The sisterhood of the traveling Dave Trance hit the road at 7 a.m. Kioat’s husband decided to hitch a ride to visit friends up Nort’ Minnesota. I love my bil, but initially felt it would put a damper on our sis adventure. When I google mapped the distance from his destination to ours in Mahnomen, it said we would spend an extra 2½ hrs on the road and I got mutinous. Mapquest disagreed with the time projection, shortening the time by an hour and—since it was his car and he would chauffeur the first 3 hours I acquiesced. If I kicked the seat and asked “Are we there yet?” a lot, it was only in fond memory of the great post-ho-athon antics with folkfan.
Once we dumped, er dropped off my dear sweet bil, we cranked up DCTR. Kioat had recently discovered her hidden KOTN track, but we had not yet figured out how to get to it without the 12 million moments of silence. We finally waited for it patiently, as Dave (or some tech goof) intended and were rewarded just as we saw the Mahnomen population 1,236 sign. It struck me that there would likely be twice as many people going to the concert in this little casino in the middle of no where. The Shooting Star Casino marquee proudly announced DAVID COOK and the grinning began.
It was about noon when we attempted to check in. The sign said we could do so at 4 p.m., but the front desk said to try again around 2 or 3. So we waved to the big display of Dave’s face and began reconnaissance. To our right was the game room, gift shops and non-self-sufficient food places where we scoped out our dining options. Then we went to the left side to pickup our will call tickets and check out the venue. One of the security people said it would be alright to have a peek in the event room where our boys would play. We were surprised to see them setting out the chairs and labeling our seats. We had 6th row Neal side tickets in the Star section of the layout. Though there would be no stadium seating effect, the stage was set nice and high for our viewing pleasure. We left the busy folk to their work and got in our car to do a perimeter check. Just behind the venue wing we were not at all surprised to see a shiny silver bus. However, we were perplexed to see its twin parked next to it since there had only been one in Duluth. We also saw the equipment truck backed up tight to the loading dock. Assured that all was well we returned to the parking lot and headed to the game room to lose some money.
Having already had our close encounter of the third kind with Dave the week before, Kioat and I made it our mission to add a NFT to our DCTR cd’s. So we were on alert for the inky pierced cutie. We would not intrude if he was enjoying some down time or seemed to be on a mission. If he was simply getting a smoke in however…we would gauge the appropriateness of engagement. With nary an EEB in sight, we found a slot machine and slipped her a twenty. The last time the sisters played in a casino together, there were these one arm levers to be pulled and some fairly simple games to be played. Complexity had been added to the past time and we stood like a couple of goobers trying to figure out how to bet and spin and win. Gone, too, was the delicious clink, clink, clink of quarters when you hit pay dirt replaced by some synthesized recording that was overproduced and lacked an organic feel.
Then…there.he.was!!! No…not the Doctor. It was David F-ing (he still had Neal’s middle initial) Cook just ten feet away at the black jack table. He was wearing a white T, black jeans, and his blue BB cap and sat with his back to us. ‘Yes, Dave,’ I thought, ‘we got your back.’ Kioat and I were in full mom mode. We felt Dave was in need of time to himself to do normal things—or as many things life on the moon would allow. We would neither approach him nor call attention to ourselves. The population was fairly sparse, but we still kept an eye out for gawkers or less considerate fans. With just a touch of loiter’s guilt, we spent the next 45 minutes milking that 20 bucks at a penny per spin. Now and then we noticed Dave win or double down and we cranked the bet up to a nickel and our good luck charm rewarded us quite often that way. He got up twice to answer his phone and as he came within a 5 foot proximity, we sat still as mice so as to escape his peripherals and attended studiously to the gems and jewels spinning on our screen. This was also a good occasion to max the bet. At one point we could see that Dave’s water glass was empty and we longed to see something done about that. Our mother hen vibes must have transmitted to one of the several dealers and attendants and service was provided. We also became concerned with Dave’s body language. One shiny boot rested on the stool foot bar, but the other was placed firmly on the floor and he often only half sat in his seat. He seemed perched for a quick get away and it saddened us a bit to think our bf was not at ease. He may have been on fan amoeba alert or perhaps this hard working guy still had business on his mind. We could only imagine the sense of responsibility he might be carrying. Again we were struck by the inconsistency of the brain to identify the 12’ tall rock star we saw on stage and screen to the “kid” we found who reminded us of our respective sons and nephews. Dave was aware of the time and soon stacked a couple of tall bets to burn some chips. He then rose as we averted our eyes and he was off to prepare for our show. We were down to $7.36 and started upping our bets to lose it. Instead we started to win and finally cashed out at $30.27.
