It’s funny how people will have an opinion on all things solo and often reply “I could never do that alone” or the dreaded “you’re so brave”. While I’ve done so many things solo, going to concerts is always a tricky one for me. If it’s a larger stadium arena, I won’t go by myself but if a smaller venue (like Broadway, Las Vegas showrooms, theatres, etc.) I have no problem. So when I saw that Sarah McLachlan was coming to Parx Casino XCite Center in Bensalem, I figured that’s easy enough to do alone – a concert at Parx Casino. It was actually even easier than I thought.
The new Xcite Center at Parx Casino is set up for 1,500 people, which is a nice size and yet didn’t feel too big or small. It opened earlier this year and has hosted musicians and comedians as well as events. The room was arranged in three sections for the concert and the folding chair like padded seats each had a beverage holder set up (plastic only in the room). The one downside without tiered seating is that you could get a tall person or someone with a big head or hat in front of you so pick your seat carefully. For a concert venue, I was surprised by the gold fabric walls and the crystal chandeliers in the room – it was fancy – Las Vegas fancy in Bensalem. Seriously, you wouldn’t think a local casino would spend the money on the decor but Parx Casino definitely invested in this wonderful venue.
The sound was fantastic as were the sight lines. The Xcite Center had two large video screens on either side of the stage to enhance the experience. I was seated near the back on the far right side and could see well and hear each song quite clearly, except for the person next to me singing along to every song – singing every single word along with Sarah – he was a super fan! I’m not sure how you avoid the sing-a-long super fan so I tried my best to ignore him but did laugh when people in front and behind him were commenting about his singing.
Snippet of “I Will Remember You”
Sarah McLachlan, in the smaller venue, had the opportunity to take time for a conversation with the audience. She talked about her kids, her inspirations for the songs (painful relationships and drama) and joked about getting older and dating. I guess for each miserable date and/or relationship she has, the fans get amazing new music as she works out her emotions. Her concert was also raising awareness for her non-profit Sarah McLachlan School of Music, which “provides top quality music instruction at no cost, in a safe and nurturing environment, for at-risk and underserved children and youth”.
The concert started at 7:30 p.m. with no opening act (I know I’m getting old when I think this is awesome timing!) and the doors opened one hour early. The Xcite Center has a bar outside the venue to buy drinks or you can bring them with you from the nearby XLounge. The box office was selling a few concert souvenirs (t-shirts, CDs, etc.). This was really a concert about the music and the crowd reflected that – it was a room full of Gen Xers and Baby Boomer fans, for the most part, who wanted to listen to good music in a great room. Think about the days going to stadium concerts and large venues and how far you were from the entertainer. Now imagine how this Xcite Center experience is almost like having a private concert with less people than at your high school assembly.
When the concert was over, the crowd easily dispersed into the casino opting to fill up the bars, restaurants and find seats at slot machines and table games. I chose to try my luck at the slots with my $40 budget and ended up surprising myself with a bit of fun and a winning bonus round. I texted a friend “I won” and she replied “Run away and cash out now because you aren’t lucky”. My mom texted the same thing “cash out now!” Oh how my friends and family know me (and my luck) so well.
I was lucky this night to have a fantastic dinner at Liberty Bell Gastropub and enjoy a concert at Parx Casino and still be home for bed at my normal time. How awesome is that? A lovely night out after work and still make your bedtime. When I was fresh out of college, my nights out started at 10pm and now that I’m older, my night is ending at 10pm and that really makes me quite happy. I’m laughing at having just typed that! That said, Parx Casino is a fantastic night out for dinner and a show in the Philadelphia area – it was the first of many more to come for me as I look at a few of the upcoming list of performers (comedians and musicians). https://www.parxcasino.com/xcitecenter
Upcoming – Comedians at the Xcite Center at Parx Casino
Trevor Noah Larry the Cable Guy Patton Oswalt Tracy Morgan Craig Ferguson
Upcoming – Musicians at the Xcite Center at Parx Casino
Chris Isaak Gavin De Graw & Phillip Phillips Alison Kruass Snow Patrol
Boz Scaggs Grand Funk Railroad Jamey Johnson Cole Swindell
Have you visited the Xcite Center for a concert at Parx Casino? What did you like best? Who are you excited to see live in this small venue?
I attended the Sarah McLachlan concert at Parx Casino with a press pass, as always all opinions are mine. Thank you to the team at Parx Casino for the invitation – I had a lot of fun and will be back soon!