Each and every heart it seems is bounded by a world of dreams.

All the youth and gentry of Denver were there......or at least a good portion of them.....

Denver really was an ugly gray town this time. I've been through it before, and can't remember ever stopping and doing anything there. The night before, April 1, I stayed in a nice Motel 8 up north of Denver proper, and found a really neat hot tub to soak in. There was a lovely skylight over the hot tub, where I could watch the sunset, and bare naked trees against the purple-ing sky...and as I did, saw an executive jet flying into the airport. Of course....it had to be the Moody Blues right? Lots of laughs! I'm really to this point in life where the magic of being such a heavy Moodies fan is waning away, perhaps for the best, but nothing lasts forever. And other wonderful things are taking the place of Moodymania in my life, like quilting, and finding old friends to brighten my miserable existance.

It wasn't so earlier in the day. I had been charging across the plains of Wyoming, and had just come across the Colorado border, stopped to look at the map, and actually had managed to find a Rock station in the middle of cow country. It was the request noon hour....sure enough Chug chug chug chug Chug chug chug......yes I recognized the opening beats of "I'm Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band". YAHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! I hit the freeway again, and with the music and words beating in my headphones, started the last leg to my next concert "I'm just a wandering on the face of this earth....and if you want the winds of change to blow about you, and you can see exactly what to do PLEASE TELL ME" Boy. I don't think Moody lyrics have ever fit the moment so perfectly for me. It was an incredible windy day, coming across those plains.

April 2: The day of the concert dawned, and I packed out of one more motel room. I don't know how these rock bands do it...traveling is getting really OLD for me, and I stress out over having to handle other life events from a motel room, which I had to do that night. I saw where a beautiful young 18 year old woman in Palestine had blown herself up and it seemed so sad to me. I called my own 18 year old son, and talked to him.....just to let him know I cared. What a tragic waste of youth it is for any young person to care so little about him or her self that they drive drunk, do reckless things, or blow themselves up. And how ugly and irresponsible that parents can't guide their kids any better than that. My mind was not so much on the Moodies, as it was on hoping and praying that the hideous situation in Israel and Palestine can come to a peaceful resolution. We had better not get into it. I have 4 nephews and 1 son that are headed for Canada if they start up the Draft, that's a fact. And my brother and I will happily help them on their way. No way my son is going to get shot for that bullshit over there.

Having said that, I kept driving past this really wonderful, old Synagog with incredibly intricate stain glass windows, there in Denver near the Fillmore. I thought about how horrible it would be for some jerk to bomb such a wonderful building. I hope such things are few and far between in my country, forever. People should be less thin skinned and more kind to one another.

Taking my time, I coasted through town and back by the Fillmore. (It still had an old sign saying "the Mammoth Theatre"). Yes of course. Three white cars were lined up in front of the theater. One was a serious beater with a fender hanging off. One was a vintage 1968 (?) Mustang, but not in prime condition. And one was just plain grubby. They were all full of women, who were obviously Moody fans, and who had staked out their "place in line" as the Fillmore was totally non-reserved seating. There was a time when I would have joined them. Now I just laughed, and shivered, as that morning had actually seen a sprinkling of granular snow. The air was artic, and icicles hung from the drain pipes of the Fillmore. Sitting in a car in that scuzzy neighborhood was not in the slightest appealing. As I left the scene, I saw one woman jump out of the car, and plug the meter with coins. What a way to spend your day, eh? I think one of the gals might have even been "the Caddy" the Brit gal with the black dyed hair who claimed to have been John's caddy at one time.

Did I say much about where the Fillmore was? No. I was hoping I could forget. It appeared to be the red light district out to the East side of town. Dark men slunk down the streets in greazy stocking caps, on mysterious missions of their own. I had two different bag women try to talk to me (I avoided them, city homeless always beg money, ugh). One little teen girl was in a vicious fight with a young man right there on the street (I was going to help her out, but she handled herself well), and I saw her later huddling near a pay phone, obviously scared and needing a ride (I hope someone responsible came for her). I walked into one motel that said The Royal Guest, it was right across from the Fillmore. It would have been perfect, except the lobby smelled like a thousand cats had taken a pee in there. It put me in mind of a whorehouse, frankly. The houses were all lined with iron bars. I've seen worse areas, and I got the impression they were trying to clean up the neighborhood, but it had a long ways to go yet.

