Day 2--Houston

Well, I'm in Houston right now....it's cloudy and warm and they'll probably break a heat record today. Whee. T is on her way and should be here shortly.

The trip here was pretty uneventful and I'm so excited....funny how I didn't see this computer til I checked out; it's sitting in the hotel lobby.

Off to England!

T Minus 10 Days....Party like it's 1999...

I'm getting excited!!! I don't think I need to shop for anything else. I just need to figure out which suitcases I'm bringing everything in. My new purse is heavy but handy, and I know what's going in the carryon...

Meanwhile...back to the past....this has been great fun digging into my past concert reviews. Some things I remembered, others are but distant memories....

June 29, 1999, ELO Part 2 at Club Caprice, Redondo Beach, CA

It had been almost 3 years since the last ELO Part 2 concert (and looking back, how did I ever survive???), so I was quite overdue. One of my friends at work, who's a rabid concert goer, found the concert online and told me about it (he'd help me move a few weeks prior to this and had seen all my ELO-related CDs and albums, so he knew I was a fan), so I was fortunate to have seen it.

Once again, there was minimal press advertising the show.... With a 40 mile drive ahead of me, and the need to cross downtown Los Angeles in rush hour traffic, I'm surprised it only took me 75 minutes to get to Club Caprice. And I was the first one there. John, who'd seen my original post to the Showdown mailing list about attending this concert, was the second. So we were able to talk while we waited that torturous hour before the club opened.

And it began...WOW. I didn't keep track of the songs like John did, so what will follow is basically my memories, so it's not exactly in order

- I LOVE the new song lineup. It was a good mix of all the albums (cept for Balance of Power and ELO II). And I liked that I didn't know what songs they were going to play next. I'd seen a few of the concert reviews on the mailinglist in the last few months, but I tried not to remember the songs, so that I'd be surprised. The Psycho prelude music was just WEIRD! Where did they get THAT idea?

- Daybreaker is just SO COOL LIVE! It had so much drive, so much energy. The other surprise was 10538 Overture. I can't remember if they played it at the Nov96 concert, but it actually works with the rest of the tunes, even without the cellos. It didn't sound as...well...as OLD as it does on the album/CD. I guess that's just a mental thing. - I like what they've done with Showdown. It's more of a rocker. The beginning of the song was changed a bit; I had NO idea what song it was at first.

- TWO more songs from XANADU! I'm Alive plus All Over the World! AND Honest Men. FINALLY. Oh wow! I never thought I'd ever hear those played live.

(and a very interesting side note: the Cassini spacecraft will be imaging Xanadu, a very bright section of the moon Titan, which orbits Saturn, this weekend. The images should be received on Monday. This is the only time the radar instrument will be looking at Xanadu during Cassini's prime mission. I JUST found this out on Friday! )


- I thought Mik's solo was going to turn into the Orange Blossom Special (or whatever it's called, and I'm being too lazy to go look up the name on TNTLWOILB).It was nice to be able to hear just him, without the other layers. - This was the first time I'd seen Hux in concert, who flubbed up two lines, one in Ma Belle, and one in Do Ya. Actually, I think Kelly messed up in Do Ya, too, because they looked at each other and started giggling. The only reason why I noticed is because I was singing along, and suddenly I could hear my own voice. Mik almost dropped his bow at one point, and then smiled.

- The drums in Don't Bring Me Down sounds remarkably like those in Don't Wanna.I can't believe I never noticed that before (or maybe I have, and I've just forgotten).I was sad that the latter song was no longer in the lineup; the first time I'd heardit was at the July 94 Tucson show, and it's become one of my favorites.

As usual, the show was way too short, and the band came out afterwards to meet and greet the fans. Unfortunately, this time around, about half the audience waited for them, so it was a bit crowded. And this time, there was a security guard keeping people from going up the stairs to the dressing rooms. But I ran into Mike and Judy, who I'd met at a past concert, and we got caught up. Of course I got signatures AGAIN. And Judy was kind enough to give me the drumstick that Bev had given her....thanks!!!

It's out of control....

It's a shame I didn't do reviews of every Part 2 I'd gone to. I'm still trying to resurrect the past. But I've found a few and it's cool I can post them here...

