tour061503

Wherein we encounter Lestat, Soul Patch, Miss Mousey and the Dancing Earth Goddess

June 15-Father's Day!! Oh what a beautiful day!!!!!!!!

I crawled out in the morning, the room was a wreck, underwear all over the floor, and it was just me in the room! Go figure! I was out of clean clothes, so I had washed some linen pants by hand in the shower last night, and after a night of flapping in the breeze by the window, they were nice and dry. And after Justin giving my feet the hairy eyeball the night before, I was feeling a little owley, and decided today was the day to spruce up the wardrobe a bit. Luckily I had until noon (check out time) to get my sh*t together, and it took every bit of that time.

Another quick shower, and then it was sort, and restack the dirty clothes……. into grocery bags and tied, tossed in the back of the pickup. Far back. Clean out the cooler BLAUGH the water got into the chicken, that's only good for CAT food now! A little cheap wine left, man that was a nasty bottle of Merlot! And so on so forth. Had breakfast in the room, watching sparrows fornicate on the rooftop and, yes sipping my hot cocoa. Making sure my nose was clean this time, I passed through the lobby and out of the lives of the long suffering desk clerks whom I almost bled all over the day before. YECCH I mean what if this happened in the front rows? In front of my idols? While Kristian was filming??? Shudder. Talk about feeling owley! So saying "...take it easy easy Christie" I jumped back into the saddle, and was off again, for more adventures.

Strider the Ranger really is a nice car. He looks scruffy, but I'm the sort of person who doesn't carae about looks, and I become symbiotic with a car; the seat has curves that match mine perfectly. As I cruised, the words to "Are You Sitting Comfortably" kept coming back. And how this is supposed to actually tie into kundalini and meditation, and the 4th heart chakra. How my heart and emotions and all that had been so important on this trip, going to Klamath Falls. So for me this became the "Sitting Comfortably" tour. It was all about calmness, and finding that inner release of central heart energy/light. Holding it in, it binds up and comes out explosively in coughing fits. I guess the nosebleed stuff was sympathetic vibes on the 2nd chakra, or the first (not sure which chakra the sinuses are, but man were mine were sure in torment!)

Off to shop. I found a Mall (there is actually a Leary Way in Redmond, LOL!), I cruised, seeing clothes I knew I could find at Target for half the cost, but it was fun looking anyway. Then I went to Fred Meyer, and in addition to the usual shopping, picked up a very cool black blouse for under $20 to wear that night. (I really was tired of looking like a groupie, I brought nothing but Moody tee shirts). Swung by Subway for a turkey sandwich, then it was off to Marymoore to spend the day.

Oh what a beautiful day!!!!!!!! (didn't I already say that?) !!!!!!!!!!!!! It really was wonderful, full of hobbitish magic, and beating out Tuesday afternoon for all around fresh clean clear air. Marymoore has these huge patches of ladybug weeds growing wild, so the birdies can hop through and grab bugs and grass seeds, and build nests. Blackbirds hide in the berry bushes. Cats are not allowed. There are many many dogs. And it's such a big area, that it never gets crowded

They were playing crickett on Father's Day! How fun! Yes there were players in real live English ball caps and all-white suits, swinging this funny flat bat. And across the field, were more Dads out flying model airplanes. Some were very very good armchair pilots! Countless dogs and gardeners roamed in the area called "the Peapatch". This actually was back by where the two Moody trucks were pulled up. The stage is well designed, all the trucks do is back up, and the stage is at the same level as the truck bed, and they just roll the amps and so forth on stage and set up. I thought the amps were set up cool, kinda stacked into areas for operation and so forth. The technical end is very fascinating to any stage show, not in the least, the Moodies. The definitely follow the KISS principle.

By this time it's 2 pm and really time for a little something. I parked in lot B, and hiked over to a field of elanor flowers, spread out the buzz saw quilt (red white and blue, and I love it, this was it's first picnic!). And enjoyed my day in the park. Scores of robins and crows could be heard in the forest, and there were definitely swallows in the area (the blue kind, tree swallows). A lady squirrel, probably one of the most polite squirrels to ever beg from me, came over when I called her, and happily grabbed some chips I tossed out. Wouldn't you know, the nose started its thing again; luckily I was in the right spot this time, and just flopped back flat prone, holding my nose and breathing deep (through the 4th chakra) until it stopped. I got through both shows with no ikky bloody (yuck!) mishaps. As I type a couple of days later I am STILL having periodic nosebleeds and may have to go see a doctor if it doesn't quit!

