Not being one to let grass grow under my feet, I had secured tickets from KUZZ by 7:20 a.m. Tuesday. Tickets for the taping were being given away by the radio station to their listeners. I called and explained that I lived out of the area and asked If There Was A Way that I could win tickets. The DJ was very nice, we chatted for a minute, he took my name and number and said he'd see what he could do. What he did was ask the listeners what they thought. Apparently they all voted that I should get tickets because about an hour later he called me back and told me I had tickets for the 6:00 p.m. taping the following day!! (This would be where I do the "happy dance" at work while chanting "I'm going to Bakersfield".) (Talk about coincidences -- when I won the tickets from KLOS someone from our LA office heard me on the radio, and here again someone who works for the Company and lives in Bakersfield heard me on KUZZ. I'm just not calling anymore radio stations where someone I know lives!) I called Jerrine and told her to pack her bags cause we were goin to Bakersfield! We arrived at the Crystal Palace about 4:00 p.m. and went inside to get the scoop on how the evening would work. We hadn't been there long before we heard that voice -- Dwight was doing a sound check. We hung out in the lobby for some time "looking at photos". A little later I was outside for a photo opportunity, turned around, and there were Dwight (jeans, jean shirt, cream boots, hat) and Pete walking from the bus back into the Palace. We decided to get in line and were about 20 people back. Doors were supposed to be opened at 6:00, but it was after 6:30 before that happened. By that time, the group up front had somehow swelled to 50 or more. We were Not pleased! but were told that TNN would be doing the seating and that line order wouldn't necessarily have anything to do with where you were seated.
We were shown to the right balcony, not far from the stage (if Dwight looked up he would see us.) Just before they began taping, they said that if anyone else wanted to be on the dance floor (in front of the stage) to come on down. We were off like a shot and ended up 2nd row, center stage between the two mics. (This eventually became Front Row when the folks in front of us left.)
The Program Director told us how the taping would work: songs would be shot out of sequence. If they needed to re-take a song they would just repeat it then and there. They had us do audience "reaction" shots -- yelling and clapping, etc. all without anyone on stage.
Finally it's time. Buck opens with Act Naturally (and re-take). Then he brings Dwight out for Streets of Bakersfield (and take-over.) In fact, virtually every song at the first taping was done at least twice. Dwight had on jeans, undershirt, short black jacket with white piping, cream boots, and "the hat". Buck was in black with a red shirt. The songs that I can recall were: It was terrific to see Buck and Dwight together, and in Bakersfield no less. They clearly enjoy performing together. They were teasing one another as they usually do, and Buck kept referring to Dwight as "my little buddy". Pete was the only "BC" there and joined the Buckaroos in playing for the evening. There was plenty of leg swiveling and hip swinging going on, and lots of smiles, so it wasn't too terribly difficult to be enthusiastic for the cameras! All too soon it was over and they were telling us we needed to exit quickly so they could get the next group in. They did say that anyone who wanted to come back in for that taping could line up to the left and they'd let us know if that would be possible. Steve came out to reset the stage and I called to him to get me one of Dwight's picks on the floor. Jerrine went to get in line for the 2nd taping and I went upstairs to get our bags which were still at our table. Outside, I couldn't locate Jerrine, but saw that a number of people had congregated by the bus. Naturally I wandered over to check it out and saw that Dwight was standing in the doorway signing autographs. After a minute or so Jerrine found me and in another few minutes she was having Dwight sign her shirt and getting her picture taken with him. My turn next! He signed my stuff and I asked if I could get a picture. He put his arm around me (and it felt just as good as I remembered.) I thanked him and as I turned to go he said "you all go home careful now." I smiled and said "we'll be back!" Immediately they were letting folks in for the 2nd taping so we scooted on in. We stopped so Jerrine could see the display with Dwight's "Streets" outfit, and talked with Steve, who happened to be sitting there, for a few minutes. Then we headed for the dance floor and ended up about 3rd row back but again pretty much center stage. (As we entered the dance floor one of the video guys said "you two decided to come back, huh?" I took this to mean that they had us on tape! Actually, after viewing the taping, I decided that at the least I should have received an "also appearing" credit!!) This crowd was a little rowdier -- more yelling and screaming. Dwight and Buck ran through their songs again and there were fewer re-takes this time around. Dwight's Fast As You Not realizing that I would be standing all night, I'd worn the "wrong shoes" so the first thing I did before we even left the building was to take them off. Out to the bus to see if there would be any more Dwight sightings. We sat on the curb while we waited, saw Pete leave the bus, and it soon became apparent that Dwight would not be coming out. The bus pulled away and we began to walk back to the hotel. Saw Pete in the parking lot talking with Anita and Lou, so we stopped and told him what a great show it was, chatted a bit and then to the hotel -- to sleep, perchance to dream.
Act Naturally
Streets of Bakersfield
Fast As You
Things Change
I've Got A Tiger By The Tail
Cryin Time
Vegas
I Sang Dixie
Folsom Prison
There were a couple of others that have escaped my recollection.
Marty Stuart was supposed to be there as well but came down with the flu, so John Berry filled in for him. John came out about 3 or 4 songs into the evening and had to do all of his songs at one time because he was flying to San Jose later in the evening for a show. That meant, of course, that the remainder of the taping would be Dwight and Buck and the 2nd taping would be just the two of them.
was much more physical this time -- it was already hot in there with the lights and the crowd but that raised the temperature about 20 degrees! You could tell that Buck and Dwight were tired when the 2nd taping ended.. We all clamored for more but to no avail.Graphics courtesy of The Crystal Palace
"I think that I will just take a memory, a small one that I know really well then go".....
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