Sunday March 17, 2013
Another year, another concert. This was my first of the year, the eighth of the Tour, and the year, and the last of the continental concerts this Spring Tour. Shockingly to some, and to the pleasure of others, I had not attended any of the first seven shows. There are those out there, somewhere, who were pleased to point out to me how happy the Band was, to not have me in the audience, but since these people are not the Band, nor were they in that particular audience, and lastly, I am fairly confident that their so called "reliable source" is one of the voices in their head, I am not ruffled by these remarks.
My reliable sources, folks who were there, including people both on, behind and in front of the actual stage, gave me a different report, and I was welcomed warmly back into the fold. The bond we share while on the road, a specialness that divides up from the others, had not been severed during our time apart. There is an enormous difference between "traveling" fans, and people who have traveled to shows, and do not confuse the two, I will get imperious. And looking like a tourist isn't all that bad, when you are actually a tourist.
So off we go to the show, being polite and friendly with people we see, friends, distant acquaintances, and people we have run into along our many jaunts and journeys.
I remember again why I had been reluctant to return to Florida last year.The arriving cars are jostling for the coveted handicapped spaces, of which there are many, and all filled. Aging hippies are not all aging in the same way, and assisstive devices abound. The Children of the Sixties, have reached and passed their 60's, not all in the same way. The Generation that chanted to never trust anyone over the age of 30 have passed that milestone twice over. But still willing to subject themselves to a night of fun. So, limping, shuffling, wheeling and rolling, we all got to the venue. I joined in with the limpers.
Many people paid large sums of money to sponsor the venue, they were evident, many others were wearing tags signifying that they had paid large sums of money to have a photo op with the Band, they were evident, also. I did pay for either, I was just there. There was some confusion as to where to sit, as many expected that their large sums of money got them the front, but alas, in not reading the ticket correctly, or the seating chart, they were shuffled to the sixth row of the pit, which was actully second row. A parameter clearly stated in the photo op description, but apparently when one spends large sums of meny, one doesn't read, one complains, and disrupts, and bothers others already seated. Oh, well.
So the show starts. Energetic, enthusiatic, smiles all around, but each song faded a bit towards its end. The crowd was older,the correct generation, and the show started early enough to not be past too many peoples bed times, but the energy was not there. perhaps being unburdened of large sums of money wearied them out, the Band certainly was trying very hard. As I often say, if you want a better concert, be a better audience. I can name the two people who were on their feet for IKYOTS, before the whole audience got into it, and these same two ladies stayed up for TSIYE, and again for YWD, and H&H, and IJAS, and one of the names was mine, the other was a Canadian. Despite reports to the contrary. I have reliable sources, also, and their names can be read on various CD packages, and Tour Programs, if one knows where to look. I will say that there were a few others up sporatically, but not in the manner once can expect from me.
Playing air guitar during a concert does not mean you played guitar with the lead singer.
Talking to the Stage does not mean you had a converation with the lead singer.
Security is there for a reason, no one is exempt, well practically no one.
Your ticket to the show entitles you to just that, a show.
The Band is the only authority as to whom is the best fan, if there were to be such an outrageous award.
As to the concert, there was no other side of life, and the mystery verse to IKYOTS was in, and we also drifted wood, did not sit comfortably.
The lights were outstanding, great backdrop with a neat selection of photos from the remote past.
I have seen better shows in the past year, and have seen worse, this one was good, not great, I am glad I was there.
