 LAST SHOW! Welcome to the DECEMBER Tour! On The Road With RANDY... MaggieMay was kind of tired, so I told her *I* would write the last review if she and SueC would help me. They said ok! I was up early and ready to go on Sunday, but the girls (It's alot like My Two Moms, but different. MaggieMay says she'll explain the usual way when I'm older) had to get up, drink coffee, get pretty and then pack everything in the room. THAT took hours! I was really getting tired of waiting, but I don't have a driver's license and couldn't take off without them. This was my FIRST Moody Blues concert and I was very excited. I jumped up and down on the bed for a while, but my antler caught the bedside lamp and it flipped up and then crashed down, but it didn't break. SueC said it was ok, that a LOT of people get rambunctious in hotel rooms and that it's a fine rock 'n roll tradition. I wanted to jump off the chest thing (MaggieMay - he means the armoire, but his French is worse than mine), but MaggieMay said no. Aunt Red had told her about a man who tried that, but then SueC shushed her. "Why was he jumping off the chest, SueC? And why was he wearing a superman costume?" SueC said "Nevermind!"  It
was a long, long drive to Lowell, but I liked looking at the trees and
big hills. I pretended like I was driving *just* like SueC, except
I didn't have a cup of coffee and I don't smoke. Cough, cough I would
say. It's bad for my little reindeer lungs! I like the Grrrrrr
sound SueC makes when I say that. HAHA I liked watching the
other cars and trucks, but my FAVORITE part was when we came to the toll
booth and MaggieMay had to open her door and LEAN out with the money.
I think maybe SueC had glued MaggieMay's window shut just so she would
have to struggle and risk her life to pay the tolls. Sometimes she
forgets she has a bottle of Diet Coke wedged against the door, so THAT
goes flying too! Then she gets mad. Since the girls are Moody
Blues fans and since The Moody Blues are from England, they go around the
country in a right-hand drive Jeep. MaggieMay tells a different story
to each person that asks and then she laughs hysterically, and SueC looks
at them and says I deliver the %$##@$& mail!
We finally got to Lowell after getting lost a couple of times. MaggieMay says that most of the time SueC's directions are like reindeer poop. I don't think she should say that, 'cause SueC always gets us there! SueC wanted to park far away so that MaggieMay would get some exercise, but MaggieMay is on to her and quickly suggested that they "look" at the venue first. Oh! A parking lot right by the door, MaggieMay said! How convenient! The nice man let us park as close as we could. I was hoping there would be SNOW on the ground, but there wasn't. There was only dirt!  THE
VENUE
I loved the venue! MaggieMay said that they played hockey there! "Really?" I asked. " Can we watch a game tonight?" SueC explained that they couldn't play hockey while The Moody Blues were playing music, but I thought that would be even MORE fun! It was a big place and it looked *round* from the front. We had to go up steps, then we went in the front door. It was a nice place but there weren't any seats! SueC said that we would wait there until they started the concert. I met LOTS of nice people while we were waiting and they all wanted to hold me. I'm too cuddly! ; ) MaggieMay told me to say that her buddy the security guard told her that there were 8000 seats for people when they played hockey there and about 7200 seats for a concert. 1600 seats were on the floor over the cold ice. The nice man also told her that all but 300 tickets were sold, the last time he had checked. "That's a bunch of people", I said! "Will they all be nice?" "Pretty much", said MaggieMay and SueC, "but we always watch out." I said I'd watch out, too!  Our
seats were on the floor, all the way at the bottom. It was where
they PLAY hockey! SueC showed me a hole in the floor where you could
see the ice. "It's nice in here", I said. "Nice and COOL!"
MaggieMay and SueC thought it was a little TOO cool. "We'll all warm
up soon", laughed MaggieMay. The girls showed me the temporary stage
that was set at one end of the floor. A pretty blonde lady (she liked
me, I *know* she did) measured it for MaggieMay, 'cause she was busy holding
me. I wanted to crawl under the seats and then jump up real fast
and dump the people out onto the floor. Heheheh! The pretty
blonde lady said the stage was 47" high. "Oh, that's pretty high",
said MaggieMay! The blonde lady turned to talk to SueC and when MaggieMay
wasn't looking, I *patted* the nice lady. She jumped, and said "RANDY!!!"
MaggieMay shook her head and said, "Now you know where he got his name!"
