Concert week, 2006

What started as a lock on a front row situation in DC for the Bruce show ended in chaos, confusion, and blisters, but we still were right up close, about 5 feet away. Doesn't do any good to be the first there or to know the others that are first there if the venue ignores the list... But after not trying at all, I ended up in the same spot, one more row back, in Phoenix last night. Landau management must have heard the complaints from last Sunday, because in Phoenix there was a very well-run lottery system, which ended with everyone forming a line and being escorted in.

They needed to do something, b/c it was 112 when we were outside waiting for the drawing. I went with Fran and we did not get there until shortly before 5, which was great... We spent only about 10 minutes in the direct sun while they were creating the line to go in. The lottery number drawn was 766 and we were 892 and 893, so out of 450 let into the pit we did very well. Like DC they let us in and then bottlenecked us for 1/2 hour while Bruce did the soundcheck. Fortunately, it was inside, and the air was killer. Unlike Sunday, Bruce could not hear us when we yelled to be let in...

Out of the three shows I saw this week (don't ask!) last night's was definitely the winner. Sure, it helps to be up close, in a real pit, inside, with air, but the show just kicked ass. Our Pearl Jam seats Tuesday were nosebleeds, which doesn't matter usually with Pearl Jam, because it's so intense and so loud that it fills the place. But we were not surrounded by the biggest fans and not only were they not into it, a few were following some season playoff and were incredibly rude with their glowing white cell phones (when I protested the constant checking and yelling about the score I was answered with a string of screamed profanities and told I could leave if I didn't like it - it was a free country - ???? - so you get the neanderthal-ness of our row. When they played Better Man I told profane boy's girlfriend -this one's for you). Note to self: get better seats. But anyway, didn't ruin it.

Perhaps Bruce was trying harder last night to convince the 3/4 full house that they should have brought more friends, but for whatever reason this show was at least 50% better than Sunday's. The setlist was better, the reworked versions of old songs were amazing - this is definitely the way to hear Johnny 99 and Atlantic City. Don't even get me started on Open All Night. Still not crazy about Ramrod but I realize I am alone on this. After a haunting version of City of Ruins I could have left happy, but there were still 4 songs to go, including a great, extended version of The Band's Rag Mama Rag, which I don't think I'd heard since the 70s.

About halfway through the show I left the front and went to the back of the pit because I was surrounded by tall white guys who danced, well, like tall white guys. It was almost dangerous. I ran into my old friend Diane and hung out with her and her friends in the huge, wide open space that was the pit in front of the regular GA crowd. Nils Lofgren was there and joined Bruce for Pay Me My Money Down. About 5 minutes later, Diane nudged me and told me to look to my left, and Nils was standing right next to me, and then he and his wife started dancing to You Can Look (again - GREAT) - I mean, dancing, like swing, with arms flailing and all. It was great. People left them alone too, except to stare a little, because these are some seriously short people, dancing like crazy. :-)

So all in all, I'm in a shirt-eating situation with this side project, as in, if I like it I'll eat my shirt. Don't get me wrong, they were NOT e-street shows, but great nevertheless, and I may even buy a tour t-shirt to replace the one I had to eat.

Has anyone heard if you can still get PJ tickets for Vegas?? ;-)