I’ve been looking forward to May all year, but before I could partake in the fun activities I had planned for May I had to get through the A to Z Blog Challenge. I loved blogging everyday in April, except Sundays, on a specific theme. I loved doing it last year, and I enjoyed it even more this year. I think I enjoy the challenge so much because I am one who likes to to lists things, rank my favorites. This year’s theme, in case you missed it, was ‘My Music from A to Z.’ It was fun, and it seemed I may have introduced some new music to some folks, and I definitely brought back some great 80s memories. Just in case you were away from the internet in April, the following is what I wrote about: Al Kapone, Bobby Darin, Cleanin Out My Closet by Eminem, Drums, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Grammys, Honor Among Thieves, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Johnny Cash, Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, Lisa Marie Presley, Madonna and 80s Music, New Kids on the Block, Olivia Newton-John, Potsie and Happy Days, Q magazine, Rockabilly, Soundgarden, Toad the Wet Sprocket, U2, Video Killed the Radio Star, Wham!, XM Radio, You’re the One that I Want and Grease, and ZooTv. I also blogged the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
Now it’s MAY!!!! YAY!!!! Why am I SO excited for May? Because I am starting the month off with a weekend in Memphis and ending it with NKOTB. This first weekend in May I am going to Memphis for the Beale Street Music Festival, which I have done every year since 2002 – with the exception of last year. In addition, the Memphis Grizzlies are in the playoffs and game 6 is being played in Memphis on Friday while I’m in Memphis. If they win, the Grizzlies will advance to the next level in the playoffs. I used to have season tickets to the Grizzlies, so I am very excited to be going to this playoff game. I haven’t been to Memphis since I moved in October 2011. Besides the Beale Street Music Festival and the Memphis Grizzlies playoff game, I will be visiting Graceland and Sun Studio, hanging out on Beale Street, and eating at some of my favorite restaurants like the Cupboard, Marlowe’s, Central BBQ and the Blue Plate. Nothing better than Memphis in May! But something that is just as great is seeing the first three shows of the NKOTB Package Tour at Mohegan Sun Casino! And that’s exactly what I’m doing the last four days in May. Slots and NKOTB – what could be better? So keep following as I’ll be tweeting, posting, and blogging my adventures in Memphis and on the NKOTB Package tour.
The ZooTv Tour was my first U2 tour. U2 announced they would be touring America in the Spring of 1992, in support of their Achtung Baby album. I was a sophomore in college, so I could now go to concerts! I had a subscription toPropaganda, U2’s fan magazine, which gave me an opportunity to buy tickets to one or two concerts before they went on sale. But me being me, I wasn’t satisfiedto go to just one or two shows. No, I had to go to as many as I could, and for the ZooTv tour I went to eight shows. The months between the release of Achtung Baby and the ZooTv Tour were spent constantly watching and listening to U2. My U2 buddy Mike and I would spend hours and hours just watching U2 footage over and over that we had taped on VHS – MTV specials, interviews, videos, etc. It was during this time that I went from a U2 fan to, dare I say, U2 fanatic. 1992 was going to be a great year!
At the age of 19 ½, I saw my first U2 show. It was on the ZooTV tour on March 7, 1992 at Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia. It was the 5th show of the tour. My best friend, Cindy, went with me. We made the four-hour drive from Baltimore to Hampton and immediately walked over to the arena. We saw Bono standing in the middle of a bunch of fans and reporters. I didn’t speak with him, but got close enough to hear what he was saying to everyone else. For my first show, I was 4th row. Bruce Hornsby and Phil Joanou were also in attendance. The Pixies opened, and I did not like them at all. But then again, I just wanted to hear U2. I had waited 5 long years to see them!
my first U2 show
my first U2 tour shirt (front)
back of my 1st U2 tour shirt
My second U2 show was 3 days later on in March 10, 1992 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just under a two-hour drive from Baltimore. For this show, I was 9th row. I again saw Bono entering the arena and speaking with fans. I hid in the bathroom when the Pixies played.
ugliest U2 shirt ever, that I still sleep in (front)
back of ugliest U2 shirt
I don’t remember the actual concerts, as far as the songs that were played, from this first leg of the ZooTv tour and I didn’t keep a journal back then, so I am relying on u2 fan sites for setlists. The setlists were pretty much the same for both ZooTv shows I attended on the first leg: Zoo Station, Even Better Than the Real Thing, Mysterious Ways, The Fly, One, Until the End of the World, Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, Trying to Throw Your Arms Around the World, Angel of Harlem, Satellite of Love, Bad, All I Want is You, Bullet the Blue Sky, Running to Stand Still, Where the Streets Have No Name, Pride, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Desire, Ultraviolet, With or Without You, Love is Blindness. The only difference was Love is Blindness was not played in Hampton and The Fly was played second in Philadelphia.
ZooTV tour program
In the summer of 1992, U2 ditched the arenas for stadiums for their ZooTv Outside Broadcast Tour, and I went to the first five shows and another one a month later. Living in Maryland made it easy to travel to most of the East Coast shows. Washington DC, Philadelphia, and New York were all within a 3 hours drive. Plus U2 usually played two nights in each city. It was on this leg of the tour that I started meeting U2 fans and touring around with them. Mike and I traveled to all these ZooTv shows together and met the same folks along the way. Unfortunately, we did not keep in contact with our new friends after the tour ended. Mike and I found out U2 was going to be rehearsing for their tour in nearby Hershey, Pennsylvania. They wanted to rehearse at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, but the community freaked out and protested. So we went up to Hershey a couple of nights and sat outside to listen to the rehearsals, but we never saw the band. We did hear them play Acrobat andSo Cruel though. We got tickets to the rehearsal show on August 7, 1992 at Hershey Park Stadium. Tickets were only $15 and went to local charities. We were way in the back, but at least we were there and it was a great show. Instead of starting off the show with Zoo Station like all the other shows, U2 began with Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year’s Day, and Pride before going into their regular set list starting with Zoo Station. Pride was played again before the encore. This was the first time I had heard New Year’s Day and Sunday Bloody Sunday, since they didn’t play them on the first leg. Edge sang Van Dieman’s Land, the first and only time I have heard it live. This show was the day before Edge’s birthday, so Bono led the audience in singing Happy Birthday.
On August 11, 1992 three friends and I drove up to New Jersey for the official opening of the ZooTv Outside Broadcast tour at Giants Stadium. Opening night had been pushed back one night to August 12th. Mike and I went over to the stadium anyway and ended up sneaking in and getting up on the stage and touching the trabants, which were used to light the stage. We eventually got kicked out of the stadium. We tried to figure out where U2 was staying. Even though it was August, it was cold at night, so while waiting on the curb for U2 to show up at the hotel, we huddled next to a bus keeping warm from the fumes. There were a bunch of fans standing outside Giants Stadium on the afternoon of August 12th waiting for U2 to arrive. Bono came out and went down the line talking with each of us, signing autographs and taking pictures. When Bono came to me, he noticed the tee shirt I had made with ‘One’ on it.
I handed Bono my Outside It’s America book for him to autograph. I noticed he was taking a while, so I looked at what he was doing and saw he was misspelling my name. I said, “No, Deena is spelled with two e’s.” Bono kind of gave me this sly smile. In my book, he wrote, “A nice t-shirt Din…Deena Bono 92”
Then I threw my camera to Mike, so he could take a picture of me and Bono, both with our big sunglasses. Bono’s head is on my shoulder. It’s a great picture! He autographed it a few days later in DC.
