Ok, here's my rambling concert review. I do try to write down everything I remember, so this is long:
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Awesome show as usual. The Forum is beautiful but definitely made for the symphony and not rock concerts. I had a comp ticket so I was surprised when the usher lead me to the first row right in front of Steve! What an awesome surprise that was. Steve, Jim, and Jon did last minute checks of their instruments about 20 mins before the show started so they were on stage while people were finding their seats. I waved to Jim and Jon and got waves back. YAY.
I was right in front of Steve and I waved and smiled and watched him get set up. Then he left the stage only to appear right next to me and sit down to chat! I said to him, We dont talk anymore! Ha ha. He agreed and we caught each other up on our goings on since the PH tour. The most significant thing he said was hes finished a new CD and now hes just working on the cover art! WOO HOO! He even told me the title, but I cant for the life of me remember what he said. I do remember saying, Cryptic as usual. Its a typical Steve-like phrase that can mean everything in the world depending on how you looked at it. Steve was joking that Ive been to so many concerts, I should be on stage. I laughed and said, yeah when I learn to play an instrument! He went on to say that I am an instrument, that sound is just silent waves until it hits something that can hear it, interpret it and make sense of it. Zowie. Hes so spiritual. I told him my job was to sit in the audience and gaze adoringly at the band. And darn it, I am good at it!
While we were talking people behind us were asking to get a photo of us both of us. Steve said they want to take our photo. Why in the heck would they want my photo? I leaned away so the fans could take Steves picture. One guy asked if I was Steves wife! I said no. Then the guy said we looked good together! LOL. We had a good laugh over that.
Also I met ctgova from WOWAY before the show and we talked quite a bit. He was getting signatures for the Rock Hall. Again, didnt see albinodwarf at the show. Sorry!
There was no noticeable camera policy and no body guards near the stage. I usually get stopped when I have my Nikon D40 on me, so I just took my little digital camera in. Hopefully, I got some great photos, but not the ones I would have gotten with my nicer camera.
It was a full show and Al performed Bob. I think Ive seen Bob and WDTAHTM equally now. I prefer Bob, if anyone is interested. Al moved Saga and Yoda more into the middle of the show, I think. Of course there were Strom Troopers and Vader. There were also Sand Troopers, whatever those are. I talked to the Troopers after the show and Im still not sure. Oh well. Al picked a girl from the front row to sing Yoda by herself. The guy next to her tried to sing into the mic and Al yelled at him! It was so funny. Al sounded so exasperated! I really had a good long belly laugh over that.
The venue is not set up for rock concerts. The lights were on a big metal scaffolding type thing that arched over front of the stage. I guess there wasnt any place else to hang them. There was no confetti, streamers or Yankobucks. Probably due to the strange lighting configuration. I was right in front of the large speakers and, apparently, in front of the smaller speaker that seemed to be tied directly to Steves mic. So, I heard his backing vocals a lot more than usual. I really enjoyed when he used his really deep bass voice because it was coming right at me.
For a large part of the show, the people in the first 4 seats didnt show up, so I moved practically front row center. I was right in the front row aisle when Al did WBUL. I got a lot of face time with Al because the step down from the stage was hitting me in the knees! Not complaining here. I was so thrilled that Al was singing to me that I cant even remember what lines I got. I do know he kept leaning in closer and at one time we were forehead to forehead. I sure hope someone got a picture of that. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
Right after WBUL the rightful owners of the front row seats showed up. Turns out I knew them: Gina and Kevin. They thought the show started at 8PM because thats what the Ticket Bastard site said. Oh man, I was just sick for them. So they only saw the last half of the show.
The crowd was very small but loud. For the first time, I heard the audience go crazy when they realized the encore was Albuquerque! There were some hard core fans there in the center section. Al really extended the doughnuts part out for quite a bit. It was the most doughnuts I have ever heard but he didnt ask for Halle Berry doughnuts this time.
So the show ended and this guy shoved 2 backstage passes into my hand. He said I could have them. I already had a backstage pass, so I gave them to ctgova and his friend. Who just gives away backstage passes like that? I mean really! And why did he choose me? The world will never know.
So we were ushered backstage and told to stand in a straight line. We never did seem to manage a straight line. The backstage was huge and really smelled like urine. Seriously. I said to Gina that the odor of pee was a nice touch to add to the festivities.
When I saw Al, I asked him to sign a Yankobuck for a friend and told him this was my last concert of the tour and how much I enjoyed the shows. Al put his hand on mine and said hed miss me! So I got my final photo with Al and final hug.
Al was escorted to the busses by the Capitol Police where he sat in the door and signed autographs for fans who were waiting for him. Gina, Elvis, and I talked with Jon for quite some time while Al was signing autographs. Jon signed a lot of autographs and took photos. This young kid walked up to Jon and asked him to sign a homemade White and Nerdy shirt. It had a big Pac Man on the front but I didnt make out the rest of the design on the front. The back had Spock asking do I like Kirk or do I like Piccard? Very funny and very well done. Jon asked for one of the shirts for the archives and I dont think the kid believed Jon was being serious. But later the kid came back with a friend and worked out how to get Jon a shirt. Gina and I were yelling at the kids that we wanted shirts too! They didnt hear us though. Those were really cool shirts.
Anyway, so Al finished signing autographs and the band left.
I totally cant believe this tour is over for me already!

Tara Lyn