If you know me, and I mean really know me, then you'd know that THIS was bound to happen eventually! Although the show I attended in Boston was a mere 2 months ago, I'm STILL on a renaissance high. As much a I would've loved to have shared this experience with someone special, traveling to and around Massachusetts alone was a thrill that I wouldn't trade for the world.
I had spent MONTHS preparing for this moment. From my obsessive efforts to catch every online clip of her first show in Stockholm, Sweden all the way to the Anniversary show in East Rutherford, to spending COUNTLESS hours searching for the PERFECT outfit for the occasion. I hit a lot of roadblocks along the way to the point where I just knew it wasn't going to happen...
Originally I had planned on attending the Philly show as it was her first stop on her US leg and I was just there back in February on a whim just to get a feel for the city. When that fell through I switched my sights on the Pittsburgh show but getting there seemed far too treacherous to achieve. It was then I said "Alright Jon, time to pack it up", but then something amazing happened that changed my life forever...
I was doing laundry one very humid June afternoon when something told me to look up train fares to Boston. Initially I didn't understand but since I vowed to listen to inner voice more often this year, I figured what the hell, I don't have shit else to do while this spin cycle is going. And wouldn't you know, I was able to coordinate a round trip ride to Boston for $150!!! This had to be fate, right? But that's just the beginning....
After managing to book the trip for July 30th thru August 2nd, I knew I wasn't smooth sailing quite yet. Luckily I didn't empty my array of carts across my online vendors, but I was rather hesitate to make yet another lap on TicketMaster in fears I'd run into the inevitable bout of disappointment. Since it was still early into June I didn't want to run the risk of jumping on the first cheap seat I found. I wanted it to happen in divine time and I still hadn't bought a lick of clothes!
June was moving rather quickly and before I knew it, the 26th had come and after following the prices like a hawk.... the day finally came for me to book my seat for the Renaissance World Tour in Foxborough, MA! I couldn't believe how accommodating the prices were given the location, and when I came across a seat in the center row, high up enough to see everything but not high enough to even be considered a nosebleed. I JUMPED ON IT WITH NO HOLDS BARRED!!!!! And if that wasn't enough for you, with tax and service fees, I ended up paying $444.40 altogether! Can you say FATE?!?!?!! It was the 4's for me (IYKYK).
I took a moment and thanked God for allowing me the chance to make one of my biggest dreams come true. I know Beyoncé gets a lot of flack for being "overrated" but you really have to understand ME to fully understand my admiration. I really didn't have the best upbringing, being the gay middle child to a single 'black' mother definitely had its setbacks. But through all my trauma, trials, and tribulations, MUSIC kept me sane.
I can remember as far back to mid 1996 when my life really started to change, there was this girl group on the rise, making alot of noise on TV, the radio, and even amongst the African-American community. We had just moved to East Orange, NJ not too long ago and this catchy song would not, for the life of me, escape my thought waves. 'Boy I know you want me I can see it in your eyes' not knowing what the hell I was singing or why, I just couldn't shake that tune.
It wasn't until my mom pointed it out during one of their press interviews for their 2nd album that I would come to know that catchy tune was the multi platinum hit 'No, No, No' by none other than the powerhouse that remains to this day, Destiny's Child. And the rest is history.
'Sweet Sixteen', 'So Good', 'If You Leave', were some of the many cuts that came to be a prominent part of the soundtrack that is my childhood. It wasn't until "Destiny Fulfilled" that I realized how long of a journey its been, but I'm starting to get ahead of myself...
June 24th, 2003, started out as any other, for an 11-year-old latch key kid that is. As I bothered my mom like I usually did when she'd be getting ready for work, there was some talk show on in the background that I really wasn't paying attention to. As I was going to ask if I could use her boombox to play my CD's on, as I did with or without her permission anyhow, she goes "Oooo your gurl gon be performing at the BET awards tonight". At first, I assumed she was referring to Ashanti as I had a streak going for how many times "Chapter II" played in our house at the hands of yours truly.....
Before I could ask anything, my mom goes "How that dance go? Huh oh huh oh huh oh oh no no no?" Gyrating and jetting as if she's having a seizure. That's when I knew she meant the one of one, the only one, the Mother of the haus of Renaissance herself, Beyoncé! 🪩
It was THAT night that I truly fell in love with the magic, the allure, the intrigue that is BEYONCÉ. And from then on it really is history. Ask my friends, all my family will tell you, I love music, and since I was 10 I've always had some headphones on... & 9 times out of 10, Destiny's Child, Kelly Rowland, Letoya Luckett, and even Michelle when she was in her pop bag with 'We Break The Dawn', and of course Beyoncé was blaring out at max volume. For every heartache, disaster, and everything in between, there's a song for it from her HEAVY catalog.
ANYWAYS!
After finally booking both my train AND my ticket, I was on top of the WORLD!!!! But knowing how excited I was, I felt the need to keep it under wraps for a while, I still had to make it thru July, and who knows what the days may bring before the 30th?. And boy did the days bring a thing or two! From my summer body diet bearing better results than I expected to finding almost everything I needed rather effortlessly! I just knew I had to be in for it since I was conquering many giants in my personal life simultaneously.
