Saratoga=Friggin Gorgeous

[GarboSpeaks!]

Went to the show last night. Crappy seats, but lets not get into that. Crappy crowd as usual. Very appreciative crowd, but still chillin' like they do @ most shows. WTF is that all about? I just don't get it. Wonder if it bothers Linds.
Anyway, I have to say that this lil venue (and it is little...the seating chart is very misguiding) was GORGEOUS! Was up in the hills of No. California. At the top is an almost 360 degree view of the bay area (twinkling at night..... spectacular). Then you walk down a hill, into sorta a bowl like setting. The stage is backdropped by a castle looking entrance engulfed in green ivy. It was just really lovely. Was pretty hot here, (hate to bitch cause we have it really good here, but when it hits 95 degrees, us Californians start bitchin up a storm haha) but come evening, it was perfect. A small breeze. Ideal outdoor concert weather!

Lindsey had the Missus there, as well as a LOT of family and friends. His brother Jeff. He seemed to me to be showing off a bit more than usual. And why shouldn't he? This is really home. I feel very blessed to see the Mac or SN in the Bay Area, cause they do feel @ home, and it seems a little more special. For Lindsey, this REALLY WAS HOME area. Spoke of his grandmother living in Saratoga, and just all family area was w/in a 20 mile radius prolly when he was growing up. I think it was very nostalgic for him. I noticed particular differences in guitar work for Go Insane & Big Love. However, maybe I'm wrong, and it was jut how the sound is outdoors, but I swear his notes were in a little diff. order. If that makes any sense. A small tweak on the melody...in a positive way ofcourse. After his usual intro to Castaway Dreams, and the song, Kristin stood up at the end briefly applauding. It's funny cause it's always the same story how that song came to be, but even though he shares that with us, we'll still never know the private moment of what happened.

Nothing stood out in particular. I just mean, that it was as good a show as it always is. The whole barking thing after Holiday Road was a bit more and encouraged more so by LB. Could be the call of the wild instinct when surrounded by all those woods up in the Saratoga Hills. Great show...a small reprieve before Tahoe right?? Hopefully he got to spend some time w/ the fam before heading off to the next show.

Was a great night...slightly better than Santa Rosa...which I didn't review but hey. I will say that that too is an AWESOME venue...and if you are in this area, and see that an act you'd like to see live will be there...GO! Great sound, etc.

[SNLB]

Thanks for that review. I would love to be able to see Lindsey in an outdoor setting. I felt like I was right there with you while reading your review.

Originally Posted by GarboSpeaks!

After his usual intro to Castaway Dreams, and the song, Kristin stood up at the end briefly applauding. It's funny cause it's always the same story how that song came to be, but even though he shares that with us, we'll still never know the private moment of what happened.

It's funny you mention the "private moment" about Cast Away Dreams. I was thinking about that very thing this morning as I was listening to the song. We've heard the intro story to that song each time he does it live, but boy, it really makes you speculate about what exactly went on there.

[Beachwood Mac]

Originally Posted by GarboSpeaks!

Anyway, I have to say that this lil venue (and it is little...the seating chart is very misguiding) was GORGEOUS! Was up in the hills of No. California. At the top is an almost 360 degree view of the bay area (twinkling at night..... spectacular). Then you walk down a hill, into sorta a bowl like setting. The stage is backdropped by a castle looking entrance engulfed in green ivy. It was just really lovely. Was pretty hot here, (hate to bitch cause we have it really good here, but when it hits 95 degrees, us Californians start bitchin up a storm haha) but come evening, it was perfect. A small breeze. Ideal outdoor concert weather!

Was a great night...slightly better than Santa Rosa...which I didn't review but hey. I will say that that too is an AWESOME venue...and if you are in this area, and see that an act you'd like to see live will be there...GO! Great sound, etc.

Thanks for the review. I'm actually seeing Patty Griffin at both of those venues the end of July. Glad to hear they are great venues.

Terry

[amber]

So as not to take up too much space, I will piggy back on this review. Unless Garbo Speaks! thinks piggy backs are lame. But really, it would be lame for me to add a whole new review that is the same.

