From: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org (basia-digest) To: basia-digest@smoe.org Subject: basia-digest V10 #109 Reply-To: basia@smoe.org Sender: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk X-To-Unsubscribe: Send mail to "basia-digest-request@smoe.org" X-To-Unsubscribe: with "unsubscribe" as the body. basia-digest Sunday, May 1 2005 Volume 10 : Number 109 Today's Subjects: ----------------- San Antonio Gig report - Part II [Bev Okin-Larkin ] San Antonio Gig report - Part III [Bev Okin-Larkin ] WSAYO [JPovlock@aol.com] San Antonio Gig Report - Part I [Bev Okin-Larkin ] San Antonio Gig Report - Part I [Bev Okin-Larkin ] San Antonio Gig Report - Part I [Bev Okin-Larkin ] Re: WSAYO [Bev Okin-Larkin ] Re: WSAYO [Leslie Osborn ] Re: San Antonio Gig report - Part III [Leslie Osborn Subject: San Antonio Gig report - Part II *_Showtime!_* Ive never been inside the Empire Theatre, but it is a classy classic theatre, lots of opulent scrollwork on the walls, full stage lighting, two balconies and box seats on both sides of the main audience on all three levels. We were in the box seats to the left, which was surprising as I could never exactly figure out where our seats were from Ticketmaster  and I had been bummed since the day the tickets went on sale, I was dealing with stuff with my mom and forgot completely to buy tickets until an hour later  so a Higher Power was definitely involved in this as we had AMAZING seats. About the only people we couldnt see well were Kevin and Paul over in the woodwind/brass area as a speaker blocked our view. Otherwise the box seats were wonderful as we had ample leg room and places to put our things, and I could write on my set list to compare with the one Chris Gibbons posted (and there were changes)  and room to boogie! J I wandered around the theatre a bit as we had gotten there early, the ushers were very nice and lots of people stopped to ask me about The Official Matt Bianco 2005 Tour Shirt (whered you get that? J )  though no one from smoe.org came over and said hey at me. I dont bite. We bought one of the huge Poster Programs, real nice, but we needed to roll ours up so it would survive the trip home and a Matt Bianco t-shirt. I had several people again ask Who is Matt Bianco? to which I would politely go into the History of Basia  and explain where the group was from and how it was so great that they were back together and touring, I also promoted smoe.org and basiaweb.com as much as I could to those who asked. They started the show with a local comedian Walter Campbell, who was very funny and warmed up the audience very well with his opinions on Techno music, the Spurs basketball team, reality teevee and broke down cars (which he called Hoopdes): along the lines of You Might be a Redneck If he had zingers about Guys if you open the door for your date and slide in first since your door dont work thats a Hoopde! and the like. *_Here is the Set List:_* Slip and Sliding Ordinary Day Wrong Side of the Street La Luna Crusing for Bruising Golden Days Ronnies Samba I Never Meant Too Yeh Yeh (Basia left for a break during this as Mark led) Matts Mood III (Mark left for a break as Danny led the band  then Danny slipped out briefly during the percussion solo then came back to finish the song) Promises An Olive Tree More Than I Can Bear Get Out of Your Lazy Bed Say the Words Time and Tide Half a Minute ENCORE NUMBERS: New Day for You, Dont Blame it on the Girl Only song missing was Whose Side Are You On? After about a ten minute wait, the DJ from 101.9 came out again and introduced the group then they entered the stage to HUGE applause. Danny was wearing a Red shirt and black pants, Basia with White silk blouse and black pants, and Mark in Purple shirt and black pants  the backing musicians all wore black. They launched into Slip and Sliding, with no tentativeness or anything from ANYONE the ENTIRE show with the crowd REALLY getting into all the music. They were a jazz and Basia loving group. Basia was the main spokeswoman all night, Mark only introd a few of his Matt Bianco songs but otherwise she was the one speaking for the group. The band was TIGHT, all notes perfect and the more energy they got from us, the more they gave and put into the performance. More than a few times, Basia said that this audience was with them and many yelled out We love you Basia!!! and the like, which got her all modest. Along with yelling for Basia, I also yelled encouragement and applause for Mark, Danny, Kevin and the various soloists. All the vocals were luminous, and when Basia slipped offstage so Mark could intro Yeh Yeh, the crowd REALLY got into italways been a catchy tune for me too, and it was great to see a huge group enjoying it too. And I was grateful to see Mark getting to take the spotlight and have the audience with him. Since there was a comedian opening act, there was NO