O-WOW in IOWA!!

Got home from our east coast vacation trip last night – just in time to make it to the Des Moines concert today. Youngest daughter Annie and I made the 2 and a half hour drive a little early because all the pre-sale Des Moines tickets were will call for this venue (and not handled by Ticketmaster!). I’m always a little nervous about will call – what would I do if the tickets weren’t there?! But they were there and after giving my driver’s license a good look, they gave them to me.

One of the first things we noticed at the arena was that every door had a large, lengthy legal-like notice on it saying that videotaping would be occurring inside and if you did not agree to or want to be videotaped, please do not enter the concert!!! So 1) it seemed that some special taping was taking place tonight and/or 2) perhaps they have had some legal issues come up with shots of the crowd at previous shows and are now being more careful? We were excited to see what the signs might be all about.

Annie and I walked around the arena and checked out the buses. Three of the fancy buses had trailers on the back (for the cycles, I guess, although that’s a lot of trailer space) but we were pretty sure Keith’s bus was the one behind an extra “privacy fence”. No sign of any of the guys but it was probably soundcheck time for them. We did see a chef with the tallest chef’s cap I’ve seen sitting at one of the arena docks – I think he must have been Keith’s caterer because there is no fine dining (very little food of any type in fact) at this venue.

This was one time when the Monkeyville pre-sale was good to me – 8^th row of the risers immediately right of the stage. In fact our seats were exactly in line with the first row floor – just a little elevated, so I was pretty tickled. We were just a few feet away from the “DJ Debonair” and his “twin disks of love”, as Keith calls them. (Now what I hadn’t anticipated is that being in line with the front row also puts one in line with the 6 spotlights that sometimes shine on Keith from each side of the stage. When those went on it was like looking at 6 suns – I was completely blinded and couldn’t see Keith at all when they were glaring (and had residual flashcube like spots before my eyes when they went off). So I had to look at the video screen and not Keith whenever they used those banks of lights. Guess every seat has its pros and cons.)

The Wells Fargo Arena holds about 17,000. The floor and first and second levels of risers appeared to be sold out. Only the front third to half of the real, real nosebleed seats (third level) were filled, so they had actually hung a curtain that hid the third level seats farthest from the stage. It was a more mixed crowd (age and gender) than many of the other shows I’ve been to and it seemed that everyone was into the show. No “sitters” in Iowa!

There was extra videotaping throughout the show – from what I could see it was primarily close-ups of Keith and the guys shot by a cameraman that moved among them on stage, sometimes filming right up next to the guys. A couple times they also had a special cameraman (with an extra spotlight on his camera) shooting small groups of fans dancing or singing (but these shots were not shown on the big screen). There was no video background tonight for Used To The Pain – that was the case at least once before when extra videotaping was taking place (perhaps the images disrupt their filming?) They did show the LPATWCT heart towards the end of UTTP – I don’t remember that occurring before.

The set list had not changed - need I even rave about Keith’s singing, playing and the way he looked and moved?!! But there were some other special changes tonight.

They have finished the Days Go By special video!! They show it on the big screen while Keith is singing that song and it is very cool! They got amazing clips submitted by Monkeys from all over the country and, in fact, all over the world. Clips of fans making the “hand out the window as the cars drive by” motion – some standing, some driving, some alone, some in large groups doing that up and down motion. Singing, dancing, even swimming to DGB! Fans standing in front of all sorts of famous sites or town signs. Fans in front of the Parthenon or the Eiffel Tower. It all goes by so quickly I am sure I didn’t catch everything (but I did get most of it on film for a closer look!). I didn’t see the little clip that I sent in, but it looked like they used dozens and dozens. What a fun idea Keith!

