[Betsy]

Good old Ticketmaster SAID the seats started at Row D. The seating chart said Row D....the Opera House's website said they started at Row D.

Guess what? The rows started at Row A.

The first three rows were given to promoters or "powers-that-be". A security guard said that they were reserved for "friends and family of the band." Neale lives in Denver and Brett was born, raised in the Denver area so maybe it was their special guests.

I sat in Row G by Lauren and my 22 year old daughter, who was kind enough to go with me.

I discovered that I prefer the acoustic Lindsey to the "I-am-going-to-break-the-sound-barrier Lindsey." Even being 7 rows back, my chest hurt from the bass and drums. My heart was actually vibrating. I tore up a napkin from Arby's to put in my ears.

The stage lights were blinding. You had to duck behind the person in front of you because after a while, it hurt and was like staring into the sun.

Don't get me wrong...it was cool to be lit up. The band could see the audience. The stage lights also reflected off of LB's guitar. This (the loudness and lights) I could have lived with.

It was the interruptions that bugged me. People were coming in and out of the rows to go to the bathroom...and the security guard on our side was humorless...and took his job seriously...like he was the head dude of HomeLandSecurity.

If he saw a camera, he insisted in going INTO the row to hassle the person who had it...usually 15 chairs in. He hassled the front row more than he did us, but he made sure he hassled as many people as possible.

He was a very large man, (think bouncer and pro-wrestler) who had long black hair which was tied in a ponytail and hung down his back. He had on a tie and suit jacket and black slacks.

All hell broke loose during GYOW. People started coming down the aisle to play the guitar...they came from - I don't know where - but somewhere behind row 7 because Mr. Security was running a tight ship in our section of the boat.

Mr. Security was sitting on the stage, off to the left, jumped off the stage and started physically pushing the people back. He was so wide that he blocked the aisle...there was no one getting by him. He backed those people to the end of the orchestra section and where reinforcments were located...and they forced everyone back to their seats.

Meanwhile, Lauren, who kept trying to get down front, left her seat and while he was pre-occupied. She and others went down to the stage. LB was on the side of the stage, but would pull the guitar back so that the guitar couldn't be touched.
Security Man, comes back and he is pissed...he points at Lauren and I don't recall him touching her, (she is only 5'1' and was jumping up & down, dancing to the music). I think he just stepped between her and the stage and using his body as a shield. He walked her back to her seat, she was walking backwards and he forward.

Meanwhile drunk man and his wife, see that he's pre-occupied, so they rush the stage...again....they are in the 50's. I thought Mr. Security was gonna start throwing punches. He was so angry. It got ugly. The guy's wife got scared and tried to get her husband to go back. When he wouldn’t budge, she deserted him. He was oblivious to everything.

Security was not to be ignored. All of this is happening right next to me, because I had the aisle seat. It lasted about 30-45 seconds but was a definite distraction...and upsetting. Wife came back trying to coax hubby to go with her. Security is yelling "Don't mess with me".

After the song, Lindsey said something like – "What was that?" and pointed to the aisle. Brett said something like “Yeah, what was that?"

Earlier in the concert, after about 8 songs a theater worker came to me and my daughter and asked for our tickets...folks came in late and said we were in their seats. Come to find out, their tickets were for the row BEHIND us...and then 8 seats INTO the row, not the aisle seat....

I was pissed....because I had to open my purse, find my ticket and then have this flashlight in my face while the music is playing. The illegal-seat-sitters got evicted from the seats, which meant smacking me in the head with a bag as they exited the row.

Then someone else has to go to the bathroom....it was like being with a bunch of attention deficit disorder people...who could not stay focused on the music.

There were men in my row, who liked to use their cell phone cameras. The Security Man would come all the way into our row to stop them. Remember...he's built like a brick **** house so when he comes into our row, there isn't enough room for him AND you and he's gonna get by, even if he has to walk on you. There were shouts of "Kiss my ass, you're not gonna take my f*ing phone." And security saying he could and would get the man kicked out. This episode happened not once but twice.

As for the attendance - the place was only 2/3's of the way full...with empty seats, in rows 1-3. Security SAID we could move up if no one came...but when you did, you got escorted back. Lauren was able to move up because it was an aisle seat and Mr. Security seemed to allow it.

The next day I had (what felt like) a hangover. My head was throbbing, and my eyes hurt. I think it was from the loudness and brightness....but my daughter said she was fine.

She also said that she was surprised. She felt like she was the only young person there. The audience was 40's-50's-60's...with gray hairs and bald heads and -- get this -- the males outnumbered the females. I hadn't noticed, but she did.

When Second Hand News started playing....again, there was another *rush the stage*. This time, the crowd was bigger...Security gets on his walkie, talkie and this time there was touching...big time...with him shoving people with his hands on their chests. There were yells of "We're not hurting anybody. Let us up there." and "We just wanna dance near the stage!" And he is yelling "Don't mess with me. You don't wanna mess with me."

I thought...I've had enough of this crap. When the aisle got cleared, my daughter and I got up and left. There were only two songs left and since we had ridden the train into Denver, and it only runs every 1/2 hour, I wanted to get the next train and not have to wait until 11:00.

While we were waiting I spotted Lauren. The concert had ended. The stage door was on the same side of the street as the light rail train. The train didn't come until 11 (we missed it!)

Above a large door it said "Stage Entrance" There was a glassed wall that read NO PARKING. The NO PARKING SIGN began to rise which revealed a white SUV waiting for LB and the band. A large tan tour bus also parked on the street. It was similar to the one that was in Boulder.

Lauren told me later that she waited an hour at that door....LB & band did come out...but got in the car -- signed no autographs and there was no picture taking. He did roll down the window and talked to them before the SUV took off.

Interesting to note & beware...the souvenir vendor had RAISED prices on the merchandise--- $5 to $10 higher than what was reported at the California concerts. This time, the vendor accepted credit cards. In 2006 and 2007, it was cash only.

One could buy autographed CD's ($25 a piece) of all of his solo work...or you could buy a set of all 5 for $95. (Law & Order, Go Insane, OOTC, UTS, and Gift of Screws) The Bass Hall was also autographed (it cost more than a CD) but it and GOS did not have jewel cases, so the autograph is not protected. ... Just a heads up.

The vendor had keychains for $5 -- ($3.95 at Fanfire) -- white coffee mug with no photo, just "Lindsey Buckingham Gift of Screws" (also cheaper at fanfire) and 5 different styles of T-shirts...red, navy blue, brown, white and black...with only one having a photo of LB...the rest were the name of the tour and Lindsey's name....and the price was $30.

So, there you have it. Be prepared for a good concert....but expect LOUD --- really, really LOUD.