Moody Blues Fall Tour, October 1999

Seattle and Kennewick: the Triangle Tour

The Pigs finally smile-from my notes

Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 11:02:57 -0700: From: "Nida" <nidadub@pacific.telebyte.net> Subject: 2nd row was close enough: I have recovered from the 3 hours sleep after the Seattle concert, plus a nap in the school bus and 8 hours sleep last night. We had 10th row seats. Not bad seats. It was a great 1st half, lots of people we knew sitting all around Joy and me. Lots of energy and fun. BUT...at intermission, another friend told me her 2nd row seat next to her was empty. Great! I moved up there and an Event person said I wasn't supposed to move from my own seat, we pleaded and she said to ask another Event person that had more to say on it than she did. About that time, the lights went down and I told her he wouldn't know I had moved if she didn't tell him. She just smiled back and moved off. YES!

My friend also told me the person on the other side of this open seat wasn't doing much, not getting into the band. Hmmm.....he had left and came back after the music started. He leaned over and said.."I paid for that seat." Oops....I told him I would move after this song. My friend told me to ask if I could stay. Ok, I said, "Could I PLEASE stay? This is the closest I have ever been in 8 years." He said all I needed to do was ask.

Now....was he pulling my leg here? Don't know. He was a big guy and maybe liked the extra room, if I debated with him all he had to do was get an Event person over to ask to see my ticket and I'd be out of there. ...I tried to stay moved over and not be annoying.

I don't know......2nd row center IS close. So close I felt I needed to behave myself. The guys could see me!!! ACK! Didn't want to look too silly or stupid. Not sure if I liked being THAT close....just me, folks, the same person that could not even look up at Justin during the signing tour. I just couldn't. I don't think of myself as shy....but there was something to being THAT close to a person I have huge respect for that was overpowering.Oh.....and how was the concert? Do I really need to say?

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.....

Nida

Moody shows can be so odd. I, and possibly you, spend so much time during the year, reading reviews and newsgroups, with all their rather dry verbal filters on what is a performing art, a rock concert. You have to go back once in a great while to remind yourself how neat it is, to be there with all the love, the magic, and the music. The love, warmth and energy are something that can never be put into words. But I guess I'll try anyway.

The Trip to the Emerald City: Oct 27, 1999: It's Forever Autumn here in the Pacific Northwest. Golden leaves are everywhere, slithering into gutters, making walking a slippery wet hazardous matter. The weather had been mild, "Indian Summer". The Moodies are in town! Last night they played the Rosegarden, the night was clear, but cool and windy......I awoke at 3 am last night, and the pale Moon was just past full, the clouds were gone and the night was fine for flying: I hope they were able to travel under such skies, it is not to be missed.

By morning, the clear skies had fled before a curtain of gray rain, our first serious storm of Winter, and the day promised to be all that...wet cold and nasty. I worked half day, herding teenagers through the traumas of creativity in art class, then begged off further teaching assignments, donned my fake leather pants (and real leather jacket), and headed for the Bremerton ferry landing. One thing about the leather pants: they ARE convienient. If you are eating fast food, and are sloppy enough to dump food on yourself (which I did), it is VERY easy to clean up, and this is a major plus if you are a rock star, or other sort of fast moving soul.

I forgot my Bumbershoot: a trek through the art galleries of the City. I called Nida Dubel on her cell phone, and managed to contact her as she was pillaging the grocery store for goodies to keep her daughter busy that night, while Mum was at the show (Nida and I both have teens who want nothing to do with Mum's concerts, which seems a shame...Stephan too begged off). We promised to meet up at the Key Arena......this is a big complex on the West side of town where all public events happen in Seattle, outdoor concerts in the summer; and hockey in season at the Key. The floorboards they had laid down were springy and fun to dance on, which one hippy lady near us did, she was doing quite a stomp dance. She was fun to watch.

Anyway, I debarked the ferry near Ivar's, and hiked up through town, with water running down my neck, matting hair, so forth. Brrr....didn't help my cold ANY. I'm just not used to reaching for the umbrella yet. Seattle is a very artsy town, and I found lots of shops to peep into along the walk, not to mention the Seattle Art Museum itself, with the famous Hammering Man outside. Two shops I remember would be Lark in the Morning: a delightful music store full of harps, dulcimers, and BS artists…..and a quilting shop where I bought some bits for my quilt. I forgot Lora's addy, she lives right across from this mall, didn't stop to see how she was...more there later. Anyway, it was great walking, good exercise, and I felt better for it.

