San Jose Bound

Lobby at the Hard Rock Cafe

Quite a few shows have past and I'll catch up this blog up at some point. But for now it's the Pacific Northwest leg of my tour.  Surprisingly enough, I bought a cross country airfare for $125 just today, the prices actually dropped over the weekend.

So I'll have 3 more chances to try to get Roger's autograph, I was stumped in Philadelphia, there were quite a few dealers that pushed the few fans out of the way with their stacks of Wall albums. I also have some great photos from Las Vegas, especially the at Hard Rock, there was quite a bit of Pink Floyd art work on display.

A Great Collection of Dance Songs

As for San Jose, got a great rate at the San Jose Airport Garden Hotel California, a hotel near the venue for $60 a night. The regular rate is about $100. Now if I can get a ticket for the first night at half price, I'll be all set!

So check it out if you are need of a room in San Jose, use the link below and you'll be supporting my efforts.

Philly Cheese Steaks

The Philadelphia run of The Wall next week present the best opportunity left on the east coast to see the show, with multiple shows in one week at the Wachovia Center, newly renamed Wells Fargo Center. If the Chicago run is any indication, there will be many bargain tickets on the market.

Washington, D.C. The 10-10-10 Show

Verizon Center

To live in the history of the Enigma as The Big No Show, David Gilmour did not perform at this show. Hopes for a show that would land on the front page of national headlines as a Anti-War demonstration failed to materialize.


The show had a rather rowdy audience before the house lights dimmed, the crowd was in the mood to cheer thanks to the Redskins winning hours earlier. My seats tonight were in the upper deck Sec. 412, it is quite a view from the rafters. Funny, after four shows this was the first time that I was startled by the explosive opening number. Not sure if the distance to the stage had anything to do with it or not, but I'm sure I was not the only one who leaned back.

I read about the ADL statement expressing concern over Star of Davids and dollar signs appearing, in that order, as bombs being dropped from bombers. I wonder why the statement does not express offense of the Star of David symbolizing bombs over the stereotype?

By the way, I got a great room rate a plush downtown hotel within walking distance to the Verizon Center. I managed to book the Captial Hilton through Hotwire, listed as 4 stars for $99.

New York Post Review

Well, well, well - Perhaps the first review that gushes, from the New York Post of all things.

Roger Waters performs 'The Wall' live at Madison Square Garden - NYPOST.com

One more show, in Buffalo New York on Friday, before the 10-10-10 show in Washington, D.C. - What are the odds of Gilmour showing up in Buffalo? I spent the night in that city before the opening show in Toronto. I can't imagine why Gilmour and/or Waters would pick Buffalo as the venue. Sure, there is easy access to Toronto and there is Niagara Falls... and yes they did sing to "To Know Him is to Love Him," as absurd as that sounds. The odds are astronomical that the Buffalo show will be the one that Gilmour plays.

So my money is still on the D.C. show. Which as it happens is the next show that I'll be attending. Attending with a few of my friends from way back.

By the way, there are about 180 tickets for sale at some are at below face value!

Chicago 2nd Night

Sec. 212 United Center - Chicago.

Once again I missed Roger entering the arena, it seems the call time for the band is about 3 hours before the show. So hopefully in Pittsburgh I'll be able to say thank you in person.  I'd stay in Chicago for the shows on Thursday and Friday, however work calls for moving out today. Seeing how work is covering most of the travel expenses, I need to move on and try again later.

It seems like the show is stepping it up, the pig is out covering a lot more air space, floating around more than the previous night. So the mechanics of the show are being tuned as they go.  They have ditched some of the wardrobe, the dark hoodies in the 2nd set.

Merchadise

Last night was the best I've heard out of the 3 shows and is the first night that I sat towards the back of the arena. I was in sec 212, and it sounded amazing.  I wonder if reflected sound is the issue with floor seats?

And a final note on Chicago, there is a lot of free parking around the arena. If you arrive early enough, I was able to park about 2 blocks away from the arena. How sweet is that? With the money saved, $40 over two nights, I've paid for a t-shirt!

Chicago Sept 20

I forget how much I love this city. It really is worth visiting at least once.

So there I am at the artist entrance or loading dock to the arena, waiting for who knows who, someone I'd like to get an  autograph from and be able to say Thank You, as I watch the passenger vans come and go. I figure what the heck, I need to grab some lunch, I'll follow one of the production van back to the hotel. I did manage to catch one of the vans leaving - Cool!

I'm able to keep up with them, out on to the highway, off at Diversity and then on to Halstead. Halstead? What 5 star hotel is anywhere around here??  None. 

I followed a production van to Guitar Center on Halstead!  What in the world did they run out to get? I circle around the block and sure enough, I see the guy walking out with a guitar. Well, maybe I can catch Roger tommorw entering the venue.

Chicago is great.

Michigan

Traveling to Chicago through Michigan is a beautiful drive, the trees are just begining to break out in some color. Sending the night in Holland, MI I found this article in the Sunday newspaper about manufacturing windmills.  According to the article these wind turbines are being built in Michigan for Michigan and the rest of the country. Over the next 3 decades the manufacturing should continue to increase and lead Michigan to economic recovery.

In what could be a related story in the future, the paper also has a story about the Monarch Butterfly migrating to Mexico through Michigan.