MR

Got your attention, didn't I? I know stevew2 is reading.

Anyway, I wanted to add my two cents about the show in Indy last night. I didn't want this buried in the other threads, so I made my own. Sorry.

I got to the fairgrounds only to find that my 7th row left section seat was obstructed. They seemed to have sold way too many seats working away from the stage (if that makes sense). If I looked straight ahead I was staring at a wall, and if I turned 90 degrees to the right I was looking straight down the front of the stage. I could only see the microphone stands. So I was a little disappointed to say the least.

But luckily, an usher saw me with a puzzled look on my face and said that she was going to move those of us in seats like this when the show started because of the fact that we couldn't see. Then she asked me if I was by myself, and when I said yes she said she would just move me right now (still 45 minutes before the show). She picked up a folding chair and set me down right at the end of the front row center section. Needless to say I was pretty happy with this turn of events. I was at the end of the front row center section just slightly to the left of Jonathan Cain's microphone stand.

Notes on the night:
- Heart was okay. Nancy Wilson is very nice to look at, in my opinion. They played about 75 minutes.
- Arnel is a superstar. Plain and simple. The guy brings it. I'd be the first to say if something seemed off to me, but I couldn't find anything wrong with his performance. He works the crowd to perfection and was outstanding vocally. This was the first show after an 8-day layoff, so I'm sure that helped.
- The rest of the band looked and sounded great, too.
- They are taking every precaution possible with Arnel's voice. First of all, the set wasn't that long. Secondly, he had multiple breaks throughout the set (i.e. Neal's solo, Wheel In The Sky instrumental intro and extended jam, Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' intro and all of the other jams and solos.)

With that being said...
- Journey's setlist left something to be desired. They played about 95-100 minutes, so we got the Dirty Dozen plus Never Walk Away, Wildest Dream and Change For The Better. Deen didn't sing and the only "deep cut" we got was Dead Or Alive (not a fan, anyway). I'm sure the crowd loved hearing the hits back-to-back-to-back, but I was waiting for something else that never came. I understand that in the state fairs like this they have to cater to a different audience, and they played a shorter set with Heart on the bill, etc., but I've heard all of these songs a million times. I might re-think traveling 3.5 hours on a Sunday night to see a greatest hits show. I will still travel for new album tours, just to hear those songs.

Front row makes everything worth it, though. I'll be in Louisville on Friday night with an actual ticketed front-row center seat (thanks, Ticketmaster). Two straight Journey shows from the front row? That's something you don't get every day. Hoping to see a setlist change or two on Friday night. That will be my 11th career show at age 22.

Now, onto an explanation about the thread title. Coming back onto the stage following the encore break, a classy lady behind me decided to lift her top to the band. And Jonathan Cain responded by lifting his shirt back at her. Interesting. So yes, I was, in turn, flashed by Jonathan Cain.

Thanks for reading.

fightingilliniJRNY wrote:So yes, I was, in turn, flashed by Jonathan Cain.

So ol' Sourpuss just decided to be stuffy with me, then? Flash Jonathan, he'll pop his titty back out at you. Tell him it's nice to meet him and he gives you a look of death.

...K. Think I'm getting the feel for his interpersonal interaction skills.
What a goober.

Great in depth review of the show. Thanks for taking the time.

Rhiannon wrote:Flash Jonathan, he'll pop his titty back out at you. Tell him it's nice to meet him and he gives you a look of death.

...K.

I wish I'd seen the look you got. I was next, and I got not exactly a look of death but a total off-putting unfriendly vibe, for sure. No smile.

Jesus, I bordered on interrupting Steve Augeri's breakfast on Sunday and he couldn't have been nicer!! I walk up to Jon and shake his hand and "Hi Jon, nice to meet you" and he looks at me like I just beat up a baby.

(to be clear, I did not interrupt SA's breakfast, I'd never do that, but I did say goodbye to he and the Mrs. while they were in line for the buffet, but STILL - the guy was nicer than hell!! Clearly none of this rubbed off during his time in the band!)

bluejeangirl76 wrote:Jesus, I bordered on interrupting Steve Augeri's breakfast on Sunday and he couldn't have been nicer!! I walk up to Jon and shake his hand and "Hi Jon, nice to meet you" and he looks at me like I just beat up a baby.

Shake it off. Maybe he was holding in an epic fart. Now, Steve, there's a guy you love to be around! I could just fold he & Arnel both up and carry them around with me. Absolutely infectious personalities.

