The Fray concert experience...

(AKA my unofficial date with Ryan Tedder)....

As you know I adore The Fray.  I was totally bummed when I found out their Spring tour wasn't coming close to my area.  Luckily my amazing husband knew just how bummed I was, so he surprised me with tickets to see their last show in Denver at the Red Rocks Amphitheater! BEST SURPRISE EVER! (and if you know me you know I DO NOT enjoy surprises)

Forecast for Denver night of concert: COLD with 50% chance of rain. No worries, we decided to be prepared (husband even wore long johns, telling me I needed some too, which I declined).  We stopped at REI, purchased stadium seat thing-a-ma-bobs, and ponchos.  We had brought lots of warm clothing layers and accessories from home.

Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado

 We get to the amphitheater early, so far it's not that cold, but the sky has been taken over by dark ominous clouds. We decide to go walk to the very front of the seating to survey the seats for the best available ones.  Right as we get up to the front row, we see two men walking out on the stage toward the front row.  It was Isaac Slade and Joe King from The Fray! They walked all along the row greeting and taking pictures with fans.  Talk about being at the right place at the right time!

After that, we found some really great seats and sat down and waited for the show to start.  Just as the first opening act was about to come on stage I started to feel some wet drops emerge from the sky. As soon as the rain made it's presence known to all, everyone got into "stay dry mode."  The whole audience, in an almost choreographed motion, stood up and donned some sort of rain gear.

Us all poncho-fied.  I was looking at my phone while inside my poncho and took a picture.

It started out as a light drizzle, escalating to an impressive flurry of rain.  Luckily, it only lasted for the hour that the two opening acts were performing.  The sky must've been privy to the upcoming performance that was about to ensue in the gorgeous outdoor theater.  For, just minutes before, the downpour changed to just a slight mist, then vanished into thin air! When The Fray came onto the stage, everyone was poncho/ umbrella free and able to stand and dance like no one was watching. (or was that last part just about me?)

It's at this time I had a very interesting person appeared next to me and asked if the seats next to me were available.  I replied with the affirmative and proceeded to immediately remove our ponchos from the area requested. As I look up and get a good look at the male who was speaking to me I recognize that is was none other than Ryan Tedder, most known for being the lead singer of One Republic.  To me, this was a HUGE deal.  I do a little freak out inside my head, on the outside I was keeping my cool, as demonstrated in the picture below.

During the show Ryan put his hand on my back and preceded to yell in my ear (so romantic), to ask if I could save the seats while he went to get a drink.  He was gone for awhile, it seemed like he would never return, but he did!  I informed him that I thought he had stood me up. (Yes, I am THAT cool) I did have a little conversation with him, which was cool.  Just as I was about to ask him if I could get an official picture with him, happened to be when he decided to leave.  I wasn't expecting his early departure, so I just stood there in disbelief that I had missed my opportunity.  Oh well, I'm sure if I really want to I can make that happen another day.

Back to The Fray...they are truly amazingly talented individuals.  The show was a wonderful experience. At one point Isaac came up into the audience and walked right next to me, husband gave him a high five. My favorite song was sung beautifully by Joe.  I always feel a tiny bit of disappointment when their concerts are over, I wish I could put their actual concert into my iPod!

I LOVE THE FRAY!