| Humphrey's By the Bay
On The Road With MaggieMay... The morning after was spent in Paradise, drinking coffee on my balcony and enjoying the view. One of the most wonderful people in my life came in for lunch: my mother-in-law, Margaret. 
I feel very privileged to
call her by the same name her own children call her - Anyu, which is Hungarian
for mother. My own mother has been gone for twenty years, and I feel
like she's my mother, too. I realize I'm a very lucky gal, in part
because Anyu makes the best damn stuffed cabbage rolls in the world!
(Ed: Hello, Anyu and Cathy! I so wanted to see you both
again. Sorry I couldn't make it.)We had lunch and spent time catching up with my two sisters-in-law and repeating for the 100th time little family stories. They're just as sweet and just as funny the 100th time! I have to say, they NEVER say I'm crazy though I bet they've thought it a time or two! LOL Though Anyu is VERY fond of Lawrence Welk, she knows who The Moody Blues are and told me she saw a commercial for the Humphrey shows on television. I'll have to tell her The Moodies played the Welk Theatre in Branson. Now, THAT will impress her! En szeretlek tiged, Anyu! The afternoon went quickly and I soon found myself gearing up for the evening's concert. I go thru a few small preparations, the most important of which is hair glitter. I love glitter, for the same reason I love diamonds - they both sparkle and they're both FUN. Both my insurance agent and my husband had stern and pointed talks with me recently about my, um, "problem" with losing diamonds while on tour. I only lost two! Sheesh! They've made me feel uneasy about it. I decided it might be wise to avoid having any more little lost items for a while and am relying on glitter to provide my sparkle need. I don't know what the Band preparations are for concerts, but when I put some glitter on, it makes me feel ready to rock 'n roll. And it smells good too! WARNING! If you decide to try glitter for yourself, be forewarned: it gets in your bed, in your suitcase, on ALL your clothes and on people you hug. Use with caution! THE FASHION REPORT GE - Car shirt first half, Hula shirt second, black slacks JL - Black long slvd shirt with "bib" and small ruffles, leathers, boots, no change JH - Blue long slvd shirt with Moodies concert tshirt underneath, black jeans, no change Bernie - White fairy princess outfit, no jacket tonight Norda - Long black jacket and slacks and an EASILY seen shirt or camisole underneath LOL Paul came out in a white shirt and jacket, looking VERY snazzy. He definitely showed up everyone else onstage tonight. I felt a bit of a swoon coming on. I was worried about Bernie in her short sleeves - she had to have been cold. If anything, last night was a bit cooler than Sunday night. Several people have emailed me concerned about The Battle of the Buttons. It ain't happening! It's just too damn cold here. Please! There are health issues to consider. Frostbite, for one! THE CONCERT The 2003 setlist was performed in its entirety with a 20 minute intermission. Though the venue has been written about in Sunday's review, I found out yesterday that it seats 1400. I was suprised! It doesn't look that big. Crowds have been very good, but not sell-outs. Security was tighter at the stage tonight and controlled the rush. Since *I* was in the middle of it tonight, I was happy about that. The second concert at Humphrey's by the Bay  was also *very* good and pretty
comparable to the night before. Again, it was a mellow audience, tired
after a day at work and content to listen quietly, older. Humphrey's
sells season ticket packages, and I think it shows. You get a
lot of general music lovers and not as many people specifically there to
see TMB. I had ended up with two extra second row tickets at the last
minute, and rather than stand out in front, waving them around, I thought
I'd give them away. I went toward the back of the venue and asked a
couple of people and they said, thanks, no! LOL!!! I was amazed.
People really *do* come just to hear the music. I even went to the
VERY LAST ROW and offered them. No takers. I guess they didn't
want to be distracted by people on stage. HAHAHAHA Well, one
guy in the second to the last row jumped on it. His wife didn't want
to and he left her. Good for him! I hope he had a good time.While the audience at Humphrey's can only be described as staid, *I* enjoyed the concert thoroughly. The front row was Fan Central tonight and though I declined to stand as much as I would have LIKED to out of consideration of concert goers behind me, I did get to stand quite a bit and their enthusiasm and enjoyment popped ME up. One Texas fan turned to me (after a few beers) and said: It's a great life, isn't it? Actually, she had to say that TWICE since I wear ear plugs. Oh, yes, it is! : ) A few notes - The concert started perfectly with a great rendition of LTSY. I was in THE spot to enjoy the funky guitar part in GD. Almost in too perfect a spot. 
I couldn't tell in my second row center seat the prior
night, but tonight I FULLY realized that the mesh material covering the front
drop of the stage hid the LARGE speakers behind it. The front row was
blasted by them. It wasn't too bad, but definitely required an ear
plug in my right ear (the more sensitive of the two and apt to hurt).
