8 Nov – Pompano Beach Amphitheatre (Pompano Beach, FL)
w/ Indigo Girls
When we first arrived it immediately felt odd. I noticed before the Orlando show that having a day off seems to affect the next show, I felt out of rhythm. It’s hard to explain. The Pompano Beach Amphitheatre was listed as having 3000 seats but somehow I find that doubtful. The area of town felt more like we were playing at a high school, though the amphitheatre itself was very nice. Just not 3000 seats. Shortly before the show we found out there were 1900 tickets sold, which I think is probably the biggest crowd of the tour so far, if that’s correct.
We soundchecked the cover song with Amy, Emily and Rose and at one point it was the three of them and myself and Lyle standing around making sure we had the harmonies right. Robyn’s camera battery had died and so there’s no photo, but that was a pretty cool moment.
Just before we went on the crowd in the actual theatre was very light and I figured they were just going to hang out until the Girls came on. But Amy introduced us again and this time told people that they should come inside and listen to us. The amazing thing about these shows is that, of course, they did. So by the time we started, the place was full. One song in and they were really responding. We played, overall, the tightest, most comfortable show so far. It really is very dependent on the crowd in a lot of ways, the adrenaline from a good response can cover a multitude of things, but we were just tight in general last night, I think. We did the cover last and the Girls and Rose walked out just before the chorus and the crowd went up. It was a blast.
I think now is a good time for another report from Robyn who remembers many more things than I do after a show:
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i was backstage at first. i was afraid the same thing would happen to me like it did in orlando and i would be hassled by security for wanting to get back in. but then i reminded myself i was now wearing the all-powerful indigo girls “all access” badge and that meant i, too, was all-powerful. i left after “hey, california” to watch the rest of the show from the back of the amphitheatre.
the crowd really was responsive. paul, after familiarizing himself with the beachy amphitheatre-style setting, reminded people to purchase his cd after buying their pork and cappuccino from the nearby concession stands. or a mixture of the two. “you could get a pork cappuccino.” and lee chimed in, “a porkuccino.” i say this because a). it was hilarious; b). it demonstrates paul’s comfort with the audience on this stage; and c). they were on last night. everyone…paul, the band, the audience.
the set was great…but let’s cut to the quick, shall we?
the girls and rose came out just before the chorus of the cover to sing along with paul. there was cheering. but i don’t think the cheering for them was as loud as when he began the “creep” section of the cover. i heard girls screaming and saw hands thrown up in the air while clapping. he nailed the high parts and i caught myself whispering “yes!” as he got to the final high part. the girls and rose sounded great with the song. it was awesome.
i ran backstage just before it was over, and caught emily saying, “that was FUN.” as she walked off stage. amy was angry with herself for missing her notes. “i just couldn’t get it.” it was kinda funny to hear someone who always seems to have perfect pitch say such a thing. especially when you couldn’t tell at all. i guess that comes with being a musician.
i escorted paul to the merch table – i love doing that; it makes me feel like his bodyguard – and there were people already buying cds. it’s always fun to see the look on people’s faces when they see him out there, too. girls will whisper to one another, “look, there he is.” and other people will cautiously walk up to him, then others will bound up to him with excitement.
a woman from a nearby community college interviewed him. a random man who was also at the orlando show said he could go home now; he had come to see what he wanted to see. another said he was so pleased to have seen such a great opener, another wrote that this was the first opening act he had ever liked…EVER. it was a good show.
and then “kid fears.” paul walked on stage and some girl screamed “PAUL!” i think twice. and when he started singing his part (which was just beautiful), the people who had rushed the stage couldn’t figure out who to watch. which, when you think about it, is very impressive. for such crazed devoted fans who can’t stop screaming amy or emily’s name or who can’t keep their eyes off of them, paul made an impression.
a few more cd autographs in the rain and we were off to IHOP. now, off to tampa. to do it all over again.
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Robyn, who is Chris’ wife, has been an amazing tour manager, by the way. She has kept me sane through this whole thing by constantly being on top of the small details.
So, currently we’re driving to Tampa, and I realized today that the travel between locations does quickly become sort of repetitive. It’s hard to discern where you are at a given time because after awhile it just become rote and one road is pretty much like the last. That in itself, at least at this stage when it’s all still new, is sort of cool.