INTERMISSION -- so right when I was kinda expecting a break, Basia and Mark came back out after Matts Mood III and launched into Promises  which ended with a Partial Standing Ovation. The energy and love continued all the way through with a Standing Ovation for Time and Tide. After a Standing Ovation curtain call, they all left, as the crowd continued to cheer and clap, then the band returned for the two encore songs which got everybody up and dancing with Dont Blame It on The Girl. Geffen and I ended up having an AWESOME night. My Sony Mavica-CD250 kicked ASS! I used to joke about being the Human Tripod  but I really was that night... snagging lots of nice shots, including some from the floor level people were very nice to allow shooting as I was on my knees grabbing pics. For the techies/photo lovers, my pics were shot at 400 ISO (no flash) and 1600x1600 resolution. A lot of folks did have their disposable and cellphone cameras going too. I only missed a few shots where they were moving too much. After shooting off and on most of the concert, I elected to use some of my disc space for MPEGs so I snagged two of them. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 16:19:31 -0500 From: Bev Okin-Larkin Subject: San Antonio Gig report - Part III *_Backstage:_* Afterwards, we went to the designated place for the meet and greet with Basia and Matt Bianco. While we waited next to the merchandise table, the staff had to get MORE CDs to sell  they were selling so well!!! The theatre staff had to double-check the list, but (after holding my breath!) we were IN, they stuck a big ole sticker on us and we went downstairs....and downstairs, HUGE place this is. We waited in a anteroom/laundry room area with 11 others, 6 were winners of a local radio show contest, 4 were from the radio station and 1 was Mark Reilly's cousin! I started laying out my Basia/Matt Bianco/Incognito swag on a rolling stage stair: 10 CD's total (of I know, I know! a possible 45 or so! I behaved myself! J) and some pictures and songbooks as well as a nifty MB program sheet from Japan that Geffen gave me for my B-day on April 8. Plus a complete printout of the Basia: International Discography for her and Danny to peruse. A theatre staff came over and said, are you going to have her autograph all that? I said no, some of this was for Mark, Danny and Kevin (which I knew all these names probably meant nada to him). We waited some more, Danny came in first and we talked and he was very taken aback and honored that I had set up my little shrine, especially in again noting that my Matt's Mood disk was from Germany (told him I couldn't wait!) and then that I had bought the US release too... (told him that was from Amazon, as I have no real music store here) - he was also interested in the Japan one-sheet we had brought (from eBay, as was my Basia TSI shirt I wore under my MB long sleeve). He also glanced over the printouts of the Discography as he noticed that I had also brought my 45 of Whose Side Are You On?. Basia came in and was immediately mini-mobbed while Danny came in, so I got his attention and I started with having Danny sign the Official Matt Bianco 2005 Tour Shirt which he did in Gold Sharpie, and all...he and I continued to talk about music and I told him how we dont have jazz in Corpus Christi and that I wait for Basia moments in stores and the like. I introduced him to my lovely Geffen and I explained that she was not yet a convert  that she hears music on our jukebox at home and I end up telling her who it (like Thats from Incognito or New Remixes II) to which he smiled and slyly asked her, So are you a Basia widow then? Geffen said, kinda as she knew who Basia was but didnt know about ALL this until she met me hehehe. Danny kept signing all over my CDs which was just awesome and we also talked about my mom having passed recently, all in all, a very sweet man. He commented on how grateful he was that we fans were coming and making them feel so welcome and wanting them to perform. As we chatted, Mark wandered back into the room with his cousin and I invited him over to my little roosthe too signed the Official Matt Bianco 2005 Tour Shirt, which he and Danny both liked very much  maybe they should ask some of us fans what wed like to have, eh? Some of us, do work in graphics and all and Id be less expensive than an ad exec, but I digress. Mark also looked over all the things I brought, including again the 45 of them on Whose Side Are You On? with the 80s look and all we joked about the clothes and the hats and he was pleased to see that Id also brought my Best of Matt Bianco, Another Time Another Place and CD of Whose Side and started autographing. I complimented Mark on how tight the vocals were and how great the band sounded he was pleased to hear it. And while Mark was still looking things over, I caught Kevins attention and asked him to join me at little