Anyhow, Illini, good post about the show. Heart was simply amazing as always. Glad it didn't rain. And btw, about your seats. That has GOT to be the worst venue EVER. Totally shitty place, sound is fab in one part and totally unintelligible elsewhere.

Rhiannon wrote:Anyhow, Illini, good post about the show. Heart was simply amazing as always. Glad it didn't rain. And btw, about your seats. That has GOT to be the worst venue EVER. Totally shitty place, sound is fab in one part and totally unintelligible elsewhere.

Thanks. Sorry about your bad experience with Jonathan Cain, apparently. I enjoyed Heart, but since I'm not a huge fan of theirs I didn't recognize as many songs as I did last tour. I love hearing Ann sing and watching Nancy switch from guitar to mandolin to harmonica to the kitchen sink all show.

And I'll agree with you on the venue. I couldn't believe how far out to the sides the grandstand seating went. The people on the edges were probably either watching on the screens or craning their necks all night. Not to mention what happened with my original seat in the left track section. I can't speak for the sound quality since it was fine where I was, but that's really too bad if it was pretty bad in certain places. I did hear it echoing back hardcore off the bleachers during Heart's set when the grandstand was emptier. That had to be distracting if you were performing.

I really dislike the state fair setting anyway, so I'll be happy when Journey's back in amphitheaters next album tour. I know they have to hit up different spots each year, but I would love not to have to contend with the type of crowd the state fair attracts, plus pigs and cows (the animal or human variety) to get to a Journey show.



*Sorry for the preceding comment if you love yourself a good ol' state fair.

fightingilliniJRNY wrote:

Rhiannon wrote:Anyhow, Illini, good post about the show. Heart was simply amazing as always. Glad it didn't rain. And btw, about your seats. That has GOT to be the worst venue EVER. Totally shitty place, sound is fab in one part and totally unintelligible elsewhere.

Thanks. Sorry about your bad experience with Jonathan Cain, apparently. I enjoyed Heart, but since I'm not a huge fan of theirs I didn't recognize as many songs as I did last tour. I love hearing Ann sing and watching Nancy switch from guitar to mandolin to harmonica to the kitchen sink all show.

And I'll agree with you on the venue. I couldn't believe how far out to the sides the grandstand seating went. The people on the edges were probably either watching on the screens or craning their necks all night. Not to mention what happened with my original seat in the left track section. I can't speak for the sound quality since it was fine where I was, but that's really too bad if it was pretty bad in certain places. I did hear it echoing back hardcore off the bleachers during Heart's set when the grandstand was emptier. That had to be distracting if you were performing.

I really dislike the state fair setting anyway, so I'll be happy when Journey's back in amphitheaters next album tour. I know they have to hit up different spots each year, but I would love not to have to contend with the type of crowd the state fair attracts, plus pigs and cows (the animal or human variety) to get to a Journey show.



*Sorry for the preceding comment if you love yourself a good ol' state fair.

I like our state fair (KY) and hopefully Freedom Hall will make for a great return for Journey. I saw them there on the Raised On Radio tour. Cool that you got front row again! Hope you have a great time here.

Suzanne wrote:I like our state fair (KY) and hopefully Freedom Hall will make for a great return for Journey. I saw them there on the Raised On Radio tour. Cool that you got front row again! Hope you have a great time here.

I considered coming down for that show, because I'd have been able to see some of my former co-workers down there, PLUS Journey, but I don't have the time or cashola for it. Freedom Hall is a much better setting than that piece of crap grandstand at Indy.

bluejeangirl76 wrote:

Rhiannon wrote:Flash Jonathan, he'll pop his titty back out at you. Tell him it's nice to meet him and he gives you a look of death.

...K.

I wish I'd seen the look you got. I was next, and I got not exactly a look of death but a total off-putting unfriendly vibe, for sure. No smile.

He can read people well.

Had I known you were going down there and met the band, I may have given you a gift (Windy City Breakdown CD) to take down and get signed.

Rhiannon wrote:

bluejeangirl76 wrote:Jesus, I bordered on interrupting Steve Augeri's breakfast on Sunday and he couldn't have been nicer!! I walk up to Jon and shake his hand and "Hi Jon, nice to meet you" and he looks at me like I just beat up a baby.

Shake it off. Maybe he was holding in an epic fart. Now, Steve, there's a guy you love to be around! I could just fold he & Arnel both up and carry them around with me. Absolutely infectious personalities.

