March 24, 2003 - Santa Rosa, CA
| Welcome
to the Higher and Higher Tour!
I have done nothing today, nothing but write and trash a perfectly nice hotel room. Oh, I haven't destroyed it like a petulant and angry young rock 'n roller in the glory days of rock 'n roll, but it certainly is trashed. Where did all this stuff come from, and how did it get strewn across the room? Someone must have come in while I was out, taken everything out of my bags and thrown it around like rice on newlyweds. I met the California Moodies Fan or CMF (I can hardly refer to her solely as "Moodies Fan" since it doesn't abbreviate well) at her lovely little and non-smoking hotel for dinner at their award -winning restaurant. I tried hard to nod and smile in appreciation of the view from her balcony, but all *I* saw were sticks in the ground. I have found this honest comment about vineyards, as I see them, infuriates the denizens of Northern California, as does my preference for Diet Coke over most wines. The restaurant was equally lovely, but the large bouquet of fragrant lilies immediately hit my nostrils and fought with the gourmet food. Luckily none were on our table to continue the battle. I wanted a Diet Coke in the worst way, but our waitress had taken 10 minutes to describe the evening's soup offering and I feared that if I ordered it, it would have been served in a champagne glass with garlic infused truffle oil. I thought water would be simpler, but it was not. Still? Sparkling? Pellegrino? Evian? Chilled or on ice? Sigh Just bring me a glass of water, lady! PLEASE! Dinner was excellent and the service was superb. I never knew you could make meatballs out of chicken. Now if they only had cooked the pasta! I couldn't wind it around my fork; it was too stiff. I struggled with it and gave up from exhaustion. Gourmet food is hard work! We cut it close, but the CMF knew the way to the venue and we hurried in to the same seats as the night before. I hated to miss the roadie show, as we call it. The lights went out, and we began. THE FASHION REPORT Exactly the same as the night before. White, then black and black then white. Leathers. Boots. Jeans. Flags. They're all good looks, so why change it? Maybe they'll surprise us with something else in Vegas. Jumpsuits, perhaps! LOL Where is the clingy black knit shirt JL wore last year? Some sex-starved wag referred to it as "an exercise in erotica". (Wait! I think that was me!) I'd like to see THAT one again! The Battle of The Buttons Again, exactly the same as last night down to the extra button undone on JH's white shirt. Actually, come to think about it, I do believe he came out onstage first half with another one undone. No notes, so I can't be sure. I think someone should slip the maintenance guy at Paris a hundred to turn up the heat a bit onstage. It was very lovely, but pretty much the same. I'm not complaining. It keeps me from falling into the whole "romance novel" mode! THE CONCERT I wasn't surprised to see everyone in position and a flawless start. I bet it will be a LONG time before there is a repeat of last night's ragged beginning. : ) The 2003 setlist was played with a 20 minute intermission. I sure wouldn't mind seeing it cut back to 15 and hearing Forever Autumn again. That would be a HUGE treat for those American fans that missed it, and I loved it every single time. Justin! How about it? (Like he reads fan drivel. He's probably reading Solzhenitzyn!) There were so few errors or unusual events that it is hard to recall them! Hmmmmm JH included mention of Ray in his introduction to The Actor. The backups, including Norda, were not introduced. The sound was just as wonderful as it had been the prior night. Justin's vocals were strong tonight and the best they have been in the last four concerts, perhaps the best of the tour. He's still a bit sniffly, and got his nose with his cuff once (a favorite Hayward gesture), but his voice sounded unaffected. John's performance, while solid, was not as energized as the night before. (I don't know if HE is tired, but *I* sure am!) I'd say the general energy level of the concert was down a tad, despite Justin's improved vocals. Even JH wasn't hopping up and down at the start of YWD. Bernie, in particular, was not her usual smiling, into-it self. Again, there were huge ovations for H&H and ILS. The song that impressed me most tonight was Nights. It has a strength live that doesn't diminish with its repeated performance. I never tire of it. It was a solid and great concert, but not up to the brilliant level of the night before. MaggieMay |