Sexy Serenades in St. Paul

Blue skies, sunshine and low sixties welcomed me and my teenage trio (daughter Annie and friends Katie and Randy) to the Twin Cities. We did a little shopping so didn’t arrive at our hotel across from the Xcel Energy Center until close to six. I guess I should have gotten there earlier – I ran into Blue-Jeans-Gal in the elevator and she had seen C-Rod jogging and Brian driving his T-Bird during the afternoon. She is another Iowan and won tonight’s Backstage BBQ Experience pass from iLike! iLike has been good to us heartlanders!! Kingsford Charcoal made their presence known with an enormous blow-up BBQ grill serving as an archway through which to enter the arena (“I walked through hot coals to see Keith Urban!”). They had a little “EDS” problem and it collapsed into a big heap at one point (luckily before the crowds arrived). Once inside we got our Monkeyville Minnesota scrapbook pages stamped and headed for our seats.
My daughter and friends came prepared with posters, one saying "My mom smelled your neck!" and the other "We want to smell it too!". Oh Lord!

The Zac Brown Band were fun openers – mostly lively numbers, a couple surprisingly with a nice reggae beat. I’m going to have to check out their album. After they finished, the Kingsford/Masterpiece BBQ Sauce folks showed kind of a nice promotional video on the side video screens. It began with the sound of a heartbeat to get our attention, but then included shots of Keith and his motorcycle and a big white (?) tour bus, all obviously going out to a BBQ in the country. Then lots of live footage of Keith and the guys at the BBQ that has been featured online and in promotional materials. Later there were some shots of setting up the stage and the racks of guitars. They also used those side screens to announce who won the signed guitar from Keith (and Verizon) this evening (I guess this tour the guitar giveaway happens behind stage before the show rather than out in the audience like last tour.) During the break, as the crew set up the stage for Keith, I kept expecting them to pull shut those big black curtains like they did out east. But no curtains tonight! Maybe they decided they weren’t worth the trouble. Tonight they did create quite a cloud of vapor centerstage to focus attention on Keith’s mysterious rising out of the floor during Hit the Ground, but it was almost too thick – if I hadn’t been sitting off to the side I’m not sure I could have seen his ascent. Still working out some of those little details I guess. No matter – the crowd still screamed their heads off as the show opened!

It looked like the Xcel Center was pretty much sold out – even the highest rows of the nosebleed seats up in the rafters looked full and Keith called attention to them several times during the night. I was sitting in the second row of the second set of risers from the stage (right near row 22 of the front floor). Pretty good seats except for the 6’8” big guy on my stage-side that I often had to peer around whenever Keith came over to the microphone on our side L Tonight the satellite stage was set up about 6 feet beyond the sound mix area and perhaps 20 feet in front of the risers at the far end of the arena, leaving a large area of empty floor for fans when Keith made his trip out there.

Keith looked especially fetching in a red/black/white plaid shirt and blackish jeans tonight. The video screens really showed him to his best advantage so there were times I couldn’t help but give out a little moan or felt a little weak in the knees. And I think he knew it too, so we got more sexy looks than usual. He also seemed to make a point tonight of holding picks in his lips or in his teeth for a bit, then tossing those out to the crowd (in addition to those he flings when he is playing) – what is that about? A guitar-y way of blowing a kiss? Tonight they sometimes used the 5 big video panels to show five Keith’s at once! Gosh I might blow a fuse if they keep doin’ that!!

The music was wonderful as usual, the guitar solos stunning – no departures from the setlist tonight. The crowd was thrilled when Keith made his first trip offstage towards the end of Better Half, all those fans slowing down his progress to the back of the arena. No sign reading from the small stage tonight and no one was invited up. He introduced Making Memories of Us with a slightly different lead-in:. “This is a song for anyone who is getting married, thinking about getting married, wishing you could get married, have got no intention of getting married.” :) When I knew the song was nearly over and Keith would be returning to the main stage via my side of the arena, I leapt (okay, lumbered) from my second row position, over the first row chairs, so that I could be immediately above Keith as he passed by. And it paid off – the first row folks were happy for the “alert” so they had their cameras ready forclose-up shots, and I slid my hand down his bare arm as he passed.:)

He was cute to watch grooving in the background to Chris R’s, Brian’s and Jerry’s little vocal solos. And I think I caught some good video of his dancing, clapping silhouette during that wonderful percussive ending to If Ever I Could Love. Tonight Keith added or really emphasized a rhythmic, plucking, slapping, pulsing beat of the guitar during his (short) walk down the catwalk at the start of Raining on Sunday, then said in a deep sultry voice “Are we still feeling okay?” “ How about you guys sitting up high around the arena?” and then said, no actually sang to us “Do we feel like singing?” and then again “Do we feel like sing-in’?” before actually beginning to sing ROS.

