My .02 on OKC/Dallas

[Livia]

ARRIVE IN OKC – no Best Western shuttle – took a cab to hotel. Greeted by the front desk clerk, who was sporting a lovely black eye. Nice. Realized I didn’t have time for the pre-concert Ledgie get-together, so I called Brian and told him I’d meet him and Gerald in front of the arena at 7 PM. Gerald had an extra ticket to sell, so I suggested he hang out near the box office and hopefully, he could find someone to buy it. During the cab ride on the way to the arena, we had to stop for a train. Then, the second I’m getting out of the cab, it started to rain. Good thing I decided to wear my hair up, otherwise, I would have had a total frizzball head. I found Brian and Gerald in their seats before the show started. I had 13th row center, Brian was 3 rows behind me, Gerald was one section to my right, 2 rows up. I had just as much fun watching Gerald’s reaction as I did enjoying the show myself! Gerald is a huge LB fan and every time I looked at him, either he had his hands over his mouth, or on his cheeks, like the “Home Alone” kid, or both hands on top of his head – eyes bugged out and jaw dropped. LOL

DAY OF THE DALLAS SHOW - Crescent Court hotel – I met up with Jake at the pool early afternoon. Some friends of mine from SA were in the room 2 floors above mine-which also overlooked the pool area. Bruce opened his window and told us that the band was checking out. I told Jake to hurry up and go if he wanted an autograph and I’d watch his stuff. We found out from the hotel staff that they’d been there since 6/29, but Stevie couldn’t handle the stairs in her suite with her bad hip and all, so she had moved to the Four Seasons. Apparently, Sharon was eating in one restaurant, and LB was at another within the hotel complex. Strandinthewind rode down the elevator with Taku, who had remembered him from Atlanta. Taku said he was flying to Vegas right after the Dallas show to see the Neville Brothers on the 4th. Mick was sitting on a couch in the lobby, taking his vitamins. Kimberly Brakely, Stevie’s wardrobe assistant, came out to the pool. I noticed her right away, but didn’t have the guts to say anything to her. I told Jake that if he broke the ice, I would take it from there. We were on one end of the pool, and she started swimming laps. When she made it back to our end, Jake asked if her name was Kim and that I thought I knew her. Back in the mid-80’s, I was dating a guy named Todd and she was dating a guy named Steve. Steve and Todd were roommates, and I used to run into Kim at their apartment. She remembered me and we chatted with her about the tour for a few minutes. The tourbooks are done and awaiting the band’s final approval on all the photos. The second leg contracts have been signed and the cities and dates will be announced soon. I asked her what happened in DC w/ the Stand Back cape – that I was at that show, and had heard conflicting reports - one person said Stevie went to get it and nobody was there – another person said that they saw a woman trying to hand Stevie her cape, and Stevie forgot it. Kim confirmed the latter version, and said that she kept trying to yell for Stevie, but between the crowd noise and Stevie’s ear monitor, she didn’t hear her and just plain forgot to grab the cape. Kim told us to enjoy the show, and headed inside. It was around 4 PM at this point, so Jake and I headed in to prepare for the show! Strandinthewind and I shared a room – the second I got out of the shower, he walks into the room with a cocktail! LOL Met up w/ several Ledgies at the bar – which always blows my mind. I recognized Christy and Golddustwoman immediately. It was fun, I just wish I had more time to chat with Seteca and the others who were sitting at the other end of the bar.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS – I counted 10 spins during Stand Back in OKC. The GDW wail was awesome! I remembered to look at Stevie doing her “eyes face” during EOTW. Another fun Stevie-watching time is during SHN, the way she tugs on her ribbons during the “bow-bow-bows.” When Mick introduced John, he said “my partner in crime…how long has it been now John, 5 years?” The crowd in OKC was rockin’! I noticed at both OKC and Dallas how much Silver Springs has become an audience sing-a-long just as much as Landslide. LB didn’t break ANY strings in either OKC or Dallas. The sound in the Ford Center was kind of tinny and echo-y. The sound at the AAC in Dallas was very good. I think it had something to do with the domed ceiling, and that although it was built for the Mavericks, they took into account that concerts would be held there as well. Out of the 4 shows I’ve attended, Dallas was definitely the best-sounding. I thought Stevie got into Rhiannon ending more in OKC and the band’s overall energy was better in OKC. The crowd was better in OKC too, seemed that most of the arena-level folks were on their feet all night. Brian’s explanation of the Tusk-nudge was perfect! They did this whole “swing your partner, doh-see-doh" kinda square-dancing thing, it was really cute.

The security people in Dallas were total assholes!! Before Goodbye Baby, Gerald and I moved up to the 10th row. I NICELY asked the security guard if she would allow Gerald to move up and shake LB’s hand, since he flew ½ way around the world to see this show, and many people had already left. She was a TOTAL “c word” and threatened to have me arrested after I asked for her supervisor! She said that she wasn’t going to allow the people in the first 5 rows to be crowded by someone who didn’t have a ticket to be up there. I pointed out all the empty seats and said, “Oh, you mean all those people who are LEAVING during the last song?” Bee-yotch. I heard some horror stories later from the crew and other fans about how nasty the Dallas security was. Just confirms what I’ve already known for a long time, Austin is the BEST city in Texas. I hate Dallas. Always have. No offense to anyone reading this from Dallas, unless you work for the American Airlines Center….

Okay, the other thing I promised to explain – the “Say You Will Dance.” During the chorus, Stevie does this whole thing w/ her hands, and by the end of the song, I’ve noticed that most of the people sitting right in front of her are doing every move also, which Stevie LOVES! So, hold your index finger up on the “give me one more chance” line, then shrug your shoulders and hold your palms up for “at least give me time,” then quickly flip your palms down and criss-cross your hands for “to change your mind,” then palms up again and arms out and upward for “that always seems to heal the wounds” and finally, the lasso hand for “if I can get you to dance.” It’s SO cute, and so fun to watch her face once those folks in the first few rows “get it” and start doing the whole thing with her.

I wanna go to more shows! Yes, I’m already looking at airfare for El Paso, Lubbock, Shreveport, etc. I’m almost positive that Houston, San Antonio and perhaps Austin will be on the next leg, so maybe I oughta just wait ‘til then.

Gerald, I’m so glad that I could be of assistance to you in your travels, especially my kick-ass town of Austin!