spot  Kevin is so much younger looking in person! Actually they all are but some of the Incognito pics make him look so severe when he is a really easy going fellow. He enjoyed seeing some of the stuff I brought and autographed the two Incognito CDs I brought with me: Tribes, Vibes and Scribes and Positivity, I also asked whether he had orchestrated the music this tour and he told me that he and Danny did it. Geffen even gave Kevin a business card (as she is a minister) to let him contact us, maybe when they tie the knot (?) J Then the crowd around Basia dissipated and she saw me and said Dont worry I havent forgotten about you Brenda and she hugged me and I reminded her my name was Beverly, she apologized and said I was close with a B like my name I led her over to my area with all the things I brought. I told her my Time and Tide story about how I was out of work and driving in my small town when I heard the song and literally turned around and went in and asked them who was that?. she was very interested in my being a fan of hers all this time. She was also amazed that we came so far, and I reminded her I was going to NYC until the concert was canceled I asked her how she was liking Texas, and she talked about how long it took to get anywhere  believe me I understand. Basia signed my Official Matt Bianco 2005 Tour Shirt, and looked over more of my things, was amazed at the amount of the Discography, she laughed at her hair on the Whose Side 45 and when we got to the Clear Horizon CD, I told her that the title song really has helped me since my mom passed, and she was very sympathetic about my situation, and I reminded Basia how important her music has been to me As we finished up, Geffen got some shots of me with everybody and then when Basia had to leave she hugged me goodbye and as she was thanking me for being there, I reminded her what everyone else has said, Were waiting for more music from you, please dont make us wait so long again. To which she smiled and said, I wont, I promise, thank you again... and off she went to get ready to try and leave on the tour bus. Geffen and I packed up and then as we were leaving I said goodbye to Mark and Danny again, wishing them a safe trip to Houston Danny said it was great to put a face to the name and how thankful they were for all of us out there. *_Impressions:_* As always, Basia, Danny, Mark and company are very mellow and modest folks. No limos or such for them, they all walked over to the venue from the nearby hotel. Clearly they passionately love their music and being able to perform for us and they are all still amazed that we are here and very grateful that we want to come and see them and that we still love them for the music they have given us. Lets hope we will be hearing news from them soon as our little cult music star is rising again. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 17:23:49 EDT From: JPovlock@aol.com Subject: WSAYO You know, they should have done this song in concert. It's really kind of a cool song, and I think it would have allowed Mark to show a little of his sense of humor and maybe connect better with the audience. IMHO Jim P. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 16:17:25 -0500 From: Bev Okin-Larkin Subject: San Antonio Gig Report - Part I *_Pre-Show:_* Got into San Antonio at about 2:30 p.m. after a nice leisurely drive up from Corpus Christi  took us a little over 3 hours since we stopped for a quick break - I left Geffen to rest at the hotel and went to scope out the venue. The Empire Theatre is downtown SA, which means lots of one-ways and the like, just like most older downtowns. I used my Mapquest thingie and arrived very quickly at the theatre and was excited to see Basia featuring Matt Bianco on the marquee - I went past looking for parking and saw the 18-wheeler and the tour bus sitting next to the theatre. Hello! Found the Stage Door already! Welp, I have been too persistant a person not to grab us some info. So I parked and walked over and hung out with the security guys while the stagehands finished prepping the lights and instruments. I even snapped a quick shot from the loading dock. Well, obviously sound check was coming soon. So, I just hung around and started up a conversation with a very nice security guard, I kept thinking a limo might be coming sometime. And whilst we were chatting - thankfully nice breeze downtown as I was wearing my BLACK Basia The Sweetest Illusion 1994 tour shirt (gotten from eBay)  when Danny walks up around. I just say "Howdy! Welcome to Texas and San Antonio!" He recognized my name from the some.org list and we chatted a few minutes, I asked how the drive from DFW was, commented on the weather and the like, then he reminded me he had to go get his fingers warmed up and that Basia and Mark would be along in about 30 minutes or so. So, of course I stayed! And I said "Hey" to