David - Pleasing Fans at Pala
Story & photos (except for noted otherwise) by Cat Ortiz-White

Above - Reaching out to the fans.

In the Northern area San Diego County, the Pala Casino & Resort was finished just in the later part this past summer. David was one of many top acts to sign up to perform in Pala's very intimate lounge. David performed two shows on October 11th, one at 7:30 p.m. and the following at 10:00 p.m.

A fan hands him the Halloween Undie Lei....

Some of my friends and I planned to attend concerts. On October 1st, independant radio station KVMR interviewed David and that show was aired over the internet. Barbara Pazmino, Co-President of the "Just David Fan Club" was on the air before David was able to call in as he'd been delayed. Then a fan from Australia called in. So then I called in too. I was lucky enough to speak to David. I asked him if he'd please sing something from his upcoming CD "A Touch Of Blue." I suggested "Spooky" for Halloween or the song he wrote "New York City Life." He said he'd see what he could do. Then another fan, Joyce M, also known as his "Lei Girl" as she always gives David a fresh flower Lei from Hawaii called into the show. Joyce is from the Bay Area and she also asked David if he would sing something new. She was going to see him the day before in Fairfield. So then David said at the end of the interview that he'd sing something from the new CD. I was very excited to hear this and to help remind David of his statement, I made a sign asking him to sing "Spooky" with a photo of the new CD on it.

and he puts it on.

Before the show, I picked up a friend of mine who flew over from England. We ate a big lunch at "The Soup Plantation." Turned out it was the perfect place to take my friend as she's a vegetarian. This is a buffet-style restaurant with salad makings, soups, breads, fruit and desserts. We checked into our hotel rooms and then met up with Angie, Kathy, Becky and Illene for dinner at the Casino's nice Italian restaurant. The food looked fabulous but we were still so full from lunch, most of us just ordered soup. Before the show, I met up with my friend Helen, as well as some other long time fan/friends. I also met Joyce M. who had flown down from the bay area. She said David didn't do any new songs the day before in Fairfield. My friend Teresa whose from Los Angeles was suppose to attend the first show as well. I kept looking for her but she didn't arrive until the 2nd show, as the traffic was so bad!

David takes the San Diego Baseball Cap next.

The first concert was not as long a set as I'd seen David perform in the past. I'm sure this was probably because he was doing two shows in one evening. However, being in such an intimate venue, David seemed to be relaxed and talked about things between the songs. One thing he said that was really funny was how he used to come up near this area, to "Rancho California" and "Temecula" because he owns and breeds racehorses. It's a lovely area, very green with horse ranches every where. It used to be very small but now has grown considerably! Someone asked him years ago in the 80's if he'd like to buy some land there and he said "And with my brilliant business sense, I said 'Naw, why would I ever want to do that? Sooo - here I am performing for you all now!'" LOL! I also loved the red shirt with black pants that he wore.

Hey, I think they look pretty good together - on David anyway! Who else could pull of "this look?"

The stage was just the right size for fans to go up to get a handshake, kiss, etc. David was very attentive to the fans! Another fan gave him a San Diego Baseball Cap. Then another fan gave him a "Halloween Panty Lei." David put it on with the baseball cap. It was very amusing and cute seeing him with these two items and David even commented "I don't really know how well these things go together."

David checks out the undie Lei and says "What IS this?" He gives out points for "creativity."

David gave load of attention to the fans! Lots of hand shakes, kisses, etc. I had a seat up front and center and at one point, I held up my sign just enough so David could see it. David said "Oh yeah. Some of you may have heard, I was going to do perform some songs from my coming CD for the first time." Cheers from the crowd! "But I think I'll just perform some of the hits!" Then he went into a P.F. song. He didn't do any new songs and he even left out songs like "No Bridge" and "Lyin' To Myself."

David Smokin' on the Guitar at Pala!

Unfortunately, one fan who obviously has some kind of mental disability would not stop trying to talk to David. He gave her some attention and that should have been the end of it. However, she kept going on and rather than just walking to the other side of the stage, David began to be a bit irritated. I also don't know if it was apparent to David that this fan really was mentally retarded or something like that. David finally did move on so to speak and the rest of the concert was ok until the end when I heard from other fans that they saw David trip trying to leave the stage! Luckily, he was alright but he didn't return for his usual encore.

Photo by Amy Shatzen.

In between the shows there was a "Meet & Greet" for "High Rollers." My friend Angie was lucky enough to attend. It was very quick. No autographs were allowed. Only the casino's photographer could take a photo of you with David and then he went onto the next High Roller. Angie said David was very graiceous though and asked her how she liked the show. Angie had to return to the casino later with ID to pick up her photo.

David and Angie back stage during "Meet & Greet." Taken by Pala Staff.

In between shows I met a fan from L.A. named Doris and chatted a bit with Joyce M. It was WONDERFUL meeting these two very friendly fans and we later hooked up in Orange County where we all attended his concert with the Pacific Symphony.

The 2nd Pala show was better than the first. The sound was better and the fan that had bothered David during the first show was not there. David was in a GREAT MOOD and again, was extremely attentive to the fans. Joyce M. gave David a lovely Lei.

David, once again "Get's Lei'd" by Joyce M.

I was glad that I had my digital camera as I was asked during the first show not to take photos with "a large camera." So I was very happy I had taken my "small digital camera." As you can see, I got some nice photos of David with Joyce's lei and later sent her some via email and later in person in Orange county. One of the photos was also in the recent "Just David Fan Club" Newsletter too:)

David, relaxed and happy with the lovely white & purple lei.

For this show, another fan gave him some edible undies with a note that said "Trick or Treat, here's something sweet to eat" and she signed her name. David bent down and gave her a kiss on the cheek. David was even more attentive to fans at the second show than at the first. He seemed to make sure that every one that came up to the stage was touched at least once if not more.

David and fans "connecting at Pala."

David again talked between the songs a bit. Once again, mentioning lovely Rancho California and breeding race horses. He seemed much more relaxed for this show and it was really wonderful.


David, relaxed and happy.

David did "Cherish" and mentioned how it was voted the most requested song on his web site. During this song, quite a few fans came up to give him flowers. Of course David performed "I Think I Love You" before going off stage and again, he was super attentive to all the fans! Below you can see how the stage was the "perfect size" for this "one-on-one" contact.

Here you can see the size of the stage as fans go up to give David flowers.

One of the songs that David performs is The Beatles song "I Saw Her Standing There" during which the whole crowd, including an older couple got up to swing dance to this number! The photo below even reminds me a bit of a "Beatle Paul" look.

At the end, David came out for an encore and performed "Hollywood Nights" and ROCKED the crowd! It was definatley a Pleasing Time at Pala!!

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