Helloooo all.  Well, We made it out here for the show coming up on Sat. 10/27.  I will definitely post a review after the show, but give me some time to return hom to Ohio.  I'll be back between Mon - Wed. at the latest. Pam I will definitely take your tips for the camera shots and sneaking it into the show. :o)  Thanks LR for the info on Wed. show...4th in the series.  I hope the Sat. night Finale is fantastic.  Has anyone confirmed that this show may be a little differenet as far as the Chicks coming back out for a Finale w/ The Eagles..because of the possibility of a DVD ?  I thought someone may have mentioned it, and We will stay if that is true...but otherwise, We will be cutting out before the Eagles are over to avoide traffic etc.

 

Thanks again....Here safe in Cali,

Steph and Sara    

Hmmmm... I read in some of the reviews that the "Eagles Only" fans were kind of testy. They didn't want to hear the new stuff at all and were complaining throughout the Chicks set and through the 4 news songs off The Eagles new album.....of course if Eagles fans (and I mean the well heeled ones who were in their 20's and 30's in the 70's) are going the same way that the fans of acts my folks go to see, it's turning into a Geritol Marathon as they all leave early to beat the traffic in their Crown Vics and Grand Marquis' and get to bed.... You Chicks fans are whipper snappers (regardless of age)....

Steph (and anyone else wanting to take pics):  Listen to NYC.  She knows of what she speaks.  I bow down to her as the Mistress of Stealth Photography.  Afterwards, we were looking at her shots, and I said, "WTF?? When did you take these???"  I was standing directly beside her, and I didn't see her snap a thing.  Cool as a cucumber, that one...

 

Pam in NC

For those of you wanting to see the Chicks and  don't have tickets, you can also try BArrys Tickets. He's on line and has an office in the Holiday Inn which is kiddie corner from the Staples Center and across the street from the Nokia (its behind the project that is going up saying , opeing in 2008. But....you run the risk of him not having any soooooooo, take your chances. An hour before Suns show they had some left at pretty much face value good luck, have fun, and let us know what you think

Junichi, who won on Sunday night?

 

Stephanie, here's some camera advice:

1.  Don't use a flash.  The pictures may be blurry but be prepared for the picture you take with a flash to be your last.

2.  If your camera has a screen that lights up when you turn it on, try to cover that screen so it doesn't illuminate your face and give you away.

 

Good luck!  Looking forward to a full report from Saturday night's show.  Hope you can go to Friday's show, too.  BTW, there were people outside selling tickets at or below face value before the show.

 

Lilchickfan, I agree that a Nokia DVD would be great.  Apparently 60 Minutes was there on Sunday night but they were focusing on the Eagles.

 

 

Pam.  Thank you so much for your review and all the info.  I will definitely follow your lead with the "feminine products" to smuggle in my digital camera in it's case.  I am not bragging by any means...but hearing how good your seats were on Emily's side in row P...has chills running down my spine, because we are on Emily's side in Row F on the aisle nearest center. **Need I be careful You think Pam...with a camera on the Aisle ? Wow...I'll be mesmerized. We will definitely scream ad cheer , although we too get emotional and overwhelmed, I am sure we will be with parts of the show.  We will definitely show our Dixie Chicks Love and Support. ** I understand that the Eagles are great artisits as well...but how about I called the venue today...and they said signs were allowed...no larger than 11x17, that we could stand all we wanted and that no cameras were allowed, and they only reason these restrictions were put into place, we because The Eagles wanted it that that way...  NOT The Chicks.  She said that the Chicks were not the headliners...and because it was the Eagles, then they are in charge and get what they want.  How rediculous.  The Chicks are being treated like an opening group...and in Edinburgh's videos on utube (Thanks Edinburgh) ..You could see people moving around and hear them talking.  These ladies have true talent.  Everyone needs to get over the so called "comment" and give them the respect that they once had...put them back at tThe Top of The World..and I hope their next Tour sells out.  Like NAtalie Said...Grammy's !. - lol That was awesome.  Well , Time to get rest...as I will be getting up early AM to head out to Los Angeles on my flight and see them on Sat. 10/27.  Enjoy some time out there as well..and maybe try to go to the Friday show if I can snag some seats maybe on E-Bay that someone can e-mail to me. :o)  Incidentally...I probably won't even stay for the Eagles.  Man, I wish we could instead get backstage to see the Chicks once they are done performing.  Junichi..help us out here -lol. :o)

 

Well..We will see you all when I We are the Other side of the States...all the way from Ohio to California.   

