Broken Hearted Road Message/Discussion Board

jacquelinj

Mar 30, 08 - 3:28 PM

Spring 2008 Tour Kickoff Report

Friday, Mar 28, Southgate House, Newport KY...four of us Sonny Freaks from western KY drove 4+ hours to see our very first live show. It was everything we dreamed and more! We had never heard of opening act Tony Furtado, so he was a good surprise on guitar and banjo, indeed warming up the room. But everybody was there to see Sonny and the night was just magical! The venue is an old beerhall dance club kind of place, room for about 300 maybe (the place was packed), with a small stage, an open floor with beat-up tables and chairs (an old bar lines the rear of the room), and an upstairs balcony with similar seating. I was able to sit downstairs with an unobstructed view of Sonny not 20 feet in front of me! People were dancing and rocking with every song, between numbers we would holler and hoot and clap and stomp. I didn't write down the playlist, but I remember "Native Stepson", "Wind in Denver" (which I STILL can't make out the words to even though I watched Sonny's mouth!), "Bayou Teche", "Hell at Home", "U.S.S. Zydecoldsmobile", "Uberesso", "Promise Land", "All About You", I think "Port of Calling", and three songs from the new CD that he said he was trying out on an audience for the first time. (The first two drew loud response but the third one received what was the weakest applause of the evening, and, in fact, the band had trouble getting that song started correctly, so all of this led to Sonny commenting, "Well, two out of three ain't bad...") The encore was "Petal to Metal". There are probably one or two more I can't think of right now, but it was a wonderful show. Sonny's fingers were just flying and Dave and Mike were hitting every lick. If you're still reading by this point, I apologize for rambling, but it was so exciting to finally see and hear Sonny in person, I still zone out thinking about it. And now for some entirely personal observations: Sonny actually seemed a little nervous at the beginning. Do you think he still has butterflies even after all this time and with all of his talent? After a couple numbers, he loosened up enough to talk a little between songs but he didn't waste a whole lot of time, he just hammered it one right after the other. As he finished up the program, he introduced Dave on bass but FORGOT to introduce Mike! Just said, "I'm Sonny Landreth, we'll see you next time, alright?" The four in our group hung around but Sonny didn't come back to work the room. There were a few CD's for sale, no t-shirts or caps or anything. He was probably in the big motor home parked behind Southgate House, and we simply didn't have the nerve to bother him there. Still can't get over all the friendly people we met in the crowd...in line waiting to enter, on the floor waiting for the show, after the show. Sonny is indeed an Ascended Master, but his fans are a cut above too! Next month we're headed to Chicago for a double show weekend at FitzGerald's, then June to Charleston, WV, chasing Sonny. If your eyes haven't fallen out of your head by this time, I'll try to write again and report those shows. Thanks for the opportunity to share!

Margie

Mar 31st, 2008 - 3:05 AM

Re: Spring 2008 Tour Kickoff Report

Great review (and not one bit boring -- my eyes stayed focused the whole way through

). Nothing like hearing about the excitement of seeing Sonny for the first time. Or the second, third... whatever. Your upcoming schedule sounds fun. Please do keep the reviews coming.

You are absolutely right about the quality of Sonny's fans. I have met some of the nicest and most fun people I've ever had the pleasure to get to know at his shows.

The Wind in Denver lyrics were an ongoing mystery for a long time. I know we had an ongoing discussion about them in a Sonny thread on one of the John Hiatt forums several years ago. And I'm pretty sure I posted my version on the Sonny's Krewe forum a couple of years ago. Go look there. Not sure which topic it's under, but if you do a search, it'll come up. It took me a lot of lip reading, too, but I finally figured them out.

Welcome to the ranks of the truly addicted.

Georgia

Mar 31st, 2008 - 7:51 AM

Re: Spring 2008 Tour Kickoff Report

That sounds pretty much like the show I saw the following night at the Rex Theater in Pittsburgh!! It was a six hour drive for me and my friend but it was my birthday (Sunday) and I wanted to see Sonny for my birthday! So--road trip!! You know, I felt the same way about the new songs! I really liked the first two songs (the first one he mentioned Mark Knopfler but I didn't get the name of the song. The second one was the one he did with Clapton--"When I didn't have you" or something like that. It sounds SOOOO Clapton!) but I wasn't feeling the third one. I believe he called it "Howling at the Moon". It was a great show, of course! Different kind of venue than I am used to--no tables, just folding chairs set up theater style. There were CDs and tee shirts for sale. Didn't catch the name of the gals doing the selling but I'll see them again in August! Sonny did come out to sign and chat. (Wearing a tee shirt and a zip up hoodie! First I've seen that look on him!) Got a glimpse of the tour bus on a side street. We'll be seeing him again in a couple weeks when he plays in my neck of the woods (only 1 1/2 hours away this time!)

jacquelinj

Mar 31st, 2008 - 9:54 AM

Re: Spring 2008 Tour Kickoff Report

Margie, thanks a million for the clue! I found Wind in Denver lyrics at Krewe website, just as you suggested. Wow! What a difference knowing the words!! Now the song is even more powerful to me than it was before. Thank you so much.

