Outstanding in Omaha!

>Keith had the Omaha audience in the palm of his hand last night!! They (we) were just crazy for him and cheered and screamed at every opportunity, not just after songs. He was just astounded by how much supportive noise we were making clear to the end of the evening, saying things like “I love it here”, “What do they put in the water here?” “I’m going to move to Nebraska!” and finally thanking us for being such an amazing crowd and staying to the very end. And thank you Keith (and the guys) for putting on such an amazing performance!!!

His set began with the great OIAL opening and then WTBE, but then Keith said they had to stop and do things a little different because it was Chris Rodriguez’s birthday. Keith wanted to lead 15,000 people in the singing of Happy Birthday to Chris, and so he did! He gave Chris a big hug and said that Chris was 29 – again! J Chris wore a shiny red cone shaped birthday party hat for the next song or two.

BTW, towards the end of her set Carrie made a point of saying what nice, sweet guys Keith and his band are and how she loves touring with them “And I don’t have to say that, but it is absolutely true.” she added.

ROS was fantastic as usual – especially with such a participatory crowd. They loved Keith’s extra dramatic pause before the chorus and how he then laughed at his dramatics. He added a few extra lines at the end – they were a surprise and I didn’t catch the exact wording – but he sang to us something like “I’m going to sleep Saturday night in Omaha and then stay in bed all Sunday, and maybe the next day, and the next day, even if it is not raining on Sunday!”

I was pleased to hear the amazed comments of some of the guys sitting near me – obviously first timers at a Keith concert. “Now he’s going to play the bass guitar too!!” “He does keyboard as well !??” when Keith moved to the piano, and several comments to the effect of “This is just great!” They seemed to be as awed as we are.

Used to the Pain was back again tonight!! Yeah! So apparently its omission in KC was just temporary. On the small stage Keith and Jerry reminisced about playing in a club in Lincoln on Halloween (of all nights) to about 30 people. “37 “ said Jerry, so then Keith thanked those 37 for bringing out their friends tonight.

Tonight for his classic guitar riffs Keith had a good looking shiny black guitar. He was totally mobbed during his walk into the stands – he could hardly move and it took forever to make it up the stairs to mid-lower bowl and finally stand on a chair because he was so surrounded by adoring fans. We, on the floor, made worried comments to each other – was he going to make it? Will he actually be hurt this time? He gave the guitar (signed in white tonight) to a delighted young girl, although there too there was almost a fist fight as different fans grabbed hold of different parts of the instrument trying to claim it. But Keith made clear who he was handing it to and managed to plough through the crowd back to stage seemingly unharmed. I understand ardent fans but I hope their passion doesn’t ruin this fun attempt to interact with the audience and make Keith think twice about venturing off stage.

Before the encore the sound from the crowd was absolutely thunderous. And in contrast to cell phone sparse Kansas City, it looked like all 15000 cell phones were out, calling Keith back to stage – an amazing sight even before he organized the cell phone wave! He was quite tickled by the sight.

One of the funniest highlights of the evening came during the encore. Keith returned to stage with a video camera of his own, moving it to capture all parts of this amazing audience. It was such a cute turn around of all of us constantly snapping shots of him. He set what seemed to be a running video cam on top of his piano, facing the audience, so that he could continue to film us during the cell phone wave and GIRTT.

He again pitted one side of the risers against the other for the privilege of starting the wave and worked them up to a fever pitch, finally saying “Nebraska – a state that will fight to start a cell phone wave!” Gotta love it!

He was particularly profuse with his thanks to the crowd tonight – I think Omaha was an extra fine ending to his 3 day run in this part of the country. I’m sorry that it is over!

