The AU closing party is usually a fun way to wrap up the week. This year in Nashville the setup was simple and at the Bridgestone Arena. Music. Drinks. Some food. I even paid a steep amount for an AU guest pass so my wife could join me at the party.
What I did not expect was that most attendees would be kept off the arena floor. Only VIPs were allowed close to the stage and on the floor. We sat in the seats, which turned out to be the better spot.
Neon Trees opened. At first we were trying to place the songs. Then the tone shifted fast. The singer (Tyler Glenn) started yelling at the crowd to “wake up.” He popped the AU 2025 balloons that people were bouncing around. It looked like he was spitting on the stage. Then he turned and slapped his backside at the audience with a “kiss my censored” message.
I wish I was exaggerating. We started looking up past shows to see if something was going on. Turns out this is a pattern. He has a reputation for disrespecting crowds and spitting during shows. So yes, something is going on. That was enough for us.
Thankfully Train closed out the night and saved the event. They were tight, relaxed, and fun. They played the hits. They actually talked with the crowd instead of yelling at them. The frontman of Train is Pat Monahan and one of the best on stage for giving the audience what they came for. I am not the biggest Train fan, but they are amazing live and put on a show and the music sounds exactly as it did when it was first released and you heard it on CD or the radio. Their guitarist, who is from Nashville, broke into a version of Hotel California that was one of the best I have heard. It felt like the room finally exhaled.
Train made the night. We walked out remembering their set and letting the Neon Trees opener fade away.