When the band went down to the small stage Keith chatted with the audience before they started playing. He thanked Iowa for making them feel so welcome and said that the weather had been perfect when they went out riding on the freeway on the cycles. Keith said he thought they should do 5 shows in a row in Des Moines – would we come back the next few nights? (You bet Keith!). He chose to read signs from the small stage tonight and immediately honed in on a gigantic (probably 6 ft by 4 ft) sign held by 2 gals saying they wanted 2 hugs (1 for each I guess). He invited them up to the small stage – not ON the stage, but up to the edge where he jumped off and gave them each their hug!

Lucky ladies (and I was particularly jealous because I had made a “Flew Here From Maine” sign (since I was in Bangor yesterday) that I hoped might catch his eye).

When Keith introduced Jerry he mentioned that they have been playing together 14 years. And then, when he introduced Chris M. (with his usual little rhythmic rap-like intro) – for some reason Chris had on big white bunny ears!! No explanation, no acknowledgement of the ears, but he wore them for the entire set done on the small stage J ! Several times during the night Keith laughed out loud – big ol’ guffaws at this or that – but not at the bunny ears. Brian got a cowboy hat from someone and wore it for a song or two – looked pretty cute! The drum corps tonight was from Des Moines East High School and they did a great job (though some of them seemed to have eyes as big as saucers as they faced the crowd!)

Another surprise this evening (unless I have been completely oblivious before, which is always possible) - Keith was doing that great guitar solo at the end of I Can’t Stop Loving You, and all of a sudden I realize that he is rising up above the stage!!!

I had never noticed before that Keith’s piano comes up out of the main stage the way that Chris McHugh’s drums rise up out of the small stage! And tonight Keith was standing on that piano, doing his solo, as it rose up (putting him on about a 4 foot piano pedestal) – what a great variation from the guitar solos done as he kneels or crouches!

He did a new (to me) little bit of percussive drumming on the neck frets of his guitar at the beginning of WWWBM – just before he and Jerry did their little guitar “charge” at each other. And he once again (as was reported for Moline) did a verse or so of Violent Femmes’ Blister in the Sun when he was sitting at the piano later on. He was tickled when the crowd participated during that song and also, just before that, when he only had to play a couple chords (calling us to battle) to get us to yell out “Charge” at the right time.

Tonight Keith expanded the “cell phone wave” into a bit of a competition. He teased us a little by vacillating about which side or spot should begin the wave, first saying we would start over on his right (they all cheered), but then saying “Wait, maybe it would be better to start over here on the left” (and our side screamed its agreement). But then he thought maybe he should let those folks way in the back start (screams) or the folks on the floor start (more screams) (I think this was all being taped). He came back to us on the left side again (cheers and waving from us) but then decided we looked drunk and might not be able to follow directions – lol. He finally did begin on his right (as usual) and got a very excellent cell phone wave from the crowd after all that build up!!

A final flourish during Everybody – not only did he add his little self-reference (“Even I need somebody….” while making those distinctive taps on his chest, but then, in the next line followed it with “need somebody like you” gesturing to the audience surrounding him. My heart melted.

Fantastic Fresno

>Five or six days ago I would have thought that there was no way to top the totally outstanding performances at Phoenix, Vegas and San Diego. But Keith just keeps getting better – I don’t know how it is possible – but I think tonight’s show in Fresno was the best yet. What a guy!!

He was simply the consummate showman tonight. His guitar work was stunning, his vocals superb, and he was everywhere, in total connection with his audience. He made multiple trips to each side stage, spent extra time on the catwalk, and interacted with so many fans that I could not keep track (that is what really set tonight’s performance ahead of the others). He read multiple signs and acknowledged many others. He didn’t bring anyone up on stage – instead he went to them. First down the catwalk in response to a sign saying “I left a stupid boy back in TX to see you.” Keith initially goofed and started talking to the wrong woman, then realized his mistake when she was clueless about what part of TX she was from, so he made fun of himself and found the right gal. Then some gals that won free tickets from CMT had their sign read and Keith talked to them and thanked CMT for sending them. There were other sign interactions while he was actually singing but I couldn’t see what he was laughing at or pointing too.