Backstage with Sweet Sweet Keith

>I was sitting at my desk at work, grading student exams, when my computer made its “You’ve got new mail” sound and the sender was listed as Monkeyville. Thinking it might be notice of a new concert date or presale, I opened the email immediately. But, praise the Lord, it wasn’t either of those – it was a “You have won a Backstage Experience in Omaha”email!! “Yes!!” I shouted and did one exuberant happy dance in my chair, reading and re-reading the message! My youngest daughter (my concert partner this time) would be a little jealous, but she had won a BSE in Memphis, so she couldn’t complain too much, right? Besides we know those BSE passes are non-transferable, right? Okay, Mom is not going to feel guilty about going to the BSE.

We arrived in Omaha about 4:30 and stopped at the Qwest Center Box Office. “Do you have the Keith Urban Backstage Experience envelopes?” I asked the woman manning the ticket window. “No, we don’t know anything about backstage passes.” she replied and my face no doubt fell. But luckily a voice from the back room of the box office chimed in and said “Oh yes we do!” and another woman carried out a box of envelopes. She checked my photo ID and pulled out an envelope with KEITH URBAN and the tour’s heart symbol on it, with my name written across the top. It was really true! I had a pass!

I arrived about 15 minutes before the stated meeting time, only to find about 50 others with BSE passes were already there. The staff seemed a bit disorganized – I guess every arena set-up is a little different – so first they lined us up one way, then they changed their minds and moved the line to another location. Then they started marching us in, but once again changed their minds, so back in line we went. Finally the staff led us backstage and lined us up once more for pictures. Gosh there seemed to be a lot of us – some with Monkeyville passes, some with radio station passes, some with Verizon passes. While we waited Chris McHugh was talking to some of the fans.

When Keith finally came out to greet the first photo group he looked gorgeous. Dark blue new looking jeans, light brown button down shirt nicely unbuttoned, with pockets on both the right and left sides with pearly looking buttons; hair shiny, straight and smooth - that new haircut is looking great! Sweet shyish smile, hands often going in his jeans pockets when he was not greeting fans. Mmm – fine!

I was in the 3^rd group of ~10 to be photographed. Of course I was hoping to get to stand next to Keith, but in fact I was the very last person in my group so was actually the farthest away from our man. Still happy to be there I hoped the photographer got the far ends of the line of fans in his photo (he promised me that he did : )

No hugs for anyone tonight, but Keith did go down the line of fans, saying hello and shaking hands with each and every person (now I can’t wash that hand again!). When he took my hand I prolonged the moment and said “Thank you for your wonderful music Keith!” (as he continued to hold my hand :) , He replied “You are entirely welcome Sweetheart!” . Sigh – my first “Sweetheart”! Then our group was directed to a dark passageway across the hall leading to the backstage experience room. My group, no offense, kind of moved like an unruly group of cattle. A big guy in front of me, who had been moving forward, made a sudden backstep. I, in turn, had to backstep to get out of his way, bumping into Keith and nearly knocking him over in the process! (really – the full body contact (back to back) was accidental! I swear!) Frightful images of me wounding the star attraction moments before the show popped into my mind! (“We’re sorry to announce the show has been canceled because Linda rear-ended Keith.”) I apologized profusely for nearly toppling him over. “Not a problem Baby!” he replied. Ooh – a “Baby” for me too, in that wonderful accent. I was floating on a cloud.

Down the winding dark passageway was the velvet-curtained, dimly lit BSE room. Considering that I was in the 3^rd photo group I was happy to find a chair just 2 seats away from the stool Keith would be performing from. Klutz that I am however, I nearly fell into that seat but the gallant cowboy in the next chait caught me. I believe the funny and endearing video they showed us about the band and the tour was an updated version with some different segments than what was shown in 2007. Thoroughly enjoyable – all the guys are so funny and Keith was positively droll.

After the video Keith came in, sat on the stool just a few feet away and asked what we’d like to hear him sing. Someone immediately said MMOU (I would have chosen a song that was not in the concert set list). But of course it was beautiful to hear up close and personal. It made me wonder whether he sang it any differently at his wedding.

