Date Night
Thursday morning I was working on a flyer at my desk when an Outlook pop-up appeared in the bottom right corner of my screen. The subject line said only this: "Will you go on a date with me Sunday night?" I emailed back "Sunday night?", hoping for a little more information. The reply...."Yep, Sunday night". "Sure", I typed curious as to what Sunday night had in store. As the day went on, all I got out of David was I had to be ready at 5:30 and casual clothes would do. I was excited...what a fun surprise ...very unlike David to plan something off the cuff like that. Very curious....
Sunday night is an odd time for a date night, so I assumed that tickets were involved. I immediately starting looking up theatres in the area. The Hartford Stage was showing "To Kill A Mockingbird" with Matt Modine...maybe we were going there. The casinos were kind of far...not like David to venture out that far "on a school night". Maybe a smaller theatre? I had a few guesses and the not-knowing was driving me crazy. Saturday morning breakfast at Ken's over lobster benedict (...uh-huh...that's right) I finally broke him down. He told me he bought tickets to see a concert - country music - Phil Vasser.
I'm not particularly a huge fan...in fact I knew the name and knew I would recognize some of his songs if I heard them, but I couldn't name them off hand. But I also knew that David was a fan and had his CD, and that David would have a great time. It would be fun to go out and hear some music and I was glad to be going and doing something different.
David came and picked me up at 5:30 as planned and we headed out to The Palace Theatre in Waterbury. You have to understand the mentality up here about driving. Everything is far away! They are not use to a state as large as Texas where a drive across the metroplex for dinner can take an hour, and you don't really think that much about it. People seem to live most of their life within a 10-15 mile radius. You may have to drive to Hartford to work, but short of that people seem to shop, eat, etc. where they live. Case in point, as we were driving to the concert, David said "When it gets warmer, we'll have to go back to West Hartford." It's about 30 miles from home. But that's a "destination" up here. Unlike Allen to downtown Dallas (25 miles) that we don't even blink about driving in Texas. I guess my point is...this was a big outing on a Sunday night as it was about an hour drive to Waterbury.
We made the drive, parked and walk in. Picked up our tickets at the box office (Row G Front Orchestra - GREAT SEATS!). I wanted to stop and go to the bathroom, so I ducked into the ladies room in the lobby. Girls, you would not BELIEVE this ladies room. When you walk in it's all marble...there's a huge floor to ceiling mirror several people wide. The stalls were large and had hooks and shelves and bars for your belongings. Each sink had a standing mirror in front of it on a silver stand. There was tons of room. Women were standing around chatting and primping and there was plenty of space. They advertised that you could rent this space for events and I imagined how perfect it would be for a wedding, a holiday party, a fundraiser, anything where women were dressed to the nines....it was one of the most luxurious ladies rooms I've ever been in....it was only short the velvet fainting chairs and fully stocked vanity. And the theatre was 100 times more elaborate. I could go on and on about it, but a picture is worth a thousand words.
Here's a good link, if you want to see more: http://fivebydesign.smugmug.com/gallery/6367988_TmUSg#402460993_57QZo
It was a like an old time opera house...like I’ve only seen in movies. It reminded me a little of the size and layout of the Bass Hall, but the details and embellishments were unlike anything I've ever seen. It was stunning. When we finally made it to our seats, we sat there just looking around at every inch of the place. (I can't wait to go back!)
It was getting closer and closer to curtain time and there was a large section of seats to our right up front that were still vacant. Rows and rows of seats. We couldn't figure why there was such a void. Then David remembered over hearing there was a meet and greet from 7-7:30. But we thought the show was suppose to start at 7:00. Was there an opening act? They had not advertised one. Confused we sat there. The lights dimmed. Out came the saddest looking band that you have ever seen......oh brother...I thought....it's going to be a long night. A woman walked out in front in jeans and top looking like she had been out running errands. Long stringy, bleached hair - 80's perm. She started to sing. I leaned over to David and whispered....if she was on American Idol, she'd get bad comments! One of her very first songs was something about "everyone's going to Nashville but I'm staying here where I belong...." True story, sister, I thought. You don't belong in Nashville. The drummer looked like her dad, one guitar player her crazy Uncle Sal and the other guitar player, her nerdy younger brother, complete with thick glasses and high-water pants. We sat there and weakly smiled and clapped in a polite fashion waiting for it to be over. An usher with a toupee (yep, it was bad.....you could tell from across the room in the DARK!) would bring in a small group of people now and then during the "performance" but most of the seats remained empty. Finally, the band finished their set and the lights came back on. I was anxious to get back to that fancy bathroom and we headed to the lobby.
