Wolftrap Review

Posted by TLY

Before I start a review of the CI&S concert at Wolftrap in Vienna, VA, I have to admit one thing-I almost didn't go. About 6 days before the concert, I found out that a big meeting at work had been moved to the day of the concert (6/10), so any burning of the midnight oil would be in the days before. Cool. So, my husband ordered the tickets, and I found out that we got practically front row seats. Even better.

So, I got into the mood the week before by listening to the two tapes I had of CI&S from years before. I didn't even notice until I saw him on the Today show singing "Wicked Game", and hadn't really kept up with him after that. I'm typically not a big concert-goer or music-lover, so that's how I am about musical acts-one day they have a hit, the next day they're gone. But I always liked the two tapes I got (Forever Blue and Heart-Shaped World) after I saw him on the Today show, so I'd play them once in a while. Needless to say, I hadn't even thought to go to a CI&S concert before, and probably wouldn't except that we live all of 2 miles from Wolftrap.

So, at any rate, back to the concert. I got home later than I expected that evening, so my husband and I got a quick bite to eat and rushed over to Wolftrap to get there a little before 8 pm. I wore standard jeans and a shirt, and left off primping since it looked like rain. We got a really good parking spot despite our late arrival-yet another sign it would be a good evening.

The opening act-Leslie Tucker-wasn't bad, but really wasn't my style. She finished up around 8:30 and the roadies spent the next half-hour or 45 minutes messing with everything while Wolftrap played really funky fill-in music. So, after debating for a long time whether we should leave the auditorium to get some relief from the weird music, the lights finally went down, the band came out, and then Chris emerged in an electric purple sequined suit. Oh, yes. I think he is the only man in the world who can come out in a suit like that and still make women salivate. Chris later said something to the effect of, "If you see a man in sequins, he either has to be a figure skater or a cracker. I guess I'm a cracker. Actually, this is just parts of my body showing through the suit". Hmm.

So, needless to say, the music was great; everyone else has probably talked about that, so I won't add my totally unsophisticated comments. I'd rather talk about the showmanship, which was awesome, totally high-energy. He kept me engaged for the entire concert. I wanted to get up and dance the whole time, but, if you know Wolftrap, you know that the crowd there is a little older and a little more subdued, so it wasn't until halfway through the show that people got up to dance (at Chris's invitation). I was on the left side of the stage, just a few rows shy of front, so I had good vantage point to see what was happening. At one point early in the show, Chris came over, handed his guitar to the women dancing near the edge of the stage, took off his purple sequined jacket, and took the guitar back-very smooth. Not a particularly exciting maneuver, but with Chris, it was an incredibly intimate experience, even for those of us a couple rows back.

Throughout the show, he had great rapport with the crowd, despite their hesitance to get up and dance. He played both sides of the stage, although focused a little more on the right hand side (his left). Chris wasn't the only one getting into it though; I loved Herschel's solo, where the entire band "snuck off" for about 3 or 4 minutes while he was getting into it. Even one of the roadies had an unexpected moment in the spotlight. One of them had to give Chris his harmonica, but Chris kept going further and further to the side of the stage as the roadie followed him about 3 feet behind, trying unsuccessfully to stay out of his way (and the spotlight) but also trying to get his attention. Then he had to follow him right back to center stage, where he finally got behind Chris and plopped the harmonica into his pocket.

For the last part of the show, Chris came out in an even more outrageous mirrored suit (it almost hurt to look at). The remainder of the show was more raucous (although the crowd still couldn't figure out whether to stand or sit). Near the end of the show, he jumped off of the stage, ran up behind the Filene Center (the auditorium) to the lawn seats, and brought back several (female) members of the audience to dance on stage. One woman in front of me just couldn't hold it in any more, so she scaled the four feet onto the stage and ran out to join them. Chris saw her, pulled her over and "corrected" her dance moves.

So, I came in looking for entertainment, was ultra-surprised by a great show, and was transformed into a fanatic in the course of 1 � hours. I suspect that, if I had actually had some makeup on and had not had hubby nearby, I probably would have scaled the stage myself.

I didn't know he was doing autographs after the show, but once I figured that out, I dragged my husband through the throng and made him buy me a t-shirt. This is when his 6'1" really comes in handy. As we were waiting in line, my husband also found that he was very popular among many of the women trying to take pictures, since he was able to get shots over the crowd. Unfortunately, I didn't bring my own camera.

The crowd to get autographs was packed. I could hardly breathe, so I hung on to loyal hubby as he tried to find a better spot. As I put my shirt out onto the table, I thought, what could I possibly say to Chris in two seconds that wouldn't sound stupid? A professional woman, the woman who was always called upon at work to write complex analytical documents, the woman who had successfully fought off fear of public speaking-I could surely think of something deep and meaningful to say that would forever sit in Chris's psyche. No. I was a blithering idiot. Fearing that the worst would emerge from my mouth, I said "thank you". Oh brother.

Walking back to the car, a little dejected from my lost opportunity but buoyed by the entire experience, I heard my husband say, "I think that was the best concert I have ever been to". Oh, yes. So, since then, I've bought the rest of the albums, and I've been searching the web to try to see if CI&S will be anywhere I can get to in the next several months. Maybe I'll think of something to say by then...

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