We headed up the block to the Pabst Theatre. This is a beautiful/intimate venue as Lani describes perfectly. I was so thrilled to see that our seats were in the 4th row - dead center! Thanks to Rita - these are the best seats I've ever had for a Todd show.
Gary Jules was a great opener for TR. I thought his guitar playing was fantastic and he has a great quality in his voice - very easy to listen to. The first 2 songs were newer ones he told us - and seemed to want to get those out and under his belt - then seemed alot more comfortable with the rest of his set. He was at ease with the crowd - especially when he mentioned our own Weavil during his performance. That was GREAT!
Then......TODD! He kinda sauntered out - smiling - happy - in a good mood! At times the place got so silent - you could here a pin drop! But some light bantering went on with the audience as well....I didn't feel the same "buzz" we had at the Vic in Chicago a few months back - but it was a different atmosphere here. Week night - classy theatre - everyone on their best behavior - it was more "respect" in the air. From where we sat the sound was loud - but we were on top of him (practically).
He delivered each song with everything he had. His heart and soul filled the classy place - and filled us with the sense that he really wanted to be there. He needed to get this out - express himself. My favorites this night were:
Compassion - man he belted it out
I Don't Want to Tie You Down - it got to me tonight
Hide Your Love Away - (crowd participation -HEY!)
What's Going On? - he sings this with all his soul
A Dream Goes on Forever (my recent life experiences makes it my #1 pick)
Well some of you know that I have never "met" Todd before - never shook his hand-said hello- nothing! Except of course in "chat". And I did not have passes for the meet and greet. (Like who the heck am I? right!) So - Jeff tells me the skinny of where it is - and I gain my strategy. I see them checking for passes - they are nicely telling us to exit - but we're talking - hanging - keeping an eye on the door. (It was in the bar area of the theatre). So we wait till both girls leave - there's the door! So we walk in - act like we belong there and guess what! I got to meet OH! Well I saw where everyone was gathered around him. Waited my turn - OMG I was standing right next to him! Ok the hammer in my heart was pounding - for sure. I had brought the Chicago Tribune article of Rex when he played last year with the KKC (the article where they interviewed Todd too). So I gave it to him - but he wasn't sure what I was doing -"should I sign it?" - "No-it's for you!" "Cool - I don't have this one!" Then I laid out some things - "sign whatever you want" - he signed everything! I said I'm pebbles - one of the usual suspects. He kinda looked down at me - (who the heck are you? he's thinking!) I asked when are we going to hear Afterlife. He said the server would be up soon - but what I really meant was when can we hear it LIVE! Maybe one day.....On the picture I took at the Abbey Road show - in Grant Park - he wrote "see you soon" - yes Todd - as long as you keep doing shows - I'll be there.
