New Year's Eve Review

Posted by Blusees

OK, here it is, I'm not sure how good it will be:

First of all, the opener for Better than Ezra was the New Radicals and they sang 1999 which was awesome, it got the crowd going! I really liked the House of Blues, being from Iowa, I thought I was really uptown! It was nice and cozy, and they had my beer!

Fox Chicago was there and they taped a live session, but I didn't know about it until I got there and I don't know how long they taped, I don't think it included any of Chris's show.

Chris came on just before midnight and he did the countdown. At midnight (and 1999!) they released balloons and CI and S did a really lively version of Auld Lang Syne. That was a lot of fun.

Now, here's the bad part: I was in such a daze that I was like 20 feet from the band (It was my first CI and S concert) that things are kind of hazy. I know I had a really great time though. I remember them playing BDABT, Wine or Whine--whatever, Wicked Game--Of coure, Little Black Flowers, Only the Lonely, Graduation Day. Of course they did more, but like I said, I was dazed! They played for 90 minutes. He started out in his purple crushed velvet/rhinestone suit and then changed into his mirror suit! So exciting to see! I managed to sneak my camera in towards the end of the show (got it from the bag check!) and took a few pictures of the suit. There are about 2 good ones, but the rest are fuzzy. Oh well, I'll do better next time.

After the show, he signed autographs as usual. I gave my boyfriend the poster I bought and he got that signed with the customary microphone and signature. I brought two of my PVG books (piano, vocal, guitar) and handed him Forever Blue first which has a really great picture of him in it. We talked for just a second, I told him I play guitar too, and he signed it, "Dig it Chris Isaak Play it Cool!" and also drew a halo around his head. I also had my Baja Sessions open to a picture of the band and asked him where they were. He said he thought they were "over there somewhere." Then he asked to see that book and turned to a picure of him and signed it with a halo again and "Chris Isaak in '99." I didn't know what to do, I was a little flustered to say the least. I shook his hand and left, ya know, I had to give other people a chance too.

We left and tried to catch a cab but it must have been 50 below and there were no cabs to be found. So, we went over to the House of Blues Hotel and right when I walked in, there was Hershel! He signed my band picture and we went to the bar for water (parched) and there was Kenney!!!! He remembered me from an earlier email where I tried to persuade them to do In the Heat of the Jungle and where he called himself a candied ass Californian (referring to cold Chicago). He signed the book Hey Courtney, Go Hawkeyes, Kenney Dale Johnson. I was in heaven.

So, we went back to our hotel and life's been really boring since then! I hope this describes the show enough. I'm sorry I don't remember more. Thanks for listening!

Blusees

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