Friday, 26th June 2015
We began the long drive home. No more shows for us (for now!), while the tour moves on to Europe before returning to the USA.
No time to see anything besides rest stops on the interstate highway.
Saturday, 27th June 2015
After an overnight in Virginia, it was the last leg of the trip home. Looking forward to the next time we will get "Out There"!
Columbia
Wednesday, 24th June 2015
Travel day - about 400 miles from Charlottesville VA to Columbia SC. We hadn't originally planned to go to Columbia but a couple weeks prior to the show I found third row seats! It was another very hot day, temps in the 90's. Weather was sunny until late afternoon, and as we arrived in South Carolina we drove through a storm. Wind and rain!
Arrived at our hotel on the outskirts of Columbia at 8:30PM.
Thursday, 25th June 2015
Another scorcher of a day - temps forecast to be near 100. After our experience in the heat at Monticello, we opted not to do any tourist things today and also skipped limo watch. Fortunately there were no traffic problems getting to the arena for the show.
Went inside early enough to see the DJ set. Pal Barbara once again was included in the "film" before Paul got onstage.
Another great show, with some very special moments. Paul dedicated Let It Be to the people of Charleston (for those who were killed at the Mother Emmanuel church less than 2 weeks ago), a very touching tribute.
At the part of the show where fans are often called onstage, I suddenly saw Rick standing on the steps leading to the stage! He'd brought a sign that said Can I give you a Fans On The Run badge. As Rick walked to center stage, Paul said "we know this guy". Rick gave him one of the badges. Paul asked him to show his FOTR sign. Rick said into the microphone Do we love this guy? and the audience roared their answer back.
Next up was a young lady that had been sitting next to Patti (who had given her advice on when to hold up her sign). She had saved up for three years for her ticket.
It was an incredible show. So happy Rick got onstage and that we were there to see it. It sure had been worth the long drive.
Charlottesville
Monday, 22 June 2015
After leaving the Tash Hotel in NJ, we headed for the next tour stop - Charlottesville, Virginia. Our route took us from NJ to PA and through MD, WV, and into VA.
Arrived at our hotel in Charlottesville around 10PM.
Tuesday, 23 June 2015
Tourist time - a trip to Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello. The house tour was very interesting and after that we walked in the grounds trying (unsuccessfully) to escape the effects of the heat.
Before leaving we discovered an interesting book in the gift shop. John, Paul, George, and... BEN. (The Beatles' unknown drummer?)
We later met up with Marie and MaryAnn at the hotel and went for a relaxing supper instead of going to "limo watch". We then headed out for what we expected would be a quick drive to the arena a few miles away. Not so - it took at least an hour to go about 2 miles. We finally made it to a remote parking garage and hustled over to the arena on foot. "We should be okay. Paul doesn't usually get onstage until after 8:30." Not this time. Once inside we could hear music and realized Paul was already on stage! (Toilet roll toss is a story for another day.)
We made it to our seats during Temporary Secretary (five songs in), freaked out that we were late, and tried to settle in for the remainder of the show.
It was a great show but the main memory is the "trauma" of getting there and of arriving late!
Philadelphia
Sunday, 21 June 2015
The closest to home Paul's tour got in summer 2015 was Philadelphia. Show day was sunny and hot. Very hot.
Kris's friend DJ Andre Gardner was broadcasting live from the parking lot so we paid him a brief visit before returning to the car to cool off in the A/C.
Playing elsewhere in the complex was a Beatles tribute band.
But of course what we really came to see was the real thing!
Thus began our travels on the summer leg of the tour.
Irving Plaza - New York City
Saturday, February 14, 2015
In February there were rumors about a "secret show" in New York, related to the 40th anniversary of Saturday Night Live. It was impossible to get any information ahead of time and I opted not to go to the city on a cold, snowing day to hang around "just in case". Finally the show was announced the day of the show, at 10AM, with tickets available "in person" only at the Irving Plaza box office. My work pal Luis was in the city that weekend and on a moment's notice was willing to go to the box office for me!
Last-minute travel plans were made while in a state of disbelief that this was actually happening!
Arrived in New York, met Luis for the tickets, checked into hotel, grabbed a quick bite to eat and by 9PM had joined the queue at the venue.
At the 11PM show time, Irving Plaza was rockin' out.
It was a fantastic show, though an hour shorter than Paul's usual. It included some numbers that aren't on the usual set list, such as Matchbox and the Buddy Holly song It's So Easy. Paul was relaxed and "loose" and at one point he remarked to the audience, you're so close you can see my dental work. During My Valentine, rose petals floated down onto the audience.
And as if the show itself wasn't enough, on the way out they were giving away small posters to commemorate the occasion.