But he was also sensitive to overdoing signs and made a halfway serious joke telling one woman that the people behind you love your sign (not).He laid on the catwalk and later on stage right to take pictures with fans or to sign autographs. He slapped lots of hands and may have given someone a hug or kiss by the small stage (I couldn’t see the exact interaction). He played multiple guitar solos crouching/kneeling in different spots in front of fans. He made several jokes during the evening – after the 3^rd song he said those in the rear of the arena (so far away) were just now hearing the first song. And throughout so many numbers he kept nodding, pointing, laughing, making eye contact – he was so totally WITH the audience, it was very special.

And he looked SO SO good tonight. His hair was shiny and fluffy and somewhat blonder I think, and showed lots of movement and flippage until the very end of the show when sweat finally took its toll. He wore a dark tee with a design I was not familiar with – the Soviet hammer and sickle within what looked like the shape of a spade or a leaf, with the number 56 off to the side. And wonderful dark jeans that fit so well and which had, I thought, a particularly provocative (cough) front – it was hard not to stare. I better not say more about that (lol).

I am so enjoying the extra musical bits that they have added to quite a few songs. There is a great, happy, melodic guitar duet (or maybe even 3 of them play?) interlude in Better Half. And Keith does what sounds like beautiful improvising (but probably isn’t all on the spot) on the guitar before MMOU and on the piano before TIWC.

The lighting effects and background videos seemed back on track tonight – I even noticed new effects (either new because I was busy looking elsewhere previously, or perhaps really new). The audience is bathed in moving dappled spots of light as Keith is singing ROS. And at a couple points in the show there are lightening like lighting effects during guitar solos. I didn’t see any extra video cams (of course there are always the video cams that provide the screen shots. I am SO hoping a concert video is in the works, not just because the show is fantastic, but because their camerapersons have just been getting some beautiful, exquisite shots from all angles and all degrees of distance. It will be a gorgeous concert video I think.

Anticipating Keith’s chill giving opening again, I tried to count the heartbeats from the very first one (during the djs last several tracks) to Keith’s actual appearance. The first 20 or so are widely spaced and could be missed and by about 65 heartbeats arena goes dark and the heartbeats merge with the heartbeats of OIAL. Interestingly, tonight I was sitting so close to the speakers I could feel not just hear some of those heartbeats and I also discovered that there is an underlying heartbeat rhythm in Shine that I had never noticed until I could actually feel it.

I was very lucky again tonight. A sweet Canadian monkey sold me her 6^th row ticket when she could not go. I was near the aisle end of the row rather than the catwalk, but that allowed me to dash out to stage left each time that Keith came over to play to the audience in the side risers. I would have been close enough to touch him there if it weren’t for a big hunking security guard! But then the last 6 seats of row 5 never filled (what a crime!!) so I actually moved up to row 5 for the show. (4 more rows yet to achieve!).

Keith was also playful with the band again, goofing off during their introductions and while performing. If I caught it correctly I believe he introduced Brian Nutter as the “Figaro, Figaro” singer. And Keith did this little rhythmical, jazzy intro to Chris. M., vocally playing with the words “on the drums” “in the groove” and “on the groove”.

He as usual thanked the audience for all their support in past months, thanked country radio as well, then ended with “I so love to play music, I am gonna do that instead” (of drinking).

I forgot to mention that the SaveMart Arena has a big electronic billboard out in front and they not only had the LPAWCT head shot of Keith up there, but also ran short video clips of he and the guys in concert! Also last night Keith had the piano all the way up to the very edge of the stage by the catwalk instead of set back by the band as he usually does - gave a really good view to us front floor people.

I wish Linda’s Love, Pain and Whole Crazy West Coast KURT were not over. I am not the least bit ‘tired of this’ and wish San Jose and LA were on my itinerary. But they are not, so it is time to head home to Iowa and let someone else take over as roving reporter.

Satisfied in Sacramento!

