WWTBAM Bored

If not, chat might be fun.

I'll check in around 10 EDT and see if people are around.

Leaving work now. Too nice to stay any longer.

Chat all you wanna.

I will pop in around 2230 with the usual bank of questions.

Assuming I can think of any between now and then.....

etaoin22 wrote:Chat all you wanna.

I will pop in around 2230 with the usual bank of questions.

Assuming I can think of any between now and then.....

Just don't ask where I am. I think everyone finally figured out.

I can give you some questions about future events if you wish. Just get out your Ouija board....

Well, I am alone in chat

I'm BAAACCCK.

Anyone else?

On one hand, I'm sorry I missed you all (and FNGD.) On the other hand, I was in a superb place.

Hermillion and I went to see a Leon Russell concert, which was great. Hermillion, being Hermillion, knows everybody on the planet so I got to meet most of the band after the show. I also got a couple of hugs from the keyboard player, who may have been under the mistaken impression that I -- since I was with Herm -- must be adorable.

It would have been rude for me to argue the point.

silvercamaro wrote:I also got a couple of hugs from the keyboard player, who may have been under the mistaken impression that I -- since I was with Herm -- must be adorable.

It would have been rude for me to argue the point.

Nice!

silvercamaro wrote:On one hand, I'm sorry I missed you all (and FNGD.) On the other hand, I was in a superb place.

Hermillion and I went to see a Leon Russell concert, which was great. Hermillion, being Hermillion, knows everybody on the planet so I got to meet most of the band after the show. I also got a couple of hugs from the keyboard player, who may have been under the mistaken impression that I -- since I was with Herm -- must be adorable.

It would have been rude for me to argue the point.

It would also have been incorrect for you to argue the point.

Sounds like a most excellent time!

Was Leon himself not playing the keyboards, or did he have an additional keyboard player? I cannot imagine Leon Russell without seeing him sitting at the piano.

We had a most excellent evening, indeed! The venue was a beautifully renovated theater in Norman, OK. SC pointed out (from personal experience) that the stage is a fantastic setting for Irish dance. The crowd was enthusiastic and appreciative. The show sold out 90 minutes after tickets were made available, so everyone was looking for a good time.

The music was rocking. I mean . . . it was LEON! He played many of his own hits, and some kick-butt covers of songs that brought the house down. I've seen several of his recent shows, and each one is different. Delta Lady, Hummingbird, Stranger in a Strange Land, Lady Blue, Back to the Island, and Roll Away the Stone are a few that show up consistently, but his output is so vast and varied that you just never get the same show twice.

As SC commented to me last night, Leon is very generous in sharing the focus with his band members. Yes, he is the lead and the Master (of Time and Space), but has assembled a tremendously talented group around him and gives them many opportunities to shine. The lead guitarist, Chris Simmons, is a 33-year old blues genius who had the audience screaming.

Was Leon himself not playing the keyboards, or did he have an additional keyboard player? I cannot imagine Leon Russell without seeing him sitting at the piano.

Leon was definitely playing lead keyboards, but has added Brian Lee, a Tulsa kid who has been my friend for over 20 years, on the B3. Brian calls me Momma II, and is an amazing talent. He was introduced to Leon several years ago and has spent time writing and recording with him. Last fall Brian was invited to join the tour and is having the time of his life. There is a bootleg YouTube of Brian doing one of his solo numbers if you want a peek. It was evidently taken with a cell phone during a live concert, so the quality is poor, but will give a sample of his work.

All in all, we had a great evening. Leon is touring all over the country, in venues large and small. If you have the chance - go catch a show! And tell Brian that Mom says Hi!

T_Bone0806 wrote:
Was Leon himself not playing the keyboards, or did he have an additional keyboard player? I cannot imagine Leon Russell without seeing him sitting at the piano.

T_Bone, I had this exact discussion with Adventure Boy, who was dubious that Leon would have a second keyboard player. Let's just say that some of the arrangements now require 20 fingers to play; some songs use the second set of keys to keep the melody line going while Leon breaks into honky-tonk riffs; and yet others benefit from a soaring organ sound. The two played in such a way that the extra keys were never redundant.

I looked up Leon's web site when I got home. Among his upcoming stops are Austin, Atlanta, and Florida. I would highly recommend the show to BBs in these areas, if tickets are still available. You will get a living legend who's still great; a wonderful band comprised of greatly talented performers in their own right; rock and roll that keeps you moving in your seat; and a smile on your face that will still be around the next day.