March 11, 2003 - Verona, NY
| Welcome
to the Higher and Higher Tour!
SueC and I spent the day in our room, lounging in ratty robes, drinking coffee and reading email. It was my idea of heaven! I fell asleep last night after the concert. One can't cheat sleep forever and those 5am bedtimes had caught up with me! This is the second review of the day, and I only hope I have a tiny bit of insight and wit left. Prolly not! THE VENUE It looked remarkably like last night's venue! All right, it *was* last night's venue. ; ) We had visited the deli before the concert to have a before concert munchie and to buy something for the morning. SueC indulged in some kind of huge dark chocolate brownie and overdosed on it. She was wired! I thought I was going to have trouble with her jumping around the showroom, and was relieved when she finally calmed down. We innocently got in the showroom line and showed the security gal our sacks. Heck, people were bringing in coolers of beer to the concert! It turned out that all food was BANNED and we couldn't bring our little cinnamon rolls into the showroom. LOL I bet that damn guard is having a nice cup of coffee right now and eating our damn cinnamon rolls. Grrrrrrrrrr What did they think we were going to do with them? THROW THEM at the Band? Not likely! They can get their OWN damn cinnamon rolls! I was looking forward to the Tuesday concert. SueC had been far away at table 10 the night before (LOSER!). I need SueC there to be my second pair of eyes, and she is very good about poking me in the ribs to point out things going on onstage. LOL The only bad thing about sitting with SueC is that she will say something so terribly funny (or awful) that you have to struggle not to burst out in hysterical laughter. It's the quiet ones you always have to watch out for! THE FASHION REPORT JL - Black long-slvd shirt with pleated front, leathers, boots JH - White long-slvd tux shirt with pleats, black tux pants with stripes down the sides GE - Blue car shirt (the shirt is black, the car is blue), black slacks There was no intermission, therefore, no change in stage attire. A fan wrote complaining about the absence of the Battle of the Buttons. Sigh Well, nothing has been written, because NOTHING is going on in the button game. The Jays have been buttoned up tighter than a tick. SueC has suggested that they have had their plackets sewn shut and are putting their shirts on over their heads. HAHA I thought we were going to be in luck tonight. Early in the concert, I noticed that JL's shirt had an additional button unbuttoned, and quickly brought it to SueC's attention. I think she had noticed it instantly and had not bothered to point it out to me. Oh, it gaped delightfully and we were thrilled with the small peek of a gold chain on a masculine chest. <shiver!> Our pleasure was short-lived; the stinker finally noticed it and buttoned it up tight! Life is cruel! THE CONCERT The 2003 setlist remained unchanged and it was an excellent concert. However, let me continue with minutia. Some notes... Right before The Actor, a woman in the audience called out "Where's Ray?". Justin did not deliver his acknowledgment of Ray's absence as he had in the prior 4 concerts I have attended. Instead, he said the standard from the Fall 2002 tour: "This is from one of our early albums. 
It's called The Actor." I didn't and don't quite know what to make
of that, whether it was a glitch or an intentional omission. Concertgoers
at Sandusky will have to watch and see what he does there! I will
not be in attendance : ( Feel free to jump my lousy row K seats.
I was particularly watching The Actor tonight. I noticed on the harmony
following "the sound, I have heard in your hello oh, oh darling) included
the girls only the first time but JL sang too during the second time.
Interesting!
The Actor had one very um...humorous moment, but SueC will not allow me to write about it because it is off-color. Let's just say that the "window" must be in the bathroom. Think about it. Before ILS ANOTHER member of the audience (a guy this time) called out "Where's Ray" He followed that up with "You can't DO this to me!" Hey, *I* can't do anything about it, but I *know* he loves me. LOL I hope somebody took pity on the guy and told him whatever the story of the week is THIS week. ; ) Higher and Higher was wonderful! Again! I concentrated on the lead guitar tonight and what can I say? WOW!!! The guitar part is intricate, powerful, WILD. BRILLIANT! Justin Hayward must be the most unappreciated guitarist in the history of rock 'n roll. He plays that Gibson like there's no tomorrow. I really can't say enough wonderful things about it. 
JH introduced AYSC by saying "I wrote this with my buddy Ray Thomas". It was lovely! AYSC received a significant ovation, and JH recognized Norda and introduced her. It was the sole back-up introduction of the evening. The audience again was on the quiet side for the second night in a row. Sold out, yes, but very quiet. I was AMAZED during Question when I did not hear the crowd behind me singing along. It was absolutely quiet, and Justin sang by himself, accompanied only by his 12 string guitar. I liked it! It was very beautiful. And very, very...lonely. A little piece of plastic made someone very happy tonight! If you want a guitar pick, just come and stand by me. HAHA I hope someone will do a concert review of Sandusky. It's only fair. Oh, and no dirges, please! LOL MaggieMay Though it's sad and sorry, What else can we do? It's an English Sunset. Photos from Atlantic City, 2003 - SueC |