Tahoe Review

Posted by Erica in Cali

I wondered how I should start this review so I'll just start from my leaving home and the beautiful drive up the mountain. For those of you who have not had the opportunity to venture up this way, I have to say it is the most beautiful drive especially when the trees, lining the winding snakelike highway , are plumped up from a fresh light snow. The white against the outline of the trees makes the drive a visual treat. C/I is playing in the background and my mind wonders a bit (I'm not driving so I can just relax here folks) watching the landscape roll by along with the time. No storms slowed us down and the roads were relatively clear just a slight rain and a few snowflakes drifted down.

We arrive at Caesars to check in to the hotel and right as we are passing the elevator Roland Sally is standing there chatting with some woman. Very cool dressed in black. The show is a few hours away so I will speed up here as not to bore you *lol*

Our seats were next to the stage and I was loving it considering the first show I went to at the Warfield, was terrible, needless to say I was excited. Our table seated I think six on each side and for some reason the seats next to me never got filled so I just had wonderful, uninterupted views of the whole band. The show starts and Chris comes out in the Purple Velvet sequinned suit looking very handsome as usual. I noticed also that his hair had been freshly cut and not as long and pompadored that it normally is he also looked more rested than when I saw him at the Warfield. I'm not even sure of the first song, perhaps Flyin' but *disclaimer here* I'm not positive. The set list was as usual with a few new songs he didn't do at the Warfield show.

Thank god the table I sat at was well behaved, yes we were having fun BUT nothing crazy! It was very cool for me considering I could get a great view of Brett and Kenney playing. I have to say I love being closer to watch these guys play it's pretty interesting seeing them that close. Chris and Hershel came and stood right above me and played I was pretty stoked GOD I could reach out and touch them, BUT I DIDN'T!! *l* I need to say this at this point because it's worth saying so you understand the mood of the crowd, this was by far a more sedate crowd than The Warfield. My feeling was that this crowd, who just happened to be up at Tahoe, got tickets just BECUZ,perhaps that's just my narrow observation. The crowd wasn't as hmmmm, trying to find the right word here, UP!! Yeah that's the word! But still very into the show!

Anyhow, I was stoked, Chris was telling a few stories in between songs. He talked of the settlers who migrated with the craps tables, dancing girls etc....pretty clever and more sedate for the crowd. Chris did one song which I thought he titled it Blue Darlin', forgive me if I'm wrong, I'm sure those of you know a little more here than I do, but a beautiful song I have never heard before, but then again I love those slow love ballads, Im a sap for that. *Thinking I just revealed a little too much about myself* yep! I said it, Im a romantic!!!! *gasp* *grin*

The usual, woman on stage, thing took place, and a little boy, who went up towards the end of the song, was a cutie, he didn't look frightened at all, he looked a bit confused and I don't know where he came from because right to my left was stairs where Chris took off out into the audience so I'm guessing that's where he popped up from! This was more tame than the Warfieled also, but fun nonetheless.

The usual autograph session took place out in an area quite cramped near the elevators. It was hard to move from one side to the next but I managed my way around. I saw Kenney and talked with him, like many of you here I have exchanged a few e-mails back and forth, and to my surprise he remembered me and details. WOW! I didn't really think he was writing the e-mails, I questioned that in one of my e-mails to him he was very funny in his response, so I knew it was him. He also remembered we stayed at the same Hotel in San Fran and remembered seeing a petite, hawaiian looking, dark haired woman. I think he was just being nice but made me feel welcomed. He signed my cd cover and I thanked him and teased him about gambling. He told me in an e-mail he played the slots, I told him that's no way to make money and that I would teach him how to count cards, he laughed!! and seemed to be genuinely interested in talking more but there were alot of people wanting to get photos and autographs so I thanked him and left.

The line now for autographs from Chris was subsiding and I decided to go up and have him sign the cd covers. I was a bit greedy here and asked for a caricature that I see him do and he was really sweet about doing that for me and put a hug and a kiss with and exclaimation!!! He goes WAY out his way while few other entertainers would be as giving. My thoughts of him are that he truely is a giving person, atleast to his fans.

I then went out to gamble and saw Hershel, and Roland,and Brett but never Kenney. I thought, while I was sitting at a table gambling away, I turned around and there was Chris and a woman, perhaps a manager, friend not sure, he was posed very intently watching the act in the lounge. There was a black singer, one man band he did it all and sang, not far from the tables and there were alot of people dancing and getting pretty loud and rowdy. As I gambled alot of the younger people had these, what looked like, hospital wrist bands in bright colors on. I asked what they were for and the young guy next to me at the table said they were part of a college group and one of the wrist bands shows they're of legal age to drink etc...

So here is Chris watching very briefly, the etertainment and all the wild and crazy people dancing and having fun! I think by this point it's 3:30am in the morning but really going strong!

Well I think I got a bit too long here and have taken up my alotted bytes for the week *laffin* so I will wrap it up by saying I had a wonderful time at another C/I show and look forward to many more. To those of you who went, I tried looking for you but I didn't see those Blue Ribbons!!! Oh well! hope you all had a great time as I did!!

The long winded Erica in Cali!!!!

Back to Reviews