ago, but that night lives forever in my heart. Her laugh was unforgettable.

Then came Bret Michaels as an opening act. And with him, a flood of Poison concert memories I can’t even count. Tickets used to be $35. You could go and leave with a concert tee. I went so many times I can’t remember who even came with me. I just remember the music, the fun, and feeling like anything was possible. I do remember just about every opening act though.

Def Leppard, whew. That took me back to my high school days listening to the underground rock radio on weekends (think Headbanger's Ball but audio-only). I first heard of the album “High n Dry” on one of those late-night shows and was hooked. I remember going to a party and when everyone at this high school party started belting out “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” I was like, uh y’all skipped the good stuff! You can’t start with that. You gotta go back to 1981 and start with Let it Go, High n Dry, and Bringing on the Heartbreak before you can ask for one lump or two.

I laugh now when my daughter complains about people discovering old music on TikTok. I realize I do the same thing. The real gold is deeper in the vault.

Hysteria really was an incredible album tbh.

It's the day after and I’m still paying the price. My ears are still ringing, even with my Loops in. So glad I thought of those. At my age you think about your hearing, your back, and where the bathrooms are.

I’m dehydrated from standing in the pit in 80-degree heat. Every time Joe Elliott told us to raise our hands, my soul left my body. “Raise your hands!” I wanted to scream, "God please no!" The smells of sweaty bodies packed in a small space. Every accidental touch from a stranger felt like a slimy fish brushing against my arm. I literally rung out my clothes when we made it back to the hotel room.

But despite the chaos, the heat, the fatigue, the dehydration, the starvation, walking 12 blocks, standing in line for over an hour to get in, the tallest man in America always landing right in front of me, and the 600-year-old joints, I’d do it all again.

Because like Def Leppard says: “It’s better to burn out than fade away.”

Read here on how the hotel we stayed in inspired my marketing!