Dolly Parton at Mohegan - Baby Was Burning [Archive]

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Rickypt

11-17-2006, 06:30 PM

I might have to post this in pieces. I also have some pics that I'll post when my friend uploads them.

So, the drive from Boston to Norwich, CT. was actually quite pretty. It gave me a chance to see some fall foliage and I was surprised how rural it got just a few minutes outside Boston.

My friend would not stop every 10 minutes at Dunkin' Donuts. :mad:

We checked into the Comfort Suites Norwich, which was at the end of a road and behind a Feed Supply warehouse. :eek: I am so glad I wasn't alone, as I would have been afraid and depressed and probably would have just popped ativan and skipped the concert.

As we waited for our free shuttle to the Mohegan, we had a "cocktail" at the hotel lounge (called "Bob's Place"). I use quotes because I am used to San Francisco drinks and that pseudo-vodka-cran didn't even begin to cause a buzz.

Arrived at Mohegan Sun. I enjoy cheesy casinos, but this one is just intimidating and butt ugly. I guess they intentionally make sure you get hopelessly lost so you just give up and keep spending money. We downed about 3 glasses of free wine, I won $20 on slots, and we went to use our free buffet coupon. Free is about all that was worth. :rolleyes:

Anyway....boring....let's talk Dolly.

carrie721

11-17-2006, 06:31 PM

i was wondering when this would show up! but you didn't call it "dolly parton kicked ass"! :D

JazmenFlowers

11-17-2006, 06:34 PM

more more more! :thumbsup:

Rickypt

11-17-2006, 06:39 PM

So the concert started at 7:30. Which anywhere else means 8:00 or later, right? We got to the arena and were in line for more wine when I heard screaming and the sound of a fiddle. The goddamn show was already starting!

We ran to our section as I screamed at my friend that I could not miss Dolly's entrance. Fortunately, the first five minutes of the show was her band warming up (by playing "Hello Dolly" :laugh:). The minute we sat down, she came down a HUGE staircase.

Here's the thrill: she opened with "Baby I'm Burning"!!! This is one of my all-time favorite Dolly songs. She used to open with it during the late 70's and 80's, but stopped doing it before I started seeing her live. I thought I was going to pass out when she launched into it.

The thrill was slightly tempered by the AWFUL sound. I guess I should have known by looking at the seat chart (and by the word "arena" in Mohegan Sun Arena), but I was expected a musical theater. Instead it was like a basketball stadium. With horrible, horrible, horrible sound. It got a little better during the night, but not much.

Anyway, I was not going to let that stop me from having a blast. Next post is song-by-song. I won't put "spoiler" because she's not on tour so it's not really spoiling anything.

Rickypt

11-17-2006, 06:41 PM

Rickypt

11-17-2006, 06:43 PM

i was wondering when this would show up! but you didn't call it "dolly parton kicked ass"! :D

:laugh: :laugh:

DrummerDeanna

11-17-2006, 06:51 PM

Oh--I loved Dolly's dress. Normally she wears really colorful outfits, but this was a very simple white dress and spiked heels. Very classy and looked great with the stage (the stage was all white and gold).

I thought Dolly was wearing Reeboks these days..oh. Wait. Wrong blonde :p

So excited to hear about this....more please!!

Rickypt

11-17-2006, 06:51 PM

Set-list with comments. I might be a little off on the order.

Baby I'm Burning--already discussed

Dolly chats with audience for a few minutes. She was a little flustered because she had been told to hold off starting the show for 10 minutes and then suddenly heard the band warming up. So she had to run up to the top of the stairs to make her cue. She then said "I hope you're all getting rich at this casino, 'cuz I sure am. And it takes a lot of money to look this cheap". (she says this at every show, but I laugh and laugh everytime.:laugh: :laugh:

Then she said...."Hey...there's a party in here....and it sounds like it's Two Doors Down". Which, of course, led to Two Doors Down. This is when I noticed the average age in the audience was about 127 years old and that no one would be standing. Hopefully just staying awake. :lol:

Jolene: Dolly tells the story behind the song (I think it's all a myth, but a fun story). She said several years ago she noticed her husband was always going to the bank, which was odd because they had no money. So one day she followed him and realized he was going to flirt with a beautiful redhead named Jolene.

