Attention: This post was intended to be published soon after the event took place, but my laptop decided that it didn’t want to charge anymore. So I have had very limited internets for quite a while. BUT my laptop is back from the doctor's and I am back in action. So without further ado, may I present to you my adventure to Hooligans in Wondaland!
**Starring: Mayer Hawthorne, Janelle Monae, Bruno Mars, and thousands of Chicagoans.**
Featuring: Yours Truly
Prelude
So what had happened was: Many of my friends are getting married this summer and had weddings to plan. They could not foresee whether or not they would be able to afford the trip. Additionally, my works hours were being drastically cut. I couldn't even afford adequate groceries. Plus the Chicago show had sold out already and the closest venue was all the way in Milwaukee on a Tuesday. Even as my hours were increasing back to normal, the tickets plus the cost of rising gas prices discouraged me from attending totally. Also my job accidentally put me on schedule for that Friday of the Chicago concert anyway. I could use that 8 hours of work, even though I was supposed to have the day off. But while at work, something inside urged me to tell my manager about the mistake in my schedule and take me off. What was I thinking? This was money I could have towards my paycheck. But I forgave myself and planned to take it as a personal lazy day to relax and unwind from an already hectic work week.
Fast forward to literally less than 24 hours before the concert. After a long day at work, I cruised through random Facebook profiles. I decided to click the profile of this girl I knew but hadn’t talked to in months. Her Facebook status said that she was selling a ticket to the Janelle Monae concert for the next day at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. Now, this was posted yesterday and she probably sold the ticket already. I
f she hadn’t, she would probably sell the ticket for more than I could afford anyway.
Still, I messaged her saying I was interested. She responded back saying she hadn't sold it yet and it cost $35. I could swing the gas cost, but there was still the concern with the astronomical cost of city parking. She emailed me train schedules and even told me that one of her friends lives near where I live so I wouldn't have to ride the trains alone. I could not believe how convenient it was. Still I was not sure though, because I needed to save my money. I called my mom and she reminded me about how much I talked up this concert for months and I should do something for myself for once. After sleeping on it, I texted my friend and told her that I was going to join her.
>Act I: Journey to Aragon<
I departed from my campus early Friday morning with my signature curly afro neatly tucked under a hair scarf. I became more acquainted with Janelle's album "The ArchAndroid" on the way. I called my friend and asked her if she had wanted to meet me earlier than planned because I anticipated the line to be super long. She said she saw Janelle before and meeting an hour or so prior should guarantee us a spot in front. After getting ready at home, my brother dropped me off at the train station. I took one train downtown and met my friend to take a second train to the concert hall. She said she had been listening to "Doo-Wops and Hooligans" all day to try to get more familiar with Bruno's music. I asked her what her favorite song was and she said she absolutely loves "Grenade." She asked me what my favorite song of Janelle's was. I said that I am madly in love with "Cold War" and would be totally ecstatic if she sang it tonight. 
Upon arriving to Aragon, we stood in a line that I was surprised didn't seem that long. Unfortunately the security guard alerted the group of us that this was not the real line, and pointed to another line we didn’t notice. The line had weaved around alleys, sidewalks, and parking lots. My friend was really disappointed for she had no idea how popular Bruno Mars was. After standing around for nearly a half an hour the line had grown exponentially, for we were now in the middle of it. It seemed like 80% of the people in line were high school-aged girls, many of them with homemade Hooligan shirts and Bruno banners. The line was finally moving and we were making our way to the hall. We had two other girls to wait on and I was growing frustrated because I wanted to get as close as possible. My friend assured me that we would still get a good view.Finally the girls arrived and we made our way into the theater. I was excited to discover that one of the girls was here for Bruno too. I was happy that I wasn't going to be the only hooligan in our group. We were greeted by someone asking us if we wanted PopChips. Of course the frugal post-collegiate in me, upon seeing all the other high-priced merchandise, asked if they were free. She laughed and handed them out. The concert hall wasn't as big as I anticipated. I was happy with the fact that I would be in the middle and should at least see the performers’ faces. Well, my friend was not content with that. So she grabbed my hand, as I linked arms with her friends, and she made her way through the crowd. I didn't know how far she was going to go! I apologized to the concertgoers around me and insisted that she was frantically looking for someone. I could not believe that she did that...but, real talk, I'm so glad she did.