Earth Whales: I wandered the park outside the Key for an hour before the House opened, and found some wonderful sculptures of the backs of whales coming out of the Earth. This was the inscription: A long time ago, in the Land of Chief Seattle, whales used to pass from Elliott Bay to Lake Union. It was also engraved in a Native American language, which I didn't recognize. The tile all around had water wave icons all over them. That, and watching the huge fountain in the rain (with what might have been a Ravi Shankar concert playing) was rather spiritual. I hope those who attended the show also got in some "gallery time". I get to Seattle so seldom, it was a real treat for me.

The venue: nice place, and in the lobby was a fake version of a water harp, which made a few pitiful tinkles via water dripping into copper pipes of various lengths. Interesting, but failed in the purpose of making new and different music.

Tres Amigas: tons of people I knew showed up for this show: Doreen Carrol, Rhonda Connely (with a new friend), Tad Bartel (with some other hippies, didn't know them but they were nice), Nida of course, and she brought with her Joy who had been an Intern at the OFC back in the early 80's when Jackie was still there. When I claimed my seat (after decanting all the gear out of my clothing, and back into my purse), I was delighted to find so many people I knew right there in the same section.....next to me were the Tres Amigas, who had come from San Jose I think, and were following the Band to all the shows! (they told me our friend, Cheryl Bezek did 10 shows back East…….blblblblb). We also met up at Kennewick, and two of them had backstage passes. These were Jackie Fairhill, Sue Linnloys, and Jean Balencar. At least one is from Vancouver BC, and I have met up with some of them before, at Nat Bailey, and at the Gorge: Jane Whetstone and Cheryl Bezek (two other Moody friends) also know these guys. Speaking of Jane, I also ran into her friend, Allyson Erickson, and neither of us have heard from Jane for eons. We hope she is ok, where-ever she is. I guess she dropped out when Justin wouldn't make an open pass at her. God knows the pair of them flirted enough! Theresa Stout from the Portland area was here, as well as at Kennewick (I think some people made the triangle to all three PNW shows). Theresa is looking better, and she seemed to have a S.O. with her, a nice gent. Carla was there, with a child and guy in tow (no I don't know the story, and it's not my business). Lora was also at the Seattle show, and she has had troubles which would be gossipy of me to relate, but we should all think good thoughts for her and wish her well, she is a cool lady. No apparent Red Horned Cows at either show. Some blue glow wands. My glow earrings didn't work and I got tired of them, so didn't wear them.

Jackie, Jean and Sue were cute…..I don't usually quiz people as to why they want to cruise across the US following the band, but one of them told me "I'd just be sitting on my duff if I was not doing this" so travel is a healthy thing, if you can afford it. She's right. Get up and do something, eh??????

Being "the Terrible Tigger" (sure) I get a few unexplained glares at concerts sometimes (or are Moody fans just grouchy naturally?): Blaine and JenJen of Lost Chords were at both shows I saw. Honestly, I'm a bit near-sited, and tend to ignore people unless I really know them (I mutter to myself "who are these yahoos?" when I get glared at). JenJen made her report, a GOOD one on Lost Chords 353: she's a pretty good writer, even though she over reacts a bit; and she got backstage in Kennewick, cool! Blaine put something kinda jerky about JenJen's report on LC 353. If Blaine is the person I think she was, she weighs about 50 lbs more than when I saw her last, and has her "drop-dead glare" down pat. I could be mistaken about who she was, though.