>Another night of thrills and chills! Three times this evening I had full body goosebumps (and it wasn’t because of the temperature!!). You might think I would react less during my 4^th show this week, but when the opening beat of OIAL sounds and a 10-12 ft high platform holding Keith rises out of the rear stage, showing him, legs spread, and his guitar, in sharp silhouette against a bright white background, and then that silhouette slowly strides down the platform ramp towards us, I got hot and cold and weak in the knees all at once tonight. It is not until he bursts into the OIAL chorus that the lights suddenly come on to reveal Keith in full color. Whew!!

I’m sure the board members who had front row seats can provide the most detail and I’m anxious to read their reviews. I think the day off did Keith good – I thought he looked more rested around those baby blues. Wonder how he spent his leisure time…..

I’m also anxious to hear from those who had BSEs today. Don’t know if it had anything to do with the BSEs or not, but for some reason a bank of about 20 stadium seats were set up between the tour buses. Odd, huh? Made me wonder whether they could have done an outdoor BSE. Could the Arco Arena not have an appropriate little room? Or was someone else getting a little outdoors show?

Another revelation concerning concert tickets today. Since in San Diego I had talked to those 2 gals who got 5^th row tickets at the last minute, I checked with the box office in Sacramento several times today, hoping that I might luck into such a situation. The nice guy who helped me told me that such a thing might have occurred because they don’t know the exact number of chairs that will fit with the new stage until it is set up. It sometimes isn’t completed until 5:00 or 6:00 – at that time they might find that 18 seats fit rather than 16. Well, no floor seats ever became available today but I did luck into something almost as good. I stopped by the box office at 5:00, showed them my current ticket and told them I was willing to buy another ticket if it was a better seat. They found me a better seat and simply exchanged my old ticket for the new ticket!!! Who knew they would do such a thing!!! They put me in the third row of extended risers at the end of the arena (in front of the regular risers – the coveted immediately courtside seats in basketball season) which were about 10 ft. from the small stage!! So I got to experience yet another perspective on the show. Of course I couldn’t see the front stage as well, so often relied on the video screen, but I got a pretty close front view (instead of butt view) of the 3 songs that they did at the end of the catwalk plus a couple shorter visits Keith made down the walk at other times.

Although Keith and the guys put on a wonderful show as usual, I thought the timing and staging was a bit different, sometimes rushed or a little off and I might know why. I think they were recording video footage tonight. Immediately next to my section were 2 huge video cameras as well as some photographers with the really, really long lens cameras. Now others who have sat in the back can correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think these guys were at the other concerts. Perhaps that is why they changed some of the lighting and background (for instance not starting the Faster Car video background of fast cars until the song was half over). And the scheduling was tighter – I think the Wreckers may have sung one less song, so they finished at exactly 8:00 and Keith came on at 8:35 and sang until 10:40 or there abouts. Security was initially a little tighter too. I was ready to rush to the edge of the small stage as the audience has done in each previous show, but the ushers would not let me. (A little later people magically appeared around the stage so they must have given up). And apparently someone (from Keith’s team??) was going up in the nosebleed seats (yes there are really high seats at Arco) and bringing people down to fill in some of the empty lower seats. They brought down about 15 teenage girls to fill in the rest of the extended risers by me. That’s terrific for them, but I think it may be for the audience shots on the video. Anyone new to the show probably wouldn’t even notice these little things. No signs were read tonight.

The cell phone light game is one of my favorite points in the show. Again they looked incredible tonight and the cell phone light “Wave” went off very well, delighting Keith.

He says “ God – I really love that” as we finish the second wave around the arena, then followed with “What can I say – I’m twelve years old!” hee hee

He jokes “Here you paid all that money for tickets and YOU are the entertainment!”