~Act II: Overture~
I couldn't believe it. We were so close to the stage. I whipped out my newly acquired phone figuring out how to take pictures on it. Suddenly, the audience started screaming. A man in glasses was waving to the crowd from the balcony. I saw that it was Phillip Lawrence, Bruno Mars's background singer/ production-songwriting team partner (I do my research). Soon after, a band made their way to the stage. Midway through the band's first song, one of the girls I was with got really excited and started screaming Mayer Hawthorne. I had heard of him before, but I was not familiar with his work. Nonetheless, I was definitely digging this opening act. They had a soulful old-school vibe. The guitarist was rocking a full head of hair. I was pretty jealous I'll admit. During one of their songs, he introduced a dance move straight out of his hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan (Midwest represent!). I can't remember the name of it, but I mixed it up with a few of my own moves. During their last song, I noticed that some of the attention of the audience in front of me drifted elsewhere. They were looking up at the balcony to a group of men standing watching the stage. They started taking photographs. The girls asked me if one of the guys with a hat was Bruno himself. It was too dark to tell, but it was possible it could’ve been. Nonetheless, I didn't wanna stare at someone's silhouette and I directed my attention back to the stage. I didn't want to be rude to the act performing. They were killing it!
:::Act III: Adventure in Wondaland:::
After Mayer Hawthorne left the stage, the crew began setting up an all-white set for Janelle. It was so sleek and classic looking. The lights dimmed and a spotlight shone on a man in a top hat. Android animations broadcasted on the big screens. Suddenly, three cloaked figures strolled on stage. I knew that one of them had to be Ms. Monae. Once she removed her cloak and began rapping to "Dance or Die," the crowd roared with screams and shouts. Her hair was perfectly coiffed as she donned her signature tux. My friend was singing every word to her songs “Faster” and “Locked Inside.” I lip-synced as much of the lyrics I could remember, but I danced like I knew the songs my entire life. Janelle left the stage to allow her guitarist Kelindo to perform a ripping interlude. She reappeared for a beautiful rendition of Michael Jackson’s favorite song “Smile.” There were a few songs in between that I didn’t know well; but when I heard the intro to "Cold War," a huge smile grew on my face. My friend smiled back at me as I knew every word to that song. A woman approached and asked us were we here for Janelle. We all said yes and she asked could she dance with us. People around us were looking at us getting too high and getting too low to "Tightrope." I can't dance like Monae, but I held my own I should say!
During “Mushrooms and Roses”, she began painting a picture. I liked how she connected her music with visual art. After the song, I heard the intro to the Jackson 5 classic “I Want You Back.” I was impressed that Janelle sounded so much like young MJ. But I was frustrated that the youngins around me didn’t seem to recognize the song. I wasn’t alive when Jackson 5 was out either but I still knew it. How disappointing lol! One of her last songs called “Come Alive (War of the Roses)” reminded me of "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes for some reason. She kept up the energy as she got off stage closer to the audience. I was probably no more than ten feet from her! I thought how awesome it would be if she had just stage dived. If she did it at the Grammy's, she could do it in a sea of teens in an old theater in the Chi. Unfortunately, the space between the crowd and the stage didn't support that idea. I noticed her signature hair poof was sweating out of its perfectly-coiffed place, but she still was rocking it. She had gotten on the floor in front of the stage still singing like the rockstar droid she is. After Janelle bowed and left us in wonda, the Janelle fan came back over to us and boasted about how amazing she was. This was my own first experience as an Andriod and I loved it!
