rently “massive” is the Aussie “in” word for fantastic and it is entirely appropriate to describe Mohegan concert #2! Tonight I met up with several fellow fans and we had dinner together before heading down to the arena for the 6:30 opening of the doors. We saw a large contingent of Canadian fans while waiting in line. Once inside the arena we had nearly an hour before showtime so we took turns taking photos in front of the large Keith-at-a-BBQ photos up on the walls before a Kingsford rep told us they had an even more realistic photo set up (with a cut out Keith and a real BBQ) just down the hall. So we went down and posed there as well. I decided to go all out and continued down the hall to the Verizon green screen where I sang and “played guitar” “with Keith” to Sweet Thing. The video they will send me should be a hoot! Tonight I had a seat on the floor in Section 1 (thank you Monkeyville) rather than the risers like last night. I won’t repeat details that I already reported yesterday, but surprisingly much of the evening was like seeing a whole new concert because of my seat position and perspective and also because Keith was totally relaxed, in fine voice and in his element tonight. He is really trying to give as many fans as possible an “extra special” experience, and (with the exception of the upper level) I think he is succeeding! Any of you with lower riser seats or floor seats this tour has the chance of having an “extra special” up close encounter with Keith! (more on this later)
Tonight Keith had on the tiniest very short sleeved brownish plaid shirt possible, with the few buttoned buttons looking like they might pop open (in a good way)! At first sight I almost thought he was wearing a sparkly goldish brown spandex shirt (it fit that closely) but it was just that black glittery guitar strap that was reflecting light off his torso.
I had an aisle seat in Row P of Section 1 on the far right hand aisle as you face the stage. In the past this would not have been a real good floor seat because it is as far away from the central catwalk as possible. But since Keith is now coming down and traveling around the perimeter of the arena being on the aisle is good! Jerry walked down my aisle before the show even started and I was so surprised I didn’t say anything – by the time I had my wits about me he was chatting with others.
Some of the Canadian fans I had met coming in were sitting just a few seats away. Very nice but a bad influence : ).They had both scored a couple of the large Verizon posters of Keith that decorate the arena hallways. That tempting idea got stuck in my head so I returned to the empty hallway I had walked through to get to the Verizon green screen and nabbed a poster for myself, rolling it up and putting it under my chair for safe keeping (shame on me!).
I found out that, at least at the Mohegan, maybe at other venues, only those with tickets in the front-most rows were allowed to go up and stand near the stage and ramps. They issued wristbands to those seat holders so that they could identify them. At the Mohegan that included the rows through H but that will probably vary with venue. Section 1 and 3’s rows began with F because of the ramps; section had more short rows next to the catwalk.
Little
I had a much better view of the opening Hit the Ground Running from the floor tonight. But I still think anyone who wants to see Keith rise out of the floor will have to pay close attention, because it only last a second or two and there is much to distract you as the curtains open. You couldn’t miss him in last tour’s opening but you could miss this “special effect” this year.
Before the applause for HTGR even dies down you hear the opening notes of Days Go By. Something new this year – instead of the fan video segments it looks like they are going to go out and shoot a few local scene, because this week we saw images of the Mohegan area during that song. Keith grinned at our hands-out-the-window-in the-wind motions and in the last verse kind of spoke those words rather than singing them. There was a bit of new guitar interlude before the DGB finale.
A new Stupid Boy highlight this tour: At the end of the guitar solo Keith literally falls to his knees and then flat on his back as the song ends! That song generated the first goosebumps of the evening.
“Hey, hey “ says Keith – “You guys are in a good mood tonight! It is amazing to be back here- thanks so much for coming.” He apologized for Sugarland not being there and thanked his good friends Little Big Town for coming to the rescue. Keith said that they were going to change their name to “Little Massive Town”. : )
During Blacktop Keith was constantly in motion, going from the elevated platform facing the left risers to the platform facing the right risers, then going most of the way down the left ramp and then finishing the song down the right ramp with a final shout out of “You know what I’m talking about!”
I knew from the previous evening that Better Half had been the first song where he left the stage to go to the back of the arena. If he followed the same path tonight he would pass right by my aisle seat!! And he did!! As he passed up close and personal, while playing a great continuous melody the whole time (not regularly part of BH), I gave his left bicep a rub right around the “Nicole” tattoo. He was already slick with sweat so I was left with some essence of Keith. (It was a hot night and Keith was soon dripping with sweat and stayed that way the rest of the night, plastering that little shirt even more closely to his body if that is possible!). He went down the length of the arena, his path getting ever more crowded as people realized he was on the move. In fact there was a rush of fans coming down the steps from the stands which security had to try to abate.