Fun guitar play before You Look Good in My Shirt, but not the usual classic riffs. Maybe someone will be able to put a name to it, but I didn’t recognize it, just enjoyed it! I jumped up and down when I realized that tonight Keith was going to come down the ramp on my side of the arena for YLGIMS and hoped he would either choose to climb up either the aisle close to me or the one close to my girls.

Well he did cross right in front of us, but tonight the crowd that rushed towards him was so overwhelming that he never made it to any of the staircases! I was worried for him because it seemed so many were reaching for his hair and head I thought he could lose an eye! He and his body guards finally had to retreat to stage without the usual perching on a chair somewhere to sing a little. I hope that kind of crowd response doesn’t lead to him abandoning the trips offstage!

The thunderous applause and echoing screams were so loud after Somebody Like You that when Keith came back on stage for the encore he just looked at the audience and said “Holy Hell Minnesota!!” shaking his head in disbelief. “Thank you so much for making us feel like family every time we come up here!” Wow – I am loving the acoustic guitars of Keith and Chris during You’ll Think of Me. They have such a full resonant sound - just beautiful.

I’m worrying a little about Keith’s voice. Although most of the evening he sounded just great, towards the end he got a little froggy and needed the audience to help with the vocals. I’m afraid his madcap schedule in Canada did not give him the break he needed after the previous three concerts. Chicago show tomorrow and Green Bay Saturday – I hope they won’t strain his voice too much! Take good care of yourself Keith! Thanks for another wonderful evening!!

Post Script:

I sat next to a couple great gals, Lori and Julia, who host an afternoon show on FM107 here in the Twin Cities. They were a lot of fun and shared a nice story of their experience meeting Keith and Nicole in New York on the red carpet for the opening of Australia. They shouted to Keith and said that they were from Minnesota. Even though it was her big evening, Nic called Keith’s attention to these fans who had traveled all the way from the Midwest and both Nic and Keith came over and chatted with Julia and Lori – one of the only (if not the only) stops the couple made on the red carpet.

Secondly, my teen trio were completely overwhelmed by Keith’s show this evening and are frantically trying to figure out a way to see him again this tour. They weren’t Urban “virgins” but they definitely have fallen more deeply under his magical spell!

Videos to come but I have to sleep now!

Massive Mohegan Concert #2

>Apparently “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 Big Town as an opening act was just terrific – I really enjoy their music.

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.)

Keith Urban Tour Opener Details!!

>The excitement of a new tour!! A new stage, new lighting, new video screen backdrop, new set list and all the surprises of a new production. But beyond all the fancy effects and technoglitz it is the music that truly reaches us. To paraphrase a wise friend “Keith could be playing sitting on a cardboard box and I would love it!” I think all but the most casual, uninvolved of Keith’s followers would agree. So when I think of my most favorite and thrilling moments of the opening show of the Escape Together Tour, most are special musical moments that did not depend much on the stage fixings. A very special completely solo acoustic performance of Once in a Lifetime, the totally rocking Hit the Ground Running, the moving acoustic guitar rendition of Tonight I Wanna Cry, the standout arrangements of the new songs Standing Right in Front of You and If Ever I Could Love, and of course those sometimes blistering, sometimes heart-rending guitar solos. I’d be hard pressed to tell you much about the fancy effects at those moments when the music and the musicianship totally sucked you into that Urban experience. But I am getting ahead of myself. For those who don’t want wait until their own concert experience to be surprised by the new details let me start at the beginning of the show.

Wow, starting a new tour must be another example of “it’s scary business, your heart and soul are on the line”! Especially when your very popular opening act has to cancel at the last minute. What panic that must have caused. I was sorry Jennifer of Sugarland was still having health problems, but of course I was at the Mohegan for our main man! But some folks had obviously bought tickets just because they wanted to see Sugarland, so there were some who returned their tickets for a refund (silly people!!) leaving a few empty seats in the arena. Jason Aldean did a good job as a last minute replacement. I was only familiar with a few of his singles and was a bit distracted (more about this next time) so I won’t say more about his performance.