We came back and sat down, still mesmerized by the beauty of the theatre and noting the variety of the crowd. It was a pretty across-the-board mix of people. There were lots of grey heads (as there is anywhere you go in CT) and there were younger people there too. Some families, a few dates. There was a darling little 3-4 year old in her pjs standing on a chair watching the festivities. It reminded me of the mix at the Lyle Lovett concert. Quite the spectrum of fans. And then it happened.....the seats began to fill. A large group of young people (college age to early 30's I'd say) all in cowboys hats and jeans, most with a beer in hand, started down the aisle to the front. They were loud, looking up and talking to a group that was resigned to the mezzanine section, I suppose. They were laughing and dancing and full of life. Very different than the reserved CT crowd that was already seated. David and I got tickled looking at the rest of the crowd. Almost all eyes were on them. They became the entertainment. Obviously, the fan club - the meet and greet was clearly over. They hooped and hollered and we all watched as more and more hats walked in and filled up the entire empty section of seats. And when Phil Vasser came out, they went NUTS!
There was one guy in particular that I found myself watching most of the night. I named him Bubba. He was about 6'2" or so - taller than all the rest. He was a big guy - I imagined he was probably a high school football star and had peaked at 18 - one of those who would re-live their 4 years as a rock-star in high school for the rest of their life. You know the type. He managed to have a beer bottle in both hands most of the night. Not sure how he was getting them in without leaving his seat, maybe it was the same two beers, but I doubt it. He was up on the chair or a step by the stage or something at times and towered over the group - clearly their ring leader. He had a black hat and half buttoned cowboy shirt. He would holler and yell and dance around. I got such a kick out of watching him. I think Phil got a kick out of him too as he would come over and sing with the group, trying on different hats, playing it up.
Oh right, the concert....Phil Vasser....well that's how it was much of the night for me. I would get caught up in watching them and forget to watch the show. I will say this though....short of maybe Neal McCoy, I have never seen anyone have so much fun on stage. (Granted I've never seen Kenny Chesney....I imagine that he's that way) He seemed to be loving every minute up there...laughing and talking...have a great time. His energy was contagious. The more he egged on the crowd, the more they cheered. He kissed the girls and high-fived the guys. He jumped up on the piano and slid across the stage. He routed for UCONN and the place went crazy. He knew how to work the crowd. (Mom, in person, he sort of reminded me of a cuter version of Dwight. ;) )
Halfway through, he left the stage and each band member got a chance to introduce themselves and sing a few bars from a song. The first was a red-mohawked fiddle player from Las Vegas. He sang Footloose and I (of course) turned to watch Bubba. The other four guys sang songs that I didn't know. David seemed to know them all. I laughed to myself.....10 years must make all the difference. He was probably dancing to these at his prom while I was watching old movies in grade school!
