Easter Weekend Rhett Fest 2010 (Part Deux)

in which I am a complete girlie gushing a-hole

Okay, so after witnessing a spectacular 33 song concert by one of the best entertainers ever, we packed up our crap and headed south to Annapolis, MD for part two of our festival of all things Rhett Miller.

We've never been to the Cadet Capital, and were really impressed by its beauty. I love harbor towns. They're so charming and quaint. Besides I'm an Aquarian--I'm drawn to water. We stayed at a B & B in State Circle which ended up being literally two blocks away from the club. Perfect. We always prefer being walking distance from bars. It allows us to over imbibe if we so choose with no risk of, you know, mowing someone over with the car.

Anywho, after walking about, drinking in the ambiance and such of the marina--OMG! there were so many great dogs and babies... lots and lots of adorable babies. I'm in some kinda weird I-heart-all-babies-and-dogs phase...could be my age...could just be the alcohol--we headed over to the restaurant for a pre-dinner cocktail.

And it was powerfully potent!! The barkeep was deliciously heavy-handed on the hootch. By the time we went inside for our meal, I was slurring a bit.

One drink and I'm slurring?!? What the? I think I'm slipping. Clearly, I need to practice more.

Moving on...

So Geo and I are sitting around waiting for our food when my loving hubby looks up and says "Oh, hi Rhett."

*blink* *blink* Wha...?

Lo and behold, there's the lovely blue-eyed one and Mike standing in front of us. Apparently I walked right past them on my way back from the ladies. I didn't even see them, which is probably a good thing because I'm sure I would have made a complete monosylabic, moronic arse of meself, what with the whole I'm-tipsy-and-can't-feel-my-face thing that was going on with me at the time.

So after hugs all around (as you know by now, I hug..I like to hug...I'm a hugger), Mr. Wonderful sweetly asks us if we'd like to request a song for the set list.

Um.... Hellz to the YEAH!!

How cool is that? We both throw out titles and Sr. Miller graciously notes them. We yakked a bit more, then off they went to whatever mysterious holding pen performers retire to prior to taking the stage.

It was really kind of him to ask for a request. I remember the first time we saw him in Hoboken, he was just standing around at the bar talking to a fan when I mustered up the courage to go over and speak to him. After a brief conversation, he asked if I wanted to suggest a song, which I did--the lovely Sweet Thing, Pine Bluff...

I remember being so excited when he played my song that night. I felt so special. He even shared an entertaining story to go along with it. Just another one of the reasons I find him so dear. It's such a small gesture-asking for a request, but it goes a long way towards cultivating adoration in one's fan base.

*SIGH*

Oh Lord. I'm making myself gag with the gushing. But I can't help it. He is kinda perfect, especially when he's being darlingly awkward. Sorry. I can't stop. It's a sickness.

OHMIGOD! You would not believe the flurry of chatter their little visit caused after they left. The two tables around us were just all a twitter. The conversation with our surrounding dinner mates went on for quite a while. I totally understand. If that interaction with Rhett and Mike happened around us, I would have totally jumped into a conversation with those lucky folks, too.

Anywho...

We took our seats against the wall behind where he would be standing. The Ram's Head On Stage (which oddly had no ram's head on the stage) is the polar opposite of John & Peter's. It holds around 300 people. The ceiling is high, the room is big and airy and Dude, there was no smoking. YeeHaw! Plus no crazy-ass screaming man in glass.

The opening act was a young band from Brooklyn called Eyton and the Embassy. They're a pop band with a sound at times similar to Ben Lee. Good compliment to Rhett's music.

After the break, Rhett quietly took the stage and hit the ground running with a raucous rendition of "The Fool". I'm always surprised that no one introduces the headliner at these little clubs. It seems odd to me that the musician(s) just sort of amble up on stage unannounced and have to get the audience's attention by strumming a chord or two.

The crowd was terrific, completely into the show. Again the mood was light and playful, lending to a fabulous rapport with the audience and a bounty of brilliant banter. At one point a fella in the back screamed that sitting sucks. Our quick-witted crooner tossed back an hilarious rift of ribbing. He's getting really good at that. Perhaps stand-up is in his future.

Interspersed in the evening's 22 song set, four song encore were the three songs we requested... "Point Shirley" and "Murder or a Heart Attack" for Geo; and perhaps the sweetest tune Rhett has ever penned, "Lashes" for me. Plus he dishes some more with the anti-sitting man.

Somehow he spotted us in the audience and gave us a little nod of recognition after each one.

*Major SWOON*

(Sorry. Doing it again. I really can't help it.)

Did you see that at the end there? That glance...that was for Geo.

One young woman in the audience tweeted hearing Rhett Miller sing "Question" in French changed her life. Yeah. I can understand that. I got bit bad after our first concert. Now any day I get to stand in front of him (or to the side of him) and watch him sing is a pretty damned terrific day.

That's us standing behind her while she's having her moment with the man of the hour.

Oh and hey.. check out this photo Geo snapped while we were waiting around after the show. See. I'm not the only one who can't control the urge to kiss on him.

You go, Girl! Ha Ha!

He is such a great sport, and so nice about it all. He gets the equation, you know. Kindness + graciousness + accessibility = unwavering loyalty from fan base. That little extra effort and the love comes back to him tenfold.

Alright..enough the icky talk...back to the videos. Here are some other fun moments from the Ram's Head show.

Cadet talk and "Too Far To Care"

A great bit about Good Friday before "No Baby I"

Hover

One of these days I would love to plant our asses on a bar stool next to him, crack open a bottle of Jameson for him--Stoli for us and spend an evening just shooting the shit about anything and everything. Would that not totally rock, or what?

Seriously.

Today On A Very Special Friday Video

or a tearful goodbye to an old and loyal friend...

Okay, so last night was the last regulation season Pens game in our arena lovingly known as the Igloo. A knew, more swanky yet less distinctive ice arena is being built right next door. It will have all the newest bells and whistles, up-to-date technology and the coveted money-making luxury boxes that all teams crave these days.

But it won't have the heart of our shiny-domed Igloo.

The arena was the first structure in the country with a retractable roof. I was lucky to be there many evenings when the ceiling quietly split opened, revealing the sparkling gem that is downtown Pittsburgh. I was hoping they'd open it one last time before dismantling this unique structure and tossing it on the scrap heap. Playoff season isn't over yet, so maybe...

Yes, the home of our Boys of Winter is old by today's standards (40+ years) and perhaps it has outlived its money-making usefulness, but it is one-of-a-kind, unique and just plain cool. That's gotta be worth something, right?

Wrong.

Sometimes society doesn't treasure the simple beauty in front its face.

I know it's stupid to get all teary-eyed over a building, but I'm one of those people who humanizes inanimate objects. I get attached... for whatever stupid reason. And it breaks my heart to see this structure go. I mean, come on! It's shaped like a freaking igloo, for Pete's sake... in what more perfect building could Penguins play? But alas, "progress" gets the last word. And so next year we will christen the new sparkling diamond, Consul Energy Arena.

Yeah. That has a catchy ring to it, huh?

That metal structure was home to a lot of proud hockey memories...

So thanks for everything, dear Igloo. For Mario, for Sid, for three Stanley Cup Championships, for the breathtaking view of our city... for feeling like home. You will always occupy a soft spot in my heart.

We shall miss you Old Gal.