I so enjoy that Keith never hesitates to make fun of himself. Tonight, before singing, he first reported that he got lost in the dark winding passageway and ended up in a different room before finding us. The he looked at all of us and confessed that he was wondering how in the heck to gracefully get rid of the gum in his mouth in front of 50 people. And proceeded to take it out and stick it to the candle table next to him. (a woman promptly asked if she could have his chewed gum!!!). He then said that when he put the gum down he worried for an instant that he was going to burn his arm on the nearby candles – only to realize they are fake candles, at which point he pressed the “lit” end of a fake candle against his cheek. Too funny!

Then the Q & A. The first question was about his Ipod (most listened to song right now and most embarrassing song). Keith said he had bought an album today and was listening to the music of Ashton Shepard (not sure that is her spelling) over and over. He said he had a lot of “guilty pleasures” on his Ipod but he couldn’t think of what was most embarrassing. One guy piped up with “the Carpenters?” but ever diplomatic Keith said he liked the Carpenters…..

A guy congratulated Keith on his upcoming fatherhood and asked if Keith was hoping for a boy or a girl and did they have names yet? Keith said they felt very blessed and just hoped for a healthy baby. Another guy asked about what guitarists influenced him. Keith mentioned some of the usuals we have heard about in interviews (like Knopfler) but also mentioned he learned a lot from local Australian guitarists that his parents took him to see at local pubs and clubs, starting when he was just 9 (and made a joke about his folks taking him to bars at that age). He also mentioned Vince Gill, a person I don’t recall Keith citing as an influence before.

My question was “Is there a concert DVD coming in the near future?” Keith seemed to like that question and talked about it for a few minutes, saying they had filmed at at lot of the venues on the first leg and thought that they were nearly done, but then the second leg expanded and Keith decided they needed to keep filming. He mentioned they would film at the 2 Atlanta shows and also the Lexington show, and then probably will be done.

But they will have a huge amount of footage to go through to make the DVD and probably will include a lot of bonus segments as well. He didn’t sound like they had a firm date in mind for the DVD’s release.

So our sweet sweet man was such a pleasure to be with, even if I didn’t get to cuddle up next to him in a photo or get a hug and a smell of that lovely neck. Something to hope for and look forward to I guess!

From ACrazy Litttle Woman in Kansas City

>It has been quite a day and I am plum tuckered out, so I don’t know how much I’ll be able to write tonight. But right now I am so wired with Keith excitement that I know I won’t be able to sleep for some time, so here it goes.

This morning in Iowa I awoke to fresh snow (for the hundredth time) and flurries still coming down – a bit worrisome considering my tightly scheduled road trip plans. I taught my morning classes trying, without complete success, to keep my mind on my students. I had arranged for someone to take over my last class so I could leave town in a timely fashion, but he got sick at the last moment, so no early escape was possible. Then I rushed off to the cancer clinic to have my chemo pump removed and hit the snowy roads, pressing the pedal to the metal as much as I dared (and keeping the volume on my music a bit down so I could hear if my radar detector went off!!). Luckily the blowing snow stopped after 100 miles and the remainder of my trip was clear sailing, although I did not get to my hotel in KC until nearly 6:00.

There were fairly long lines to get into the arena and we all went through metal detectors ( the guy in front of me had to give up a pocket knife…) The first thing I saw once inside was the Verizon “green screen” where they can film you so that it looks like you are in a video with Keith. At that moment there was no waiting line, so I decided to give it a try. They asked if I wanted a guitar to hold or if I just wanted it to appear that Keith was serenading me. I chose the latter and, as they filmed me, I could see (on a video screen) what looked like Keith singing Everybody to me (standing next to him). Fun! They said they would send the video to my phone – the question is whether cell-phone challenged me will be able to retrieve a video message!

