Capitol Federal Park at Sandstone - Bonner Springs, KS

On Tuesday, I told you about the amazing concert I went to see. Today, I decided I would tell you about the great venue, Capitol Federal Park at Sandstone.

Capitol Federal Park at Sandstone is an open-air performance venue located in Bonner Springs, Kansas. Opened in 1984 as Sandstone Amphitheater, it is a place where concert fans have been going for over twenty years. The amphitheater can currently hold 18,000 people, including approximately 3,100 box and reserved seats. Lately there have been some renovations. The front seats have been removed to make room for the crowd, which really adds to the experience at an outdoor concert. On Saturday, people had spread out blankets to relax until the bands took the stage. When the headliners performed, the open space became a sea of bodies pressed together, hands waving.

Another interesting renovation has been making the Capitol Federal Park at Sandstone a green concert venue. The Green Initiatives Project is implementing an on-site recycling program, reduced energy consumption policies, and partnerships with eco-friendly, artist-driven organizations. Capitol Federal Park at Sandstone is taking steps to become the only LEED Certified Amphitheater in the Midwest. (LEED is a green building certification program encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through a suite of rating systems that recognize projects that implement strategies for better environmental and health performance.)

The Capitol Federal Park at Sandstone is an amazing place for a concert. If you're looking for an opportunity to check it out, there are always great shows on the event calendar.

Total Distance Traveled: About 60 miles

Total Time Traveled: A little over an hour

Soundtrack: "Comfort Eagle" Cake

96.5 Buzz Beachball Festival - Bonner Springs, KS

I rarely listen to the radio when I'm in the car. I usually have a new playlist or CD to listen to when I'm driving. That's probably why I didn't hear about the 96.5 The Buzz Beach Ball festival until the last minute. The lineup for this mini-festival includes: Smashing Pumpkins, Anberlin, Limosines, Civil Twilight, AM Taxi, the Beautiful Bodies, A Silent Film and Six Percent. But none could have made me leave the comfort of my home and drive through the perpetual traffic jam on I-70 except for...(drum roll, please)...Cake!

I was late to the Cake party because I didn't start listening to them until after college, though this alternative rock band has been around since the 1990's. But once I started listening to them, I was hooked. So when I heard they were playing at Buzz Beachball, I paid for my overpriced ticket (and my equally overpriced parking pass), queued up the Cake albums on my iPod, and hit the road!

The crowd at Buzz Beachball ranged from the very drunk preople from small towns, the indie/alternatives showing their piercings and tattoos, teen girls sneaking alcohol, and the occassional thirteen year old who had probably been dropped off by his mom. Luckily, most of the less-than-devoted crowd had been driven away by the bad weather. It wasn't the ideal weather for an outdoor concert. It was the coldest night we have had yet and after an afternoon of rain, it was dark, damp, and cold. It actually made me a little concerned I had only just recovered from allergies to put myself in the perfect situation to catch a cold.

But I forgot all about that when people started screaming and in the dark I could see Cake taking the stage. They opened with "Comfort Eagle," a great song. The lyrics, "We are building a religion," captured my mood as I stopped feeling cold and forgot that I had to keep wiping my nose on my hoodie sleeve because I forgot tissues. Because I was seeking Cake live. And they were awesome. We were building a religion of Cake fandom!

They played some music from their upcoming album that drops 1/11/11, and, as always, it sounds great. Which once again proves that Cake will always continue to produce great music (even if Comfort Eagle will always be my favorite Cake album).

In honor of this amazing musical experience, I though I would share my top five Cake songs for road trips. But if you're also a Cake fan, feel free to comment and suggest your own!

1. The Distance

2. Long Line of Cars

3. Stickshifts and Safetybelts

4. Race Car Ya-Yas

5. Satan in My Motor