November 1996 - ELO Part 2 at the Hop, City of Industry, CA

You know.... I didn't even think they were gonna come out to LA that year...if it hadn't been for the Internet, I wouldn't have heard A THING about this concert. Absolutely NO advertising...I talked to people at the concert and most had heard from driving past The Hop (it's right by a freeway). One person mentioned it posted at a local Tower CD store. I even emailed the local classic rock station to complain, seeing as they'deven played ELO tunes the week before. But I digress....

I am eternally grateful for the woman next to Scott that had the extra pair of earplugs...w/o them I wouldn't have been able to hear the following week. And while that song list was sitting right there...upsidedown for all eyes to read...I restrained myself before the concert. One gentleman was stopped from videotaping....we took a few pictures before the club management ceased that, too.

Kelly's hair (almost all gone) and nails (painted black) were a bit of a shock. I do think, however, that this was the best the band has ever sounded...too bad there was no Fire on High like last year...but it was good to hear Ain't Necessarily So again. I've never seen Mik or Phil so animated before. And I was hoping, as usual, for Honest Men, but no go. Except for changing guitars and such, the show went very smoothly.

I *did* hang around for autographs afterwards. First off, I talked to the comedian that opened for the band and got HIS sig (hey, why not?)...and then Kelly and Eric came out. I couldn't believe that Eric remembered me from last year, but we chatted for a bit. I was so in awe I forgot to ask why Honest Men STILL isn't in the playlist...I eventually got all to sign the playlist, even Sir Lou, who ONCE AGAIN was mistaken for Jeff (cmon,people, doncha think Jeff would have been singing IN FRONT of the band and NOT just playing in the corner behind a keyboard?? I corrected them ever so politely). The bouncers were amusing...keep in mind that this is my6th concert...and that there's always been little to no visible security. Well...they were throwing their weight around as if we were gonna strip their clothes off. The band, that is. :)

Unfortunately, true to form, a week after this concert, I broke up with my boyfriend of 18 months....I'm beginning to think this band is bad luck....

T Minus 22 Days...."pack all your things...."

No, I haven't forgotten...I AM taking a trip.....got caught up in digging up concert reviews...

So my two biggest tasks left for this trip are a) what to bring and b) how to pack it. I've gone around in circles, finally decided to bring two checked bags, a backpack and a decent purse.

Someone told me about the Travel Smith site, so I've been perusing it, and found the coolest security bag.

I was trying to decide if I should order it, when I decided to get the hell out of the house on Saturday and go look for it. :) I went to three luggage shops. The second one had the medium sized bag, so I got a chance to check it out. It was rather small for what I wanted, so I decided I would get the big one. I saw the Daymakers url tag on the bag, so I decided to check out their website to see if they had anything else to offer. The last shop told me there were so many specialty online places, it was just better to get it online.

Monday I called the company to ask about the bag, and now I'm glad I did. Billy told me they had a newer version of it, with a wider strap and pocket covers. It was only a few dollars more, but he gave it to me for the price of the original bag. How cool is that? I told him I was planning a trip to England and that I'd take a photo of the bag somewhere cool for him. :)

Yesterday, I also decided to make a run to the pharmacy to see if I could find smaller bottles of saline/contact lens solution. The bottles I'd bought were being recalled! (That's Bausch and Lomb Renu Moisture-Loc solution, in case you were wondering). In my online hunt prior to the trip, I found the coolest site for international travelers, http://www.passportinfo.com which also gave me packing tips. The site also recommended bringing a first aid kit, so now my trip to the pharmacy was three-fold: contact lens stuff, first aid items, and a small notebook to use as a diary. Got em all. Now.....trying to pack my carry-on bags with the things I was planning on taking with me only proved that I was overpacking in the toiletry department.

T Minus 23 Days

Karaoke last night...and NO ELO listed...wow. Every time I've gone, there's at least one ELO song listed. Not that I'll sing them...well, I did, once, but that was at a private home. Then there was that singalong in 2001....but I'll get to that later...

Back to the story...

When I came back....a very sad thing occurred...at this time,I was beginning to collect every ELO CD I could find....and I finally found the swan song Balance of Power. This was the last CD done by the original band, and it's basically Jeff saying "so long, ELO". I'd never heard the entire thing before, and it's rather sad......the terrible thing was that at the same time (pretty much the day I bought the CD), I realized the relationship I was in at the time was coming to an end.

