Chicago Review

This was one hell of a roller coaster ride. Here are the UPS & DOWNS:

THE UPS

It was a beautiful setting for an outdoor concert
Many people in attendance
Gio's way cool buttons & banner!
Got to meet up with so many of the online gang & as always ran into the off liners that we only see at TR concerts
Wayne & Janet got picked to be the Tiki patrons (as did I after begging CLB who was picking the lucky ones out). I got to sit at the same table with two old TR pals from Milwaukee that I rarely get to see. Barb Breslin & her fella were at the table next to us.
The party after in the "still being remodeled" Days Inn...too much fun had by all!!
Spending the evening & breakfast with ChefNormie! Hey, Mark was there , too! ;^)

THE DOWNS

The first band "the Nadas" (from Ames, IA) were ok but they played to long which cut the tiki set short
The Nazi Security would not let Mark as well as many others bring cameras in. He was ready to get many great shots to share but alas he had to take his gear back to the car. Norm did manage to get his digi cam in as did a few other friends.
They only played the tiki set...no 1st rockin' set I am STILL quite upset over this. That is what I really went for. I was SO looking forward to hearing the old UT songs & getting Kas spit all over me! DAMN, DAMN, DAMN! Now, I REALLY wish I would have went to Indy.
Not once did Todd pick up his guitar but he sure can throw a mean shaker (the avocado?). Todd needed volume at the beginning & wasn't getting it. He got pissed at the sound guy (Larry Toomey - we need you!) and just rocketed the shaker at the sound guy. It went buzzing right past Barb's head. I think Todd is working out to get drafted by The Red Sox as their pitcher. From there on out it was mostly downhill. Jesse kept asking for more reverb on Influenza & was not getting it. At one point Todd, gets up from his stool during BTS to go have a "chat" with the sound guy on the stage behind where we were sitting. Well, little did Todd know that the stage had a 2ft wide gap between the stage & the sound board platform...KABLAM!...down goes Todd between the crevice. It was quite scary cuz he was not getting up at 1st. Barb went over to see if she could help him, he told her to go sit back down, he finally got back up on the stage, talked with the sound guy, seemed to be to laugh it of , prolly more embarrassed. All the while this is going on, The rest of the boys are continuing on with BTS but Kas & the boys are craning their heads over to make sure TR is in fact ok. After only receiving some minor scrapes (and i'm sure, bruises today) Tr heads back to his stool just laughing it off. It was a scary moment for us onstage. The sound problems continue throughout the show. John & Jesse completely lost their sound during All Jacked Up. Todd, yells out to the crowd, "Can you still hear us?" Yeah! So, they keep going with our help of course. There were many incidences of terrible feedback. I don't know what else I can say except that this was the most disappointing TR show that I have ever attended.
No encore & TR & Co was whisked off in one of the little zoo carts. The crowd was not pleased afterwards. You could hear many remarks of disappointment.
I feel bad for the people that came from so far for this. But, thank goodness for the friends in attendance, this was the best part of the evening! <>/ul> Why didn't I go to Indy?....grrrrr. If ANYBODY has a video of the 1st set from any of the -ahem- "Half Twisted Tour", please contact me as I doubt I will be able make it to any of the remaining shows nor do I want to risk such a long trek.
Try again tomorrow...-sigh-
MaryJ