Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero

I have three just ridiculously-talented brothers:

Brother #1 is a rocket scientist.  Literally.

Brother #2 is a computer genius and polyglot.

Brother #3 is a rock star/guitar god.

Brother #3 came to visit this past weekend with his equally talented wife.  He's currently touring with a country music band called Love & Theft (Top 10 country single "Runaway" last fall, available on iTunes), as one of the opening acts for Tim McGraw's Southern Voice Tour.  #3 got backstage passes for the show in DC for me, his wife, and his best friend from childhood who happens to live in the DC area.  Now I'm not--generally speaking--a country music fan (Johnny Cash always excepted), but I had an amazing time!

We got to watch his band's sound-check, just the three of us out front in an empty arena, and then watch the Love & Theft show from the sound board, absolute best seats in the house.  We caught two glimpses of Tim McGraw backstage, once shirtless (and can I just say, my, oh my!) after a run, and one of Faith Hill, then caught Tim's show from a pretty kick-ass vantage point.

Sound-check:

#3's bandmates were really nice guys, I scored a U.S. Marshals' baseball hat and lapel pin (don't ask), got to eat cookie cake, and spend time with #3, who I haven't seen in over six months.

The rest of the weekend was really fun, too, although there were fewer celebrity sightings.  But pool time, a Spanish victory at the World Cup, and a great dinner at a newly-discovered oyster bar in DuPont Circle rounded out just an amazingly chill couple of days.  May all summer weekends be ever thus.