If you are unfamiliar with Phil Vasser, he's really a noted country music writer. So, he sang a lot of songs that he had written for other artists. I knew a few of the Tim McGraw songs and a Jo Dee Messina song. It was a fun, upbeat show. He left the stage and came back for his encore. He sang a few songs. It was really a good show. I'd go see him again. Now I debated about blogging this next part...but for the sake of honesty, I'm going to do it. I have a feeling by the way that David reacted, most of you will roll your eyes, but it's the honest truth.....so even if I look silly...here goes:
He started singing this song about a piano man and EVERYONE in the audience was singing along. The guy next to me was belting it out. Phil would turn the microphone on the audience every once in a while and the crowd would get even louder...they were loving it...I thought everyone in this room knows this song except for me! The melody was familiar and I knew I was suppose to know it, but I couldn't tell you one word except "piano man". All I could hear was "da-da-da-da piano man". It was the weirdest feeling.....the room was filled with people of all ages....David knew it....Bubba knew it....the older guy next to me knew it.....I knew I was suppose to know it......I tried to listen to the words and get what the song was about....I heard something about tonic and gin....I heard piano man....but when the crowd sang the chorus, I couldn't make it out.....what where they saying? Oh well, I thought, I wasn't ever a Bruce Springsteen fan....I think that's one of his songs. Well, he ended on a crowd pleaser, I guess. Good show!
As we were walking to the car in the parking garage, I said ...."What song was that? I thought I was the only one in the audience that didn't know it.....I mean, I sort of recognize it, but what was it?" I had no idea what was coming next.....David looked at me like I said I didn't know Chicken of the Sea was tuna. I had a feeling even Jessica knew this one....."Well, Bruce Springsteen....I know that....", I said. "I kinda recognized it....." I said, trying to play it down and not look like a complete fool. I don't remember exactly what David said or I'd tell you, but the way he said it felt something to the effect of "you're the dumbest girl I've ever met, but I love you and don't want you to think I think that, so I'm going to say it this way and hope you can't tell I think that." Make sense? ha....So, on the way home he pulled out the iPod and proceeded to educate me on Piano Man...oh and not Bruce Springsteen, by the way.... ;) I did some googling today and in my defense....it came out in 1973 before I was even born! And besides, I grew up on country music....I could probably sing you quite a few Dolly Parton, Don Williams, Barbara Mandrel songs....ha....but I am evidently a little lacking in my Billy Joel/Bruce Springsteen/Whoever Else genre. But if I ever hear that again at a concert, I still won't really know the words...but I'll sure act like I do! ;) ha.
All in all it was a really fun night.....I had a great time. It was fun to do something out of the ordinary. And I look forward to our next theater adventure with Evan on Saturday night......the RHAM High School Spring Musical Presentation of The Wizard of Oz......oh yeah.....that's right.....Kimora's got nothing on me....Life in the Fab Lane!
Sunday night is an odd time for a date night, so I assumed that tickets were involved. I immediately starting looking up theatres in the area. The Hartford Stage was showing "To Kill A Mockingbird" with Matt Modine...maybe we were going there. The casinos were kind of far...not like David to venture out that far "on a school night". Maybe a smaller theatre? I had a few guesses and the not-knowing was driving me crazy. Saturday morning breakfast at Ken's over lobster benedict (...uh-huh...that's right) I finally broke him down. He told me he bought tickets to see a concert - country music - Phil Vasser.
I'm not particularly a huge fan...in fact I knew the name and knew I would recognize some of his songs if I heard them, but I couldn't name them off hand. But I also knew that David was a fan and had his CD, and that David would have a great time. It would be fun to go out and hear some music and I was glad to be going and doing something different.
David came and picked me up at 5:30 as planned and we headed out to The Palace Theatre in Waterbury. You have to understand the mentality up here about driving. Everything is far away! They are not use to a state as large as Texas where a drive across the metroplex for dinner can take an hour, and you don't really think that much about it. People seem to live most of their life within a 10-15 mile radius. You may have to drive to Hartford to work, but short of that people seem to shop, eat, etc. where they live. Case in point, as we were driving to the concert, David said "When it gets warmer, we'll have to go back to West Hartford." It's about 30 miles from home. But that's a "destination" up here. Unlike Allen to downtown Dallas (25 miles) that we don't even blink about driving in Texas. I guess my point is...this was a big outing on a Sunday night as it was about an hour drive to Waterbury.
