Rock in Rio – wow!  It was a four day music festival across the street from our condo.  Usually it’s held abroad – the original was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (hence the name) and subsequent RIRs have been in Portugal.  This was the first one in the United States! An outdoor event, it popped up on an empty 40 acre lot next door.  Five stages, astroturf, restaurants, retail outlets and a Ferris wheel.  The first weekend was ROCK weekend (Metallica, Linkin Park, No Doubt, etc).  We didn’t attend that one, but lived through the thumping beat of sound and light checks, rehearsals and the concert itself, complete with fireworks.  It sounded like when you pull up next to the guy in the car who has LOUD music with his windows rolled up, and all you can hear is the bass.  We slept with earplugs and noise canceling headphones, since the music started at 8AM went on until 2AM.

The next weekend was POP weekend, and we decided to give it a go.  If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em!!