This has to be the show of the year. Everyone was on and nothing went wrong. Dan and I got into town several hours before doors opened to do some shopping. We stopped at Dolce Carini on Chesnut to get some food before walking down to the Church. On the way there, we ran into Jack, Grant, Ramsey, Will and another dude (can’t remember his name—he is the singer in their band). Tonight happened to be Jack’s 21st birthday, so everyone seemed a bit festive.

This was the shortest wait ever to get into the Church, roughly an hour. Once we got in, Dan and I assumed our position towards the front, and the Dismemberment Plan went on a few minutes later and played a great, energetic set filled with a lot of stuff of the new album (Emergency and I). Burning Airlines came on second and started in with a new song, and then immediately launched into “Wheaton Calling”, “Scissoring”, and then “Carnival”. About midway through the set, some kid with a Hot Water Music shirt on started shouting for Jawbox songs. When J. told him he should start a band, he replied that he was in a Jawbox cover band. They ended their set, with a couple more, including another new one, and “Sweet Deals on Surgery”.

The Promise Ring hit the stage a short time later, introduced themselves and started with “Happiness Is All the Rage”, “Emergency! Emergency!”, and the crowd favorite, “Why Did Ever We Meet”, bringing all of the indie kids into a dancing and hand-clapping fury. Their set was full of pure energy, and they even played my favorite song, “Red Paint”. This show is hands down the best show I’ve been at this year. The front 1/3 of the room was dancing the whole night. The P-ring ended with “Things Just Getting Good”, capping off the great night. Rest of the songs they played: Everywhere in Denver, A Picture Postcard, Tell Everyone We’re Dead, Red & Blue Jeans, Forget Me, Happy Hour, Living Around, Jersey Shore.

The funniest moment of the night was the conversation Dan and I started having with a girl that was standing next to us before the Promise Ring went on. She was wearing a sweater, and to be nice and start talking with her (she was not the most attractive person), Dan asked her if she was hot in her sweater, and she looks around at everyone, and replies “Did you just touch my butt?” Mmmhmm. So, we tried not to talk to her the rest of the night.

After the show I ran into Bryn Mawr Michelle at the Wawa on 20th and Chestnut. It never fails, she always turns up at the same shows as me.