Joy's Report: Joy says she used to babysit the Lodge children when she worked there, and reports that the Moodies are very kind, nice people, real gentlemen, and that yes John likes to hug. She said that at that time (early 80's), Justin was VERY shy, and it was difficult to get more than two words at a time out of him. She talked once about riding the tour bus from (I think) San Diego to Las Vegas, so naturally I asked "Did you have to defend your honour?" "No" was the reply, very matter of factly. She said they are a very clean operation behind the scenes. She was also VERY skeptical of the current rumors of John having a girlfriend, as he is VERY married, it's how he is. I didn't really grill her much, she's a nice gal (an Aquarius), and is married now, and thinks fondly of those times when she was still a kid. She kept going over and asking to see Micky Keys, but had no luck. She probably thinks I'm mad as a Hatter: I seem to recall yelling to the tour buses "Be careful with the snow!" and then yowling out "All that is Real is You" in a horrible Okie accent when we were out back of the Key, after the show. (Looking for the car!)

The show: The first 7 rows at the Key appeared to have been reserved for the Scalpers, exclusively, which sounds slightly illegal. (This was not so in Kennewick: though I was third row, the Tres Amigas and other "regulars" had no trouble getting front row; I was just a little slow that day or I would have too. My third row was fine, but it's a shame the band couldn't see my ankles <grins>) The comp tickets at the Key appeared to be the 8th row, and many of these were totally empty, so at the intermission, we "upgraded" to some empties dead center. I was glad I did, as I could now see Graeme; before all I had seen was some wild flying arms behind the drumset. The lights did not rotate very much at this show, while in contrast, the next night, they rotated wildly, a FANTASTIC light show in Kennewick: I wonder if, with a orchestral show, they don't tone down the lights a bit. I wonder why if they do. At times, especially during IKYOTS, I thought I had died and gone to faery-land, the lights were so beautiful, and there I was in the center of it all, with my favorite band playing my favorite songs. AND I was cold sober too! It was something that can never be captured by photography, video or otherwise. I've never enjoyed another concert as much as I have Moodies shows, the lights are a very important part of it. They don't do the lights like that for casino shows either, which is a shame, but it makes sense.

I had a good time checking out the twirling lights on the stage apron: they are all networked into the computer, and rotate of course. They appear to be self contained units about the size and shape of a small briefcase, very easy to set up for the crew, you can just set them on the floor, or hang from the pipes, then plug 'em in. My, we have come a long way since I learned stage lighting. The speakers appeared to hang from a horse-shoe shaped rack, from massive chains, in an array of 18 speakers. I thought they could have done more with the projectors, I have seen better light shows in the past.

The "bow ties" MIGHT have a significance; those of us who have science backgrounds know that a triangle (with the point up) is the symbol for "change". (I have a sarcastic note too, saying "pasties for the 50 Foot Woman, har har). So the triangle pointing down means "nothing changes"???? In Egypt, it's a hieroglyphic "delta" and in a Jungian sense, the Delta is a yonic symbol. The triangles are just two large scrims, stretched like sails via grommets, and hung by sturdy chains from a pipe. On these then are projected various shapes from lighting instruments. I'm into making a "Millenium Quilt" right now, yes with triangles; and several times during the show I flashed back to some of the fuchsia, turquoise and indigo star patterns in my fabrics, wonderful light show. Remember, pink triangles are for the Gay movement, and black triangles are for AA. I thought they made very elegant, simple stage sets, and applaud whomever thought of them.

I fell in lust with the cute stage manager with the hooked nose and the loose blonde hair who was at the back in Kennewick; I've seen him at Tahoe before, I think, and he's Brit. He has NICE legs, a cute walk, and wore shorts. He had rubber rats, Halloweeny lights and Beanie Babies all over the console too. He was as fun as the Moodies to watch! OH and I should mention that the notorious Rene is not the Guitar Roadie this time, another nice efficient young man appears to have taken his place.

The songs:

Pre-show: It seemed fairly mellow and good in Seattle, forgot what it was. HOWEVER in Kennewick, some sadist was choosing the pre-show music. It was the Bosa Nova as done by Lawrence Welk, and I almost puked a few times. Some was nice, I like good Mamba music, but honestly I muttered to myself "I think Justin has been living in Italy too long". THEN I heard the theme song to Austin Powers and got the drift....someone was definitely having some fun. If the Moodies were indeed out in the bus watching the game, it's only fitting revenge I guess. I sure was tortured by it.

Overture: the pace has been picked up, and Larry wore a green jacket, then a black 'n white one I think. Orchestra was not at Kennewick. I had heard somewhere that they hired certain instruments to travel with them this year, and if so, it's a "great way to fly", they sounded wonderful. I do miss the Spokane Symphony; perhaps some of them came to Seattle for the show.

