GRAND RAPIDS: Recaps

Clack
ClackUnlimited.com

From the CB's MIGAL4Clay:

Okay, I think my feet are unthawed after waiting for the buses for about 1.5 hours. There was a huge line and he came by quickly. The bus was parked in a garage at the venue. He left in the bus. I doubt there were any flights out of Grand Rapids at 11:30 pm unless they traveled to Detroit or Chicago.
It was great to see that the place was sold out and filled to the brim. Lots of stubble, looks like we are growing a beard. Had on a blue-gray shirt and blue gray pants. Busted a lady in the front row with binoculars and then he proceeded to turn around and give everyone a back view. Thud! He also busted a lady doing a cellcert in the front row.
He voice sounded great, cracked in a couple of places but to the average person, they probably didn't even notice. Very touching tribute to Brett on his 21st birthday yesterday. The change ups in DSIAFCD were great and he nailed the glory note! AIW is simply awesome...breath taking.
He snarked on the Grand Rapids symphony that they are Grammy nominated and he's not. Made reference to the Ripagate and the lady next to me yelled out that she deserved it and the place went crazy!
Okay, now I have post concert depression...

From the CB's LUVClay26:

I want to thank God, and that I owe him one for last night.
When I write the full recap for Grand Rapids, I advise the squeemish just read the parts about the concert itself. Let me just say I will not be drinking anything that looks like a chocolate milkshake for a looooooooooong time (nor Sierra Mist - less refreshing on the way up than the way down...).
Literally when I hit the city limits of GR, lemme just say I got sick in my car. This continued until about 7 PM in the VERY NICE Amway Hotel room. I called a friend and started feeling better and thought, "**** it! I'm going!" My stomch seemed ok and I said a very very very very very very urgent prayer to God to just let me have an hour or so where I was well enough to just sit in the audience.
I unfortunatly missed the first half. I saw them when they had Bugs Bunny on Broadway and I agree they are top notch as symphonies go. I sauntered into the theatre with no makeup, no earrings and looking pale as heck. I didn't care. This was my last concert of this tour. I WANTED BADLY to be there.
When I got to my seat (which I had sat in before in the beforementioned concert), the ladies that were rude (is it mean to hope they caught my stomch virus???) claimed my ticket was not real. Then they claimed I had not had the ticket as long as they. Sweetheart, I had the ticket since the presale so kiss it. (Sorry, that may get deleted by a mod, but they were so rude that for DSIAFCD when Clay asked people the hug, I just got a couple noses in the air.)
In the haze of praying I would stay well, Clay was so on as usual. You should see the local paper's review. He got 4 1/2 stars out of 5 and DESERVED it!
There were a couple jokes about this big gap between front row and the stage. Clay mentioned it was a moat and he finally got one. Later on he said he had a frog in his throat and said that it fits with the moat.
What is it with his obsession with Hollywood Squares in the Michigan shows???? It was cute. When the person got the word of the day right, he said "Circle gets the square!" hehe He also said the lodge area looked like a game show panel. I actually knew what mercato was too!! It is accented notes. It just means there is an added "punch" to the notes as you play them. See, I paid attention in band and music theory in high school after all.
There was some conversation with a guy named Elmer. That was funny as Clay said Elmer shouldn't wear white. Also, I love it when he really lets his accent roll on the "turn to page 345 for 'Joy To The World'..." It reminded me of Reverend LoveJoy from "The Simpsons." So cool!!
As far the the "Wizard of Oz" reference, he was mentioning the Symphonic Boom series (Bugs Bunny, him and Pink Floyd) and the last show in April is the orchestra playing Pink Floyd. He said, "Be sure not to come stoned" and then said "Afterwards you can listen to it backwards and watch the 'Wizard of Oz.'" AWESOME!! hehe (Of course I'm going to see this show too. I feel so blessed to have been living so close to 2 fine orchestras - Detroit and GR - to have the opportunity.)
He made some comment about not being close enough to have the front row spit on by accident and the gals cheered. he went "ewwwwwwwww" with the CUTEST face. Oh man.
He was just so funny last night and it helped me forget being so sick.
One part that made me cry was when he did GUCL for Bret's 21st birthday. He has the prayers of so many people to come home safe. Even though Clay and his family are virtually strangers, I care so much as many people do. May God watch over Bret.
He asked how many show's we been to. It is comforting to see 28 is not that bad. Yes, I have been to 28 shows as of last night over a period of 3-4 years.
Like I said I plan on full recaps of the 6 Christmas shows. I have been so busy with life and dealing with stuff. GR may be a tick graphic (and I guess bodily fluid mentions are frowned on on this board...), but the rest are sans losing lunch for 20 days references.
I can't wait until the next tour. Clay, you are so worth it and you rock!
LUV
edited to add one more funny thing he said...
He almost said (I think) debacle about another show (maybe last year's show - I forget.) I laughed and thought that was funny and he said something like "Oh, I didn't win that show." (It may have be a ref to AI - hehe)