When he finally reached the satellite stage he followed the last line of Better Half with a big “Hell yeah! Now who has the good seats!” He looked around at a few signs and picked one held up by a mom. “Come up her baby – let’s see your sign.” It said something like “My son Evan needs your pick to start a band.” So he chatted with the trembling woman about her son (who wasn’t there), gave her the pick and took a photo with her, gave her a couple hugs and wished Evan and his band good luck.
After another wonderful solo Once In A Lifetime Keith asked how many of us had been there Thursday night and got a good number of screams in response. In preparation for Making Memories Of Us Keith asked if there were any lovers in the audience, then asked if there was anyone looking for love in the audience. He dedicated the song to anyone who was “feeling it, wanting it, gotten it, digging it.” After MMOU Chris M played a little drumbeat as Keith worked his way up the opposite side of the arena back to the stage. As he got close Keith began some “Hey-oh-way-ohs” to lead into Standing Right In Front of You.
Another bit of change tonight- when it was time for You Look Good In My Shirt Keith heads in the opposite direction than what was usual last tour or last night! He heads towards my side!! Yes!! Here he is again – inches away – smiling and playing that guitar. This time I rub his sweaty back as he passes and grin right back at him. He also breaks his previous pattern by skipping the first set of stairs and going up into the stands towards the middle of the arena. It also appeared that he actually went into a row several seats rather than staying by the stairs!
Okay, I’ve rubbed a bicep and a back and there is a good chance he will return to stage passing me once again. What should I do?? He does come straight past me again and I can’t resist. He has sashayed this way 3 times tonight! So as he passes I give him a couple gentle pats on the bottom (a second “shame on me” for the evening ; ). Keith surprised us yet again by then going up a second set of stair to another area of the risers before the song ended!! So many happy fans tonight!!
Ocean shots and amusement park scenes showed on the side screens over the risers during Til Summer Comes Around. It seemed that the wonderful guitar work during that song was a little different tonight and oh so wonderful. Expressive and impressive. I saw many men holding up their beers in sort of a salute to his exceptional playing, This was the second goosebump song of the night.
Keith introduced Brad Rice during the intro to Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me (forgot to mention that last night) and Brad did another one of his crazy vocals – Who Do You Love – last night.
Keith once again said it was so great to be back on the road playing live music. During Sweet Thing he scatted a bit and threw in some baby, baby, baby, baby, baby’s and some extra “mommas”.
Keith precedes Raining On Sunday by saying “There is a lot of love in this room tonight!” and when we came in on cue when he wanted us to sing he gave one of his “Yeah, I’m in the right place tonight’s”
A special treat after Kiss a Girl! Keith says “its Friday so we’ll mix it up a little - we’re gonna change it up because there is a special guy here who is the real deal.” And out comes Jamie Johnson to sing his wonderful You Should Have Seen It in Color with Keith singing harmony. This definitely was a third goosebump song of the evening!
Several times during the show Keith called out things like “Are you still with us Uncasville?” And we were! To the very end. Keith concluded we were a real “bad-a$$ audience!” :) A very nice touch during If Ever I Could Love that I forgot to mention in Thursday's review - during that lovely last waterfall of a chorus, couplets of the lyrics in red script sweep across the video screens:
I was scared to love again
Till the day that came
When she walked out of my life
I got hurt so bad
I swear i'd never let another inside this heart of mine
But you touch my hand and every plan that I had
Disappeared like a fallen star
There's a new beginning and i'm moving to the rhythm
Of a beating braver heart
A braver heart!
After the same encore songs as last evening there was a slightly more extended goodbye with Keith going to each side of the arena to wave and bow and indicate thanks. Keith also teased us all by saying they would be jammin' in his room after the show and we were all invited. "I'm on the (static sound) floor in room (static sound)." :) Quite a few picks and drumsticks were thrown out and the entire band looked happy and content with the top-notch show that they had put on.
(By the way, both nights the Verizon folks were at the exits passing out 12 x 24 inch posters of Keith (very nice Verizon!) like they did at the No Frills concerts. Be sure to watch for them because many fans missed them in the surge of exiting audience and had to return to the arena to try to get their special parting gift.)
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