At one point, I fished out another from my pocket and jammed it in my left.
This wasn't done because of the music, but because of the enthusiastic screaming
of the fan next to me, who wanted to be *sure* that Justin KNEW he was appreciated
and loved. I'm sure he did! The mix coming from behind the curtain
was fairly good, and Big Red was definitely front and center. A good
guitar night! : ) I could hear both John's lead and Justin's
harmony vocals really well on GD. For sound, it was one of the best
front row seats I've ever had. As I pointed out last night, the stage
at Humphrey's is REALLY high! By the time Tuesday Afternoon rolled
around, my neck was aching. TA, LoM, ES, were nearly flawless and very
well done. The BIG surprise of the night was a song that I've never been terribly fond of: Words You Say. It was absolutely beautiful tonight. John's voice was sweet, clear, strong and lovely. It had to have been the best performance of WYS I have EVER heard, and I've heard it live over a hundred times. It was exquisite! I never stand if I don't want to stand, and I stood last night and applauded for that song. It's the highest compliment I can offer! John's performance was PERFECTION. And so darn sad! sniff Hey, wake UP and kiss her! Having SAID that, I really would like to hear Rock 'n Roll Over You! LOL The Actor provided another dose of Hayward wit! He came up to the mike, tuning and playing a bit on the Olsen. While he was checking his guitar, a man called out from the audience as if he was singing (badly, I might add) OOOOOH, OOOOOOH. LOL!!! The crowd laughed as did Justin. JH said It's an old song, but this isn't an old guitar! It was tuned when I bought it. (LOL) The Actor was great...as usual. Speaking of guitars, I've had a little laugh over Justin's guitar stands which are stage right to him. The new guitar tech, John Burwick, comes out before the start of the concert and makes sure everything is in place and just so. Justin comes out, plays a couple of songs, then walks over a bit and MOVES the guitar stands closer to him at center stage. This has happened two nights in a row. I'm very tempted to call out to JohnB before the concert begins at Saratoga Mountain Winery and TELL him that Justin likes the guitars a bit closer to him. Just to be helpful! Or, maybe I'll just watch Justin move them in every night. I bet JohnB can't see Justin doing this from the side, or backstage or where ever he is. Of course, I want Justin to be HAPPY, and I'm SURE John does too. I'm VERY sure of that! LOL Ummmm, I noticed JohnB giving the Olsen another tuning during the intermission. ; ) I don't remember a single unusual or notable thing about the rest of the concert. It was wonderful! I pacified myself by watching Gordon during ILS. Though it was quite dark by then, he was lit up better than usual. H&H had a bit *extra* on it tonight. JH on H&H is a sight to behold and last night was EVEN better than usual. GREAT! FANTASTIC! That song is a thrill and a half. Every song in the second half was just very well done. That MAY be because I have no notes to remind me otherwise. LOL Security was not going to see a repeat of the uncontrolled group at the stage tonight and put extra guards at the aisles. THANKS! It was a fine end to a great concert. And NOW for a *new* section: Ask MaggieMay! I'll answer in public a few anonymous questions that have been emailed to me. If you see the answer to something you're curious about, you won't have to ask, and can just write and say HI! LOL (Ed: What the...????) ASK MAGGIEMAY! Q: MaggieMay, would you mind getting me an AUTOGRAPHED tourbook? A: LOL!!! Gosh, I'd LOVE to, but it just isn't possible. It required luck and groveling to get *mine* done. I'm just a fan (a LOWLY fan at that) and don't have access to the Band. Buy one on eBay when those professional autograph nabbers or all those radio station/promoter types who got backstage to the Band put THEIRS up for auction. I'm too old to jump out at them from bushes with a pen in hand and startle them into autographing it. Sorry! Q: MaggieMay, my birthday is this weekend while the Band is at Caesar's Tahoe. Would you please ask Justin to wear the new PINK ruffled shirt at Tahoe as a birthday present to me? PLEASE!!! A: OK! Sure! I'll ask him! I'm sure he'd do anything for me! HEY, JUSTIN!!! Would you please wear that pink ruffled shirt that looks SO good on you at Tahoe for some fan's birthday? Tahoe is three concerts next. OK? Thanks! There! I asked him. (Now, won't you just fall OVER if he does wear it?) Q: MaggieMay, how do you get such great seats? A: I lead a good Christian life, and I *know* the Lord wants me to have them! Time to move on to San Jose! MaggieMay Send questions or comments to MaggieMay I'll have my secretary get back to you. Oh, landshark! We need a candygram here. (snort!) Do you know the way to San Jose? |
Saratoga