I know this this is the age of debit cards and digital banking. I haven’t set foot in an actual bank myself in several years. Check writing is quickly becoming a thing of the past also. It took me four years to get through the first book of checks the bank gives you when you open a new account. I think it had 25 checks in it…. four years and two or three of those were just voided checks so that I could set up direct deposit accounts.

But, there are times when you need to carry good old fashioned cash. And a lot of those times take place during the summer. For example, the recent Pearl Jam & Kings of Leon concert I went to here in Virginia. Concessions in the amphitheater only take cash and nothing else. My debit card and PayPal card were completely useless for my empty grumbling stomach.

Fortunately my husband had brought his money clip with him and we were able to buy some over priced soda and Gatorade. One of the great things about seeing Pearl Jam is that they make sure ticket prices are low enough for everyone to attend. I got awesome seats very close to the front for about 60 dollars a piece and I think lawn seats were 10 or less, a bunch of stickers for $1 each, and my t-shirt was $30. Sadly they can’t convince the venue to lower the prices on drinks and food for the show. Great prices means you don’t have to go to the pawn shop and hock your wedding set of titanium rings. What’s not to love about a band that cares more about the fans than their pockets.

You should have seen the crowd at the show. It was amazing. I was surprised listening to the radio on the way over there that the show didn’t sell out completely and there were still a few at the gate tickets to be had. I ordered mine at Ticketmaster online the minute they went on sale. If you’ve ever been to a PJ show you know they’ve got a pretty diverse fan base. There were little kids, 20-somethings, 30-somethings, and even 40-somethings all turned out to see the guys rock out and do their thing.

And even more diverse than the age were the different people. 10 year olds with long hair and skateboard shirts made me wish that I had brought my kids with me. 40-something guys that must have come straight from work in their suits still dressed all the way to their funky tie clips and cuff links. Of course they all bought t-shirts on the way in and by time Kings of Leon (opening act) took the stage they were ready to rock and stuffed all their shirts and ties into a backpack.

And of course it wouldn’t be a concert if there wasn’t that one guy that kept getting yelled at by security for climbing on stuff and having had a little too much to drink. At this particular show that guy was 2 seats in front of me. He nearly fell on the rows behind him a few times throughout the night. Lucky for us his friend standing next to him had quick reflexes!