The Evolution of a Tour
Dwight says there’ll probably be a tour again this year, but … still … no dates posted, yet.
It’s happened!! The first tour date – and it’s in Saratoga!!! But not til almost the end of August; that’s an entire summer away. Still, still, still – we have a date.
An inauspicious start -- just before Saratoga tickets go on sale, with a snap, crackle & pop, my moniter dies. It's a scramble to get a ticket and I end up in the 8th row. Thanks to a friend with an extra ticket, though, I'll be in the front row for Saratoga. Hopefully subsequent ticket endeavors are not similarly plagued!
Jackson and Oroville!! Two more dates in Northern California. This is so awesome, and they’re at the beginning of July – only a couple of months away.
Jackson, 2nd row – I guess it could be worse (LOL)
Konocti, the week after Jackson and Oroville. Four shows up here is terrific. Don’t think I’ll do the Southern California shows this year. I’d like to see a show in Kentucky if the airfare is manageable.
Konocti, front row. I love it!
VALLEJO!!!! He’s Coming To Vallejo! I LIVE in Vallejo!! OMG, breathe. He’ll be at the Fair. Oh, when do tickets go on sale!? I can’t believe this, I just can’t believe it.
Oroville ~ what a mess! For weeks (even as recently as yesterday), the venue had been saying tickets would go on sale the middle of June. Now, suddenly, they're on sale today!! It was sheer luck that I ended up with a front row seat, albeit on the far right. If this site wasn't intended for viewing by the general public I'd be swearing at the ineptness with which this on-sale date was handled!
Non-tour related, but still Dwight. Quite a few months ago I decided to go to the ACMs this year; thought it would be a fun experience. Couldn’t believe my luck when it was announced just recently that Dwight would perform! On Imus In the Morning two days before the show, Dwight says he will be performing I Want You To Want Me. Just great seeing Dwight perform; it should keep me going until the first show of the tour. ;-)
The tour gods are smiling on Northern California – two consecutive days at The Fillmore in San Francisco. (Reminds me of the This Time Tour when he played two dates at The Warfield, and I was there.)
I hadn’t been back home from the ACMs but two or three days when I heard that Dwight was going to be on The Tonight Show the following
Finally, finally after hearing nothing but “the first week of June” there is an on sale date for Vallejo tickets.
Vegas tickets are supposed to go on sale in 3 weeks. Sure hope there’s some information about Kentucky shows prior to that so I can decide what to do.
I actually thought tickets for Vallejo would be pretty much a breeze. I'd get to the venue before they went on sale and pretty much be assured front row. The venue even began selling before 10:00 and since I was first in line I was not expecting to be told "there are no more front row seats." Apparently the online ticket vendor began selling them over the phone at 9:00. (Expletives deleted!) I think there was also some unfamiliarity with the ticket terminal on the part of the girl selling tickets at the window. After I started breathing again and said okay, try this, try that, etc. her manager came over and -- low and behold, front row seats were available. I've pretty much decided that it takes about an hour for the adrenaline build-up to dissipate. (Try not to get on the freeway during that timeframe.) :)
Three Weeks from Today!!! Just realized, I better go shopping :)
The day before Vegas tickets go on sale I finally decide to do two of the shows. Naturally this means I will attend the Tonk Talk party as well -- Party on the Patio, dude! ;-p
The Shows
Jackson - A hectic day overall and I think the shows starts an hour later than it actually does, so I arrive just 15 minutes prior to its start. It was all gravy from there, though. The venue allowed us to stand at the stage the entire time and being front row center in front of Dwight always works for me. The show rocked and the only thing I regret is that I opted to leave my camera in the car since I was so frazzled by my late arrival. However, it left me free to just enjoy the show, and enjoy it I did!! :)
Konocti (photos) - Gorgeous weather and venue, right on the lake; I hadn't been here since the Gone Tour. There was an opening act and I wasn't interested so I just wandered around til it was time for Dwight. I was seated right in front of Pete so had a great view of his guitar-technics, as well as of Skip when he came to the front of the stage on Streets of Bakersfield. Awesome. Very Good show. No stage rush -- what is with these venues and these people??? I mean, I really don't "get" going to a concert and just sitting in your seat. Don't you want to dance, people??
Vallejo (photos) - Finally, the day arrives ... the day that Dwight will literally be 5 minutes away from my home. Actually I went about the day as normal (grocery shopping, etc.) but from time to time I did stop and wonder "are they here yet." Evening falls and the Karens and Heather and I arrive within minutes of each other. It's fricking cold with a wicked wind. Of course I didn't bring a jacket; why would I do that?? Fortunately Karen H decides to purchase a LDR sweatshirt and lets me wear her Harley jacket. I can imagine what it feels like on stage. Despite the cold weather, the show rocked and we had a great time dancing in our seats. (Naturally you weren't allowed to actually get out of your seat to dance.) Oh well, we have a stage rush planned for CLTCL. We succeed! for a little while before security adamently and forcefully sends us back to our seats. We drag it out as long as we can though, and as we're pushed back down the stage Dwight follows us, dancing and smiling all the while. Finally, as Fast As You begins, it appears that security will let us up to the stage. Only one song for the encore tonight, maybe because of the cold. At the Meet & Greet, as payment for being allowed to wear her jacket, Karen H instructs me to have the jacket signed by all the guys -- No problem, Karen! ;-) And, I only have a 5 minute drive home!!