She must have liked it a little, 'cause she said I could go down and sit
with her. "Will I ever figure women out?" I asked SueC. "You
will when we figure out men, Randy", she said.
MaggieMay is an unpaid expert (so her opinion is worth 2 cents she said) but I think she's the smartest woman in the world! She showed me the big speakers on the floor and the ones on poles overhead. I was a little afraid! "Will it be loud, MaggieMay?" "Maybe", she said. "After all, it's rock 'n roll. We put earplugs in our ears if it's too loud and we will make sure your ears don't get hurt, unlike some parents." She pointed out the three mikes in front that were pretty close to the stage edge - only a few feet away. "Who stands there?" she asked me, as she pointed to the left one. "Norda!" I said. "And there?" "Oh, that's where John stands", I told her. "And who's in the middle, Randy?" "Oh, that's the one that doesn't need a reindeer." I put my head down, 'cause I felt sad. "It's ok, Randy", said MaggieMay and SueC. "You must give him a chance!"  The
girls went all the way across the stage to look at their *old* seats.
The security guard stopped them. "Do you have a ticket for this reindeer?"
the guard sternly asked. "Yes, I do, and HERE IT IS" said MaggieMay
as she WHIPPED out a ticket and handed it to the astonished guard.
"HAHAHA", said the guard. "No shit!" (SueC shook her head at
me so that *I* would never say that) I sat in the seat and I could
see the stage and people walking around. SueC suggested that MaggieMay
go with her so that they could check if their noses were shiny. "That's
a good thing", I happily said! "Um, not for US", they chorused back.
They told me they'd be just a minute, but I smelled HOTDOG BREATH on them
when they came back. MaggieMay whispered to the big guard, "will
you please kill anyone who tries to take off with him?" He looked
at her and chuckled, "So! You want me to be your reindeer's bodyguard?"
"Yes", said MaggieMay as she fluttered her eyelashes at him. "OK!"
said the guard. I watched JohnB bring out bottles of water and towels
and walk back and forth across the stage. There are LOTS of guitars!
JohnB has to work very hard. Russ came out to check the keyboards
and Alan did things to the drums. I think he used Gatorade on them.
LOTS of people went back and forth up on the stage and down where *I* was,
too. They all looked as excited as ME!
THE FASHION REPORT The girls looked VERY pretty in their clothes. The drummer, Graeme wore pretty Christmas shirts, a RED one in the 2nd half. SueC pointed out his shirt said Ho Ho Ho. 'That's what SANTA says", I gasped. "Yes, I know", nodded SueC. Those other guys wore just clothes, they didn't look like Christmas. "Oh, SOME nights it looks like Christmas", said MaggieMay. She and SueC giggled. I didn't know what they meant. "We'll explain it when you're older", they said. Gosh! My young adult years will be eaten UP with all this stuff they're going to tell me.  THE
CONCERT
I sat on MaggieMay's lap for the first half. I was in the front row for a little while, then a big man came and said "You're in *my* seat!" I said something in Italian to him and he looked at MaggieMay amazed. "Your reindeer just flipped me off!" he said in astonishment. MaggieMay pointed out to him that I don't have fingers. I had been waiting ALL DAY for the concert, but I didn't have to wait a moment more. They ALL CAME OUT! The backups must be MORE important, 'cause they came out first. Either that, or maybe they can see a lot better. There was this scary sound, and then Graeme, and Justin and John came out, and the music started. It was loud, but not TOO loud. MaggieMay and SueC have told me about everybody in The Band and I loved looking at all of them, but ESPECIALLY at Norda and Bernie. I'm going to marry BOTH of them when I grow up! "Both of them??" said MaggieMay and SueC. "Yes!" MaggieMay told me to say "The Holiday setlist was played in its entirety with a 20 minute intermission". I don't know what any of that means, but she said it was important to say it. Though the girls hadn't seen any signs on the doors, a guard came up and threatened to take MaggieMay's camera away. I was mad, 'cause I wanted more photos of ME. Afterward, the guard said he was sorry to MaggieMay (I kept a close watch on him, he was a little too friendly) and told her she needed to learn how to cheat better. "The Band said No Pictures", the guard told SueC. "Oh REALLY", they replied. "50,000 is PLENTY", said MaggieMay to the guard. I noticed her fingers were crossed behind her back. I liked LtSY! It was a nice reindeer song - I think you could pull a sleigh to it. Norda seemed