Thursday HOB review

Posted by Jeryl

'Sleepy' Disclaimer: After a collective 18 hours sleep in a span of over 5 days or 100 hours, I am a bit groggy (not as young as I used to be, I guess). I was going to go back to bed and sleep some more, but just don't want the 'newness' to wear off before I post. I hope I can do the show and review justice in my sleepy state.

OK, it was a GREAT show. I had never done a 'standing room only' show before, and was a bit nervous. I also went 'solo' for the first time (no Chris), though I did meet up with Linda (and friend), April, and Michelle there. Saw Kenney on the way in, said Hi, etc. The HOB is a very cool place. Looks like a big ol' shack from the outside, and is very 'complicated' inside (we got lost trying to get out of it!). There is a restaurant area, and a bar that actually splits in half and rotates out of the way so the restaurant can see the stage below. Downstairs is a stage area, dance/standing floor, and another bar. There are many staircases, alcoves, etc., all of which I found last night while trying to get outside! I did come upon an un-guarded door that said 'artists dressing rooms' (can't believe they put THAT sign on the door, talk about inviting trouble!), but I managed to resist the urge to check it out. (Later thought: I could have pretended that I thought it was the ladies room, but someone probably would have been wise to me). Lots of other cool stuff about the venue, if you are near it, go check it out.

I almost went in the wrong place as there was a door that said 103.1 party, and I was thinking that since the radio station was sponsoring it that must be the entrance. The guy at that door asked me if I was there for the Chris Isaak thing, to which I said 'yes' (meaning the concert), so he said 'come on in'. I had no idea they had a private party going on! When I realized something was amiss, I said I had dinner reservations, and he sent me upstairs. I want my dinner companions to realize here that I COULD have just ditched you guys and stayed at that party! Found my way into the restaurant and waited. Saw Robin by the door to the stage, staking her claim to 'line spot #1' and chatted until April and Michelle showed up. We got to have a quick peek downstairs at the party going on, being broadcast on the radio, and see CI and Kenney on stage, singing, etc. Then we were told to go back in the restaurant. CI looked good in jeans and shirt - I really like the 'casual' look on him.

We then were seated and joined by Linda and her friend (I know I should know her name by now, but I am terrible with names. Thank goodness my two favorite guys share the same one or I might just forget theirs!). We had dinner, and got to listen to the radio show some more. Speculations abounded as to if they would make the 'party people' leave the floor so we could get to the front, and in the end they did leave. We lined up at the door, and were joined by some die-hard fans from the Bay Area (seen them at several of the shows - Akemi's friends, I think). When they let us in, we FLEW down the stairs and were very happy to get the front row, right against the stage. The 'bay area girls' made it to center (and Phyll apparently, where did you come from?) and we were in front of Hershel. It was nice to have the stage to lean on, put your purse under, etc. The wait was long, and the opening band (same as Ventura) was LOUD (I might actually like them better from a distance, but at front row both times, they are just too much for me).

Finally, they take the stage, and I realize that tonight I may get pics without the microphone blocking CI's face! Chris started off the show with the usual 'wer'e going to the gutter' stuff, but as the crowd seemed to really get into it, he seemed to go farther than usual, to me. Not so much with jokes, but with inuendo, etc. He seemed in a VERY good and 'naughty' mood last night!

Set list varied (I need to get a copy of it from someone - Ross handed out 'fresh' ones after the show, but I missed one), but I do remember them doing 'Somebody's Crying', 'Wine, Wine, Wine (blackberry!, wine, wine, wine'.....) LOVED that song!, AND, my favorite slow song 'Blue Spanish Skies' (when I first got HSW, I used to fast forward over Wicked Game to get to Spanish Skies!). Hershel had me absolutley SPELLBOUND during that song. I almost forgot to listen to Chris singing it! Hersh was standing right over us and the 'finger work' was incredible! He just closed his eyes and let the feeling take him over. Chris gave him a high five after the song, I know he was proud of his guitar player. Chris' voice was also too beautiful for words on that one. DEEP sigh! They could have ended the show right there and I would have left totally satisfied (don't worry, they didn't!). I have always been either dead center or on the 'Hersh' side, and always wanted to get to the other side to see and shoot (pictures, not bullets!) Roly and Brett, but I must say that I think I will stick with Hersh from now on. He does not move around as much as Roly, which I think might be a bit distracting, and he is fascinating to watch. Seems to me to be more into playing than 'flirting' (not that I mind flirting).

