Taj 8/27/10

[LikeAWillow]

Originally Posted by ragrsrocalot

Just to add a few things that I haven't seen posted yet. While she was introducing Jimmy, she mentioned that she had a baby picture of him, and that he was a cute baby. :

Yes! I forgot about this. You guys have got to hear a bootleg of these introductions--they were straight out of 1983. She must have given this picture of Jimmy a good thirty seconds of stagetime, and the "PRECIOUSSSS!" that she finally wrapped it up with was to.die.for.

^ I wish I would have seen you at the show!

[ragrsrocalot]

^ I actually have some of the band intros on my camera, I think. I will check it out and if so I will post it. Yeah, would have been cool to run into you too.

[LikeAWillow]

Ahhh thank you thank you thank you! They were really one of my favorite parts of the show.

[SapphireSister]

Just got home but too tired to post my review and pics. Will do it for sure tomorrow. I did want to mention one thing (not sure if anyone else brought it up) but did you guys who saw the show notice that Stevie was oozing with sexuality? I mean I've seen her what 15 times now and she was definitely in a very flirtatious mood, more so than normal. Just so sensual...the way she moved with the GDW cape and swayed her hips during HSML. I mean I know these are staple moves but something about her Saturday night told me she's getting some and gettin' it good. I mean it could have just been me but I don't think so. You go girl!

[Stephanie]

I promised someone I would email them my photos....and lost their email address. They were sec 101 row 3 if any one knows who it was thanks!

[SandyMac]

You Wreck Me

[SandyMac]

Sorcerer

[Regina]

Anyone know what was the deal with the first aid guys coming into the orchestra section (within the first five rows, I believe--toward the middle) twice near the last 3rd of the concert?

Anyone know? I kept looking to see if anyone had passed out or was sick, but...it was impossible.

It was a great concert but very distracting with security pacing, running, pushing chairs in the aisles, etc. The Edge Walk was the worst of it but they were doing this from before she even stepped on the stage. Geez, Louise...you'd think we were all a bunch of crackheads with guns in our hands. I was in the second row and made absolutely no attempt to move, but it was still incredibly distracting. You're watching the concert and all of this activity just snapped you right out of it at times.

Anyway, I needed a Stevie/Lindsey/FM break and I took it--so, it was SO nice to see her out there on Saturday. And I'm glad she's acknowledging the music from TISL now. It was a great album and I'm glad she's doing stuff from it.

[Dreams22]

This was my first time seeing Stevie solo and I loved it! I had a blast. She looked great and it seemed like she was really into the show and having a good time. My seat was on the side and the view was good, but she seemed so far away, lol. They had screens on the sides of the stage but didn't use them. I was at the show alone and made friends with the people next to me and had a great time. There was an older couple in front of us and the guy fell asleep during the show! How in the world could you fall asleep in the middle of a Stevie concert!?

[LikeAWillow]

I don't know if anyone mentioned this yet, but I'm obsessing right now and I have to say it again: THE COSTUMES AT THE TAJ! She came out at one point in a gorgeous burgundy dress (it may have been the SYW dress, I can't tell) with a blazer over top of it. It was such a contemporary twist on her signature style. I was impressed.

[sodascouts]

I was at the Taj as well, and Stevie was terrific. It sounds like most of the nuances of the show have been noted already so I won't repeat them, but I would have to agree with those who thought the sound mix was good. I was in the fifth row off to the side, and I could hear her voice clearly. She sounded great and the vocals were clean - no reaching for notes and missing, no cracking or raggedness. She also got really into it physically, crouching and grabbing the mic stand, shaking it around, getting down! I loved it.

My two cents on the whole Edge rush/security bit: this "Strike Force" team assigned to do security was horrible. I have had a couple bad experiences in the past where one or two security guards will be on a power trip, but I have never seen a situation when ALL of them seemed to have something to prove.

From the middle of the fifth row, I had an angle where, if sitting, my line of view would be blocked any time someone stopped at the front of the aisle before it widened into the area in front of the stage. This was the case for pretty much the entirety of my section, and I imagine it was the same for the other aisles as well.

Several times, I saw some ladies go up there and attempt to stand in the aisle, but they were sent back. That isn't too unusual, and I shrugged it off. I was content to wait until Edge of Seventeen to attempt to get close and while I don't begrudge those fans for trying to get closer sooner, I didn't think it was terribly unfair that they were sent back to their seats.

