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Seven Painful Days Off & Jones Beach 06/07/2004

June 7, 2004
Seven Painful Days Off & Jones Beach

Well, what a week it has been, huh? You guys must have been going crazy. Believe me, if it makes you feel any better, it was just as crazy for us. We arrived in Scranton with the assumption that the show was going on as planned. We all had kind of a sinking feeling though...

And then we get the phone call, the night before the show...Scranton is canceled.

And Camden.

Oh no... What has become of our little tour? Canceling shows? Somebody get me a paper bag...

We left Scranton on what was supposed to be the morning of the show and we headed to Philadelphia to await more news. We knew for sure that Camden was off, which meant we had at least 4 days off, so a lot of the crew flew home for the break. I stayed and waited it out. The first day in Philly came and went, with a little retail therapy (Philly has great shopping). The second day in Philly came and went (again, Philly has really great shopping). The third day in Philly came and went (sleeping in and sightseeing). So there we were, 2 days before the Hershey show, and no news yet. This is a good sign. No news is good news? So we sit and we wait for the story to come down the wire....

Hershey is a no go. Now I can’t help but wonder about Jones Beach...so we wait it out for another day...

We’re good!! Jones Beach is on! Touchdown! We did have to reschedule a few shows, and yes, we did have to cancel a few. There’s a million factors that go in to successful rescheduling, so we’ll have to wait and see how it all pans out, but so far, it looks like we’re at least back on track. Excellent. Stick with us guys...we’re doing the best we can with the hand we were dealt...

So, at the stroke of midnight the night before the Jones Beach show we left Philadelphia and headed to Wantagh, NY. I like Jones Beach, other than the offices themselves, everything is outdoors, including catering, so provided the weather is nice, it feels like summer camp....However, we were not so lucky. When I woke up at 7AM in the parking lot and looked outside the window of the bus it was pouring down rain. And when I got off the bus to head in to the gig, I was disappointed to discover that not only was it wet, but it was freezing cold and windy to boot! Mom...I don’t want to go to school today, can we call and tell the principal I’m sick? Didn’t think so.

The rain eventually died down midday, but it was cold all day and all night. I was so cold that I begged our merch guy to score me a snugly Fleetwood Mac sweatshirt, which I wore around all day, hood tightly secured, hands in front pocket, like a little gnome. We had a bunch of space heaters on stage for the band, and we even had a big propane heater on each side of the stage (the kind that you can actually see the blue flames inside, and they sound like an airplane warming up to take off). The one on Lindsey’s side kept shorting out and eventually we just gave up, so poor Lindsey must have been freezing all night. As soon as the band took to the stage, during the intro for The Chain, Stevie looked over at me and mouthed “too cold”. Oh great. I had visions of all of us running around on stage plugging ten more heaters in, blowing circuits, all hell breaking loose...But then after a few minutes she looked over and mouthed “I’m okay now” and nodded. Crisis averted. It rained through out most of the show from what I could tell. The crowd were troopers though, they stuck through it. I was freezing my buns off and I wasn’t even wet, I can’t imagine how cold the crowd was. I am awarding the Jones Beach crowd an honorary cold weather endurance badge. Well done guys. Way to show your FM spirit.

Stevie had the crowd say a little prayer to make the rain stop, it didn’t seem to help, but it certainly gave her a little giggle. Stevie tried her best to stay warm, she was gloved the entire show (and I don’t blame her!), she also brought out even MORE new clothes. The main piece was a plain black, fitted, velvety coat with a peach colored, almost japanese like satin material at the bottom. It was stunning. She wore all kinds of layers and she also had little silk, ruffled leg warmers on under her skirt. She brought out red velvet gloves for Sara, to match her red cloak. Can you say...ooh la la...she looked fab tonight.

There was a large lip on the stage, so from the band to the audience it was about 15 feet. The stage at Jones Beach is hardwood, and the carpet that we always put down on the stage didn’t cover that last 15 feet, and it was of course wet, so every time Lindsey went out to play to the audience I was just waiting for him to slip and fall and kill himself, but thankfully, he made it back to the safety of the carpeted area each and every time.

Okay and I have to tell you this because it’s to die for...Stevie’s manager has a little dog, I think he’s a maltese. A little white, soft and cuddly, energetic dog. He’s a total doll, and he’s friends with Stevie’s two yorkies. Anyway, he has a new trick. Stevie’s manager holds a treat up in the air and says “Standback! Standback!” and moves her hand around in a circle, and he stands up on his hind legs and twirls just like Stevie does. It is so damn cute you just want to eat him. Stevie got a huge kick out of that one.

Well, we arrived in Hartford at 4:30 this morning, and now, as day breaks, I’m wrapping up the latest episode of the tour tales and I’m crawling into bed...nighty-night.

CB

p.s. On a side note: Canceled shows, rescheduled shows...they’re a total bummer, though sometimes unavoidable. Thank you ALL for changing your schedules, rearranging your life, your travel plans, your jobs, your families, your finances. I know that going to a concert isn’t as easy as buying a ticket and parking your car. I know that it means time off work, baby-sitters, saving money, transportation, etc, etc, etc. I know that you guys are the reason we all have these jobs, and the band knows that too. So if no one else gets the chance to thank you for your understanding, at least I have.

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I take advantage of the retail therapy in Philly ALL the time! Love it! Also love these tour diaries and Cori for doing them!

Carol