During SOTD I held up a little devil pitchfork that had a light inside it and blinked, while Robin and Michelle, Tuesday night's 'devil women', wore their horns (thank you Robin!) CI noticed it and laughed. Someone else threw some kind of red devil or bull (?) on stage and Chris sang to it. It was one of the funniest moments in the show, and I think I got a good pic of it. His expressions were too much, what a ham he is! Having a floor full of raving women in front of him seemed to please Chris, and I noticed a LOT more 'flirting' and eye contact than at Ventura (or maybe I was just seeing too many stars at Ventura to notice?). There were men in the crowd, but it looked at times like a sea of women, all gazing longingly up at him. What that must do to his ego is beyond me. Maybe that is where this incredible 'confidance, not cockiness' comes from, that I find SO attractive? Anyway, he seemed to love it, and was really stealing hearts left and right. I even got one 'lusty' stare during 'I want your love' (sang two lines of "All I, I, I, want, is your love...." right at me! Yikes!), and while I certainly enjoyed it, I was more in disbelief that he could be looking at ME that way. I think I prefer it when he is just smiling or cracking up at me, the 'flirty' part felt 'fake' (or maybe this is just my problem, not being able to believe that he could find me lust-worthy? OK, I'll get off the therapist's couch now).

The jokes seemed to have a few 'twists' in them. The one about feeling like he was our 'President', and we were a 'sea of hungry interns in one big blue dress' was too much! (even in my democrat stance, I am beginning to love 'Bill' jokes!). I think at one point he made some comment about how we were such a 'naughty' crowd, liking to get 'really dirty' as he put it, that we would all have to come back to his hotel room with him later. He skipped the 'usual intro' to SOTD (no Mitzy and Amber tonight), and broke up the intro to BDABBT with the 'gasoline' part at the start, and of course the 'forever etched in my mind' "down on your knees, and stay there a while/(crowd cheers)/oh, you LIKE that, huh?" part. The 'I can't believe you were THINKING that!' shocked look he gets is just too funny! (I was just relieved that he was not looking straight at me when he said it this time, that was TOO embarrassing. I am STILL getting 'razzing' e-mails from my computer guy!) Chris REALLY belongs on 'Saturday Night Live', not just to sing, but to be in ALL the skits. The 'poodle hairs' part came in the middle of the song. He also refered to himself as a 'Chattering Jackass' at one point, which just cracked me up! (must be in response to all those 'shut up and sing' people?)

Let's see, what else? Oh, I set my water on the stage, and would move it when the guys came to the edge, except for this ONE TIME when Roly rushed over (that boy can move fast!) and kicked it over on April. I felt so bad, as I know it must have been cold, but she was a great sport. She was just glad it was water and not beer! We joked about finding him later and dumping some on HIM!

I have become used to them being so close when they stand over us and play, no longer have the overwhelming urge to 'reach out and touch someone'. I have also learned that front row is just too close for some pics. (have some very interesting ones of Hersh and Roly from the waist down from Tues., when I did not realize the little box in the viewer meant the edge of the pic.) I did give into temptation last night and shoot one pic of Chris from behind when he was right in front of me, though, just couldn't resist. The girl behind me cracked up at me and said 'I want a copy of that one'.

I also feel as if I have been 'CI&S baptized' now, as I have been 'sweat on' by Chris, Hersh, and Roly (sweat drips off them when they are playing, and when you are in the front row and they come to the edge of the stage and stand directly over you, you get it dripped on you!, kinda icky, but kinda cool too.) Not sure I want to go for Brett and Kenney though. At one point Hersh was leaning out over us and I was getting ready to catch him as I was sure he was about to lose balance and plunge into the crowd! He seems to me to be getting a lot bolder about moving around on the stage now than he was when I first saw them.

The guest guitarist was, I think, Ron Thompson or Johnson, and he was great! It was cool to watch Chris just stand there and watch him, admiring his work. He sort of 'wiggled' and girated as he played, and was just too funny. Good player too. I once again got side-tracked from gazing at Chris by just getting into watching Hersh and CI's fingers on their guitars, and trying to figure out who was playing what notes. I could get into this, I think. I couldn't see Roly too much, except when he came over to sweat and kick drinks! He sounded good as usual though, he and Kenney being the 'foundation' of the sound they put out, in my opinion. Kenney worked as hard as usual, thrashing away back there. I still did not get good enough light to shoot him. I think he needs one of those 'Metallica-type' revolving drum sets that jettisons him out over the audience (can you imagine Kenney doing that!? I would die laughing!) Brett is strong as usual, and he and Chris traded again. Oh, and they did do a 'classical' tribute to Brett's classical training, but I can't figure out what song it was now (not classical, but a classic). Chris mentioned that Brett had played with symphonies, and studied at the Berkeley school of music, but I am not sure if that is TRUE, or just 'CHRIS TALK'. Chris sounds so good on the keys that I am beginning to alternate the 'him sitting at the foot of my bed playing his guitar to me' fantasies with the 'him sitting at a piano playing to me, while I lay on the piano' fantasies (sorry folks, probably more than you want to know about my fantasy life, huh?).

