Vancouver, B.C. and Shelton, WA

[GarboSpeaks!]

I was able to make it to the Shelton show last night. Second row end seat. I figured in no time I'd be upfront. Security was milling around and before the show two guys on my side with passes (they worked for the casino I believe) kept being approached about how to obtain passes. I love listening to storied attempts. Who could blame a person.
The lights went down and Lindsey walked out. Such a presence to be sure. Thing is, you could hear a pin drop and I thought uh-oh, it's going to be a dull night crowd wise.
I could never tire of hearing SUD. Live, it just resonates. It's an odd opener, bit a poignant one, and if you know the song (lyrics) I think it opens very well. Others that may not have known it seemed to like it all the same. GI, Trouble, NGB & BL seemed to get everyone going, but still no "stage approachers." What was pissing me off (but well, can't say that cause it was to my advantage) is that the front row kept getting smaller and smaller. People were leaving left and right in the front areas. I asked the people in front of me if I could move up (there was an end seat in front row) and they said sure. As the front row kept dwindilling, we kept scooching over, and by mid show I was front row...close to center!
UTS, sorry not a favorite, but at the same time, Lindsey could recite the alphabet, and I'd pay good money to see it. AMS though is one of my top 5 LB songs, so that was a treat.
You could tell that LB is very proud of his new work, and worked them w/ vigor. IOOT & Illumination (catchy as hell) brought out the best in him. (imho ofcourse).
It had to have been for SHN that the girl (maybe the ledgie??) came out and she was waving her hands for people to get up, and she's jamming to the song. I am so far to the other side of stage, and I'm kinda following suit, but I have no idea how mundane the crowd is going to continue to be, and last thing I need is for some high roller to approach me about "I got these seats comped, so sit the f down." lol (casino's are NOT my favorite place to see a show. Nightmare past experiences would be an understatement!) The guard crossed the front, and shooed her away, and LB just followed the action while singing, and I thought whoa doggy, that security guard is getting the look of death. (Have to give credit where credit is due, that guy was a peach, he just works there and does what venue tells him.) By end of song, when security crossed back, is when LB stopped him, but the security didn't see it, and people were like hey man, LB is calling you. lol. He got whatever earful LB gave him, and the stage was set...so to speak, and next thing you know, Tusk has a full frontal crowd! OH YEAH!
Tusk ends, and LB reiterates that he's going to do some more new stuff, and how nice that'll be since "you all are on your feet now!" SAC, EOT, TWLG are all met with cheers and many singing along.
Whereas I have been there done that for many a Stevie solo show and could never hear certain songs of hers again, I am unsure that could be said for SA. Its such a powerful piece and Lindsey's delivery of the song is always powerful and somehow different. The intesnsity...ugh. LOVE IT!
I guess it was during GYOW that the Police showed up. Yes, real police, well she was dressed like one. Everyone in the crowd was being so polite, there was some pushing but it was just the crowd surging, not like PUSHING. Hard to explain, but rest assured UBER low-key! I see this policewomans face and her expression, you'd think she's dealing with The Altamont concert crowd. She's pushing her way thru, and bringing casino security into formation yelling that we "all need to move back...move BACK!" This woman SERIOUSLY had her tampon in sideways tonight. Lookimg and acting ANYTHING but the trained professional she is supposed to be. One concert goer commented "look lady, half of this crowd is over 50. They are all about to leave anyway..and hobble off at that!" Cracked me up. She wasn't having it and proceeded to assert her authority. Oy! So now, I'm behind a stage tower. I had been semi between Brett and LB. (Funny, Brett had taken a sip of beverage at one point, and set it back on the table, and it spilled all over onto floor, I caught his eye, and was pointing at it. Lots of electricity up there, didn't want him getting a free perm. lol he spotted it, thanked me, and put a towel over it. Man if that was booze, bummer on the loss Brett
Anyway, LB is NOT amused at the new stage front chain of security and cops and makes note of it in his words here and there. Mentioning police brutality and other snarky, but well deserved comments. Especially at a casino, if this is "ruly" then sign me up.
The encores as you all know were performed w/ LB asking if we want more, and attendees shouting yes, MANY. SWS was especially pertinent in Lindsey's mind what with the aforementioned police attendence. Still, they couldn't get everyone away and he had a crowd of loyal, interested, respecting fans. Perfectly awesome.
When the show was over, the lights came up, and LB wasn't even all the way off the stage. BAM! It's over. And just as quickly the crowd disappeared. Some hobbling, some not. lol. A scant few stayed in attempt to get a set list, and stage hands were like "we can't." WTF?! Cause um, LB is going to come back? Not to this place I betcha. When one woman tried to take LB's set list, you'd think she was robbing Fort Knox. A stage hand was all over her. "NO!!!" Ugh, seriously. What the HELL?! I kept straggling as long as I could and one of the guys that had been to my right at the beginning, I asked him what the hell the deal was about the set lists. I get them all the time, and I don't see why the staff here was being so adament about not handing them out. He said he had no idea, and to hold on, and he saunters over to where Neal's is still adhered to the stage, and says hold on, some one will get you one, there are still some left. He says he can't do it for me, but not to worry. Very polite. And sure enough, a stage guy (not so bad on the eyes no less) gets Neals setlist and hands it to me. Very kind.
I went out to get some merch. Staff was not joking about clearing the place out. Even outside I heard one guy barking orders, "if they aren't in line for merch, get them out of here!" WOW. I get my stuff, ponder if I ought to salute the security, opt not to, and make my way to the car. I pull closer to the venue, and go to wait with the crowd, knowing full well it's futile, but would have been nice to see Neal or Brett.
The wait was brief. Neal & drummer who's name has escaped me (drummers are having this problem as of late...long story)passed me by, and I told them the show was great, and thanked them. Curteous as always. Lindsey came out, waived and was on his way. Such is life. It was cold outside. lol. Great show.
(Trying to add some pics and video, but they are too large, and I have little to no programs on my laptop to mess with them. I'll see if a FB friend can adjust them to add here.)