The Voice: In Seattle, the front rows all leaped to their feet, and didn't sit down for the first song. WOW what a good crowd! Remember, many of these folks probably have skipped shows at the Gorge, as they don't always want to drive out there just for one show, and they were really glad to see the Moodies back in town. Justin opens the show with that brown Gibson with the great CW "whang" to it.

Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?): something weird happened here in Seattle, you couldn't tell the orchestra was playing when the rock stopped, and people applauded strooblicly........jeeeze don't they do sound checks first???? Guess not. JH still played the brown Gibson; that was then removed from stage after the song, and probably placed under armed guard somewhere...... pretty clouds projected on the triangles for TA. The rays of light looked just like light through the trees, nice work.

For My Lady: Ray loves to shine with this song, as is right, it's one of my faves. Justin is always working away picking his James Olsen during this one. That takes a lot of strength to pick like that, if you have ever watched Justin instead of Ray during this. The entire song is a great group effort, indeed. The Hug Bunnies of Kennewick all necked during this one.

English Sunset: WOWOWOW this is GREAT live!!!!!! Good power and drive, in Seattle I was under impression they were trying to make the old fogies get up and dance! The orchestra does not play in this, it's strictly a rocker song. The "more tea Vicar" was sadly drowned out both nights. In Kennewick, I was watching Justin rather intently, and he suddenly cocked his head to one side, concentrating on his riff and fret hand, and you could tell it was clicking for him....sure enough, it fell into place, and he relaxed and cracked this big huge grin, enjoying himself.......the theatre lit up with that smile, then he and John went into that back and forth thing they do for this toward the end. WOW!!!!! I sure hope someone catches that act on video somewhere!!!!!! It's obvious they love the new material, and are as glad for it as we are.

Words You Say: from reports on line, I expected to NOT like this. It was WONDERFUL too. The melody is spacey, and sets a tone totally juxtaposed to "English Sunset", and I like the song anyway......very very pretty. I definitely enjoyed Justin's riff in the middle of this. Paul plays a guitar for this.

Slidezone: SSDD but the audience loves it. I'm glad they got rid of the green lights here, they were bilious.

Strange Times: has lost some of the live umph it had initially but still a good song live. I got depressed this time, listening to the lyrics, it reminds me of the song "Nostradamous" an ikky "impending doom" song.

Haunted: in Seattle I felt this was a little too polished (I know Justin loves this song, and I'm sure he was a slave driver making it perfect); however, it was not as EVOCATIVE as the recorded version is. Maybe Justin read my mind, as in Kennewick, he closed his eyes and tried to reach for that "beyond" sort of feeling for this.......and kinda didn't make it. BUT the song is very very pretty indeed. Paul does that brushing guitar texture under the melody on a guitar (behind his keyboards). The snapping fingers reminded me of a magician's trick, or something like Liz Montgomery would do on Bewitched. Or snapping your fingers for your dog!!!! <grins> Justin ends the song with a open pose, his arms out. Kinda nice.

I Know You're Out There Somewhere: [yeah you are].....fabulous light show in Kennewick, beautiful moments. I think the Key was too big to do a nice light show, Tri-Cities is a little smaller, and they got up a better layer of fog in the air. At the critical moment (where Justin does the "yeah…yeah...." erotic wail.....which the horny'er of us always notice)......in Seattle, who should squeeze past me RIGHT THEN in the audience but RHONDA, and I ragged on her about it, it spoiled the mood! <grins> In Kennewick, I felt pretty transported at that moment. Justin always seems to be too......a neat song, with a lot of nuances live.

Story in Your Eyes: dang, I was on the other side both nights, and didn't get the full impact of the Dino Walk. Oh well, I've had my turns in Tahoe...

Wildest Dreams: this got response of course, from drummers and "regulars" alike over the drumstick toss; they tried a few times, but it didn't really work like it has in the past. Lots of grinning and twirling. Good lights.