A favorite catwalk moment - he comes down to the end of the catwalk (where I was seated) for the end of Better Life - the final high energy audience participation song of the night - and does that rocking guitar solo. And - just like in the Better Life video, down in that drainage canal in L.A. - finishes with a mighty kick to the microphone stand - sending in flying a good 10 feet. It disappears into the depths of the small stage. (Yes the small stage has depth. When you first arrive you may think you are looking at a solid circular stage at the end of the walk, but it is actually a tarp-covered circle. When it is time for the short set in that location, the small stage actually rises up from under that tarp, fully equipped with Chris's drums and stool, Keith's stool for MMOU, and microphones for all the guys.)Keith must have to aim that kick carefully not to send that mike stand into the adoring faces ofhis fans!

Scenes From San Diego

News flash!! Missing catwalk is found and a good time was had by all!! San Diego was one venue that did not include a catwalk in the seating chart, but it was very much in evidence at the concert tonight. That convinces me that there will be one at every venue despite the seating charts – Keith talked about the set-up in several interviews and perhaps Ticketmaster just couldn’t figure out how to change the diagram for some locations. Tonight they did put a fence around the catwalk keeping everyone an arms length away and assuring that those with seats next to the catwalk were really next to the catwalk, so that many vary with venue.

Ipayone is a good concert venue – like the Mandalay the uppers are not very upper so there are no true nosebleed seats.

Same set list but the interactions between the guys changes each time and it looks like not all catwalk appearances will be completely predictable. Tonight Blacktop did not end on the catwalk like the previous nights – instead Keith moved between the two side extensions of the main stage, playing to the front sides of the arena. Other short trips down the walk (during WWWBM for example) had changed location too. Keith took time to talk about riding the cycles out to the ritzy Hotel Coronado in the morning and going to the Padres game in the afternoon and how it was perfect weather. The tour has a well-deserved day off tomorrow. The Wreckers mentioned that they would be enjoying it in San Diego at the zoo, but I don’t know if that means Keith and crew will stay as well. Do you think they all bus in a caravan or do the Wreckers do their own thing??

Well after tonight I would have to say that my own personal “what are the best seats?” consumer research, I would have to say my 6^th row, 2 seats from catwalk seat tonight takes the prize of the ones I have had (no big surprise huh?) I still aspire to move up thru those other rows 5,4,3,2, and 1, please, please, please. – row 1 one of the days, but 6 was pretty darn good. I could not even take pictures – I just had to keep my eyes on :”real Keith”. I was mesmerized. No need to look at the video screen until he moved to the small stage. I guess the perfect seat would be one that you could beam to whatever location necessary – front, back side, whatever! I also lucked out when he did his WWWBM guitar work right next to us on the catwalk.

One special aspect of tonight was helping someone lose their urban virginity. When I was picking up my will call ticketmaster auction tickets (which are only sold in pairs even though I didn’t need a pair) there was a woman there asking if there were last minute seats available (no). So she used my extra ticket. Well I then found out she did not really know much about Keith, had never seen him perform. But her friend had told her to go because she was having a rough time with a divorce and needed some cheering up. Well she fell for Keith hook, line, and sinker and left the concert saying something about how could any other man or artist compare to Keith. Another case of urbanitis, no doubt!

Here is something else that might give us some hope when ticket sales don’t go well for us. I chatted with all the folks around me before the show asking if they had bid in the auction like me, etc. Well the couple next to me got their tickets because they knew the Ipayone manager – no surprise there I guess. But the 2 gals in front of me in row 5 had an amazing story. They were from St. Louis and never planned to go to the San Diego concert, but a trip for another purpose brought them out. So they show up at the box office about 15 minutes before Keith goes on (they missed the Wreckers) – ask the box office if there are any tickets, and pay $59 for row 5 seats immediately next to the catwalk!!! We could only guess that will call tickets that were not picked up must be released at the last minute or something. So it can’t hurt to check for last minute tickets!

The number of cell phone lights glowing during the applause, yelling and screaming before encore has been growing amazingly each night. I don’t know if the word is getting out or what, but it is a more impressive sight each time.

