Casino Rama reviews/pics

[no_spoken_word]

Went to both shows at Casino Rama last night and the night before. I guess I should start off by saying that Casino Rama is now one of my favourite venues ever. I mean, physically, it's bigger than Cesear's, it feels more like a convention centre or sports building or something, but they have the best security EVER there, totally made up for the 3+ hour Greyhound ride there and the 2 hour ride back to Toronto, both days. As one of the guards explained on the second night, when the lights go out people with floor seats are allowed to rush the stage - for the whole show, not the just Edge of 17. So I had 4rth and 16th row seats, but spent both shows at La Nicks's feet, or boots rather. A little to her left the first night and dead centre the second. I got to touch her gloves both nights, which I hadn't been able to since 2001, so that was really nice. I hope security in London is that cool! From up close she looked so beautiful, he voice was really strong, top shape all around!

Stevie had the mojo working both nights, she seemed to be really enjoying herself up there. Yes, it's the same setlist (even Fall From Grace was still gone... for some reason), but it's a tight set and homegirl seems to be really enoying singing it. Compared to the last time I had seen her, in Vegas in 2005 where she had a little bit of a dead-pan, "ice queen" vibe (which she does very well), this week she seemed to be wanting to rock out even harder and, again, generally having a good time. Stevie talked a lot, in between almost every song. By the second night she even started to indroduce Dreams before realizing that she didn't have anyting prepared to say about that song, so she said she never tells people the story of that song usually, and told us... basically the same thing she says in the Classic Albums DVD, the whole thing.

Yes, she tripped on cables fell down towards the end of Edge of 17 on the first night, but seemed mostly just a little embarrased, I think she mouthed to us "this has never happened before" or something. The next night she mentioned how she appreciated that Jana had "tried" to help her up when she "wiped out" that night, and I think the guys next to me thought it was out drinking or something, and not onstage, which made them laugh, which made me laugh, it was cute. Still lots of kicks and generally bouncing around on stage, I don't think she hurt herself too bad. She dedicated Landslide to Marilyn Dennis on the second night, as she had done in 2003 at the ACC.

Yes, if she had changed up the setlist a little it and broken out Sisters of the Moon or No Spoken Word it would have been nice, but honestly whenever Mama Nicks is on stage I completely zone out and in a way it really doesn't matter how many times I've seen the song, if she's feeling the song it's always good. One of my favourite moments was when she turned the microphone around so her back was to the audience and her boots were right in front of us and you could see what is her howling into the microphone from her perspective, you realize that Stevie isn't some ethereal goddess or anything, but rather and tiny, beautiful woman with a killer set of pipes, and a really strong repetoire of kick ass rock n roll songs.

I brought my camera for the first show, some video clips coming soon... pics for now.