We made the drive, parked and walk in. Picked up our tickets at the box office (Row G Front Orchestra - GREAT SEATS!). I wanted to stop and go to the bathroom, so I ducked into the ladies room in the lobby. Girls, you would not BELIEVE this ladies room. When you walk in it's all marble...there's a huge floor to ceiling mirror several people wide. The stalls were large and had hooks and shelves and bars for your belongings. Each sink had a standing mirror in front of it on a silver stand. There was tons of room. Women were standing around chatting and primping and there was plenty of space. They advertised that you could rent this space for events and I imagined how perfect it would be for a wedding, a holiday party, a fundraiser, anything where women were dressed to the nines....it was one of the most luxurious ladies rooms I've ever been in....it was only short the velvet fainting chairs and fully stocked vanity. And the theatre was 100 times more elaborate. I could go on and on about it, but a picture is worth a thousand words.
Here's a good link, if you want to see more: http://fivebydesign.smugmug.com/gallery/6367988_TmUSg#402460993_57QZo
It was a like an old time opera house...like I’ve only seen in movies. It reminded me a little of the size and layout of the Bass Hall, but the details and embellishments were unlike anything I've ever seen. It was stunning. When we finally made it to our seats, we sat there just looking around at every inch of the place. (I can't wait to go back!)
It was getting closer and closer to curtain time and there was a large section of seats to our right up front that were still vacant. Rows and rows of seats. We couldn't figure why there was such a void. Then David remembered over hearing there was a meet and greet from 7-7:30. But we thought the show was suppose to start at 7:00. Was there an opening act? They had not advertised one. Confused we sat there. The lights dimmed. Out came the saddest looking band that you have ever seen......oh brother...I thought....it's going to be a long night. A woman walked out in front in jeans and top looking like she had been out running errands. Long stringy, bleached hair - 80's perm. She started to sing. I leaned over to David and whispered....if she was on American Idol, she'd get bad comments! One of her very first songs was something about "everyone's going to Nashville but I'm staying here where I belong...." True story, sister, I thought. You don't belong in Nashville. The drummer looked like her dad, one guitar player her crazy Uncle Sal and the other guitar player, her nerdy younger brother, complete with thick glasses and high-water pants. We sat there and weakly smiled and clapped in a polite fashion waiting for it to be over. An usher with a toupee (yep, it was bad.....you could tell from across the room in the DARK!) would bring in a small group of people now and then during the "performance" but most of the seats remained empty. Finally, the band finished their set and the lights came back on. I was anxious to get back to that fancy bathroom and we headed to the lobby.
We came back and sat down, still mesmerized by the beauty of the theatre and noting the variety of the crowd. It was a pretty across-the-board mix of people. There were lots of grey heads (as there is anywhere you go in CT) and there were younger people there too. Some families, a few dates. There was a darling little 3-4 year old in her pjs standing on a chair watching the festivities. It reminded me of the mix at the Lyle Lovett concert. Quite the spectrum of fans. And then it happened.....the seats began to fill. A large group of young people (college age to early 30's I'd say) all in cowboys hats and jeans, most with a beer in hand, started down the aisle to the front. They were loud, looking up and talking to a group that was resigned to the mezzanine section, I suppose. They were laughing and dancing and full of life. Very different than the reserved CT crowd that was already seated. David and I got tickled looking at the rest of the crowd. Almost all eyes were on them. They became the entertainment. Obviously, the fan club - the meet and greet was clearly over. They hooped and hollered and we all watched as more and more hats walked in and filled up the entire empty section of seats. And when Phil Vasser came out, they went NUTS!
There was one guy in particular that I found myself watching most of the night. I named him Bubba. He was about 6'2" or so - taller than all the rest. He was a big guy - I imagined he was probably a high school football star and had peaked at 18 - one of those who would re-live their 4 years as a rock-star in high school for the rest of their life. You know the type. He managed to have a beer bottle in both hands most of the night. Not sure how he was getting them in without leaving his seat, maybe it was the same two beers, but I doubt it. He was up on the chair or a step by the stage or something at times and towered over the group - clearly their ring leader. He had a black hat and half buttoned cowboy shirt. He would holler and yell and dance around. I got such a kick out of watching him. I think Phil got a kick out of him too as he would come over and sing with the group, trying on different hats, playing it up.