The new Sprint Center is a nice arena (although there are some nosebleed seats). To me it seemed that the catwalk was shorter tonight than usual, ending just past the middle of the arena. I tried to count the floor rows and believe there were only about 28 rows next to the walk and small stage instead of the usual 40 or so. They had a fairly large fenced in area beyond the small stage where some (special?) people stood all night. Security was a bit tight – they not only walked the aisles keeping folks in line, but actually came into some of the floor rows, telling fans not to shoot video.

Carrie was perky and in fine pitch but I was counting the minutes until it was Keith’s turn. I did enjoy the cute video she had accompanying her All-American Girl song ( I must not have been looking at her video screens in Virginia) and the rollicking rendition of one of my favorite Guns ‘n Roses songs, Paradise City, that she surprised us with. I also liked the warm shout out she gave to friends and family who were in the audience tonight (and the “I love you Mama” at the end of Don’t Forget to Remember Me) but felt my pulse speed up when she finally sang Before He Cheats because I knew that my waiting was almost over.

DJ Debonair mixed in some new tunes tonight, including Kansas City (Here I Come). Finally the lights dimmed and the beat of Keith’s guitar began. I am really liking the “astronomical” shooting stars and comets background that they are now using during OIALL. Keith was looking so fine today!!! His hair looked freshly trimmed and downright handsome. His boyish gorgeous grin melted my heart faster than usual. And that man has definitely been working out – I swear I could see well-defined pecs and abs through that skinny teeshirt! And need I say anything about the cutest butt in the world?

When Keith had us all give a round of applause for Carrie, he added “I gotta get me some of those boots!” (tall, tight, black and flashy). He reminisced about playing the Beaumont Club in KC back in 1999 or 2000 and how KC has always given him a warm welcome.

One less song tonight for some reason – they skipped Used to the Pain and went right to the video of Keith playing that musical ditty on the E-bow (is that right?) – wonder why this change? I was excited to hear that signal that they would be heading down the catwalk since I was sitting about 6 seats to the side of the small stage. But gosh darn it, Jerry – God love him – almost always managed to be between me and Keith during their songs down there. Except during BH, when the guys move around a lot, I was just able to glimpse pieces of Keith – a bulging biceps, the flying hair during the passionate YTOM,

his back as he leaned over his guitar. I was wishing Jerry might fall off his stool so I would have a better view!;) Chis M. wore a red and white polka-dotted dewrag or maybe more like a pirate’s kerchief while on the small stage. Keith introduced Chris R. not only with the usual list of instruments and vocals, but also said that Chris played the triangle J

Keith threw in some extra flourishes here and threw – an “Ole!” at the end of one song, a ululating (sp?) cry after another, some extra dramatic concert pianist like playing before TIWC, a couple “baby girl”’s in GIRTT (is he telling us something?), and twirling in repeated circles from one edge of the stage to the other at the end of WWWBM. He accepted something red and white from someone in the first row and stuck it in his back pocket, where it flapped as he sashayed across the stage (as if he needed a little “flag” to draw our attention to his hiney!). He sang YLGIMS with an extra strong country twang and chose not the first stairway to the risers during his foray on the floor, but the second or third stairway – almost making it as far back as where I was sitting by the small stage. I could not see who received the guitar tonight.

Although there were almost no cell phones out during the applause and screams before the encore, Keith did do the cell phone wave – wanting to see what it would look like in an arena of 13000. He had fun pitting one side of the arena against the other for who would begin the wave and just loved the loud boos he got from one side or the other when he suggested maybe the other side of the crowd should start the wave. When Keith offered his usual thanks to the 140 hard-working road crew they showed a cool fast-forward video of the catwalk and small stage and floor seating being set up before the show. During Everybody he changed the words during one verse to “If you don’t want to go home, we’ll stay!” (wish that were true!). He did stay afterwards to slap many, many hands and accepted as many gifts (hats, roses, cards, posters, maybe a coffee cup) as his arms could hold before he gave a final nod and thanks to the crowd and left the stage.

Another wonderful night to spark sweet dreams of Keith!