Nothing Changes: The Jays stood like bookends to Graeme's left, as GE stepped to the microphone, and said a few words. And then he recited the poem, with much more enthusiasm than he has the other poems in the past. Ray played flute during the recitation, neat. Saying that GE was glad to have something new to say would probably be an understatement. You know, Graeme (and the others) really have moved on from the thoughts they had in the "Core Seven" days, and are in a different place now. I loved it live….Justin indeed uses the James Olsen on this, then switches to the 335. The crowd loved it.

Isn't Life Strange: well, for one thing, Justin didn't blow his cue this time (hugs, Justin), and when they announced it in Kennewick, first some guy behind me says "Yeah it is" then some other guy yells "that's MY song!!!!!!" with enthusiasm, which got a good chuckle from most of the front rows. It was pretty funny, and I had a hard time keeping from laughing, as this is supposed to be a serious song……I wonder how the band maintains at moments such as that. The orchestra had a rhythm glitch for this song in Seattle, and Justin kinda looked back there a second……it was funny.

IJASIARRB: Justin changed something in this……he always does. No two are alike live, from what I can tell. People really get up and dance for this.

The rest of the show was pretty much the same as it has been for the past 10 years: I quit taking notes and pictures eventually and just enjoyed the show. Sometime during the show in Kennewick someone yelled "Timothy Leary!" and some other smart ass replies in the crowd "He's Dead"………..I squeezed in a "no, he's outside looking in" but I don't know if it was heard. I was glad I was not stoned during the light show for LOAM…….it was gut wrenching, spinning, and the color combinations were so horrible that any hippy with taste would never have been caught dead in them. Some old hippies behind me lit up their lighters for LOAM. In Kennewick, Ray really held the last note of his flute solo, and the audience was rapt in silence……neat moment.

Justin broke a string during "Question" in Kennewick, but at the end, and it didn't affect anything.

Overall, the energy in these road shows is MUCH better than the casino shows, and I may stop going to Tahoe altogether, depending on where I'm at then. {Last trip to Tahoe was totally too much to be doing, and not all that enjoyable}. I think Justin was the last off stage in Kennewick, which is unusual for him (acted like he didn't want to leave!), but greatly enjoyed by all…..they ALL had earplugs this time…..at the end in Seattle, Justin extricated some pretty sticky looking plugs, and gave them this look. I'd keep my hair shorter with those if it was me. Never saw John pull his, Gordon pulled 'em on stage too.

I didn't focus on the drummers this time, but they were as always, wonderful. I didn't see why everyone on-line was going on over the new drums. They didn't sound any different to me, but maybe they have benefits for the players……I noticed this time, Graeme was counting the beats, like he was keeping track of where he was in the song. I didn't know drummers did that too…..dancers have to sometimes too, depending on the piece you are doing. Interesting. I think Gordon's spectacular drum solo got cut this time (IJASIARRB?), which is sad, I loved that part. But you can't have everything.

How did they look? The girls wore leather pants both nights, as did John. I thought John's pants could have fit him better, and he was wearing no skivvies if I'm any judge of flesh. I didn't like the red body shirts the girls wore either, red looks horrible in blue stage lights, and besides they showed up the body rolls too well. The "all black" the first night was better. John wore the black velvet "Lord Byron poet shirt" twice, it looked nice on him, he wore 4 outfits total. John's hair was WONDERFUL don't know who did it, but they should be a permanent "hire". Justin wore the leopard vest the first night (the back was fixed), then he peeled it off after Intermission, down to a white shirt. In Kennewick, JH wore a very nice charcoal gray suit with no collar and no tie, buttoned up to neck with white buttons (I love him in gray, it suits him and I think he likes gray too. Elven gray is his thing). One set of pants had pin-stripes which you don't notice except up close, very nice. Justin ditched the cheesy weenie shoes he has apparently worn elsewhere, and had on those awesome woven-top boots; it added to the performance for me! He has the signet ring on, no pinkie ring. Kennewick was chilly and he never took off his black jacket. Ray wore the blue shirt a lot, it does not do well with stage lights either. The Amigas said that Ray is VERY VERY nice looking up close, from their backstage encounter. Paul usually wears a white shirt with collar, and he is very handsome on stage, well groomed and tidy. Bias looks ragged and should smile more, he wore a crushed velvet long shirt one night, hair short, no face hair. Gordon wasn't wearing much, his arm muscles looked wonderful bulging back there. Didn't notice GE much this time. He's still the Silver Fox. I thought Tracy's hair looked like hell, streaked with fuchsia dye I think, but it's stylish. The ladies are so beautiful, they can really get away with just about anything.