To any other readers planning to attend FitzGerald's in April, please find me. Both nights I'll be with the tallest dudes in the room, my nephew Jimmy (who is 6'7", 30 yrs old), my friend John, (6'5", old guy, long gray hair, British), my husband Taylor (a mere 6'4", another old guy). Look for us and say hello!

deltaslide

Apr 9th, 2008 - 6:11 PM

Re: Spring 2008 Tour Kickoff Report

Well, I'm glad to hear I will get to meet some more fans in Chicago! I just came back from a 5-show run starting in Pittsburgh, ending in Sellersville, and am looking foward to the Chicago shows. Be sure to come up to the merch table and introduce yourself to Jaye and myself. I am dragging 18 family members to the Sat. show--one by one I have been introducing them to Sonny's music and have now gotten a large following from just the family, so it's always fun to fly out to visit the family and as a bonus get to see a couple more Sonny shows! See you in Chicago!

Genny

Apr 9th, 2008 - 11:05 PM

Re: Spring 2008 Tour Kickoff Report

Welcome to the board Jacquelinj and I loved the review, thanks for posting it. I remember the feeling I had the first time I got to see Sonny live... it's changed slightly through the years but the excitement is always there and I always look forward to hearing not only the new songs but the old favs too. As far as the "Butterflies in his stomach" I'm not sure... but I think often in the beginning of the shows Sonny spends time focusing on how things sound etc. so that we can have a good listening experience... once that is taken care of... perhaps he's more relaxed and interacts with the crowds more... who knows, just my opinion. Also, I'm sure it's a little scary putting your new stuff out there.. not knowing how people will react to it... esp. if it gets a mixed reaction on one or more occasions. Again, just my opinion.

Again, welcome to the board and I can't wait to hear about your other experiences.

Georgia, Glad you got to get to a show too... I know that "having to drive 4 hours to get to a show" feeling. All the shows near me are always at least 3 hours away (when they come that close). Glad to hear they are coming closer to you soon.

