Paula's Pittsburgh Experiences & Pics

skcin · #1 06-12-2005, 08:01 PM

I am in the process of uploading the pics I took, at the same time going through all the threads here. I think I'm caught up, in the Stevie forum anyway, so I'll post my review, opinions, random thoughts & other useless information.

First of all, we left Buffalo WAY late. I wanted to leave by 1pm at the latest, we ended up racing out of here around 2:40pm. Thank God Ryan (a close friend of mine for the last 10 years or so) drives fast. We were making really great time until the torrential downpours came.

I was so nervous we wouldn't make it. It rained on & off for the last hour of our 3&1/2 hour drive. Oh, and it was at least 85 degrees with unbearable humidity. During the trip, Brian (liquidblue5000) calls me to report he was stuck in NYC traffic for hours & is now way behind & may not make the show on time.

We pull into the hotel around 6:20pm & I see a boy in a black tank shirt on sitting in a car in the lot - CURTY (ontheedgeof17 for those of you who don't know him, if that's possible!)

We find a parking spot, give hugs & unload our crap from the cars. We go to the lobby, soaking wet, I almost broke my ankle cuz my sandals are slippery when wet (heehee.) Another hotel guest is being made to feel stupid by the hotel desk bitch cuz she can't find her room. I hand them my charge, sign the receipt & the hotel bitch says "Just how many people are staying in your room?" I look at the other 2 people standing at the desk next to me & say "Umm, 3." DER! She says "Well your rate will be higher. It's going to go up to $74.95." I said "OK, I'm think we can handle it."

She hands me the key & says nothing. I say "how do we get to our room?" She says "Go out the door, walk around the building..." I go "It's pouring out - is there no way to out room from inside?" She tells us to go down a hall which ends up leading OUTSIDE ANYWAY. Jerkass.

This ****hole has outside corridors, like a balcony, so we're stepping over all these hillbillies who seem to be living at the Ramada. They had their chairs on the balcony (again, which is also the hall to our room), grills, you name it. Every room had AC, yet several very unattractive people had their doors propped open, which gave us a great view of them laying in bed eating & watching TV.

We are afraid, so we run to the room. It is hideously outdated, but clean. I immediately throw the semen-infested (remember that Dateline?) bedspreads on the floor. We have a few drinks & blast Stevie tunes (see Curtis' review for details of our little pre-party.) Ryan is getting ready & taking forever (typical homo

) At about 7:15, we jet out of there. Brian calls again - he is about 50 miles away (we all think.) We devise a plan to leave his ticket at Willcall if needed. We get stuck in some traffic, but not for long. We finally reach the venue at about 8:20 & I hear Juliana Ray. I am ecstatic that we have time to spare. Brian calls & says "I'm here, I'm parking my car!" He finds us & we all go in - Paula & her 3 fags of Rhiannon.

Con't...

bikerchic · #2 06-12-2005, 08:06 PM

More please

skcin · #3 06-12-2005, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikerchic

More please

Patience, beyotch.

GardenStateGirlie · #4 06-12-2005, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skcin

Patience, beyotch.

Patience is a virtue neither of us haaave. Type faster, ho!

skcin · #5 06-12-2005, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GardenStateGirlie

Patience is a virtue neither of us haaave. Type faster, ho!

That's IT! No pink hoodie pic for you!

JK

skcin · #6 06-12-2005, 09:24 PM

We walk out of our row with no problem. We walk around to the front row with no problem. I look across the venue & see Ry & Curtis at the stage. There is almost nobody behind us. Security is standing at the stage saying/doing nothing. We look at eachother. Should we go? Now? How about now? I know I will get right up to the stage. I start shaking. We stand there through the drum intro.

The guitar riff starts. We calmly walk up to the stage & plant ourselves there. Sharon & Jana are right above me. I take a pic of them. Stevie comes out - I can't see her unless I lean on the stage & crane my head around a monitor. I try to take a pic & the 13 year old working security taps me & shakes his head. I say "Are you kidding? The show's almost over." He shakes his head no. I put it away. Paula's security warning #2

I am singing along. I am jumping up & down a little. I sing Sharon's part on "I hear you..." I ask Brian to lean up against the stage & block security's view of me. She starts to shake hands. I turn the vid on when she's half-way across the stage. I hear Curtis say to her "I love Street Angel" {I'm just kidding}

She walks toward us. I hold my camera with my left hand on the side of my face near my ear. I want to look into her eyes, not have her stare at a camera in front of my face. I wipe the sweat off my hand & put up my right arm. I hope I don't smell for the guy next to me's sake, since his head is near my armpit. She grab's Brian's hand. I reach up & grip her left hand with my right. She has on a silver jingly bracelet. I look at her & stammer "Thank you, thank you, oh thank you" like an ass. She holds my hand for a good 3 or 4 seconds - her hands are small but strong. She nods at me & lets go. I touch her left Frankenbok & legwarmer. I am happy. I turn the camera off & put it away.