The stage did look larger than usual to me and what had looked like stage ”arms” on the right and left in the Ticketmaster seating charts turned out to be ramps leading down to the floor! Interesting!! The lighting guys still made their scary climb up to their lighting chairs in the rafters. No fences anywhere so during the break quite a crowd gathered around the catwalk, the ramps and the front of the stage. There were security guards to keep anyone from climbing up (I guess) but otherwise they seemed inactive. The Mohegan Sun Arena is a nice small arena so the little (15 ft?) center catwalk extended 20-25% into the floor area. Last night there was also a small remote stage set up at the very back of the arena beyond the fenced in “Mix” area.

No DJ handling the before show and break music as far as I could tell, and that music seemed a bit disjointed to me last evening. It included, among other things, some bit of Kiss A Girl, which was then shut off, only to return a little later with the showing of the “green screen” KAG video on the right and left screens above the stands on either side of stage. Verizon also had their text messages appearing on those screens before the show like last tour. I had a good seat right on the aisle in the lower risers right next to the stage so had a great side view (but never a full head on view to appreciate some of the show effects).

The music grew louder so we knew showtime must be approaching. “Take Back the City” was the final song before the curtains opened. We’ll have to see if that continues to be the case.

“The curtains?” you ask! Yes- huge black curtains were pulled around the entire stage during the break (I’ve seen other artists hide the set up this way before to build suspense). So the opening of Keith’s show was marked by some impressive heavy Celtic like percussion/fiddle/vocal (and maybe even a little bagpipe??) lead-in, and a drawing back of the curtains to reveal the stage. Unfortunately my side stage position meant I couldn’t see until the very last part of the side curtains pulled back, so I don’t know what I missed on the opening video screens. But the Celtic lead-in turned into a really terrific Hit the Ground Running that immediately got everyone on their feet. The guys were rocking and then here comes Keith rising out of the FLOOR of the stage (not an elevated ramp like last time). A perfect opening song but one that I didn’t predict!! A sizzling guitar solo set the stage for the rest of the night.

Keith was in one of his very short-sleeved black and white plaid shirts, several of the pearl buttons undone. The back of his hair is now very short (L) so he only has the long bangs in front to flip when performing.

The five new video screens are interesting because they can either project a single image across all of them or five separate images. So sometimes each of the guys had their own screen while they played. They also continued to use the 2 regular video screens above the stands on either side of the stage throughout the evening.

Then Keith went to the familiar for those who didn’t know the new album: Days Go By! No one was going to sit down that’s for sure. But then something that we didn’t really notice (until I played a videoclip) – Keith had a little break in his voice, a hoarseness. And, as he told us later, that made him experience a total freak-out panic (“Am I losing my voice on the second song???!!” ) I think that really scared him and threw him a little off kilter for the rest of the night (he mentioned it more than once later in the evening). Can you imagine what he must have been feeling?? So he wasn’t in full voice at all times (too many practices!!!) but seemed to recover as the night went on. Early in the evening he needed us on some of the high notes and we obliged! Then Stupid Boy (Sidebar: Wow! Brian, with his longer hair was a real cutie last night and really mugged to the crowd all evening long. Since he was right in front of me much of the time I really enjoyed it!. Jerry, too, was quite the ham and a real entertainer. I didn’t get to see much of Chris and Brad up close from my position).)

Keith then took time to say hello to Uncasville, to express regret that Sugarland couldn’t be there, to thank Jason Aldean for doing such a great job and being such a professional and filling in at the last minute. He did his “Are you feeling good tonight?” questions to each part of the arena. Then Where the Blacktop Ends with one of those fastest-fingers-in-the-world guitar interludes. I thought he might leave the stage during Blacktop (like the old days) but he surprised us and instead headed down the ramp after the second verse of Better Half!! He played a really nice “BH bridge” of sorts as he made his way to the very back of the arena, thrilling the delighted and screaming audience, and climbed up on the remote stage to finish the final line of Better Half and give a big “Yee-Haw” to the back of the arena crowd. “Oh yeah - I couldn’t stay away from you guys any longer!” he told them. He began, absolutely solo, the Once in a Lifetime guitar beat but as he plucked he said “ I just gotta say I am nervous as hell tonight - its that first night back out on tour. I swear I almost my voice back in the first two songs and I am freaking out with you guys tonight. But I’m back on the track now so we’re good.” (poor baby!) The solo acoustic OIAL on the remote stage was wonderful!!! Then he read the sign of a couple saying “Making Memories For Us – Our 25^th Anniversary” He invited them up on the tiny stage and congratulated them and dedicated the next song, Making Memories of Us, to them.