Kennewick Man Walking: for the record, it's 4.5 hours from Bremerton to Kennewick. I had thought it might be closer to 3, but was wrong. You can call it dedication going out there, I guess: I call it itchy feet, and the promise of a mellow show with no traffic or RHCs. I enjoyed the drive, caught up on some tapes, and the drive over the pass into the land of the Sun was worth it for this coastal Washingtonian. It was BEAUTIFUL with all the trees turning gold yellow, and sage green, I hope the Moodies got to see it in the daylight.

The Sunset: Slush was on Snoqualmie Pass (I saw snow on the ground near the tour buses in Kennewick, wonder if they stopped to pick some up? <grins>). The wind came up as I got closer to the Gorge, no surprise; it was enough to rock the car. The clouds looked exactly like something out of The Ten Commandments, streaks of gray, all tearing along...tumbleweeds attacked my car at one point, and I avoided them, being paranoid of one getting stuck on the muffler and lighting off (it's an old hippie joke: The Attack of the Pulaga People.......alien possessed tumbleweeds. We used to make snowmen out of tumbleweeds when I was a kid, in California). Once in Kennewick, the sunset came, and worked it's magic with the tumbling storm clouds.......and the sunset went on and on and on forever, one of the prettiest I have EVER seen. Maybe God is a Moody fan, and was giving us a warm-up light show! If this is the sort of sunset they have on a regular basis there, I can see why the Kennewick man walked all the way there from Asia. It wasn't just to confuse anthropologists: the fishing is great on the Columbia, and the scenery is gorgeous!

Blonde Heads in the Tour Bus: Having grabbed my usual Whopper gourmet meal for dindin [small note: onion rings on the stomach, and rock music do NOT go well together], and having changed into nicer clothes in the restroom, I parked Strider outside the Tri-Cities arena, on the edge of the private airport tarmac. This airport was probably able to handle Lear jets, but no Lears were on their tarmac. NO I repeat NO planes were in the sky: the sheer winds were so strong that street lights and flag poles thrashed, and threatened to uproot and blow around. I had my car door yank out of my hand and bang back EEEK, and I really had to hang onto the shell hatch as well. My suspicion is that the Lone Ranger (the Moodies' plane) was unable to fly them in this time, and they rode rented cars, or the tour bus. After the show at the Key, Joy spotted Justin in a departing dark blue sedan, which passed us and turned onto a quiet street; the tour buses were still out back, so I have no idea how they did it. The Pigs of Kennewick said the Moodies were flying back to Seattle, but I bet they lied, and the Moodies rode out with the buses in the morning for Boise. It's a pretty drive, and very worth the trip this time of year, 6 hours max, and a lot safer, cheaper.

Strange cars toured through the lot pre-show, one beater green bug with a head light out made at least 4 passes around the buses and trucks. Looking for Moodies I guess. The locals (who almost hit me several times out in town) TORE into the lot, like madmen, and at least one kid I saw going in, was one of the Pigs later inside, so I guess we know how Kennewick Fuzz drive.......like the punks they are!

Anyway, I had fun, as the purple tour buses were sitting right out in the parking lot, no guards no nothing, and I think about 4 semi's too, that's a lot of gear! I also saw a Ryder truck out front of the arena, which is consistent with having to leave the plane behind: they needed something to carry luggage and pet guitars, which probably ride in the belly of the plane normally (and of course, we all know they can't go back to U-Haul who is still probably looking for them! <grins>). I finally pulled Strider up closer to the building so I would not have to walk as far in the wind, and in the window of the bus, you could see a football (gridiron) game on. Guess we know our priorities!!!!!! I walked past the front of the bus, checking it out, and saw what appeared to be a small bar behind the co-pilot seat.......and a blonde head of wavy hair, slouched low in the seat. Which my fantasies tell me was Justin himself.......hiding in a quiet spot with a book, perhaps!