We stay for the end of Edge & decide to go back to our seats. I am giddy. We walk down our row & don't see Brian's shirt.

He looks panicky. We are one row behind out row. Phew. He finds his shirt & there's nothing in the pocket. We look down & his recording equip. is laying on the concrete floor in a puddle of spilled beer & margarita. We climb over into our seats & he checks things out - seems to be OK.

SDMHA - great - I didn't think I would like Don on this but I did.

L&L - I sneak a pic. A security guy taps me from behind & says "can you please put the camera away." I look at the woman 2 rows ahead of me taking pics. I say "OK, sorry" & put it away. Paula's security warning #3 I say to Brian "must be Don's guys" & we laugh.

SYWBaR&RS - I love this upbeat song, seems the crowd did too. I toy with the idea of getting it on vid. I decide not to chance it. There's a light in my face. Paula's 4th & final security warning Another security guy is pointing at us. Brian asks "me?" He says "no, her!" I play the part of the silly confused girl & walk out of our row.

He motions me up to the gate he's standing behind near the front row. He says "You need to hand over your film or memory card or else be escorted off the premises." I say "Why? Everyone's taking pics and when I left Buffalo yesterday your website said non-professional pics allowed." he said "no, it did not say that." I say "OK, will you walk me to the gate or right to my car, because I'd rather not go to my car alone at night." He looks at me for a minute, shakes his head & comes out from behind his gate. He walks me over to a female security guard. He says "she needs an escort out." She looks confused & asks why. "She has a camera, she's been taking pictures all night long." She says "Seriously, you want her out?" He nods & walks away.

I am trying not to grin since I know this is the last song so I don't care.

She motions over another security guy, this one big & running over toward us. She motions for him to slow down. He comes over & she tells him why I need to be escorted out. He says "Jesus, I thought there was a fight or something." I say "Gee, I'm really sorry about this, when I left Buffalo yesterday your website said non-professional cameras were allowed but I couldn't check the site today. I walked in the gate with the camera & they let me in no problem so I thought it was OK." He says "what kind of camera do you have?" I show him my Kodak digital. He says "well, the venue usually doesn't announce the picture policy until about 3 hours before the show, and Stevie's funny about photographs sometimes." I say "well, I've never had a problem before at any of her shows, but I apologize for all this. I never would have brought the camera with me had I known."

He says "Well show's over. Go on home." I ask if I can wait for my friends & they let me. I was escorted out by 2 of the 3 fags of Rhiannon, with the 3rd waiting outside.

Con't...

skcin · #7 06-12-2005, 08:51 PM

Intermission: So Brian & I scope out the Edge rush situation. We are 12 seats in, but the row in front of us has about 3 less seats, the row in front of them 3 less seats, etc. So we just need to squeeze around 8 people or so. We debate going to the bathroom during B&tB but quickly ditch that idea. We decide to escape right after giving her a standing ovation after B&tB. Brian has his recording equip in his shirt pocket, which he plans to leave on his chair. I comment on how the people around us are into the show & not talking through songs & that the recording should turn out good. He leaves to talk to his friend Anthony. I see Ryan go to pee. I hope he gets back in time for the Dreams remix - he doesn't but he did find the gray hoodie at another kiosk.

*forgot to mention Curtis' other shirt. I have titled it "Gayest. Shirt. Ever." Pics soon. So amateurish, I can't believe they're selling it along with the others.*

Bootylicious - I dance. It's the law.

Dreams remix - can't wait until this comes out. Just awesome.

OTR - She's very into this. Looks happy. Went nuts on the "tellmeisthereanyoneinthiswholewideworldthatcouldeverreplaceme"

It's about this point that a drunk lady runs up to the row behind us & says to us "you two look like you're having a great time!" I say "yeah, we are." She slurs "ya know, it's my birthday today!" I say "Happy birthday." and quickly turn around to avoid her. She proceeds to sing loudly to the next few songs. Someone makes her go back to her seat, and the guy behind me goes "Jesus, I hope they don't let her back down here. She's crazy." or something to that effect. I hope this is on the boot. It is pretty funny.

Dreams - nice. little vocal differences that only we would notice. did the hula at the beginning - so CUTE!

Rhiannon - the unicorns are gone - Praise Jesus. Good, rockin version. I sneak some pics.

Enchanted - I don't hate this song, I don't love it. I'm glad it's an upbeat song. I sing along. I dance.

GDW - Don come out in the black shirt with red embroidery. Sings the opening line & they trade lines the rest of the time. I crouch behind the people standing in front of me & sneak more pics. I am liking this more & more - esp. their harmonies on the song. Stevie slowly spinning around while Don sings. She did the "can you see me know..." They slow dance at the end.

