First, it must be said the the Starlight Mints are absolutely fabulous. They did an amazing job of backing Steve up and are deserving recognition for their amazing musical talents. I would like to see/hear alot more of them in the future, and the teaming of Steve with the group was perfect.
I spoke with Steve albeit briefly (I am terribly bashful and therefore, cannot communicate in an extremely intelligent manner (read that as "I turn stupid."), and I did manage to ask him how the tour was going and he replied that it was going very well though the Phoenix show was not well attended. I introduced him to my Domokun and was pleased to meet him - he commented that mine looked so good while his was looking pretty raggedy.
A little while later, LynnSkidoo1 and I had to go to the car for a few minutes. We were slowly walking back to the Casbah, and could see Steve standing across the street and talking to a couple of women with a little girl. It was incredibly cool to see him taking the time to speak with them, and in particular, taking time to speak with the little girl. He leaned in towards her, touched her shoulder, exchanged a few words with her, and made some memories for this small group of fans. I'm assuming they walked over to the club just to see him as the Casbah has the nobody under 21 restriction. It seems trite to say "I love this guy!" (okay, I do) but it's more than that: I really respect and admire Steve.
The small club venue for his show is great (especially for us fans as he is there among us before and after his set, and speaks with anybody and everybody.) If there were glitches in his show (and I'm sure there were several), it really didn't matter. The atmosphere is casual, informal and allows the performers and crowd to get intimate with each other. And Steve becomes one with the audience - talking, bantering, drawing us in with those eyes, the smile, then finally embracing us with his music. The caress is divine.
The heckler - was apparently knowledgeable about Blue's Clues and kept throwing out BC-isms. There was one funny incident where Jason threw a rolled sheaf of papers across the stage, barely missing Steve, and the guy yelled "Steve, you just got a letter." Everybody laughed, and Steve did not do the Mail song. While the guy knew BC well, he apparently does not know Steve well. He probably thought that he would really make a "Steve-bond" by declaring that he "hated" Joe. I watched Steve's face as that comment was hurled (pun intended) and there was briefly a mixture of anger/pain/disgust that registered across his face. Steve then said that "Joe is really a very nice man, a great guy. He really is..." (Paraphrased as I didn't write this down.)
The show went by too fast; it was over just as it was starting. Okay, that's just the way it felt. The audience thoroughly loved Steve's music. When they launched into WIDOS, the response was a united surge of recognition, a group inhale, culminating in applause, cheers, and hands in the air.
It was fun when during Troposphere, Steve looks my way and is motioning for the Domokun. I'm wrapped up in taking pictures, and LynnSkiddoo was holding it. She shoves it into my hand and says "Steve wants this!" I finally get it (meaning like "figured out"), and pass it to Steve. It was hysterical watching him sing to the Domokun. (I think Lil Kris and I ought to get together, shirt and Domokun, and party.)
All of the songs were received enthusiastically. Steve - it must be so rewarding seeing everybody mouthing YOUR lyrics and singing YOUR music. I thought it was (and is) a triumph.
It was a wonderful evening and was over way too fast. I took many pictures (35mm) and they're being developed. I will post them as soon as I can (will be a few days.) When I asked Steve to autograph the Domokun, he took it and did the "doko-teeth-snarl face" (which we now know to be, more accurately, the "domo-teeth-snarl face" while making the ARRRRRGGGHHHH!!! noise. (Sock Puppet voice would have been very funny.)
Of all the images I collected that night, the one that still lingers is of Steve taking a few minutes to make a little fan feel special. I think that sums him up in a nutshell. He is one class act.