The Ramada was old, but ok. After I got my shopping for the day done (more supplies, food, and a new camera battery) I got my room and mellowed out a bit. (My days of obcessive stalking and waiting are over I wrote, as I swilled a beer and watched the TV) It's odd but when I'm traveling I pick up odds and ends and newspapers that need to be read, and take notes that need to be taken. I don't know what others do while traveling, but I always have things to keep myself occupied. Did my nails. I even dropped into a quilt store I found along the way, and bought some little nice things. They had GREAT headshops in this area, the record store full of young punks was blatently selling bongs and other paraphenalia. I haven't seen that for a while. The Ramada had a store next to it, Mountain Tibet (303-864-1253) that I would happily recommend to anyone, they had some of the coolest, and most reasonably priced hippy clothes, and fun Hindu things I have ever seen. I bought a post card with the elephant head God on it (I love elephants) and got my son a little dragon figurine. And found a wonderful incense holder for a $1.00. All in all, a very nice place to find.

Before the line formed (noon?) I had cruised behind the theatre, actually got some cat calls from some hard up (and nearsighted) construction workers on the next street....and heard some keyboards playing inside the theater! so they were in there by 2:11 pm when I heard this. Peeking down the alley, several cars were pulled up, and one had the hatchback up, unloading groceries. I suspect the truck was unloaded o'dark thirty the early morn of April 2, as by 2 pm the semi appeared to have been "dropped" on a side street, and the cab had vanished. Red cones and yellow police tape was placed about. We never did know where they stayed....it was not the Radisson or the Ramada, because I checked both of those. It's a big town.

Not knowing for sure what it was like inside, I finally cruised past the Fillmore at 4 pm (again), and there was already a line forming. (the white cars were still there). So I went back, got my sh*t together, dumped most of my purse (I don't like to take a lot of valuables into places like that) including my wallet on the bed. I had cash in my pocket, more than enough for the night. Bundled up in my good leatherette jacket, and walked briskly through the frosty, dry air to the theater. The line was even longer. Now it was 5 pm. Everyone seemed mystified as to what the seating arrangements would be. We all stood there like cattle until the place opened about 6:30 pm.

I didn't mention I actually lost my ticket a week before I left, and had a huge panicky day looking for it, in all my stacks of crap in my room. Tried to get a new one, and Ticketmonster said "no dice". Luckily found it. What a jinxed evolution this has been! But: Get this: They actually searched us! I have never been so shocked in my life! And they said we had to have picture ID to get in!!!!!

MY GOD!!!!!!! Have we woken up suddenly in Nazi Germany? Why in God's name would this need to happen? If nothing else, I'd love to personally slap the teeth out of Osama Bin Laden for bringing this mental state down on us all. I'd also like to slap that idiot who crawled on the stage in Vegas with the flowers, as this brought it very much home to the Moody Blues (who are a little paranoid by nature anyway). Of course, there lay my wallet on my bed in the room, a short hike away and I could make it back in time for the show, but I would lose my place in line! Besides this.....well, you know me. I just like electronic gear, just to see if I can get away with it. I had my nice camera in one huge pocket and my new tape recorder in the other. They are a little bulky, so I had the Moody Blues polar fleece vest on too, and generally I looked ok.....nothing in the purse of course. THEY ACTUALLY FRISKED US. I was horrified!!!!!!!!!!!! No ID, and a body search???????? Yep....they sorted us into "ladies" and "gentlemen lines.... people actually didn't complain, can you imagine?

What followed is one of the more peculiar events in my weird life. There I stood, looking very sad and sorry that I had no ID and I told them my tale. They were actually nice about it (I'm obviously over 16) and said "You aren't going to drink anyway are you?". By this time I was afraid I'd lose it mentally if I even had a beer! So they said I could go in, and I kinda hummed and hawed around (hey I do NOT like ANY stranger feeling me up, male or female!!!!!) ....and just as she gave me a quick frisk, I held my arms over my pockets where the stuff was....and she passed me in. I about fell over. I giggled hysterically all the way to the bathroom, where I checked my gear, and actually dropped my tape recorder not once, but twice on the stone floor, before I had the courage to put it in the safety of my purse, swaddled by my wool scarf. I didn't mention that those with IDs over 21 got a little green bracelet so they could buy booze.....who the hell wanted to look like they just got out of a hospital anyway? Ugh. Nazis!

Ok....on to nicer things. The Fillmore Denver is indeed very similar to the Fillmore West/Ballroom in San Francisco. It's an old warehouse (as are the originals) in this case, a really cavernous warehouse, much bigger than the modern day Fillmore West. (I think the Fillmore East is now condos). There are six huge crystal chandeliers in the top, with electric lights (dim ones) and they are lit from either side by blue and violet stage lights "leekos" giving them a very eerie, "stoner" effect. The lights are very very dim. Most of it is a huge wooden dance floor, and the sides are galleries, bars, and covered with posters and pictures.....these were more of modern, and (I presume) Denver based bands, rather than the classical 60's San Francisco bands that grace the walls of the Fillmore West today. 'Way up in the back were rows like pews or a choir loft, and people who sat there were so far from the stage, they looked like postage stamps.