In September 1994....I'd received Moment of Truth in the mail...the second ELO Part 2 release. A $30 CD (I'd ordered it from Germany)!!!!! I still remember the first time I played it...the first chord from theOverture nearly knocked me over! I loved all of Eric's tunes, and the rest slowly grew on me.

Well...that was 1994. Didn't think I'd have a chance to see them in 1995. Boy was I wrong....they came HERE!!!

I'd spent most of 1995 conversing online and via phone with everyone I'd met from the newsgroup and mailing list....even finished out my album collection by receiving Balance of Power. I was rewarded when ELO Part 2 scheduled a whole SLEW of dates in the LA area! My next problem was finding people to go with me, since all the fans I knew weren't from California.

The ex actually agreed to go with me to one show, since he missed all the hoopla from the year before....we had a nice drive down to San Juan Capistrano with Out of the Blue and Moment of Truth playing in the background....and we got there hella early because it was one of those first-come first-seated dealings, and we wanted good seats. The Coach House was like the Outback in Tucson....small stage deal. Kinda old, but had alot of feel to it. Many bands play there.

We met two fans from the San Diego area that were just as nuts as me. We had dinner together and chatted about all things ELO. We were fortunate to have earplugs because it was LOUD. I got some good pictures from this show.

They were scheduled to play twice that night...and I had the money....so why the hell not? :) We saw them TWICE that night....we ran outside, got back in line and paid another 40 bucks or so...and this time got to sit right next to the stage....close enough for them to see us. That night started one of a few traditions....I took my shot glass home, for one. :) I'd also brought gifts for the band, a few space pins. I also gave Eric,who's a big space fan, a Cassini mission tshirt. There's a photo of that somewhere around here...

The next show was a few nights later, at a place called Club Caprice in Redondo Beach. This time, I dragged my friend Ruth with me. Thiswas the night I met Mike and Judy Kriegsman. We sat almost right in front of Phil. I believed this was one of the first times I heard "Fire on High" live (and if it wasn't at this show, it was a year or two later when Hux took over for Phil, since I know it happened at Club Caprice, which is sadly no longer there). The oddest part of this show were the two...oh...how shall I say this...developmentally-challenged women that attempted to give backrubs to Kelly after the show. The other strange event is that I'd received a promo photo of Louis Clark dressed in Elizabethan garb, poised at a keyboard. Apparently this photo appeared in some English nudie magazine! I found it at a record show earlier that year (the day Nacho Queen was born). Louis happily signed it for me.

Oh, I might as well explain Nacho Queen. It's the email name I've used on the ELO mailing list since mid-1995.

And, it IS ELO-related. One of my friends from the ELO mailing list (we'd gone to see ELO Part 2 in Tucson back in 94) was visiting, and after attending a record show, we'd gone to the infamous Thunder Roadhouse on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, since Jeff and Tom were once rumoured to have been seen there.

I ordered (what else?) nachos.

A family entered the restaurant, and the wait staff was all abuzz. Clearlythe patriarch was someone of importance, but I had no idea who he was. Mynachos arrived, and the man kept STARING at them. When the waiter went back to his table, he said the requisite "I want THOSE", and pointed at my nachos. Polite chuckle all around.

(several years later, the phrase 'pointed at my nachos' still cracks me up. hehehe)

Well, a week or two later, my friend Dave and I were speculating in email who that guy was, and Dave referred to me as the Nacho Woman, but I don't remember his exact quote. At that time we were swapping email names whenever a funny quote or something struck our fancy. This particular one made me laugh enough to use it. I gave myself a promotion, and the nickname stuck.

And boy, did it stick....but I have to save that story for 2001.....

T Minus 25 days

I'm so tired....it's been a busy week.

I've learned from Hux, one of the guitarists/songwriters of Orchestra, that they're introducing new songs into the concert lineup! How fun. He listed a few. I'm glad he didn't name them all. Since I know every song the band has done, my only surprises are which ones, and in which order they're played.

But I'm getting so far ahead of my story....So here's Part 3!