Okay, my friend's dinner guests have arrived, so will finish later.

ryan8472

11-17-2006, 07:23 PM

This is when I noticed the average age in the audience was about 127 years old and that no one would be standing. Hopefully just staying awake. :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I'm sorry Connecticut sucks ass. As a resident, I appologize for it. :laugh:

But I want more dirt on the concert! I hope it was awesome. :cool:

Rickypt

11-18-2006, 08:31 AM

The Grass Is Blue: Dolly talked about the tribute album made for her a few years ago and that she particularly liked Norah Jones' version of this song. So she did this one a little jazzy and played the piano (she said "I don't play the piano as well as Norah...but then again, she didn't write this song". :laugh: ).

Shine: I love this song! She started out at the piano, then came center stage and sang at the standing mic. Everytime she sang "heaven let your light shine down", she'd raise her hands and look up at the spotlight. Goosebumps.

Little Sparrow: This was the highlight of the show. She did Little Sparrow a capella, with just some help from backing vocalists. Her voice ranged from whispers to belting to pleading. This song was when my friend realized he was witnessing something very special.

Thank God I'm A Country Girl: Her version of the John Denver classic. She really tried to work the crowd with this one, playing banjo, harmonica, and guitar. Plus bringing out a hunky male dancer, which pleased us gay guys (the crowd was either really old married couples or gay guys around my age).

God's Coloring Book: I didn't know this song. It sounded a lot like "Coat of Many Colors". Dolly introduced it by saying that she's been spending a lot of time at home in the Smoky Mountains lately and when she looks at the beautiful scenery during the fall she knows it had to have been made by God. One thing I love about Dolly is that she is very religious but never uses it against other people or in a hateful way.

Kenny Rogers skit: Okay, this needs to be dropped from the show pronto. :laugh: Dolly talked about the hits she had with Kenny and that she used to have him on a big screen behind her during older shows, but found that to be too impersonal. So she brought out a Kenny "lookalike" and they proceeded to engage in dumb variety-show banter. Finally they sang two rounds of the "Islands In The Stream" chorus. That was it. A total waste of time. I give Dolly credit because she clearly wants to put on a "show", but I just think she's too talented to resort to this kind of schtick. At least sing the entire song if you're gonna do it.

more in a sec

Rickypt

11-18-2006, 08:46 AM

Tennessee Mountain Home: Dolly did a few songs about her life in the Smoky Mountains, including this great classic. She said she had 12 brothers and sisters. People would ask if she came from a Catholic family and she replies "no, just horny hillbillies". :D She said that they put their mother on a pedestal--they had to, it was the only way to keep her from daddy. :lol: She did this song on a dulcimer.

Coat of Many Colors: This song always makes me cry. Dolly talked about how her parents both died in the last few years. Her father's death made me grieve for years, but not so much with her mother. That bothered her, but then she realized that she is so much like her mother that she feels like she is still alive. :angel:

Marry Me/Apple Jack: Great medley of two of my favorite Dolly songs. She talked about how "Marry Me" was on the Sweet Home Alabama soundtrack. She played banjo for these two and finally the lame crowd started to stir a little bit.

Here You Come Again: What can I say. Jim and I sang along to this one.

Crimson and Clover: This is one of my least favorites from her "Those Were The Days" album, so we went to get more wine. Caught the end of it, and she was playing electric guitar! :D

Rickypt

11-18-2006, 08:58 AM

Me and Bobby McGee: Now is this one of my favorites from "Those Were The Days". :thumbsup: She nailed it. A huge crowdpleaser.

9 to 5: FINALLY the crowd woke up. About 5 people in the front row stood up and danced. Someone gave her a red feather boa that she put on and did little "strip dance" moves. After the song, she walked up to the woman and said "do you want this back, or is this a gift"? Then she talked to her for a few minutes. Great moment.

Last Night I Dreamed of Elvis: I wasn't familiar with this song. I would drop this one from the set also, as out came yet another impersonator, this time of Elvis. I just can't get into this variety-show thing. During the song, they sang a few lines of "I Will Always Love You" and thought oh please, this can't be all we hear of this beautiful song.

I Will Always Love You: Whew. Elvis left and Dolly said "now I'd like to do that song in its entirety. This is always her set closer, Dolly's "Edge" if you will, so I knew we were coming to an end. She thanked Whitney for recording the song and making her a barrel of money, and then thanked us for helping a poor country girl make her dreams come true. :xoxo: She delivered a lovely version of IWALY. At the end, it sped up into a bluegrass version and she thanked us, walked up the stairs and through the curtains.

Amazingly, about 1/3 of the audience got up and started fleeing for the exit. Maybe it was past their bedtime (it was 8:50, after all), or they needed another fix at the buffet? Crazy. We screamed and screamed for Dolly. I had no idea what she would do for the encore, and to my great surprise it was

TRAVELIN' THRU!!

