Rockin' Road Report Archive -- Wedding & Stress Relief

DEL MAR, CA
Del Mar Fairgrounds

June 13, 2004

Wedding & Work Stress Relief

Okay, so I lied. Work induced stress resulted in me being terribly irresponsible and thus purchase a ticket to the show last night in Del Mar. It meant hopping on a plane the day after my brother's wedding in a state equivalent to having attended three concerts back to back to back, but man, I gotta tell you it was SOOOOOOOOOOOO worth the effort.

Last night's show has to be one of the best opening week shows I've ever seen. There were absolutely NO kinks and LOTS of surprises. Since I've been hip deep in wedding stuff this week, I told all the gang in Del Mar not to tell me what the show was like because I wanted to be surprised. Wow... wow wow wow....

First a few atmospheric notes before diving in to the whole show. Leslie and I originally had seats on the far side of the stage on Neal's side. Decent seats, but not great. Due to ticketing snafus, a couple of Back Talkers wound up getting their seats moved and we took over their seats one section over, same spot. A significant improvement. This really allowed me to see what I have been referring to as the "vomit ball" that was running behind the stage. It was some kind of ride that dropped people up and down like a yo-yo. ACK! We eventually wound up in even better seats thanks to a couple more very cool people.

One of the few things I knew going in was that Deen was slated to sing four or five songs. All I can say is OH. MY. GOD. I've known the boy can sing for a long time, but every time he got a turn on lead my jaw just hit the floor. To heck with "Steve Perry with a perm" it's Steve Perry on DRUMS! Besides "Mother, Father" which Deen has been singing for a while (and once again gave me Jell-O legs) he got a chance to sing "Suzanne", "Happy to Give", and "Keep on Running". When Deen hit that high note in "Keep on Running" and held it, my jaw just dropped wide open. Deen wasn't the only one who took a turn on lead. Neal took center stage with "Voodoo Chile" and Jonathan got in with "Just the Same Way".

The two-hour and twenty-five minute show can best be described as classic cuts meets greatest hits. There were tunes that hadn't been played in ages along with the tried and true fan favorites. Bonus, we got two Arrival tunes. (Full set list to the left.)

There were a few fun moments during the show that reminded me why I so enjoy hitting the road every summer. During "Wheel in the Sky" Deen threw in a drum fill towards the end that caught me by surprise and was very cool. Neal's performance of the "Star Spangled Banner" was treated to a few fans waving flags, and some classic moments from Ross and Deen. Ross was facing the back of the stage and noticed the "vomit ball" and kept tilting his head up and down watching it while Neal played. At the end, Deen did the "we're not worthy" bow which is just one of those things that I love to catch in the band interactions on stage. Neal's solo at the end of "Happy to Give" is something that was sorely missing from the original recording. Jon's omigod blues harmonica and improv vocals during "Voodoo Chile" was memorable. And his new solo this year led not in to "Open Arms" but "Send Her My Love". (Which, I was later told, replaced "Who's Crying Now" from earlier shows.)

I was dead on my feet when the show started. A long day before with the wedding (much of it on my feet, including six hours in three-and-a-half inch heels, how crazy am I?) coupled with very little sleep meant I arrived at the show totally spent. The minute the opening notes of the intro hit though, the adrenaline kicked in and I was no longer tired. I was having a great time listening to a great band with great friends. Life can seldom get much better than that.

Before I go, a couple of notes on the set list... Deen took part of the choruses for "Edge of the Blade" and "The Party's Over". Leslie and I agreed that Deen should take "Edge of the Blade" as it is quite suited to him. And finally.... When the heck is Ross gonna get a chance to sing lead!

Now I wait until Turlock... enjoy the tour gang, you're in for a GREAT time.