Happy Happy, Joy Joy!

Truant · Post by **Truant** » March 7, 2006, 1:36 am

So I just returned from the Van Morrison concert here in Dallas (helluva a good show) and managed to score a pair of tickets to Bob Dylan which just went on presale today. Been a great f'in year for concerts so far

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » March 7, 2006, 2:30 am

Bob Dylan still performs? And people can actually understand what he's saying? Weird. Van Morrison I can see... Bob Dylan? Pass...

Moonwynd · Post by **Moonwynd** » March 9, 2006, 8:37 pm

Hey Truant, I just drove down to Grand Prairie from Wichita on Monday (came back Tuesday) to see Van at the Nokia.

It was a good show...glad to hear him peform some good old tunes like Real Real Gone, Moondance (neat arrangement), It's All In The Game...and some of his new stuff off of Pay The Devil.

The closer with Celtic New Year was sweet. The band was amazing.

My wife and I have been Van fans for many, many years. We have all of his stuff...stacks of stuff.

The one thing about Van is that he is well known for being curmudgeonly, grumpy and difficult as hell to work with. You got to see a little bit of that on Monday night as he got a little bossy with the band. But hey, HE is the show.

The only thing that bugged me about the venue was the HORRID parking situation. We turned in to Gate 1 off of Belt Line Rd...as did a ton of cars...only to find it gated and closed. It took us forever to get to the parking lot. I actually dropped my wife off so she could run to the seat so she wouldn't miss anything. Then when I got to the parking area...12 dollars to park. Bullshit.

There was a guy on the steps yelling: "Get to your seats quickly. There is no opening act. Van will be taking the stage at exactly 7:30" Other people were saying things back to him like, "If the parking wasn't so shitty we would already be inside".

It was a dream of my wife to see Van The Man...so this was a once in a lifetime deal. Too bad the concert sold out before I could get tickets. I had to get ours on eBay for $300. Conversely I am going to see Nickel Creek in a little over a week right here in Wichita...for $20 bucks a ticket.

By the way...The Nokia Amphitheater is a great venue...inside. Parking blows...but the setup inside is great...comfy seats...amphitheater seating (no really bad seats)...good monitors....in and out fast...and great sound. Not bad for a place in the middle of a field in Dallas burbs.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » March 10, 2006, 12:36 am

Yeah, since they closed the Bronco Bowl a few years back, the Nokia Theatre is THE best venue in the metroplex. But you're right, the parking situation is pretty rough. Fortunately, I was familiar with it and knew what to expect. I normally plan to get there a little early, and just hang out at the car, not necessarily tail gate, but whatever. It just saves on stress. And then the same at the end, I'll just go out to the car, turn on the radio, and hang out in the parking lot for a while talking to folks. I don't know that they can really improve the getting people in/out of that place, though one option would be to close down the road so that both sides of it are used for one way in/out like they do at the Ballpark at Arlington.

About the show, I thought it was great, and it was what I expected. My old jazz teacher actually played drums/percussion for Van many years back, and I had heard stories of what a control freak he is...like you said, when it's YOUR show though, I wouldn't expect any different. I've heard similar stories about Sting and Springsteen being difficult.

His band WAS incredible. The gal he had playing steel was PHENOMENAL. I literally was blown away everytime she played a solo. It was fun to have him play all his different instruments, and I noticed he had trouble with the guitar volume and finally got fed up with it. I also enjoyed his arranging. Playing his old classics, but in totally new arrangements was refreshing, I'm sure most people wanted it straight off the classic album so they could sing along, but I'm not of that vein. And as one who has performed, I can understand how nice a new arrangement of an old standard can be. It makes it enjoyable to play again!

The people in our section seemed frustrated about the encore situation, but I actually expected something similar. Van is NOT big at all on the public, he's a very private guy, and isn't big on attention. I had hoped for some more, but I wasn't surprised.

What really blew me away though, was how little downtime there was in between the songs. It was literally <5 seconds between songs, and he wasn't slacking at all in his performances. I was very impressed with his stamina as a performer.

Anyways, I'm glad to hear you and the missus were there and enjoyed it. I didn't realize you were in the area.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » March 10, 2006, 12:40 pm

Wait, Witchita as in Witchita Falls? or as in Witchita, Kansas?

Syenye · Post by **Syenye** » March 10, 2006, 1:40 pm

Moonwynd wrote:By the way...The Nokia Amphitheater is a great venue...inside. Parking blows...but the setup inside is great...comfy seats...amphitheater seating (no really bad seats)...good monitors....in and out fast...and great sound. Not bad for a place in the middle of a field in Dallas burbs.

i dig the nokia theater. even when i have floor tickets, i usually end up sitting in the seats they have on the side, it still sounds great, and there's a great view. definitely my favorite venue for larger shows in the dallas area... i still prefer the ridglea theater in fort worth though.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » March 10, 2006, 2:39 pm

Truant wrote:Wait, Witchita as in Witchita Falls? or as in Witchita, Kansas?

Wichita Kansas. It's up near the middle of nowhere

Moonwynd · Post by **Moonwynd** » March 10, 2006, 10:57 pm

Boogahz wrote:
Truant wrote:Wait, Witchita as in Witchita Falls? or as in Witchita, Kansas?
Wichita Kansas. It's up near the middle of nowhere

Wichita is an ok city...largest in KS...only about half a million people. It has lots to do...if you know what to do. But Boogahz is right...it is smack dab in the middle of nowhere. There is nothing for at least a three hour drive...unless you are into grain elevators and wheat fields.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » March 11, 2006, 11:11 am

Yeah, drive about 3-4 hours West and you get to the middle of nowhere...Garden City.

Moonwynd · Post by **Moonwynd** » March 11, 2006, 3:49 pm

Boogahz wrote:Yeah, drive about 3-4 hours West and you get to the middle of nowhere...Garden City.

I have to spend a week...for work...in Garden City and the surround shitvilles of western KS....Leoti, Scott City, Liberal, Satanta, Ulysses. I have to do this in two weeks...it is going to suck hard.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » March 12, 2006, 1:05 pm

Yeah, I'm trying to avoid a trip back there to see family later this year. I think my nasal cavities have finally been cleansed from the "smell of money."

Moonwynd · Post by **Moonwynd** » March 12, 2006, 4:43 pm

If hog farms are the smell of money I would like to remain poor thank you very much.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » March 12, 2006, 6:03 pm

Moonwynd wrote:If hog farms are the smell of money I would like to remain poor thank you very much.

No, it's beef packing plants, feedlots, and ranches.

hog farms just smell like shit.