Stories from the Road #2
Well today is the third day of November. I can’t believe how fast this year is flying by!!! Tonight we have a show in Kansas City, MO. The weather is being more than cooperative, temperatures up near 80 over the past couple days. It’s amazing!!!
The tour thus far has been excellent. I have started meeting some of the fans that part of the core that is this bands following. All of them have been lovely, and offering me so many suggestions and valuable feedback to helping launch this new era of the Moody’s. The miles that people drive, the number of shows they have attended and plan on attending, the ends of the earth, literally, that they have traveled to see this band, it’s unbelievable. I actually heard my first story of the Moody Blues bringing 2 people together resulting in a marriage just the other night in Des Moines, Iowa. She was listening to the Moody’s on her computer in the lobby of a hotel, and her future husband, unbeknown to both of them at the time, walked by and heard it playing. It connected them and has not let go since…they have been happily married for quite some time. I love those kinds of stories, they are my favorite!!!
The crew continues to be fabulous. They are very kind and gracious, and have openly welcomed me into their home. I try to be as low key as possible, and usually slip off to bed pretty quietly so they can have their boy time. But I have to admit, I have always gotten along much better with dudes, so I am happy to live with 11 of them. Yes, there are 11 men on the bus. It’s a full house!!! They work incredibly hard to make the show happen every night. Today is especially challenging, as the venue, while beautiful and amazing, is old, and presents a few logistical challenges for the crew to load in and set up. Its coming along nicely, and they, as always, makes it a great show, but it’s a very hard load in today. So appreciate the show tonight a little more just for them, they are working extra hard today.
Speaking of the crew…Their mornings begin early, an early breakfast in catering, with an official 10 AM stage call. Meaning they all are present and accounted for on the open stage at 10 to start tipping (un-loading) the trucks. The first thing that happens is the stage manager/rigger marks out the truss spots, so they know where all the truss and lights will hang. Then, the local crew helps the tour crew with getting all the boxes (road cases) off the truck and where they belong. And they have at it! Finally once all of the major pieces of the set are in place, and the techs have worked their magic, the backline starts in. The backline includes the front of house engineer, guitar tech, drum tech, monitor engineer, and keys tech. Basically, they make sure all of the instruments work properly and sound optimal, or make all of the sounds come out of the speakers, control what you, the audience hears and what the band members hear in their in-ears (monitors). So, if you see John, for instance, look to his left, to the tech standing behind the giant mixing board, point to Justin, or Graeme, or any of the members and then point up or down, he is saying ‘turn Justin, or Graeme up, or down, in my monitors.’ It controls how much or how little of the other mixes each band member hears. Each others or their own.
It’s a pretty amazing thing, to sit on the side of the stage and watch these men play together, never missing a beat, and song after song, commanding a standing ovation from the crowd.
I must admit that I had no idea what to anticipate when heading into this. I love to hear all of the songs they play, not just the ones that made them world famous. I love the song Slide Zone, it’s a killer. That is what I love, is the way they jam out. And that it’s so unique from any other band I have ever heard. Its amazing, the fusion of so many genres of music to create this rock show.
Of course Graeme and his Higher and Higher moment. It’s so great, what a variety of energy emanates from this band. For instance, going from Singer In a Rock and Roll band right into Are You Sitting Comfortably? Totally different songs, completely different energy, but both amazing.
I love when they show all of the old pictures and video of the band. It reminds you of what a steadfast spirit this band embodies. 2006 marks the 40 Year Anniversary of the band. To me, there is no better time than that to introduce these new concepts and ways for the band to reach its loyal audience. We are all really excited about the great things that will happen in the new year!
This has been a great time so far, learning a band and their fans. I have to make a quick trip back to the New York office and then back to finish the tour picking it back up in Reno. Looking forward to the rest of the tour, and our big night in Kansas City.
Until next time,
Jenn
