From: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org (avalon-digest) To: avalon-digest@smoe.org Subject: avalon-digest V15 #199 Reply-To: avalon@smoe.org Sender: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk avalon-digest Saturday, October 1 2011 Volume 15 : Number 199 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [AVALON] Miami Beach Show 9/30 ["Stubbs, Ronald" ] To leave the list, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon-digest ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:42:38 -0400 From: "Stubbs, Ronald" Subject: [AVALON] Miami Beach Show 9/30 Greetings fellow Avalonians. This is my first post since many years ago, probably '02 or so, and it's been longer than that since I've seen BF live, which was with RM in 2001 in Minneapolis. Anyhows, some observations on last nights show at the Fillmore Miami Beach, the first time that Ive seen BF solo: - -The crowd was excellent, not large. I had seats in the mezzanine level and was directed to sit in the orchestra section instead as most of the mezzanine was closed. That said, from my outstanding vantage point in the last row of the orchestra level with great sight-lines, I'd say the first floor of the venue was 85-90% full. Lots of enthusiasm, many people dancing, some for most of the show. Appreciative and appropriate applause. I'd have to say it was a very cool and unpretentious crowd, especially for Miami. All eras of BF/RM fandom were represented, lots of pretty women in tight mini-skirts and stilettos as well as dapper gents, including the couple in front of me who looked like they just walked off a mid-70's photo shoot complete with In Your Mind era shades and leopard pants. I actually kept checking to see if the show was still on up until the afternoon of the performance, fearing that it might be canceled due to lack of ticket sales - I've seen Morrissey and Joe Jackson at the same venue and there were lots of empty seats for both, so didn't know how well BF would draw. Once I saw BF featured on the front page of the Miami Herald online, and in The Miami New Times I figured the show must be a go, as indeed it was. - -The show was tight. BF seemed genuinely happy to be there. Im sure someone else will post a set list, but it was a good combination of old and new, and both RM and BF solo material - looks pretty much the same as the set lists from recent European gigs. The visuals went so well with the music that I got emotional on a couple of occasions - If There is Something, in particular. Excellent musicianship, vocals and visuals all around. Big applause in "appropriate proportion" to the chops and legacies of band members - Chris Spedding and Paul Thompson both got big ovations, as did the lovely Jorja Chalmers on sax whose playing wowed the audience. The show ended rather abruptly though, and the band seemed to be a bit confused when BF left the stage and didn't come back. No encore. Jealous Guy is probably one of my least favorite RM tunes, so wish the show would've ended on something else - I was expecting You Can Dance. - -Regarding the venue, the Fillmore is nice, well managed, and in the heart of the Miami Beach Art Deco retro glam - it was a totally perfect fit for BF. Cant imagine a more appropriate locale for him to play actually - wish this would've happened many times before. The folks with the venue were completely cool and helpful. Expensive snacks and drinks as usual, but that's to be expected I guess, and no long lines to be seen with the possible exception of the ladies room. I picked up a commemorative Art Deco poster of the gig from some cat who was passing them out outside after the show was over - not sure who he was, but it was a nice touch! - -The genial usher in charge of my section said that BF had dismissed the tour's sound techs for this show at Wednesday's rehearsal and decided to use the venue's instead. Interesting. He also told me before the show started that it was programmed by BF that he would take the stage at 9:00pm, take a 20 minute break at 9:45, and then play again from 10:05 until 10:50 - precisely how it went down - this seems a bit calculated and sort of "corporate" in terms of being overly-planned - perhaps BF had dinner reservations at Prime 112 for 11:15 or something;) All-in-all a great show, good times. Wish it happened sooner and more often, but better late than never! Viva! - -Ronald ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ End of avalon-digest V15 #199 ***************************** ======================================================================== For further info, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info avalon-digest