And if that wasn’t enough, Larry drove by us on his motorcycle and waved. He didn’t stop unfortunately, but I did get a picture. Then I ran away screaming – he just has that affect on me. I wouldn’t meet Larry for another 9 years.
Our seats for opening night on August 12, 1992 were in the second section on the floor in the fifth row. Larry sang Dirty Old Town as only he can! I was so excited that Jonathan tried to hold me back, so I hit him causing him to fall off his chair. Lou Reed joined U2 on the b stage for Satellite of Love, and his performance was used for the rest of the tour via video.
The next night on August 13th, we were in the front floor section in the 8th row. I remember running past security to get to the B Stage as Bono was walking down. I got a Zoo Dollar that night as they flew through the air during Desire.
Two days after Jersey on August 15th, Mike and I were back in our hometown for two more ZooTv shows. Well, sort of. As close as the ZooTv tour was going to get to Ellicott City, Maryland. We were at RFK Stadium in Washington DC in the rain. I met Bono again and he autographed the picture of the two of us from Giants Stadium. He wasn’t as talkative as in Jersey. I think the rain made him grumpy.
U2 ended both shows on August 15 & 16, 1992 with Can’t Help Falling In Love in honor of the 15th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley on August 16, 1977. For the first show, I was third row and Bono knelt in front of us and sang it. As an avid Elvis fan as well, this was an amazing, unforgettable moment for me! My worlds were colliding! For the rest of the tour, U2 ended their shows with Can’t Help Falling in Love.
My final ZooTv show was on September 3, 1992 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There were two shows in Philadelphia and I was supposed to go to both shows, but was moving back to College Park so I only went to the second show. It was raining again, so they let the few of us waiting outside Veterans stadium in Philly inside for the sound check. We were also excited because our friend Maggie, who wrote a fanzine, got us Hospitality passes, but all that got us were some soda and chips. We didn’t see U2 back stage at all. But we did get to hear Whiskey in the Jar andWhen Loves Come to Town.
Primus and Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprosy opened the all the shows I saw on the ZooTv Outside Broadcast tour, except for the rehearsal concert in Hershey. Primus had a popular song called Jerry Was a Racecar Driverand U2 had been using Disposable’s Television Drug of a Nation to open their shows. This went along well with their television themed tour, complete with big screen tvs and Bono’s channel flipping. The setlist for the Outside Broadcast Tour was pretty much the same as the first leg with a couple of additions here and there. A few things that stand out in my memory are Adam introducing Trying to Throw Your Arms Around the World and the grocery cart, the belly dancer for Mysterious Ways, Larry twirling the trabant car light on the b stage for Satellite of Love, Bono’s grand entrance during Zoo Station, but mostly the Hallelujah chorus at the end of Running to Stand Still – it gave me chills every time, and still does. The ZooTV tour will always hold a special place in my heart as it was my first U2 tour.
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
Yes I had to fudge a little on this one to fit in everything I wanted to write about on the A to Z Challenge, so I chose You’re the One That I Want and Grease as my Y even though I am just going to write about Grease. It is my all-time favorite movie. It was my favorite movie growing up and still is today. I can recite every line – I’m not exaggerating. I first saw it in the theatre in 1978 when I was 5 – I still have my Grease tee shirt. I watched it when it came on tv, then taped it when Beta came out and watched it over and over. I bought it on vhs and then dvd, but still watch it when it comes on VH-1 classic, even though I own it and can recite it. I saw Grease again in the theatre on its 20th anniversary. I went everyday the first week it was re-released. I’ve also seen the play Grease several times all over, including Baltimore, Memphis and Dublin. Grease was my first album, so along with Happy Days, it was my first music and was a critical part in shaping what kind of music I enjoy. Grease is like home to me, it comforts me.
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
Besides my iPod, all I listen to is XM Radio. I really only listen to three channels on XM: Elvis Radio, the 80s station, and the New Wave station, which is really just 80s ‘alternative.’ From time to time I will turn the dial over to Eminem’s station or the Blues channel, but that’s really it. I like it because there are no commercials and they always play the songs I want to hear. My only complaint is that the Elvis station will play the same song in an 8 hour span, which is ridiculous since Elvis has over 800 songs. And if you’re wondering why I know this, it is because I used to listen to the Elvis station and only the Elvis station on my 14 hour drive to Memphis from Baltimore. Oh, and another complaint I have is if Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam each have their own station, then U2 are certainly deserving of their own station. Just sayin XM radio has changed the way I listen to music in my car, and I am sure I’m not the only one.
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
Before there was U2, there was Wham! Yes, I loved Wham! They were my favorite band in middle school – I didn’t discover U2 until freshman year of high school. Sure I loved Madonna and Tears for Fears and lots of other 80s bands, but I loved Wham! They were my obsession in middle school. I loved Andrew Ridgely, not George Michael. I know how to pick em, don’t I? My favorite Wham! song is Everything She Wants, with Freedom as a close second.
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
It was 1981, and I was almost 9 years old when Music Television (MTV) debuted on cable television. We were the test house in our neighborhood for cable tv, so I was one of the lucky ones who got to watch MTV from the beginning. Before MTV, there was just Friday Night Videos. But when MTV debuted its first apply named video Video Killed the RadioStar by the Buggles, my music life along with everyone else’s changed forever. We were now able to see all of our favorite bands sing and dance – and see how cute they were. Again to a pre-teen, what a band looked like was VERY important. You really got to know the bands. Videos were great, like watching mini movies. A great example of this was Madonna’s Papa Don’t Preach. This video had an entire storyline in just a few minutes. I wish MTV today was the MTV of the 1980s and actually played music videos.
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
I have been an avid U2 fan for 26 years. Some say obsessed, but I like to say passionate. I discovered U2 in March 1987 with the release of The Joshua Tree. I heard With or Without You and liked it. I realized U2 was the same group that sang that song Pride I had heard a few years prior. It was my freshman year of high school, and I noticed a picture of U2 that a classmate had. Larry stood out right away as the attractive one and someone whose pictures would soon decorate my locker. I immediately bought The Joshua Tree. That summer, I remember walking along the beach in Ocean City, Maryland with my boom box blaring I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. By the time Rattle and Hum was released a year later, I had all of U2’s albums and had recorded all of their performances on television.
I have seen U2 75 times in concert and met each member at least once. I have every album, most of the singles and videos and many bootlegs. My favorite U2 songs are I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Luminous Times, Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, Gone, and Heartland. My favorite U2 albums are The Joshua Tree, Rattle and Hum, Achtung Baby, All That You Can’t Leave Behind, and Pop. My favorite U2 videos are I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Electrical Storm, Numb, Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses and Walk On (international version). I have already written about my love for U2 drummer Larry Mullen and my favorite tours Elevation and 360.
