Late Recap of LiveInTheVineyard - disclaimer: I am no where near the writer that "mom" or many others here are - but I'll try.
I had been trying desperately to get in this thing: entered thru Whole Foods, Southwest, the main site, a bunch of the radio stations and also contacted some people I know in the wine industry. Most of them didn't even know about this event and they work in Napa County! I had no luck.
Then I got a call from "mom" (my dear friend who I met at Adam's 2010 Vancouver concerts but who lives right in my own city lol) and accepted immediately, also was asked to be designated driver - and accepted that immediately as well, who wouldn't?
She had to work so we decided I would pick her up at 4, but then she got off early so we could go at 3 but I didn't end up getting there until 3:15 or so - good thing we left early - very heavy traffic thru the Napa Valley yesterday. Normally a 1 hour drive and we got there shortly before 5 pm. But could still park across the street on the street - there were 8 people out front.
In retrospect we should have joined that group and asked what the line was about and perhaps waited, but we decided to go find a bathroom (and glass of wine of course!).
We got back shortly before 6 pm to a bit of a mob scene - 3 separate lines going in different directions! Found out 1 was for people hoping to get in, one for those needing to pick up their passes at will call and another for those with a pass already. We decided to split up - I got in the "with pass already" line while mom at will call.
In the "with pass" line people had come from various wine/food events and seemed to be in party mode already - a few female "couples" looked like they could be Adam fans but hard to tell as no one was wearing any telltale black/yellow or glitter things lol. There were a lot of couples of all ages but mostly couples over 30. I did see the 2 youngish glamberts from SoCal that I recognized from their twitter pics get in line behind me.
After a while, someone stamped my wrist and put a band on the other one and told us we would not be let in until 6:30, they were running late (with soundcheck I guess). Pretty soon Mom comes running over to get me to sign a waiver and give my DL number which I scribble in a rush, she leaves again to get our passes I guess. A bit latter she comes running back and says follow me. I was afraid to give up my spot in line behind only 40 people or so but I went.
Well, this young man gave us no tickets or pass or anything, but ushered us right into the theater past everyone and left us inside saying "have fun" or some such thing. There we were in an almost empty theater - and a woman was singing/playing piano quite well on stage (would find out later that was Grace Potter). So we made our way to front row (surprise, surprise) - some of the seats around the front had reserved signs on them, but not center front, woohoo! We sat in the empty theater and I realize that Adam is standing with 2 other people right at the end of our row! I casually say to Mom, "oh there's Adam" squeeing inside heehee.
It's tacky I know but I tried to take a couple quick pics with my phone of him without being noticeable - ya know pics or it didn't happen
they were blurry but I think you could tell it was him - did not recognize the other guys at all (could of been that Jim Shearer because it was in the same spot they seemed to interview earlier?).
So we tried not to stare but it was too difficult not to look that way. Grace finished up and Adam made his way backstage. We both couldn't go to the bar (our seats needed guarding!) so I offered to go get us some wine. Cannot remember if they opened the doors before or after I went, I think after. But soon, the people poured in and the front row filled up completely with women - a number of glamberts I recognized or knew - I think the first 3 rows in fact had lots of glamberts and were mostly women with some reserved seats that were media or some other kind of VIPs.
I did not leave my seat after that first trip so unfortunately I did not mingle with others much to get any impressions of the audience. As I said, there were a lot of couples over 30. I looked back a couple times during the first performances and was dismayed that many seats were empty - I thought they should have let people in until they were full. But I heard a lot of people were in the lobby and at one of the 2 bars so maybe the seats did fill up for Adam. Honestly, I did not take a moment to look back when Adam was in front of me except ONE TIME when he asked for a show of hands. That one time I looked back and saw an awful lot of hands in the air when he asked who had never seen him live before. Maybe 80%?
Anyway, Grace Potter was amazing - a strong, clear voice that rings out with a lot of depth like Adam although the songs were not that memorable to me - I cannot remember any in fact - will have to youtube haha. She only brought one "nocturnal" out for the last song and he was hot! I thought the audience appreciated her quite a bit.