I got in some real birding, with binoculars, and generally had a nice time, until security came and shooed me off about 4:30. I changed and spruced up in the (clean!) porta potty, washed off again at the cooler, did make-up etc in the car, and hiked off to the show for the last hurrah of my tour.

Nida was there again (in the magic corner, up front on the lawn, John's side), this time wearing a really nice sari outfit (Nida is Buddahist). Nida had brought her daughter Amber, who is a real card, and she was being a bit wacky (Nida said "well she doesn't come home drunk, nor pregnant, nor doing drugs, so she can be a little weird if she wants!" here here!) . Nida had some good information, that Kirsten Lodge, and Kristian Lodge had actually been meandering around amongst the fans the day before, so this time Nida was encamped over on John's side, hoping for an encore! That's nice tho' if Kristian was around for Father's Day. I hope they all had a barbeque at the Manor House. Kristian popped up with his video camera in the wings behind his Dad, and was <gulp> filming the front rows where *I* was..... so at long last, it looks like I'm going to be in a Moody video. Scary, isn't it? But the nice part is, with the early hours and good weather*, Kristian had superb lighting; this might be one heckuva tape if he ever makes it commercial.

I finally said hi to Jackie Fairholme, and Dorrene Carrol also said hi. They are very nice, and some of the cool people on line. Nida managed to make friends with some security people, so as curtain time got closer one of them was cool enough to tip us that the band was coming, from the Manor house. We peeked through the fence like naughty children……. Yep they pulled up in vans, and piled out. Graeme was wearing the Hendrix shirt! YIPPEE!! I hit "record" on the tape player, and dove for my seat. The lady on my right had blue dipped hair, and the guy on my left needed two seats, but what the heck……. It was the Moody Blues and nothing was going to pry me out of my seat! (Don't get me wrong, both of my neighbors were nice folks, but I don't do well in crowds always….. born to be a hermit I guess. But I'll endure anything for Moody Blues!).

Before the show, Nida and I had been talking, and this "girl" (I say that loosely, as on second look, she had as much gray in the top of her head as I do) arrived, in jeans artfully painted with the MB logo, wearing a hand-painted Justin shirt, and carrying two bags with various Moody logos on them. She sat down quietly, tucked into an upright foetal position, and seemed prepared to let nothing move her. (Nida was encamped fairly close to the front on the lawn). Nida and I galloped over like a couple of maiden aunts, and praised her on her bags. Then we said "Hey over on the other side it's much much nicer " and it was, Nida had been over there the day before, over where Norda is now. (Justin always looks over there). Anyway NO one was over there……. So we convinced her to come over with us (she was very suspicious at first). Not a peep has this chick said yet, mind you. I was calling her "Miss Mousy" by now privately to myself. We got her set up happily with a better view, and went back to our own seats.

Well, being curious, and watching Justin like I do, sure enough he was looking over stage right quite a bit. I wondered, and looked over. Miss Mousy was standing there like a little girl, shooting these calf eyes (puppy dog eyes) at Justin. And I don't think she changed her expression for the entire show. Justin smiled at her, and then kept looking over there, probably having trouble believing it himself! I don't mean to make fun, but it was kinda scary in a way. No wonder the Moodies ignore the more intense fans sometimes, those are the types that lose it. I just hope Miss Mousy stays good and mousy, and doesn't ever snap, for Justin's sake. She seemed harmless, but it was pretty intense fan adoration. I didn't know if I should laugh, or cry, it was so odd.

During IKYOTS, I saw the Roadies in the wings SL (behind John) actually pointing and grinning to where Miss Mousy was. I forgot about the tech guys on the sound board. One of them I dubbed Lestat, and the other was Soul Patch. Anyway, Lestat and Soul were suddenly grinning like jackals (or sailors on shore leave), and John was even looking over there more than usual. Wondering if Mousy had snapped, I looked over too …….. there dancing about (behind Mousy), was another young lady, rather pretty, an "all girl" Earth Mother, jumping up and down and threatening to come out of her skin-tight top…. like all the way, and in a tidal wave effect. I was impressed…… talk about flaunting it! Kristian even whipped out the camera to video her. Later it turned out this Earth Goddess was there with RHONDA herself, and they were both dancing, all barefoot and pagan, Rhonda in shorts (Rhonda is still cute as a bug's ear); and the Leslies were there too, friends of Rhonda's. At the end of the show, I distinctly heard John say "Rhonda!" and point, so yes they know a few of us. It was a really active place to be, that little corner of the lawn!

