Saddledome Entertainment

I have been shy on posts the last couple of days, because I have been lucky enough to be able to attend two nights of Saddledome Entertainment. Last night, Marcia hooked me up with a ticket to the Flames (thanks Marcia!), and it was a great game.

The Flames beat Colorado 4-1, but the score doesn't tell the whole story. The Flames had the first goal scored on them, but recovered by dominating play after that. As the first period ended, a Flame hit the goalpost on a ridiculously long shot. It didn't go in, but talk about close call. In the second, they continued to pummeled shots on Colorado's goalie (Budaj), who seemed to stand on his head at times to keep the puck out of the net. At one point the shots on goal were 48-16 in favour of the Flames. Colorado would have the odd rush the other way (phew, good thing they pay Kipper the big bucks) and remind everybody that it was still a tie game. Then in the 3rd, Aucoin finally put the Flames up with an amazing laser of a shot from up high. The place went wild, and it seemed like that was the game - there wasn't much time left. Colorado turned up the pressure, and eventually pulling the goalie, and scrambled up some serious scoring chances in the final minutes. Iginla sealed the deal with about 30 left by hitting the empty-netter. Those suckers who left right then missed an even-strength goal on a nice passing play that just felt like gravy. It was a 4-1 game that was as close as a 2-1 game, but with added bonuses. What a fun time.

Tonight (notice I am posting very late) was NKOTB. Oh yes. All of the girls from work went, and we had a really fun time. There were two openers, Lady Gaga and Natasha Beddingfield. Both were solid! We only heard about a song and a half of Lady Gaga (including the good one). Natasha Beddingfield played four really good songs, and one I very strongly dislike. It has gotten stuck in my head before, and it's just awful - super whiny. Moving on. The New Kids started out very strong, and got the crowd into it early with a few classics. There was fun costume changes and lights, and at points a couple of the New Kids looked a little bit embarrassed to be there, which all added to the entrainment factor. The middle of the concert was weak, I'm not going to lie. There was lots of stalling (Donny yelling, 'Calgary!' to the crowd enough times that it was getting really annoying.) and some really awful, ear-bleeder solo ballads. They did have one song were they came out on stage in 80's clothes. That was pretty cool. And just went I thought I couldn't take another 40-year-old-Jordan-singing-like-he-was-just-kicked-in-the-crotch special, they encored with Step by Step and Hanging Tough. It was like going back in time.