I'm just here to add some personal notes about the show. She is right, the venue is spectacular. And I loved it more because the town totally looks like my home town. All the streets are super curvy and hilly and so narrow that two cars shouldn't drive on them. There are lots of trees. It's fricking gorgeous.

Howevah...I have to say that the people and the security that are at this venue are kinda strange, mixed bag.
For instance: I didn't have a ticket, so I bought one when I got there. It was 10th row. But Deb had second row. So before the show, I was up front talking to Deb, and squatting, and generally having the mindset of somehow trying to sneak up front (there were some empty seats up front, nearby).
So, two feet away, one row up from Deb's seat, there were two free seats. This...uh...security helper lady sat in one, then told me that I should either go back to my seat or sit next to her in the front row until the seat holders arrived, because the artist didn't want empty seats up front. I sensed it was a trap, but how could I resist? So I sat next to her, front row, Brett side.
This is what I found out - security lady says - "you can't dance or stand up unless everyone behind you is standing up".
It was like spending recess with the recess monitor. I fricking sat my ass for so long, even during Second Hand News - where inexplicably no one else felt the overwhelming need to dance and hop around that I did - f*cking lamers - except that one girl down the row who didn't have a hall monitor beside her.
So I had to chair dance my ass off. Seriously, you've never seen such exuberant chair dancing. Then, World Turning came on, and I had to bust out. And I told some people behind me to stand up, and they did. And we danced our asses off. But immediately after the song, lady beside me was like "you have to sit down!!!"
So, it was kind of like that for awhile. Finally, you know at the end when everyone finally starts dancing...it was cool, everyone was standing.
But then...
my yard monitor had left, and so Deb came up to where I was, two feet away from her own seat. Everyone in the front (except the two a-holes right next to me) were dancing, and most of the rows in back of us as well. We were all dancing our asses off, the band loved it, etc. But suddenly, this other security lady comes over to us, and is all "let me see your tickets, we are getting complaints about you!!" Even though all the first rows were standing and dancing.
So this security lady looks at my ticket first, which is 10th row...and hands it back to me and says "okay". Then she looks at Deb's ticket, which is two paces over from where Deb is currently standing....and she's all "you have to go back to your seat!!!" She tells Deb that twice or three times. Deb's seat is literally two steps to her left, one step back.

Anyway, it was super fun, I got to be in front even though my ticket was way back, we finally got to dance our asses off, there was a drunk/funny girl in front, Lindsey was extra intense and lovely, he took someone's flower, and threw a pick to drunk enthusiastic girl - I got to finally play the guitar during GYOW. There is no buffer at all in that venue between artist and front row, it is really nice.
As usual, I was enthralled by Linds et al, and teared up. It was really awe inspiring, and moreso because I was so close to the band and the venue was so great. Got a few winks and smiles from the Brett, the band seemed to be much more stoked when people were allowed to/felt like getting up and dancing. I don't know why the band doesn't just tell security before hand to let people up front to dance and stuff.

We also had a kick ass funny SN concert in the car on the way up, which nearly rivaled the actual Linds concert.

Do not miss the Mountain Winery venue if you have the chance to go. It is the prettiest venue I have ever seen. Also, it is intimate. Just be prepared for the recess monitors and sitting down a-holes. I mean, my recess monitor was nice in that she let me sit up front, but mean in that I couldn't stand up or dance.

P.S. - Of course GarboSpeaks! gave us our usual after show crack up fun session.

[golden braid]

Good reviews, Anita and Amber! You guys have covered everything. I know everyone likes to see pictures and I did have my camera with me but if I pulled it out I'm sure I would have been shot. That's how strict the security was there. I got picked on at least three times for standing so there was no way I was going to try to take pictures.

[Musicman408]

Thanks for the great review. Glad to hear such positive words about things.