Kevin, which really surprised and seem to please him that someone knew who he was. Then Ewa, and two other ladies were walking up with Basia herself. I also said "Howdy" to her and she was really surprised to see me with "oh my gosh that old shirt" on. I told her that I would be wearing the other shirt like Thelmas and she remembered it. Basia then told me she would see me later and told me to enjoy the show. Basia went in and started downstairs to the dressing rooms. At this point, the side loading door and stage doors were closed. And the guard told me that from there on out, he had to start checking passes and really got to work. I thanked him and worked my way back to my hotel so we could eat dinner and get ready for the show. More in Part II ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 16:28:57 -0500 From: Bev Okin-Larkin Subject: San Antonio Gig Report - Part I *_Pre-Show:_* Got into San Antonio at about 2:30 p.m. after a nice leisurely drive up from Corpus Christi  took us a little over 3 hours since we stopped for a quick break - I left Geffen to rest at the hotel and went to scope out the venue. The Empire Theatre is downtown SA, which means lots of one-ways and the like, just like most older downtowns. I used my Mapquest thingie and arrived very quickly at the theatre and was excited to see Basia featuring Matt Bianco on the marquee - I went past looking for parking and saw the 18-wheeler and the tour bus sitting next to the theatre. Hello! Found the Stage Door already! Welp, I have been too persistent a person not to grab us some info. So I parked and walked over and hung out with the security guys while the stagehands finished prepping the lights and instruments. I even snapped a quick shot from the loading dock. Well, obviously sound check was coming soon. So, I just hung around and started up a conversation with a very nice security guard, I kept thinking a limo might be coming sometime. And whilst we were chatting - thankfully nice breeze downtown as I was wearing my BLACK Basia The Sweetest Illusion 1994 tour shirt (gotten from eBay)  when Danny walks up around. I just say "Howdy! Welcome to Texas and San Antonio!" He recognized my name from the some.org list and we chatted a few minutes, I asked how the drive from DFW was, commented on the weather and the like, then he reminded me he had to go get his fingers warmed up and that Basia and Mark would be along in about 30 minutes or so. So, of course I stayed! And I said "Hey" to Kevin, which really surprised and seem to please him that someone knew who he was. Then Ewa, and two other ladies were walking up with Basia herself. I also said "Howdy" to her and she was really surprised to see me with "oh my gosh that old shirt" on. I told her that I would be wearing the other shirt like Thelmas and she remembered it. She then told me she would see me later and told me to enjoy the show. Basia went in and started downstairs to the dressing rooms. At this point, the side loading door and stage doors were closed. And the guard told me that from there on out, he had to start checking passes and really got to work. I thanked him and worked my way back to my hotel so we could eat dinner and get ready for the show. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 16:27:38 -0500 From: Bev Okin-Larkin Subject: San Antonio Gig Report - Part I *_Pre-Show:_* Got into San Antonio at about 2:30 p.m. after a nice leisurely drive up from Corpus Christi  took us a little over 3 hours since we stopped for a quick break - I left Geffen to rest at the hotel and went to scope out the venue. The Empire Theatre is downtown SA, which means lots of one-ways and the like, just like most older downtowns. I used my Mapquest thingie and arrived very quickly at the theatre and was excited to see Basia featuring Matt Bianco on the marquee - I went past looking for parking and saw the 18-wheeler and the tour bus sitting next to the theatre. Hello! Found the Stage Door already! Welp, I have been too persistent a person not to grab us some info. So I parked and walked over and hung out with the security guys while the stagehands finished prepping the lights and instruments. I even snapped a quick shot from the loading dock. Well, obviously sound check was coming soon. So, I just hung around and started up a conversation with a very nice security guard, I kept thinking a limo might be coming sometime. And whilst we were chatting - thankfully nice breeze downtown as I was wearing my BLACK Basia The Sweetest Illusion 1994 tour shirt (gotten from eBay)  when Danny walks up around. I just say "Howdy! Welcome to Texas and San Antonio!" He recognized my name from the some.org list and we chatted a few minutes, I asked how the drive from DFW was, commented on the weather and the like, then he reminded me he had to go get his fingers warmed up and that Basia and Mark would be along in about 30 