My Berkeley experience/review

[Rickypt]

I’m sure Paula, Amber, Jazmen, etc. will have a much more interesting and humorous write-up of the Berkeley experience, but here’s my review.

I missed Friday’s show due to a cat emergency, so I can’t comment on whether or not Tom was sub-par that night. I do know that Saturday night was awesome!

It all started with Japanese dinner and meeting several ledgies. I probably don’t come across as very shy, but I am actually rather petrified of meeting new people. So I was quite nervous, especially knowing that everyone already knew one another. But there was no need to be anxious, because it was a great group of fun, gracious, and interesting people. Four gorgeous women (Amber, Deborah, Paula, Eliza), Paula’s cute friend Ryan, and Jazmen, who is just as adorable and funny in person as you’d expect. And I hate him for his flawless skin.

Someone else might be able to tell the story of trying to find parking, but all I can say is bless Deborah for her patience!

So I found my seat next to my aunt and uncle and I’ll post some comments on the show in the next post.

[Rickypt]

Listen To Her Heart -- this is a really great opener and one of my favorite Petty tunes. I love mid-tempo Petty. I'm not too sure about his outfit, ugly fringed suede jacket and some kind of red scarf, but Mr. Fashion he is not and who cares.

Last Dance With Mary Jane -- Holy Second Hand Smoke! I guess everyone but me and my aunt/uncle had a joint with them. No one bothered to share. But I still have the contact high. This song is so freakin' hot and makes a good #2 in the setlist. Lots of dorky guys got up and danced poorly. He dropped "You Don't Know What It's Like To Be Me" since I saw the NY show in June.

Won't Back Down -- okay, everyone knows the words and is singing along a little too loudly. But it's okay.

Free Fallin' -- this song is just epic, what more can I say.

Saving Grace -- A rare example of one of the hottest songs being from the new album. Kind of sounds like ZZ Top. Is Petty not capable of doing anything lukewarm?

I'm A Man --I'm not that into the covers. Good opportunity to get me and my aunt some white wine. Noticed how overcrowded the venue was, as they crammed in a bunch of "standing room only" folks.

Oh Well -- This is fun, although I'd rather hear Petty songs.

Handle With Care -- I guess it was done well, but all I could think was "Stevie's next, Stevie's next".

more later

[Rickypt]

Band intros-- I'm like, yeah, yeah, great, clap, clap.....STEEEEEEEVVIIEEEEEEE

SDMHA -- She's rocking on this one! I wish she would play exclusively with TP, because he brings out her best. I normally dislike this song live (in recent years), but loved it. She adlibbed something at the end and messed my singing along. I think she said "You need someone to look after to". I loved at the end when she kept repeating "around...around...around...around".

I Need To Know-- Again, a song I stopped enjoying a long time ago, but loved it. My aunt says "wow, she looks even better than the last time I saw her". Which was SYW tour, so she's right about that!

And it's over in a blink of an eye...there she goes. Tom says "don't worry, she'll be back".

[Rickypt]

I guess this is kind of a boring review as I don't have any pics or anything. But I'll finish up.

I can't remember the order of the three songs after INTK. One was Down South, which was nice but a bit too slow following the energy of Stevie's set, there was a cover that I didn't care for (Little Richard song? something like that), and there was "It's Good To Be King". I have never liked "King", but now like it a little bit more after hearing the live version. I thought it dragged on way too long, though.

Insider -- GORGEOUS. Even better than the version I saw in New York. Stevie's vocals were spot on and much higher than I expected. And I got goosebumps with her final pose--back to audience, facing Tom, with her gloved hand on her lower back. :shiver:. My uncle fell in love at that moment, and my aunt called her an "inspiration".

Learning To Fly -- this is one of my favorite Petty songs and I love the stripped-down version. It is very elegant and shows a vulnerable side. I normally hate sing-alongs, but I felt it was appropriate during this song--kind of a way of everyone collectively telling TP that we love him. Stevie's hand movements are just downright weird, but lovely to watch. My aunt asked what she was doing and I said she was the sign language interpretor.

Don't Come Around Here No More--the show-stopper! Builds and builds and builds, and then EXPLODES. Stevie stomped out to the front of the stage and went insane. I had been sitting most of the show, but had to stand for that. Is this the same woman who barely moved during SYW tour? Amazing.

Sad wave of goodbye to Stevie.

Refugee --okay, Tom mailed this one in! He doesn't even bother to do any screams. But it's a must, and Mike really went to town.

Running Down A Dream -- I'm a loser, I couldn't hold in the wine any longer and had to find a bathroom. But I could hear it the whole time. Whoever was singing along in the chorus was singing too high and it sounded weird. Great song to close the set, though.

