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The Concert: What can I say? He was FABULOUS! His sets were similar to many of his shows around the country. He started out with "Part of the Plan", and ended with "Gambler". When he played "The Reach", it brought tears to my eyes (always one of my favorites). "As The Raven Flies" and "Leader of the Band" drew lots of applause. He was energetic, funny, and as always, played his heart out! His is so incredibly talented, his concerts are always a wonderful experience for us. The Crowd: Well, compared to Humphrey's, I'd say very subdued with little energy, although they did respond to Dan's guitar riffs and familiar tunes. Sorry, Dan, it wasn't you! We were the ones yelling and clapping for you! The crowd was rather disappointing. After the concert there were no t-shirts or cds to purchase-another disappointment. I suppose because of the casino? Anyone want to sell me an extra t-shirt they may have?? Next Year: Dan, we can't wait for your next tour. Will you ever come back to Arizona? If not we'll be back in San Diego for sure to enjoy the fans in Southern California! Thanks for creating the music that has been a part of my life for 30 years. (Ps.-that was my 14th Dan concert!) Sending you love, blessings, and thanks ~ Cynthia -Tucson, Arizona
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So far the performance was getting better by the minute. "Road Beneath My Wheels" gave me happy feet! I absolutely love that, and of course he followed that song with several guitar pieces which were all WONderful! I heard "Buckeroo's Midnight Ramble" for the second time in concert and loved it all over again. Wonderful! And I marveled at his guitar playing all over again. He's obviously spent many, many hours of his life playing and it shows. His skill and performance are inspiring to me. "Run For The Roses" gave me goose bumps, as it always does. It touches the horse-crazy little girl inside me that refuses to grow up. The man knows thoroughbreds ("It's breeding and it's training and it's something unknown that drives you and carries you home"). He knows. They have an unextinguishable fire and anyone who's been around them knows it. The way Dan ends the song, though, is so sweet. He slows down so much so that it's like dusk; the horses have been worked and put up, and they're just beautiful creatures again, wild and mysterious, powerful and unpredictable. It was a nice moment and I'm so glad he ended the song like that. Made me clutch my shawl and give myself a little hug, fondly recalling a large part of my past. He returned to his guitar and played "Longer" more beautifully than I've ever heard it, except when my husband sang it in my ear at our wedding reception - even Dan Fogelberg himself cannot top that, uh uh. It truly was a nice version and performed so tenderly I couldn't believe my ears. Everyone saw it, because I looked around at the other people in the audience and they were rapt watching Dan perform this song that we've all heard so many times. It was like hearing it for the first time. He was absolutely "on". He was giving so much that evening and I felt so treated, so pampered by his performance. By the time he played "Leader Of The Band" he'd been on a roll all night. The same energy was behind this song as was in "Longer" and, well, all the others for that matter. "Same Old Lang Syne", same thing. Everyone cheered. Everyone stood. Dan Fogelberg had performed perfectly on Friday, July 20th and beyond that, he delivered an energy that I took with me when I left. It was inspirational. It felt good. And another thing, at one point he addressed the audience by simply walking to each corner and bowing. It was a simple gesture, but a welcome one as he seemed to accept the audience's sincere and obvious approval. It was nice to watch him take it in, for some reason; gave us a chance to give at least that much back. It was also nice to be collectively acknowledged after so many people came so far to see him play. ~ Kim |
I attended a few shows this tour and have seen Dan in concert many times through the years. I have to say the concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater Florida was the best I have ever experienced!! Dan played to a sold out audience who, in my opinion, were there for the love of the music and the artist. We were happy and appreciative of anything he chose to perform that night. He held our hearts cradled in his music and his spirit for two solid hours. Many of the songs that evening received standing ovations. He could not escape the thundering applause for his performance and graciously came back for two encores,"Gambler" and "Along The Road", both of which touched our very souls. The energy in the place was magnificent and so was Dan. His performance was supreme. I left that evening with the feeling that my favorite artist gave to me and everyone there his very very best musically, without a doubt. But there was more to the evening. There seemed to be a gentleness and peace within Dan that flowed freely in a very warm and loving manner, touching all of our hearts. He humbly acknowledged what I know he felt from us and allowed the love and energy to flow throughout the room through all of our spirits. The night was amazing! I remember thinking while walking to my car still in the glow of the magic that if I never saw Dan in concert again it would be okay because I had just experienced perfection. "I thank you for the music and your stories of the road" and a very special evening. ~ Laurie
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"Leader of the
Band", "Captured Angel", "Todos Santos", "Old Tennessee", "Hard to
Say", "Longer", "Part of the Plan" (which was vocally requested from
about the 50th row), "Make Love Stay", "Forefathers" (before which
he made mention of his 105 year old grandmother), "To The Morning"
(the first song he ever wrote, at the age of 18....quite insightful
for an 18 year old), "The Reach" (dedicated to the late John Denver),
"Morning Sky", "Don't Lose Heart", "Road Beneath My Wheels" and a
Fogelberg rendition of "Eleanor Rigby". I could have sat and listened
to him for more hours that I can count. He is absolutely THE BEST!!!