A few years ago, I gathered all my journals since mid 1997 and began writing about my adventures on the U2 tours I have been on from ZooTv to 360. It is more than just the U2 concerts. It is about the people I meet, the places I see, and the experiences we share along the way. I have met so many amazing people by going on U2 tours. We still keep touch and meet up every few years on tour. My love for U2 has brought me to many great places. The best was Dublin, Ireland. I spent a summer in Dublin studying at Trinity College in 1998. U2 wasn’t playing a concert in Dublin, but I became interested in Ireland because U2 are from there. I went to Las Vegas, my second favorite city, two times because U2 played there on the Vertigo and 360 tours. I have been to Vegas three other times, but U2 playing there gave me a reason to go two more times. I had always wanted to go to Chicago and see a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, and U2 gave me the excuse to go. U2 opened their 360 North American tour with two shows at Soldier Field in Chicago. I went to both shows, and I finally got to Wrigley. And obviously my three month road trip on the 2011 US leg of the 360 tour brought me to many, many great American cities in 31 states (over 18,000 miles driven). Because of U2 I became a writer, met many great friends, traveled to many great cities, and have had more great experiences than I can count. It is safe to say that U2 has changed my life.
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
Toad the Wet Sprocket was my second favorite band in the 90s. They actually reminded me a lot of U2. They had that same passion and the guitar reminded me of Edge. I saw Toad several times in concert back then and then once a few years ago. I was a bit disappointed with that show a few years ago at Rams Head in Baltimore because they played all sorts of new songs that I didn’t know, leaving out most of the songs I love from their first three albums. But last year at Rams Head in Annapolis, Toad the Wet Sprocket played a fantastic show. They did play some new stuff, but they played my old favorites as well.
I went to Annapolis early and had dinner at Rams Head before the show, then sat in the lobby waiting for the 9pm show to start hoping the band would walk out – and they did. First the drummer came out and signed and took a picture with a fan, even though he said they weren’t supposed to until after the second show. Then Glen Phillips came out and spoke with friends, who were really fans I think, but they knew him. I took pictures, but didn’t feel it was the right setting to approach him. We were seated at 8:15pm. My seat was right on the stage, but on the side. It’s such an intimate venue. The tables are right up against the stage. The audience didn’t look like your typical concert-going crowd, but they were really into Toad and knew the songs – well the newer songs anyway.
Toad the Wet Sprocket took the stage around 9:15 and played for an hour and a half. They sounded even better than they did in the 90s. Glenn’s voice is just beautiful – and he still performs barefoot! I can’t give a complete set list because I don’t really know the songs after the first four albums, but they did play three of my favorite songs. So here is the set list according to the songs I knew: Fly From Heaven, Something’s Always Wrong, Good Intentions, Torn, I Will Not Take These Things For Granted, Come Back Down, Nightingale Song, All I Want, Fall Down, Come Down, Walk on the Ocean.
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
I first saw Soundgarden back in the early 90s at the Baltimore Arena when Superunknown was popular. Then I saw Chris Cornell solo at Rams Head in 2008. In 2010 at Lollapalooza, I saw Soundgarden in their first big show together over a decade. I went it as soon as the gates opened and got a spot on the front rail, but all the way to the left. I stood there in the hot Chicago sun all day watching a few other bands until Soundgarden finally took the stage. They played all their hits including my favorites ‘Fell On Black Days,’ ‘Black Hole Sun,’ and ‘Spoon Man.’ Chris Cornell was beautiful as ever. He walked through the crowd pleasing many fans!
A year later while in Philadelphia for the U2 360 Tour, I saw Soundgarden at Festival Pier (it was the day before the U2 show). I bought a fanclub GA, so we were let into the venue before the regular GA. We got to the front rail on the left, but closer than I was at Lollapalooza the year before because this was a smaller venue. Soundgarden took the stage at 8:45. They played my favorites Spoonman, My Wave, Fell on Black Days, Rusty Cage, and Black Hole Sun. They were great and seemed really excited that the Philly audience was so enthusiastic. Chris even said something like, ‘Finally a real crowd.’
Soundgarden Philly 7.13.11
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
I love Rockabilly! I think I have always loved it, but didn’t really learn about it until I moved to Memphis. I lived only a couple of miles from Sun Studio, where Rockabilly (and Rock n Roll) was born. Other than Elvis Presley, my favorite Rockabilly artists are Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Smith, Charlie Rich, Billy Lee Riley, Sonny Burgess, Carl Perkins, Warren Smith, Buddy Holly, and Bill Haley. You haven’t heard of some of these folks, google them – you won’t be sorry. And if you haven’t heard of Sun Studio in Memphis, google that too. Sun is where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and many others all got their start. In fact, on a cold December night back in 1956 all four of those soon to be big names gather together for an impromtu jam session that was later dubbed ‘The Million Dollar Quartet.’ Luckily the owner, Sam Phillips, had the good sense to record it, and it is available today on cd. If you are ever in Memphis, a visit to Sun Studio is a must! And if you like rockabilly as much as I do, then stop in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Jackson, TN – about an hour from Memphis. I’ve been fortunate to have seen Billy Lee Riley, Sonny Burgess and Jerry Lee Lewis perform live. Billy performed up until he died a couple of years ago and even in their 70s Jerry Lee Lewis and Sonny Burgess are still rocking.
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
I am not a subscriber of Q magazine or even a regular reader, but what else am I going to write about for a Q topic for this A to Z Challenge. I do buy Q when someone I like is featured – and that’s usually U2. It is quite a good music magazine. Over the years, they have had some great pictures of U2 on their cover. Here are just a few…
my favorite!
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
No I didn’t forget my theme for the A to Z challenge was music and not television. But Happy Days, my all-time favorite television show, has everything to do with my favorite music. I was watching Happy Days from as early as I can remember – four years old, maybe even three. It was where I first heard Splish Splash by Bobby Darin – of course Potsie was singing it. It was also where I first heard Elvis Presley – on the jukebox at Arnold’s. Although Potsie did sing All Shook Up, and Fonzie sang Heartbreak Hotel. Hmmm, I wonder if that’s why it is my favorite Elvis song? And one of my favorite episodes is when Joanie has a crush on Potsie after he sings Put Your Head on My Shoulder to her.I think when I was little, I wanted to be Joanie – and had a bit of a crush on Potsie. Because of Happy Days, I love 1950s music and Elvis and Bobby are two of my favorites.
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
Olivia Newton-John is my favorite. I have loved her since I was five. She was my first obsession, my first scrapbook. I discovered Olivia when I first saw Grease and soon had all of her albums. Olivia has a memorabilia shelf along side Elvis and U2. My favorite Olivia Newton-John album is Totally Hot, which contains my favorite ONJ song A Little More Love. Unfortunately I have yet to meet Olivia Newton-John, but I was lucky enough to see her in concert twice. The first time was in 2003 in Tunica, Mississippi. I was in the front row and cried during her first five songs. I was just so excited to finally see her live in concert. Besides being a wonderful singer, Olivia is agreat actress (you should also check out Xanadu and Two of a Kind). The second time I saw Olivia Newton-John in concert was at The Strathmore in Rockville, MD on November 16, 2012. It was a seated show and most people in the audience were there because it was part of their subscription to The Strathmore. The only songs they knew the words to were from Grease. Of course I knew every word to every song and was SO excited to hear them! Olivia was very funny and entertaining, and she can still belt it out! The surprise of the night for me was hearing Shaking You, which has always been a favorite of mine, but not very well known. It is a heartbraking song off the Two of a Kind soundtrack. The set list was as follows: Have You Never Been Mellow, A Little More Love, Sam, Xanadu, Magic, Suddenly, If Not For You, Let Be There, Please Mr Please, Take Me Home Country Roads, Jolene, If You Love Me, Physical, Suspended In Time, Shaking You, Never Give Into It, Look at Me I’m Sandra Dee, You’re the One that I Want, Hopelessly Devoted to You, Summer Nights, We Go Together, Grace and Gratitude, I Honestly Love You.
