It's all about my FAVE artist, baby!

Chapter 1: The Concert

Touring With Scissors, November 14, 1999, Warner Theater, Washington, DC

This was the first time I ever saw "Weird Al" Yankovic in concert even though I have been a HUGE fan of his since his pre-album, Dr. Demento days (1982)! I had pretty good seats, 10th row on the left side, but a large stack of speakers blocked my view of Bermuda. I remedied this situation... more on this later!

I laughed, I cried, I screamed, but mostly I danced my head off in my seat all the way through the concert. It was an epic! Al pulled out all the stops for maximum hilarity. The costume changes were totally unexpected and the Al-TV and 'educational' video clips proved just how kooky and zany Al could be. That Al is a comic genius is beyond debate!

I almost wet my pants when Al came out into the audience while singing One More Minute. I had never seen a performer leave the protection of the stage before. However, Mongo was there to step in if a fan got unruly. Alas, I wasn't the lucky girl on whose lap he sat and to whom he bestowed the gift of a white silk scarf! Not that I'm bitter, you understand!?!

Where was I? I kinda lost my train of thought... Oh, yeah ... I was truly impressed with the quality of the entire concert. The thing I was worried about was what if I couldn't understand the words? Oh Al, I apologize for ever doubting you! I could hear and understand every word, including the hard-to-pronounce-under-the-best-of-circumstances song Jerry Springer. Plus I was pleasantly surprised by, and laughed my head off to, the concert-only songs Fast Food, Free Delivery, and Laundry Day. I had never heard them before and wasn't even aware that Al threw unreleased stuff into his concerts. I just love getting more than I expected!

During the intermission just before Smells Like Nirvana, I left my seat WAY back in the 10th row and planted myself on the floor in the aisle in the first row right in front of Jim West! Now I could see everything! (NOTE: Those rumors about Al going Greek under the Fred Flintstone costume are not true -- at least not that night!) I thought that would just take the chance and if I got kicked out, I got kicked out. Nobody said anything to me so there I stayed. My heiney and legs fell asleep, but it was worth it!

My only complaint is that I personally disagree with Al shooting Rubén and beating up Santa Claus. Though, I do appreciate the comic value in it! If that makes me hypocritical, then so be it!

The encore consisted of The Saga Begins and Yoda complete with Al and the guys in full Luke Skywalker regalia! Then, came the Yoda Chant. I had never seen or heard anything like it before. I died laughing when they said, "LA LA LA Nice Lady!" The concert ended soon after. Of course, I didn't want it to end. If singing for an additional 5 or 6 hours was too tiring, Al could have just stood there and read the DC phone book, that would be OK with me!

After the encore was over, I gave them a wobbly but enthusiastic standing ovation (remember, my legs were asleep). Al said, "Good night Washington, DC, I love you all!" and left the stage. And that was my last glimpse of the man, the myth, the legend (or so I thought).

I never thought in a bazillion years that I would actually get to meet Al, get his autograph, and get my photo taken with him but that's exactly what happened!

P.S. Is it just me, or is Jim West 2-die-4 good looking?