I signed off in Part 2 sometime on Sunday afternoon as it was time to drive home ... just in case you're wondering I haven't been driving this whole time... only a 4-5 hour drive so made it home aroudn 8pm on Sunday night...but let's go back to Saturday night shall we, just as the concert was over..

After lingering in the concert venue scooping set lists, looking for pics, and generally not really wanting to leave the physical space of the most amazing concert I've been to... I finally start to head up stairs. The crowd is slow moving up the narrow stairs and it seems to be taking longer for people to get out than it did for them to get in. As we reach the front doors, I suddenly understand why!

The bus is still parked right infront of the venue Neal is standing right outside the bus door chatting with fans and David is leaning out the back window on the right side of the bustalking to fans and giving autographs. I honestly can't believe my luck today!! I had heard he met fans outside after Montreal (in the rain no less) and wasn't even expecting him to do it two nights in a row. I guess because it's his first set of dates in Canada he is making it special for his Canadian fans and I can't thank him enough.

The crowd around Neal is very respectful. He's right by the door (maybe he had just finished a smoke? Am I actually thankful that he smokes? Sad but true!), very chill and casual. There's no hyperfangurly stuff and he's not being swarmed. People are talking to him, he's answering questions and it's amazing. I looked over at the crowd around David as he's leaned out the bus and it was much more intense. I think being on the bus that way gave David a chance to control how long he wanted to be out there and not put him in very tight spot physically, as there really was only the depth of the sidewalk by the bus to do this and it would have been too chaotic. I'm glad he took this route as he didn't have to worry about the constant push forward and crowding that often happens when he's out. He seems to be having a good time, talking to fans as they call out stuff to him, he's laughing and joking around, lots of smiles, and he's signing everything fans pass up to him and trying to give as much as he can in that situation. Did I mention how much I love him?

So what to do? Wait at the back of the crowd and hope he's still doing this when I get closer or just watch from the sideline? Or how about go back and talk to Neal? Tough call, I know. And I'm thinking some fans have been to concert after concert and never even seen Dave or the boys other than on stage or have travelled half way round the world (DLC from Copenhagen for a show Atlantic City, the Brazillians...) and they would have killed for any one of these situations... and here I have 3 choices... and feeling very blessed.

I thought about my encounter with Neal earlier in the day and how amazing it was to actually talk to him, one-on-one, face-to-face, and that won out over maybe never getting close enough to David that evening..the old addage ... "a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush" comes to mind; only this time I'm hearing " a boy from the band in hand is better than waiting for the one in the bus!"

So I go back to Neal and fans are still just standing around talking to him.The sequence of a lot of this is not 100% clear in my mind..but here's what I remember. As I arrive someone has just asked him how long he's been playing guitar. He says "about 14yrs"...wow. that's why he's so good! And Neal I guess I did "muster up all my courage and tell you about your beauty" but they're definitely not your "stupid guitars" (tm:Room for Two MWK).. I stand around and listen for a while, say "hello again", and he's smiling at me. People are asking all kinds of questions and he's answering them. It was totally different vibe from my time with him earlier in the day; slower paced that what was going on with David but still more frenetic and disjointed in that people kind of popped by or a photo with him or autograph and then moved on. I asked him to autograph a picture (my family and I, David and the whole band from Niagara- Yes I've met them all before... yes I realize how lucky I am and no I don't hate you for being jealous.. it's a natural reaction) . He kind of chuckled when he sees we were all in it. I told him it was from Niagara. Then I asked if I could have my picture with him and he said "Sure" in his soft, chill, sort of Texas drawl. My camera is kind of intimidating to those standing around (Nikon D90 with big lens) but some kind person agreed (thank you again!). While he's doing this someone is asking him about his necklace and he says it's a set (with the Rose one David is wearing) . It seems like it takes forever for the button to press down, and we are joking about it being ok to be just standing with my arms around Neal's waist. (DLC.. I gave him a little squeeze for you!) Finally the button depresses and the picture is taken. I thank him. He replies "Thank YOU". Who knew such a gentleman lurks under those piercings, earlobe thingies, and all those tats!

Several of us just stood around as he interacted with other fans, enjoying listening to him and seeing him in action. Some are just saying they loved the show and he would says in his, soft but kind of husky Texan voice.."Thanks, thank you very much" He is so sincere and appreciative of what everyone has to say.
Someone asked him about the Poutine and why he didn't try it... he says "it has too many carbs!! " I'm thinking, Neal baby, you don't need to worry about carbs! So I asked him in a joking way, "Do you actually eat? I think I've only seen one reference to you eating and that was the panini sandwich you loved" He smiles and says "Yeah I eat but I drink a lot and that's full of carbs" sort of explaining why he "watches what he eats". Gotta love a rocker who knows his priorities!

