Review of 12/19/98 LA Show

Posted by Jeryl

Well, I did not think it possible to have a better time than last night, but I did! What a great night!

Opening Act: We managed to make it just in time for Shawn Mullins, and I must say, he was INCREDIBLE!!! I did not want him to leave! I will pay big bucks for tickets to see him anytime. The audience really ate him up, and he sang with such power, and played so well, that he just had you grooving. Did an incrediby funny song about some girl in he Klan! 'Lulaby' rocked, and he closed it out with 'Shimmer' which he said will be released soon as a single. He also said that he loved touring with Chris, what nice guys he and all the band are, and that he hoped to be back with them again sometime (I am hoping he is at Ventura).

Our seats: My 14 year old daughter and her best friend sat with me in our own little 3 person row, and my husband and his friend sat two rows back. Our seats were really pretty good, though way to the side. We had trouble seeing Hershey sometimes, but other than that I loved them. The sound was actually better from there than from the front the night before. We had aisles on both sides, so easier to get up and dance, which we did a lot, and could even move to the side and dance as not to block the view of the 'dead folk' behind us who insisted on sitting all the time.

It was sooooo cool to share the show with my daughter and her friend, to see the transformation in them when the band took the stage and Chris came out. (they LOVED Shawn, but had expected to, as he is 'cool' with their age). To see Chris work his 'magic' on these two girls was priceless! (Kind of like taking someone to Disneyland for the first time - I always love to see their reaction, even though I've been there more times than I can count.) My daughter decided to keep a set list for us, so she was busy asking the names of songs, and I caught her singing along several times too. She just had this 'dazed' look the whole time, which intensified with each new song. I heard things like 'that suit is georgeous!' (the purple velvet one again), 'he is truly beautiful', and 'wow, he does NOT look 42'. It was really special (I know that I've said that already, but it WAS).

Lauren (the friend) was really into it, shouting her head off, dancing, etc. She kept asking me if she could yell 'I love you Chris', but she asked on the slow songs, and I did not think it appropriate. Then some lady yelled it out at him and he said 'Man, I live on a bus! Saying that to me in the dark is like putting a biscuit on a dog's nose! Guys, play some instrumental stuff, I'll be back in a while.' So, we were very glad that Lauren had not said it, as she was too far away for him to tell her age. She really blushed at the thought of him saying those things to her!

The jokes: pretty much the same ones, with a few variations, but I must say it is very different listening to them with two 14 year old girls! I was a bit nervous on the 'puppies story', but they were not hairless this time. It was also scarry that between the two of them they managed to 'get' all of the jokes. They really cracked up, if a bit delayed, on the 'goatee hairs, with a touch of summer's eve' one! I think I even heard an 'ew, gross' from Lauren. I did not try to correct her perception! Chris again went out into the audience and up into the balcony tonight.

I have to say here, that the band and Chris seemed more 'on' tonight than last night (my husband agreed). Not that they were in any way flat last night, but if last night was 100%, then tonight was 120%. Maybe as it was their last night for a while, I do not know. They just COOKED!! More long guitar solos, much more energy from Chris, more running around on stage, INTENSE vocals, etc. They also did a spanish song tonight, and 'Pretty Paper' by Willie Nelson. While on the Christmas theme, Chris said that they were not expecting many presents, as they had all been 'bad' this year, and did not have a tree, but rather dressed Chris in the sparkly suit and just lay the presents at his feet. (LOL!)

As mellow (or understaffed & overwhelmed?) as security was last night, they were 'gestapo' tonight. I once again managed to get seats with not one but two resident security guards within 10 feet of me, so picture taking was very limited. I had the girls all set to rush for the pit after Wicked Game - had our route all staked out and everything. When Chris said 'come on down', we followed some folks down there who apparently had passes and got in the pit, but the guard stopped at us and would not let anyone else in the pit. They tried to make us go back to our seats, but we held our ground for a song. All the aisles were full, and Chris kept on beconing people, but the guards would not budge. I even argued with one about it (a bold thing for me to do), and told him they had let people do it last night, but he said 'not tonight'. I ended up leaning against the largest speaker I have ever seen for the song ('Go Walking Down There'), and that was an experience in itself. I was actually vibrating with the sound! After the song was over we were all forced back to our seats, where we were to stay for the rest of the show. I got dirty looks from the guards for dancing in the outer aisle, but I was over there as not to block the view of the folks behind me. All that complaining aside, we still had a great time, but I had really wanted the girls to experience 'the pit' and Chris, up close. Maybe at Ventura (it's a school night, but I think I might get bribed now!).

