I don't normally tell people, because it's maddening to try to explain, but I've been listening to Korean music since about 2008. It's true. I love it.
Korean artists have a following in the us, but they don't usually make it here on tour, and when they do they hit like NY city, Atlanta and go home.
One of my favorite groups, who have been pretty influential in my life and who I greatly respect, is Epik High. They recently released on album called Shoe Box which is in my opinion made out of solid gold. When the announced they where doing their first North American tour in 6 years (and a legit one at that), I knew I wanted to see them. Originally I was going to see them in Vancouver but even though I was waiting 15 mins before tickets went on sale I couldn't get a ticket because the sold out immediately/the server crashed. Then I decided to go to San Francisco instead and I even bought a ticket for that show which took much longer to sell out. But my car is not super reliable and I can't afford to fly anywhere so transportation to San Fran became an issue. The show had such a good reception, though, that new cities and encore shows where added (even though the where originally going to several time more cities than most Korean artists are able to. In the end I bought a second ticket for newly added Seattle, a bus ticket, and booked an adorable little room on airBnB.
It was my first real concert so I have been alternately ecstatic and terrified for a couple weeks. Especially since I couldn't convince anyone to go with me and it was my first time traveling completely by myself. It was also just a really long, 16hr bus ride each way and I couldn't afford to take much time off work because I needed to make money to afford to see the concert.
I was nervous for nothing. I met a lot of really lovely people especially my host and people at the concert. I got turned around a few times but not in a bad way. The concert was perfect and more than made up for the long commute.
I didn't get to see much of Seattle, since I was there for such a short time. I was staying near Beacon hill, which is an absolutely gorgeous neighborhood. On the first I left Bozeman at 4:15 and was on the bus most all day. When I got to Seattle I went directly to check in with my host. I talked to her for awhile and then followed her recommendation to a neighborhood restaurant called the Oak. It had pretty healthy food which was exactly what my body needed after snacking on gas station food all day.
The next morning I went to Pike's Market and spent quite a bit of time wandering around, making circles and discoveries. Afterward I went to the International district for a few hours. In Montana "China Town" means a sub par Chinese restaurant that serves lumps of fat coated in sugar, so exploring was pretty fun.
My concert started at 8:30 but the doors opened for VIP Meet and Greet tickets (which is what I got) at 5:30 so I got there at about 5 to find pretty sizable lines for both VIP and GA. I had left a message on the Eat Your Kimchi US Nasty Red region Facebook page and I was able to meet up right away with some other fans that I felt like I kind of knew even though I had never met before. Making friend in line was pretty much inevitable though I don't know why I was worried about not knowing people. I had a ton of fun at the concert. Epik High put on a great show for us.
When the concert was over I went back to the neighborhood I was staying in and walked around a local park to get some fresh air and I found a lovely view of the skyline.
The next morning I my bus left at 10:40am. I went back to Pike's market and grabbed a cup of Starbucks at I believe it's original location and took it with me to see the Space Needle before I left.
Day 1
4:15am outside of Bozeman
A lot of shops did not open until 10:30 so I got to walk around in the morning quite.
This store smelled amazing and each jar was labeled beautifully.
The iconic Gum Wall (I definitely got gum stuck on my shoe and felt it stick for the next hr).
Letter press shops are some of my favorite.
Beecher's handmade cheese.
I didn't take many pictures in the international district but I did drink some great bubble tea.
Great people, great show. Great Jay Park impressions. "JOAH!" I hope it doesn't take another 6 years for them to get back.
My adorable little Airbnb.
Starbucks.
I didn't look at the map very well because I thought finding the space needle would be easier than finding a normal needle in a haystack but it actually took me awhile. I am going to go ahead and blame it on parting to hard with Epik High.