Now that was my golden opportunity, looking back on it. A lessor fan would have boldly strolled up to the door, knocked and inquired "Scuse me Jus, how about popping into a rack and shagging?" or at the very least, begged a pick off the man. No, not me; I've given up chasing men, they just drive you crazy if you catch them, they can chase *me* if they want me that bad.....my teeth chattering in the wind, I clutched my sweater tighter and marched into the auditorium, QUICKLY. Before I could change my mind.

Backstage Passes: I actually tried twice to stumble backstage, totally by accident: at the Key, the backstage door was guarded by a nice young man who politely informed me it was not a shortcut to the seat I wanted, and I apologized (I really was not trying to crash backstage, had my opportunity, don't want it) At Tri-Cities, the entrance to backstage (which again, looked like every other door to the concession stands) was full of loitering Pigs; when I tried to go through by mistake, they headed me off, and I explained I had friends back there I was trying to find. Two of the Tres Amigas finally came out from the backstage area, looking addled. The backstage meeting was "rushed" in the words of those who told me: I guess that football game out in the bus was more important than meeting the fans. They didn't ask names, they signed a few things, and everyone was apparently pretty nervous, performers and fans alike. 10 went back: in the case of one lovely young blonde thing, I can see why they picked her! Grins. Most were local fans. Pictures were taken, and it's just a matter of time until this all comes up on line, I'm sure.

Pigs and Goons: Now I am not referring to the Kennewick Police as "pigs" in jest. My world hierarchy recognizes 5 levels of security at concerts:

John Lodge, bless his heart (he really is a sweety), will forever have a spot in my heart for his reactions this night. Toward the beginning of the show, I whipped up my camera (discreetly) and winged off a shot, and I saw John look at me, then look quickly over at the Pigs. I thought he was going to signal them to get me, but apparently not. Later, the Tres Amigas told me some poor lady in the front row had the Pigs make her take out her film right there, and I'm sure the band saw the whole thing. I was REALLY paranoid after hearing that! John flashed the Pigs the Peace sign at least twice, and kept acting like he wanted to pose for me, then thought better of it, glancing quickly at the Pigs. Honestly, they were REALLY some fugly Pigs, and scared me good. You know, down deep I think the Moodies are still hippies too, with no love for self-appointed authority and prison guard types, and I hope Justin continues the chivalrous action he has taken in the past, rescuing fans with cameras from security (two times at least). I just wish someone would make it clearer on the contract with venues that non-flash is ok. I managed to do a roll, with the help of a lady who blocked the Pigs from seeing me, and of course I had no flash, and no telescopic cannon sticking out. Well, part of the fun is seeing if you can get away with it!

Grabby Weirdos: I was surrounded mostly by very nice folks at both shows, kids who were quietly flying on something (to my left), and some drunken couples on my right.....and lots of snuggle bunnies at Kennewick too, loving couples just out on a date. AND looking at everyone, I think over all the Baby Boomers are a generation that is aging well, mostly gracefully. In the front row at Kennewick, in front of John, there was this older gal, well groomed; she was clapping with the music.....ever so gently, but enthusiastically.

However......I hate to be negative, but I think I need to say something here. During Intermission at Kennewick, I was walking across the front rows to chat with the Tres Amigas, and some fat ugly hippy hog with long gray hair (a typical Northern California daycare operator) makes eye contact with me, and says "I'm going to say hi to you" like she's doing me a favor. I have no idea in Hell whom this person was (she was dead center first row in front of Justin) but I politely said "Hello" back.......about this time, she gripped my arm in a VISE LIKE grasp....indeed I had to tug to get my arm back, and I kept on walking! (brrrrrr). With aggressive people like this in the fan club, I can see why the band still hides. I don't take kindly to being grasped TIGHTLY by total strangers, who don't bother to introduce themselves, but who apparently know me 'cause they stalk my website. (In fact I don't touch unless I know someone pretty well; Tad and Rhonda for example are both huggers, and I'm ok there as I have known them for a long time). Grabbing people unannounced, uninvited and unwanted is considered assault in legal terms. I would again advise anyone out there wishing to meet and greet, to keep their f***ing hands to themselves next time, as I have training in marshal arts, and frankly I'm in better shape than most fans.

