Libra's Concert Review 2/27 Konocti

Posted by Lighthearted Libra Woman

Well, it was with great hesitation and relief that I started this road trip. A couple of things: this was my first trip away from my family since my husband and I have been married. It was kinda strange at first, but heck I was having so much fun driving and singing that I almost got pulled over. My girlfriend Lisa J. was unable to attend since she was busy interviewing for next year's teaching positions here in the Bay Area. I was really disheartened. I was having such a fantastic week with new job becoming a source of great pride, my husband's job letting up on some of the job stress, the unfortunate circumstances of which I became the holder of a third row CI & S ticket (Erin got sick and had to sell her ticket. We wish her a speedy recovery!) I wanted to CELEBRATE LIFE! I really really have enjoyed live music all my life and I really couldn't think of a happier concert to go to than our beloved CI & S.

So I'm baking at 1:45pm. I'm suppose to be on the road no later than 2:00pm. I had been emailing Kenney and telling him what a great cook I am and that I'll bring along some baked good for him to sample. First batch of chocolate chip cookies-I forgot to put baking soda in! Hmmm. How bad can they be without baking soda? So I wait for the first batch to finish up. Ding! Magically the house fills with the scent of vanilla and chocolate. I've gone to heaven! Oh. The cookies are AWFUL. Not only are they awful, they are kind of a puce color. Okay. Let's try another batch. This time, baking soda is included. I'm packing the car and waiting for the cookies to be done. Ding! The second batch is done. Okay, they are the normal color. I feel better! I shove the cookie sheet with foil and all in the back seat of the little white Honda.

I'm driving. I'm driving to the beat of a different drummer I decide. People are looking bored, I'm having a blast! I'm listening to The Mavericks and singing (what I call singing) harmony. God this is so fun!

I don't know how many of you have driven through the Napa Valley, Mount St. Helena and Clear Lake area. Its reminds me of driving through Tahoe in the summer: lots of short shrubbery (Shrubbery!) and red clay dirt. The trees were full of moss and looking quite striking against the gray skies. It was raining for half of my trip.

So I arrive at the Kelseyville Motel. Okay. Its not my cup of tea,okay? I'm trying to be polite, but I guess I got my money's worth-all $38.00. Teeehee. Okay. so now I'm running late. I jump in the shower, get guessied up and high tail it outta there! Dinner was a buffet that started at 6:00pm. It was now 6:30pm and I had another 20 minutes of driving before I got to the concert. I arrived and end up parking way way up the ramp. Hmmm. I have heels on and I gotta walk on pine needles and water. I was not thinking clearly. Oh, wait, yes I was--I wanted to be taller in the picture that I was hoping to take with the boys.

I practically float to the theater. The Konocti Resort Inn is very nice. Its nice enough that you wouldn't wear jeans there, but mellow enough that you wouldn't have to change outfits for each meal.

The buffet line is enormous! The food is so so--but I didn't come here for the food Dangit! Eric Martin Band is the opening act. I believe that I saw him perform in the 80's. Ewww! 80's flashback! I can't believe.... Oh well. Smile. EMB is really tight. Their vocals are amazing. I can't believe I haven't heard more of them on the radio. Well heck, I say that about CI & S too. Did I mention that I was at this concert alone? Yes I did. I had a really awesome couple from Santa Rosa sitting at my table. We were toasting everything and having a great time! It was their anniversary and his birthday. We concured that Shania Twain's boots would be the next item of purchase that the husband would buy for the wife!

9:30pm The show starts! Does anyone know what the song is that they play right before they all hit the stage? I was wondering if its the beginning of HELP! The Beatles song. Hmm. Chris is wearing the purple suit with the swirls. I think I've seen him in a different suit everytime I've seen him. Amazing! The boys looked great! They all looked very happy and rested. The songs whizzed by for the first 20 minutes or so. Chris brings up the house lights and wants to take a poll of how many people are here with a significant other. Just about everyone raises their hand. I've learned not to do anything too drastic at their concerts for fear of being zeroed in on! He said "Good, that saves me a lot of time...!" and proceeds to make eye contact with as many limp bodied females surrounding him like a prophet. It was great! I have to hand it to him: he is so charismatic that you almost don't realize that you are being grilled. The stories ranged from Summer's Eve, Ford Probe and a new one of the bass player on a moped in a room that Chris is supposedly sneaking a glance at through the blinds. Executed perfectly to keep everyone rolling in the aisles.

I was looking for Erika and Sister Christian the whole time with no luck. Hmm. Where are they?

As the songs start rolling along, I decide that this is the time to dance. I'm dancing with the girl at the next table: she's screaming cause she's drunk. I'm just laughing and dancing. What a night! I don't drink so it was fun to watch the bumbling drunks. They were getting a little rude when the slow songs were being played. The security puffymen were around the whole place is really really heavy handed. We are not allowed to dance by our seats anymore. Okay, I'll dance in protest in my chair. Still having fun! The band of women surrounding the stage has diminished--good! This is my chance to run to the Hershel (sp?) side of the stage. I walk up and there is a girl smiling at me. Hmm. ERIKA and Sister Christian! Oh goody! I have been wanting to meet with somebody from BH! We manage to hang out by the stage for about 15 minutes before the security puffyman has us go back to our seats.

Bonny B starts up and women just pop up on stage. Ohh backtrack: There was a girl that was walking through the audience that had a bared midridd. Chris made a nice comment and then called her Hooch as she was demonstrating her bellydancing abilities. It was damn funny. Anyway, Hooch jumped up on stage and started with the Exotic Erotic dancing. Ohh Puleeeze.

The show ends and the girls and I are hanging out waiting for the autograph line to die down. We jockey for a couple of tables in the bar just as a couple of the band members come in for a drink. I don't know who is who by looking at them. I'll know by next concert! Its cool to watch Sister Christian, Erika, Blue Darlin' and their various friends just kinda mill around and make contact with everyone. They are so seasoned!

I decide that its time for me to get my autographs. I don't know if you all remember, but the last concert in Tahoe that I went to in January I had all my CD covers stolen. I was so bummed! Reprise has since called me and told me that they will be replacing them all! Yeah! I love these guys! I have a import single CD cover that I had laying around, my ticket stub and a SOTD tee shirt. There were two girls next to me speaking Tagalog-my native language. They were saying that "their hearts were swooning" too funny! So I had them teach it to me so that I could say it too! We're waiting as Chris makes his rounds. He gets to our part of the table and we are all laughing. He kinda looks up to see what the comotion is. He stands in front of me and says "Who's is this?" pointing to the tee CD, and ticket. I answer with a surehearted voice "ME". Chris has his Sharpie in hand and is ready to sign. "Lisa" I continue. "Well, I can't write that...how about Janet, Sophia, Lynn..." he says teasingly. He writes "Lisa" on the tee shirt and I continue "To My Love Lisa.." I was sooo shy the last time I did this, I vowed that I would make it through this without making an ass of myself. "So Chris, how long you been surfing?" I asked cautiously. He perks up and start talking about how its been 10 years now. We talk about the fact that I want to sign up for Surf Camp here in Santa Cruz. He was very encouraging and talked about a large foam board that I should try out. Cool. I did it!

SO I thought I could just end my evening with this and I would be MORE than satisfied. BUT NO! One of Sister Christian's friends makes me (smile) go back to the line and get my picture taken with Chris. Nice little snuggle with a nice guy. Where the heck was Kenney? I told him that I would be there and wanted his autograph too. Hmm.

TakeCare,
Libra

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