a little surprised to see me, but she smiled at me LOTS. SueC said it was my magnetic personality. Bernie smiled too, but she was farther away, and I could see Norda better. I could tell they really LIKED reindeer. All the songs were good and loud. MaggieMay showed me how to dance and when to stand up. She said I'm a natural. : ) It wasn't as loud in The Actor, but it was pretty. "Does she sit and gaze out her window to see the reindeer?" I asked hopefully. "Probably to see the birds", the girls said. The music sounded a little spooky sometimes. MaggieMay said it was an arena sound. "When are they going to play the CHRISTMAS music?" I whispered. "After the break", said MaggieMay. The songs sounded good and we stood up a lot. I waited in my seat at the break while MaggieMay and SueC went for some fresh air. They weren't supposed to GET any fresh air, but I think they are on a Special List of Extra Nice Ladies. That's what people say! (MaggieMay and SueC - it ain't true!) The break seemed really, really long, and I wanted them to come out and sing again. Some of them changed clothes! I don't know why, except SueC said that maybe they get a little sweaty and want to look fresh. "Don't they just get bored of the same thing?" I asked. "Not The Moodies", said the girls. They played a nice song and Justin danced and Graeme and Gordon tried to hit each other with drumsticks and then...  THEY
PLAYED THE CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!! Finally!
I didn't know about Don't Need a Reindeer, but you know what? He never said that! SueC held me 2nd half and she cuddled me close and covered my ears during part of the song. I like being held (a LOT) so I didn't mind, but I missed some of the song! That would be a good sleigh pulling song, too, and it was pretty loud. MaggieMay was rocking out on it and singing along! Love, Love! December Snow was pretty but kinda sad and I wanted SueC to hold me tight, and she did. "Did she leave him?" I asked SueC. "Yes, she left in November, but it's all make-believe, Randy", she said. "Oh! All make-believe? It can't be!" I said. "Look how sad he is, and his guitar is crying." "Yes", nodded MaggieMay. "He's a genius, and that's what geniuses do." "But why would a genius make people cry?" I asked. MaggieMay and SueC are still trying to figure out the answer to that one!  The
Spirit of Christmas was sad too, but in a different way, like kids calling
other kids names. I wanted to tell John that the Spirit of Christmas
is INSIDE, but I kinda think he knew that already. He just wanted
OTHER people to know it, too.
The BEST part of the concert was a reindeer playing a drum solo! I think it was Graeme wearing a reindeer hat, but I'm not sure. He made a really good reindeer! I asked MaggieMay what her favorite song was at Tsongas. She thought and then said, it was Nights there, because the arena acoustics gave it a mystical, ethereal sound that she hadn't heard in a long time. It was haunting, she said. SueC said her favorite at Tsongas was SeeSaw. She really liked hearing it after White Christmas and she just loves the song anyway. 
MaggieMay said the Tsongas concert was pretty ragged and that there were quite a number of mistakes and some pretty big ones by the girls who rarely make any at all, but *I* thought everything was WONDERFUL. I especially liked going up to the stage at the end and standing really, really close to The Band. Justin didn't come out to me, but John came right over in front of me and played. I liked that a lot! I liked doing the arm thing back and forth. Everybody must like that! I waved goodbye to everyone after SeeSaw and got big smiles from Bernie and Norda. Justin was leaving the stage, and we were looking as he walked away when he suddenly stopped, turned around and POINTED at me and waved. He was wearing a big smile and he looked like such a nice man. THE END! Randy For a spell or two No one seems forlorn  Epilogue
- Randy hasn't stopped talking about the concert since Sunday night and
his whole attitude about Justin has changed. He listens to DNaR over
and over, nodding his head and smiling to beat the band. It's now
his FAVORITE song. I understand it now, said Randy. Justin
doesn't *need* a reindeer to fall in love! That's right, SueC and
MaggieMay chorused. I figured that out, said Randy. Justin
LOVES me, he added. Oh, he does. I *know* he does. And
Randy sang I don't need a reindeer, I don't need the snow, over and over
until he fell fast asleep.
MaggieMay I hope that love and strength Are with you for the length Of your time on Earth Photos courtesy of SueC and MaggieMay (some band photos are from other venues) |