The song that should have won the Grammy this year. She reworked it a bit, kind of Celtic-sounding and those of us who stayed clapped along. She did a little riverdancing in the middle. :D Then she took her bow, went back up the stairs, and there she went. :distress:

After the show, we got some more free wine. I asked how I could send Dolly a drink to her room, but no one seemed to know. :rolleyes:

Anyway...I'm still high from that great show. I can't wait for next year's tour!!

Pics coming soon.

Rickypt

11-18-2006, 09:03 AM

I'm sorry Connecticut sucks ass.

I thought CT was quite pretty, what I saw of it. The Mohegan crowd, though....frightening.

ryan8472

11-18-2006, 09:08 AM

I thought CT was quite pretty, what I saw of it. The Mohegan crowd, though....frightening.

From what I hear, almost every concert at Mohegan is like that. I've never been to one, myself though. A friend of mine said she went to see Aerosmith there, and a lot of the people just sat and tapped their feet. AEROSMITH! :rolleyes: :distress:

When I go to a concert, I like to have the crowd into it like I am. Otherwise I feel like a freak. :laugh:

I'm glad you thought the rest of CT was nice tho! Even though you must have taken the scenic routes. :p

Rickypt

11-18-2006, 09:12 AM

A friend of mine said she went to see Aerosmith there, and a lot of the people just sat and tapped their feet

Well, that's more than Dolly got. :laugh: I'm glad I went, but I'd never go to another show at Mohegan. The horrible sound alone is enough to keep me away.

ryan8472

11-18-2006, 09:16 AM

Well, that's more than Dolly got. :laugh: I'm glad I went, but I'd never go to another show at Mohegan. The horrible sound alone is enough to keep me away.

:rolleyes:

I plan on seeing The Who/Pretenders there in a few weeks, and it BETTER be an exciting night. Because no matter what grandma is sitting behind me, I WILL be up and singing/screaming/dancing with my friend. :D :nod: :laugh:

Rickypt

11-18-2006, 10:25 AM

Okay, some pics. We were pretty far away, so some of them are from the video screen.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/RickyPT/100_0345.jpg

Rickypt

11-18-2006, 10:26 AM

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/RickyPT/100_0337.jpg

Rickypt

11-18-2006, 10:29 AM

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/RickyPT/dollyguitar.jpg

Rickypt

11-18-2006, 10:30 AM

Horrific art at the horrific Mohegan Sun

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/RickyPT/100_0331.jpg

Rickypt

11-18-2006, 10:33 AM

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/RickyPT/100_0341.jpg

PsychCat

11-18-2006, 11:15 AM

One thing I love about Dolly is that she is very religious but never uses it against other people or in a hateful way.

That is such a great trait of Dolly.... she walks it and talks it the way I believe it was meant to be.
Kudos to her for not only holding onto her own beliefs and ideas but for keeping on keeping on even when the infamous Music Row wanted her to believe her time had long since past.
She's STILL better than so much of this stuff coming out today. :wavey:

DrummerDeanna

11-18-2006, 12:33 PM

That is such a great trait of Dolly.... she walks it and talks it the way I believe it was meant to be.
Kudos to her for not only holding onto her own beliefs and ideas but for keeping on keeping on even when the infamous Music Row wanted her to believe her time had long since past.
She's STILL better than so much of this stuff coming out today. :wavey:

I'll second that and what Ryan said about Dolly and religion....that's one of the things I admire about Jane Fonda as well...they "get it" ya know?

Anyway--awesome review - I'm so insanely jealous - ok not insanely since I am hoping to see her next year...

I love Dolly's little quips...horny hillbillies etc...the review and pictures are fantastic!

Rickypt

11-18-2006, 03:37 PM

Found a review online. From "The Republican", I think from Springfield, MA.

http://www.masslive.com/living/republican/index.ssf?/base/living-1/1163842384127840.xml&coll=1

Parton's performance a treat
Saturday, November 18, 2006
By KEVIN O'HARE
Music writer

UNCASVILLE, Conn. - For someone who's as famous as she is, Dolly Parton has a bit of a reclusive side.

Well, at least when it comes to appearances in New England.

The 60-year-old queen of country doesn't tour all that often and when she does she rarely makes her way to the Northeast. That's just one of the reasons why her performance at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Thursday was such a treat.

The Mohegan Sun is the only place within 90 minutes of Springfield where Parton has appeared in recent years, and even her occasional concerts at the mega-gaming and entertainment complex have been few and far between.