Anyhow, Illini, good post about the show. Heart was simply amazing as always. Glad it didn't rain. And btw, about your seats. That has GOT to be the worst venue EVER. Totally shitty place, sound is fab in one part and totally unintelligible elsewhere.

When I met JC I shook his hand , was smiling and said it's nice to meet you and he gave me a big smile in return......so maybe it was you!

JUST KIDDING ! ...he did smile, though, so maybe it was just the night...I might have caught him in a good mood and you caught him in a bad one....or maybe he's just done so many M & G's that he just goes through the motions and his thoughts are somewhere else...who knows.

Tito wrote:

bluejeangirl76 wrote:

Rhiannon wrote:Flash Jonathan, he'll pop his titty back out at you. Tell him it's nice to meet him and he gives you a look of death.

...K.

I wish I'd seen the look you got. I was next, and I got not exactly a look of death but a total off-putting unfriendly vibe, for sure. No smile.

He can read people well.

Had I known you were going down there and met the band, I may have given you a gift (Windy City Breakdown CD) to take down and get signed.

That's another story. Made the mistake of thinking I might be able to get a CD signed and got BARKED at by staff member I'm not going to name. A-hole.

The whole experience is so off-putting, between the ILAA people and the Journey people... Seriously, the ONLY highlight was Arnel. He's so sweet, very appreciative of meeting fans, very accomodating and extremely personable. I didn't get a chance to say hello to Ross, but I imagine he would have been the only other highlight because from all I've heard he's also a good guy and happy to talk to people.

The rest of them, including their management, can get bent.

I'm not egotistical enough to think it was me.
And I'm also not bitching, if he wants to be nice to others in line, and pull a Mr. Freeze with me, that's his damn right. He ain't my trained monkey, I wasn't there to see him. I hugged him anyway. Cause you know what? I'm a polite, warm, friendly, southern girl... and I hug everyone. Anyone who has met me has also been hugged by me. I'm guessing Jon's not a hugger. It happens. May the bird of paradise fly up his nose.

Rhiannon wrote:May the bird of paradise fly up his nose.

...and out the other end sideways.

I'd like to think he was simply overtaken by my stunning green eyes and rendered speechless.
But probably not.

If I go to another one of these, ever, I'm calling him Leonardo Frigarello just for the hell of it.

Rhiannon wrote:I'm not egotistical enough to think it was me.
And I'm also not bitching, if he wants to be nice to others in line, and pull a Mr. Freeze with me, that's his damn right. He ain't my trained monkey, I wasn't there to see him. I hugged him anyway. Cause you know what? I'm a polite, warm, friendly, southern girl... and I hug everyone. Anyone who has met me has also been hugged by me. I'm guessing Jon's not a hugger. It happens. May the bird of paradise fly up his nose.

Maybe in that CBS interview when Jonathan said knowing Arnel has made him a better person he meant that Arnel has made Neal a better person, since Neal was so friendly to you and seems more fan friendly this year, and made Jonathan a better person only in brief spurts.

Rhiannon wrote:I'm not egotistical enough to think it was me.
And I'm also not bitching, if he wants to be nice to others in line, and pull a Mr. Freeze with me, that's his damn right. He ain't my trained monkey, I wasn't there to see him. I hugged him anyway. Cause you know what? I'm a polite, warm, friendly, southern girl... and I hug everyone. Anyone who has met me has also been hugged by me. I'm guessing Jon's not a hugger. It happens. May the bird of paradise fly up his nose.

Maybe the not so nice look that came for the "next" girl in line was because he was afraid of another hug I still would LOVED to have seen his face!! haha

StevePerryHair wrote: I still would LOVED to have seen his face!! haha

IT WAS WORTH IT. Imagine fear mixed with awkwardness, a splash of confusion, and the slightest aftertaste of anger. That's the look. I hugged ol Fancy Fingers.

Rhiannon wrote:

StevePerryHair wrote: I still would LOVED to have seen his face!! haha

IT WAS WORTH IT. Imagine fear mixed with awkwardness, a splash of confusion, and the slightest aftertaste of anger. That's the look. I hugged ol Fancy Fingers.

He's probably practicing his "anti-hug deflector look" for all future meet and greets all thanks to you Rhi

StevePerryHair wrote: He's probably practicing his "anti-hug deflector look" for all future meet and greets all thanks to you Rhi

There'll be a new M&G rule enforced henceforth. "Absolutely NO hugging the Keytarist."
I mean what the hell. I'm not made of lava, Jon. But I appreciate you fake-hugging back like I was a hemophiliac infant.

