You know the drill. Read on or click on The Show now. I got to The Blue Note in plenty of time – 2:30 pm. "Stupid-early" is the term, I believe. The semi & bus were already there. John Candas was in the lobby, so we chatted awhile about things like the Japan tour (it was great), traveling in general (it sucks), the cancellation of the Amarillo show due to bad weather (glad I wasn’t able to make the show after all!). I guess load-in was a long process: after Amarillo they left for Japan – the gear had been sitting in a semi ever since then.

I was about to head over to the hotel when Sven came walking up. We chatted a bit before he went back to work & I headed for the Ramada Inn a couple blocks away. It was bizarre to check into the hotel – I’d actually stayed there twice before when a tour of A Christmas Carol played at U of Missouri.

After checking in & grabbing dinner, I headed back to the venue. Around 4:30 a couple arrived with their teenaged daughter & one of her friends. They were nice – although I had to laugh at her pronunciation of Budokan. We all took turns getting out of line for walks around downtown. Since we were close to a big campus, there were lots of great shops. The people-watching was good too, since Halloween festivities were underway.

On one of my walks around the block, I saw a white van pulling into the back lot to drop off the guys for sound check – which included "It All Comes Back to You" & "You Take Me to the Top." Afterwards, I could hear Robin warming up some more with the higher vocals in "Never Had a Lot to Lose."

When I heard it end, I got nervous – would I chicken out again – & not talk to them like I had in Dallas? I just wanted to tell them all how much TF3 had meant to me & how great the covers & the anniversary shows were… When Tom came out front, I faced my fear. I introduced myself to him as the "girl who fainted at TF3." He laughed & asked if I was OK, then told me I was the one who "ruined" TF3. I said what I’d planned, then Robin came outside.

There was a sudden moment of recognition after Tom said, "Hey Robin – she’s the one who fainted at Trickfest!" I said my peace, told them both to have a great show, then got back in line, feeling like the geeked out fan that I am. Apparently they were headed for the Italian restaurant next door for dinner. Sven & Dave headed to the same place a little later.

On their way back to the van, Robin & Tom passed me in the line. Tom waved & said they’d see me later. As they went around the corner Robin added, "Try not to pass out tonight!" :)

Dave & Sven stopped by to chat on their way back inside the venue. Before he left ("I need to restring 6 guitars") Sven had the gall to ask if I’d be in front for the show. DUH!

When the doors finally opened (late – imagine that!) the line stretched to the back of the building. A local classic rock station was apparently there to interview the guys…

By my estimation, The Blue Note used to be a theatre. There was a large, ornately decorated proscenium arch & an antiquated fly system (sandbags for cryin’ out loud) holding up the lamp bars. Most people went for the tables in the back by the bar or in the balcony. Not me…

I made my way to my favorite spot – between Rick & Robin. There was a barrier about 3’ from the stage. The opening band, Ultimate Fakebook were messing around onstage. They liked my Homer Simpson sign. When the drummer held up his copy of the remastered CT 77, I started looking forward to hearing the 3 guys from the Kansas City/Lawrence area.

Waiting for the show to start, I started feeling like I must have a tattoo on my forehead that says, "Please state the obvious to me." I can’t tell you how many guys approached me that night to give me news flashes like, "Rick throws out a lot of guitar pics!" or "Robin’s a helluva singer – girls love him!" You don't say?!

THE SHOW

Ultimate Fakebook took the stage around 8:55 & immediately won the crowd over with their first statement. Something like, "It’s a dream come true to be here tonight. This is Cheap Trick’s world – we’re just paying rent." The guitarist was on lead vox. They had a great sound & a nice presence. I believe it was all original stuff – though I can’t say for sure…

The more they played, the more we got into it. They seemed surprised by the response they were getting. By the end of their set, the crowd was going crazy – they’d take anything the guys would throw out: posters, drumsticks, etc. I got a look at one of the sticks – homeboy played so hard that it had begun to split in the middle! A truly great opening band!

CT took the stage around 10 pm. The set list was basically the same as Dallas.

Fashion Report

Overall it was a very energetic show. I got the feeling when they took the stage that they didn’t expect much from us as a crowd – or at least not as much as we gave them. As the set progressed, they really picked up on our energy & took it up a notch.

The Set List

RANDOM NOTES

Rick made a shameless plug for Harmony Riley’s November date at the Blue Note… Tom seemed a little sluggish. I heard a rumor that he wasn’t feeling well... Rick praised "Ultimate Fake Orgasm Book" suggesting that they could’ve played longer – he also chided them for starting "early" because Tom had missed all or part of their set… Robin’s chords right before "Voices" faked me and another fan out – thought it was the beginning "Tonight It’s You"… At the end of the show, Rick set Uncle Dick down on the stage in front of me – Robin set his there too... Not that this had ANYTHING to do with me - I just enjoyed it. :)

A personal highlight for yours truly was the attention I received from Rick. He pointed at me several times, flicked several pics my way & praised the Homer sign. :) Another highlight was being the lucky recipient of a set list from the fabulous Mr. Sven. I had to laugh though – whoever typed it, thought they were in Columbus, Missouri, not Columbia.

All in all a great show – great energy & a fun crowd. I went back to my room, a happy, if tired camper. Next stop: Roadhouse Ruby’s in Olathe, KS.

Peace,

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© Copyright, Lisa Jebsen, 1999