I forgot to mention the stage at Marymoore. Despite there being no stage lighting, there was a wonderful trade off. The back drop for the stage was a gossamer black scrim, mosquito netting, that hung in long drapes boxing in the stage. Behind the curtains were the trees, millions of trees, all green shadows and beautiful and glimmering like a real forest, because it WAS a real forest. As the show progressed, the lighting changed. Very very slowly. Leisurely. Like God intended it to be. There was something wonderful about this, and I was put in mind of a day from my childhood, thinking of hippies and elves all having a picnic. Which is really how the Moodies started out. I just wish I could have brought a camera along, it was really striking.

I really started to feel comfortable there in the front rows, and thankfully I don't have enough money for it to become a habit, sitting there night after night. You feel like a member of the road show, you know? The first night during curtain call, the band looked a little lost and lonely up there, as the stage was really high and the lawn very big. The staff was being Nazi's about letting people run up and shake hands or pass notes. So we talked to the staff the next night (and indeed after the first show too) they were super nice, but said they had to keep people back from tripping over temp plates they had over wires in the front (this is a really new venue, and the staff all had "Tacoma Dome" lanyards on, they were from there). Anyway we all assured them that the band didn't mind us coming up and passing notes, so hopefully that helped, as we really presented a "civilized" front for fandom. The band still looked a little lost at curtain call the second night, but some of us ran up there anyway, just to run up.

Bernie really contributed to the energy, several times motioning us all to get up and boogie!

One thing I am really angry at myself about, in retrospect. I intended to hold up a "Happy Father's Day" for all the guys, as they probably are not with families right now. And I totally forgot. DAMN! It would have been really nice. One gal did say she had "bumped into" Justin at the gym that morning and she had wished him Happy Father's Day, so he wasn't totally deprived. Anyway, the Moment was missed and I'll just have to get over it…… but I hope they got to do something on Sunday other than have to sit inside the Manor House, hiding from the fans.

Some notes, little things that make the concert worth going to over and over:

