Originally Posted by RudieCantFail
This is very first-person-y and not objective nor professional at all. I apologize for a long account. If there are formatting/something looks wrong or missing, please let me know b/c I was messing with the formatting and may have deleted something.
EDIT: I took audio of the show with my iPhone SE (in pocket) and 4S (in cup holder). If you're interested, let me know through PM unless bootlegging is not prohibited on this forum publicly. If even mentioning that I have audio is not okay, please let me know, so I can remove this edit.
It was a great show as always! They didn't change the setlist from the first leg. Lindsey's brother was there, since it's a San Jose show. He walked by me once. Haleyd has a story about him for that show, since she was in close proximity to him. I don't want to take away her ability to give details, but in short, he's a really cool and chill dude from her account.
As for the opening act, Wilderado, I'm not a fan of their music. They're good, but it sounded like sad rock music. I'm not aware of any guitar solos during their set. I was unfortunately bored, but like I said, I'm not into their style. It was hard to hear the singer's voice, so I couldn't articulate what he was singing. However, I did like the third-to-last song they did, which is the one before the lead singer pulled an acoustic guitar.
EDIT: I miss The Wallflowers as the opener.
In between the acts, I saw LB's brother talking with people at the front, and then he walked by me to go somewhere. He had a Buckingham McVie pass that was like a lanyard with a card, not the sticker. I didn't take a picture as he was walking by b/c I didn't want to be that creepy. I was Section 101 Row E, so I was on the far right side if looking at the stage. There was not one bad seat in the house pretty much, but there are areas where it's definitely obstructed view. It wasn't sold out completely, but it was pretty full. I can't comment on the percentage of sales, since the upper balcony was sparse on the sides, but fairly full in the center.
The acoustic set was "Trouble," "Wish You Were Here," "Never Going Back Again," and "Shut Us Down." It was somehow better than the LV show I went to, but probably due to being much closer this time around. I don't have much to say about acoustic "Trouble" other than that the audience liked it. I mean, I wish he'd go back to the manic way he played it for SNL in 1982. Unfortunately, Christine's age is showing when she sings "Wish You Were Here," but this time around, her singing was better than Las Vegas. It still wavered, but it didn't sound as aged. I don't dislike whispering with Spanish-ish guitar intro NGBA b/c I haven't seen it played to death like some of you. I'm not saying that you're wrong, but it hasn't worn thin on me yet. But then again, NGBA isn't a favorite of mine for his picking and singing in the first place. SUD was very good to see and hear compared to the studio version. You really witness the power of that song without his production processes.
Typical spiel into the new songs and you can speculate what he said. I may make a post that's like a pseudo-transcript later, but don't hold your breath.
I love "Sleeping Around the Corner" and I wanted to stand up so badly. I didn't have the nerve yet. It didn't sound as karaoke machine-like for some reason. I'm not saying that it's devoid of it, but it just didn't sound as noticeable. Heck, my ears aren't that great for detecting it, so take it with a grain of salt as you will. "Feel About You" is the song that I stood up for and stood for the rest of the night. Thankfully, I had an end seat, so I could shift my body to not be in the way of the people behind me. Haleyd got flack for that in her section, but I'll leave it to her to explicate more details into that. I kind of felt bad for still standing for "In My World" b/c it's not as upbeat but I love the song so much. You hear tinges of karaoke, but it doesn't overpower it. My dad loves "Too Far Gone," so I got crummy videography of that (I apologize for any potential motion sickness). The way the lighting was made the video not as good as I would have liked. I could have gotten better video from the video screens on the top left and right of the stage (didn't realize it until the ISA solo and even before, the quality was iffy but only during the acoustic set's lighting). It was awesome that they had video screens, and I'm curious if the first leg had them.
"Hold Me" was fun and I like the 'Why don't you' and 'Come on and.' I don't care that they may be karaoke. The crowd went nuts over "Little Lies" and people from the first 3 rows ran up to the stage. They were the permitted ones. I saw people from beyond that get turned away. Haleyd has a story on that experience. I'm timid and shy, so I didn't bother. I eventually got my way to the front-ish, and I'm not good with crowds anyways. I liked my lone off-to-the-side dancing area, and my audio recording would probably be messed up. It was distracting though seeing the staff turn a few away. "Tusk" was great as always, and I went nuts over that. I let a lot more loose this time, compared to Las Vegas. Also, I think someone got to strum his guitar, touch his arm, and then touch his head/hair after the end of "Tusk" b/c he bent over at the front of the stage.
