Olathe

The drive from Columbia was pretty. I didn’t know how much I missed fall until I spent all of October where the leaves actually turn colors. Here in Midland, TX they just turn brown & fall off. :P

Roadhouse Ruby’s was right off the freeway in a strip mall, of all places. The place was spacious but definitely a club. The stage was at one end, the bar at the other & there was a big ol’ dance floor in middle of it all. No barrier – the stage as up maybe 2 ½ feet.

I met up with Jennifer, Stephanie & Darryl from Boston there. We headed for the venue around 2:30. All afternoon, people were cruising by, checking out the line, I guess. Or perhaps to laugh at the people who showed up 8 hours before the show! The doors were supposed to open at 6 pm – but the show wouldn’t start until 9:15. Rumor had it that there’d be two opening bands so CT wouldn’t go on until 11… My feet hurt just thinking about it…

Once again, a local station was plugging the show. It was nice to know the guys were getting some PR…

Sound check included "I’m Losing You" & "You Take Me to the Top" I believe.

By the time the doors opened (around 6:30 :P) there was quite a line. In that line, I met Staci Anne & Danny (NOT Danny "Poser" Saint, BTW!) plus Mike & Jill from Omaha. I recognized them from TF3. They both knew me because I had fainted on Mike. I apologized for not remembering the one who broke my fall. :) Guess I’m never gonna live that night down… They’d been at the Columbia show the night before, too.

Random observation: I think if you were a woman working for the venue that you were required to wear a whore costume for Halloween… Speaking of costumes, there were several audience members in the holiday spirit. A group of guys were dressed as Kiss. I also saw Zorro, some vampires and Austin Powers…

Thankfully, there was some reasonably priced food in the joint. After I grabbed a slice of ‘za, I stopped by John’s booth to say hi. I didn’t find a happy guy there. Apparently the venue was supposed to sell merchandise, but there’d been some mix-up & they didn’t have anyone to do the selling. So John was stuck selling CT stuff plus the opening band’s stuff. As a result, he was trying to renegotiate the percentage & get some free drinks for the guys, but so far the venue wasn’t budging.

Sven seemed pretty relaxed for once. He wandered around with his camcorder, videotaping the crowd & checking out the ladies in the wait staff. ;)

8:15 finally came, I was standing in my spot of choice (btw/ Rick & Robin, of course!) next to Staci Anne, who’d been a fan since ’78. This was her first time in the front row, so needless to say, she was a little excited.

Outhouse, a band from Kansas was first. I think I would have enjoyed them more if I hadn’t been so distracted by the bassist. His fingers started bleeding on the first song & that was about he only thing I could watch. His techie would wipe the blood off the neck for him between songs. I can only imagine how f***ing painful that must’ve been. Ick. I admire the guy for being able to go on…

That same techie gave me a setlist afterwards – he must’ve caught me jamming a few times. :)

By the time Old 97s came out around 9:30, the standing area was very crowded. They’re a band from Dallas with a very strong following. I heard rumor that some people in the crowd were there only to see them.

Fortunately this was the case for 2 of their screechier fans who were standing directly behind me, singing along to every song. Although I enjoyed the band, the screamin’ girls cut into my enthusiasm (& my eardrums). I was NOT sorry to see them go.

At one point in their set, the guitarist saw my sign, (it was on the stage & I was using it for a coaster at that point). He motioned for me to move the cup so he could read it. When I did he smiled & nodded.

Many thanks to Staci Anne & Danny for the shot before CT came out. :) There was a costume contest going on behind us, but I couldn’t see a thing.

Rick	black pinstriped suit, black Virgin records T
Robin	black suit, black turtleneck, sunglasses
Tom	black jeans, dark shirt with metal buttons, cowboy hat
Bun E.	jeans, dark print shirt

Same as Columbia except "Didn’t Know I Had It" replaced "Caroline"

IWYTWM

COME ON, COME ON

HOT LOVE

WUWAM

AIN’T THAT A SHAME

DIDN’T KNOW I HAD IT

I KNOW WHAT I WANT

THAT 70S SONG

IYWML

WRONG ALL ALONG

NEED YOUR LOVE

SOUTHERN GIRLS

SURRENDER

VOICES

DREAM POLICE

NEVER HAD A LOT TO LOSE

GOOD NIGHT NOW

Rick noticed the Kiss costumes, said he was glad Gene Simmons couldn’t make it, then had to take it back when he spotted "Gene" in the crowd… At one point, Rick leaned down & asked Darryl where they were. When we laughed at him he said, "Hey at least I pronounced it right the first time!!!"… Robin rolled his eyes again during the intro for "That 70s Song"… I think I have bruises on my arm from Sally Ann squeezing it every time Robin came near us. I never heard anyone say, "Oh my god" so many times. :)

With no barrier, it was a great night for Rick pics. He "coin tossed" the first one of the evening to me during IWYTWM. A little later in the song, he stuck one on my forehead. Even after sharing, I scored 4 in all, plus the one Tom handed me after IKWIW. I tried to not be offended that it said, "Go to hell" on it… :) Rick laid Uncle Dick down in front of me again at the end of the show. :)

Once again, the guys were on. I never get tired of watching them work as a unit. Tom & Bun E. are so terrific to watch in action... Rick can always make me laugh, while simultaneously blowing me away with his guitar work... And Robin never ceases to amaze me with his vocal control.

I was also charmed by Robin’s post-show graciousness. After the crowd dissipated a bit, he went to the bar for a drink & chatted with fans. Then outside the stage door on his way to the van, Robin worked his way through the crowd talking, shaking hands, signing autographs, etc… Makes ya proud to be a fan!