[JazmenFlowers]

I agree with pretty much everything you said about the show. Having gone to both Friday and Saturday, I thought Saturday was better. Stevie was on fire. I loved the scarf and the new black coat and skirt. I also LOVED the sparkles up the back of the heel on her boots. anyone else notice those? fab!

meeting all you guys was great. everyone was exactly as I imagined...such a great group of gorgeous faces and exotic personalities. I had not laughed so hard so much in a long time.

Amber was so excited for us to be there and so energetic; Paula is a trip and so much fun to be around, I was so lucky to hang out with you; Eliza is undeniably gorgeous and soft spoken, but so interesting to talk to; Deborah is so sweet (and THANK YOU for the ride!); Ryan #1 is my sister honey, so much fun to be around, I'm so happy I was able to meet you; Ryan #2 is such a sweetie and so well dressed and polite; Anita was way zany and cool...is that everyone? hope so. love'd you all on the spot.

special thanks to Amber for being such a fabulous host.

so many great experiences that I'll never forget...

[sparky]

Are there no stories of drunken debauchery ?

[amber]

Originally Posted by sparky

Are there no stories of drunken debauchery ?

There are, It's just not my story. The general story is of drunken debauched Stevie singing .I could turn you on to an embarrassing version of Insider, Live, that me and Jaz did (It was pretty cool, actually) - that's it.
Lets just say everyone is hiding behind their hair, which is a little gold and braid, and also that everyone is an Insider, who has been burned by the fiyah.
I have some serious vid of Jaz doing "Doing the Best that I Can (Escape from Contchahoken)"

and some great side and center ponytail shots of Paula, but that isn't what you are looking for.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by amber

There are, It's just not my story. The general story is of drunken debauched Stevie singing

Well, bring it on !

gay things are left to the gay sexy men who were there. Obviously me not being one of those.

Maybe I better PM Jazzy.

Lets just say everyone is hiding behind their hair, which is a little gold and braid, and also that everyone is an Insider, who has been burned by the fiyah.
I have some serious vid of Jaz doing "Doing the Best that I Can (Escape from Contchahoken)"

Evidently this was some private deal.

and some great side and center ponytail shots of Paula, but that isn't what you are looking for.

I am totally into anything to do with Paula. We had a blast the night she came into LA. She and her Ryan are the ****. We laughed our asses off.
I sense that you are totally holding out on me.
I better PM Paula right away. You are such a gossip tease, Shaquisha.

[amber]

Originally Posted by sparky

Well, bring it on !



Maybe I better PM Jazzy.




Evidently this was some private deal.



I am totally into anything to do with Paula. We had a blast the night she came into LA. She and her Ryan are the ****. We laughed our asses off.
I don't even know that I am all over any making out stuff, but I sense that you are totally holding out on me.
I better PM Paula right away. You are such a gossip tease, Shaquisha.

I have Jaz's video of DTBTIC, but he has to publish it, not me.

Yeah, Paula and Ryan are funny. We mainly just have pics.

Apparently I was just being "energetic", and organizing things, during this whole process, not being funny or gay or pretty, so, you know, ask the others for the gay, funny, pretty details. (slight as they may be). I didn't record the gay sessions, sadly.

I've actually already unbraided with all the love that I have, not much else I can do.

Basically, I have no dirt. lol.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by amber

I have Jaz's video of DTBTIC, but he has to publish it, not me.

Good to know ! He'll deliver, methinks.

Yeah, Paula and Ryan are so funny, got the memo. We mainly just have pics.

Apparently I was just being "energetic", and organizing things, during this whole process, not being funny or gay or pretty, so, you know, ask the others for the gay, funny, pretty details. (slight as they may be).

Wish I could be of more help. I'll try to be gayer and funnier and prettier next time. Okay, not so much gayer, as that is impossible. Prettier, maybe. That's my best shot. Maybe someday, when I'm older, and my hair is silver gray, I can unbraid all the love/funny/pretty/ that I have like a soft silvah chain.

I'm not so interested, as I said, in gay or pretty things. Not my deal. My interest lies more in noteworthy and entertaining stories. Funny always helps, though it is not required.
But, your report is duly noted.
I shall pursue other avenues for details.

[amber]

Originally Posted by sparky

Good to know ! He'll deliver, methinks.



I'm not so interested, as I said, in gay or pretty things. Not my deal. My interest lies more in noteworthy and entertaining stories. Funny always helps, though it is not required.
But, your report is duly noted.
I shall pursue other avenues for details.

Yeah, there's not as much details as you would think. Thanks for stopping by here, though, on your way to the same story somewhere else. Sorry I couldn't relay something more interesting, apparently I'm not like that, in addition to many, many, many other things I am not.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by amber

Yeah, there's not as much details as you would think.

One holds out hope, even in the darkest of storms.

Thanks for stopping by here, though, on your way to the same story somewhere else. Sorry I couldn't relay something more interesting, apparently I'm not like that.

