7/10/04 Verona, Ny Turning Stone Casino

[Yank27]

Thanks for the update. I hope he didnt stop doing meet and greets all the sudden.

[CatraDhtem]

what's that, exactly? ::confused::

Most of it is explained the Rock Hall thread in the General Chat section.

[stupidsurgeon27]

No meet and greet? That's sad. Oh well. Anxious to read your review!

-CindyBob

[minnick27]

Did they say why? I know last year at The Mann it was b/c Suzanne and Nina were waiting for him in NYC, so they got on the road right away.

[weirdstef]

Well where do I start, we left early too meet up with some friends from CT that we met last year at the Turning Stone to have dinner and talk. We all arrived at the Turning Stone about 5:30 p.m. got great parking. Went in to see if they put the merchanise table up yet but they had not, so we went exploring to see if we could find out where they put the buses so we could try waiting there to meet Al and hoping to get some signatures for the Rock Hall of Fame petition but that didn't work out they had those buses well hidden. While we were standing around outside the doors we could hear Al and the band doing a sound check and talk with a couple of fans and was able to get them to sign the petition. Then went to the arcade with my son Stef, got some water and soda to drink during the concert, and came back and watched the guy put the merchanise out when he was done Stef wanted to be the 1st one to buy something so he got a bucket hat for himself and for me. Then we went and sat down until the doors opened at 7:15 then we went in and got our seats at Stage table 7 seats 2 & 4 right next to the stage Stef sat right next to the stage he could put his head on it if he wanted too. The showroom filled up fast Al sold out. Stef went around giving out the Sticky Badges that we got from OE until security told him to stop at least they didn't throw us out.
Everyone at our table were fans of Al and for some it was their 1st concert.

The way the showroom is setup it makes is very hard too get up dance or cheer for Al to come out because you are in really tight quarters. It was about 8:15 when Al came out right after Fun Zone ended started right off with alot of energy same setlist as Dave said back on the 7th. Al noticed that I had a camera and he posed quite a few times so I hope they come out great when I get my film developed.
Al stopped and had Jim do a guitar solo during Melanie and sang to us.

Al did the phone gag again it took Jim alittle bit to get Al to realize it was him. I think it was the angle Al was facing so he didn't see Jim for a few minutes until Jim literaly had to tap him on the shoulder. Al did his usual with OMM but Jim's request was "Let me be your Hog" which seemed to totally throw Al off and they actually sang it which was cool. Then Al did OMM came into the audience gave one scarf away then came down to where my friend Michelle, her Mom and the rest of her gang where and sang to Mom then gave Michelle his underwear which ended up being briefs instead of boxers then Al went back up on stage had one more scarf on and he came right over to where I was sitting and handed it to me and smiled and finished the song I don't know if I took a picture of that or not I'll have to wait for my film to come back. That was my exciting moment of the night!

During "Wanna Be Your Lover" Al did the audience thing again but from where I was sitting I couldn't get and good pictures of him. He sang to Michelle and her Mom again. When he came back on stage he sang to us again too, but really got me was when he came over and stood right in front of my son Stef and was girating(I think that's how it's spelled if not it's the thing he does with his pelvis) look on Stef's face was priceless as he turned his head away so he did see everyone at the table was laughing.

During "Yoda" Al walked on to table to tell someone they weren't singing and had him sing.

I don't know if there was anything else that was different.


We had a great time!



After the concert had to use the restroom by then the 2 bottles of water were kicking in and when I came back out basically everyone in the concert had left and there was security everywhere so didn't have a chance to get anymore signatures for the petition.

I thought we have some luck while waiting to see if Al came out but everywhere I turned there was security. After about 15 minutes of standing there the security people kept on telling us that Al wasn't coming out to sign anything that was the 1st excuse; then came they put Al in a limo and sent him to Syracuse which of course made no sense because Al has his own tour bus, then after that Rueben and Jim came out said hi to everyone we thanked them for a great show and they went into the casino; then came Al left and was heading to his next concert in Michigan or Maryland somewhere other than New Jersey which of course wasn't true. They basically kept lying about what was going on and finally about 11:30 Skip came out and gave his apogolizes for Al, thanked everyone for coming and said Al wasn't going to be able to come out. But by that time it was just down to about 15 people standing. So after Skip left we all left it was time to go home.



Trixie

[stupidsurgeon27]

They actually did Let Me Be Your Hog? Sweet!

-CindyBob

[Orthography Enthusiast]

That's "gyrating." Woo!

Dumb ol' security. No sense of humor or understanding of the importance of getting Al onto the Walk of Fame or even understanding of geography. Syracuse? Michigan? Maryland? Those guys must have brothers who work as airline baggage handlers (the people who ensure that when you go to Portland, Oregon, your bag goes to Portland, Maine. )

But when Skip Lisk says Al won't be coming out, Skip you have to believe.

But it sounds like a great concert! And 74 sticky badges isn't too shabby. And "Let Me Be Your Hog!" Jim must have been so happy-- he's said it's his favorite song. Doesn't Bermuda have a list somewhere of in-concert rarities? And if LMBYH wasn't on it before, shouldn't it be on it now?

[weirdstef]

Ya they did Al was like ok are you serious Jim and Jim said yes and they did it. It was hilarious to watch Al's facial expression during that I think I got some pics of that on film which I won't have back until tomorrow.



Trixie

[Manda]

Skip that's the guy's name. I forgot it and thought it was Spot. Anyway great review. Sounded like a great show.

[algonacchick]

hehe, I won't tell Skip you thought his name was Spot if I ever see him again, Manda!



Trixie, sorry you didn't get to see Al after, but it sounds like the concert was great! I would have laughed so hard if I had seen Al singing "Let Me Be Your Hog"! How cool is that? Can't wait to see your pics!

Patti