The rest of the band, who had been absent during OIAL, returned to stage to accompany Keith on this song. Chris, Brad and Jerry all sat on stools with their guitars and Brian played the keyboards, set for kind of an organ-like sound during MMOU.

The walk back to the main stage was done on the opposite side of the arena (more thrilled fans) with no musical accompaniment. Keith lead a couple rounds of “Hey-oh-way-oh’s” and that lead into a really great Standing Right in Front of You (love the arrangement!!). That is one of my favorites from the new album and Keith had an impressive number of us singing along during the choruses. Keith now had on a black glittery guitar strap that caught the lights the rest of the evening.

Then the arena goes dark and we hear the sound of someone flipping through four or five radio channels with the typical songs of summer. When the lights come back up to the strains of Til Summer Comes Around we see that the five video screens have moved to a horizontal position forming a lowered colorful “roof” over the band. Vapors billowing onto the stage and down the ramps give it the appearance of blowing eddies of snow during a winter storm. What an amazing song - I felt it in my heart and gut and throat!

Sweet Thing followed, then Who Wouldn’t Want to Be Me, and some really fun introductions of the guys. They showed wonderful pictures of each of them growing up during the individual introductions. Each of them sounded fantastic as they sang their little solos – I especially liked Chris’s Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and Jerry’s with Ain’t No Sunshine ( I couldn’t put a name to what Brian sang but he too has quite a voice!).

If Ever I Could Love was next and Keith’s voice was sweet as could be. This is another song I love on the album and love even more live! A Raining on Sunday to please everyone – beginning acoustically on the catwalk with lots of audience participation, and then returning to the stage for an electric guitar solo ending. Then right into Kiss A Girl with some of the music video animation in the background and a very rousing I Told You So, also with loud audience participation. Then a nicely done compilation of some of the fan-submitted You’ll Think of Me videos, with each providing about a line of the song, before Keith sang his passionate rendition.

An introduction of Chris M and his little drum solo lead into some really hot picking by Keith out on the catwalk – kind of 50’s/60’s style – reminded me a little of “Wipeout” – then going into You Look Good in My Shirt. And he headed out into the audience again – this time into the risers like last tour. I don’t think he gave a guitar away but I’m not absolutely sure – I kept losing sight of him in the crowd! Somebody Like You was great as usual with a few more “Hey-oh-way-oh’s” thrown in before the hops and turns of the joyous ending. This was the ‘before encore” closing. The audience screamed and clapped and stomped loudly on the risers. Our cheers finally brought Keith out again front and center for a totally amazing Tonight I Wanna Cry on a wonderful sounding steel string guitar. So beautiful!!

Keith paused to thank the audience “Uncasville – an amazing night tonight! I want to thank you so much – every single one of you! I was freaking out when we came out tonight and somewhere during the show you guys turned on so much love and appreciation for us – it was unbelievable!” He also thanked their amazing roadcrew, all those who traveled a long distance, and the whole audience for choosing to come when he knew it was hard times for so many saying “its especially meaningful to us when you choose to come see us.” And then “You want one more?? How about a little Better Life for you??” Better Life, with its confetti cannons and Keith-led “Yeah, yeah, yeahs” and one final guitar ending, finished off the evening. No extended goodbyes or handslaps from the little catwalk – perhaps they were time-limited by the Mohegan. But interestingly actual credits ran on the video screens to the melody of “Thank You”.About two hours and eight minutes start to end! I let feeling happily drained – I can’t imagine how Keith felt after the stresses of the opening show!

(I'll add video a bit later)

The "Keith Urban Backstage BBQ Experience"

>I went straight to the Mohegan Sun when I arrived in town Thursday afternoon, hoping to pick up the Backstage BBQ pass that those wonderful iLike/Facebook folks had awarded me. It was not yet at the arena box office however and they told me to come back after 5:00. The ticket windows were busy even early in the afternoon and I expected it to be even worse closer to showtime so I came back at 5:00 promptly. Yay – the pass was there with instructions on where to line up and a warning that we must be there at 6:15 or risk not getting into the BBE.

