Vegas

Les · #1 10-19-2003, 07:38 PM

Whew, just got back from my drive from Vegas a few hours ago. LONG drive, but I figured it was the last show of this leg, and they were within driving distance, so what the hell?

I can't remember every song so clearly at the moment, so I'll just try to touch on the little bits and pieces that were in some way different from other things I've seen/heard about the shows.

Before the show I saw Bob Aguirre again. I'd seen him at the San Jose show I went to also. He went backstage about an hour before the show and then I saw him come back out about ten minutes before the show started. He was preceded by Lindsey's wife.

I wasn't in front row this time (see Bakersfield!), so I didn't quite get the unencumbered experience that I'd had at the previous concert. It looked like the front rows were great and energetic, but on the whole, the Vegas crowd was kind of a bummer, if you ask me. A lot of fat cats who decided to take in a show as a break from gambling...or something. I'm sure each and every one of them was perfectly nice, but they didn't make for the best crowd at a show. Most were very much casual fans who sat for anything and everything they didn't instantly recognize, which of course included all of the new songs, and almost everything that wasn't on Rumours, including So Afraid, Beautiful Child, Silver Springs, etc. But nevermind them.

As I mentioned, Bob Aguirre was there. Lindsey ditched the usual Peacekeeper intro to say (paraphrasing)..."A long time friend of mine is here tonight. Before Stevie and I came down to LA and met these guys who we were destined to meet, we were in a band in Northern California. The drummer of that band is here tonight and he is getting married right after the show at the Graceland Chapel [he starts to chuckle here as he's just told thousands of people exactly when and where the service is to take place]. He's going to get married by one of those Elvis guys. Like me, he waited a long time to do this. So this is for you, Bob and Melinda!" Stevie applauded.

The intro to Landslide: Stevie says (paraphrasing)..."This is our last date on this part of the tour..we go to Europe next month, this tour has just turned into a big wonderful thing for all of us. But our tour Manager, Marty Hom, who has done an incredible job and has been here with us for each and every one of the 70 shows we've done so far, is leaving us now to go work for Bette Midler!" Stevie starts jumping up and down in a mock rage, like a little kid throwing a tantrum. Lindsey's shaking his head, giving the big thumbs down. The crowd is booing. It's all in fun, of course. So Stevie dedicates Landslide to Marty for having done such a great job for them.

Beautiful Child was introduced along these lines..."I always wanted to do this one and these wonderful guys up here with me let me do it on this tour. This is for my dad, who's here tonight." Silver Springs was dedicated to mom.

The guitar solos on Come and So Afraid were longer and definitely changed up from the the July shows I'd seen. Lindsey actually dropped his guitar toward the end of So Afraid, so he just threw himself on the floor and continued to molest the poor instrument. He was spazzing out, looking somewhat like a turtle on his back trying to turn back over.

He was over on Stevie's side, in front of Brett while this was happening, and Brett laughing pretty hard. Go Your Own Way seemed a bit changed up as well, in the solo department.

Just after finishing Gypsy, Stevie turned to grab her mic, but she'd moved a little farther way from it than she'd realized. Without quite looking in front of her, she reached out to grab where she thought it was going to be and completely missed. She got a great big smile on her face, in some mild embarrassment, and then grabbed it and said thank you.

Lindsey "tusking" of John was amusing and different. He sort of approached John at waist level. He had a shoulder pushed into John's hip, with his arm around John's waist, and he just sort of ran in place, like a cartoon. The stage is slippery enough that his feet were going out from under him and he just kept running like that while John was getting a good chuckle out of it.

Stevie forgot when she was supposed to start singing in World Turning and missed the first couple of words. Her eyes got big and she got that, "Oh crap!" look for just a second, and then caught back up with the words and smiled. Hehe. Mick's drum solo seemed much longer than at any other show I'd seen. The vest part was longer, but the actual solo at the kit before jumping down front stage was longer too.

Before the first intro, as Lindsey and Stevie say thank yous to the crowd, Mick went around and shook the hands of all the backup players. I know he did this at Bakersfield too, but I forgot to mention it. During band intros Mick thanked not just the band, but the whole caravan of people who make the tour possible - the sound guys, lighting guys, stage guys, truck drivers, limo drivers, etc. Mick introduced each of the backing band individually this time, instead of in pairs, like he had been doing with Sharon & Jana/Mindy, and Neale & Carlos. Lindsey walked over and hugged Mick and buried his head in Mick's should for a second when introduced. Stevie took a long, deep bow. John did his little touch the bill of his hat gesture.

Lindsey signed and signed and signed stuff. He actually took a BN album from someone in the front and took it backstage with him. When they came back out for the final encore, he remembered who handed it to him and he gave it and the pen back to that person. I'm guessing maybe he signed it and also got Stevie's signature too, otherwise, he probably would've just signed it on the stage. Pretty cool.

Aside from the somewhat lackluster crowd, it was a trip I'm glad I made.

I hope it was fun for them too and they enjoy their break for a few weeks!

