NFL Kickoff 2012 @ Rockefeller Center, September 5, 2012

Clint Zer0 — September 6

The NFL Kickoff was yesterday, and there’s a really good chance you were there because from where we were standing, it seemed all everyone in Manhattan was at the show in Rockefeller Center. With that said, there are a few things I need to comment on, outside of the actual show. First of all, the set-up…

1iota.com, a site that gives free tickets out for TV shows and some concerts, were on VIP tickets detail for this show that featured Mariah Carey and No Doubt. I got VIP tickets, and just like last time, I went to the check-in section, got my ticket, and was taken off the line randomly and put on a different line that would be led in first. This was literally exactly what happened the last time the NFL Kickoff was in NYC, 4 years ago!

When we were led out to our section, we realized that we were behind the stage, literally ON the stage! It seemed like a good spot at first, but being behind the stage meant that we couldn’t hear the music very well (there were no speakers behind us or facing us) and also, that the artists would probably be facing forward, as you would guess, during the performance.

Being that close has its perks. For instance, Mariah made both of her entrances from BEHIND us! That was kind of cool. Literally scurrying through some screaming fans was the reputed (and admitted) diva, who was flanked by Nick Cannon, a bodyguard or 2, and her make up people, one of which had the job of fanning her. Seriously, a person with a fan. Rather fitting when you think about it. The set up was 3 songs off the air, and then one song on the air. “Touch My Body” was her opening song, which was the one she did with her bevy of back-up dancers. Her off-air performance also consisted of her bringing out her little puppy Jack Russell. She also performed “We Belong Together,” a song she wrote with producer Jermaine Dupri, who happened to be her DJ on stage! Yea, Mariah is that big, that she could get Jermaine Dupri to be her on stage DJ. Must be nice right?

Her on air song was her new single, “Triumphant,” which features MMG artists Meek Mill and Rick Ross, who both joined her on stage for her performance. I of course freaked out at the site of Meek Mill since I’m certainly his biggest fan. But their set was short and sweet, and the way they set up the TV performance, where we were standing we couldn’t really see anything; it was being blocked by these movable displays. That part was kind of annoying, but it’s the price you pay to be on stage right?

    

Conversely, No Doubt waited side stage for the stage crew to set-up their stuff when Mariah was done. They were just hanging out, getting loose, Gwen even blessing us with some side-stage skanking while we waited. When they finally came out, they high fived the fans that were behind the stage (that’s us!) and did some more on-stage stretching before actually performing any songs of their off-air performances. “Just A Girl” as well as “Underneath It All” got into their mini-set before they exited to make their return for their on-air song. When they returned, they jumped on stage and performed their new single “Settle Down.” After they performed, there were more high fives for people, as well as guitar picks being thrown (I got one from Gabe!) and drumsticks! Gwen even took some time out to sign some autographs of people. They’re just really nice, but if you’re a fan of No Doubt you probably already knew that. The show was awesome but it was on a much smaller scale than the one at Columbus Circle some 4 years ago, but still worth every penny!

Clint ZER0

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