I, and several others were in line quite early but we needn’t have rushed. It seemed that the very first Backstage BBQ Experience was also having “first night” problems and was running significantly behind schedule. Keith’s staff told us we could walk around at little if we wanted (and some did) but I stayed in line until we finally got in. Meanwhile I chatted with the staff members responsible for taking photos and keeping the BBEs running smoothly. They had caught sight of the little number 42 that I had stuck on my blouse in hopes that Keith might ask what the 42 was for (last night was my 42^nd show) and started asking about KU roadtrips. They took quite a few photos of me and had me sign a release so who knows where my funny face may show up.

I also chatted a little with Ashley (from Monkeyville) and her mom but I’ll leave it to her to tell her exciting story. Before we went “backstage” they divided us up into groups (Monkeyville, iLike, Verizon, Kingsford, etc.). I think they were keeping a count of some sort and also some (like the Kingsford sponsors) were treated to more individualized photos with Keith like the Verizon folks last tour.

I’m sure most venues won’t be able to offer the kind of facilities Keith had for the Mohegan BBE. It was held in their small cabaret club (I saw Lily Tomlin perform there one year), a room set up like a small night club! There were 5 huge (5 x 8 foot) blow up photos of Keith and the guys in a barbeque setting (like the photo on the Kingsford contest page, but several different ones). The had another large 5X8 poster that only said Keith Urban Backstage BBQ Experience 2009 and they provided sharpies so we could sign the poster if we wanted. Once inside we still waited in line for quite a while before “Elvis” entered the building : ). Late Keith sauntered in, apologizing for his tardiness. He had a long sleeved blue plaid shirt on and I couldn’t keep my eyes off him.

Most of us they photographed in groups of 10 as usual. Even though they were running late Keith shook hands and said hello to each person in the photo, asking our names. He exchanged a few words with some but you could tell they felt time-pressured so he declined a few requests for autographs and it didn’t seem that there was time to ask for a hug even though that had been one of the most frequent topics of conversation when we were out in line. Keith initially thought I said my name was Brenda instead of Linda. I corrected him and pointed out the 42 since things were moving too quickly for him to notice it himself. When I explained what it meant he looked surprised and said “Thank you so much for coming.” and I said his shows were addicting. So I got a little conversation but I was giddy and emboldened and not willing for it to end. So as he stopped shaking my hand to move on to the next person, I touched his arm one more time and asked (though I can hardly believe it now! (lmao)) “Can I smell your neck?” And I did! I leaned in and took one big sniff of his (yes) heavenly smelling neck, close enough that his scruff rubbed my right cheek!! (bristlier than I expected!).(Maybe I’ll have a little scruff burn as a result?) He looked at me with one of his bemused expressions and asked “Are we good now?” Yes, we were very good now!! I was floating on a Keith cloud so hardly minded that I didn’t get to stand right next to him in the photo. But I was just one person away so I took that as the perfect opportunity to run my hand up the forearm he had around the gal beside me and rest it on his back during the shot! : ) Mmm Keithiness.

But every time I replay that scene in my mind I have to laugh out loud now. What is it about this man that makes me act like a silly teenager?? I’m sorry Keith for using you for my own enjoyment! : ) Well, not too sorry!

I know Keith has to kowtow to the corporate sponsors, but it really is such a shame that there are so many loyal loving fans who would SO appreciate being there while many of the sponsor crowd don’t much care. Last night some got the ‘obligatory’ photo but seemed more interested in the free meal. After the photo they headed straight to the food ( barbequed burger and chicken sliders, veggies and dip and a grilled bread salad) and then sat at the back of the room eating while the smaller number of true fans (maybe a dozen of us) ignored the food and rushed to get the stools right in front of Keith’s microphone.

Keith’s microphone was set on a dark red paisley rug on the small stage with tall metal light towers on either side. On each side there was also a big television set on big black Kingsford/Masterpiece BBQ trunks. Way to either side were blow-ups of some of Keith’s Defying Gravity/Escape Together promotional photos. They showed a really funny video about the band on tour. During it each of the band members was shown doing their “second job” on the tour – Brad Rice was washing dishes, Jerry was sweeping the concert floor after a show and folding up the chairs, Chris M. was cooking scrambled eggs backstage – really cute. The video also included some of the funny tour preparation clips that have been posted on KUTube.

