C – This summer I had my first Jiffy Lube Live experience. I’ve been avoiding it like the plague due to all the horror stories about parking and traffic. So, naturally, I picked Jimmy Buffett as my entry into the JLL madness. I had it all planned out. We arrived as late as possible via the back way and slid right into a space. No traffic, no waiting no problem. Last one in, first one out, right? The plan was to leave 15 minutes before the show ended in an effort to escape before the masses. I studied set lists from previous shows. I was going to beat the system.
Guitar-rita $14
We walked from the parking lot to the gates and on the way started to witness the Parrot Head craziness. There was a line a mile long for the port-o-potty. A woman with a giant, industrial roll of toilet paper came of nowhere screaming “woo-hoo!” and the crowd went wild. Clearly she was their savior.
We were on the “party deck” – we didn’t know what to expect when we bought the tickets but let me tell you, it’s the best kept secret at JLL. There are two party decks at the back of the auditorium, one at the far left the other at the far right. A limited amount of people are let in and the high top tables/stools are first come, first served. The tickets were $5 more than lawn seats and – wait for it – there was a dedicated bar.
The crowd, already drunk from tailgating in the parking lot all day, wasn’t unruly but they 
were definitely uninhibited. And that’s what concerned me when we were caught in JLL traffic. Yep. We got caught in traffic, despite leaving a full 20 minutes before the show ended. We initially moved about 50 feet and then everything stopped. For an hour and a half. Everyone just opened up their coolers and started drinking again. Great.
So, the next time I went to Jiffy Lube Live, I was determined to get it right. I won’t tell you where I parked because it might not have been the most legal spot
. Let’s just say it was almost a mile away, which I was totally cool with. What’s a little stroll in nice weather? And it was beautiful out. I met friends and their tween daughters at the gate for Kelly Clarkson and Maroon 5. A totally different crowd – the demo was mostly Bristow moms and tweens out on the lawn. The screams that came out of these kids could shatter glass.
Kelly Clarkson was remarkable, as you might imagine, but Maroon 5 was an outstanding surprise. A super tight show with LED beach balls let loose in the crowd. Their show did not disappoint. I realized I needed to start seeing more current bands perform. Musicians have really upped their touring game for sure. 
I left about 15 minutes early, walked for about 20 minutes and drove right out of Bristow. Home by 11. Victory.
2GirlsinDC 