Wonder if Neal hugs him? Neal's got the hug thing down... I say all the guys go and give Jon a big old bear hug RIGHT NOW.

Rhiannon wrote:Wonder if Neal hugs him? Neal's got the hug thing down...

It wasn't a hug - he was trying to motorboat you but the ILAA people booted us out before he could.

"Bbbbbbbllllllllll-bbbbbbbbblllbbbbbb-bbbllllllbbb!!!"

bluejeangirl76 wrote: Leonardo Frigarello

Rhiannon wrote:I'm not egotistical enough to think it was me.
And I'm also not bitching, if he wants to be nice to others in line, and pull a Mr. Freeze with me, that's his damn right. He ain't my trained monkey, I wasn't there to see him. I hugged him anyway. Cause you know what? I'm a polite, warm, friendly, southern girl... and I hug everyone. Anyone who has met me has also been hugged by me. I'm guessing Jon's not a hugger. It happens. May the bird of paradise fly up his nose.

I spent many years in the South and am a hugger too, so I know what you mean, but we have to watch it with "outsiders" who aren't used to Southern ways...peeps that aren't used to getting hugs sometimes freeze up like a stiff corpse on contact.

Blueskies wrote:peeps that aren't used to getting hugs sometimes freeze up like a stiff corpse on contact.

Or on the contrary, stiff-up like a freezer pop.

Rhiannon wrote:

Blueskies wrote:peeps that aren't used to getting hugs sometimes freeze up like a stiff corpse on contact.

Or on the contrary, stiff-up like a freezer pop.

Is that what Jon felt like? What flavor would he be?

Blueskies wrote:

Rhiannon wrote:

Blueskies wrote:peeps that aren't used to getting hugs sometimes freeze up like a stiff corpse on contact.

Or on the contrary, stiff-up like a freezer pop.

Is that what Jon felt like? What flavor would he be?

A Frigacicle LOL

If he was in the refrigerator business his units would be called Frigadaires.
He used to play the whale. Now he plays the Frigazioli

steveo777 wrote:

Blueskies wrote:

Rhiannon wrote:

Blueskies wrote:peeps that aren't used to getting hugs sometimes freeze up like a stiff corpse on contact.

Or on the contrary, stiff-up like a freezer pop.

Is that what Jon felt like? What flavor would he be?

A Frigacicle LOL

If he was in the refrigerator business his units would be called Frigadaires.

Rhiannon wrote:

Blueskies wrote:peeps that aren't used to getting hugs sometimes freeze up like a stiff corpse on contact.

Or on the contrary, stiff-up like a freezer pop.

We're talking about his body here... right...

bluejeangirl76 wrote:
That's another story. Made the mistake of thinking I might be able to get a CD signed and got BARKED at by staff member I'm not going to name. A-hole.

The whole experience is so off-putting, between the ILAA people and the Journey people... Seriously, the ONLY highlight was Arnel. He's so sweet, very appreciative of meeting fans, very accomodating and extremely personable. I didn't get a chance to say hello to Ross, but I imagine he would have been the only other highlight because from all I've heard he's also a good guy and happy to talk to people.

The rest of them, including their management, can get bent.

Bad attitude. Don't go next time. They are under no obligation to meet you as well as kiss your ass when YOU get the luxury of meeting them. You're very unappreciative and ungrateful for your experience. They let you in/backstage and you still want more.

Rhiannon wrote:I'm not egotistical enough to think it was me.
And I'm also not bitching, if he wants to be nice to others in line, and pull a Mr. Freeze with me, that's his damn right. He ain't my trained monkey, I wasn't there to see him. I hugged him anyway. Cause you know what? I'm a polite, warm, friendly, southern girl... and I hug everyone. Anyone who has met me has also been hugged by me. I'm guessing Jon's not a hugger. It happens. May the bird of paradise fly up his nose.

Maybe you crossed the line (in his eyes) when you hugged him. You should've asked first. Although an innoncent gesture on your part, may not have been to him. It happens.

And now begins the decline of another thread...

Tito wrote:Maybe you crossed the line (in his eyes) when you hugged him. You should've asked first. Although an innoncent gesture on your part, may not have been to him. It happens.

I did ask, Hobbes.