One particular bucket list ... complete?

In my 30+ years of working in music, there have only been two shows I really wanted to see that I simply couldn't gain access to.* This isn't a humblebrag, it's a simple fact. I've been around so long that getting access to shows was never a huge concern if I really wanted to see the show.

But there were always two shows hanging over my head that showed the limits of my access! One was Miley Cyrus and The Flaming Lips at The Riv in 2015 on their brief tour as a collaborative unit. But I've seen both The Lips and Cyrus live, so it was more the moment than anyone's live prowess that I missed. So it felt like less of a void, to be honest.

But the other was Kylie Minogue at UIC in 2009. Longtime readers will know what a huge Kylie fan I am—like, MASSIVE.  But she tours the U.S. so infrequently I had given up hope I'd even see her live after not getting into that show. I even considered going to her Vegas residency! 

But next year, I will finally see Kylie! EEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!

Quite honestly, despite my live show attendance slowing to a relative trickle, I've been filling it with amazing concerts and feel like I'm an incredibly lucky boy right now.* 

*Jeez, that really makes me sound old, doesn't it? Also, to be clear, by "access" I mean either being able to procure tickets or get on the guest list. But I have always been willing to pay for tickets to high profile, sold-out shows. Didn't want to give the wrong impression there.

**As an aside, if you'd asked me three years ago if I'd soon be seeing shows headlined by Blur, Pulp, and Oasis I would've laughed and called you cruel. And Kylie too? I would've probably turned bright red and scrunched up my face real good, thinking you were really yanking my leg. Now? Now I just consider myself incredibly lucky.