By Tuulia Koponen

Staff Writer

I may or may not be experiencing a case of post-concert depression as I sit here at my laptop, alarm clock hazily showing it is 11:46 p.m. and “Who’s Gonna Save Us” by Gavin Degraw playing softly on my iPod.

If the feeling of complete numbness, exhaustion and bittersweet emotion towards the music is what post-concert depression consists of, then it is indefinitely worth it as are the $86 I spent on tickets for the Gavin Degraw concert at the House of Blues Dallas on May 2.

After arriving inside the venue and waiting roughly 40 minutes, Rozzi Crane hit the stage as the first opening act for DeGraw, erupting with powerful vocals and a sense of “bad girl” attitude.

While she was conservatively dressed, her sass and absolutely insane, yet clean vocals gave her an overall appearance as a powerful and rebellious diva.

And I absolutely relished in it.

After she had performed a few songs – including a single she recorded with Adam Levine off her new album out later this year – Crane, as well as the crowd, were caught by surprise as lead singer of Parachute, William (Will) Anderson peeked out from the wings and began singing “Happy Birthday” to her.

Of course, the crowd joined in, and got to enjoy a sweet moment as Crane and Anderson hugged. A woman in the crowd announced it was also her birthday, and after Crane had snapped a photograph of the entire crowd, Crane determined ‘the birthday’ girl would get her choice of emoji on Crane’s tweet of the picture and should jokingly join Crane for some tequila after finishing her performance.

Following the beautifully rebellious Crane was one of my favorite bands, Parachute. Performing a handful of new and old tunes, Parachute almost effortlessly pumped up the crowd for DeGraw’s performance – just as lead singer Anderson mentioned the band was there to do.

Towards the end of Parachute’s performance, Anderson announced “I am coming into the crowd, Dallas,” and proceeded to make his way towards those standing in the general admission standing room only space, grabbing two girls hands and bringing them up on stage to dance back-up as Parachute concluded its time on stage.

And what female would not feel jealous of a handsome, young man such as Anderson bringing two girls up on stage? Let me tell you – no one in the crowd, that is for sure.

A more or less 30-minute intermission followed Parachute’s performance, and then all at once, DeGraw hit the stage as screams rang throughout the venue.

DeGraw performed various songs off his new album Make a Move as well as a few old ones such as “More than Anyone”, “Just Friends”, “Soldier” and “I Don’t Want to Be”.

DeGraw cracked a few jokes with the crowd as he told his journey to fame – one that started at the humble age of 15 after seeing a Billy Joel concert and determining performing like Joel was what he wanted to do with his life.

And while his speech was overall full of humor, he hit a rather serious, and touching note, when he said “If my dreams can come true, then yours surely can, too.”

He then proceeded to perform a mash-up of “She’s Always A Woman To Me” by Billy Joel and one of his own songs off his new album. He also caught the crowd by surprise when he belted out the opening chords to Adele’s “Rumour Has It” and changed halfway through to one of his own songs yet again.

Overall, the concert was an almost spiritual experience for everyone involved as DeGraw consistently turned the microphone to the crowd to belt the lyrics of his songs right back at him and continued with the overall theme of rebellion that began with Crane.

It was almost like being at church as everyone belted out lyrics and relished in the soulful, powerful vocals of DeGraw and his ability to make the crowd feel part of one huge congregation praising some concept (rebellion, perhaps?).

A huge sing-along ended the night as everyone sang at the top of their lungs along to DeGraw as he ended the night with the song “Not Over You” that became a hit on the radio as soon as it released. And there is no doubt everybody felt a sense of sadness and longing for the concert not to end as it came to it inevitably.

And while my thighs are throbbing, my emotions are numb, my eyes are drooping, my ears are probably temporary disabled from hearing and my voice is probably hoarse, I could care less.

All that for my $86 of fun, little spiritual experience tinged with a sense of a dance party with Gavin DeGraw and the rest of the amazing crowd at the House of Blues Dallas?

Worth every penny – and every symptom of post-concert depression I am currently suffering.