So we're all having fun talking about stuff and I step in a little closer and ask something I have always wanted to know.. no, it's not how the H does he get his thighs to look like that and get them in his jeans, but that was on my mind!..Nor was it really the place and time for a deep, music/lyric conversation (that's my fantasy for Casino Rama)... I said "So Neal, when you and David are standing face to face during Barbasol, and looking right into each others' eyes, in that way that you do, what's going through your mind?... cos we all know what's going through ours". He laughed a little and said " " (hey this is kind of like the setlist spoilers.. some want to know... others don't... so when I learn how to do that fancy thing with the setlist I'll put his reply there) .. I said, "Really! You know what we call it, right? " and he smiled a knowing smile.

I moved aside to let some other fans get some time with him and decided to videotape the interaction. Someone asked him why he plays right hand guitar if he's left handed? He explained that LH guitars cost more. Some one says "so it was because of money?" He laughs a little and says "yeah, poor family you know..." Have I mentioned yet that I love this guy!!! Neal baby.. you go buy all the expensive guitars you want to... you've earned them.

Someone asks for a hug (what! he gives out hugs!! Why didn't I think of that) and she walks over and he opens his arms and says "Come on in"..(good lord he is killing us all!!). Remember this is my "day of no regrets"..so I stop taping and ask for a hug too! . and then figure what the heck..."no regrets" so I said "Can I give you a kiss on the cheek? And he said "Sure".. So I leaned in and gave him a sweet little kiss on the cheek and could feel his skin and his beard stubble (so soft). But the kiss really wasn't for me.. DLC it was for you... I was channeling you all the way from Copenhagen!) I hope it was as good for you as it was for me! At some point in this I thanked Neal for being outside with the fans tonight and told him I really enjoyed talking with him and Jeremy earlier today outside the hotel and that I appreciated him doing that. He was so sincere and said he enjoyed it too and thanked me for coming over and talking.

At some point in all of this, I'm not sure of the timing of it we hear David shout from down the sidewallk "Hey Dr!!" and Neal looked up and waved or smiled over at him. David also shouted (kindly) to fans to be careful around the bus.. I love caretakingDave! Another fan asks Neal for a hug and he opens his arms really wide, hugs her, and then thanks her for coming. Becks asked him about a special lighter her friend gave to someone to give to him.. did he get it? (read her recap..gets lots of them, sweet lighters, glimpse into Neal's cute sense of humour). I asked him to say hi to someone for me on the camera (she had been sitting at home waiting for me to call her after the show and here I was living it up without her.. it was the least I could do!) ... he does and he was all smiles. He seemed to get a kick out of that so I asked him to say hi to my kids.. (I showed them when I got home and they were freaking out)! Someone asks him to sign a pic and he talks about how hard it is to sign that small. He talks about when he signed "DR" and someone ask him who started that.."It was my friend Bryan Jewett (Yes, saw him in Elyria.. the "they're all slobs" guy) More hugs, more pictures, more hugs.. and someone says "Free hugs" and he laughs and repeats it "Free Hugs!" and gives another one. I start to ask him about the tatoo on his neck.. (it looked like a new one to me and most people with tats like to explain what they are ) He starts to answer but is distracted by photos, hugs, (and I'm ok with that). Just then the door starts to open... maybe it's Monty.. as you know he was the only one I had NOT met yet.. was it going to be the full house? That's full house with Monty; not a Full Monty with House.. that would be wrong! (sorry House fans)

As the door is opened fully it's Jeremy that steps out...we all cheer... Jeremy is packed and ready to go..shirts in hand he turns and hugs Neal. some manly backpatting ensues and Jeremy seems to be saying "ok you've got my number.. call me or keep in touch" just like two friends...and Neal says "I will.." It seems that Neal has been the "field trip buddy" for Jeremy... to hold his hand, make sure he's got someone to be with... and from what I could tell in the concert, was the one helping him with his "fill-in gig" .. lots of guidance, reassurance, and support. What a guy!!