Keith again orchestrated a cell phone light “Wave” but those Californians didn’t catch on as fast as the Nevadans (is that what they are called?). The first try was a pathetic failure and Keith concluded that the audience thought that they were supposed to wave bye-bye with their phone rather than “doing the Wave” hee-hee. The second attempt went much better.

Tonight YTOM was back in contention for the most moving song, but let’s face it -- Keith sings so many songs with such passion and conviction that there can be no single winner.

Back to the dark gray tee and dark jeans tonight. Longer teeshirt – shucks! But tonight, for some reason, it seemed his earrings were really swinging with the music, I had never noticed that before – made me wonder if they were new rings – but maybe I have been unobservant in the past.

I don’t think I’ve mentioned that Keith hadn’t hopped in circles the first two concerts! Instead he and the band had taken to leaping straight up and down at that moment like human pogo sticks. I kind of missed the circles although the jumping is kind of amusing. But tonight he both jumped AND circled, so maybe circles are back. A woman at the BSE did mention her fondness for the “circle dance” and asked if he would do it for us at the BSE. Keith said no, that was really a spontaneous expression in response to the music and he didn’t think he could do it just for show. But maybe that made him remember to circle tonight.

Once again the audience in San Diego made clear their resounding approval. I’ve been enjoying the arms-linked bow that Keith and the band do as the show finally closes. They look so good together.

BTW it turns out I stayed at the same hotel as the band (right across the street from the arena). But didn't realize it until too late when I noticed (from my 2nd floor room) Jerry loading his suitcase into a vehicle shortly before soundcheck time. I finally understood why there had been so many patrol cars hanging around the parking lot!

Vegas Part 2

I'm sitting in the Vegas airport so don't know how much I will get down before they call my flight. I'm also typing with only 4 hrs of sleep so expect mistakes! I had a great time at last night's show, with a different perspective from the rear floor rather than front risers. Both have their advantages and disadvantages so I am blessed to get to try both. All of you who have back floor seats should know that the Ticketmaster floor plans are pretty much "guesstimates" - I don't think the arena or even Keith's crew knows exactly how this new stage with that extra long catwalk will fit with seating until they actually get there. I had front row section 4 seats which on Ticketmaster looked like essentially front row for the second stage. But in fact the catwalk went maybe 15 rows farther than what ticketmaster showed, so 4A was about 2/3 of the way down the catwalk, right where there is a little fenced area for the sound techs. So know that figuring out the floor plan for these concerts is a new experience for everyone.

I completely missed the Wreckers because of my Backstage Experience and came in during the great music Keith has a DJ doing while they set up the stage after the Wreckers finish. Keith took the time to introduce the guy and talked about him during the show because the DJs family was in the audience, as was guitarist Brad Rice's familyfrom Austin. It is particularly appropriate, I think, that one of the last tracks they play before the band comes on is "You Shook Me All Night Long" (Yes Keith - you did!!). During the last few of the DJ’s tracks you hear an occasional "thud thud" ,which, as it becomes more frequent, becomes recognizable as a heart beat. Over a period of about 15 minutes that heart beat occurs gradually more frequently. At the same time what initially looked like a little spot of light on the big video screen gets slowly bigger and eventually is recognizable as the LPATWCT heart and the heart beat becomes the lead in into Once in a Lifetime Love. Everyone screams and rises to their feet as the arena goes dark and we hear the beginning beats of the song – the show so many have been counting down months to, then weeks to, then days to and finally hours to is finally here!!

Now from rear floor I sometimes had to stand on tippy toes to see real Keith but I could always see “video Keith” on that great screen. The set list was the same as Phoenix I believe, but there were some special differences from the night before.