The drum solo for Edge of Seventeen started. I saw a few people moving up, as usual. I looked to the right and left of me - no one was moving. I politely moved to the aisle, just like I was going to make a beer or restroom run, but instead of going back I joined what was now about half a dozen people in the aisle at the front before the area widens. Now remember, this is the spot that blocks others. However, this is also the spot where security chose to "make their stand."

So, instead of us moving to the stage and getting out of people's way, we become an en masse blockage. This was not only happening in my aisle, but all of the aisles. Angry folks, mostly comp ticket olders with no idea what was going on, started shouting at us. One lady even pushed several people violently out of her way. She wasn't a Stevie fan trying to get to the stage; she was someone with a front row seat enraged that we were blocking her. Dang! And so the violence begins...

I had no desire to block anyone and was feeling rather awkward just standing there in the aisle behind everyone, but I thought as our numbers grew that surely the guards would see how foolish it was to keep us plugged up in everyone's way and let people to the stage. They never willingly did so.

Finally, people started getting past and to the stage. I was against the wall there. Still the guards couldn't let it go. They continually shouted at us to go back. One girl in front of me said something like "Well, there's a lot more of us than there are of them, what are they gonna do?" That was the prevailing attititude. So, it became a game of "tidal wave" - keep pushing forward and they give up. This has happened at previous shows I've been to and it's always worked in the past.

Instead, security lost their tempers and pushed back. "Strike Force" started to take it personally - I think they felt it was a poor reflection on them that they weren't able to keep the fans out of the stage area and they were trying everything they could to shove us back, including forming a "human wall" where they showed no compunction about pushing themselves against people to physically force them back. The climbling and crawling Sorceress mentioned were people trying to get past this wall of guards, not past other fans.

One by one, two by two, people started finding ways past these guys, and as more and more made it past them, the guards became more and more frustrated and angry. They alternated between shouting at the people nearest to them to go back (despite the physical impossibility of them doing so with a wave of people behind them) or turning around and haranguing those who were already at the stage (who of course completely ignored them).

Stevie came out, and something else happened, but I'm not sure what. I was making no attempt to go to the stage and touch Stevie's hand, happy to just be closer than I was before against the wall by the stage. However, there was a huge commotion ahead of me and I saw several security guards dragging a large guy, kicking and screaming, from the stage. I speculate that they decided that while they couldn't stop everyone from going to the stage, they could stop this guy, and he didn't like being singled out. If there was more to it, then I hope someone saw it and can inform me.

At this point, Stevie starts motioning towards that area and mouthing "No, don't" and then finally putting her hands together and pleading "Please." I speculate that she saw people fighting security and was attempting to diffuse the situation, but who knows?

Yes, perhaps the Stevie fans were overly aggressive, but I think the real problem was that security completely mishandled the situation. In truth any entity named "Strike Force" should probably NOT be assigned to a freaking Stevie Nicks concert to begin with. The Edge walk is not populated by knife-wielding hoodlums intent on stabbing Stevie to death, after all, and I think the amount of chiffon and lace alone would get that across.

It was an ugly scene that I have to put out of my mind so I can focus on how great the show was, but I wanted to tell everyone what I saw from my spot.

Barring some kind of specific special event I can see nowhere else, I plan to never darken the door of the Taj Mahal venue again.

[blackcat]

I agree with your assessment on the Taj venue for this outting, Sodascouts. I've sent in my review to the Nicks Fix and had to include my take on the venue:



This Is NOT A Tour Tour, Atlantic City, NJ!



Love IS!!! Love IS Stevie Nicks and her amazing band that came to visit all of us on the east coast August 27, 2010! The band was as strong as I have ever heard it, and Stevie was ON FIRE. I loved having the original ladies, Sharon & Lori, on stage full time, backing her Stevieness all the way— with the electrical Waddy Wachtel & his power charged band torching the venue with their sizzling heat!