There was no trouble getting up to the stage all night really, if you didn't mind milling about a bit. Everyone panicked about the "place in line" did it all for nothing, har har. We froze out there for at least two hours! (Some for longer). It was actually rather amusing watching people in a totally new environment, trying to figure out where to sit. Those with big butts and weak legs mostly went for the chairs in the gallery alongside the stage, and never moved.....I stood and had closer views, which was fine with me. And I moved and danced quite a bit too. The guys above me must have been dedicated fans, as they were doing go-go routines, and got quite a few waves from Justin.

Bought the program, skipped the tees this time (though I did rather like the one with the three eyeballs LOL). (I checked my closet before going, and decided I have enough Moody tees to last several life times, and didn't really feel like buying more). Likewise the mug, it wasn't that great. BUT the program. My God who took that fantastic photo of John and Justin in black glasses, looking like the MiB and not the MBs???? Oh my LORD I may have to FRAME that one! That one shot was utterly worth the entire trip, almost. I also really liked the photo of John with his hands behind his head, it was totally different for him. Otherwise it was nothing exciting, though there are nice graphics with the airbrushed blue paint. But just one photo can do it for you, and that one with the sunglasses did it for me.

The show: you know how it is, you get to concerts, and strike up friendships with those around you? Well this time I watched the show with Val and Craig, who were locals to Denver. (Hi guys if you are reading! :) They were around 40 (seven years younger than me!) and really enjoying their night out. Many of the audience members appeared to be local married couples. [BTW some guy from the local rock station came out and introduced the Moodies, and ended his speech on an incongruous note "I hope you get laid!" Puzzled look: as most of the crowd was couples on dates, this seemed very off the wall, perhaps fitting of the venue?] Val and Craig were really funny, and got looser as the night went out, slipping their beers. Val was a real scream, they both loved all my little fan reactions, and stories. During Intermission (halleluha, they did Intermission!) some guy walked through with a beard, and Val says "Jesus even came to the show!" HAR har. (he really DID look like Jesus too!) I wasn't even drunk, and this busted me up....it being Easter, and all the stress in the Holy Land. Then a chick came BACK through, in this really flashy tight halter pants suit, that we had seen earlier and were accusing of being a guy in drag. "And Mary Magdeline came with him" HOO HOOhar!!! we were really having a good time! God I love finding people like that!

The show finally started.....they came on the stage.....I dove for my purse and hit the "record" button (incidently my tape player worked like a dream, except when my coat flopped over on top and muffled TOSOL) the flash cameras went off (gee that really WAS a great body search they gave us, eh?), and a puff of smoke actually went up from the audience dead center front. (HAR har smoke one for me!)

How can I delicately put this? I can't. Justin and Ray looked very very tired. In Ray's case, he seemed to have a cynical edge to his actions, and frankly I have NEVER seen Ray give such a nice relaxed and natural performance. Whatever he is doing with himself off stage (fishing in the Rockies? :), it really agrees with him. For a guy knocking 60, he is doing really really well. His weight is really down, and he looks good.

Everyone was wearing black in the front lines, Paul was glowing under the purple lights wearing a white shirt (he looked good back there, the stuck up thing!). I didn't get much of John (although he did some wonderful jiggles and butt twitching turns, worthy of a man a third his age, good on ya, John! He had on some nice fitting black leather pants), and I never even noticed Bernie. Graeme......what a great show he does for the folks! For him to be 61 and still drumming like that....my God. What incredible stamina! He is better than drummers who are old enough to be his grand-children. May he drum on forever!!!!! When he came down for his poem, I was absolutely knocked out to see he was wearing a black shirt, with a striking American flag on it. If anything has ever made me want to run up and kiss a Moody, that did it. Graeme is very thoughtful and kind to do that for us Americans....even though he lives here too, and I'm sure felt 9-11 as much as we other Americans did. He's my hero forever, Graeme is!

Gordon was as always, the magnificent animal.

