This is my first time writing in to the 22nd Row although I have enjoyed reading it for a while now. But I could not contain my excitement anymore. I was lucky enough to get tickets to the Moline show. It was awesome!!!
I am 28 years old and have never seen Elton before although I have loved him for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid I was not allowed to listen to his music, or any other rock and roll. And I was not allowed to have my own radio until I was a teenager. And records came at that time too although no rock and roll was allowed don't ask me why, I don't know. My dad was weird that way. So really the only time I got to hear him was at my friend's houses. But, ever since I have been on my own I have collected Elton's music so tonight was a dream come true to actually get to see him in person.
My experience began with me and my friend camping out for 22 hours to get tickets. They sold out in 18 minutes. We got the very last row on the floor and, while I was a little disappointed that I would not be able to see much, I was thrilled to just get tickets. So we got there at 7 when the doors opened, the concert was at 8, and found our seats. I went and talked to the sound guys trying to get better seats out of them, but there were none to be had. Any seats that were left apparently went on sale that evening because the radio was announcing to come down and get in line and the line did go out the door. Apparently there were 100 seats that the ticket brokers had that did not sell and they went up for sale this evening. Which in my opinion is not fair, because there were over 100 people that camped out that did not get tickets but that is another story altogether.
Also I had brought a big bouquet of flowers to give him but the ushers would not let me approach the stage, which I understand. If they let one person then they have to let everybody. So all through the first half of the concert I stood with my bynoculars not sitting down at all and I even yelled at my friends for sitting during the slow songs. Its not like we were blocking anybodys view. We were in the last row! Then the coolest thing happened. Some guy came and got me and put me in the 8th row. I couldn't believe it. He said he knew of a vacant seat and he picked me because I was standing through the whole show so he knew that I would really appreciate the better seat. He was so right. I didn't even tell my friends where I was going I just went. I know it sounds rude. But they understand. If I have a chance to get close I am going to take it. (they knew that in advance) I was so close to Elton. He even looked at me and made a funny face. My heart skipped a couple beats!!! So it turned out that I was up front for most of my favorite songs.
The stage was awesome. The different colored lights were great. You can tell that a lot of work goes into making these shows look great. Elton looked and sounded wonderful. And the way he interacted with the members of the band was really cute. At one point he introduced Charlie Morgan and said that he was from "Little Sausage, England". Then Elton and the rest of the band started laughing at him and making fun of him and Charlie's face was actually starting to turn red. It was really funny. And then at one point John Mahon came over and started beating his drumsticks on Davey's guitar. Wow, that was great. Elton beat on his chest at one point, and he got under the piano during Benny and the Jets (One of my favorite songs.) And the whole audience sang Your Song with him really loud and you could tell that Elton liked it. He seemed to really be enjoying himself.
The only thing that I really didn't like was the amount of people who kept getting up all the time to go to the bathroom and get a drink. I mean, don't they know how lucky they are? Everytime a new song was played swarms of people got up. I love The Big Picture and am wearing it out so I was thrilled when he played some of those songs. People should just be glad that they were able to get tickets. Lots of people did not. I saw people leave the ticket line crying the morning they went on sale because they had camped out and did not get tickets. So to see people there that did not really appreciate it made me mad.
Well, thank you all for listening to me ramble. I had to tell somebody about my wonderful night. This was one of the best nights of my life and I will remember it forever.
Liz
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