Circle Dance - as requested, I start to record this on vid. I am sitting down (so was most everyone else.) I have the camera down at chest level & I keep peeking down at my screen to make sure I have them in frame. I see a gold blob & assume that's Stevie. I will find out eventually (about 1&1/2 minutes in) that it's actually half of Stevie & that the chick's head in front of me was blocking Don. I readjust & get the entire song with no problem. BTW - this song is gorgeous, heartbreaking. Their voices together on this are very special

Stand Back - this song will NEVER disappoint me live. Never. Pumps me up big time. She spins 10 times, she was really whipping the shawl around (different then the spinning ends from LIB - more like a punching motion.) I miss the high kick by a nanosecond.

B&tB - Gorgeous, but nothing compared to Tues in Vegas. She did not hold the "if you know tell her, tell her now, aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh." She went a bit lower at the end. The heat was still pretty oppressive at this point, so it may have been hard for her to breathe. We stand, give the ocation & Brain grabs my arm to rush for Edge.

Con't...

ontheEdgeof17 · #8 06-12-2005, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skcin

*forgot to mention Curtis' other shirt. I have titled it "Gayest. Shirt. Ever." Pics soon. So amateurish, I can't believe they're selling it along with the others.*

I didn't know it was a Hane's shirt from Dollar General.

I will wear with PRIDE....and at Blossom.

MacMan · #9 06-12-2005, 09:04 PM

You guys are a riot.... This trip must have been a blast

LiquidBlue5000 · #10 06-14-2005, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skcin

It's about this point that a drunk lady runs up to the row behind us & says to us "you two look like you're having a great time!" I say "yeah, we are." She slurs "ya know, it's my birthday today!" I say "Happy birthday." and quickly turn around to avoid her. She proceeds to sing loudly to the next few songs. Someone makes her go back to her seat, and the guy behind me goes "Jesus, I hope they don't let her back down here. She's crazy." or something to that effect. I hope this is on the boot. It is pretty funny.

i'm just NOW getting a chance to read all these threads.... after my long trips to Pittsburgh and Hershey, i FINALLY got home this morning at 530am... ::whew:: i'm tired

but, i had a great time.. it was cool hanging out with Paula and Curtis and Ryan on saturday... Paula, i cannot wait to see your video clip of "Edge"... it looked soooo good on your camera...

oh, and btw.... that guy saying the drunk lady was "crazy" did make the boot... among a few other things..

strandinthewind · #11 06-14-2005, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiquidBlue5000

. . .

oh, and btw.... that guy saying the drunk lady was "crazy" did make the boot... among a few other things..

I swear my greatest fear is I will be seated next to someone making a boot and my big booming voice is gonna be crystal clear and replete with rank words

Oh Well!!! Thanks for the recordings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

skcin · #12 06-17-2005, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skcin

Brian has his recording equip in his shirt pocket, which he plans to leave on his chair. I comment on how the people around us are into the show & not talking through songs & that the recording should turn out good. He leaves to talk to his friend Anthony. I see Ryan go to pee. I hope he gets back in time for the Dreams remix - he doesn't but he did find the gray hoodie at another kiosk.

It's about this point that a drunk lady runs up to the row behind us & says to us "you two look like you're having a great time!" I say "yeah, we are." She slurs "ya know, it's my birthday today!" I say "Happy birthday." and quickly turn around to avoid her. She proceeds to sing loudly to the next few songs. Someone makes her go back to her seat, and the guy behind me goes "Jesus, I hope they don't let her back down here. She's crazy." or something to that effect. I hope this is on the boot. It is pretty funny.

Con't...

I just read this on Nicksfix and I swear it was this chick that ran up behind me & Brian. Too funny!

Quote:

