Live City Rocks!

After watching the Canadian men trounce the Russians in hockey,  Gord and I and our friend Lynn braved the rain, which turned out to be light and insignificant, to check out Damian "Jr Gong" Marley at the Live City stage in Yaletown. When we got there the line up extended from David Lam Park past the Granville bridge (aka really frigging far) and a portable electronic sign said wait time was 60 minutes. We did not believe the sign.  Gord made a call and we walked straight in through the media entrance. I am an Olympic blogger after all, I should get in the media entrance (it helps to know people).

 Live City serves as both a concert venue and a place to watch sporting events on the biggest, clearest screens I have ever seen. 

The venue is surrounded on all sides by Olympic trade show where sponsors show off their wares.

Coke has a 8600 square foot three story red "Happiness" tent that projects moving images onto the roof. Inside there is Coke stuff.

At the back, Yaletown high rises provide a backdrop to the Panasonic pavilion where, I've heard, there is an impressive 3D theatre. Samsung and Acer and the City of Vancouver have pavilions there as well but I wasn't there to see them.

The band playing when we arrived was Chocolat from Montreal.

They are good (Gord made an iTunes purchase when we got home) and the lead singer looked very french in the stripes and red.

 Live City has a very well produced show. There are no breaks in the action or time standing around wondering if the band will ever come on. As soon as Chocolat left the stage, we were watching Clara Hughs getting her bronze medal on the big screen.

 

Then mayor Hunky, who is looking a bit tired and stressed at the moment, came on stage and proclaimed the day as Canadian Snowboard Team Day. 

Looking very geek chic in toque and glasses, Gold medalist Maelle Ricker joined him on stage and read a speech thanking the city for giving her the opportunity to tell kids to get out and be physically active. She said that that next year, on this day, kids should take the day off of school and go snowboarding.

She was joined on stage by members of the snowboard team and everyone cheered.

The snowboarders left the stage, Damian Marley was introduced, his band started playing and the lingerers at the back pressed forward. It got sardine packed just like a real rock concert, only one where everyone is wearing red and some sport weird hats.

Mr. Marley came on stage and everyone was grooving to the reggae beat.

That is until Gord and I  got rammed from behind by a guy leading a wheelchair convoy into the crowd. I turned around and he said "sorry coming through".  They made it just far enough to be trapped with Gord one side and me and Lynn on the other. I wonder why they preferred to leave a trail of bruises in their wake just to get a view of someone's ass rather that sit in the accessible zone that has a better view than 90% of the audience?  My guess is that it isn't a comfortable place to chain toke.

Anyway, after that distraction, we finally found a way to move Gord onto our side of the convoy and got into the concert. 

Ya mon, wave that bear hat!

There is a lot of flag waving at the Olympics and if they ever decide to make it an official sport this guy gets my vote to win gold. He waved that Jamaican flag loud and proud through the entire concert.

The big screens are a marvel and the sound system spectacular. I've never been to an outdoor concert that size with sound that good. Marley did a lot of interaction with the audience and played every song you'd expect. Great show.

When the concert ended the backdrop behind the stage went up revealing the skyline of false creek and three big spot lights shone up into the air.

Water cannons shot straight up and Olympic moments were projected onto the water. Pretty cool.

A couple of flares looped out over the city.

A montage of gold medal moments flashed on the screen as K'naan's "Wavin' Flag" blasted out of the speakers. The fireworks intensified as the song came to a climax. It was a jaw dropping moment of incredibly intense hype, that left several thousand people in tears and craving a cigarette. What a ride!

I wish my cold hadn't prevented me from seeing earlier shows. Oh and by the way, Lynn's friend got in line at the Granville Bridge and made it into the show.