Details on the music: First out, “Fall From Grace"—and what a powerhouse opening it was! Stevie’s voice came ROARING across the venue, and I knew we were in for a great night! I loved Stevie’s cover of Tom Petty's "You Wreck Me!" Stevie is a heartbreaker! She can do any Tom Petty songs as far as I'm concerned. “Gold Dust Woman”—that song can never leave the set list. Baby, baby, baby! Thank you for the long "How Still My Love.” When I watch you all up there, I have such a joy in my heart and feel so PROUD of ALL of YOU. I love Darrell Smith, and what he adds to “Edge of Seventeen.” I hope he somehow knows what he contributes to the whole sound, along with the brilliance of Stevie, Sharon and Waddy together. You are ALL so amazing. Jimmy Paxon on drums is KILLER, and it’s cool to see Taku Hirano in the mix (Lenny Castro was last seen backing the Lopez TV show band)—these guys are all highly sought after musicians, and Stevie brings them along! Jazzman Ricky Peterson delivered the SOUL, propelling our Soul Sister Stevie throughout the performance! The Men of String: Al Ortiz, Carlos Rios and my special favorite and friend, legendary Waddy Wachtel, weaved the show together, note by note. Landslide was just beautiful—and where we learned Vanessa Carlton was among us in the audience during its dedication. “Stand BACK” blew the ROOF off the TAJ! There is NOTHING like being there LIVE! There is some crazy energy exchange going on, because the fans were just as driven as this band!



We Wild Hearts love the stories Stevie tells when she is visiting us. I personally enjoy the introductions, even as some band members seem to be squirming in place—worried about what Stevie will leak out about them next! You deserve the ALL accolades Stevie gives. You are lucky Stevie wasn’t actually carrying your baby pictures—I suspect she would have shown them to all of us! It was moving when Stevie recalled the last time we gathered at the Taj, on September 15, 2001. I was there with many of the same people in tonight’s gathering—we will never forget how special that show that was. (Donald Trump, himself, came to the show that night!) Stevie referred to the USA flag hanging in the venue, and how it affected her—I saw a lot of heads turning and nodding in remembrance. “In your darkest hour, have you ever heard me sing?” Yes, we have. “Do you love me?” Yes we do. Love IS!

Of course no Stevie Talk was as anticipated as being updated on the new album. We’ve read the interviews—some weasel told Stevie to NOT “waste time” writing and putting out a new album since too many fans steal artists work via the “evil internet.” Check the facts: Stevie last album debuted at #5 in the Age of the Internet. Stevie’s fans will be there IN FORCE when this “Album that is not Quite an Album Yet” comes out!


[Speaking of “FORCE” Taj needs to reconsider its use of “Strike Force” linebackers at a Stevie Nicks gathering. A “Refrigerator Perry”/"Terminator" prototype was blocking some of the prime front row seats and was literally badgering the fans. We come in peace. Taj also needs to get its side screens in operation—entire sides of the venue could not see what was happening on the front of the stage! This venue is not comprised of graded sloping stadium seats. My friend Keith could not see—let along barely hear—the show in a seat right near the shirt vendors! Many came a distance to see Stevie—not just intra-state: I met a couple from Ireland!]



In closing, thank you, Stevie, for closing out this summer, and making it special for us! Thank you for “Love IS!” Thank you, in advance, for the new album! And nothing else matters! love, blackcat

What I want to mention here, is how great it was to meet up with a good number of old Ledge 3 buddies from back in the day. Not everyone was there this time—this tour was way too short, but March 1, 2010 is coming.

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by LikeAWillow

I don't know if anyone mentioned this yet, but I'm obsessing right now and I have to say it again: THE COSTUMES AT THE TAJ! She came out at one point in a gorgeous burgundy dress (it may have been the SYW dress, I can't tell) with a blazer over top of it. It was such a contemporary twist on her signature style. I was impressed.

Yes, she did change into the burgundy dress for EO17 only. But for some reason it looks different than the SYW dress to me; it wasn't as rouched. And it was this gauzy linen material that seemed almost a little translucent up close. Lots of detail in the draping and pleating on that one. Oddly enough, she slipped right back into the black dress in time for "Rock and Roll."

[wheart]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

Yes, she did change into the burgundy dress for EO17 only. But for some reason it looks different than the SYW dress to me; it wasn't as rouched. And it was this gauzy linen material that seemed almost a little translucent up close. Lots of detail in the draping and pleating on that one. Oddly enough, she slipped right back into the black dress in time for "Rock and Roll."

the burgundy dress for Edge? How strange. Do you recall any other different/out of the norm outfit choices?

[TrueFaith77]

Originally Posted by wheart

the burgundy dress for Edge? How strange. Do you recall any other different/out of the norm outfit choices?

She kept on the gold dust woman shawl for STAND BACK! I was to say the least