Cleveland House of Blues Recap
9/17/09

These boys just keep getting better and better. The week did not start out great as I have been battling a stomach flu, but was determined to attend what might be my last De-Tour show (although Windsor is going to happen if I can get tickets). We started the week without an opening act, but soon found out that Phil Marshall was going to be making a trip out to Ohio and PA to entertain us. What a treat this turned out to be. But, I’ll start from the beginning.

My show companions this time were The Instigator, her sister and niece, and Kristincope. Kristin met us down there, but the rest of us met up after work and headed out to The House of Blues. West 4th Street is such a neat area. I’d been there fairly recently to have dinner at Lola (Michael Symon’s restaurant), but I’m always happy to have the chance to wander the area and people watch. When we got there, we decided to try to take advantage of the Line Pass option (either eat at the restaurant or buy merch from their store). The wait for the restaurant was almost an hour, which would have put us much farther back in line, so we bought a souvenir each and headed in.

The line pass line was huge – and hot. They had us in the back halls at the HOB and we had about an hour and a half wait in that line. I saw Francma and went to say Hi and we made some new friends (whose names were given, but I stink at that stuff, so, Hi ladies, if you’re here!). The heat was already getting to me (still had some nausea from the flu), but we got moving not too long after, so we were at least on our way. When we got in, the floor area right in front of the stage filled up quickly. And these were not the friendliest group of folks I’ve ever encountered. I’ve been to DC shows that were full, sold-out, hot… but some of these folks were just brazen and out of line. And that showed later, too. It seemed like an eternity before the screen came up and there stood Mr. Phil Marshall.

I had checked out some of his music before the show, just so it was a little familiar. And I have to say, he does a hell of a job acoustically. His voice was strong, his playing was sharp, and his phrasing was upbeat and I completely enjoyed his set. It would have been nice if the folks around me were a bit more attentive, but we hollered and cheered and swayed and clapped. He was GOOD. The plan is to download some of his music in the next day or two. And then the break. So, once Phil unplugged the guitar, how much could there be to do? Not much, but they still spread the intermission out for the full 20 minutes and then it was time.

They were on stage and there was a sweep of hysteria from the crowd. Heroes was electric and we assured him he was still standing. And, I had the opportunity to hear it before, but We’re only Honest really struck me tonight. I didn’t analyze for actual differences, but it made me move like never before – it was wonderful. Lie – I did everything I could to block out the folks who didn’t get the rule book ahead of time. But it was in vain. Dang, they were loud. Perhaps it was because I was also there for the Columbus/Ohio State Fair Lie, and directions were followed to a T. But there were a lot of newbies around me, so maybe there were just a lot of newbies in general THAT NIGHT. It normally does not phase me, but I could just barely hear the voice. It was a little frustrating. But still beautiful. Always beautiful. Declaration – I was actually the first person in my section to start clapping at the appropriate part of the song (again, newbies) and hesitated slightly, but decided, what the hell. And then everyone else started, too. But David saw it and gave a little nod. And I immediately blushed. Not my intention – ever. I kind of wanted to melt into the floor, but then the sing-along portion began and all was right with the world again.

Kiss on the Neck – moan and whisper – my favorite combination. When he started the banter before the song, I thought it was going to BBS, as he gave the “we’ve been too easy on you” speech, but was again fooled by the man himself. And I think he’s onto a few folks in the crowd yelling that they love HIM when he asks, because he changed the question to “who’s in love when the other person know it”. Sneaky boy. The Make Me episode was priceless. I had a hard time seeing Andy most of the night, but was able to while he was singing his part here. And I had a clear view of the look on David’s face. It was not pre-arranged and Andy looked briefly flustered, but David watched him with the sweetest grin on his face the entire time Andy was singing. I love the interaction with his friends. BBS was wonderful – it’s always one of my favorites – live, recorded, MP3 with screamers, whatever – I’ll take it. And I just Died in your Arms Tonight… man, that gets better every time. There’s something very sensual about the way he sings it, and yet I’m headbanging through most of it – how does he do that? And we sang along to Come Back to Me with him – and for him at the beginning. And got a “nice”.

