The concert, in this beautiful, old, picturesque, mountain resort, town was sold out by 7:00 am. You could tell that this was a savvy PT/concert crowd as the entrance line began to form 2-hrs before the scheduled 8:30 PM start time.The unfortunates that were unable to score tickets were swarming and making offers of up to 3-times the ticket purchase price to "see and hear the local boy that made it" or "I drove 100 miles across the Pass and up this Mountain for this concert and I am going to get in one way or another!" Thank GOD the promoter was able to set up more chairs...and they were accommodated.
The full-house crowd stood up until the lights went down and the concert was ON! Because of the high excitement level, I was unable to list the played song titles. As the biggies and most popular songs from most of PT's albums were performed, there was instant recognition and applause.
PT invited folks to join him on stage. You know the routine...the bold and beautiful ladies (no guys...why is that?) rush up to get their GROOVE ON as PT was really getting into DEEPER. Others seemed to be content to do their thing in the aisles. The crowd is standing, their swaying--read that undulating--bodies are also into it as they view the unscripted, and I am told, requisite stage show.
I had an aisle seat but I didn't sit down much. While standing along with the crowd, out of the corner of my eye I detected a small shadowy figure whose movements seemed to be 1-beat off. The figure was slowly moving through the packed aisle of swaying dancers. Suddenly, folks on both sides of the aisle turned and faced the figure (like at a wedding when the bride comes towards the altar) and begin to chant "GO GRANNY, GO." I focused on the figure and was surprised to discover a small, gray-haired, grandmotherly type lady!
Like magic (oe Moses) the dancers parted and at the continuous chant of the crowd "Granny" was coaxed to co on stage. To the amazement of everyone, PT included, "Granny" hit the stage with great applause. I rushed to get a photo but the "parted" aisle reclosed. Sadly, I returned to my seat but was able to get a couple of shots from there that I'll be posting on the BB some time later. Here is the kicker."Granny" took over the crowd and when PT finished playing DEEPER, he rewarded "Granny" with an on-stage HUG much to the delight of the standing crowd!
Later, I spoke with Granny" near the autograph area. She said that "all her life she had observed young folks dancing at festivals and concerts." Until tonight, she never had the courage to join in and didn't know what came over her. Now, she continued, "the Genie is out of the bottle and I am going to be with the in-crowd wherever I go" I told her that I thought she had been "SAXED" by Paul Taylor. You had to be there.
The rest of the PT concert was simply wonderful. The band was tight and the crowd appreciative. PT played TWO sets. Brian Culbertson played betwen PT's two sets. Brian is a great young musician, he has a great band, and is developing some showmanship qualities. Brian's Father, a high school music teacher in Illinois, played trumpet with his son's band. All were great but this was a Paul Taylor crowd.
They shouted, they grooved, they waved their arms in the air as they "savored the good stuff" and craved for more until PT finally said "Thank you for a wonderful evening, you've been a great audience, be careful going home."
This concludes my obligatory in-person BB member report. Watch for the photos. 1STXCOORD.
Granny got Crunk out there in Colorado! Now that was a show within a show.
G
Please savor your uniqueness as we BBers salute you with a big "RIGHT ON! 1STXCOORD.
Previous Topic
Index