Well for the first time ever I avoided reading the setlist before seeing a show. (I guess seeing a show so early in the tour helped

) This was, BY FAR, my favorite Al show ever. The memories made tonight are overwhelming and almost outnumber all the ones I've made in my first 14 shows. Here they are, out of order:
My girlfriend and I were dead front and center. We got there 2 hours early and I'm glad we did. Al was literally in our faces all night, to the point where his spit and sweat were landing on us.
He actually held the mic directly to my mouth for Yoda before they broke into the chant!! I apologize if my singing was horrendous. I never expected that!!
He also zoomed right in on me and put his head right up to mine during Albequerque during the "haven't had a bite in three whole days" verse.
I had my Ak & Zuie shirt on and caught Steve's attention with it and we both got quite a few smiles from him all night. At the "pens in my pocket..." line in W&N, he pulled one of his pens out of his pocket protector and threw it to me.
Al sang three different lines of WBUL to my lady.
I know I'm forgetting something else that was incredible and could have only happened in a non-seated venue as well.
After meeting Al several times after shows, I finally got a picture with him tonight and thanked him for the opportunity to "contribute" to the show.
We met Alnite27 and his awesome mom at the show. He's a great guy and his mom is just incredible. He's a lucky guy and it was nice to meet them. I'm sorry we rushed out of there after the meet & greet at the bus and didn't get a chance to say goodbye.
I realize that maybe some people could be upset with the setlist, but the energy and length of this show are unsurpassed by any Al tour to date IMO. The crowd was amazing. I really thought general admission would be a nightmare but the crowd was incredibly well behaved and even though standing that long is VERY difficult, I think it really adds to a show.
The staff at this theater were just amazing. Nobody was rushed out the door and lied to. They were honest with people and told them Al would be out back meeting people. There have been times in the past when security outright lied and said he left already and is doing interviews and GET OUT.
I wish I could make it to A.C. tomorrow and the Meadowlands on Sunday but those shows aren't in the cards for me. We'll be at PNC and I definitely think we're gonna add at least 2 or 3 more after the night we just had.