I am thankful every day that my husband introduced me to this masterpiece
of an artist. He is definitely one-of -a-kind. This may have been
my first time to see him perform, but I don't intend for it to be
the last. I look forward to the next tour that he makes. Dan, please
come back to the southeast!!!!! ~ Fans forever......Jeff and Beth
(Fayette County Georgia)
"Nexus":
Beautiful as usual, a great opener. The one thing that has been stated
before that I noticed was his voice. It sounded like he had a little
bit of a cold or wasn't quite warmed up yet. He got better as the
night progressed. After the song he said that it was just him tonight,
that he forgot his band behind the couch (cute)! Now for the set list (which was identical both nights): "Nexus", "Captured Angel", "Forefathers", "To The Morning", "Don't Lose Heart", "Make Love Stay", "Road Beneath My Wheels", "The Reach", "Todos Santos", "Eleanor Rigby", "Full Moon Mansion", "The First Christmas Morning", "Run For The Roses", "Morning Sky", "Leader Of The Band", "Part Of The Plan", "Same Old Lang Syne" Amazing guitar
playing. Some new twists on old songs. A few funny new bits (most
of which have been described in other reviews). Solid vocals. Great,
clear sound system. A seemingly genuine appreciation for the fans
and their attentiveness. I'm in my typical post concert "crash" right
now - that sinking feeling that comes with the realization that it
may be some time before I have the opportunity to see him perform
again. I wish I understood why this man's music means so much to me,
but I really can't explain it. All I know is that it has become a
truly important and inspirational part of my life, and I thank him
for sharing his gifts with us. ~
Diane My belly: I had a great belly laugh when Dan, at one point, acted like he was coughing up phlegm and was going to spit it into his cup. It was sooo funny to me. I love the mix of reverence and irreverence in him. My heart: Well, a lot of any Dan concert moves my heart but I was most moved tonight by 'Don't Lose Heart', which I 'heard' tonight differently than I ever have before. Most moving song: 'The First Christmas Morning' from his upcoming Christmas album. I just loved it. Every cell in me got still. I already know this album will be the gift I give most this Christmas (sorry, not the boxed set!). And I ALWAYS love when he does the blues. He is such an incredible artist! He called his guitars his 'wooden friends'...this touched me AND I related. I'm pretty new to guitar playing and after a couple of weeks I literally cried one night with gratitude...feeling like I'd finally found a 'friend' whom I could say ANYTHING to....whether happy or sad or manic or angry or WHATEVER..my guitar can handle ALL of me! YEAH! Best Audience: Other than one woman who snuck in a camera and snapped a flash pic the audience was great. Very still...present. I liked that I was next to a cowboy and his wife and got to silently witness how much they each liked Dan's music and would look at each other sometimes when a song they especially liked began. Also impressive was: I was blessed to be walking across the courtyard to check out the merchandise when a long stretch limo pulled up, stopping no more than 4 feet from where I was. Out comes Dan in a BEAUTIFUL purple jacket and some other guy I didn't know and NOT ONE fan attempted to make contact as he walked down the stairs. THAT moved me. The respect of it. Two women were near me and one said, very quietly...twice, "Oh, what a GREAT birthday present." I love the 'energy field' in most of Dan's concerts (I DO remember a hellish one in Gainesville, Florida years ago. Rudest audience I've ever experienced in any concert I've ever been to.) I was moved by Dan's talking about love. I wish I could remember all he said but it was something on the order of treating or seeing love as A PROCESS rather than....I don't remember the words....oh, somebody else who was there help me. I know what he said, in essence, but I'm not getting the words just now. (What got him going on this was talking about the book 'Still Life with Woodpecker', before singing 'Make Love Stay'. I was also moved when he spoke of going to Maine soon and that it was his 'lollipop' after 'hours and hours in dark rooms with loud music'. Yeah. Good for you, Dan. I've heard his voice in better shape, though after the first couple of songs he seemed to drop in. He has such range. I wish he'd sing 'Sand and the Foam' sometime (I won't hold my breath). When he was at the piano his silhouette was on the wall behind him and I found myself watching it instead of him. I liked it. When he came out for the encore he had put the purple jacket on that he'd arrived in and, because of its high collar his silhouette made him kinda look like he stepped out of the movie 'Grease'. Cute. He told the story of a little girl being with her Mom at a concert recently, right in front of him. The little girl was lounging on her Mom and looked right at him and said "Aren't you getting tired?" Or something on that order. That touched me too. Well, I'd say he's tired. Tired but 'clearer' and more 'in himself' somehow than I've ever experienced him (my first concert was about 20 years ago at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta.) He is definitely with the audience in a way I have not seen before. Lastly, I notice how I prefer to go to Dan's concerts alone. I like being reflective before, during, and after. I always make it an event. I usually listen to him on the way (today I listened to an old radio interview from the High Country Snows days). Then on the way home I listen to nothing and simply reflect and reminisce about all the depth Dan's music has brought into my life through the years. It's nice to remember like that. Well having just driven all the way back to the heart of Big Sur country it is very, very late and I'm tired myself. Thanks Dan, as always. Blessings to all. ~ Dorothy Thomas |
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