Take care all!
Genny

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jacquelinj Mar 30, 08 - 3:28 PM	Spring 2008 Tour Kickoff Report Friday, Mar 28, Southgate House, Newport KY...four of us Sonny Freaks from western KY drove 4+ hours to see our very first live show. It was everything we dreamed and more! We had never heard of opening act Tony Furtado, so he was a good surprise on guitar and banjo, indeed warming up the room. But everybody was there to see Sonny and the night was just magical! The venue is an old beerhall dance club kind of place, room for about 300 maybe (the place was packed), with a small stage, an open floor with beat-up tables and chairs (an old bar lines the rear of the room), and an upstairs balcony with similar seating. I was able to sit downstairs with an unobstructed view of Sonny not 20 feet in front of me! People were dancing and rocking with every song, between numbers we would holler and hoot and clap and stomp. I didn't write down the playlist, but I remember "Native Stepson", "Wind in Denver" (which I STILL can't make out the words to even though I watched Sonny's mouth!), "Bayou Teche", "Hell at Home", "U.S.S. Zydecoldsmobile", "Uberesso", "Promise Land", "All About You", I think "Port of Calling", and three songs from the new CD that he said he was trying out on an audience for the first time. (The first two drew loud response but the third one received what was the weakest applause of the evening, and, in fact, the band had trouble getting that song started correctly, so all of this led to Sonny commenting, "Well, two out of three ain't bad...") The encore was "Petal to Metal". There are probably one or two more I can't think of right now, but it was a wonderful show. Sonny's fingers were just flying and Dave and Mike were hitting every lick. If you're still reading by this point, I apologize for rambling, but it was so exciting to finally see and hear Sonny in person, I still zone out thinking about it. And now for some entirely personal observations: Sonny actually seemed a little nervous at the beginning. Do you think he still has butterflies even after all this time and with all of his talent? After a couple numbers, he loosened up enough to talk a little between songs but he didn't waste a whole lot of time, he just hammered it one right after the other. As he finished up the program, he introduced Dave on bass but FORGOT to introduce Mike! Just said, "I'm Sonny Landreth, we'll see you next time, alright?" The four in our group hung around but Sonny didn't come back to work the room. There were a few CD's for sale, no t-shirts or caps or anything. He was probably in the big motor home parked behind Southgate House, and we simply didn't have the nerve to bother him there. Still can't get over all the friendly people we met in the crowd...in line waiting to enter, on the floor waiting for the show, after the show. Sonny is indeed an Ascended Master, but his fans are a cut above too! Next month we're headed to Chicago for a double show weekend at FitzGerald's, then June to Charleston, WV, chasing Sonny. If your eyes haven't fallen out of your head by this time, I'll try to write again and report those shows. Thanks for the opportunity to share! Email: jacquelinjohnson@hotmail.com
Margie Mar 31st, 2008 - 3:05 AM	Re: Spring 2008 Tour Kickoff Report Great review (and not one bit boring -- my eyes stayed focused the whole way through ). Nothing like hearing about the excitement of seeing Sonny for the first time. Or the second, third... whatever. Your upcoming schedule sounds fun. Please do keep the reviews coming. You are absolutely right about the quality of Sonny's fans. I have met some of the nicest and most fun people I've ever had the pleasure to get to know at his shows. The Wind in Denver lyrics were an ongoing mystery for a long time. I know we had an ongoing discussion about them in a Sonny thread on one of the John Hiatt forums several years ago. And I'm pretty sure I posted my version on the Sonny's Krewe forum a couple of years ago. Go look there. Not sure which topic it's under, but if you do a search, it'll come up. It took me a lot of lip reading, too, but I finally figured them out. Welcome to the ranks of the truly addicted.
Georgia Mar 31st, 2008 - 7:51 AM	Re: Spring 2008 Tour Kickoff Report That sounds pretty much like the show I saw the following night at the Rex Theater in Pittsburgh!! It was a six hour drive for me and my friend but it was my birthday (Sunday) and I wanted to see Sonny for my birthday! So--road trip!! You know, I felt the same way about the new songs! I really liked the first two songs (the first one he mentioned Mark Knopfler but I didn't get the name of the song. The second one was the one he did with Clapton--"When I didn't have you" or something like that. It sounds SOOOO Clapton!) but I wasn't feeling the third one. I believe he called it "Howling at the Moon". It was a great show, of course! Different kind of venue than I am used to--no tables, just folding chairs set up theater style. There were CDs and tee shirts for sale. Didn't catch the name of the gals doing the selling but I'll see them again in August! Sonny did come out to sign and chat. (Wearing a tee shirt and a zip up hoodie! First I've seen that look on him!) Got a glimpse of the tour bus on a side street. We'll be seeing him again in a couple weeks when he plays in my neck of the woods (only 1 1/2 hours away this time!)
jacquelinj Mar 31st, 2008 - 9:54 AM	Re: Spring 2008 Tour Kickoff Report Margie, thanks a million for the clue! I found Wind in Denver lyrics at Krewe website, just as you suggested. Wow! What a difference knowing the words!! Now the song is even more powerful to me than it was before. Thank you so much. To any other readers planning to attend FitzGerald's in April, please find me. Both nights I'll be with the tallest dudes in the room, my nephew Jimmy (who is 6'7", 30 yrs old), my friend John, (6'5", old guy, long gray hair, British), my husband Taylor (a mere 6'4", another old guy). Look for us and say hello! Email: jacquelinjohnson@hotmail.com
deltaslide Apr 9th, 2008 - 6:11 PM	Re: Spring 2008 Tour Kickoff Report Well, I'm glad to hear I will get to meet some more fans in Chicago! I just came back from a 5-show run starting in Pittsburgh, ending in Sellersville, and am looking foward to the Chicago shows. Be sure to come up to the merch table and introduce yourself to Jaye and myself. I am dragging 18 family members to the Sat. show--one by one I have been introducing them to Sonny's music and have now gotten a large following from just the family, so it's always fun to fly out to visit the family and as a bonus get to see a couple more Sonny shows! See you in Chicago! Email: drhollow50@verizon.net
Genny Apr 9th, 2008 - 11:05 PM	Re: Spring 2008 Tour Kickoff Report Welcome to the board Jacquelinj and I loved the review, thanks for posting it. I remember the feeling I had the first time I got to see Sonny live... it's changed slightly through the years but the excitement is always there and I always look forward to hearing not only the new songs but the old favs too. As far as the "Butterflies in his stomach" I'm not sure... but I think often in the beginning of the shows Sonny spends time focusing on how things sound etc. so that we can have a good listening experience... once that is taken care of... perhaps he's more relaxed and interacts with the crowds more... who knows, just my opinion. Also, I'm sure it's a little scary putting your new stuff out there.. not knowing how people will react to it... esp. if it gets a mixed reaction on one or more occasions. Again, just my opinion. Again, welcome to the board and I can't wait to hear about your other experiences. Georgia, Glad you got to get to a show too... I know that "having to drive 4 hours to get to a show" feeling. All the shows near me are always at least 3 hours away (when they come that close). Glad to hear they are coming closer to you soon. Take care all! Genny