We have Kentucky dates! September 16 at the Palace in Louisville. Guess I may as well hit the show at the Taft in Cincinnati two days later. :)
I decide to cancel Vegas in light of my trip back east later that month.
A few more dates are added late in the year. Looks like they'll be back in Vegas for the rodeo in December. Hope there'll be a couple more California dates!
The Fillmore (photos)~ A really excellent show. Given the previous night's cancelled show guess Dwight and the guys wanted to give us two shows in one. I'd never been to the Fillmore before and wish I'd had an opportunity to really look at all the cool memorabilia there, but I of course was focused on getting inside to stake out my spot. A different jacket than he's been wearing previously, and my first show with "the chair". The guys were hot and having a good time and the crowd absolutely loved it. On Little Ways Dwight commended the crowd, with "wow, you got almost the whole verse". LOL
Saratoga (photos)~ The first announced show of the tour, first to go on sale, and the last of my California dates (currently, at any rate!) Also an excellent show. Dwight and the guys seemed really "on" -- maybe gearing up for Vegas ... The winery is an intimate venue for a concert and (except for all the bugs earlier in the evening) the day from beginning to end was a blast.
Kentucky's next ~~ I'm excited!!
Louisville (photos)~ I was scheduled to leave for Kentucky on September 15, just days after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C. Flights had been grounded and I wasn't certain whether this trip would happen. Fortunately airline schedules resumed and I elected to go ahead with my plans. I was glad that I did. I don't know that my reasoning was as clearly articulated as Dwight's statement of "defiant respect" relative to their resumed performances, but it felt right to be there. An American flag had been added to the stage, and several times during the evening Dwight addressed the events of the previous week -- most poignantly just prior to The Darkest Hour. Although always a beautiful song, given the circumstances I found myself wiping tears from my cheeks in the dark as I listened to Dwight sing. The crowd in Louisville absolutely loved Dwight, standing and dancing at almost every fast song, and Dwight and the band seemed to perform with an added intensity.
The Monday between Louisville and Cincinnati a friend and I headed for Floyd and Pike Counties. She had been before, I had not. We had a lot of fun down in Prestonburg, Betsy Layne and Pikeville. It's very beautiful and I can understand Dwight's fondness for the area and people.
Cincinnati (photos)~ My last scheduled show of the tour (although other dates are popping up, so you never know ...) and our seats were front row in the pit. Life is sometimes very good. Again, an emotionally charged show that, I think, filled the need of people to come together as well as find a little relief from the endless barrage of updates and images that filled our television screens and radio waves. Dwight wore the blue jacket that looks oh-so-wonderful with his blue eyes, and we were allowed to take pictures to our heart's content. A picture is worth a thousand words ...
Reno didn't work out, Vegas is a possibility for one night, don't think I'll do The Coachhouse (I just have a problem paying $75 to wait all day for a General Admission show), not sure about Santa Ynez, and now it appears as though he may do NYE in Bakersfield. So maybe I'll get at least one other show in this year.
Reno (photos)~ Perhaps you've heard that "Things Change"?? The closer the date got to the Reno show, that I not be there seemed more and more impossible. And after all .. what would a tour be without one unscheduled concert to unexpectedly brighten one's day? Basically it came down to a decision Thanksgiving morning to head to Reno the next day. To avoid the snow and holiday traffic I decided to fly -- a decision that would have been perfect if not for a security breach that originated in Seattle and caused the Reno airport to be evacuated just prior to my return flight (they literally pulled us off the plane before we pulled away from the gate), as well as the Oakland airport upon our arrival. A bit disconcerting to say the least! A friend's fortuitous conversation unexpectedly landed me a front row seat at this excellent show by Dwight and the boys.
House of Blues, L.A. ~ Never say never??? Well, something like that. A last minute addition to the tour schedule had Karen Holley and me twisting each other's arms, albeit briefly, before succumbing to the urge to head to L.A. A quick trip, but well worth it. Dwight and the guys were so "on" and energetic that it was hard to imagine they'd been touring for months. A truly excellent show, with a portion of the benefits going to the Los Angeles Mission so we were able to feel "virtuous" about attending. As always, the last show is rather bittersweet -- "parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say good night til it be morrow."
Wednesday. Two guesses as to whether I decided to head back to L.A. for this (and the first guess doesn’t count!) Dwight does I Want You To Want Me on Leno also (apparently this will be the new single). South of Heaven West of Hell will be released in New York and Los Angeles on June 15, with release in other cities to follow. Dwight signs autographs after the show. Aaaaaahhhhhhhh.
Oroville (photos) - A new showroom at the Gold Country Casino is the site of my first show on the tour. At the hotel where we're meeting Maureen we run into Gary. At the Wal-Mart we run into Lee Ann. Tours are so much fun! At the casino we ask one of the parking shuttles to drive us up the hill so we can get a picture of the bus. Security there seems a little over eager. Even though we are quite a distance from the bus and make no attempt to get out of the shuttle, security decides to call us in on his radio ("There are two women back here taking pictures of the bus") so we decide to make a run for it. ;-) The venue is cold and the sound distorted. It probably didn't help that I was sitting right in front of the speakers. No stage rush was allowed. Finally, on CLTCL I couldn't stand it anymore and moved in front of the speakers to dance. This seemed agreeable to security, although I must have been blocking someone's view as they moved me even closer into the speakers. Say WHAT??? For the encore we crept a little closer to the stage and knelt on the floor. Although the venue was less than perfect, seeing Dwight and the guys was absolutely perfect. The Tour begins ...
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