Typical spiel about the album and return of Christine. I may make a post that's like a pseudo-transcript later, but don't hold your breath.
I really like "Love Is Here to Stay," even though it's not really dynamic. It's just a pleasant love song with his finger picking and voice, and I don't care if he's not at all angsty in it. He does turn a knob on his Rick Turner Renaissance to produce that double guitar effect. I wish that he wouldn't karaoke it up at all regarding the backing vocals b/c I know that Christine isn't doing them. "Red Sun" is fun as always, and I love that line dancing to it was posted on here and the FB group. I really danced to it.
I'm not a big fan of "You Make Loving Fun," but they don't play it that often on recent FM tours, right? However, I really liked it here more than Las Vegas b/c I think her singing on it was better. "I'm So Afraid" was awesome as always. It's way too long to record, especially when I love how he sings the lyrics b/c I get into it. I did get most of the guitar solo from the video screen. "Go Your Own Way" was the same old same old. No technical problems as far as I can tell (referring to Classic East). Christine brought out the bat during 'packin up, shackin up' but she didn't wave it. I think I got closer to the stage by only a couple rows, but I wasn't daring enough to proceed.
I didn't push it to be at the front. "Everywhere" was fun as always. For band intros, I was tempted to yell out that Paxson's Instagram was awesome, but I didn't have the nerve. I was also tempted to yell out "Michael Tugglas" for Brett Tuggle, since that's been a recent recurring joke on Paxson's IG stories. I don't have the nerve, but if any Ledgies would be kind enough to give a shout out like that in future shows that would be much appreciated!
It was really cool to see an old people couple sort of swing dance during "Lay Down for Free." The enthusiasm for this song was much higher than for Las Vegas. I saw people leave as soon as Lindsey said that they were going to close out the show with a couple of new ones in Las Vegas. I was towards the back during that show, so I saw a lot of the audience.
The highlight of the night was being allowed to go towards the front row-ish to take pictures and video for "Game of Pretend." I asked one of the staff members before the show if it was okay if I could go upstairs to look at pictures from people that performed at the City National Civic before. FM played here on Jan. 31, 1974 and Nov. 30, 1975, according to Paxson's IG story footage. Their picture on the first floor says Dec. 2, 1975. Anyways, the staff member remembered me and allowed me to go up, so I finally got a good quality shot and video that doesn't look washed out on an iPhone, lol. I'm very glad that my enthusiasm was rewarded at the end, since I stood up for the rest of the show after "Feel About You." I was hoping to get noticed by senpai, and I don't think I succeeded. At the end, I was waving my "Go Insane" CD, but he didn't notice it.
I also saw LB's brother again at the end walking past me as I was exiting the stage room. Could not discreetly snap a pic for PM purposes for curious people without being creepy.
Various notes: Someone behind me said Lindsey was cute very often during the show. She also said that he was gay (lol) and it was cute that he changes his guitars all the time. Apparently, that person or someone else annoyed the hell out of my parents b/c their ears were ringing with that person's hollering. I liked how I could see guitars on 'my left' side of the stage from my view, but I don't think they were his. He often went to the right to get his guitars. It's also amazing how thin that the Buckingham brothers can stay at their age. Please don't take this the wrong way, but it's astounding that genetics were very kind to them.
EDIT: Also, in a recent SJ Mercury article, Lindsey said that he saw Chuck Berry at the City National Civic. I saw a picture of Chuck Berry in the lobby and Paxson's IG story indicates that Berry played here on Oct. 17, 1957. LB would have been 8 years old, and I'm surprised that he can remember that far long ago. Berry must have been pretty awesome.
Also, where do I put my little tidbit about what I saw regarding Paxson and Tuggle before the Las Vegas show? Should I revive that thread? I also have small tidbit that my dad's cousin has regarding Lindsey and his brother, Jeff, from a cousin that worked at Wells Fargo in Palo Alto. Where do I put that b/c it's really not worth its own thread?
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