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.

Toronto - Air Canada Center - Sept. 15th

Wow! What more can be said?

Although, perhaps a little rough, in the first half, the 2nd set, was much tighter. Are the musicians better able to concentrate when performing behind The Wall? Certainly sounded that way to me...

The first half had a few miscues and the sound mixers seemed to be off also.

Or is it possible that my seats, pretty much in the middle of the floor next to the mixing board, is not the sweet spot audio? I'll never know without asking somebody.

"Excuse me sir, where is the sweet spot?"
Waiting for the worms...

I would have asked these guys but they seem to have their Do Not Distrub sign up. I can imagine even though they have done this, how many times before, there is a certain sense of stress, summed up in 3 words: Hurry Up and Wait.

Waters Interview

Here is a pre-tour interview form Roger, includes a lot of film footage of the original Wall concert, with glimpses of the new staging.

Alan Parsons at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Revisiting Darkside of the Moon.

Legendary Darkside of the Moon recording engineer Alan Parsons will be the featured guest at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Legends Series event on September 18 at 7 PM.

Wanna go to the show?

Well you need to RSVP by emailing edu@rockhall.org or calling 216-515-8426.

Maybe I can make it - I'll be traveling to Chicago during that period. If not I'll tune in to the live stream.

Oh, thought you'd like to know, I was at a Which Ones Pink? show at the Canyon Club - where he mixed the show for the band.

Gimour to play with Waters

The official word at which show Gilmour will play is that it will be a surprise. Much speculation is around, that it will be in England next year, which doesn't make sense to me. Gilmour is noted for have sharp business skills, he knows that the most bang will come from an appearance early on the tour.

That being said, I found a post on Usenet, (look it up) this morning that seems to be saying the show Gilmour will play at is Washington D.C. This fits my theory the show will be early in the tour schedule.

As of this morning, I found they are still selling tickets to this show, although pricey, $280, and sold as limited view. The seat looks like it will have a great view of the performers on the stage, as it's positioned to the side of the stage.

I had a very similar seat the last time Stevie Ray Vaughan played in the DC area at the Capital Center. It truly was the best view for watching the performers at a concert I ever had.

Below is the message found on alt.music.pink-floyd.

Publius Enigma (Comfortably Numb)

Already the conversation is heading in a new direction as more believers begin exploring the decisive evidence that has been provided for them. Much of your dialogue is insightful and, in reality, very enlightening, and I have found your devotion over the years to be quite inspiring.

Even as you read these words, artists are getting ready to be reunited at last, and some revealing music is being prepared in appreciation for your collaborative efforts. Needless to say, it is your undying faith and unparalleled dedication that has ultimately lead towards a solution.

Many people around the world are Hoping to see a “surprise”, and, in a manner of speaking, so am I. Everyone who is willing to look and lisTen atTentively ofTen discovers that, wherever Pink Floyd is concerned, there is more than just one. However, in order to bolster your faith, I have decided to heed your words and tell fans where to look, exactly as someone suggested.

North American cities such as Denver and Vancouver were mentioned in July. Allow me to point to another location “across the sea”. Although arranged specifically for you, the upcoming antiwar message is meant for everybody, including the Democratically elected leaders of this Country.

If but a single child is spared from suffering the horrors of war then it is worth setting aside our differences. Indeed, the free world shall be even freer when it grows to believe as strongly in diplomacy as it does in democracy.

Giant steps have been taken forward. Great distances have been traveled. Communication is the key to further progress.

 The grass is greener… Wish You Were Here,

- Gulliver

Some Photoshop from a Fan on Facebook.

My Beautiful Seats

Tickmaster still has tickets to many of the shows, some very premium seats, for those looking for less expensive tickets to any of the shows, try a reseller, I've had very good luck over the years getting greats seats at face value the day before the show, at Stub Hub.

Hot Concert Tickets at StubHub!

I understand Ticketmaster is also in the reselling game, but I have not had first hand experience with them. With Stub Hub, the sellers program in price reductions as the event draws closer, prices drop. Beware though, tickets often are priced above face value.

My best recommendation for affordable tickets is to go to the show and wait for the show to start. Then you can snag a ticket cheap!

The First Venue

So here is a little bit of info about the first venue on the tour, Air Canada Center. Home of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, the NBA's Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League. The premier venue for arena scale concerts in Toronto. Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and the Police have all played in this shed.

The 10 year old arena, built on the grounds of the Canada Post Building, retains 2 of the original outside walls. The facility is 665,000 square feet, contains a micro-brewery on-site, thanks to Molson, brewing two beers: Toronto's Own and Molson Amber Ale.

Concert setup at the Air Canada Center.

The largest audience was 22,109 for a Celine Dion concert. The Wall shows will not have that many people as the staging of The Wall will block off one end of the arena.  However, Roger Waters is playing 3 nights, September 15, 16 & 18, 2010.

Tickets are still selling through Ticketmaster, I found floor seats (FLR L, Row 29) for the first show just this morning, price is $264.75 CAN. Less expensive limited view seats are $ 69.75 CAN. These seats are in the section next to the side of the stage, although the view of the staging will be limited, the view of the band should be excellent.

Toronto, Toronto

Never having been to Toronto, I'm trying to figure out a good hotel near the Air Canada Center to make it easy after the show, I have narrowed it down to 3  using google maps.

1. The Westin Harbour Castle - Gets 4 stars and should have a great view, but maybe a little too pricy.
2. The Fairmont Royal York - 3 1/2 stars and seems to the closest to the venue.
3. The InterContinental Toronto Centre - Rated 4 stars and also very close to the arena.

Hopefully one of them sells through the discount hotel booking site, Hotwire.  I wonder where the band is staying or are they rehearsing somewhere else?

Gilmour and Waters Together Again

At least for a night, David Gilmour and Roger Waters played together, perhaps a preview for a lucky audience or two. Hosted and played for charity you can watch the full video at the Hoping Foundation website or at viemo's.

What could I say, if given the chance? Surely you tease us, you tease us like no other, please, please let this climax be like no other.

Roger Videos

Roger has been speaking out via video through his facebook page. I especially like the filming of his interviews. Watch the two interviews, "Us and Them" and "Celebrity," I always have liked his take on Life.

30 Days To Go

It's difficult to imagine without feeling a rush of adrenaline that 30 days from today, I'll be at the opening show of the North American Tour. My seats aren't too bad. Somewhere in the middle of the floor.

I wonder if the opening shows are a better performance than the shows at the end of the tour, as the band is no doubt a little juiced up. Of course, Gilmour showing up at any one show, is enough to keep us tuned in throughout the tour.

I have never been to Toronto and look forward to touring the city using the Monopoly colored money.

~~
Luna