Justin literally looked like death warmed over, until he got to "The Actor". He started talking then, saying "I *think* we played here" actually I think they DID play the Mammoth Theatre, and I may look that up in old fan club letters, it sounds familiar. Then he suddenly came to life.....maybe some of that "method acting" thing threw some water on his wilted lettuce look, but he was like a rejuvenated flower after "The Actor". "English Sunset" was terribly low energy. Even so, Craig said "that is a REALLY good song!" so I hope he goes right out and buys the Strange Times CD. I think Justin was even hitting the wrong fret on his Gibson once, enough to make me think it was out of tune. I did notice that Justin had some electronic box back there he was twiddling with, so he may have an electronic tuner.....very cool, you don't even have to hear it, to tune it to the right note. Anyway something tells me cold does not agree with Justin Hayward, and it was such a crappy day out, if that was it, I don't blame him for looking so miserable up there. My bones were aching too, frankly.

Hmm I wonder if that "delicate shade of studio grey" on Justin is indicative of him being in the studio working on songs. Usually he finds some sun, and is more tan than that.

The sound was horrible everywhere. I was right next to the speakers, and of course was hearing impared for about a day after that (never again without earplugs she mutters). Things sounded distorted and flat: I thought Bernie was screeching, and on playing back the tape, she was just fine actually. (Her voice is NOT up to Tracy's level however, Tracy is an incredibly gifted singer, and I really miss her in the mix). The people in the very back said the sound was muffled. The space was absolutely huge, and not built for good accoustics. The stage manager either had a new sound toy, and was getting echo effects, or it was the sound coming back to him from the back wall, and causing the echo. Whatever, it especially got used on Justin's solos and I rather liked it.

The audience was slow to warm up, but interested, definately. (They REALLY warmed up after Intermission, they were all drunk!) They mostly howled in delight when Ray announced "For My Lady" and as it played out, I saw these two skin-head type youngsters who had crammed in front of me look at each other as if to say "what is this shit?" So there is definately a generation gap with some of this music. "For My Lady" is so much a part of that time in music, and so wonderful to hear. I don't think any of us who were there could ever explain it to the younger generation. Things have changed, and this younger group does not understand gentle music any more.

After the Dino Walk, from my vantage you could really see Justin and Gordon interacting.....it was neat, and you miss that sometimes. Justin had just a 1/2 sec delay on his cue to "Isn't Life Strange", I wonder if it was for dramatic effect, or to get John's goat. One wonders. "Other Side of Life" really had those echos in it, very nice (not many glow sticks but some....people really liked my light up blue pen I was writing with!) Graeme of course forgot the title of his poem, and turned to Ray (?) for it. Justin didn't do the "pick" section in the bridge of "Nights", or at least it's not on the tape. [Don't worry, I'm not going to sell the tape in Goldmine]

Ray made a gesture as if to raise the mike at one time, it was too low for his flute. I didn't hear much flute all night. One thing that set me off a bit was to hear synthesized flute music, and Ray's flute not even near his lips, but that is how the music is set up now. It's ok, Ray did a really nice flute solo for his "Legend of a Mind" set and brought the house down. Not one flub. It was wonderful. On the other hand, I was not deeply impressed with Paul's keyboards during this, I've heard better. Might have been a bad sound system.

I said (after that horrible cold wait outside) the crowd was slow to warm up? BOY as the evening wore on, the drunks staggered and pushed past me sloshing brew....if my tongue was just a little longer I could have lapped up quite a bit from the passing people! I had two programs, my new jacket, my purse (stuffed with tape recorder and camera) all in the target zone. Somehow I managed to stand over them, guard my spot, keep them dry, and dance too! :) It was not easy, as people kept trying to ooze in front of me. The crowd was totally fluid, inside and out. One tall old guy who was over 60, actually staggered back into me, lost his balance, and (this is a little gross, sorry) I reflexivly grabbed his ass and accidently goosed him! Well I hope he enjoyed it! (I didn't really!) My.....this is indeed an interesting aging crowd isn't it? I had some really big oxen crowd in front of me at times.

"Slidezone" was a little funky in the beginning, but they slid their eyes around and pushed on through it....(not too bad). I wasn't overly impressed with the lights, they had a limited tour, gear wise this time. No pretty swirling blue lights or heavy smoke machine for IKYOTS. (wahhh! sniff). However, Justin DID kinda hump his guitar during the "Yeah Yeah" part. I have notes that Justin was playing his Gibson 335 like a mandolin during "Slidezone"! Hmmm...it sounded cool too. That seemed new. At the end of IKYOTS Justin seemed to be goofing around with the guitar a little, just the way you do sometimes when you are bored....experimenting.

Justin and Ray both did voice warm ups, or had a belt before they came out, as their voices were both nice, loud, on key, and vibrant. I think their voices, and Graeme's drumming were the very best parts of the performance this time.