It appeared that Keith and the guys were just buoyant, riding on the high of the great concert the night before. They were playful all evening - doing head butts, guitar duels, leaping at each other in WWWBM, joking and laughing and having so much fun. Did I tell you they show some great silhouettes of all the guys playing and moving (on the video screen) - during some songs like Shine. God I don't know anyone who moves like Keith. Is that all just his natural graceful prowl or did he practice in front of the mirror? Whatever - I could watch even with no sound on forever! He read some signs! And was drawn to one he described as the biggest sign ever - looked like a bedsheet! It said something about 2 sisters who came all the way to Vegas from Florida. So he invited them up on stage!! Hugged them, brought them to the mike and got their names and home town. They were just shaking from the excitement. He joked that they had stolen the sail off their dad’s sailboat to make the sign and chatted with them about Clearwater (their home town) So chances to go up on stage are still alive!!

He wore multiple Monkeyville bracelets last night (and threw them to the audience along with his LPATWCT heart bracelet at the end) and what looked like a vintage T-shirt but I can't recall what it said. Also a heavily studded good looking belt and either somewhat more low slung jeans or a shorter tee, because all night we were treated to little flashes of side, back and belly when he stretched for something. He was in fine form again - fantastic vocals. One in particular - the closing song Everybody (which has not been my favorite track on the album) moved me to tears. He sang it so expressively and they kept just a head shot on the big video screen so you could see the sincerity in his face. He added in little extra phrases like "Yes even I need somebody." The crowd went crazy again. Apparently he was so tickled with the display of cell phones lights in Phoenix, that he played with that idea in Vegas. He had everyone sit down and get out their cells and then directed a "Wave" of raising up your lit phones that went twice around the entire arena! Crazy fun! And he was just as delighted as a little kid smiling and laughing at what he had created - so happy that he said "God I love all you guys - you are just terrific!!" (The feeling is mutual Keith!!)

One plus of being seated on rear floor was being up close for the catwalk and small stage songs. I was lucky to know something about which songs would be done down at the end of the catwalk. When I heard the beginning chords or saw the guys begin to move, I dashed to the railing to be up front and had some terrific views. He apologizes to the front floor audience for the backside view they get while he is on the small stage but, man, it is not a bad view at all!! Lol

Backstage With Keith in Vegas

I worried all day that something would go wrong - I wouldn't make it to Vegas from Phoenix, I'd take a nap and oversleep, I'd go to the box office and my name wouldn't really be on the BSE list. I stopped at the box office during the afternoon to see if they had the BSE passes yet - they didn't, so I was anxious until 6:15, when lo and behold they really did have an envelope with my name on it containing instructions and a special blue satin sticky Backstage Experience tag that I was to wear. I was too nervous to eat dinner (but did have a margarita to calm my nerves :). Asked the bartender where the North Suites elevators, where we were to meet, were located and he hadn't a clue. Headed towards what I thought was north in the huge Mandalay Bay Casino and found a security guard to ask. He immediately pointed and said "You're gonna be late to meet and greet!" because I had to enter the arena with the crowd that was already gathering for the concert!:( But of course these events are hard to keep on schedule - everything was running behind schedule and I didn't miss anything. (whew!) It was immediately clear that there were quite a few of us (20-30?) and that we were the second BSE group this evening (I think the radio station BSEs and VIP tickets went first and we had to wait for them to leave before our group could enter.) When it was finally our turn we were lead downstairs by several of Keith's staff and lined up for photos in groups of 9-10. I know some were disappointed at the number in the photo, but I was just amazed and grateful that Keith was doing this for so many fans at every tour stop.

I was in the first group that stood in front of a big Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing Heart banner and tried to make a space in front of me that would call to Keith when he arrived. And there he was, in the flesh, beaming and welcoming us - my first thrill of the evening. Unfortunately he headed for the exact middle of our group rather than "my spot", but I guess that makes sense. But he did tell us to cuddle together so we'd all fit in the shot and put his arms around the 2 lucky gals on either side, one of whom was next to me. Well I put my arm up too - right on top of his, giving a gentle stroke to that great left arm (I'll be damned if I wasn't gonna touch some part of Keith Urban!!)- my second thrill of the evening! They took a couple shots - Keith will probably be the only photogenic one in the group. But as we broke our line to make room for the next group of ten, I stepped up to him and said "The concert last night in Phoenix was just fantastic!" He looked at me with a bit of surprise (probably thinking ‘you were in Phoenix and now Vegas??’) but then thanked me, said the audience was just wonderful in Phoenix, and then he gave me a hug!! OMG!! It happened so fast and so unexpectedly that I forgot to smell him (lol), but I was in heaven!