So not only was this mysterious Part 2 creation in existence, there were the Traveling Wilburys, work with Roy Orbison and George Harrison, and the release of Afterglow. I bought Afterglow for myself as a Christmas gift around 92. The book alone that came with it was worth any songs included. I remember being so happy to have it, I didn't want to play it. When I finally did, I got a jolt from the past. I knew a song on the CD that I was positive I didn't have on album: When Time Stood Still. I found myself singing along with the haunting lyrics without knowing WHY I knew them. Well....it turns out this was a B-side to a 45 I had.

Somewhere around this time I found the ELO Part 2 video with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. I guess it was because I'd poke about video stores on the offchance that ELO might have some old compilation (I'd seen Discovery in stores around 1986, but didn'thave the money to buy it. DAMN ME). And I'd watch this video with the same rapture I'd play all the albums over and over...wondering who the hell Eric Troyer, Pete Haycock and Neil Lockwood were (and why Neil was dressed up like Jeff).....but loving it just the same...

The following year, I made it online. I found newsgroups....AND an ELO mailing list....and became a regular contributor to both. All my burning lyric/voice questions were being answered, like who sang the first lines in the second verse of Nightrider (Kelly), the missing lyrics to Birmingham Blues ("It may be kinda homely but it sure is sweet/Industrial revolution put it on its feet"), who sang what part in TW's "Dirty World", and all the garbled parts of Eldorado. Getting email from Sheila Tandy (the keyboardist's wife) wasn't too bad,either. :)

I was still holding out for a tour, a glimpse (note: I later found out they'd performed at the Whiskey in Hollywood back in 91 or 92...and I had no idea!).....and then 1994 happened. Thanks to the Internet I knew they were touring....but....not here...not in California.....oh damn...

The mountain went to Mohammed....and *I* went to Atlanta and Tucson.

I met a great family in Atlanta...and saw the boys live for the first time onJuly 6th, 1994. 15 years almost to the DAY (6/23/79) that I bought Discovery. Atlanta was suffering from Stormy Weather (tropical storm)....but the sky cleared....and the band played with an orchestra. Chastain Park was a great venue. I was just so excited. The seats weren't the greatest, but being this close after all these years was just neat.

The most amazing thing...as if travelling 2300 miles wasn't crazy enough...was staying around after the concert, waiting by the stage....because...THEY CAME OUT....and I metEVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE BAND MEMBERS!!!!!. Talk about starstruck. The first one I met was Eric Troyer, singer, guitarist, keyboards....to whom I told, like a giddy schoolgirl, "I flew from California to see you guys"....and he looked up from signing my video cover (when he saw it, he said "you have this? wow!"), smiled and said "really? no way!" Kelly Groucutt, bassist and member of ELO from 1974-1983, was really animated, Bev Bevan, the original drummer, seemed bored; Mik Kaminski (violinist) and Phil Bates (guitarist/singer) seemed totally overwhelmed, and Sir Lou (Clark, who did all the orchestration for ELO since the Eldorado Album and played orchestral keyboards in concert) seemed amused. What's f unny is that I always get these impressions when I see them post-concert.

Then....4 days later....I was to go see them again in Tucson with another Internet fan.... Dave picked me up at the airport and we headed off to the hotel, which wasn't too far from the concert venue....I clearly remember seeing two stretch limos out front and wondering who deserved them. We walked into the lobby and there was a group of guys in front of me....I looked at one of them and realize he was wearing a Tshirt from the Atlanta radio station that had sponsored the ELO Part 2 concert just days before.....

No. Fucking. Way. (a direct quote)

The band was checking into MY hotel!!!

I leaned over to Dave and whispered "They're here!" He had no clue what the hell I was talking about until later. Suddenly Louis turned around and I just smiled dopily at him. I'm sure I had the HUGEST smile. Turns out ALL bands that play at the Outback stay at that hotel. Whoda thunk I woulda picked THEIRS? I had no real clue where the Outback was, to begin with. Amazing, no? Thinking back on this, I suddenly ask myself "Why didn't I say hello??" Too amazed, that's why.

(actually, I was just too damned shy back then. it wouldn't have occurred to me to say anything to them. poor me...)