He joked about putting on the whole show in the Cabaret room and asked what we wanted to hear. I called out Grace of God and someone else asked for Days Go By. He did an absolutely terrific DGB in perfect voice, He took a few questions – mine was “How do you select which of your many guitars to use on a particular song?” I thought he might talk about their sounds but he responded “whatever feels right”! An Aussie asked how he got into American Country and Keith talked about his Dad’s records. Someone asked who he most liked touring with – he said he liked all those he had been with but singled out Kenny because they are like brothers and Brooks and Dunn because they were so good to The Ranch. Finally someone asked what he played on his guitar just for fun. He didn’t really say but said not his own music because he plays that so much.

Then he said he hoped we’d enjoy the show and slipped away. Some of us grabbed a bite to eat and as we left we were given a Keith Urban/Kingsford BBQ apron as a memento.

(PS I asked if I could have an extra BBE sticker for the next night (joking) but the staff guy told me every night of the tour has a different color BBE sticker)

Off to the Opening of Keith Urban's New Tour!

Well, I am off to Connecticut at the crack of dawn to attend the opening show of Keith's Escape Together Tour at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville. This is my third trip to this venue. I fly into Hartford this year rather than Providence so will see some new sights on the way. I'll be meeting up with quite a few other fans - I'm sure we will be a real lively presence at the Mohegan. This will be show # 42 for me - my U.S. map of my tour stops is getting to be quite a sight! Hmm, "42". I guess for me, for now, "the answer is 42" - just like the Hitchhiker.

Life is Good!!

Only 5 more days to the opening show of Keith Urban's Escape Together Tour at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville!! A LOT of fans (including me) have been counting the days until the new tour ever since the amazing closing show of the Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Tour in Lexington, Kentucky in April, 2008. We are so excited to hear the new music live and experience the surprises of the new stage set-up. Reports from the lucky few who have gotten into the Nashville rehearsals have indicated that the new show is amazing.

And, as if the excitement of a new tour were not enough, I just received an email saying that I won a Backstage BBQ Experience with Keith during the tour!! What a wonderful surprise !!
Anxiously awaiting details from the iLike people.

Hurray - Defying Gravity Is Here!

What I Hear in This Wonderful Album

Keith has often said he wants to make music that others can connect with and relate to. Some of his songs contain such familiar feelings and universal experiences that almost an entire concert audience can fully join in that musical expression of life’s journeys. But there will always be differences in what bits of the music, phrases of the lyrics, and nuances of Keith’s expressive performance speak to and bring enjoyment to a particular individual. I am so reveling in the music of Defying Gravity that I felt the urge to put down in writing some of details that call out to me in this joyful album. I wish I had a musician’s vocabulary to better share some points in the performance. But I don’t, so pardon my clumsiness of expression. Maybe sometime we will listen to this music together and I’ll be able to elbow you during each song and say “There! Listen to that! Don’t you love it when….”

Although each track can stand proudly on its own, I love the full “story” of the album – the Gestalt of listening and feeling each and every song beginning to end.

Chapter 1 – Kiss a Girl Despite the title, to me this song is not about the kiss, but rather that very first step away from being alone. “I shouldn’t be lonely in this great big world!” and “I’m finally ready” (and hope I’ve found someone equally ready to take that step).I can’t keep from bouncing along with the melody or joining it with those wonderful high notes: “I’m finally ready toooo” “”Find somebody whoooo”. All those little “Keithisms” are little sparks of pleasure for those of us who have been “urbanized”. From the “T-t-t-to kiss and tell”, the rhythmic “un,un,un,un,un,un” one minute into the song, to the yeah-yeahs, woe-hoes, un huhs, and oo-hoos at its closing. I enjoy each and every one of those little signature emphases. And I can’t help but think of his daughter Sunday every time I hear “Make a little magic baby!”
Favorite lines:
Are you ready? Are you ready?
To cross that line - put your lips on mine


Chapter 2 – If Ever I Could Love (aka this might be the person that is worth the risk
Oh how I love the introduction, the percussion that comes in after the first verse, the Celtic feel of the rhythm and melody, the violin or fiddle (which isn’t listed in the liner?), the slide guitar solo! I am hoping this might be another drumline song in concert! The background vocals are particularly good (I especially enjoy Keith singing the echoing background vocals and his “Gotta good feeling!”). But my favorite (in this song full of favorite parts) is that final vocal waterfall of a chorus:
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
Love that line – moving to the rhythm of a beating braver heart

Chapter 3– Sweet Thing (that special first date and the excitement of new romance)
This #1 song is familiar to everyone.