**Act IV: Destination: Mars**
As the stage crew was taking apart Janelle’s gear, I had noticed my hearing was on the fritz. I knew that once Bruno and his gang went on stage, the crowd of screaming teenage girls would deafen me beyond comparison. They were playing old school jams over the intercom. Every time a song would end, some girls would start screaming as if Bruno was about to jump on stage right then and there. Then another song would start and it went back to a dull roar. I bargained with my friend to switch spots during Bruno's set. She agreed since she was much taller than me. I was now even closer and growing increasingly excited. Now I started anticipating the end of every one of those filler songs. Suddenly the lights dimmed and the screaming grew to a massive explosion. The curtains opened and the words "Hooligans" was in bright lettering across a screen. I whipped back out my camera and started taking pictures again. I didn't even notice the musicians were on stage at this point as I noticed that the intro song was "The Other Side," one of my favorite songs on Bruno's record. As soon as his silhouette became clear, the screaming matched the volume of the stage music.
Bruno and his hooligans then treated us to a cover of the throwback hit “Money (That’s What I Want).” I might’ve been the only one around me that knew the words. The rest of the audience joined in as Bruno rocked to “Billionaire.” Homey can play a pretty mean electric guitar. He then asked the audience if he could... slow it down. Uh oh. I knew exactly what time it was...“Our First Time.” Suddenly, I didn’t feel so old anymore. I knew the youngins around me couldn’t keep up with the grown and sexy about to commence here. He incorporated the slow jam with sections of “Rock the Boat” by Aaliyah and “Nice and Slow” by Usher. I kid you not, I became a groupie for like 2, 10...35 seconds tops. I did regain my composure for “Runaway Baby” which transitioned into an sweet mini-interlude of doo-wops. Bruno soon followed with his current hit “The Lazy Song” which showcased the talents of a dancing and jiving brass section as well as background singer Phillip Lawrence’s comedic and critically acclaimed exclamation of “OMG this is great!” 
Just like I jumped for joy for Janelle’s “Cold War,” I was seriously stoked for “Liquor Store Blues.” I sang along to it like a personal testimonial. I may have not related to every lyric, but I sensed his struggle as Bruno explained that he wrote it after his disillusionment from his first record deal. Afterwards, the mood quickly lightened up with his own solo version of B.O.B.’s “Nothin’ On You.” He chose a young fan up front to dedicate the last verse of the song to. I wasn’t being a hater booing like the rest of the chicks around me lol.The background turned into a crimson color as “Grenade” played and my friend sang for joy. And I just knew he would end the show with “Just the Way You Are” dedicating it to the hooligans of the wonderful windy city.
Bruno and his band reappeared on stage honoring us with an encore singing “Somewhere in Chi-Town.” The stage fell to a dream-like state of lit stars and glimmering discoball, as Bruno serenaded the entire crowd to “Talking to the Moon.” Now I had listened to that song countless times, but never before did I truly feel a connection to it. As I tried to put my emotions in check, I glanced over to my friend. Her facial expression was one that I could only describe as one of those looks in those romantic movies when someone fell in love at first sight. I reverted my attention back to the stage when the chorus to “I knew I loved you before I met you” from Savage Garden played in my head. NOOO, not THAT song! Lol I shook out of it when a flying brassiere catapulted out of nowhere towards the stage. It would’ve totally ruined the mood of the performance if it actually hit the stage, let alone him. Bruno then sat at the edge of the stage. I began thinking that I hope Bruno doesn't reenact Janelle's stunt by getting off stage. Poor thing would be snatched up. These little girls seemed ruthless. As I nestled back into my peaceful state of mind, it finally hit me how surreal this all was for me. Not that I was standing a mere few yards from one of my favorite artists. Not the fact that I was so close to the stage that I got actual eye contact with the performers many times. I didn't feel anxious, starstruck, or overwhelmed. If anything, I felt comforted like in a familiar place. I felt right at home.