Concert Review: Calgary
Man, what a rush! Just got in from the concert, and the afters at a pub.
Anyway, first things first!
The concert was amazing! 9 year wait to see him again was 10 years too long. He sang The Simple Truth, BorderLine, Lonely Sky, Hey Jude, two Roy Orbison songs, Eleanor Rigby, Patricia, Spanish Train, Desperado, Last Night in Paris (can't remember the exact title), Snows of New York, Here Is Your Paradise, Ferryman, Lady In Red, and several others.
For one song, he dropped the pitch a little and helped out a certain member of the audience. From Oklahoma... OUR Alan, singing Just Another Poor Boy, just 24 hours after singing up in Edmonton! (Editors Note:See the Edmonton Review)
Did great, and had even more fun this time. Being in front row, it was prime for the whole show, and
especially for Alan's contribution. Great job Alan!!!
Chris was really relaxed, in good humour, and was playing 'stump the audience' with misleading lead-ins to those oh-so-familiar songs of ours. And he does an Elvis impersonation to be envied. Not sure by who though... ;)
He sang with the accompaniment of the Hungarian quartet, who really added to the performance, and to the visual appeal of the concert. Right Mike and Randy?
He took a brief off-stage break while the quartet played two pieces, but there was no intermission, and we kept him 'til a little after 11:00. And the only reason he broke that early is due to offstage interference. :(
BUT, and this is the good part, we had Alan with us. And Alan is persuasive. He and Randy went backstage! Of course, this left myself, a friend, and the Zimmerman's cooling our heels (and the rest of us) outside the stage doors, waiting for them. Good rapport, plain-talking, and the fact the Zimmerman's had driven 1500 miles, and they plus myself (as a member of the list, and wearing my shirt) got in too! About all I had the opportunity to do was speak very briefly to him, and thank him, and shake his hand. He took the initiative and signed both mine and Randy's shirts! So the unofficial shirt now has a very official signature. Though I didn't really speak to him much, he seems a very warm, unassuming man, and it was a great pleasure to meet him. But I guess you all might have guessed that. ;)
I s'pose that Randy, Alan, Mike, and others will no doubt flesh this out.
It's now 3am and I'm not at my sharpest. The concert was wonderful, and since I don't own all of his cd's yet, I had the chance to hear some songs for the first time,LIVE! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.
Enjoy, all you east of Calgary. You're in for a treat!
CHAD OLSON
colson@cadvision.com
p.s.: This is IMPORTANT. During a lull in music and conversation, someone must yell out OKLAHOMA during the concert. This is IMPORTANT.
Just one person do it, and watch Chris' reaction. I know I can
count on everyone to do it at every venue, right?
(Ed's Note 2: If you're wondering about this, see the Edmonton Review…)
W.O.W.
We had a ball...the show started the same as edmonton..CDEB said something about Calgarian singing better than Edmontonians, so from the second balcony I yell.."what about that guy from Oklahoma, he sang good last night"
Chris replied "is that guy from Oklahoma here again..there was a guy from Tuson that came up and (at that point allan yelled out TULSA) sang with me and did real good job..
After a couple songs mainly moonlight and vodka...Chris started to walk from his piano to his guitar and from the second balcony ..again...I yell out "rainy night in paris"... he had just started lifting his guitar, he looked up at where the noise came from, sighed, put his guitar down, walked over to the piano again and played my request mind you he forgot the words after the second line...which started about fifteen minutes of confusion, while he had someone run for the song sheet. It was great when he said "I forgot the words to my own song" , and Allan yelled out "now you know how I felt last night"
The rest went off with out a hitch. At the encore I ran down the stairs bolted through the main floor doors before they could stop me and run to the side of Allan at the stage.
Allan, Chad, his friend, and I all sang and clapped the rest of the concert away at the stage. After it was over he walked along the edge and shook hands with the crowd. I was in total la la after shaking his hand, I never thought that it could get better than that..
BUT...
after the show I was talking with this guy that took some pictures from the stage..I talked him into donating some picture to the home page, with credits to him of course..so when I get then so will you. I saw Allan over by the stage doors so I sauntered over, he was waiting to talk to a security guy. Allan said "are you the guy I talk to about..", the guy cut in and said no but maybe I can help. Allan said I sang in Edmonton last night, and here tonight, what we need is a picture with Chris. the guy said sit down there and I'll see what i can do..a minute later he walked out and handed us each an after show backstage pass....W.O.W.
We sat for about ten min. before the man walked in...WHAT A SIGHT....we did not approach him right away, instead we chatted with KENNY (so what if I'm a name dropper), his manager. we talked for about a half hour. mostly about the list, the home page, and the chance of American tours again very soon..after awhile Chris made his way over to us - he reached out his hand, I seized the opportunity, and grabbed it. As I grabbed it I said to him a hand shake won't do can I have a hug - to my surprise he said YES OF COURSE.
I almost cried..I GUESS IT'S THAT LOW SELF-ESTEEM..LOL..he then looked at my shirt...took out his pen and signed it, without being asked to - so cool.
I had some words with the man..mostly about all of us..and how much it would mean to us,if he could find the time to email us...I then told him that i could not get ateoapd here and asked why? He said ask my manager I don't know about any of that stuff.
so i did..i told him the same thing, and do you know what he said..."SHIT that's no good I'll tell you what..call this number, it's my office in London ask for Carolyn(not our Carolyn of course)and tell her that i said to send you a copy..yeeee haaaaa. SO I did, and not only is she sending me a copy of that cd, but also the new rainbow song single cd, when it is punched out next week...double yee haaaaa - it will not be released here. it was wrritten in.S.A., sung there first, approved for printing last week, and on the press next week or so. That bit was for Joe.
I then said to Kenny all we need now is a picture with Chris it wasn't more than a minute, and he had CDEB posing for a snapshot with me on his right and Allan on his left.
WHAT A NIGHT.
back to my long story..i then said to Kenny that I had the reviews from Edmonton, he wanted to copy them..I said no you can have them I can get more I then mention how bad I felt about being in there with Chad and the Zimmers outside..he said go get them...WHAT>> go get them I said can you come with me to get past security yep ..so off we went to get the OTHERS..I called Gloria, and asked her if she wanted to meet him..she just stood there stunned we had to just a bout carry her she was so shocked..I looked at Chad , he looked a little let down, and I said well are you coming..his face light up..and he was in...they will each have to tell there own stories from here
THAT IS ABOUT ALL FOR THE SHOW..
GOD SPEED
RANDY