We got checked in, found our room in the Stardust wing of the hotel, took a half hour nap, and got ready for the evening. We walked the skywalk, came down the steps one flight, and found ourselves in the deserted corridor by back of the venue. We heard sounds coming from behind the closed double doors…like a band doing sound check. I didn’t recognize the song right off, but I sure knew The Voice. He was singing NIN’s “Every Day is Exactly the Same.” We enjoyed this unexpected pleasure and waited for the second one, but the long silence made us realize we must have missed the first sound check. Some more people were coming in behind us so we started to move toward the merch table. Before we knew it, Dave came out and walked right toward us heading, I assume, for the men’s room between us. Seeing about a dozen folk behind us, he smoothly turned on his heels and casually climbed a stairway. Only Kioat and I witnessed the near encounter and we hoped he found some facilities up there rather than resorting to the woods and a squirt in the dirt.
At this point we got a call from Jen to let us know they had arrived. We met up in the lobby and met iowaDCfan (aka theBav) and several more people including a sweet young teen and a six-ish cutie pie in a decorated shirt ready for their very first concert. Then we met polarbear and her niece. She matched Kioat’s five foot nothing and has a great laugh. She was also itching to gamble and parted ways with us for the slots while the rest of us went to dinner. On our table was a little flip chart with Dave's face gracing the current page.The four DCOers swapped Dave/EEB stories at the buffet and got to know each other a little better. After dinner Kioat and I cruised the game room and spotted polarbear. “Bacon,” I called as we passed. With no response I asked, “bacon?” a little louder. “Hi,” her niece answered as she recognized us. Polarbear came out of her spinning screen trance with an, “Oh! Bacon. That’s the code word.” We giggled a bit then left her to her button pushing hopefulness and returned to our room. I debated bring my video cam, remembering they weren’t allowed and previous concert’s confiscation thereof. We also knew we had a much better videographer with Jen in attendance, so I left it and just took the camera. We also had learned something from our last experience and had brought a pair of foam blocks my dh had made for us for height attitude adjustment. Kioat and I would now be able to see our favorite rock band as if we were 5’4” and 5’6” respectively.
Green River Ordinance opened and we enjoyed their music, but Kioat was concerned with the sound system. The Texas boys had several songs and a cute story about the axel on their trailer breaking and subsequent helpful Minnesotans that came to the rescue. Kioat and I then had a greater concern. One row up and three seats to the left were a pair of women with glow in the dark necklaces and a BIG F-ING GREEN SIGN!!! It proclaimed their love of David Cook and a certain radio station whose call letters also glowed in the dark. That thing was gonna block our Skibby viewage and maybe even block Dave. We may have made a few snarky grumbles and scowled enough that I was surprised the damn thing didn’t just spontaneously combust. We stood and clapped for GRO’s last two numbers then took a break. When we got back, the signage pair relocated to the aisle and moved closer to the stage in case Dave would fail to notice them.
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Dave opened the show with TWIK. In black jaunty hat, grey T, and with dark melancholy light, Dave somberly sang of how he stepped to edge to see his world below. I wished for more reverent attention to this solo intro, but the crowd was keyed up and could not contain their excitement at their initial exposure to Dave. When the song ended the EEB slipped into place in the dark and as the triscuit lights went white and back lit him, bossy Dave called out, “I need everybody out of their chairs.” Then with a flash of bright lights the band kicked ass with heros and followed up with Mr. S.
In his first banter, Dave mentioned that he had heard different pronunciations of our host city including “Man oh man.” It reminded me of my Dave tranced babbling of “See ya in Menomanomana,” as I left him in Duluth, wandering about and bumping into things. He showed us he could, indeed, say Mahnomen (long O) correctly then expressed his concern with a section not standing, then they performed Breathe Tonight with a nice Dave/Neal guitar quickie. David’s next banter includes donning a blue glow in the dark star necklace and has the lights turned off again as our rockstar floats up and down a bit. My fav, “Lie” started out being sung in this darkness with the glowing star necklace. I loved the transition to a cappella coming in with Joey’s base and on to full band.
KOTN showcased Kyle’s great drum work, big Joey jumps, a verse of Hotel California blended in,…and I believe it’s right here, after the Dave whisper…that Neal licks the entire neck of his guitar and I fainted…just ded. My mouth is agape. Did I really just see what I saw. Doctor, doctor…I need one NOW. Give me mouth to mouth. Then a synchronized Neal/Joey jump restarts my heart and I am back in the game. (If video evidence suggests that this happened elsewhere in the concert, I would not be surprised. My brainz got scrambled upon receiving the information. I got Neal zapped.)