The Trip Home: the Moon is a lantern: after the show it is always pretty spacey, I think most of us will agree. In Seattle I left my program behind, and have to beg a friend back East to get one me now, but I flushed $15 of hard earned cash down the drain. WAHHH! I went back looking for it, of course it was gone. You know, being a teacher is inhibiting, and I was just nuts enough by now to put on a good show, cussing, kicking chairs and so forth. It felt wonderful, and I hope the roadies got a good laugh out of it.

Nida drove past the Edgewater Inn on the way back (in Seattle), she and Joyce muttered that the Beatles had stayed there, fishing out their windows into the Sound….so perhaps the Moodies did the same (it's a nice thought). It took me three hours to get home from Seattle, what with the ferry (which traveled home submarine style, the waves were so high), waiting for the ferry, finding the car to get there (Nida has worse directional sense than I do, and I'm a master at getting lost!). At midnight waiting for the ferry, some critters were still "on the prowl"; I saw seagulls still flying, and also pretty baby Norwegian rats and their Mum on the dock in Seattle, light brown coloured, that ran skittering when I walked by. (I like rats better than squirrels, so I'm odd).

Kennewick was interesting getting home from too: the night cleared up, and the Moon was gibbous and like a lantern leading me home...... beautiful, I kept singing "nyah nyah na na nana nah!" all down the road, like in "English Sunset". I loosened that tight skirt, put the pedal to the metal....that song kept me going, really. Slept 3 hours, hit it again Friday, and worked both jobs from 7:10 am to 9:45 pm, not counting commute time. Luckily I like my jobs, so it was not a shock of cold water coming back to Reality this time, but it was a bit wobbly. I just kept right on buzzing on that incredible post-show high, and a few Diet Pepsi's.

I don't want to wake up now.......toward the end of the show at Kennewick I was close enough to see a glint of melancholy in the eyes of the band, and to feel the same. I don't know if this is their last, and they never do either. We really COULD have a nuclear scenario, you know, come Y2K......it's not a joke, even though everyone passes it off as such. Living at Ground Zero here overlooking the Bremerton shipyards.......I simply await to see if Russian missiles from archaic silos will launch. Anyway, I don't think the Moodies wanted to end the show, it was a wonderful time we had, and I can only pray that the best is yet to come......because I don't know what we will all do when there are no more shows. John especially has fun on stage…..once he was on my side of the stage, and put his hand into a red light….just goofing around. It was cute. Graeme was waving at a little guy on his Dad's shoulders in Seattle. The band loves it all as much as we do.

I'm still soft in the head over Justin, I have to admit……I was feeling pretty warm and fuzzy after those two shows, he is so awesome to see live. The Jays made tons of eye contact with me, and I suspect with everyone. Also, somewhere along on line, people have said of this tour "Justin doesn't feel good". I think he's a little burnt out (I would be), and keeps a lot to himself. For what it's worth, Justin got to snuffling on my side of the stage once (spoiling my shot, perhaps it was deliberate!), but he has chronic nasal problems (we all know that). Didn't see any wives, except maybe Mrs. Bliss or Mrs. Marshall (?). Even (apparently) without Marie along, during "The Voice" in Seattle, Justin (after carefully checking the crowd), appeared to spot someone, and got a decidedly happy look on his face. Same in Kennewick, especially after his "yeah... yeah" in IKYOTS……sunshine in that man's smile! BUT underlying that, I think there IS some sort of sadness in Justin's life right now. I would not begin to say what it was…..he has a private life, like everyone. Those who would presume to know his mind, are probably just "full of it". All the Best, Justin, and the same to your mates.

We could also see backstage a bit in Kennewick….nothing too thrilling there, they are pretty much the same off as on stage. BUT one note: as Justin was going up the stairs the last time for RMSS in Kennewick, he got a very content look on his face…….like he was really pleased with things as they are. As well he should be. Just when you think the magic is gone….you find it again, like seeing the spectacular sunset in Kennewick, or seeing a rainbow in Ellensburg when I drove by on the way downstate. Or thinking about the Moodies probably picking up snow in Snoqualmie Pass and taking it to Kennewick with them so they could throw snowballs with the roadies. And all those beautiful lights at the shows; was it all a crazy dream? Maybe those are the best kinds...... Keep on saying it with love.......