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
My first concert of my life was New Kids on the Block at the Baltimore Arena in 1990 – I was almost 18. (I wasn’t allowed to go to concerts until I graduated high school.) Twenty-three years later I still love the NKOTB! The only difference is back then I was a ‘Danny girl’ and now I’m a ‘Jordan girl’. I get criticized for being a BlockHead – that’s what the NKOTB fans are called. My U2 friends can’t believe such a passionate U2 fan like myself is also a passionate NKOTB fan, but I don’t care because I love the 5 guys from Boston. They are so entertaining and great to to their fans, their concerts are a blast – and they’re hot! Sadly I don’t have any of my old NKOTB memorabilia. I have no idea where my tour program, concert ticket, Step By Step vhs tape, or Danny pillowcase is. I never get rid of anything, but who knew NKOTB would make such a great comeback after all of these years.
NKOTB Memphis 7.2.09
19 years later, I saw NKOTB again in Memphis on July 2, 2009. It was in support of their new record The Block. I was in the 5th row. I had the best time at that concert! So much fun to relive my youth. All the screaming girls who were in their teens in late-80s, early-90s were now screaming women in their 30s. They had just gotten back together the previous year. I arrived early to the venue and saw Jorday and Joey and his family arrive by golf carts to their tour buses. Then during the opening act, Joey’s wife and son were sitting across from me and I danced with the little boy – so cute. Earlier that day, Joey had been at Graceland – of course I was working at the National Civil Rights Museum and was unable to stalk them. But Joey wore his Elvis tee shirt while he sang Jailhouse Rock, so that was pretty cool. To see all my pictures from that show, please click here.
NKOTB-1 Memphis 7.2.09
I saw NKOTB the following year on May 7 & 8, 2010 in Las Vegas for the opening of their Casino Tour. These two opening shows of the tour were general admission at the Pearl Theatre at the Palms Hotel. For opening night, I was up front on the rail, but all the way to the right – but luckily I got some close Jordan action there (even touched him). I loved the acoustic set NKOTB did – especially Single, which was quickly becoming a favorite of mine. After the opening night show, NKOTB invited everyone to their after party at Rain – free admission with our concert ticket. This is a place I would never ever go to, but since Jordan was going to be there so was I. The concert was over at 9:15, and Rain didn’t open until 10:30. Finally at midnight Jordan, Danny, Joey, Donnie and Jon arrived – and went to opposite end of the room from where I was. From their restricted balcony, I got to see Jordan dance, Danny flirt, Donnie work the crowd and Joey make out with his wife. I have no idea where Jon went.
NKOTB Vegas 5.7.10
my view NKOTB Vegas 5.7.10
NKOTB Vegas 5.7.10
JORDAN! Vegas 5.7.10
love this one! NKOTB Vegas 5.7.10
NKOTB Vegas 5.8.10
NKOTB Vegas 5.8.10
NKOTB Vegas 5.8.10
NKOTB Vegas 5.8.10
The second night of NKOTB in Vegas I didn’t line up early, but still had a great view. I stood dead center toward the back of the floor at the sound board. This was a great spot too because when the guys came back to sing Tonight they were right in front of me and then I got to shake each of their hands as the ran by to back to the main stage. Poor Jon fell off the stage during Tonight. Even though I was closer for opening night, I enjoyed this second Vegas show better. Musically the show was the same as the first night, but their energy was much much better the second night. The guys were having so much more fun. Donnie messed up the lyrics and laughed about it. Then Jordan messed up his dance and laughed about it. They made Jon sing Step 5 of Step By Step. They joked about all the fans complained about the show only being an hour and fifteen minutes last night – tonight it was almost an hour and a half. To see all of 161 of my pictures from both NKOTB shows in Vegas in 2010, please click here.
Jordan Knight 3.25.12
Two years later I saw Jordan Knight solo on March 25, 2012 at The Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland. It was a great show! Jordan is very entertaining, funny and of course hot! I wore my Jordan boyfriend tee shirt and listened to Single repeatedly on my half hour drive to The Fillmore. I arrived just after the doors opened at 7pm. I got a spot on the front rail all the way on the end, but it was a great view. My ticket said doors opened at 7pm and the Fillmore website said the show started at 8pm, but Jordan Knight didn’t take the stage until 9:05pm – and only played until 10:23pm. So basically I waited for Jordan longer than I saw him perform. But it was well worth the wait because Jordan Knight put on a great show, very intimate and entertaining! He talked and interacted a lot with the audience, including bringing three fans on stage to dance during Rockstar. The highlight of the show for me was Jordan’s performance of NKOTB’s The Right Stuff. To see all my pictures from this show, please click here.
Jordan! 3.25.12
Jordan Knight Silver Spring, MD 3.25.12
NKOTB MixTape Festival Hershey, PA 8.17.12
Five months later, I saw NKOTB at the MixTape Festival in Hershey, Pennsylvania on August 17th and 18th, 2012. The first night it was just NKOTB and the second night it was NKOTBSB. The first night was better – absolutely amazing! Although I am glad I did get to see NKOTBSB because I missed their tour in 2011 because I driving around the US for three months on the U2 360 Tour. My friend Abbey and I got in the GA line on Friday and by 3:45 we were inside the stadium one person back from the rail behind the VIP section. We noticed there were five platforms (let’s call them blocks) spaced along the rail on the VIP side. We quickly realized 5 blocks for 5 New Kids. We knew that NKOTB performs one song in the middle of the audience. I mentioned to Abbey that it would be great if they opened the show out here in front of us, rather than on the main stage. We stood behind the center block. Even though we were one person back, we were so close that we could reach out and touch it. Luckily for me, I am tall and the person in front of me was not. Minutes after we had secured our spot at the center block, it started to rain and then downpour – and it continued to drizzle the rest of the night. After listening to Aaron Carter, Steel Panthers and Paully D, the opening montage for NKOTB finally began at 8:45pm. After the retrospective video, I saw NKOTB riding through the stadium on a what looked like a golf cart. I was right, they were starting the show on those five blocks – right in front of us! It was so exciting watching them run in. Unfortunately Jordan ran past us to the block on the right. Donnie got on the block right in front of us. They opened with One Song. Towards the end of the song, all five of the New Kids were directly in front of us on the center block. Unfortunately Jordan and Joey were facing the other way toward the VIP, but Jon, Donnie and Danny were facing us. They were all wearing Adidas track suits. Jordan’s and Joey’s were blue with matching blue sun glasses while Jon’s, Donnie’s and Danny’s were red. At the end of the first song, they all started to get off of the block – except for Jordan! At that moment, I felt a big push like I was riding