BF2F:  I second your comment about the Getty Villa!  I enjoy museums, and I was looking forward to it, but I didn't expect to have the reaction that I did.  It was breathtaking, and I wish we would have had time to go back for another day.  I think you need an entire day to see everything; or at least I would.  When I go to a museum, I tend to walk slowly (hard to believe, eh, BF2F and NYC?) and look at and read evvvvvvverything.  I would definitely recommend that people check it out, regardless of whether or not you think you're a museum person.  It's in Malibu, though, so I'm thinking touring the Getty is out for the bloggers going to see the shows this weekend.

 

Pam in NC

ya'll are actin like this is the end of the road for the Chicks...its definately not...they've been in this business for a long time and technically the group the Dixie Chicks has been around for almost 20 years...look at the Rolling Stones, The Eagles, and all those other groups that have lasted...we all know these ladies have talent and a down to Earth personality that makes us relae to them a lot easier than we can relate to sum Divas out there...and yes it may be a few years b4 the Chicks release any new music or go on tour again...but we all know when they do it will be good and worth the wait...and for all we know they could be writing new songs now...maybe collaborating with the Eagles or sumthin...or recording a new album..who knows...and one day ya'll are gonna see me singin with the Chicks...and that will hopefully be within the next couple years (yes I got high expectations and aspirations and they will happen) :) so watch out...hehe  but for real the Chicks will be back...they aren't gonna be gone forever...they will be back...I promise..anyone know how I can contact the Chicks manager, Simon? :)

Pam,you are amazing with that laptop of yours... NYC, I'm glad you dragged me to the museum cause I was fascinated..

Advice for those going...do what inspires you, be free and remember why you are there. I enjoyed the shows tremendously but today was hit with the cold, hard reality that it may be sometime down the road before there willbe another album and another tour.....but when it does, I, along with countless other fans , will be there. I have to say the Junichi was a classact when he came by to see us. He could of easily ignored the request and we would have never known. To me, that said a lot about the type of guy that he is

Mary, unless you know something I don't know, there is nothing in release (in CD or DVD form) with live performances from TTLW.  Nothing that I could get if I didn't record it, I guess.  And I told BF2F that I was kicking myself for not asking Junichi about the extended version of SUAS when I had him in my grip.  Anyone who sees Junichi, I think you should drill him on this.

 

Pam, thanks for writing all of that up.  I'm not even sure I have anything to add.  Okay, just a little.  I'm glad I paid very close attention during Saturday night's show and was able to let loose a little on Sunday and dance and scream.  One thing about seeing the Dixie Chicks that is so different from seeing a lot of other performers is their connection with the audience through these anecdotes and jokes that Natalie tells.  They don't just get up there and perform their songs.  They "entertain" too.  A lot of performers don't do that.  There's nothing wrong with just performing the songs, but having that extra personal connection is a bonus.  I don't think Glenn Frey would admit on-stage to having a sepcial "SexyBack" dance and subesquently be encouraged by his bandmates to perform it, but what do I know.

 

Oh, and Sheila, you asked about the seats:  they were comfy, indeed.  And for fun in L.A. we went to some of the touristy sites, ate a lot (okay, maybe that was just me), and spent some time in Malibu before the fires broke out, including a trip to the Getty Villa, which I had been dying to see since I was just a wee art history major honing my ability to distinguish the Greek from the Roman in sculpture from antiquity.  Also, BF2F had a celebrity sighting at the airport.  Woo hoo!

 

Steph:  I was able to smuggle my camera in my purse by camouflaging it with um----shall we say----feminine hygiene products?  I tucked it in a zippered compartment in my bag, and I strategically placed a tampon and a pad on top of it. The guy looked in, saw what was there, sheepishly apologized, and handed it back to me.  Men run away away screaming when confronted with that type of thing.  So if you follow my lead, make sure you go thru a male security guard.

 

Good luck!  :)

 

Pam in NC

I'm home, back in my normal time zone, and I'm feeling somewhat rested after several flight delays last night that led to my finally walking into my apartment at 3:30 this morning. My thoughts aren't quite as cloudy now, and I think I can finally put a few sentences together.

