Last weekend I made my way up to Burlington, Vermont to see one of my all-time favorite hip-hop artists hit the stage. I have been a fan of Big Freedia for quite some time. Long before she got her own TV show, long before she was main stream and everybody fell in love with her, long before she blew up, I was shaking my ass to her bounce music. Down South, we called it booty music. And booty music has long been a staple in my house. I'm just happy that America is now catching on to this trend that the Dirty South has long been familiar with.
So though I have loved Freedia from a far, I have never had the chance to see her live. Then my boo called me and said, "guess who's gonna be in town next Friday?" The Queen of Bounce would be performing at the Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington. I immediately went online to find tickets only to discover that they were all general admission. I purchased our tickets and quickly came to the several conclusions. 1) Chris and I are going to be the oldest people in the building. 2) This will be a packed house and probably won't be able to get anywhere near Big Freedia. 3) Maybe if we arrive early, we can secure a place close to the stage and the evening will probably be a bit more memorable.
Showtime was 9:00 PM and Chris and I arrived about quarter til the hour. Seeing the few amount of cars in the parking lot initially had me wondering if we were at the wrong place. But we made our way inside, and what did we find when we walked in the place . . . Big Freedia was already on the premises and she was making her way around the room. She was shaking hands, posing for selfies, and thanking everyone for coming out. She was a class act. Down to earth, humble and pleasant in person. After we got our picture with her I turned to Chris and said, "that alone was worth the price of admission."
She was didn't stay out for a long time. She was quickly rushed backstage after she made one circle around the venue. But let's be real, she didn't have to do that. She could have come in and immediately ran backstage. But she is an artist that recognizes she is who she is because of her fans and I believe she recognizes that.
Her performance was amazing. She gave me everything I wanted and then some. I was on my feet all night (something I haven't done in a while). But my night with Freedia gave me life. Thank you Big Freedia for a terrific evening. You were well worth the wait.
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