My room wasn't ready (but the BAND'S rooms were. Hmph. Next time, I'm arriving via limo), so we went out to eat (chicken tostadas)...came back and they said 30 min, so we went into the bar.....to be followed by Sir Lou. Who sat a seat away from me at the bar, ordered a Fosters, and started looking at sheet music. I pulled out my concert program ...hehe...and showed Dave all the signatures...because I knew Lou was overhearing....and when he left, he waved and said "see you later".

I got checked in, then we headed for the place.....in a huge revamped warehouse...had a few pool tables...nice...but of course, since it was a bar with no seating...we had to be there early. And I was there with someone I'd been emailing for 3 months but barely knew. Damn, I'm brave sometimes. I didn't feel like it was all that awkward, and we've since become better friends. But I digress. By the time the band came on, we were standing in rows below the stage...being THAT close was pretty freaky....but the music was LOUD...and great.

Afterwards, we danced a bit, then sat around...the roadies and Bev and I think Eric came out. I'd already gotten their sigs in Atlanta, so wedidn't talk to them....I figured, give someone else a chance.

I'm still kicking my ass for scheduling a flight at 1pm the next day....because I coulda hung out with the band at the pool! As I was leaving, I saw Mik taking clothing to the washing machines for a spot of laundry. Dave and I had lunch and then I got back on the plane. As my sister said, I'm not a real groupie because I didn't show up at their hotel room "with vaseline and knee pads"

T Minus 33 Days

About that love thing.....

After I did my last post, I started wondering which came first....but first, I'll reveal the story.

In the 9th grade, I had a crush on a guy who happened to be in 4 of 6 of my classes. He also happened to be in marching band. SRP was my first real crush in HS. Oh sure, I could use his real name, but I won't. I did used to have a nickname for him, but I've since forgotten it.

Well, I came upon a marvelous plan to ensure our eventual meeting and dating. It so happened that they were having Tall Flag tryouts for marching band that spring. This meant I would be a member of the marching band, if I made it, spinning flag while marching. And I'd get to be closer to SRP. Fantastic plan, eh?

I thought so.

So I went to all the tryout rehearsals and BARELY made it....I think they picked about 32 girls, and I was something like #26. Scary. But I made it. And then, after school let out, we began rehearsals on campus in the mornings. And I had my eye on August 6, 1979--the day we, the tall flag girls, would finally rehearse with the band, and I would get to see SRP.

So, the day arrived....a foggy morning, tons of people in the parking lot....and no SRP. Well, no worries, some people were still at music camp, he'd show up.

He never did. Turns out he'd quit marching band to join the waterpolo team, which had practice the same time we did (before school). So all my planning was for naught.

Or so I thought. Later on I'll go back and edit this post to include what I wrote in my diary on September 15, 1979, which was the day of our first performance. But for now I'll tell you that it was absolutely fantastic, and I fell in love with performing that day. It didn't matter that SRP wasn't a part of it. I had found my calling....and later I will describe how this is still a part of my life. But that's another post...

Now, back to the ELO thing....Tall Flag tryouts started before Discovery came out. But I didn't really dig Tall Flags til I actually performed for the first time. So who is the first love? Maybe ELO is!

And now, back to the story...

After Secret Messages, there was a 3-year wait for the next release....Calling America....and I hated it. HATED it. How could Jeff ever create such a travesty! I refused to buy it Balance of Power, the album it was from. (At that time.....)

Then the band broke up. I still played the albums....refusing to get the CD versions...well, duh, didn't have a CD player at the time. With nothing new happening, this was sort of a dark time for me, ELOfan-wise. But other things were happening: college graduation, first real job, first boyfriend...

Sometime around 90 or so, Jeff Lynne released "Armchair Theatre", his first solo deal. "Every Little Thing" became semi popular, but nothing else on the album really did. I hated this album almost as much as Calling America.....it was pretty dark. Turns out this came out at the sametime as one of his divorces. It wasn't until much later that I could play and appreciate this release. "Stormy Weather" and "Nobody Home" are my favorite songs.

I really did think it was all over....I was wrong...

Jump to about 91....I was in Las Vegas, and we were driving to a casino (well, duh, where else?)....and I heard a song on the radio....bright, strings, chorus, familiar drums..... I got shivers....WHAT IS THIS? IS IT? Could it be? The voice was all wrong, but everything else seemed so right.....and we went into the casino without me ever finding out what that song was...