Graeme did some lip smacks to someone in the crowd, he looked like a flouder kissing. Justin played his blue classical (Gibson?) during "Your Wildest Dreams". Right before the Dinosaur walk before Intermission, damn security was shining a flashlight on some couple, I never did figure out why (and it made me paranoid as I was JUST ready to fish my camera out).

Justin really threw himself into "Nights". I never fail to be thrilled by how much he can get out of that song, another performer just would not get that sort of emotion out of it. When he finished, he was aglow, and bowed over and over, once lifting his hands very naturally to the ceiling and looking up as if to say "Thank you God". Which perhaps is exactly what he was doing. If it hadn't been for that wonderful song, none of them would have done all this. Truely it is a wonderful, magical song, and it's so good that they still respect the power of the music that way, what it can do. The wildmen of Denver even stomped their feet on the wooden floor as an ovation for "Nights".....truely impressive.

During Ray's solo, everyone pretty much stayed on stage (I don't think they have much security over on the side where they came in, people were really squealing over there when they first came in). Graeme stood up between the drums, stretching a bit, and didn't realize he was really upstaging Ray in that wonderful flag shirt. But that's ok, Ray took plenty of focus, his performance really shone. He's been practicing! Graeme I think did a really neat bongo beat at the end of this too, it's nice on the tape. The song got a huge ovation. Then RAY that CAPRICORN reached into his pants, and adjusted his nuts!!!!! RAY!!!!!!!!!!!

"Question" came....and so did the end of the show. During the slow part.....two really neat things. Gordon went over and stood next to Graeme, and they happily banged tamborines together, and sang. Ah togetherness! The audience....yes sang along and you could and can hear it, on the tape even. It was wonderful. Especially considering some of us were totally deaf by this point. And yes you could tell the Moodies were listening to us, and smiling a little, in their reserved English ways.

The show ended. The audience was huge, sold out.....they played "We Can Fly" to walk us out. I took my time leaving, then milled back to the back to see what the crowd at the back door was doing. Ah yes they were here. Those fans dedicated, or hungry with stacks of albums to be signed......every one of them of course. Actually the people of Denver seem mostly decent folks, and they were well behaved. Of course, it was pretty cold, and we were still pole-axed by too much audio energy. But I couldn't sleep anyway, so I might as well have waited.

One couple was walking behind me outside, he was saying "don't you remember the song, a question of balance" she didn't say much, or was too addled to be coherent....he continued, confused. I listened for a bit, then turned and said nicely "The Balance" is a poem, "Question" is a song, and they are both on the album A Question of Balance. OH!!! They were actually happy I had cleared the matter up for them! Like I say, people seemed really nice in Denver.

One jerk walked past us at the back door (with a woman) and seeing us waiting, he screamed sarcastically "I love you Justin!" gentle chuckles "I WAAAnt you Justin!" he got even ruder. Oh well. This band does weird things to all of us. I started to talk with a nice gal at some point, who was pretty dedicated....we discussed on-line and she said she was "haywardfan" she was very nice. I eventually confessed to being Tigger after a bit of dancing about....she was put off a bit I could tell, at first, but got over it. Anyway we talked a lot about on line, and how it really has changed....and many of us have had to really mature around this fan thing. It's actually been a good thing in some ways.

I think I spotted Doremi shoot out a side door and walk rapidly off down a darkened street (in THAT neighborhood?) but I could be wrong. Anyway they were slow to exit, I think Bernie came out and left in a car alone. Ray finally came out, alone and got into the nice warm black limo.....everyone yelled for him to come over and sign autographs "We're nice" someone yelled "we don't bite!" I followed up "we took baths!" I added even more helpfully. Ah darn he didn't stop, but the limo exited the police lines rapidly, with just Ray in the back. "They have 'smoking' and 'non smoking' cars" I added knowingly, dedicated fan that I am. "Ray smokes".....in about 15 min the rest came out and piled into a van. By this time we were all solid blocks of ice, and could barely wave bye bye at the van as it went by.....windows tightly rolled up and toasty warm inside. "Someone waved back!" a fan said happily.

It was all over. Haywardfan and I walked back to the main street, and went our separate ways in that cold dreary nasty neighborhood, and I hope she didn't get mugged. I walked past a couple of comely young drug dealers, and staggered off to my warm bed at the western theme'd Ramada hostel. Corn Woman pictured as a Kachina smiled warmly at me as I went down the hall past her portrait, and I smiled back. It was a nice show, indeed. If the Moodies can maintain their strength, may there be many more.