We were lead into the "BSE room". They obviously had taken pains to create some ambience in what was probably a stark cinderblock room in the basement of the arena. The walls were hidden by velvet curtains, the lighting was low and there were several large lit candles and romantic (maybe fringed) lamps placed around the room. Music and Keith images on the big screen TV. The furniture consisted of low wooden cube-like seats for us and a small stage and stool for Keith. Since we were the first 10 to enter the room we sat on the fron cubes - I was right in front of the microphone.

We had to wait a couple minutes for the others to finish their photos. We weren't allowed to take our own photos of Keith, but Keith wasn't there yet and one guy asked that we take a photo of him sitting on Keith's stool on the stage. Quite a few of us did the same :) before the rest of the group arrived. They then showed us a great video - both interesting and informative and incredibly funny as well. Keith and the rest of the band have such great senses of humor. Keith talked about all sorts of things that they had to do in the 3 months before the tour - visiting the arenas, designing the stage, choosing what to show on the video screen , choosing the set list and so forth, but all the while he and the others were cracking jokes and being real goofballs. It was so good I just know they will add it to the fan club site at the end of the tour.

Next Keith came in to sing us a song. I noticed he had what I thought was his new mini-guitar and just blurted out "Is that you new guitar?" which got him going on really funny remarks about the Aussie maker and also about how he initially felt like he had stole the guitar off some little kid because of its size, but that it has great big sound despite its size. He asked what we wanted to hear, several said Stupid Boy, and he did a great and emotional performance (radio-length version). Then he said it was time for a few of those scary, deeply personal and totally inappropriate questions we had all been waiting to ask (lol). The first woman asked why 2 earrings rather than 3 and he said “See what I mean about those questions!” The woman said that the talk is that the 2 earrings represent Nicole's 2 kids and that the third earring will come back when they have a child of their own (where do people get these things??) and Keith looked like he might laugh and said "Whoa, some people think way too much". A guy just complimented Keith saying "I just love you when you play the guitar" (see even guys can be a little flustered) at which point Keith took off his guitar and started to make a move towards the guy, saying something about “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” Hee hee. I asked if he could tell us a little more about the music at the end of Used to the Pain and what those lyrics that we've been straining to hear are. He said he had been playing with that little E-bow instrument and tune and considered it as a separate track, but one day while warming up to record he happened to do it after UTTP and liked it. But he said that ditty does not really have lyrics - that it is another case of playing around with "Vowel sounds" that have no real meaning, just like the words at the end of Somebody LikeYou! A woman asked what he was listening to on his ipod - today he said Dixie Chicks, Reba and Toby Keith! Another asked what he had for dinner (?) and he said whatever lame chicken rice thing the caterer brought. A young girl asked for a birthday autograph (which he personally addressed to her) and then he (and we) sang her happy birthday. He was gracious and sweet and did not seem to be rushing us even though we knew he was on a tight schedule (this went on until the Wreckers were on their last song). He thanked us for coming and said he hoped we would enjoy tonight's show, and then slipped out before a couple of us could give him little gifts we'd brought. (One guy did toss a bib with guitarmonkey on it up on the stage (for a future little Urban), Keith immediately joked that the guy must have seen how he eats.) So even though it was a group meet and greet, it was a great experience with a great guy!! We each were given a little velvet bag with the tour name on it and a Keith Urban 2007 Backstage Experience keychain in it as a souvenir, but you all know what I'll be remembering from this event!

View From Vegas