Brandy Lynn
...........Just a look at each other in our hats, and I wore Mardi Gras beads that were gold , green, and white, and I agreed....we are special all right ha ha......The opening act was great entertainment. Sort of a mix between Shelby Lynn and Joni Mitchell though I can't remember her name as I can't remember a lot from the night. I have to report that I was a little "indisposed" Don Henley came out with a roar, but one would not even have to be within a one mile radius to know when Stevie Nicks walked out........ There were the "high" points!! Unfortunately for me, and strangely enough during "I put a spell on you" I became shaky and twitchy and not quite right. I had what we believe was a hypoglycemia episode. Stevie was out with a roar though and I was not going to miss "The Last Worthless Evening" if I died right there in my chair. This for me is one of those songs that when you get in a mood once and a while and listen to a song over and over and over again. And singing it with Stevie.......well First Aid my ass!!! I am staying!! Marvelous!! Fantastic!!! A once in a lifetime line up!! Now from this point on, for a period of time, I am sorry to report that Elvis could have been up there and I couldn't tell you. I could quote a Stevie line if I said I saw it in "fiery sequences". I was sick and disoriented. I left my chair to go get some air and on this walk I must've been so out of it and in a trance because I don't even remember doing it. I have no recollection of the 15 minute intermission. My friends met and couldn't find me. I was taking " a short walk in the mist" I suppose. I apologize if I, the girl in the beads, tainted any of your concert going experiences and thank anyone who may have helped me. I was truly shaken by it and scared that something like that could happen. How you could walk around for that long of a time oblivious........I don't like it!! I do see like I said , " fiery sequences" of the show so I gather that I was just walking around and singing and dancing and not bothering anyone or I am sure that they would've taken me somewhere or brought me to my seat which didn't happen. Well I recall the Outside the Rain chords starting up though I don't know from where I saw them.....into Dreams of course........now here something strange happened to me again because I know it was Rhiannon and I can hear the performance in my mind......."somewhere out in the back of my mind" but I don't recall the show part. I was there and watching it from a whole other plane than the rest it seemed. I know that the lights of course where gold , green, and white and they seemed to be really intense to me at the time. I was really in another world. In a trance!! ........ All and all I have to rate this whole show as outstanding, but surely I have a bit of an empty feeling due to my being sick and missing parts, but they are all there in my subconscious which is cool in its own right. If I had to do it all over again I would have eaten more, but I would be right there with my beads on and dancing!!!

GardenStateGirlie · #13 06-12-2005, 08:07 PM

Too bad you guys didn't bring the blacklight with you. Instead of watching Stevie Nicks and Don Henley, you could see bacteria rapidly multiplying

Can't wait for the pictures. I hear you got yourself THE HOODIE (JEALOUS)!*@)

skcin · #14 06-12-2005, 08:24 PM

So Friday the website for Post Gazette Pavilion says "non-professional cameras allowed." Curtis checked Sat & it was changed to "no cameras." So I hide mine in the lining of my purse.

They glance into it as I walk through the gate - yeah, great security. We go to the merchandise & Curtis gets his pink hoodie after breathlessly asking "what's the largest size you have for the pink hoodie?": He puts it on. The hillbillies who have never seen a gay guy before seem confused.

I know this is the norm. I buy the pink hoodie & coffee mug. It comes to $65. Ryan can't get the gray hoodie sweatshirt, they say they are all out. He is depressed.

Don comes on & starts "Genie" & we go to find our seats. They make us turn back & get wrist bands. Brian & I are 5th row, 12 seats in, in front of the girls. Ry & Curtis are 5th row, 12 seats in in front of Waddy.

I really like Don solo, always have. Genie was good. I thought he was much more interactive than people have mentioned. He still sings with his eyes shut a lot, doesn't intro his band, but generally seemed pretty happy & into the show. He wiped his brow several times - it was REALLY hot & humid. I start to worry about Stevie's asthma....

Witchy Woman - Don's falsetto is spot on. It seems he has lost very little range over the years, if any.

Spell - good tune, good crowd reaction. I am too busy getting my camera ready to pay much attention though.

Hotel CA - It starts, I start rolling on my little Kodak 4.1 megapixel digital. Stevie comes out, the crowd roars. I try to get the pants, but some broad's head keeps getting in my way - I kind of got them. I keep pretending to hit the shutter so they don't know I'm geting it on vid. They get through the "pink champagne on ice" line. As she's singing the "of our own device" line, security points at me & tells me to put the camera away. I look at the others in front of me snapping away on cameras & camera phones & shrug. He shakes his head. I put it away.

Paula busted by security #1 I end up with about 3&1/2 minutes of this on film.

NY Minute - love this song, love Stevie on it, love their harmony.

Last Worthless - another fave of mine, good job Stevie!

Boys of Summer - by far, my fave Don tune & one of my all-time favortie songs ever. I love this song. Reminds me of when I was younger. I am excited & start dancing

*I will mention here that for Don, the crowd was good. They did sit for some of his set, but they were really into him. Our section was decent, no probs standing up for us. Poor Curtis*

Heart of the matter - again, I love this song.

Dirty Laundry - never been a fan, but it was good.

Did he so Sunset Grill? I though he did? Maybe I'm thinking of listening to his greatest hits earlier that day? Crap.

Life in the Fast Lane - Awesome.

All She wants to do is dance - I despise this song. I get up & dance a little & sing along while rolling my eyes. Brian sings me a verse of "Party All the Time" by Edie Murphy after I tell him that's what it reminds me of.

End of the Innocence - very touching

Desperado - who doesn't like this song. It was amazing. He held the last "let somebody love yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooou" for hours.

Con't....

ontheEdgeof17 · #15 06-12-2005, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skcin

Heart of the matter - again, I love this song.

OMG. I got chills when he sang "Forgiveness"....and the whole crowd responded back with "Forgiveness." Whew! Goosebumps just thinking about it!