With July flying by faster than the speed of light it seemed, the 29th was upon us I had been packed and ready for the better part of 2 weeks at that point. I couldn't sleep, I was nervous, anxious and most of all.... ELATED! Knowing that I was only a mere 7 and half hour train ride to seeing literally my famous ARTIST in the world, I probably got about 4 hours of sleep.... if that.
The day traveling wasn't that bad either. After going to NJ, PA, and now MA within 3 years, I find myself rather savvy to the whole 'travel day mayhem' that drains MANY of us. Due to some technical train malfunctions, I didn't touch down at Back Bay Station until almost 9pm. I have to admit, after seeing it on TV and in movies for a good portion of my life, Boston really is BEAUTIFUL!
After arriving at my Airbnb around 9:30pm, I was in dire need of REAL FOOD pronto! Typically, I'd unpack, shower, and get settled before thinking about a meal, but after spending over 8 hours snacking on the few treats I brought along for the ride, I was literally on the verge of passing out. Thank God for doordash and the Sweet Chili Chicken I ordered from Yaz's House of Pizza, which didn't take long to get to me as I was starting to unpack when they were minutes away from my place. Shoutouts to you Jennifer for being so swift!
I couldn't believe that after such a long day I was finally in Massachusetts and a mere hours away from seeing my idol live and direct! The trip in and itself wore me out and after a long hot shower and some channel surfing, I was fast asleep with dreams of what I was to expect the following day.
And speaking of that following day, the bright August sunrise had me up at around 7:30am and since I only packed ONE blunt for the show, I knew I had to find something to do to kill all this time I inadvertently had on my hands. It all started with an unsettling craving for coffee, so I set out to find the nearest Dunkin, IYKYK.
It wasn't long before I found a Walgreens near my spot, an array of murals, gardens, and locally owned businesses all within walking distance! I had to admit I was truly proud of how I managed to find my way around using only Google maps and my street smarts I picked up along the way. After a jammed packed day of getting around Roxbury, I found myself on the steps of my Airbnb enjoying the blunt I rolled and getting to know the passers-by on the block before the big event. And after the minor wardrobe malfunctions, it was finally time to head out to Gillette Stadium! I wanted to get there around 7pm to beat traffic and find my seat, and after majority of the uber ride adding the final touches to 'the fit', I manged to arrive roughly about 15 mins behind "schedule".
From the moment I stepped out the cab, In the middle of traffic might I add cuz who was gon sit for another 40 minutes just to turn around to get in the ENTRY LANE!, the amount of love I received from my fellow hivers left me floored, speechless, and quite frankly, besides myself.
After a good 15 minute walk up the hill and through the designated walkway for pedestrians along the thruway, I was strutting my way through security, without even getting my bag checked, and making my way to section 140. The energy throughout the entire stadium was something I really can't put into words, but it was so strong and present that I was immediately humbled and gracious to the Most High for allowing little ole me to be apart of this experience.
After sitting there for almost 2 HOURS, the sun finally set welcoming the full moon to rise and illuminate the stadium. As 9pm made it's way 'tound, and as the screen went black, the music started to play. And Just Like That, the Motherboard was starting & thee iconic Bey herself hit the stage in a STUNNING black lace gown with a matching hat to thank her loyal fans for 25 years of being able to do what she loves and calling this her 'Gratitude Tour'.
As the band broke out with the intro to 'Dangerously in Love', I felt myself getting emotional and the group of ladies behind me laughed as I warned everyone within earshot in my section that I was going to show my WHOLE ASS and to head this warning carefully. I just could not for the life of me comprehend the fact that I was in the same room with BEYONCÉ, watching her sing in my face at a SOLD OUT SHOW with her husband, her fiftyleven chirren, & A-LIST CELEBRITIES, after years of watching her journey from every single concert dvd, network TV broadcast events, live streamed groundbreakingly historic performances, to her most recent affairs with Streaming giants such as HBO, Netflix, and Disney+. After 24 years in the making, my biggest dream, in thee entire world has finally came true. I am front and center in the middle of a 'Beyoncé Experience'....
And what an experience it was!!!! I went in telling myself that I wasn't going to record much because I did pop this edible AND spill this beer on my belly to be worried about some views and likes. Not to say that I didn't capture some LASTING memories and clips from the show, it just wasn't something I really cared about doing after following it literally ALL SUMMER! For some of the most 'clout worthy clips', I direct you to my socials as they're all public and I don't mind the exposure.
Now keep in mind that i'm an artist, and i'm sensitive about my shh...
Now as this piece has gotten a bit longer than I originally planned, I'll leave you laughing as it's the least I can do for you brave ones who made it this far..
So when the lights came up around 11:45pm, and after putting on a show myself for over 2 hours, the thong I had on wore me OUT!!!!! I mean it was BRUTAL, and having to spend another 2 hours on my feet trying to get an uber from the stadium back to Roxbury did not help not one fucking bit! I literally spent the next day in pure agony. That 8 hour ride back to New York did a number on my ass that I will NEVER forget.
Thank you again for spending your time reading about one of the greatest moments in my entire life.