 

This was my first time seeing the Chicks live, and I had really nice orchestra seats both nights.  The first night, I was kind of in awe and overwhelmed being there in the middle of it all.  While I thought the theater was nice and comfortable and attractive, I failed to see what all the buzz was about.  The seats were comfy and had drink holders (definitely a nice perk!  I didn't have to hold my cup of wine for the entire show), and it's a great place; but no better than other venues I've visited IMHO.

 

At the risk of sounding like a sap, the Chicks mean a lot to me---musically and personally.  The first night, I just couldn't believe that I was there!  I felt star-struck, even from row EE in the orchestra.  I sat in my seat and grinned like an idiot in the dark; and I sang every word to every song---very softly, of course( if you ever hear me sing, you'll know why) while my eyes were transfixed on the stage.  I mentioned already that the cresecendo and climax in NRTMN was, by far, my favorite moment of the show.  I felt myself getting a little teary, and I literally felt chills run up the lengths of my arms.  I really like "Mary"; the lyrics are haunting, and the ladies' harmonies were moving.  I hope they'll eventually record it.  The tempo of "Long Time Gone" sounded a little slower when they played the verses.  I liked it, though, and I think it was deliberate.  Instead of the upbeat bluegrass tempo I hear on the CD, it was something that I would describe as having more of a rock edge----not the overall sound, just the tempo. 

 

I was hoping to hear "Sin Wagon", but I loved the set list, and there was nothing that I would have wanted them to leave off and subtitute with "Sin Wagon".  As Natalie said when people were yelling out the names of songs they wanted to hear, "The Eagles have to play some time tonight.  Can you imagine that?"  Hee hee hee.

 

The second night, we sat in row P on Emily's side, and the view was pretty remarkable.  My star-struck fog only thickened, my chin was on the floor for the entire show, and it felt even more surreal to me.  As NYC and BF2F have already mentioned, they caught a lot of flak for showing their enthusiasm; but I don't think I have to tell anyone who knows them from here that they very beautifully held their own.  As for me, I stood, I sat, I yelled, and I listened quietly, depending on which emotion was being evoked by the music.  I also wanted the ladies to know that there were people there for THEM, so when the music excited me and riled me up (the crescendo in NRTMN again, the first time they sang the chorus in "Good Bye Earl", all of "Lubbock or Leave It" to name a few), I was on my feet, clapping and waving at them.  Other times, I felt moved, overwhelmed at being in their presence, and I just wanted to listen and soak in the experience....so I sat quietly, listening and watching. God knows when I'll be in this position again, and I didn't want to miss a thing!  I took some binoculars, and I spent a lot of time studying their facial expressions, as well as Martie's and Emily's fingers while they're wailing away on their instruments. WOW their fingers create a blur!  Before the 2nd show, we met some really nice ladies who had come from Canada ( Saskatchewan, to be exact).  We had some dinner and drinks with them at an outdoor cafe outside of the theater.  They said they were there for the Eagles, but they were looking forward to seeing the Chicks, too.  They ended up sitting about 4 rows directly in front of us,  and some of them were on their feet and dancing, too!  So the Chicks were feeling the love from Americans and Canadians alike!

I do feel miffed at the fact that I thought the Chicks were being treated as merely an opening act.  It was obvious that there would absolutely NOT be en encore from them.  Their set consisted of only 12 songs, and there were people up and down and still milling around during their performance.  I think that perhaps this may have effected their enthusiasm.  They're ultimate professionals, so the quality of their performance was phenomenal...they sounded great!  But their body language and their interaction with each other was a bit muted.  On the 2nd night, as Natalie was introducing the song "Mary", she said, "For those of you who follow our music, you know that we do a lot of Patty Griffin songs.  And for those of you who don't follow our music, I'd just like to say 'Grammys'". I loved that!  I think they felt like many people who were there were there for the Eagles, and the Chicks couldn't get off the stage fast enough for them.  I know that when I'm speaking publicly, and I see people strolling in late, leaving early, or chatting away while I'm talking, it really drains my enthusiasm.  I'm hoping that from this point on, the Chicks will "open" for no one.  They don't need the crap that goes along with being an opening act; they are wayyyyyyy past that level., and they deserve 1000x better.

 

All of this being said, this trip was a wonderful experience for me, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity.  I got to do and see a lot of things that I've never done or seen before.  There are some that I'd do again, and there are some that I wouldn't.  Seeing the ladies live definitely falls into the former category, and while I want them to rest and enjoy their personal lives, I'll be waiting with bated breath for the next album and, especially, the next tour!

 

Pam in NC