.....until a year or two later.....by this time I was purchasing CDs,having access to a player. We were in a CD store, and I decided to check out the ELO section for kicks.....and there it was....




ELO Part 2???? When did this happen? What???

My boys were back! Or so I thought. Okay, sure, Jeff and Richard weren'ta part of this....but still....the music...I was in heaven. And that song I heard in Vegas? It was Honest Men. I knew it the minute the first time I played the CD. Amazing what the mind remembers, eh?
More Part 2 (and Jeff) in Part 3. :)

My Second Love, Part 1

So it occurred to me that even though in my first post I'd explained why I was going to England...I never really explained WHY I was going to see this particular band....So I thought I'd capture a bit of what I'd written originally on my website several years, with a few timely updates. Besides, I've pretty much done 90% of what I need to do for the trip. :)

And what about my first love, you ask? I'll explain that later....

ELO has been my favorite band since June 1979 when I bought Discovery and fell in love, shortly after the end of my freshman year in HS. I have to say that it was the song "Shine a Little Love" that sparked my love affair with the band. Which is quite odd when you consider there were so many ELO albums that came before Discovery. I had heard snippets of albums, and knew their biggest hits prior to 1979, but somehow Discovery was the album that made it for me. Over the next 2 years I managed to pick up almost every album that had come out before that...I'd stare at their photos, wishing I could meet the members (and remember, I was in high school....this was allowed :) )

And then... Xanadu the movie came out. Well, first the soundtrack. This was their first soundtrack....I refused to play the Olivia Newton-John side til much later. :) That movie was probably one of my top 5 worst....and yet, every once in a while I'll still rent it, just to see the scenes with the music...and sing along (I finally got a copy of it in 2001). It was all I could do not to sing along in the theatre. One of the things my sister and I did that summer was record ourselves singing whilst listening to Xanadu (the title track) via earphones, which only proved why we're not famous singers today.

(embarrassing note: I still do this, in the car, with the CD player and the record function on my cellphone. And I'm a bit better. But that's not saying much....)

In 1981....the album Time came out. I clearly remember the first day I heard "Twilight" on the radio....it was unmistakably Jeff Lynne, the lead singer...damn, what a rush. I ran from the kitchen to the bedroom so I could tape it....My two favorite songs are "Yours Truly, 2095", and "Fromthe End of the World".....I like them both for their combination of bluesy-nessand ELOsity: strings, synth, and Jeff....There was a tour that year; the band was to appear September 25, 1981 at the Fabulous Forum, and I had no transportation and no one to go with. Oh, the humanity! However, I think I've made up for that omission several-fold .

(is this what adulthood is about? making up for lost time? hmmmmm)

Fast forward to: the day I packed for college...I played every ELO album I had from the earliest to Time. Last chance, since I was leaving my record player at home....ah well.....(the records followed me a few months later). This wasn't the only time I've gone through all their works like that. I now reserve that activity for times when I know I'm gonna be busy with manual labor, like working on dance costumes. In fact, the summer of 1981 I spent a LOT of time making my majorette uniforms and letting my ELO records play over and over and over. Some things never change. :) Lately I've been playing the albums back to back on road trips. I did it in 1999 on the way to El Paso, and in 2002 on my first solo drive to/from Lake Tahoe.

Secret Messages came out in 1983. I was a college freshman then. I think I made my poor roommate sick, since that was all I'd play...cept for Beethoven. This album had no clear favorites for me, but I liked all the songs, and I loved just staring at the cover...

The movie Electric Dreams came out in 1984. Jeff and Richard did two songs for it. This movie, about a boy who buys a computer who falls in love with the girl next door (well, the girl was downstairs...and BOTH the boy and the computer fall in love). Yes, it's a dopey movie, and I haven't been able to figure out which is worse, Xanadu or Electric Dreams. No, I take that back....Electric Dreams is slightly worse...BUT....the soundtrack is really cool.

(flash forward to 92....one night I'd rented the movie, and the bf couldn't figure out why.....when it got to "Let it Run" and I was singing along, he said "oh......THAT'S why you wanted to rent this!")

Okay, this is it for now. Part 2 will come another time....in more ways than one....