by nancyrose on 17 Jul 2007 19:08
It's true...Cleveland Bloody Rocks!!
I just returned home, and while I know the plane descended, I am still in the clouds! It was a fabulous evening, one that can best be summed up by Stewart, pumping his fists in the air and loudly exclaiming "The Best Birthday Ever!!" Frankly, that would have been good enough for me...just knowing the night made him so happy! Truth is, you had to be made of stone to not leave the Quicken Arena feeling pretty damn happy yourself! They were awesome!
The last show I'd seen was in Phoenix, nearly one month ago. I thought they were much improved since Vancouver, but my God, last night they were on fire! There was incredible energy to their performance, and a playfulness I hadn't seen in previous shows. Stewart's band put on one hellluva birthday bash, and we helped it along, hanging banners and distributing signs, noisemakers and party hats throughout the floor sections! We didn't get to sing an entire "Happy Birthday," 'though Sting did lead us in an abbreviated version during "So Lonely" (right after "welcome to the Stewart Copeland show").
The flag got major, extended props last night, from the start of the show right up to a finish that left some of us "driven to tears" and speechless...but I'm saving that for Dirty Martini to share since it was the first time she's had the flag since it set off on its "world tour!!"
The inclusion of "Dead End Job," as previously noted, was a shocker...most of us turning to the person next to us seeking confirmation that our ears were not playing tricks on us! Nope, it was really there! (Conroy, please pass those Depends!!)
If I had been at this show alone, I would have enjoyed it...but it was most definitely an EVENT because I got to share it with Kellie, Gina, Amy, Maggie, Kevin, and Donna. Even into the wee hours of the morning on a deserted Cleveland street corner, it felt like there was always more to say (albeit somewhat incoherently!). It can't be said too often that the friendships growing out of this tour are a real gift...thank you Stewart, Andy and Sting.
Oh, and I can't forget NiNa!! She and her friend, Meaghan, met us at the Hard Rock and she was proudly sporting the tube socks Conroy sent her with pair of cowboy boots. We met up again after the show...she was blown away! I think we can expect to see her here soon!!
Well, that's all I've got in me right now...photos and more random thoughts to follow, I'm sure!