a wave and I ended up in front of Abbey (who had been standing next to me) and completely squishing the girl in front of me who was luckily really short. I was even closer to Jordan now! Then Jordan (and the rest of NKOTB) took off his track suit and was wearing a white tank and white pants. My legs were quivering – I was so excited! Abbey said Jordan was posing for me. NKOTB performed Summertime while Jordan was in front of me – not that I remember. All I remember is my neck hurting from looking straight up at Jordan because he was so close, reaching out for him to touch me (which he didn’t) and my legs shaking. It was quite an amazing three minutes! At the end of Summertime, Jordan left and Joey came to our block while NKOTB performed Dirty Dancing. I let Abbey get in front of me, so she could see – besides Jordan had already left for another block. After Dirty Dancing, NKOTB went to the main stage to perform to the anxious VIPers who I’m sure were none too happy that the lowly GAers got a close up performance for the first three songs. Friday was Donnie’s birthday, so Jordan, Joey, Danny, Jon, and the audience sang Happy Birthday. And then out of nowhere Jon started singing NKOTB’s version of Happy Birthday! It was great because Jon never sings and is very shy on stage. He stopped after the first verse and Donnie told him to keep singing “it’s the same lyrics.” And even Jordan tried to help him, hiding behind him singing. Then a girl from the audience gave Donnie a birthday present, some sort of giant chocolate bar from Hershey’s Chocolate World. A while later, I think it was Jordan who said something like let’s go back out there to perform this “they’re VIP too!” So back they came – right in front of us. Unfortunately, Jordan did not come back to our center block, but he was on the one to the left of us. Joey was in front of us while they performed Tonight. But it turned out to be great because Joey’s wife brought their little son Griffin up on the block with Joey. And together they sang. It couldn’t have been any cuter! Then NKOTB returned to the main stage for the rest of the show. At the end of the show, 98 Degrees joined NKOTB on stage during Hangin Tough. I got to see Nick Lachey and Jordan Knight standing next to each other. Sigh! As they were saying goodnight, Donnie told everyone to go watch Kelly Clarkson’s performance because they had a surprise for us. So at 10pm we went to the other end of the stadium to watch Kelly Clarkson, who was very good. About a half hour into her set, Joe McIntyre walks out and they sing an amazing duet together. We left after that and caught the shuttle back to the hotel. We were back by 11pm, but I didn’t fall sleep until after 3am. I was just too excited and kept replaying the show in my head, especially those first three songs. That NKOTB show was absolutely amazing! It was so great! Although they didn’t perform my favorite Single, they did perform my favorite Step By Step. It was a great show of New Kids’ oldies – very different from the shows I saw in Vegas on the Casino Tour two years ago. The NKOTB set list for Friday August 17th was as follows: One Song, Summertime, Dirty Dancing, The Right Stuff, Didn’t I Blow Your Mind, Valentine Girl, If You Go Away, Please Don’t Go Girl, Step By Step, Cover Girl, Happy Birthday, Tonight, I’ll Be Loving You Forever, Hangin Tough.
NKOTB MixTape Festival 8.17.12
Jordan right in front of me! 8.17.12
this is my favorite picture! 8.17.12
Joe and Griffin 8.17.12
NKOTB MixTape Festival Hershey, PA 8.18.12
NKOTBSB rehearsals MixTape Festival 8.18.12
NKOTB MixTape Festival 8.18.12
NKOTB MixTape Festival 8.18.12
The next day we returned to Hershey Park around noon on Saturday for Day Two of the MixTape Festival. We decided to wait at the entrance where the bands arrive. We saw Jordan walk up the stairs to the stage. Then we watched NKOTB and BSB rehearse. Luckily the stage was high enough that we could see them when they were out on the platform extension of the stage. They rehearsed Single, so I was very happy. After their rehearsal, Danny ran by and waved to us, but he didn’t stop. A few of the guys from Back Street Boys came out and shouted to us. Around 4:00, we went inside the stadium, bought a tee shirt, and sat in the shade at the soundboard. Nothing could top the previous night, so we didn’t even try to be up front. Also, the platform extension of the stage wasn’t as close to the GA section as were the previous nights ‘blocks.’ We watched the Dan Band, the Wanted and LL Cool J before NKOTBSB took the stage at 9pm. They opened with Single! Now I’ve seen three different versions of Single. I saw the regular album version in Memphis in 2009, the acoustic version in Vegas in 2010, and now the NKOTBSB version. Besides Single and the songs they did with Back Street Boys, NKOTB played the same songs as the previous night. But this time they wore black instead of white. They again came out into the audience for Tonight. Both The Wanted and 98 Degrees joined New Kids on the Block and Back Street Boys on stage – four boy bands on one stage! It was a great show, but I’m not a Back Street Boys fan so I was kind of bored every other two songs when BSB performed. It was great to see NKOTB two nights in a row though! I listened to Single on repeat the entire 98-mile drive home Saturday night. For all 119 of my photos from the MixTape Festival, please click here.
NKOTB record release Orpheum Boston 3.30.13
Seven months later on March 30, 2013, I saw NKOTB in a more intimate venue at their Record Release party for their new album 10 at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston. I flew up just for the night. I met my new friend Tricia at my hotel and we were at the Orpheum just after 3pm because I was hoping to catch Jordan as arrived. I did more than that! I wanted to go to the box office to see what the procedure was for our ticketless entry, so I walked up to the door of the Orpheum. I was about to go in, but saw someone standing just inside the door talking to someone else. He was leaning on the door, so I didn’t want to open it and have him fall. He started pushing his way out, so I opened the door and held it for him. I was stunned to see that it was Jon Knight. I didn’t know what to do. I looked over at Tricia and the other women waiting, but no one was looking. I didn’t want to shove my iphone in his face to take a picture, so I just said, “Hi Jon!” He said, “Hi.” I said, “Good luck tonight!” He said, “Thanks.” I was shaking – and it wasn’t even Jordan! Jon was actually on his way to get coffee, as we saw when he returned. A few minutes later Jordan come walking up the alley – the cars must have let them off at the end of alley at the street. Jordan waved and said, “Hi.” He may have looked at me and smiled A while later Joey walked up. Apparently Danny and Donnie were already inside – we just missed meeting Danny by a few minutes. Ugh! Even though all the guys were inside, we stayed and hung out in front of the Orpheum. We listened to the soundcheck – even though the fire door said not to block it and the food court security guy kept kicking us out. We heard NKOTB rehearse The ReMix, Jealous, Step By Step, Hangin Tough, The Right Stuff, Five Brothers and a Million Sisters, Crash, Whisper, and Survive You.
here comes Jordan
NKOTB record release Orpheum Boston 3.30.13
chatting with NKOTB
Donnie in the audience!