AliP · #2 10-19-2003, 08:59 PM

That's really cool! I wish I was close enough to drive. I like Vegas, but I agree, the people who go to the concerts are boooring!! I decided to try to go to some other places for once. I"ve seen Stevie solo there 3 times. Plus its really hard to get good seats there! I'm glad you had a good time and great review! Ali

Regina · #3 10-19-2003, 09:07 PM

Sounds like a great show. I love to see them mess up a bit. Makes them human (plus, they're darned funny when they do it)

I'm glad you had a great time. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Europe and Australia--it's your turn (at very long last)

gldstwmn · #4 10-20-2003, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Les
[BAs I mentioned, Bob Aguirre was there. Lindsey ditched the usual Peacekeeper intro to say (paraphrasing)..."A long time friend of mine is here tonight. Before Stevie and I came down to LA and met these guys who we were destined to meet, we were in a band in Northern California. The drummer of that band is here tonight and he is getting married right after the show at the Graceland Chapel [he starts to chuckle here as he's just told thousands of people exactly when and where the service is to take place]. He's going to get married by one of those Elvis guys. [/B]

Great review Les. Thank you.

Okay, now I know some of you crazy Fleetwood mac fans out there went to the Graceland Wedding Chapel after the show. Spill!

bellablue21 · #5 10-20-2003, 07:08 AM

That was my BN album he took backstage. He signed it for me in Greensboro and I brought it to Vegas to try and get Stevie to sign it. Well I was right in front of his mic and he was shaking hands at one point and he shook my hand and saw the album on the amp and said,"Do you want Stevie to sign this?" He then took the album and my Sharpie backstage with him. When they came out for Goodbye Baby he came and handed it back to me with Stevies autograph and I thanked him and he shook my hand again.

I am still in shock that he took it backstage.

Janine

estranged4life · #6 10-20-2003, 07:16 AM

had your BN album signed...

Btw, I know a "Janine" who is wanting the Greensboro video and I wonder if you are the same person.

Brian j.

bellablue21 · #7 10-20-2003, 07:25 AM

Brian,

That Janine would be me!

I just sent you an e-mail about the Greensboro show.

Janine

estranged4life · #8 10-20-2003, 07:27 AM

that video should arrive this week (Possibly even today), I'll email ya when I have it in my possession.

Brian j.

Merf · #9 10-20-2003, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bellablue21
That was my BN album he took backstage. He signed it for me in Greensboro and I brought it to Vegas to try and get Stevie to sign it. Well I was right in front of his mic and he was shaking hands at one point and he shook my hand and saw the album on the amp and said,"Do you want Stevie to sign this?" He then took the album and my Sharpie backstage with him. When they came out for Goodbye Baby he came and handed it back to me with Stevies autograph and I thanked him and he shook my hand again.

I am still in shock that he took it backstage.

Janine

Janine, that is so awesome! Congratulations!

Lisa · #10 10-20-2003, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Les
Lindsey actually dropped his guitar toward the end of So Afraid, so he just threw himself on the floor and continued to molest the poor instrument. He was spazzing out, looking somewhat like a turtle on his back trying to turn back over.

LOL! Thanks for the review and that mental image of LB. Don't suppose anyone got a picture of it?

-Lisa

CarneVaca · #11 10-20-2003, 09:19 AM

Taking the album backstage to get Stevie's signature was a nice gesture. Lindsey rules!

Thanks for sharing, Les.

EnchantedSLN · #12 10-20-2003, 10:00 AM

Thanks for the review Les! I almost feel like I was there

. I wanted so badly to go to Vegas but those $250 floor seats were killer. I'm glad you had a great time... it sounds like it was a wonderful show.

And wow, I can't believe he took the album backstage to have Stevie sign it. I wish I'd have brought the BN outtake he signed for me in July back to LA or Bakersfield (on second thought, maybe not... I wonder if Stevie would be weird about seeing/signing a less "covered up" version. Lol.)

Congrats on the BN album Janine... lucky lucky lucky!

wondergirl9847 · #13 10-20-2003, 10:56 AM

Great review Les!! Glad you had a great time!! Also, that was so sweet of him to take that BN album backstage and yes, Carne...LINDSEY RULES!!!!

I just SERIOUSLY hope that he signs and does the same stuff he did on the American tour in England!!!!! I so desperately wanna get something signed and touch that Turner Model 1!!!!!!!!!!

Quote:

so he just threw himself on the floor and continued to molest the poor instrument.

THAT is friggin hysterical!!! I got this crazy mental picture!! BWAH!!!

shackin'up · #14 10-20-2003, 12:16 PM

Great review, Les!

Quote:

Originally posted by Les
So Stevie dedicates Landslide to Marty for having done such a great job for them.

recognition at last?.....

Les · #15 10-20-2003, 01:11 PM

Janine, that's great that it was your album! How cool! Congratulations.

Tiffany, yeah, the price was almost enough to keep me away too, but then it all worked out in the end. I didn't have a ticket yet when I got there Saturday afternoon, and I was thinking I might just take a cheap seat. But once I got to my hotel, they said that they had over-booked and they paid to put me up at a different hotel! So that part of my trip suddenly and unexpectedly was free. Some of the money that was going to go toward the hotel room got put into a better seat instead.