Chapter 4 – Til Summer Comes Around (some find love and take that first step but circumstances interrupt a promising new relationship) Including the opening sounds of the oceanside amusement park and the echo of the roller coaster was inspired. The tone of the guitar is magnificent throughout – the opening melody line, the haunting refrain and lonesome, soulful solo. The vibrato of Keith’s voice as he sings “ Don’t know why it always ends this way” touches me, as do his falsetto woo-hoo-ooo-ooo-hoo and plaintive “I miss you baby” and “When you coming back around?” at the end. This song is going to be as big as Raining on Sunday or Stupid Boy.

Chapter 5 – My Heart is Open (though I’m at my most vulnerable, your love is healing me).
I love that every song on this album has its own distinctive beat and guitar sound. I bet they are fun to play since each is so different. You just can’t beat Keith’s expressive voice and wailing guitar solo.
“There’s a light in your eyes and it’s got me moving in”
More favorite lines:
I’ve got nothin’left to prove and I’ve got so much love for you
That’s why I’m tearin’ down the walls, kickin’ down the doors
(Will this be a new microphone-kick song in concert?)
The echoing closing tones provide a perfect ending.

Chapter 6 - Hit the Ground Runnin’
Can’t wait to see Jerry Flowers rock out on this song and give him a thumbs-up for writing it!
A fun surprise of a song.. Love the scratch of the rhythm guitar in the background and the sexy growl of Keith’s:
So if you gotta go baby, I won't stop you
And I won't sit around and miss you, no , no , no
'Cuz if you leave I'm - a - comin' with you
Comin' with you, baby

Chapter 7 – Only You Can Love Me This Way
That lovely rippling, running guitar strum and gentle hum, that oh-so-sweet voice, perfect harmony and tender lyrics already had me before the loving refrain roped in my heart. I can’t resist the vocal embellishments that only Keith can apply with the lightest of touché, the poignancy of the possibility that you might have missed your one great love if “I could have turned a different corner, I could have gone another place”. The depth provided by the layering of the banjo, cellos, and violins, the brief introduction of that heart beat - all of these make this moving song very special to me.

Chapter 8 – Standing Right in Front of You (don’t let the chance at love walk by)
I love the New Radical-like opening. Since their You Get What You Give signaled the start of each show in Keith’s last tour my heart has been conditioned to race at those sounds as surely as Pavlov’s dog drooled and I feel that happening with this opening too. And Keith’s countdowns (1,2, 3, 4 or uno, dos, tres) have always been fun. Love the scratch of the rhythm guitar in the background of the first verse and the peppy beat. Then the clear plucking of a steel string. And once again Keith compels me to sing along with those high notes of each chorus:
Oh why you gotta leave me so blue-oo-oo
Baby why can’t you see -That I’m the only one for you-oo-oo
You could search the world over -But you’ll never find another so true-oo-oo”
I especially like when the background music falls away and Keith’s longing voice is front and center :
I know which one, I know which one I choose -and give me a chance
I’d be a better man for you (I believe I would) - and open your heart girl
Let me make your dreams come true -you can search the world over
But I can take you to the moon -cause if you’re looking for love
I’m standing right in front of you - punctuated by his special “yes I am!” and woo!

Chapter 9 Why’s It Feel So Long (any time away from you is too long)
Can you possibly stop from grooving as soon as this song comes on?? Aren’t you enjoying the addition of slide guitar to this album? And I can’t wait to see Chris McHugh have fun with this island beat.When I wear headphones I love that my left and right ears are hearing 2 very different guitars as if the guys are standing on either side of me. And the little phone ringing in the background in the middle of the song is cute. I can just see Keith waiting for that call from Nic.

Chapter 10 - I’m In (I am all in for all time)
A special thanks to Radney Foster for providing some of Keith’s very best songs!
The song begins on a tentative note but the certainty that love is worth pursuing builds with each verse to “If you need a lover and a friend I’m in!”
Favorite lines in a great song:
Baby, come here next to me
I'll show you how good it can be
I'll breathe each breath you breathe;
I can pour out everything I am

Chapter 11 Thank You
A definite reverence to the haunting opening chords and almost church processional like beginning– appropriate to his deep thanks to the Lord and the love of his life.
Love the guitar in the background and both the opening and closing haunting tones.

So it is the cumulative effect of all these big surges and small sparks of pleasure – music, lyrics, instrumentation, that sweet voice and all the “punctuation” that Keith adds that make this a