So, I went to see Chicago in concert last night and it was AMAZING!! This was the first show of Chicago's 2011 tour and they purposely scheduled it in a smaller venue. The first concert of the season is like the "tune Up" show, although after 43 years and 32 Platinum albums, one wouldn't think Chicago needs a lot of tuning up? Regardless, the show was perhaps the best of the 35 Chicago concerts I've attended going back to 1972. They pulled up a lot of old material that they typically don't play at arena concerts. In particular, I was really happy to hear them play "Happy Man" off Chicago VII. Honestly, I don't think I've ever heard them play this tune live?
The concert was at a new place that just recently opened in our area called "Nutty Jerry's. When it first opened, I considered it Nutty all right. The place is big, over 80,000 square feet and given the state of the economy I was highly skeptical it was a smart money move to be opening something that large in a area that is not exactly famous for supporting concert venues. Being only 70 miles from Houston, it's hard for us to attract big bands. Last year, was a good year for us locally drawing in Journey, Papa Roach, Stained, Seether, Heart, Lynard Skynard, and ZZ Top, although ZZ doesn't really count, because they are from here, so they come play for us every year.
Anyway, there is something about a smaller venue that seems to bring out the best in a band. Typically, we go to see Chicago at The Woodlands in Houston which easily holds over 25,000 people. Last night, there were about 6,000 people at the show, which is obviously a much smaller crowd than Chicago is used to, but they played their asses off, and I'd know, having seen them so many times over the last 30 plus years. This was the first show I've attended at Nutty Jerry's, and I've got to say I was impressed. The lights and sound system was first class and the acoustics were amazing. As "Nutty" as I thought it was when they opened Nutty Jerry's, I'm now pulling for them as they are bringing us great bands locally, we'd usually have to go to Houston to see. Next month will be Styx, with REO Speed Wagon in March. April will be Ted Nugent, with Kansas and 38 Special coming in May. Maybe not a big deal for those of you living in big cities, but to be able to just drive 20 miles to see bands like this locally is a very big deal to me!!
After the show, I had back stage passes to the "Meet & Greet", which was a real treat as I've never actually met the members of Chicago. What can I say, they were all so nice!! They hung around over an hour just talking to everyone and I got to meet everyone. In particular, I spend quite a bit of time talking to the newest member of Chicago, Drew Heston. Drew was formerly with the Foo Fighters, but joined Chicago last year as their percussionist. Crazy story, Drew told me he met Chicago's drummer Tris Imbodan when Tris was playing with Kenny Loggins and they became friends. Years later after Tris joined Chicago, he asked Drew if he'd be interested in joining the band and the rest is history. Drew told me last night that after playing with Chicago for the last year, he can't imagine ever being with any other band.
So, tomorrow night Chicago will be playing for over 50,000 people in Monterey Mexico and Saturday night it will be 80,000 in Mexico City, but last night they came to Beaumont Texas and made 6,000 of their fans very happy!
The concert was at a new place that just recently opened in our area called "Nutty Jerry's. When it first opened, I considered it Nutty all right. The place is big, over 80,000 square feet and given the state of the economy I was highly skeptical it was a smart money move to be opening something that large in a area that is not exactly famous for supporting concert venues. Being only 70 miles from Houston, it's hard for us to attract big bands. Last year, was a good year for us locally drawing in Journey, Papa Roach, Stained, Seether, Heart, Lynard Skynard, and ZZ Top, although ZZ doesn't really count, because they are from here, so they come play for us every year.
Anyway, there is something about a smaller venue that seems to bring out the best in a band. Typically, we go to see Chicago at The Woodlands in Houston which easily holds over 25,000 people. Last night, there were about 6,000 people at the show, which is obviously a much smaller crowd than Chicago is used to, but they played their asses off, and I'd know, having seen them so many times over the last 30 plus years. This was the first show I've attended at Nutty Jerry's, and I've got to say I was impressed. The lights and sound system was first class and the acoustics were amazing. As "Nutty" as I thought it was when they opened Nutty Jerry's, I'm now pulling for them as they are bringing us great bands locally, we'd usually have to go to Houston to see. Next month will be Styx, with REO Speed Wagon in March. April will be Ted Nugent, with Kansas and 38 Special coming in May. Maybe not a big deal for those of you living in big cities, but to be able to just drive 20 miles to see bands like this locally is a very big deal to me!!
After the show, I had back stage passes to the "Meet & Greet", which was a real treat as I've never actually met the members of Chicago. What can I say, they were all so nice!! They hung around over an hour just talking to everyone and I got to meet everyone. In particular, I spend quite a bit of time talking to the newest member of Chicago, Drew Heston. Drew was formerly with the Foo Fighters, but joined Chicago last year as their percussionist. Crazy story, Drew told me he met Chicago's drummer Tris Imbodan when Tris was playing with Kenny Loggins and they became friends. Years later after Tris joined Chicago, he asked Drew if he'd be interested in joining the band and the rest is history. Drew told me last night that after playing with Chicago for the last year, he can't imagine ever being with any other band.
So, tomorrow night Chicago will be playing for over 50,000 people in Monterey Mexico and Saturday night it will be 80,000 in Mexico City, but last night they came to Beaumont Texas and made 6,000 of their fans very happy!
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as for the possibility of large amounts of cats, i don't think i'm in much danger, as i don't own even a little bit of the house i live in and thus have to listen to the boyfriend's rules (or so he thinks...