The show was supposed to start at 7:30, but didn’t begin until about 8:15 and lasted just over an hour – although it felt longer. It opened with a montage of NKOTB’s albums while Whisper was playing – so I guess we didn’t actually hear the boys sing it during soundcheck. Then NKOTB appeared on stage in their suits singing what is my current favorite off ’10′ We Own Tonight. Crash was next and was followed by the guys sitting down and talking about how the new album came about. They brought Lars and the production team on stage – but there was no Q & A like Jordan had tweeted. I really wanted to ask him if they were going to play Single on this tour, and I wanted to ask Donnie where the After Party was. The sit down talk was followed by Survive You with Robbie on the piano, then a very excited performance of The Remix. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any louder, the theatre erupted with the Step By Step / Hangin Tough / Right Stuff medley. Fans then presented NKOTB with the full-page ad they bought in Billboard congratulating them on the release of 10 and thanking them. The guys were visibly moved, especially Jon who was a bit choked up to talk. Joey then sang Five Brothers and a Million Sisters while Jordan played piano. It seemed that the show was over, so I ran outside in case they tried to sneak out early. Once outside the doors, I heard Donnie talking and it was obvious they were going to sing another song. So I ran back inside the Orpheum to listen to Jordan sing I’ll Be Loving You (Forever). I would have been VERY upset had I missed that. Then I ran back outside to wait for them. It was 9:30. At 11pm, Donnie drove by us. Apparently there was a side door where everyone left – even though everyone had entered at the front door. We went to the Beantown Pub, since I hadn’t eaten in 12 hours. I wanted a Bostonian meal, so I had a lobster roll and a Sam Adams – across from Sam Adams’ grave. We found out that Jon Knight was in the back playing pool. By the time we got back there, he was upstairs talking with everyone. He was so nice and gracious. Tricia got a nice hug and kiss from Jon – so sweet. For all 88 of my pictures from the Orpheum show, please click here.
This summer I will add five more NKOTB shows to my list. I am going to the first three shows at Mohegan Sun Casino May 28, 29, and 31st then I’m going to the show in DC on June 14th and then the show in Atlantic City on July 26th. Please check back for full reviews, picture and videos. I will be live tweeting (and posting on facebook and writing here on my blog) my NKOTB adventures. So make sure to follow me on twitter @DeenasDays and here on my blog for all the updates – I have VIP on May 31st at Mohegan Sun, so hopefully I’ll have a nice story about meeting Jordan!
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
I am a child of the 1980s. I was 8 in 1980 and 17 in 1989. I love the 80s! I love 80s movies and tv shows, and still watch them on a regular basis. And when I’m not listening to Elvis, U2 or NKOTB, I’m listening to the 80s or New Wave channel on XM radio. Some of my favorites from the 1980s are Wham, Bryan Adams, Duran Duran, Howard Jones, Tears for Fears, Huey Lewis, A-Ha, Culture Club, Cyndi Lauper, Phil Collins, Violent Femmes, Tracy Chapman, Whitney Housont, Michael Jackson, REM, New Kids on the Block, U2 and of course Madonna. In middle school, I loved Madonna. Who didn’t, right? I wanted to be like her, but the only thing I was allowed to wear that was Madonna-esque were her jelly bracelets. (that is probably a good thing now that I look back.) My favorite Madonna song back then was Burning Up. Other favorites were Dress You Up, Lucky Star, Papa Don’t Preach, and Into the Groove. Ironically, I remember watching Live Aid for Madonna – I don’t even remember U2 performing because I didn’t know who they were at the time. Love live the 80s!
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
I love Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ only child. True, I first became interested in her because of Elvis, but after hearing her music and listening to her interviews, I fell in love with Lisa for Lisa. 2002 was the first time I saw Lisa Marie Presley in person. She introduced her song Nobody Noticed It at Elvis’ 25th Anniversary concert at the Pyramid in Memphis. She didn’t sing it live, but played the recorded version with the words on the screen.
The first time I saw Lisa Marie Presley perform live in concert was in Baltimore on July 24, 2003. This was also the first time I met her. Lisa opened for Chris Isaak at Pier 6. It wasn’t crowded, so I moved down to the front row – standing and singing the entire time! At the end of Lisa’s set, I asked for a set list and one of the guys gave it to me. Then I left missing Chris Isaak because I wanted to meet Lisa. I went to the parking lot and after about five minutes, Lisa came out to greet everyone. She got to me, and I handed her my set list. Lisa smiled and said, “Oh you got a set list!” I told her it was a great show, and she said thanks. Then she said, “You were the one in front singing, right?” Lisa Marie Presley noticed me!
A week later I saw Lisa Marie Presley in concert again. This time in Memphis at the Botanic Garden on August 1, 2003. Lisa again opened for Chris Isaak. I wasn’t as close as I was in Baltimore. I wasn’t standing at the stage, but I was seated at one of the front tables, but off to the side. I was about two tables away from Priscilla! It was amazing to watch Priscilla watch her daughter on stage – and in Memphis! Lisa sounded so much better than she did in Baltimore because the sound was so much better – the band did not drown out her voice this time. Lisa was so excited, and her performance was just amazing!
The next day I saw Lisa Marie Presley perform in Nashville at the historic Ryman Auditorium on August 2, 2003. I ended up staying at the same hotel as Lisa and her band. I waited near her tour bus from 4-7 before the show, but never got to speak with Lisa. I saw her walk by a few times and saw Priscilla. My seat was in the 6th row, right behind Priscilla – she beamed with pride watching her daughter perform. Everyone was forced to sit in the Ryman, but we periodically stood up and cheered and Lisa acknowledged us and Priscilla turned around and smiled at us. When I got back to my hotel room after the show, I realized that Lisa’s band was staying on my floor. We talked with them in the hallway, but we never saw Lisa.
I didn’t see Lisa Marie Presley again for another two years. She performed at the Beale Street Music Festival on May 1, 2005. I arrived at the festival just before the gates opened, but there was a long line waiting to get in. I had to run all the way to the other side of the park to the stage where Lisa was playing. I didn’t get a spot on the front rail, but three people back dead center. Luckily those three people were short, so I had a great view. And Lisa put on a great show – so much better than her first tour. She was so relaxed. Lisa played my favorites Indifferent, SOB, Lights Out, I’ll Figure It Out, and Idiot.
The next day I saw Lisa Marie Presley in Nashville at the Cannery on May 2, 2005. After waiting four hours in line, I was rewarded with a spot up front on the rail. I thought this Nashville show was even better than the show in Memphis. For the first time ever, Lisa played High Enough, which I love! She also played Now What, Road Between, and Here Today, all of which she didn’t play the previous day in Memphis. I got a set list for this Nashville show!
A few days later I saw Lisa Marie Presley at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA on May 9, 2005. It was a seated show, and I was at a table right up front. The set list was the same as the Nashville show, except Turned to Black was played instead of High Enough. It was a great show, and Lisa talked a lot. She was really funny. Unfortunately, the meet and greet was cancelled after the show.
A few days later I saw Lisa Marie Presley at the history Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ on May 15, 2005. It was Lisa’s last official show of this leg of her tour. After waiting in line for several hours, I got a spot on the front rail all the way at the end. Lisa was sick, so she didn’t do the acoustic set of Now What and Road Between. She also didn’t play Turbulence or Indifference, but she did play High Enough and Turned to Black. It was still a great show. Priscilla was in the crowd, so Lisa sang Raven. It was amazing! Lisa kept looking at her and she and Priscilla were tearing up – as was I. During Thanks, Lisa invited some fans up on stage to sing with her. At the end of the show, Lisa Marie Presley shook my hand, looked into my eyes, and said, “Thank you!”
Two days later I saw Lisa Marie Presley perform Idiot on Good Morning America on May 17, 2005. I got up at 4am and got a cab from my hotel in New Jersey and waited on the streets in New York City until they let us in the studio at 7am. Lisa didn’t come on until 8:45am. It was only one song, but I was SO close and apparently I was on tv because my mom called to tell me she saw me singing along. After her appearance, Lisa stopped to sign autographs with her fans.
