Alice live from the front row

• The Pageant, University City, MO, August 7, 2008

Well this was a different experience for me. Back when I got tickets, I somehow missed the initial sale (despite every possible alert). I was going to get reserved balcony, but they were gone. So, general admission it was. Again. Having seen Alice here many times, always stuck standing in back of the room gasping my way through cigarettes, I decided to take the day off and see if I could actually work the system. That idea paid off in a big way.

I love U City's Loop. Lots of quirky shops, unique restaurants and entertainment venues. So, even though our schedule was tight, we ran up the street to catch a quick meal and free root beer float at Fitz's. Before dinner was served, I ran across the street to grab "Along Came a Spider" at Vintage Vinyl, one of our last remaining pure music shops. (Still trying to support the "little" guys.) Afterward, we booked it back, just minutes to spare, to stand in a rather long line for a bar.

That's the interesting thing about this place. We had to get in line outside in hopes of getting in another line inside. At 5 p.m., the 21 and older crowd are heralded in limited numbers into the Halo Bar, and thus gain early access to The Pageant. Given the numbers before us, I thought we might miss the cutoff, but we made it in. And there we stood an hour and a half, meeting some interesting people and being thankful we weren't in the outside line when the sky let open.

Right after getting in, I learned small cameras were allowed. Of course, mine was in the car. But I asked permission and ran out to get it with no problem. (This seems to be a habit for me. At least this time I didn't have to run clear across London's Hyde Park.)

At 6:30 p.m. we were finally corralled into the venue, rejoicing to learn it was a non-smoking show. The vast majority of early entrants headed straight for tables. I, somewhat in disbelief, walked right down front to the left facing the stage. Right down front. I guess standing for several hours no longer appeals. And there we were, right on the rail, meeting more friendly people who were very willing to save each others spots.

It was 9-something when Alice finally took the stage.

This is still the Psycho-Drama Tour, so it was very similar to the one we saw (from a distance) in Sedalia, MO last year. It was hard rocking and thoroughly entertaining as always, but it was nice to catch some of the little details we usually can't. I've seen "Only Women Bleed" performed at nearly every show, but being able to see the expressions on Calico's face I was surprised it actually got to me a little more. She does a great job.

It's also a little different when your hero (there, I said it) is standing 2 feet in front of you. Nice to really be able to see all the expressions and movements he's honed over the years, along with all the costumes and the rest of the insanity going on all over the stage.

I was surprised when they brought out the gallows. I always reckoned this stage was too small for that since we've always seen the guillotine, but I understand they just finally brought it back after the near mishap years ago. (I was mesmerized by that trick as a kid at Buckskin Joe's in Colorado, so now I watch to make sure they've really got Alice hooked up just right.) I heard a few audience members comment on how scary they thought it was.

Things were constantly flying over our heads—guitar picks, canes, balloons, "dirty diamonds," Alice bucks—but we didn't manage to score anything except a few little pieces of confetti from the balloons, as seen on my ticket above.

Good thing I grabbed that camera. I somehow managed over 100 photos while still enjoying the show. Here's a sampling:



Following "Elected," a masked Obama and Hillary ran out, fighting, then embracing, then fighting some more, until Alice told them, "Get off my stage." Pretty hilarious.


After the concert, we went out back to stand around the bus and see who showed up. Chuck Garric, Keri Kelli and Eric Singer hung out and signed stuff, especially for the kids. That's Chuck's autograph on my ticket. Alice stayed on the bus, but signed a jacket they took into him for a lady in a wheelchair, which we thought was nice. The guys were cool, but it didn't take long before they had to jump on the bus and roll.

The video is dark, but the bus is green. Bet they get some good gas mileage with this monster.



Alright, so this week I met people, from golfers to rock fans, who've met Alice, I stood right outside his bus, met some of his band and we stood 2 feet apart, but still no meaningful conversation. It's cool. I figure we'll talk sometime. It just might have to wait 'til the other side of eternity.


the Band:
guitarist Jason Hook
guitarist Keri Kelli
bassist Chuck Garric
drummer Eric Singer

the Set List:
It's Hot Tonight
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Under My Wheels
I'm Eighteen
Is it My Body
Woman of Mass Distraction
Lost in America
Feed My Frankenstein
Be My Lover
Dirty Diamonds
Muscle of Love
Desperado
Halo of Flies
Welcome to My Nightmare
Cold Ethyl
Only Women Bleed
Steven
Dead Babies
Ballad of Dwight Fry
I Love the Dead
School's Out
Billion Dollar Babies
Poison
Elected

Alice live from the front row