8/22/10 Majestic Ventura Theatre, Ventura, CA

[Flat Stanley NH]

I just bought my VIP G.A. tickets from the box office today!

[TMBJon]

I hope to meet you, Flat Stanley!

[Matt Holck]

sigh

[TMBJon]

Others who got VIP tickets: From what they told me, there is a seated balcony, a standing room only general admission on the main floor, and then a seated VIP section up front. I got seats in that section and was wondering what time you planned to get to the venue in order to scope out the best possible seats? Have any of you seen Al at this venue before and is that where he will likely do the audience bits of Wanna B Ur Lovr?

[minnick27]

is that where he will likely do the audience bits of Wanna B Ur Lovr?

What, are you hoping he will sing to you?

[TMBJon]

Well I am bringing my girlfriend who has never seen Al live before and she knows the song because I once put it on a mix I made for her birthday, so it would be cool if he did sing to her...

[Tony Goldmark]

So gang, what time is everyone arriving in Ventura? We'll be there probably about 2 or 3, wanna hang out or something?

[piranha]

One of my all time BFFs Sara is waiting in line right now. Wish she could hang out with the WoWAY ppl while she's waiting, but she doesn't know what they look like, and I'm not there to point them out. :P

[TMBJon]

In line right now. Busses are right in front of the box office. Saw Jim & Rubén taking a picture of the venue as we pulled up. Ventura is a pretty cute town. Looking forward to doors opening up in an hour...

[Orthography Enthusiast]

Ventura was great. We had a nice lunch with Carlotta, Nancy, Vikki, Louise (and me) at My Florist Bakery (and took some silly pictures with their large statue). Visited a soda-and-candy store called Rocket Fizz that sells old-school soda and candy ("Look! Red Pop!" "Look, Chick-O-Sticks! I remember those!"). Wandered Main Street. At various points various members of the party had to be forcibly (but politely) extracted by other members of the party from the vintage clothing place, the used bookstore, and the Hawaiian shirt store. Picked up my ticket at the will call. Adjourned to the "Irish" pub where we discussed with Louise what exactly might make this an "Irish" pub. They had Harp lager, that was good enough for me. Got in line two hours before the doors opened, and there were only 2 guys ahead of us: concert first-timers who seemed a bit overwhelmed at times to be standing there next to Tourchasers Central, as people kept coming down the sidewalk and we kept greeting them with little cries of welcome and hugs. We saw Al and family visiting the coffee place across the street, and tried very hard to pretend we didn't see Al and family visiting the coffee place across the street. I mention it now only because the address was 27 Chestnut.

It was so worth the two hour line (we did sneak across the street in shifts for refreshments once the Yankovics had moved on) to be in the front row, just slightly to Steve's side of center.

Al was in good voice, the show had the solid excellence that really doesn't surprise us any more, does it? It's always so much fun to see the expressions on Al's and Steve's faces. Jim is so deadpan always, which in its own way is just as funny. The rotating songs were my favorite pair, Frank's and YDLMA. The only hitch I could see was that Al had a bit of a tussle with his Gilligan jersey, and the jersey nearly won. For a moment I thought he'd have to start the next song half-shirtless (she says as though that would be a bad thing).

Benefits of the front row, we got sprinkled with the Nirvana water. Also with that song, bonus points for a tattooed cheerleader. Very grunge.

Further benefits of the front row, I got asked if I'd seen Al's picture in the dictionary, and he really, really, really wanted to be Vikki's luvr-- he was pointing right AT her. If she'd leaned forward another six inches she could have bitten his finger. But she didn't, she's a good person.

There were no storm troopers tonight. I kind of got the impression that the Majestic Ventura is very short on space backstage, and there may not have been room for a dressing room/rehearsal space for them.

And there was a meet & greet beside the bus, which frankly I wasn't expecting because it's a long way to their next date in Arcata. But it's a surprise I'm certainly happy to get. A wonderful way to end my bit of the tour. To Al & the guys, thanks! Let's do this again sometime!