The 2nd group, Delta Rae, were very interesting - not like anything I've seen before. Wiki calls them "folk rock" I guess that's what they are, kinda bluesy, kind of Mumford & Sons but they had 4 singers plus 2 back-up musicians, 6 total members, 3 of which are siblings. The 3 siblings plus the other woman (who I met in the bathroom at end of show and complimented) were really good singers and the show had a LOT OF ENERGY (I think they may have made Adam feel competitive, he commented on the openers and it was a vibe I got from him I dunno) - people at least in front rows were on their feet a lot for this band - it seemed less acoustic because of so many instruments I guess.
I had planned to do a lot of twitpics and maybe even video a song but I was so awestruck, even after all the times I've seen Adam. This was one of the very best for me: best view, best Adam look, Adam voice. I must admit that I really liked having no backing singers to compete with his voice (selfish of me I know). Also, there was SO MUCH EYE CONTACT WITH ADAM that I felt self conscious having my iPhone in front of my face very much, he could see everything.
I started to get so excited when the rug came out, then the setlist was taped to the floor right in front of me, could read it (upside down) easily. Butterflies began when the band came out and then there was Adam in all his glory, I was in heaven.
I don't have to go over the songs - you guys have seen the vids - they were all amazing. My 4 favorites from the album are: Shady, Naked Love, Chokehold, Outlaws of Love and we got 3 of them!!! Also I LOVED Is This Love - anyone know if there are HQ vid downloads available for this?
I didn't look around much when Adam was performing - don't think I looked at the band more than once each actually - and only if Adam was standing near them or introducing lol. But it seemed that everyone was standing for him the whole time - I was anyway! I do recall one glum looking couple over my left shoulder in the row behind me (I think some of the reserved seats) just sitting there. When I did turn around to see the show of hands (what song was that anyway) - EVERYONE was standing that I could see.
When the 2 lady hosts/creators of LiveInTheVineyard (one of them was a cancer survivor) introduced Adam, they said that they had just seen him on TV fronting Queen (were they talking about the EMA's or Ukraine??) and they both seemed to adore him - were very complimentary.
Found out today that the best singer from Delta Rae (the young lady I met in the bathroom) was the one that complimented Adam on twitter and mentioned his moves too - smart girl!
Mom was so much fun - and I haven't read the whole thread yet - you probably got a great recap from her. She was so excited that Adam HANDED HER HIS TOWEL and she was proud and waved it around dancing (I think she said people stopped her in the bar to tell her how much they enjoyed her). We had a great time dancing in the front and giving Adam our love and adoration. I kept telling her "Adam said you were beautiful" and she couldn't remember it and I couldn't remember exactly what the context was, but I knew he said it. Twas magical.
We were tweeting, looking at pics, glowing, floating, etc. after Adam left the stage and then Alanis came on. I became bored with her so fast. She sat right in front of me but I could not see her face because she tended to plant it right in front of the microphone stand. She also hardly ever looked at the audience - I told "Mom" she was singing to the clouds. She looked at the ceiling and never moved from her chair. If I had been in the back I would have left, but did not want to be rude. We clapped and hooted a couple times but hardly anyone was standing. A couple times people stood to clap at the end of songs, but I don't think anyone stayed standing, maybe some in the back were (Alanis fans didn't get there early enough to get the few front rows I guess-can't compete with us glamberts). She played the harmonica once and that was cool - but her voice started to annoy me and I wanted to get out. Finally she announced her last song, people stood and I made my way to the restroom (where I got to talk to the Delta Rae singer).
Almost as much fun as the concert was the ride home, where "mom" and I sang along to Adam's entire UK album version - and wow, she can really sing! I had to shut up and just listen to her and Adam's voices, what a treat!
I really want to turn the HQ vids into versions I can put on a DVD (the back of me is in many of them dancing to Adam) - but I don't know how - guess I better do some research on this.
If I think of any other details I'll post them!
ETA: remembered this: one Adam fan said she got in by just showing up - they did let 10 people in that just showed up! She got in the night before too - they let 25 people in Friday. She said some paper had posted about showing up Friday night, and then she found out about showing up Saturday night on Friday.
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:;-* 