The mirrored suit made it's appearance, and the girls were truly wowed. They kept trying to get me to go down to the front so we could play the 'light game' again, but I declined as I didn't want to be an 'attention horde'. Besides, last night had been so cool, it could not be topped. Only three women were pulled on stage tonight, one incredibly tall, geougeous red-head (who was sitting in the seat that my husband was in last night), another more petit lady, and Chris pulled up a third girl from the pit, to whom he said 'I like the way you freak'. Two played 'bump' with him (the redhead did not even go close to him!), and he did the usual 'showbiz is my life'. They were all pretty classy though, I thought.

After the show we tried to get set lists or picks, but only the people in the pit were allowed down there. We went out in the lobby and spotted Kenney, who chatted for a while about his computer being down, and being happy to get home for a while. He was a real sweetie, introduced himself to the girls, etc. We also were in a group of people when Roly joined us, but we did not talk directly to him. The girls kept wandering over to the autograph area to try to get a glimpse of Chris (yes, the very same girls who, prior to tonight, were saying he was 'too old, had big ears, and a funny nose', etc.). They just couldn't get enough of him! We finally headed to the ladies room, where Lauren discovered we had a great 'long shot' view of him signing stuff, so we shot pics from there. I think the light was too low though, and I was afraid to use flash as it would draw attention to us.

Finally, we got in the autograph line, which seemed to go a lot faster tonight, or maybe just not as many people lined up. We stood with LJD again, and passed the time sneaking more pics of him when we could. When we finally got to the table he was at the other end, so we had to wait for a while. He signed my 8x10 (the flannel shirt/Forever Blue one), and asked my name and put 'To Jeryl' on it, along with 'xo!' (does that stand for an exuberant hug and kiss?). Lauren was next to me, and asked if she could have devil horns on her poster. He said that she looked too sweet for that, but I said, 'no, she's got a wicked side too', so he did it, laughing. He even wrote 'Be bad!' under his signature. She was thrilled! Then he gets to Steph, who has her sketch book out and is hoping he'll draw a cartoon in it. He doesn't know this of course, and she is too shy to ask, but as he is signing his name her chin is getting lower and lower (the 'shy' pose), so he dips his head under hers to see her, looks her deep in the eyes, and says 'Hi' in the softest, sweetest way. She smiled/blushed, and he gave her a big smile, then we left. It was TOO CUTE! (my husband said afterward 'so, now that you have her ga-ga after the same guy you are, are you happy?' to which she and I both responded 'yes!')

We went outside, took some pictures with LJD, and then Chris came out. It was the same unorganized mad dash for pics, and we let LJD go before us as she had been shut out last night. It amazes me that they do it this way, all these people crowded around him, jockeying for position to be next, but he seems to flow with it. (Doug looks like he gets a bit stressed though). The girls kept getting 'beat out' for a pic until Chris noticed Lauren and said, 'I know you, you want a picture'. (He's just TOO COOL!). They went one on each side of him (a Chris sandwich!). Some other people got in front of me, and then Doug said 'OK, that's it'. I was thinking, 'oh well, maybe the one from last night will turn out' when Chris looked right at me, gave me this huge smile, and said 'no, one more, I got to get my mirror lady in here'. I about died! He held out his arm, wrapped it around me, and we took the pic. I can only imagine how silly my grin must look in this pic! Then they left, even though several were clamoring after him (Doug even said to one lady, 'DON'T GRAB!).

The girls and I just floated away to the car, our two male companions laughing at us. During the drive home we kept hearing 'could you turn the stereo up and play 'Please' again?' from our 14 year old companions in the back. Lauren says she is going to buy the CD, and I have a feeling I might find my CI CD's in a certain teenager's bedroom in a few days. On the way home I leaned over the back seat and asked them, 'so, do you see what I mean about the eyes now?' to which I got an 'uh, huh' from Lauren, and a 'my god, yes!' from Steph.

Well, I think that is all for this review. The girls and I were on 'celebrity lookout' but spied none. There were several folks there with backstage passes tonight, and I heard that some of Chris' surfing buddies from SF were there also. LJD mentioned to Ralph about having some time off now, and he said 'yea, but just a week'. Don't know what is up with that, as far as I know the next concert is NYE, but maybe they have some private thingy next weekend?

I truly hope they all enjoy their little break, have some great holidays with people they love, and are rearing to go on NYE. They have given me three truly memorable experiences now, and I thank them for that from the bottom of my heart. They are just such a CLASS ACT, all the way around.

~Jeryl

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