It was an absolutely amazing show. Al's vocals were in top condition tonight.
Seva and I arrived in Amsterdam at 17:50 while I expected to arrive much later because of traffic jams. Apparently, everybody was already at Al's concert ;-). We parked the car, I got myself a second mortgage on my house to be able to park and went for some food and a very very short tour in Amsterdam for Seva (first time in NL).
Around 19:45 we arrived at the venue (it opened at 19:30) where there was a huge queue. But of course, I know a guy who know a guy who knows the cousin of the king of the Netherlands who knows the owner of the venue and I was on the guest list, which made life easier and I could get in in the special, empty queue with Seva (ha!).
While Seva was searching for a toilet, I hung up my coat and bought the tour t-shirt, something I didn't do last tour and still regret. We rejoined and got to the stage where Martin (running with dutch windmills) made sure we had a nice spot, center stage and basically second row (all standing places).
The room started to fill up and at 20:30 the famous intro started.
Then a big surprise. The band came up starting Tacky but Al wasn't there. He was outside of the venue while a cameraman was following him singing and walking into the venue while random people of the street where looking quite surprised when Al sang 'Are you pregnant girl or just really fat'. It was awesome to see.
Right now I have trouble focussing the songlist, but he did the famous songs. Al was hitting all (high) notes. The only thing what I noticed is that Gump was lowered a full note. Jon almost lost his sticks during the big solo in the middle, but saved in the end. Al didn't go into the audience for the sexy songs and later I've heard that they removed all the interactions for walking Al into the audience for the Europe tour, because it's all standing venues in clubs.
It was an amazing show and couldn't go any better. At exactly 10.23 pm the show ended (started at 8.30pm) and most people left. The Czar/VIP people and us went to the side to enter the VIP-area. Oddly enough, Seva and I couldn't join them, we had to wait outside. We were lucky to catch Stephen there, he basically left right after the show and I spoke briefly with him.
After a few minutes (all the VIP guests were in) they let Seva and me in and taken to upstairs. Actually, we were taken to the dressing room where Jon, Jim and Rubén were sitting. We got something to drink of them and made a few photos and chatted a bit. Then Al joined us (he was taking a shower) and made photos again and a bit talking. I've never seen Seva so nervous and he was so happy to finally meet his hero, Mr. Al Yankovic. But Seva traveled all the way from St. Petersburg(Russia) just to meet Al today, which we did
Then Al had to leave to the VIP/Csar people who were waiting for him. Seva and I were talking with the rest of the band.
A few photo moments later I was asked to pick up my coat, which I did. About the same time Jon and Ruben left and Al was nowhere to be found (VIP-area was empty). I hadn't spoke with Jim so I decided to head back to the rooms. Jim sat there and Al joined us for a bit. We talked about the Netherlands and other things and had a good time. Roughly 11.30pm Al and Jim left the building and so did Seva and I and started the road back to Helmond
I'll put up some photos tomorrow, I'm heading to bed now. I'm close to being awake for 20 hours...
), I don't think I will make too many pictures of that one:
. What are the travel costs between adjacent states in USA?