Norda held her last note on "Nights" a long time one night. It was a really showy bit of work (she has very good breath!) and I thought it was wonderful. Not sure too many people caught it.
"Are You Sitting Comfortably?" was incredible all nights, it is 3 guitars (Justin, John and Paul) two flutes (Gordon bass? and Norda alto?) one tambourine (Graeme) and one keyboard (Bernie). "Just a flute and a guitar" sorta song. I wonder if a total acoustic Moody tour would make money?
Justin is not really humping his guitar during IKYOTS anymore, which is ok with me. But he still wears a tight pair of pants pretty nicely. He sounded good all nights (no voice cracks), but sometimes he didn't "warm up" or grin until a few songs into the show. Maybe that pithy comment I made on Lost Chords about "warming up" had some effect; he sounded great, from beginning to end of show. (More than I can say for myself, as I was hoarse a few times, between yelling and being sick.)
Justin did some sort of neat "belling" tones on his Gibson (?) toward the end of "Slidezone". It was pretty, a nice touch. He got electronic feedback here and there, and was occasionally to be seen tweaking his amps. I wish I knew more about it, it looks very fun, to be able to turn off the amp, and just tune in YOUR channel and YOUR guitar on stage, electronically. I think it was the night of June 14 that Justin was jawing at his guitar tech right before "See Saw" apparently there were issues with the amp or the Telecaster, Justin was pretty animated. So it must have been a crisis. I dunno what, as the Telecaster sounded fine. Things did get off and out of tune a few times, all four shows I saw, but I couldn't tell you where or when, as it was fixed very quickly. Justin never batted an eye during occasional feedback squeals, and I think there was actually a dead sound spot at the Schnitz for about 2 seconds….. kinda scary! All normal for a tour though. Stuff occurs.
Justin used a white Fender (I think) on LOM, and I really really loved the sound of it. Fender comes from the same place I did, Fullerton, California.
Justin's ring is worn smooth silver, the big knobby one he wears on his middle finger. The pinkie ring is indeed gone still.
While the rocker stuff is good, my neighbor at the Schnitz very deliberately said "I like the orchestral stuff" and really enjoyed "Words You Say to Me". I got to listening intently to the rhythm interactions on that song one night, and it's very very complex; not a song to do cold turkey, a good deal of rehearsal in that. John, Justin, Gordon and Paul really do some masterful work on that song. They all appear to do differing rhythms (which is Jazz format) and it all comes together after weaving around each other. Really really a complex, wonderful song.
Norda had a little Washburn guitar, or at least it looked little, compared to Justin's huge 335. I keep forgetting what a huge guitar that thing is. Justin is a big guy, and handles a big guitar quite well. Norda's guitar looks like a beloved old friend, I wish I knew more about Washburns.
"Isn't Life Strange" Norda and Bernie do a little duet back and forth, where Ray used to do his "too too do doos!" at the end. Kinda nice.
John has lost weight, and looks pretty good. He needs to work on that gut though, and was tucking it in (rather cozily) behind the bass, I saw. Hehe. (like I'm one to talk!). While Paul and Justin at times really looked serious or tired, John was always hopping and jumping, full of energy. I don't know how he does it! (I kept screaming "Go Johnny Go!" but he probably didn't hear it). Even Graeme seemed more mellow than John at times. John clicked his boot-heels like a grasshopper one night in Redmond, doing his lead in. Low energy maybe, but that does not mean they were unhappy! They probably had a very nice day full of adventures, running around Seattle!
The scalper seats were pretty active, so that was a good thing.
Justin whips out his jack and flips it limply after AYSC, saying "We're just singers in a Rock and Roll band!" he's pretty funny.
John is doing this Charleston step at times, and sometimes bends his knees with the bass in his crotch. Pretty interesting move there, John! (not sure I like it, but it's different!)
I really like John's bass on "The Actor". Justin does really simple chords to that song. Sometimes less is more.
The guitar roadie was a very burly, ruggedly handsome fellow, and seemed really together. I spotted him polishing John's Guild once backstage, and he must be a saint to weather Justin's sharp Libran tongue like he did one night. (The Telecaster was having issues! Boy, you could see Justin was all worked up! then he came out smiling...) I also noted during Marymoore sound checks that SOMEONE on the sound crew is a very talented guitarist himself, so maybe it was the same guy.
Justin plucks a rhythm like a galloping horse during AYSC, it was really neat.
Justin did a very nice rendition "with feeling" for one of the Redmond shows for ILS. I was pretty impressed with the play-back (and no I won't sell it on Ebay if the Moodies are reading)
Justin got this very gnarly extra "vibe" out of the 335 at the end of TOSOL, he actually physically wiggles the whole guitar. I'd never seen that before, being in the front rows you see little things differently.
The James Olssen has a belt buckle rub on the back, like the 335 does.
I saw Gordon hold his hand up to his soundboard tech once (during ILS?), like "wait" I didn't catch the cue, but Gordon indeed sometimes coordinates things back there. We just don't see all the wizardry of course. Gordon was wonderful as usual (especially IJASIARRB), he sits in this fantasy tower of drums and Plexiglas and glimmering cymbals, making his magic. GE had a rather small set by comparison.
Yes they tossed the drumsticks, but GE was very very careful and tossed underhand. Maybe John got nailed and yelled or something. There have been a few near misses *I've* seen. It was kinda funny.
Did I say I thought the tech crew was really talented? Yes there were some rough spots, but I thought they really got fixed quickly, and the nights I saw lights, I really thought they were wonderful. Mostly they seemed a very reliable crew.
One fan said "they seem like a table with three legs" without Ray. I don't know that I agree. I thought John and Justin both looked a little sad, and resigned, but the show definitely went on, as did the music, and I fully enjoyed them all, even without Ray.
Everytime I've peeked backstage, Justin seems to be the first to go up the stairs to the stage. He acts very dignified, like he is mounting the gallows! (go figure)
AND yes the wind came up once, during IKYOTS and Justin's hair blew all around. The others probably had their hair blow too, but I was getting tunnel-visioned I guess. Justin has that effect, doesn't he?

The shows were over. Nida and I finally cornered Rhonda and talked her leg off, it was wonderful as she played Will O' the Wisp on us the last show here! She is doing well and now designing video games rather than just doing the art. (Yes is still with Humongous!). She has totally been out of the Moody loop, but loves the band still of course.

Everyone split up quietly, and went home. (Rhonda invited me for drinks, but I went home anyway, it was just right when I got home, and I slept soundly, in my own bed). It was over, and I was glad for a change. If they never tour again, I would die content, but even if there is more…….. I'll be happy too. John says "Thank you for keeping the faith" well we should all thank them TOO, for the band too has kept the faith with US, through a lot of strange trips. As I drove home, Earendil shone in front of me, over the darkling trees and my home in the West. Leading me home. May it be an evening star, that shines down on you, too. Say it with love, and have a very Moody summer.

*True to Pacific Northwest and Moody Magic, the weather went sour a few days after they left, so we were very very lucky for all the outdoor Cascadia shows indeed!