As they wrap that up I asked Jeremy how he was getting home..and jokingly offer him a ride home as I'm driving back to Toronto area too.. (I try to sweeten the pot by telling him it's a nice BMW ...
( well it is... sorry not trading that in for a Ford truck just cos Dave chose truck over BMW.).. so back to Jeremy .. he laughs and says "oh Jesus.. that sounds like a chapter to me" (as in a chapter in a tell-all book by a fan is what I took this to mean) He laughs some more and Neal is laughing too . Neal starts to head into the bus, as some fans ask Jeremy to sign things... he doesn't have a sharpie and leans back to Neal and asks to borrow his.. Neal didn't have one but a bunch of fans offer theirs. Neal heads into the bus as people say goodbye/safe trip etc. Jeremy signed the drumstick that a fan had caught. He signed my setlist and we had a quick chat about the area we live in... He knew my town and we bantered a bit about that...I asked if I could have a picture with him and told him it's cool now that my kids are into OLP because of the new album. He joked about the size of my camera and said "David Suzuki called.. he wants his field camera back" (Suzuki is an environmentalist and does a lot of documentaries for those not in the know about DZ.) Others get some things signed and pictures with Jeremy and then he's off on his way home. David has pulled himself back into the bus, and is saying his goodbyes... Neal's on the bus.. Jeremy is on his way and that's time (tm: George Stromboulopoulous).... aaaaha deep breath... and exhale... So right about now you're thinking you wish you could hear Neal's sweet voice for real..saying all the things above..... Voila!click

As the bus drove away everyone waved and cheered. The crew bus was still on the other street as they were packing up the equipment. People milled around on the sidewalk talking for a bit. I had lost the other two ladies I met and was standing with at the concert but started talking to two others I had also met earlier. We showed each other's pictures and talked about the show for a while. Everyone was on a high and kind of hated to leave. We said our goodbyes and I went to get a diet coke from the variety store. As I walked down the street the crew were loading all the equipment out of the back door of the Ritual and so I watched them load it all up.. Those boys work hard... I do hope they enjoy their jobs! I walked off to get my diet coke and then headed up to the hotel... Yes I know I told Jeremy I was driving home that night.. well I would have it he'd wanted a ride!! So up into the hotel business center for guests I went and called JoanieB to squee, and ooh and aah over every little detail of the night like I promised her I would. We ended up having such an amazing conversation about our daveobvestment... so long that both our phones died... then it was time to start typing up Part 1 before I forgot any of it. I sat and looked at my pictures and videos and listened to the concert all over again... It was awesome...I found a picture of David that was a real close up of his face singing. His mouth was open really wide... I could actully see the back of his throat and I remember thinking to myself.. wow I feel like I'm a nurse doing a throat swab.. and it looks pretty red and sore in there... so maybe my mom instincts were right when I asked him if he was ok.... well I guess I'll never know... or will I? (what's that twitterdave? you're at the docs... oh and you have tonsilitis... yep, Mom's always know!)

So, if you've read Part 1, 2, and 3 you'll know how my whole concert experience was.. and yes, it was totally FEPIC.. almost overload... I thought meeting David and the boys in Niagara was epic, and then the Owens concert was epic for me, now I got epic meets and epic show all in one...The drive home on Sunday was awesome.. just me, David, and the road home. I put DCTR on and jumped around to listen to them in order of the set list (with the exception of the covers)... I did this about 5 times. then must have listened to Lie about 10 time, and found the only thing left to make the weekend was to hear ADAM..and hear ADAM I did.. and I whoa whoa whao whoa'd all the way home.

Part 4... what's left to talk about you say... well as you know I was Montyless but honestly how could I ask for anything more.. but it does at least give me a goal for Rama.. and then there's the fact that on Monday I was going to a taping of The Hour (bad planning on my part.. little RL work got done that day but couldn't pass up the tickets as they're hard to get especially cos they're free).. So off to The Hour I went... how's this DaveRelated you say... welll some is some isn't.. Mitch Albom was the guest.. Tuesdays with Morrie, Five People You Meet in Heaven.... yeah that guy. Front row seats right by George...me facing Mitch... it was awesome .. He talked about his new book .. very cool.. about faith but not restricting people to religion.. my kind of thing... he's in a band with Stephen King.. King plays guitar.. I wonder if the DR knows that? Mitch is doing a book tour.. he'll be in Ohio... (really!) Stocker Centre, Owens Community College... (Hey I've been there!!) Next guest... just a little hockey player by the name of Steve Yzerman!.. Ladies/Gents... he is one fine looking man.. all dressed up in his suit with tie and vest (we like that look I hear). All that talk about the Red Wings made me think of a certain Rockstar dressed in his redwings uniform! yeah that guy... One more thing got to finally meet George Stroumboulopoulos in person.. we chatted after the show.. I told him I'd met Jeremy on the weekend.. he said they were good buds. .just as we were finishing talking he got a text ... from Jeremy... with a picture of his new drum set... It's a small world!!

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