My memories of the HOB shows

Posted by phyll

Needless to say, Wednesday and Thursday nights were great! These shows were better than the last time I saw CI play there on Halloween '96. Must be because I was up front! Wes Cunningham (opening act) isn't too bad. He kinda grows on you after the second night. I had dinner at the HOB both nights. It's the way to go. You're there early so you beat the parking crunch, eat good food, and can stand in line early and inside, and they don't search your purses. Wednesday we heard CI&S doing their soundcheck. Nice dinner music. We met Jules in line (blue ribbon!). When they let the line in, of course everyone starts rushing down the stairs. There's a voice over the PA system saying "Ladies, don't run. There's plenty of room." Haha, don't think many of us listened to him. While waiting I met Jennifer. Real nice die-hard fan. She's seen CI&S a gazillion times. I recognized Robin (MichelleD's devil-woman partner) from the Pantages show. Then another girl tells me she knows me from somewhere, my face is familiar. Then it hits her, I'm in her picture of CI and her at the Pantages show. I asked her if she cut my face out of it. It's real fun to meet all these other fans at the shows.

Wednesday CI wore his blue suit. Real nice. Now if he would only wear the black one with all the marquee signs and the Golden Gate Bridge on it, this tour would be more than perfect. There were a couple funny moments. During a song, can't remember which one, CI's mic went out. He was singing and we couldn't hear a thing. So Hershel motions him to come use his mic. CI starts singing and Hershel did a kinda "yowza" jump. I guess CI's voice was now coming in to Hershel's earphone. So he ripped it out of his ear. When CI got his mic back, Hersh put his earphone back in. Then during the encore when Kenney comes up front to play, he almost knocks over one of the amps when he's turning around. CI made some funny comment about KDJ being from Texas and to watch out for the expensive equipment. A down part was during "Forever Blue". People would not be quiet.

There were 3 dancers that nite. Ohhh, one was awful, more than awful. The other was one was pretty bad too. The third one was kinda cute, kept making faces of shock, surprise and excitement. And she didn't bump & grind and maul all over CI. Autographs were outside and they went fast.

Thursday I took Paula. This was her second show, I took her to Pantages. I think I'm creating a monster. I must say the HOB staff is pretty cool. The parking guy, hosts, a couple of security guys remembered me from the night before. And I got the same server for dinner again. He was cracking up at me. Nice people. Anywayz, during dinner we were entertained with the 103.1 show. This had me a little worried about getting close to the stage. It sounded like there were a number of people down there already. But thank goodness no one was on the floor when they let us in. Once again, we run down the stairs and snagged a space right in front of CI's spot!! I turned around and there was Jennifer! It was great. However, while waiting a group of people were getting trashed next to us. One woman was so far gone she couldn't even stand straight. She was using Paula as a leaning post. When Wes Cunningham came out, she was dancing and moving her arms all about and pushing into people. Several of the girls behind us started getting upset. They started pushing this woman back telling her to stop falling over. She got upset and words were exchanged. I thought a fight was gonna break out. Jennifer was a trooper and made her way out to get a couple of big security guys. They escorted her away. It looked like her date ditched her a bit earlier cuz he was nowhere to be found.

The show was awesome. Jennifer and I thought we were lucky cuz Wednesday nite CI of course played a lot on Hersh's side. But on Thursday nite he came out in front of his mic a lot. And the guys were running back and forth a lot too. We had to watch out for our fingers. The set was just a little different which was nice. I managed to get a couple of CI picks and a 'fresh' set list. It was nice that they had Brett turned to face the audience. Wednesday nite he was perpendicular to the audience, he was facing the band. At one point CI and Brett exchanged instruments. When they're taking their bows, Kenney saw Jennifer, came up front, stepped on her fingers and said 'hi'.

Someone had thrown a small red teddy bear up on stage to Chris. And the bear was wrapped up wearing red underwear that had some kind of feather-boa-kind of trim on it. That's what CI was singing to on SOTD. And the guy who came out to jam with the guys was a blast! He was having so much fun up there. He was so into his playing. And the guys seemed to be having fun too. You wouldn't imagine this guy (didn't catch his name) jamming like he did. He's short, on the round side, and looked a bit older than CI. He was good.

When we got outside, it was hella windy! We have to walk up a steep hill and the wind was blowing in our faces. It was cold. The autograph line was moving fast. They were announcing that CI wouldn't be signing ticket stubs or pictures, just merchandise. I could understand, it was really cold & windy. I bought a surfer cap and stuck that on top of the set list. He signed both. A couple of girls in front of me wanted a pic and he's telling them, 'you gotta be fast, you're not fast, sorry.' So I jump in and say I can be fast and tell Paula to snap a shot. She did, I hope it turns out good. She puts down a CD cover to sign and he does. He looked tired. He was wearing a cap and a jacket, trying to stay warm. Hardly any exchanges of words with anyone. Security just kept moving the line. I did manage to say 'see you in Hawaii' and he said 'ok, see you there'.

Here's the set list�..they did play "Wine, Wine Wine" during the encore.

Heart Shaped World
I'm Not Sleepy
Please
Speak Of The Devil
Flying
Somebody's Crying
Wicked Game
Go Walking Down There
BDBBT
Blue Spanish Sky
Put Out Your Hand (aka I Want Your Love)
Diddley Daddy
**encore**
Super Magic 2000
Blue Hotel
**encore**
Two Hearts
Only The Lonely
San Francisco Days
Bonnie B

Whoa�.pardon the length. I was trying to keep it short and sweet-yeah right! :o) Have a good weekend everyone!

Phyll

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