I survived my drive through midtown Manhattan and made my way to JFK. My flight to Burlington was a bit delayed by the line-up of planes waiting to take off, but once in the sky I enjoyed my departing views of NYC and the New York coastline, as well as my landing views of the green mountains of Vermont and lakes and rivers near to Burlington. With just a brief stop at my hotel I headed towards Essex Junction and braved the lines of cars waiting to enter the fairground parking lots (long lines but plenty of spaces, unlike Allentown). I wandered through the vendor booths looking for something distinctly “Vermont” for dinner, but the only thing that appeared to be regional were the many maple-sugar or maple-syrup related treats in the Maple House. I did try the Maple ice cream (so mild it could have been vanilla) and maple pecans (again, not distinctively maply). Meanwhile the skies were looking a bit threatening and the gusty wind was sending clouds of fine fairground sand through the air - I was hoping that we weren’t going to have any ‘Raining on Saturday’.
Apparently Keith and the guys were also worrying about that. When Keith cam out on stage he said that he and the boys had been singing “Earl Must Die” all day in hopes of keeping the hurricane’s side effects at bay. It didn’t completely work however.
Almost as soon as they took the stage a sideways rain joined the brisk breezes and for about the first 3-4 songs Keith and the guys were taking it in their faces. Happily the showers were never drenching and ended shortly. I kept my rain poncho on because it had gotten a little chilly out.
If you look closely at this first clip you can see the slanted rain and some of the debris flying through the air. Keith of course, being the trouper that he is, was unfazed in his performance. Before the concert began the big video screen was up and they used color displays to test its functioning (worked fine). But the weather must have been too threatening because by show time the video screen had been lowered out of sight, making this the first tour stop with no video screen at all. I’m glad I wasn’t in the grandstand!!
Stupid Boy in the Rain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC5MKziCcUw
Where the Blacktop Ends http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odFvXs2OrME
When Keith paused to talk to the audience with “It’s a little windy out here” to start off. He greeted each part of the audience but took special note of a “strong Montreal contingent” out on his left, who apparently had signs begging him to come to Montreal. Keith joked “ First we gotta play Vermont...” but then said he would love to play in Montreal and that they should “Consider it done!” A little later Keith made fun of the windy weather again, stretching out and holding onto the microphone as if any second he was going to be blown away like Dorothy’s home in Kansas. lol
Keith Out in the Audience for You Look Good in My Shirt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uecnQ-_NsQk
Once again Keith brought out Kris Allen for a duet of Mellencamp’s Jack and Diane, When Kris groped for the lyrics of his verse Keith teased him with “and you won American Idol??”
Keith and Brian in Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbPxIX2v4Hl
At one point during the night as Keith came forward for the next song, he was for some reason inspired to make one of those very rare disclosures about Sunday Rose. He imitated her 2-year old style of speech saying my daughter Sunday says “ Daddy play the guee-tar?” And then his response “ Yes Sunny - Daddy play the guee-tar.” : )
Keith then said he wanted to do something special and bring out his friend of 20 years and multi, multi platinum country recording artist in Australia, Troy Cassar-Daley. Here is Keith’s introduction and the beginning of Troy’s performance of People Get Ready (There’s a Train A-coming). Part 2 will appear after this post. Troy has quite a set of pipes on him!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGuoX4HYmIw
A special treat: Keith’s version of I Only Want to Be With You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1NeradV2Pg
So show #2 of my 3 concert roadtrip was another killer one. I headed right to bed in preparation for the trip south to Connecticut the next morning to the closing performance of the Summer Lovin’ Tour.
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