As mentinoed in a previous review, the 'gold digger dancer' was great, my favorite so far (well, I love the kids too). She had fun, but did not show off or 'maul' Chris. I think I would have trouble being as calm as she was, but I admired her for her courage and sense of fun. At the end I got Hershel's guitar pick, which I will treasure forever, as I am assuming that he used it all night (I know, he goes through many, but I'm going to believe it, OK?). I also got an extra one from a 'roadie' (need to learn their names - starting to know who the 'nice ones' are already.) So now I have one for me and one for Steph, as she plays guitar. If I ever get another one I will give this one to Lauren, as I had originally planned, but I find myself so in awe of Hershel after last night that I just can't bear to part with it.

After the show we danced for a while to the music in the club while the roadies took down the stage. Then we wandered around trying to find our way outside, finally going out to the street, and were hit by near hurricane winds. Why they had our dear boy out in that cold is beyond me. There were plenty of places inside to fit the autograph thing. From my years racing horses, I know that you do not take a 'freshly exercised animal' and put it in the wind or cold, or it will get sick. He really is exercising on stage, and I wanted to be a 'mom' and protect him. He was bundeled up, with a ski hat on, but he looked really cold and tired. By the time we found our way to him the line was almost gone. I got a pic that I took Tuesday signed by him, and he was gracious as usual. I got a nice, deep glance and soft smile when he handed it to me. He either has this 'look' down, or he is starting to recognize me. He then did a few pics after, but I felt so bad for him, and the wind was doing wicked things to us, so I did not get pushy. It seemed like he would have stayed longer (looks like he has trouble saying 'no' to his fans), but Sheryl whisked him off inside. She was just doing her job, and I am glad that someone looks after him. There seemed to be some kind of 'industry party' going on somewhere upstairs, so I am not sure if that is where he was headed, or not. He looked like he needed a hot shower and some serious time between the sheets (alone!). It always amazes me how he can look so 'alive' on stage, never looking or seeming tired, and then instantly look beat afterward. I hope he has not 'created a monster' with the autographs and pics things, something that will get so big and out of hand that he has to stop doing it. It seems to me that the pics may be on their way out, as I hear that he used to do pics until everyone was done, and now it is just for a minute or two, or not at all. I will treasure all my pics and autographs, as I realize, after all, that he does not HAVE to do any of it. He does not OWE us anything other than a good show, and everything else he does is extra, from the goodness of his heart. I wish all his fans would see it that way, an appreciate what HE gives us, that no other artist does. (can you tell I have a warm spot in my heart for this guy?)

After the pics April and I were literally blown down the hill. I was looking for Hersh and Kenney to sign the pics I had of them from Ventura, but never could find them. We waited for our cars to arrive, and then left. I was soooo tired last night that there was literally no 'buzz' to keep me awake on the drive home. It was tough. I was worried that I had 'seen too many shows' or something as I did not feel the usual 'high', but after reminiscing this morning, it is back, so must have just been the fatigue. I have come to realize though, that these 'multiple shows in a row' do have a downside ('what?' you say!). While I appreciate our unique opportunites out here to see them often, I also know that I had a nice long 'high' after my first show in Vegas, that I have missed with the rest of them. Some of it may have been 'first time' syndrome, but I think it also has something to do with going to shows so close together. At the Pantages, I had a great show the first night, and would have loved to just 'live with that memory' for a while before seeing them again. Same thing this time with Ventura; the buzz and memories from that show faded due to having this one so soon after. Not that the second shows were bad in any way, just that I would like to space them out a bit more next time. Kind of like eating 2 desserts in a row, maybe. I know that it is my responsibliity to pick my shows, and it is hard to 'miss out' on ANY of them when they are so close, but I think I am going to 'pace' myself a bit from now on. I am really looking forward to some time off, and then seeing them (hopefully) this summer some more. I really had the most fun of all introducing new people to them, and sharing it with my family and friends (and with all of you, of course!).

Well, I think I have just about exceeded my e-mail capacity (I type it in there to be able to edit it better, too hard in the BH with that 'all on one line' thing going), so had better bring this to a close. If I remember anything else important, I will surely add to it. Glad to be able to share it with you, and hopefully I will have some pics to share soon, too. Warm, 'concert glow' greetings to you all!

~Jeryl

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