But she was in great spirits on Thursday while leading an eight-piece band and three backing vocalists through a tightly constructed, Vegas-styled, 90-minute show, before an estimated crowd of more than 5,000 fans.

Her multi-octave voice was absolutely amazing, as was the breadth of the material she delivered. Parton's 20-song set mixed everything from the vintage bluegrass fare she grew up with in the Tennessee Mountains, to pure country, pop hits, shades of gospel and even Celtic echoes.

Something for everyone, and the hits came early with the blonde dynamo in the tight white sparkling outfit overcoming some early sound system problems to deliver a strong take of "Two Doors Down," before reaching back to one of her earliest breakthrough tracks, "Jolene."

Parton was the subject of a superb tribute album ("Just Because I'm a Woman") in 2003 and while playing piano, she turned in a spellbinding take of "The Grass Is Blue," noting that Norah Jones had covered the song on the aforementioned disc.

While known best for her singing and acting, Parton is a gifted songwriter and multi-talented instrumentalist. In addition to piano and guitar, she played numerous other instruments on stage, including fiddle, autoharp, banjo, harmonica and dulcimer on Thursday.

Early evening highlights included "God's Coloring Book," the stark, mostly a cappella "Little Sparrow," "My Tennessee Mountain Home," and her loving ode to her late mother, "Coat of Many Colors."

Parton offered a few quips about her upbringing, noting that she was one of 12 children in the house.

It seemed like "Mama had one in her and one on her all the time," the singer said with a laugh.

There were a couple of hokey parts to the concert, such as an Elvis impersonator who also did a good Kenny Rogers' impersonation while performing duets with Parton on "Love is Strange," and "Islands in the Stream."

The night built to an impressive finish with Parton's stellar renditions of "Here You Come Again," a cover of Tommy James' "Crimson and Clover," Kris Kristofferson's "Me and Bobbie McGee," the hand-clapping crowd-fave "9 to 5," and of course, Parton's signature song, "I Will Always Love You."

She returned to encore with the percussive, Celtic-tinged "Traveling Through."

BlackWidow

11-18-2006, 03:43 PM

Horrific art at the horrific Mohegan Sun

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/RickyPT/100_0331.jpg

:nod: :nod: :nod: :nod:

Rickypt

11-18-2006, 03:52 PM

:nod: :nod: :nod: :nod:

Yeah, I'm going to have nightmares over that one.

carrie721

11-18-2006, 05:06 PM

ry, thanks for the awesome review. ITA with you about dolly and religion. she is pure class.

no smoky mountain memories, tho? that's too bad. that song brings tears to my eyes.

Rickypt

11-18-2006, 05:43 PM

ry, thanks for the awesome review. ITA with you about dolly and religion. she is pure class.

no smoky mountain memories, tho? that's too bad. that song brings tears to my eyes.

I love that song too. She did that one the first time I saw her, but not in awhile. Wish she would do it instead of that stupid, stupid Kenny Rogers routine.

carrie721

11-18-2006, 05:46 PM

I love that song too. She did that one the first time I saw her, but not in awhile. Wish she would do it instead of that stupid, stupid Kenny Rogers routine.

yeah, that does seem deeply stupid. the live version of SMM that i have is breathtaking. those silly kitschy skits should be left to babs. :D

ontheEdgeof17

11-18-2006, 06:37 PM

Thanks for the great review and pics. I'm not a Dolly fan, so I don't most of the songs you were talking about. And she's 60?!?! GAWD....I thought she was pushing 70.

amber

11-18-2006, 09:45 PM

That sounds fantastic, and she looks great. Dolly is amazing. Just incredible. I love how you told some of the funny things she said, whenever I've seen her she is just the most charming, gracious, friendly, witty person. I'm sorry the sound was bad, as her voice is the eighth wonder of the world. I remember when i was 9, and used to watch the Dolly show just so I could hear her sing IWALY at the end.
I'm glad you saw her - she's so effortlessly flawless at the drop of a hat, she amazes me.

On a side note, your pic of the "awful" art at the awful Mogehan...okay, but you know those lights at the side? The three? I really like those. :p Also, i've seen much worse art in public places. :laugh:

JazmenFlowers

11-18-2006, 11:23 PM

I love Dolly...through and through. she seems like such an amazing person.

thanks for the review. I'm anxious to see her next year. her setlist never bores me. and I agree with Am...her voice is pristine.