Still in New York City, two days later I saw Lisa Marie Presley at City Hall Park for a free concert. I was right up front and center on the rail. The set list was changed a bit. Lisa played I’ll Figure It Out, Sinking In, Turbulence, Lights Out, Dirty Laundry, Idiot, Here Today Gone Tomorrow – and the Ramones drummer played along on their cover.
I didn’t see Lisa Marie Presley again for over a year, but it was well worth the wait. It was my 34th birthday – October 4, 2006. Lisa performed at the Birchmere again in Alexandria, Virgina and I had been selected for a Meet and Greet after the show. For the show, I had a seat up front, but way to the left of the stage. Lisa announced my birthday during the show. She had never sounded better. She played SOB, Lights Out, Sinking In, Indifferent, Excuse Me, High Enough, Yellow to Blue, Idiot, I’ll Figure It Out, Turbulence, Thanks, Dirty Laundry, Here Today Gone Tomorrow, and a duet with Ryan Cabrera. After the show, I met Lisa Marie Presley and got my picture taken with her. She signed my cd cover and wished me a Happy Birthday. I told her she gets better every tour, and we discussed how it sucks to have seated venues and how excited we were for the Stone Pony show.
Two days later I saw Lisa Marie Presley in concert again at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ on October 6, 2006. After four long, cold, windy hours waiting in line, the doors opened and I got a great spot front and center on the rail. The crowd was great, but the sound wasn’t that good. It was the same set list as the Birchmere show, except she closed with a cover of Joan Jett’s I Hate Myself for Loving You.
Two days later I saw Lisa Marie Presley in my hometown of Baltimore at Rams Head Live on October 8, 2006. I was again front and center on the rail. Rosanne Barr opened and was hysterical. Lisa sounded amazing! The crowd wasn’t great because they weren’t really Lisa Marie Presley fans, but by the end of the show, they got into it. The set list was the same as the previous two shows except for the encore Lisa played Turned to Black and did a duet with Rosanne - Baby I Love You.There was a lot of interaction between Lisa and the audience. After the show, Lisa stopped to sign autographs and meet with her fans. This Baltimore show was my favorite of the tour.
The next day I saw Lisa Marie Presley in New York City at BB Kings on October 10, 2006. I was once again up front on the rail, but a little to the left of center. This New York crowd was amazing – everyone knew the words! The set list was the same, except instead of Yellow to Blue it was Turned to Black and she closed the show with a Joan Jett cover.
A year later I saw Lisa Marie Presley as she performed In the Ghetto in Memphis at Elvis 30th Anniversary concert on August 16, 2007. It was amazing! The crowd went wild, and Lisa sounded great!
Five years later on June 15, 2012 I was lucky enough to see Lisa Marie Presley perform twice in the same day and meet her. And because of Lisa, I met so many fantastic people. I started off my LMP Day in Annapolis at 11am. I arrived at Rams Head on Stage to find the band’s tour bus parked out front. I went inside and only one person waiting for Lisa Marie Presley’s Private Artist Showcase put on by the great radio station WRNR. I couldn’t believe there wasn’t a line of people waiting for this free, intimate performance. I won free passes to this event just by filling out a form on their website. By noon, a line had formed and we were still waiting outside. We were told that Lisa was late and we would be let in soon. I got a table right up front, and I mean literally on the stage. My knees touched the stage, which was very low. Lisa’s microphone was directly in front of me. She took the stage around 12:45, almost an hour after the show was supposed to start. When she walked out, she looked a little startled and as she sat down in front of me she said, “Wow, you’re so close!” After the opening song of Weary, she asked for the lyrics to the next song. A guy from WRNR gave me her cd to hand to her. Lisa said she doesn’t really look at them, but likes to know they’re there in case she needs them. Then she went on to say she was late because her bus was parked in Baltimore, so they had to drive her to Annapolis. She said she had no idea the two venues were so far apart – it’s at least a 30 minute drive, but more with the Sailabration traffic in Baltimore. Lisa then played Storm and Nails and closed with Over Me. I was singing right along with her on Over Me, as it is my favorite song off Storm and Grace, and Lisa spotted me singing (since I was inched from her face) and smiled at me. There was a huge applause from the 150-plus seated audience, and Lisa seemed really touched – she bowed as she left the stage.
After the show, I made my way to Baltimore for Lisa’s second show of the day. There was lots of traffic on Pratt Street because of the Star-Spangled Sailabration in honor of the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812 and the writing of our national anthem. The Blue angels flew right over my car while I was stuck in traffic. I finally made it to the Baltimore Soundstage, parked in a nearby garage, and had some pizza at Joe Squared down the street. After lunch, I walked down the street to see the Tall Ships and watch the Blue Angels practice. At 5:00, I made my way to the Baltimore Soundstage for Lisa Marie Presley’s show. My friend Joey showed up shortly after and Keith after him. We went inside at 7:00, and Joey and I were taken to our table front and center – the same exact spot I was in at the Annapolis show. Shortly after we were seated, I received a text from Lisa’s people saying I was chosen for a Meet and Greet after her show – so excited! The opening act was a local singer named David Tieff, who was really good. Lisa came on stage just before 9pm, she sounded wonderful, and the show was fantastic!!! Highlights for me were Over Me (my favorite song off Storm and Grace), Un-break (especially when Lisa played the drums), and Lights Out (her first single ever and represents Memphis to me).As the guys were breaking down the stage, I asked for a set list and got it. The set list for Lisa Marie Presley in Baltimore was as follows: So Long, Over Me, Weary, You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet, Soften the Blows, Forgiving, Storm of Nails, Un-Break, Storm and Grace, Lights Out.
After the show, Keith, Joey and I made our way behind the black velvet curtain to wait for our Meet and Greet – with about 30 or 40 others. We waited for everyone else to leave and then we were taken to meet Lisa Marie Presley in small groups. We were last to meet her, which was kind of cool. As always, Lisa was SO nice and SO gracious and SO beautiful! I walked up to her, shook her hand and told her it was nice to meet her – she said, “Thank you.” I asked her to autograph my set list. And she was signing it, I thanked her for playing the show in Annapolis earlier that day. She said, “It was a crazy morning!” I told her there was another Rams Head right next door to where we were. She laughed and said, “Yeah poor planning.” Then I asked if I could take my picture with her, and she of course agreed. It was extra special to me that Lisa signed my set list because the first time I ever saw Lisa Marie Presley was also in Baltimore back in 2003. I got the set list then too, and she autographed it when I met her after the show then also. Basking in our excitement over talking with Lisa Marie Presley, we waited outside the Baltimore Soundstage and in front of Lisa’s tour bus. A few minutes later, Lisa walked out surrounded by a few security guards. People on the street ran up and surrounded her. She was nice enough to stop and pose for pictures with them and sign autographs. Then some crazy woman came up behind her and grabbed her throat. Lisa said, “UGH!” and shoved her arm off of her. Then they got her safely on her tour bus. Still excited by the night’s events, we stayed on the street in front of Lisa’s tour bus. A few minutes later, a car pulled up and Lisa’s husband and musical director Michael Lockwood jumped off the bus, ran to the car and pulled out their twin girls and quickly carried them back to the tour bus.