[Michelle Daya]

my brother & i went & got 2nd row at last minute. garbo's right. it really was friggin gorgeous. weather was perfect although a little hot. once the sun set, it couldn't have been better.

lb pointed out his bro in the bleachers who rocked out during the show. he was up dancing & singing along. lb's wife was escorted to her seat right before the show & met up with someone in the 7th row. maybe her mom? anyway, she rocked out too & was up dancing when everyone else was. lb punched out the kids names loud & hard during "it was you & pointed to his wife during the "it was you" part. he sang directly to her for a lot of the show. his dog growls were longer & louder than usual & more outrageous & after finishing, looked at her & gave her one of these threw several picks out to the front row. drunk girl & bf tried to get at lb's guitar during isa solo. he had his eyes closed & didn't notice them but they got within an inch of grabbing it. crowd was screaming at them to stop & get away from him. lb probably thought they were screaming coz they liked the solo they went totally unnoticed by security but had their camera taken away early on in the show.

he was definitely on fire for every song. i think his family & friends being there made him more into it. also spotted a few bn/fritz guys. bob aguire (sp?) with wife (?) & pretty sure, javier pacheco sat one row behind us. crowd was really good & totally into it but the sitting/standing thing got annoying. no one could stand unless everyone did & luckily, everyone did eventually. surprising with the heat, lb didn't sweat much. soundtrack for world turning was weird but kind of liked it anyway.

i agree with everyone that if you get a chance to check it out, you'll love this venue. we didn't get hassled by security but it sounds like others did. it's the kind of place you just follow the crowd & what everyone's doing & you're good. don't rush the stage, take pics or stand if the people in back of you are sitting. crowd freakin loved him tho so it was all good.

some other sidenotes: really curious what happened that inspired castaway dreams tho it's none of my business he gave the speech about the disagreement between him & his wife but she was right there with family & friends so i wonder how personal it could be? too much time on the road, in studio or obsessing about being at one or the other. we'll never know. ditto for under the skin. another sidenote although not all that weird: wondered why wife & lb's brother didn't sit together. not a lot of crowd interaction other than a few smiles at drunk girl & some picks thrown out. time at edge of stage for gyow was brief on both sides but a few people did play the guitar or at least one that i saw next to drunk girl. ok that's it

[Michelle Daya]

Originally Posted by amber

So as not to take up too much space, I will piggy back on this review. Unless Garbo Speaks! thinks piggy backs are lame. But really, it would be lame for me to add a whole new review that is the same.

I'm just here to add some personal notes about the show. She is right, the venue is spectacular. And I loved it more because the town totally looks like my home town. All the streets are super curvy and hilly and so narrow that two cars shouldn't drive on them. There are lots of trees. It's fricking gorgeous.

Howevah...I have to say that the people and the security that are at this venue are kinda strange, mixed bag.
For instance: I didn't have a ticket, so I bought one when I got there. It was 10th row. But Deb had second row. So before the show, I was up front talking to Deb, and squatting, and generally having the mindset of somehow trying to sneak up front (there were some empty seats up front, nearby).
So, two feet away, one row up from Deb's seat, there were two free seats. This...uh...security helper lady sat in one, then told me that I should either go back to my seat or sit next to her in the front row until the seat holders arrived, because the artist didn't want empty seats up front. I sensed it was a trap, but how could I resist? So I sat next to her, front row, Brett side.
This is what I found out - security lady says - "you can't dance or stand up unless everyone behind you is standing up".
It was like spending recess with the recess monitor. I fricking sat my ass for so long, even during Second Hand News - where inexplicably no one else felt the overwhelming need to dance and hop around that I did - f*cking lamers - except that one girl down the row who didn't have a hall monitor beside her.
So I had to chair dance my ass off. Seriously, you've never seen such exuberant chair dancing. Then, World Turning came on, and I had to bust out. And I told some people behind me to stand up, and they did. And we danced our asses off. But immediately after the song, lady beside me was like "you have to sit down!!!"
So, it was kind of like that for awhile. Finally, you know at the end when everyone finally starts dancing...it was cool, everyone was standing.
But then...
my yard monitor had left, and so Deb came up to where I was, two feet away from her own seat. Everyone in the front (except the two a-holes right next to me) were dancing, and most of the rows in back of us as well. We were all dancing our asses off, the band loved it, etc. But suddenly, this other security lady comes over to us, and is all "let me see your tickets, we are getting complaints about you!!" Even though all the first rows were standing and dancing.
So this security lady looks at my ticket first, which is 10th row...and hands it back to me and says "okay". Then she looks at Deb's ticket, which is two paces over from where Deb is currently standing....and she's all "you have to go back to your seat!!!" She tells Deb that twice or three times. Deb's seat is literally two steps to her left, one step back.