Rickypt

11-27-2006, 06:12 PM

I'm not trying to bump up my thread for no reason, but imagine my joy in seeing this! This is just an hour or so from where I live. Great poster. I guess Dolly will be my date for Valentine's. :D

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/RickyPT/dollyparton.jpg

DrummerDeanna

11-27-2006, 06:16 PM

Rickypt

11-27-2006, 06:23 PM

:eek:

I may consider going to this show! I want to see her so badly!!!

That would be awesome! So far, half my office is going. Which is only 5 people, but still.

It's strange that the poster says "one of only 6 shows in the U.S.". I thought she said she was doing a U.S. tour. :shrug:

wondergirl9847

11-27-2006, 06:26 PM

I love Miss Dolly too. God's Coloring Book always makes me cry...like Me and Little Andy. Cool pics! Here You Come Again is my fave Dolly song. :thumbsup:

JazmenFlowers

11-27-2006, 07:11 PM

That would be awesome! So far, half my office is going. Which is only 5 people, but still.

It's strange that the poster says "one of only 6 shows in the U.S.". I thought she said she was doing a U.S. tour. :shrug:
that's fantastic that you'll get to see her again.

and the poster best be lyin' cause I want to see her next year!

UnwindedDreams

11-27-2006, 08:12 PM

carrie721

11-27-2006, 08:23 PM

Rickypt

11-30-2006, 03:21 PM

DrummerDeanna

11-30-2006, 03:23 PM

Okay, another announced date for Dolly: Feb. 17th here:

http://www.primmvalleyresorts.com/pages/bb_home.asp

This looks like cheesy fun! Poor Dolly doesn't get to play Vegas like Stevie and Lindsey, has to go 40 miles outside the city.

It worries me when a place has a drawing of their resort rather than an actual picture...

Where is primmvalley?

Rickypt

11-30-2006, 03:30 PM

It worries me when a place has a drawing of their resort rather than an actual picture...

Where is primmvalley?

I thought I read it is 40 miles south of Vegas.

DrummerDeanna

11-30-2006, 03:31 PM

I thought I read it is 40 miles south of Vegas.

Oh..maybe I didn't look hard enough...that is much closer to me than the other place...:nod:

Rickypt

12-13-2006, 01:22 PM

Dolly update, she's doing a benefit concert in her hometown, Sevierville TN to help build a hospital. I love you Dolly! Also, the Santa Rosa, CA show on Valentine's Day sold out in an hour while I was flying to Vegas. :mad: But of course we know there is no such thing as sold out.

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_5208826,00.html

Dolly pledges $500k to hospital fund

By News Sentinel staff
December 12, 2006

SEVIERVILLE — Dolly Parton tonight pledged a combined $500,000 from her Sevier County-based entertainment businesses for construction of a new Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center.

She also said she would perform at a benefit concert at Smokies Stadium on May 20 with proceeds going to the hospital construction fund.

More details as they develop online and in Wednesday’s News Sentinel.

Rickypt

04-18-2007, 06:02 PM

The latest on a Dolly tour:

www.dollymania.net

Dolly’s much-anticipated American tour is on hold until late fall, she revealed Friday in response to a question from Dollymania. She had previously stated in several interviews that she expected to tour for about three months in the summer to promote the late-spring/early-summer release of her next album, Backwoods Barbie, but said for the first time last month that the disc would be pushed back to autumn. That announcement came from the stage during a concert on her sold out, month-long European tour, and many fans suspected that the album’s delay would cause a postponement of the American tour. Dolly on Friday confirmed that fact, noting she hopes to tour in the fall to coincide with the CD’s new release schedule. “It’s got a lot of really good country songs in it,” she said about the upcoming album, “most of ‘em I’ve written myself. And we’ve got a lot of special people on that, too. And so when that comes out, which we’re hoping September, then we’re going to do a tour, September, October, November, December, hopefully around here.” Although she performed a handful of concerts, mostly at casinos, in late 2006 and early 2007 to prepare for the European tour, her most recent full U.S. tour was The Vintage Tour in fall 2005.

DrummerDeanna

04-18-2007, 06:27 PM

^^

thanks! Gives me time to save some money...I cannot miss her next tour!!

Macfanforever

04-18-2007, 08:21 PM

wow, how did I miss this show.I love Dolly Parton.awesome Entertainer musically
and acting. I seen her live 30 years ago,at the Oakdale Theater, Now called the Chevrolet Theater here in Wallingford Ct.Mac Davis opened for her at that show.I have a boot tape of that concert somewere, the first show I've recorded, oh the Mohegan Sun Arena,to me It was ok,but acoustics suck as always for these places, I will be going back to see Stevie there.also I agree on Connecticut , the state sucks a$$, should change the state name to the "Tax ME State".