I really did not think I could have a better day with Lisa Marie Presley than I did June 15th. But as perfect as that day was, Lisa Marie Presley’s show at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster, PA November 11, 2012 was phenomenal. Lisa said, “it was the best show of the tour – even better than Nashville.” We made our way over to the Chameleon Club around 5pm to line up for Lisa’s show. There were about seven people ahead of us. Much to my surprise and delight, they were my old friends (Tee, Rosanna, Matt, Maria, Bambi) from Lisa Marie Presley tours past. Then Birgit and her husband, whom I had met at the Baltimore show, joined us. It was great to see everyone again, which ultimately made the night even more special. We were let inside around 6:45, then into the club about a half hour later. We secured our spots on the front rail. The opening band, El El from Lancaster, played for about a half hour then Lisa took the stage at 9:07 and played until 10:23.
This Lisa Marie Presley show was better and longer than the one in Baltimore a few months ago. It is still a promo tour for her latest album, so all songs but three were off Storm and Grace. A welcome addition to the set list for me was a re-worked Idiot off Lisa’s second album Now What. It is probably my favorite Lisa Marie Presley song – if I was forced to pick one. Lisa said Idiot was the “meanest song she had ever written.” The crowd cheered, and Lisa laughed and asked why that made us happy. I think I was the most excited during the show when Lisa played drums on Un-Break and Sticks and Stones because it truly is all about drums. I have a newfound love for Sticks and Stones. I loved the lyrics before, but after Lisa’s amazing performance last night…Wow! Lisa was interactive and expressive as always and this Lancaster audience was amazing – very enthusiastic and singing along to every song. Lisa said one of her favorites off Storm and Grace is Soften the Blows. The set list last night was as follows: So Long, Over Me, Weary, Storm of Nails, Just A Dream, Storm and Grace, Idiot, You Ain’t Seen Nothin Yet, Forgiving, Soften the Blows, Un-Break, Sticks and Stones, Lights Out, I Need to Know (Tom Petty cover). For some reason Storm and Grace was not played even though it was on the set list.
Even after the lights were up and Lisa was long gone from the stage, we stayed there soaking in the wonderful show we had just experienced. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful in my quest for a set list. Unless I get one at Carnegie Hall Saturday, this will be the only leg of a tour I have not gotten a set list. After a while we went to the merch table to see what new and exciting things I could spend my money on. When I finally made it to the front of the line, I discovered they were out of Storm and Grace on vinyl which I had been wanting since I heard they were selling it at the Tunica shows. I was told that they were out of the vinyl and the shipment was late, but they should have it for the Carnegie Hall show in New York Saturday. I had already bought the hoodie and tour tee from Lisa’s website, so I left with nothing. We waited around a bit longer. Abbey decided to leave, but she had a wonderful time celebrating her birthday at her first Lisa Marie Presley show. I got back in the merch line and noticed Lisa was standing right next to me waiting to start the Meet and Greets. She heard me say “I’m back” to the merchandise lady. Lisa leaned over to me and asked, “Are you buying everything?” I told her no, just a hat because I had bought everything on her website. She asked if she could sign something for me, so I had her autograph my ticket. I told her that I love Idiot, and it was my ‘go out’ song – that I used to listen to it before I went out to bars to get me excited and hyped up. I told her that I also wanted my picture with her, so I was going to go to the end of the Meet and Greet line – since I wasn’t technically in line for the Meet and Greet yet. It was just pretty cool that Lisa initiated a conversation with me. (yes, i’m geeking out a bit) When I got back to Lisa for my ‘official’ Meet and Greet, I asked her to autograph my M&G pass and asked for a photo with her. I also thanked her for doing the Meet and Greets because a lot of bands charge for them or don’t even do them. She had no idea that bands actually charged for Meet and Greets – she was appalled. Lisa Marie Presley is the sweetest person. She is so gracious and down to earth. It is always a pleasure and a privilege to meet and speak with her.
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
Unfortunately, I did not get into Nirvana until a few months before that fateful day in April 1994. I usually resist the newest band that everyone is in to. But I finally succumbed to the greatness that was Nirvana – no pun intended. I bought all of their cds and had tickets to see them at Lollapalooza (when it still traveled from city to city) in the Summer of 1994, but that obviously never happened. To this day, I say that I don’t like any music post 1994 – when Kurt Cobain died. (That obviously isn’t completely true because I do like new music that my favorite bands put out.) I was very affected by Kurt’s death. I even had nightmares following his death involving me arguing with Courtney Love. My favorite Nirvana song is Lithium. When I was in Seattle for the U2 360 tour, I visited the Nirvana exhibit at the Experience Music Project and Kurt’s house.
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
I had always liked Johnny Cash because he was a legend, but it wasn’t until I moved to Memphis that I really became a fan. I attended the premiere of Johnny Cash’s America - and then my love for Johnny Cash began. I immediately bought all of his music, biographies and dvds. A few days later I drove to Dyess, Arkansas to Johnny’s boyhood home, which was featured in the movie Walk the Line about Johnny’s life. I then sought out his adult homes in Memphis. Although I was too late to see Johnny in person, I was able to see and meet his bass player and lifelong friend Marshall Grant. At the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Marshall performed one last time, talked about his life with Johnny and then signed autographs. After the U2 360 show in Nashville, I finally visited Johnny Cash’s grave in Hendersonville, TN.
Johnny Cash is linked to my two favorites, Elvis Presley and U2. Like Elvis, Johnny also started at Sun Studio. He, Elvis, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis were dubbed the Million Dollar Quartet after a jam session one December night at Sun. U2 and Johnny Cash recorded a song together called The Wanderer.
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
My favorite song of all-time, U2 or otherwise, is I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, off my favorite U2 album The Joshua Tree. It was my first favorite U2 song and what solidified me as a U2 fan, along with Larry Mullen Jr. With or Without You introduced me to U2, but it was I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For that made me a fan. And 26 years later, I still have not found what I am looking for. But I love the journey, the quest for what truly makes me happy. Besides being a fantastic, spiritual and uplifting song, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For is an amazing video – my favorite. It captures U2 during The Joshua Tree era in Las Vegas, my second favorite city. I cried when U2 played I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For at the second show in Anaheim on the 360 tour in 2011 because they hadn’t played it yet that leg. Even though I had heard it at lots of shows before, it was a special moment in Anaheim when U2 played I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. I find it interesting that Larry is on the cover of the single of my favorite song.
I have climbed the highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you.
I have run, I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing in her finger tips
It burned like fire
(I was) burning inside her.
I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colours will bleed into one
Bleed into one.
But yes, I’m still running.
You broke the bonds
And you loosed the chains
Carried the cross of my shame
Oh my shame, you know I believe it.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
One night in the mid-1990s, I was at Bohager’s (yes I admit I was actually at Bohager’s) and heard this band playing U2′s New Year’s Day. The band was Baltimore-based Honor Among Thieves. I quickly become enamored with them. I went to their weekly Sunday night shows at The Horse You Came In On in Fells Point and their Wednesday night acoustic sets at Claddagh Pub in Caton. I became friendly with the band, especially the lead singer Mitch and guitarist Mark. Honor Among Thieves’ album Grow is simply beautiful. My favorites are Go Away and What a Mess. The band went on to become the nationally known SR-71, but they will always be Honor Among Thieves to me and represent one of the greatest periods of my life.
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.
XM radio has changed the way I listen to music in my car, and I am sure I’m not the only one.
