Hello, fellow Rowers.... Mike from Minnesota with a spoiler about last night's concert in Ames, IA.
This weekend is my birthday, and I can't think of too many other better ways to spend it than at an Elton John show! To make my weekend even better, I got home from the show to find a copy of the Oct 4th Billboard Elton magazine in the mail, along with an acceptance letter for graduate school!
I have been saving all concert reviews without reading them, so like everyone else, the concert was full of surprises for me! I read them all this morning, and took notes when something I read sparked a memory. Here is my story of the best Birthday Weekend I have had to date!!! Since I'm sure many people will be describing how the show was and debating on which songs should have been played, I will limit my story to mostly little random things that I feel are different, yet entertaining to read...
First off, we live approximately 3 hours from Ames, and were scared when we heard that winter storm warnings were out for that area. Fortunately, it did little more than drizzle all night. Driving to Hilton Coliseum became a complete deja vu experience when we saw that it is located exactly next to Cyclone Stadium - the place where I had seen Elton and Billy 3 years ago from the front row!
After getting in with no problems (and no hassles from bringing in a camera!), we found our seats in the 18th row - it was the 2nd to last row in the first block of seats. It turned out we were on the opposite side of the stage from Elton, but we had a perfect view of his face for the entire show.
The stage was beautiful! The three large sheets hanging down as mentioned in other reviews gave a very Greek God feel to the arena ( I guess the spirit of Hercules WAS amongst us!). High Above the stage were 3 HUGE Motion Picture reels, with giant film banners tethering across the ceiling with lights for the length of the stage. This was obviously to go with the Big Picture theme.
Once the show started, the Giant sheets were wisked away at lightening speed into the ceiling, and the band was already onstage. Elton was sporting a very conservative suit of solid primary blue - he looked good!
My friend wrote a letter to Elton on our way to the show, and before the concert began, we went up to the stage security to ask about delivering our letter. He told us that security was very laid back tonight, and that we could come up during the show to have our letter given to Elton. They were also selling roses all night that people could take up to give to Elton. I thought that was a VERY nice touch. So during a slower song when everyone sat down, my friend and I took the letter to the front row. We sat there for about a minute frozen in awe staring at Elton from just a few yards away. In between songs, Elton would walk around and collect flowers from people - and he also signed about a dozen tour programs onstage! The security guards would collect flowers and take them up to Elton, and at one point, we saw Elton receive our letter and place it in his coat pocket! Yippee!
I have to say I almost felt out of place, being such a young member of an audience that was mostly in their 40's or older! But they still knew how to dance and rock with Elton's music!!! I also have to say that one of the worst nightmares of concertgoers came true for me! I am 5'11", and as we were waiting for the show to start, this man who was at LEAST a foot taller than me came down and sat right in front of me! Fortunately, his wife was no taller than 5', so I was able to look over her for the show! :) The tall guy stood there the entire show, and was no more than a statue - I have never seen ANYONE at a show who has moved as little as this guy did. My eyes were at his shoulder level! And he wasn't even a FAN of the music!
The sound for the Coliseum was fabulous! It sat around 8000 people, and was just a big square building. Huge speakers hung from the ceiling, and one was aimed right at us! On some of the songs, I could feel my pantlegs vibrating from some of the bass notes!!!
One of the funniest moments of the night that hardly ANYONE noticed was when Elton introduced the band. No one pays attention when Elton says the town each member is from, but luckily my friend did - Elton was making up city names like "Little Sausage" and "Long Tool!" Every member of the band came from a town whose name depicted a penis! :) Great touch, Elton!
During the show, while Elton was introducing a song, he had to stop to wipe the moisture from his glasses. He turned to the audience and asks, "Does anyone have a tissue?"
During the beginning of LEVON, everyone in my section sat down. I thought this was really dumb, especially since I knew how rocking the song would get in a moment! So, just before he got to the rocking part, the lights panned out and lit up my section of seating. This was my cue, so I jumped up wearing my F2F T-Shirt, and waved to Elton! By sheer luck, the man was looking directly at me, and Elton waved right back! :)
Yes, Diet Coke was definitely Elton's favored beverage of the night - and he would not just drink them, he'd CHUG them! And he drank about 10 cans throughout the night, without taking one break to relieve himself!!! how does he do that!?! I bet THAT'S why he seems to disappear under the piano during Bennie and the Jets: He's down there taking a leak! And here we thought he was just trying to show off a little! And the man never burped while singing! I CAN'T drink a Diet Coke without having to burp all night!
I'll add to the John Mahon Percussionist discussion - he didn't create nearly the same energy as Ray could, but I thought he gave a good try. He had a really neat mallet twirl he had going between cymbal crashes, and during Bitch is Back, he came to center stage and started pounding on the strings of Davey's guitar with his mallets! It was awesome!!! I think over time he will have just as good an act as Ray gave.
And how many people can you fit on one piano bench? Three! During the end solo for Sat Night's Alright, both Davey and Bob crammed their way turn out! :)
For those of you going to a show soon, and for those of you who recently attended a show, you will know what I mean when I say "You just had to be there...."
Mike from Minnesota
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