Anyway, it was super fun, I got to be in front even though my ticket was way back, we finally got to dance our asses off, there was a drunk/funny girl in front, Lindsey was extra intense and lovely, he took someone's flower, and threw a pick to drunk enthusiastic girl - I got to finally play the guitar during GYOW. There is no buffer at all in that venue between artist and front row, it is really nice.
As usual, I was enthralled by Linds et al, and teared up. It was really awe inspiring, and moreso because I was so close to the band and the venue was so great. Got a few winks and smiles from the Brett, the band seemed to be much more stoked when people were allowed to/felt like getting up and dancing. I don't know why the band doesn't just tell security before hand to let people up front to dance and stuff.

We also had a kick ass funny SN concert in the car on the way up, which nearly rivaled the actual Linds concert.

Do not miss the Mountain Winery venue if you have the chance to go. It is the prettiest venue I have ever seen. Also, it is intimate. Just be prepared for the recess monitors and sitting down a-holes. I mean, my recess monitor was nice in that she let me sit up front, but mean in that I couldn't stand up or dance.

P.S. - Of course GarboSpeaks! gave us our usual after show crack up fun session.

that was you next to drunk girl? blonde hair? cool he went right to you & asked you to play

[amber]

Originally Posted by Michelle Daya

that was you next to drunk girl? blonde hair? cool he went right to you & asked you to play

No, that was not me. I know who you are talking about, though. I was next to last seat on the left of that section, in front of Brett. Dark brown hair, black dress, big ass. Um, I just played when he came over to that side of the stage, so did other people.

[Michelle Daya]

still cool saw some people playing on other side of stage but couldn't see who exactly.

[amber]

Originally Posted by Michelle Daya

still cool saw some people playing on other side of stage but couldn't see who exactly.

yeah, that is the first time I've ever gotten to "play" his guitar.

[Michelle Daya]

Originally Posted by amber

yeah, that is the first time I've ever gotten to "play" his guitar.

you're lucky. i have yet to play it. never made it to 1st row!

[GarboSpeaks!]

2nd row last minute. Unreal! I hadn't gotten seats yet, cause I didn't know who I was going with, if I was going (was gonna do Santa Rosa & Fresno area, then no Fresno, so I opted for this one. I'm tardy like that. So I am watching Ebay/Craigs List & Tm for tix all day. At about 2 p.m everything is obsolete. One broker has front row for like $180 or something a set, $100 a piece single. Eh....spent a lot of money recently on LB & SN, so I'm trying to curb it, plus there is always the thought of @ box office luck. So then I call MW, and their answering machine stress "Please note, there is NO box office @ the venue." WTF? So I leave a msg asking how on earth that could be, pls return call. No call returned. Wankers! So, I hot-tail it to a ticket master outlet worrying that if I have nothing I'll be bummed. Get an 18th row center that's just like what was on line up till 2p.m. DAMNIT!

Once @ venue, the seats are SO squished together. I felt SO claustrophhoweverthehellyouspellthat that mid way thru set I left. I'd walk around see the place, listen to music while being able to move. I go back up to top area, F*** there is a box office. I start talking to a lady and told her of my woes. She didn't understand why the AM said that. I said here, listen, proceeded to re-dial, but OFCOURSE someone is working the phone now, s no AM. Uh-huh. She then also tells me that up till about 8:15p.m they had front row. GDIT! But Amber didn't get fw, so go figure. Ah well...I really did enjoy the show. Walking around even though further back gave me a wide view of artist/venue. Quite stunning the 2 together.

[dontlookdown]

Am I the only one in here who hates the expression "friggin"?
Just use the real thing. It's like using dang instead of damn.
Dunno, there's something a little Jersey or "down-market", as they say about friggin.
Not a fan of crappy either.

Just sayin...