Last weekend, we traveled to St. Paul to see Carbon Leaf in concert.

#who

Ha! They are a band from Virginia that got together in 1992 (34 years for those counting and home), and their core three members are still going strong today. They are a mix of indie rock, rock, and Celtic, with some bluegrass and folk music thrown in just for fun. That’s what caught our ear many years ago, just as the idea of streaming music was starting to catch on. This group was just so different than the radio stations around us, playing country, pop, or rock. Their storytelling inside their music sets them apart as well.

We saw them in the summer of 2009 in Oshkosh, WI, of all places. Very pretty venue, just not a ton of people there, so my wife, myself, and our nine year old daughter at the time were just jamming out. We had the best time doing something just out of the ordinary. I’ve tried to get tickets to see them again, but they’re traveling all the time, so concerts in the Midwest are always on a weekday. Hard for anyone to get free, especially two teachers.

Fast forward to 2026, and I notice they are on the “Wolves at the Door” tour, a fitting name for our time in history. They have a Saturday tour date in St. Paul. I bring it up to my wife, and she says, “Get the tickets.”

#heckyes

So we get the hotel, we get the tickets, we drive up Friday after school! Saturday, we went to IKEA to spruce up the house, we went to the St. Paul Brewing Company (HIGHLY recommended – great beer selection and the food was amazing) and we went to the Crowbar, a quirky little bar right next to the brewery. We were served by one of the owners, and when we told her that we’d driven three hours to visit her bar, she was giddy with delight! I highly remember that bar as well. You must go the confessional room. Or maybe not. I’m still a bit scarred by it!

#uhoh

The concert was amazing. The venue (Amsterdam Bar & Hall) was small enough to feel very intimate, but large enough for the full sound to be heard. They played many favorites, along with a couple off their new album, Time is a Playground, a fun return to their style of play. We enjoyed their energy, but also the energy that a largely Gen X crowd brought as well.

The title of this blog, “Do The Thing”, fits right into this trip. We’ve put off trips like this: “not enjoy money”, “not enough time”, “too far away”, “we have too much to do”, and any other line of excuses we told ourselves. Not anymore. We’ve given up too much already. We will be going on that trip, to see that concert, to visit that place because with the wolves at the door, it’s time we ALL start looking at ourselves, what we give up for the sake of something or someone else.

How much have you given up because of work? Because of “obligations”? Because someone made you feel guilty for not putting yourself first?

What are you waiting for? There’s good music, good food, good drinks, and good experiences out there, wanting to join you on your next great adventure!