Live - Strand Theater 3/12/2012, First Show - Dress Rehearsal Celebration!! Options

[OutToDry]

All pics and reviews here folks......It's a celebration ___________!!!!

[dancing queen]

Ok, I have GOT to go to bed. I came home and started reading... I stopped at page 11, I'll catch up tomorrow.

First. let me clear things up for Mr. Nick who cannot read. There was paper on stage with lyrics (I don't know what/how many songs) but the only ones I visually noticed Chris reading from were from Sparkle. When I said "he doesn't know this one as well" I did, as Pokey said, mean "as well as the others." Please forgive me for tweeting shorthand while at a ROCK CONCERT!!!

Secondly, the only reason ANYONE has given Ed ANY grief about playing Live songs is that HE KEEPS SAYING HE WANTS TO MOVE ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am an Ed fan, I love his voice, but if you say you're moving on, MOVE ON. Both Ed and Live have the right to perform Live songs. Dude.

Alright, I'm done with him. I will now ignore him.

I don't know if I have much of a play by play review. I used twitter (for the first time ever) all night long because I'm so grateful for the people of this board, and my presence on it getting me to the FRONT ROW of the show... so I figured it was only right! If the show had been in your hometown (except for Nick) I'm sure you all would've been invited. Because you guys are awesome Live fans (except Nick, who I have ignored, so I won't know if he replies... )

I was thrilled to pieces that TDAOC opened up the show.
In fact, I was thrilled to pieces with every song selection. seriously.

I was right in front of Chad, about 3 people down from Zman (who is awesome). I had run into Jimmy Lang in the lobby, and because Funky chose to sit on the other side of the row (guess I stink ) I had an empty seat next to me, so Jimmy was in it much of the night. Jimmy is hysterical. He did say to me "are you texting right now???" And I explained what I was doing and he just laughed, but I thought it was funny.
Anyway, Chris was full of energy and so was everyone else. I did take one picture with Gracey in it, but I was using my phone and even though he wasn't really far away, he looks tiny. But he was amazing. They all were. Every song, musically, was perfect.
Sparkle was probably the biggest setlist surprise for me and I got chills. It was great.
As far as Chris's voice goes (and I told him this after - at the White Rose), he did a wonderful job. His voice during the show was so different from what I've heard from him other times. And I don't think he sounded like he was trying to do his best Ed, I felt like he was trying to do HIS best. Period. And it was great. He got lower than I realized he could go - he did such an amazing job on Lightning Crashes.
There was no introduction to the show from the guys, they just came out and played 2 songs back to back.
Chad spoke a little, Chris said a few things.
At the end of the show Chris came to the end of the stage and pointed back to the band... he clapped and put his hands on his face and seemed overwhelmed by the whole evening (in the "that was amazing and I'm so thrilled this went well" kind of way). And the guys all just walked off in darkness. No bows or anything like that.

Right before Live's set I ran up to Kevin Martin and said "hey, before you talk to people you actually know I just want to tell you you're amazing and you were great and I love what you did and thank you that was awesome!!!" or something drooling like that because their acoustic set blew me away.

Mid show KM ran out onto the stage and ran up to the mic and said "Ladies and Gentlemen: LIVE" and ran back off... it was very funny.

After the show, Z hopped up on stage and got himself and me a setlist, Adam Taylor posed for some pictures in the lobby. and then a bunch of us ran into KM and Chris Shinn outside. They posed for pictures with many of us - I'm totally cheesing in them but I don't care. It was awesome. They were both very gracious and friendly as ever and wonderful.

At the White Rose later, I got Chris to sign my setlist and ticket (as did others) and he gave me a rose (I guess his mom had sent him a bouquet). I also talked to him and told him that I was impressed and surprised and very happy with his performance and I was looking forward to seeing them together again. He was a very down to earth, polite, amazingly friendly guy. As was Kevin Martin (seated across from him).

My friend said "wow, that was great" in response to the whole evening.

Understatement of the year. But it was. It was just a great show. The lights were fun (Z got an awesome picture of some lighting, I saw on twitter). Gracey was uncaged. Pat rocked the bass... The DJ - introduced by Chad a DJ Z Plus or whatever I tweeted - was funny and after the show I yelled up "hey, good job" and he yelled back "yeah, you too" which I thought was cute. Having Sean on stage was a nice addition.

I have no complaints. I cannot pretend I was instantly comfortable with the idea of a new lead singer, but I'm totally on board at this point. Chris did a great job.
I got my CCCP shirt. I'm ready for the world.

So, thank you OTD, for whatever you said to the Thrill about me to convince him I was worthy of some tickets. Thank you, The Thrill, for the tickets and the seats, Thank you Zman, for the escort to said seats.

What a freaking awesome night!
If I think of something tomorrow, when I'm awake, I'll add it. but that's probably all I've got

Goodnight everybody!