Before MWK’s “Make Me,” Dave calls out Joey for adding a bass slide and after having him demo it for us, Dave wonders if his band is staging a mutiny.
Barbasol has Kyle wailing extra long as Dave tries to get the last remnants of retired folks who wandered in for a game of bingo to STAND UP. Andy, Joey, and Neal headbang together and all 5’ 2” plus 4 inches of foam of me is rockin’ out. I don’t have Salt and Pepper to my left this time, but I do have Rob. He has obediently stood for the show, but thus far has failed to clap, cheer, or even make one measly senseless hand gesture or fist pump. I, however, am in another world and may have looked a sight dancing on a foam block, but I didn’t care, having lost my mind to the glory of BBS. Neal and Dave, apparently satisfied with the quickie, go to their own corners of the stage for their long distance guitar duet. After the band is done selling and spinning me, Dave asks if anyone is NOT having a good time. I kinda pointed at Rob and I am amazed to discover Dave has seen my gesture. He asks him to come up to the front of the stage. Dave says he is just starting out in the business and is trying to get people to come to the shows and buy the record. He mentions how he lost at the black jack tables (I know, Dave, I know) but he had a $25 chip left over. He said he wasn’t above buying his fans and gave Rob the chip. He also admitted it to be the most shameless thing he had ever done. Rob did not return to his seat by me....was it something I said?
Dave finally feels compelled to mention the big ol’ green sign and asks how much they were getting paid (by the radio station who later tries to pet his face) because they keep flashing it at him. He said, “At least I get top billing.”
The Doctor then cheats on Dave by having a quickie with Skibby during “Yo Arms.” We get a great Neal g-solo and fan participation dying in arms all over the place.
A blinking toy saber reduces our guys to twelve year olds as Andy pretends to be afraid to touch it. During Declaration, Dave uses it like a Star Wars light saber battling Neal’s guitar neck. Neal also mounted the platform where Kyle was drumming and showed us that some of his assets were in arrears. Being Neal side, I got a very good look at the leg muscle definition bulging from his cranberry skinny jeans, especially during leg lunges, and I must say…nothing. I’m not allowed.
Dave pronounces his gratitude for about the fiftieth time and lets us know that this show was one of the best and pats his heart to indicate his sincerity. Then we get Windy and Dave is not through being twelve and flings a pick smack into Neal’s face. I can only imagine the exchange on the private mics as Dave is laughing quite a bit.
The guys leave the stage with “Come Back to Me” lingering on our lips and now in our hearts. We cheer, we whistle, we clap louder than ever. We begin to chant we want David. Kioat and I add verses of we want Neal and Kyle and Joey and Andy. Our persistence pays off. Light On is touching and dramatic as Neal plays behind his back. We get our closing ADAm and as we whoa-whoa I find these big wet drippy things falling out of my eye sockets. Dammit David. Dammit EEB. It’s a good thing I had one more concert coming or I might have jumped on the stage and lying on the floor I might have clung to one of Dave’s legs and maybe onto Neal’s begging them not to leave me. Instead I waggled my arms like a tweener hoping to score a pick flick.
Remembering our mission to add an NFT to our CD’s, we moseyed on back to the bus station. Our security hosts had placed protective cones about, but still tried to shoosh us away. We moved elevnty yards away and the dozen of us sat patiently without expectation but with hope. We glimpsed a few of the guys at the door and got optimistic to a fault. Finally one of the security said we could either leave on our own or he could call for the patrol cars. He said the band’s manager just told him he wanted us cleared out of there. I didn't want my final star encounter to be found on the side of a car door. I let the guy know he only had to ask us (not threaten) and we would be happy to move on. Then we did. Like good little fans who have an awesome role model that epitomizes respect and gratitude. (Then I totally stuck my tongue out at him behind his back) A meet up, after all, would have just been some sprinkles on a cake already liberally frosted.
Kioat and I spent a little more time in the casino, trying to lose that last 10 bucks, but we doubled it instead. On a trip to the ladies room, I saw a little bitty Dave face staring at me from the stall door. He was getting me back for his bathroom break being intruded upon.
Dang, this got long again. (drinks the rest of the milk Swanny brought and brushes the cookie crumbs off) Now I must try to get at least six hours of sleep in before we do it all again on a Magical Mystic Lake Tour. What wonders and encounters await in us at our final show?
Good night you old recap, you. (bobs sleepily in a nod to bobs.mom)
Zzzzz…he totally licked the whole length of that guitar….zzzzzZ