It all sounded so loud to me, like the crowd was just overpowering in it’s show of love for them. But he made lots of comments about wanting us louder. So, maybe it was just my perspective. Or maybe he’s getting even bossier (I can live with that – man, what is wrong with me?) Whatever the case, I yelled as long as I could and sang as well as I could (not very well) and clapped and swayed and smiled my fool head off.

I missed ADAM. It is the ending song for me. I love what they are doing with I Did it for You, though. All lined up at the front of the stage, playing and headbanging like a bunch of friends jamming in some little bar, but there are 1000 people cheering them on. And, while I don’t remember all of the banter just before it, I do remember him saying it seemed a fitting way to end the night. I got misty-eyed then, and again now just thinking about it.

It was a hard show for me for many reasons. I was sick all week and spent the last 3 songs of the set and the entire encore just trying to fight off nausea. I couldn’t yell any more and felt like I wasn’t giving enough back. And the realization that it might be the last time for a very long time that I get to see them hit me all at once. This group of young men has brought me more joy than I can explain over the last year and I often feel like I should be somehow giving more back to them. No other artist in my history has EVER made me feel like I owed them something. Not in a negative way, but just to kind of even the score some. They are talented, funny, sweet, hot amazing rock stars and I love them all.

A quick note about Monty. We have been told that he’s a temp. Many have grown very attached to that sweet little man. I am becoming attached. And maybe it was seeing Mr. Marshall there, watching the show from the balcony, goofing around with them from way up there as they performed. Selfishly, I would love for Monty to stay. But I’m sure Phil is anxious to have his kick-ass bass player back, too. I am trying really hard not to get attached, because the last time they lost a bass player, it made me sad (Jo-wee). But Monty brings such a playfulness to the stage. And his interaction with Andy and Neal left me with an awful lot of Awww moments Thursday night. And the spinning and his killer smile in his jaunty little hat (tm somebody)... However this adventure with Monty ends, I thank him for jumping in with both feet and helping out his old friends when they really needed him. And I hope he’s having as much fun as he seems to be.

So, as we were leaving the parking lot, Kristin called to give us the location of the busses. She saw them as she was heading out. I tried to relay the info to the Instigator (who was driving), but I can get lost in a shoebox. We missed a turn somewhere and decided we were tired enough, we would just head home. Besides, they had a formal meet and greet earlier in the day and were having another after the show and there was a new Always Sunny in Philly last night… so, really, what were the chances they would even show up at the busses. I would have happily hung around, but nobody else had the energy for it anyway. And even if we had stayed, I had promised myself I wouldn’t go anywhere near any of them for fear of somehow getting them sick. But then we found out he did come out and sign and chat. It would have been nice for the sister and the niece to have had a chance to meet him (the instigator and I had the pleasure previously), but the niece got one of Kyle’s drumsticks after the show ended, so she was pretty happy. As a side note, I tried to take a couple pictures of the stick after the show and they do not do it justice. That kid WAILS on those drums – it was dented in 30 different places and half of the top third had split off during the performance. It was mangled. He must go through hundreds of those things! Animal, indeed.

So, as per usual, I am on the prowl for future shows (I’m thinking I’m going to Windsor, even if I go alone). Another one still wouldn’t put me near the “double digit crazy” mark, so I can still claim sanity – at least to other DCO’ers. My friends and family have already formulated their opinions. But, as I always say, I’m not obsessed, I have a healthy interest in the career of a shining star. And I plan to continue indulging that interest until the wheels fall off (tm DC). Thank you for trudging through this mini-novel. Brevity is not my strong suit. And thank you Phil, David, Andy, Kyle, Neal, and Monty – it’s another night for the memory bank that I will cherish forever.

PS – the rest of my photos are here.