Oh right, the concert....Phil Vasser....well that's how it was much of the night for me. I would get caught up in watching them and forget to watch the show. I will say this though....short of maybe Neal McCoy, I have never seen anyone have so much fun on stage. (Granted I've never seen Kenny Chesney....I imagine that he's that way) He seemed to be loving every minute up there...laughing and talking...have a great time. His energy was contagious. The more he egged on the crowd, the more they cheered. He kissed the girls and high-fived the guys. He jumped up on the piano and slid across the stage. He routed for UCONN and the place went crazy. He knew how to work the crowd. (Mom, in person, he sort of reminded me of a cuter version of Dwight. ;) )
Halfway through, he left the stage and each band member got a chance to introduce themselves and sing a few bars from a song. The first was a red-mohawked fiddle player from Las Vegas. He sang Footloose and I (of course) turned to watch Bubba. The other four guys sang songs that I didn't know. David seemed to know them all. I laughed to myself.....10 years must make all the difference. He was probably dancing to these at his prom while I was watching old movies in grade school!
If you are unfamiliar with Phil Vasser, he's really a noted country music writer. So, he sang a lot of songs that he had written for other artists. I knew a few of the Tim McGraw songs and a Jo Dee Messina song. It was a fun, upbeat show. He left the stage and came back for his encore. He sang a few songs. It was really a good show. I'd go see him again. Now I debated about blogging this next part...but for the sake of honesty, I'm going to do it. I have a feeling by the way that David reacted, most of you will roll your eyes, but it's the honest truth.....so even if I look silly...here goes:
He started singing this song about a piano man and EVERYONE in the audience was singing along. The guy next to me was belting it out. Phil would turn the microphone on the audience every once in a while and the crowd would get even louder...they were loving it...I thought everyone in this room knows this song except for me! The melody was familiar and I knew I was suppose to know it, but I couldn't tell you one word except "piano man". All I could hear was "da-da-da-da piano man". It was the weirdest feeling.....the room was filled with people of all ages....David knew it....Bubba knew it....the older guy next to me knew it.....I knew I was suppose to know it......I tried to listen to the words and get what the song was about....I heard something about tonic and gin....I heard piano man....but when the crowd sang the chorus, I couldn't make it out.....what where they saying? Oh well, I thought, I wasn't ever a Bruce Springsteen fan....I think that's one of his songs. Well, he ended on a crowd pleaser, I guess. Good show!
As we were walking to the car in the parking garage, I said ...."What song was that? I thought I was the only one in the audience that didn't know it.....I mean, I sort of recognize it, but what was it?" I had no idea what was coming next.....David looked at me like I said I didn't know Chicken of the Sea was tuna. I had a feeling even Jessica knew this one....."Well, Bruce Springsteen....I know that....", I said. "I kinda recognized it....." I said, trying to play it down and not look like a complete fool. I don't remember exactly what David said or I'd tell you, but the way he said it felt something to the effect of "you're the dumbest girl I've ever met, but I love you and don't want you to think I think that, so I'm going to say it this way and hope you can't tell I think that." Make sense? ha....So, on the way home he pulled out the iPod and proceeded to educate me on Piano Man...oh and not Bruce Springsteen, by the way.... ;) I did some googling today and in my defense....it came out in 1973 before I was even born! And besides, I grew up on country music....I could probably sing you quite a few Dolly Parton, Don Williams, Barbara Mandrel songs....ha....but I am evidently a little lacking in my Billy Joel/Bruce Springsteen/Whoever Else genre. But if I ever hear that again at a concert, I still won't really know the words...but I'll sure act like I do! ;) ha.
All in all it was a really fun night.....I had a great time. It was fun to do something out of the ordinary. And I look forward to our next theater adventure with Evan on Saturday night......the RHAM High School Spring Musical Presentation of The Wizard of Oz......oh yeah.....that's right.....Kimora's got nothing on me....Life in the Fab Lane!
Comments
You're a trooper...I would had a hard time staying out of the bathroom at a concert I'm not sure of the artist!!