minutes or so. So, of course I stayed! And I said "Hey" to Kevin, which really surprised and seem to please him that someone knew who he was. Then Ewa, and two other ladies were walking up with Basia herself. I also said "Howdy" to her and she was really surprised to see me with "oh my gosh that old shirt" on. I told her that I would be wearing the other shirt like Thelmas and she remembered it. She then told me she would see me later and told me to enjoy the show. Basia went in and started downstairs to the dressing rooms. At this point, the side loading door and stage doors were closed. And the guard told me that from there on out, he had to start checking passes and really got to work. I thanked him and worked my way back to my hotel so we could eat dinner and get ready for the show. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 17:09:17 -0500 From: Bev Okin-Larkin Subject: Re: WSAYO Jim, Yeah I was EXPECTING it after the set list was posted by Chris Gibbons, and I had printed it and took it to make notes on as we watched the show (another advantage of the box seats having an area for me to write things on) so afterwards when I double checked things in the light, I noticed it was missing in action. They may have cut since they didn't do the intermission, just dunno. - -- Beverly Okin-Larkin JPovlock@aol.com wrote: >You know, they should have done this song in concert. It's really kind of a >cool song, and I think it would have allowed Mark to show a little of his >sense of humor and maybe connect better with the audience. > >IMHO > >Jim P. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 16:51:55 -0700 (PDT) From: Leslie Osborn Subject: Re: WSAYO I've noticed that, post-London, this song and Kaleidoscope were cut from the set list. I too would have dug it, but I guess that's just how it goes. One more week yo. - --LO Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 16:54:58 -0700 (PDT) From: Leslie Osborn Subject: Re: San Antonio Gig report - Part III *phew* That was exhaustive! Damn girl! ;-) If I read correctly about Danny being on here... egads, I hope I didn't. Suddenly I don't feel so good, thinking about all the colossally stupid things I've said on here over the years... . :-( But i'm probably just paranoid. I'm still mentally harping on the camera issue. ;-) - --LO Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 22:37:27 -0500 From: Bev Okin-Larkin Subject: Re: San Antonio Gig report - Part III Leslie, OH YES, he is visiting us here at smoe. In fact, in regards to the recent um.... shall I call it a "dispute" over performances, Danny referred to it as "a nasty little cat fight" -- I mentioned to Danny that I was too busy dealing with my mom's impending passing to respond. So yeah... we need to behave kids. :-) But Dirk had already mentioned they have been watching us... so hey, *wave* YES we're here and we love the music!!!! 8-) As for cameras, the folks were cool at my theatre, your theater may vary. From what I got from the nice security guard in San Antonio, he said it is "up to the tour management for photos" during performances. So I would presume from his years of experience in concert security and such that it depends on what HoB is enforcing. So be cool and nice, who know what will nice things may happen for you.... - -- Bev Leslie Osborn wrote: >*phew* That was exhaustive! Damn girl! ;-) > >If I read correctly about Danny being on here... >egads, I hope I didn't. Suddenly I don't feel so >good, thinking about all the colossally stupid things >I've said on here over the years... . :-( > >But i'm probably just paranoid. I'm still mentally >harping on the camera issue. ;-) > > >--LO >Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around >http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 1 May 2005 00:20:06 EDT From: PParm16424@aol.com Subject: For Danny (if you're "watching") :) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 1 May 2005 00:30:41 EDT From: PParm16424@aol.com Subject: For Danny (if you're "watching") (Sorry about the blank email. Hit the "enter" key accidently. Ooops! I had thoughts of not going through with this, but the cat is out of the bag, now!) Danny, I am hoping to relieve my regrets at not trying to "find" y'all after the Detroit concert. I sat near you, somewhat behind you in the front row. Basia pointed at me a few times, after she caught me singing along with the new songs. Like many here, I bought Matt's Mood last summer, so I knew the songs well by then. Next time Matt Bianco and/or Basia are in the area, you can count on me sticking around afterwards. Loved the concert, and am looking forward to more in the future. As a keyboardist myself, I really appreciate your skill and songwriting abilities. Thanks for all the great music! Phil Parmelee Haslett, Mi. ------------------------------ End of basia-digest V10 #109 ****************************