I appreciate the warm welcome, regardless. There are always twists to the same story - that's where the real story generally lies. No apology is needed. My needs are minimal.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by amber

Yes. I'm sure someone will talk about someone's bad clothes or hair, or something

It certainly sounds like there were plenty of comments about bad clothes and hair. It is Beserkely and the sky is blue. Sounds like a corker.

I'll just Stand Back. Man, I knew there was a reason this has always been my theme song! Mass love to Stevie for that prediction, made when I was only 8. Years disappeared, but in the middle of my room, I did not hear from me. S'all right, s'all right. I will always be standing in a line, and I will always Cry. How funny. How weird. I never would'a thought, at that age - but it's true.
I'll have to tell Stevie that next time I don't touch her hand or meet her, how meaningful that lyric has been to my life, how much it has touched me, how very true it has been. We will then laugh about her psychic predictive powers.

Man, there must have been a lot of gay and pretty going on. I never would have predicted that. Though, from what I have heard of Jazzy, he has pretty, gay and funny in spades.

I hazard to guess you have a trip to Santa Barbara, a quick divorce, and a godchild in your future. I certainly hope the coke thing and the welfare line are both cut out of that crystal vision. But I have no doubt at all that you can spin in a gold flecked cape with the best of them. Quick, the guitar solo is on deck ! Do 15. Like the LIB video ! No Reeboks required.

[amber]

Originally Posted by sparky

It certainly sounds like there were plenty of comments about bad clothes and hair. It is Beserkely and the sky is blue. This making out thing must be a corker.



Man, there must have been a lot of gay and pretty going on. I never would have predicted that. Though, from what I have heard of Jazzy, he has pretty, gay and funny in spades.

He is very pretty, and there was some gay.

Originally Posted by sparky

I hazard to guess you have a trip to Santa Barbara, a quick divorce, and a godchild in your future. I certainly hope the coke thing and the welfare line are both cut out of that crystal vision. But I have no doubt at all that you can spin in a gold flecked cape with the best of them. Quick, the guitar solo is on deck ! Do 15. Like the LIB video ! No Reeboks required.

Thanks for your stellar prediction of the play out and total waste of my 150 IQ.
I believe the coke and welfare are indeed out of the pic, good psychic prediction. I'm not seeing the quick marriage, since I don't care about getting married. Santa Barbara? I hope so, heard it's nice - will go with some boyfriend and have sex lots, according to my plans and previous M.O.
Capes? gold flecked? I have some kick ass gold flecked shirts, but since capes don't flatter me, and I don't wear stuff that doesn't flatter (unlike our fine Caped friend), you may never see me with that cape. Maybe if I grow 10 inches and become really skinny. So, never. Amber tries to not wear it unless it looks pretty with her bod/face. Amber thinks capes make people look fat.

Spin, no - shake the booty - yes. Reblecks? Maybe. My legs do hurt, I shy from high heels even at my young age. But my ass shaking would send up such a centrifugal force field that you would not be able to see my shoes, except for the sparkle that reflected from the light of the cubic zirc up the heels, a la strobe.

Yes, I think we understand each other. I'm dismayed at the theoritical domestically tinged things you chose for me, but I'm sure you see what I mean now, and you haven't met me, so...

I move way to fast to be bogged down with marriages, other people's kids, let alone being godparents to them, or ugly capes that make me look fat and that I might have to carry if I go out.

I'd like to reiterate, and these are in order of preference:
1) I hate to carry stuff so much. Unless it's all in a backpack. But if I don't have to carry that backpack, I don't want to carry anything. I hate to be slowed, I get all pissed off just carrying my jacket. I need to be free to move and dash. My teensy weensy purse straps around my waist, I don't have to hold it. I hate to carry things above all else.

2) Kids are great, but not so much. My friends have plenty of kids. They're awesome, but not if I ever want to do anything, ever. Unless I want to play with kids, which is fun, but everything else I want to do doesn't involve looking after someone else 24 hrs. a day. Call me crazy.

3) I may very well want to twirl and invoke LIB, but since I can't dance/twirl, I will more likely channel Mirage Chain, just the singing, or some other crazy singing without too much body movement. I'm a yeller and singer, not a dancer and twirler. Sure, sometimes they cross, I'm still practicing the Angel Tusk Doc Charleston - but I digress.
4) Welfare? - Grew up on it, but don't recommend, and so am trying to avoid. By not having kids

Yeah? Good? Okay?

In the future, please do not predict such child laden PWT lifestyles for me. All my PWT will involve beers/drinks, rivers, outfits that are too brief for my age, and flirting too much with ... questionables...
And singing/dancing in inappropriate places. Also beating people at pool. And other games. Very important, I need to be playing some game of skill. Otherwise bars are boring. Company softball teams...

I will be Faye Dunaway in "Barfly II", or Mickey Roarke, whichever. Thank you very much. Hahahahaha.

[eclipse]

Pictures....Details...
Please??