posted February 18, 2002 09:52 PM            

Ah BB Kings! What a night!

Thankfully, I didn't have to get up at 5 AM for this show. This club is a great little joint. Seats only 500. Evidently, management seated all the message board people together. Probably better to keep an eye on all the rowdies! And, we were right next to the bar...very convenient. Certainly, much easier on the waitresses that way!

Reservation were for 6 pm. I had the honor of hosting Laura and her friend Marleen at my table. The "Dynamic Duo", Krysta and Jamar, were a bundle of joy! A party of 6 was required for the reservation, and Martin was kind enough to join us. I was a little disappointed that he didn't wear Terri's "Pleasure Victim" jacket, although I understand his reluctance. It was funny to watch 12 people get up from the tables and have 12 leather jackets hanging over the chairs. Everybody was looking at everybody else, wondering "who is going to watch the coats?".

I also had the pleasure of sitting with Paul and his friend, Randy. Good people. On the other side of the table sat Ron and his friends, Steve and Allison. Scotto surprised all of us by filling out Ron's table for 6.

We figured Berlin would hit the stage around 10:30 and dinner at 6 would give us plenty of time to eat, settle down, imbibe, and build up some anticipation for the show. An incredible duo, harmonica and guitar, provided the dinner tunes. Between the tunes and conversation, time just drifted away.

After an appropriate intermission, the next group came on stage. I must confess, I missed most of their show, trading war stories with Scotto. I'm still trying to figure out how they got all those guys on stage, though.

I was pleasantly surprised by the next band, Joanna. They were great. And the lead singer (Joanna?) was HOT! Not Terri Nunn hot, but pretty dang good, anyhow. Maybe with a few years to mature... Anthony mentioned that he thought Joanna was the best opening band Berlin has had. Well, they were pretty good, but I liked the Tubes better. Oh yeah, Anthony didn't go to Vegas!

So anyhow, 11 pm rolls around and I head down to the floor. I plant myself right in front of Mitch's keyboards as center stage is already full. Besides, side stage is easier to get to the bar. Turns out side stage was the place to be, as Berlin didn't take the stage until 12. A midnight show! Awesome!

And yes, the close proximity to the bar did come in quite handy. Did Anthony also mention that the crowd was getting a little tired? Well, maybe, but three notes into "Masquerade" and the place was hopping. Literally. If you have seen a live show, you know the band starts playing before Terri takes the stage. Terri comes on just in time for "The painted faces on the street...". The joint was hopping before, now it ROCKED!

At previous shows, mamabear and I have always been seated back from the stage. Sometimes close, sometimes not so close, sometimes low, sometimes high. Being right at the stage was a new experience for me. And it was GREAT! I'm gonna do this again! Paul knows the best way to see the show. Right in front, right up close. As Terri leans into the audience she makes eye contact with everybody there. If you are Paul, there is more than eye contact. I checked out Paul after the show for bald patches, but he was intact, so far as I could tell. Yes, that means that "The Metro" was next. I might feel SORRY for the SOB in the song, but man, it's fun to watch Terri storm around the stage and hit the cymbals. Congratulations to whoever caught the drumstick.

And the choreography! Linda and Terri dancing that little exotic thing "You Don't Know". I like that live version much better than the record version. The Metro featured a sorry SOB, but the SOB in Steps - "IS SHE 17? OR 21". Man, what a dick! About half way through the song, I lost site of Terri. And Linda stepped up with the microphone. Damn, she can sing her ass off! "My heart you're raping - FUCK IT!" There just are "No More Words"! And the audience can sure throw that back to the mic. But you have to watch for Terri to reach the mic out, cause you wanna get it right! And then a new song, "To a King", I think.

Oooh, here come the stools. Time for an acoustic love song. About masturbation. "Pleasure Victim". Hmmm, somebody asks if there is a video!

Oh wait, I screwed up. I almost forgot "Dancing in Berlin"! How could I do that? Oh yeah, Terri did too! Whoops. At least she had a good excuse. She looked at me and then it hit her. I think she remembered my lame Richard Blade story. Oh how I love "Dancing in Berlin".

At least two real Marilyn Manson fans were in attendance Saturday. The "Dynamic Duo", Krysta and Jamar. Jamar was so impressed with Terri getting in her face, and Jamar actually knew all the words to "Dope Show".

I don't know the words to "Drug" yet, but I'm learning. Man, that beat is infectious. And everybody knows the opening bars to "Take my Breath Away". And here comes the security guard. Terri climbs down onto his shoulders and the crowd parts, just like Moses parting the Red Sea. Except, Terri can do it more than once. Marleen (Laura's friend) didn't think that she liked 80's music. She stands corrected. Here comes another song about sex! Stranger on the Bus. I thought the band might be tired after flying in from New York, even Dallan proclaimed that their arms were tired! But not their performing hands! They are rocking harder as the night goes on!

Now we all get SEX (I'm a...) And it is great! Terri and Dallan do get into their roles. So much so, that Linda feels compelled to rip Terri away, like an angry girlfriend. And then we end with some Depeche Mode, "Never let me down". Great ditty, done well. or Well done!

Well, Berlin has an early flight, so no meet and greet tonight. Oh, no, the "Dynamic Duo" are still dancing on the floor. Poor Chris, he has no idea what he is in for....haha this should be good! Paul, Martin, and I are watching the floor from our perch near the second floor bar. Chris walks down the stage stairs into the waiting arms of Krysta and Jamar. Now, that's a treat to fall in to! When they finish with Chris, it's Dallan's turn. Man, these guys are so great! They've been across the country twice, performed twice, and they are so giving. Now it's 2 am and management kicks the rest of us out. Behold, Terri and her "security guy". Take good care of her, Paul. Goodnight!

I wish to take this opportunity to thank Berlin for putting on a great show and being so nice to me. And I want to thank all the other "message board" members who have accepted me into their family. I am honored.

posted February 19, 2002 07:58 PM            

I forgot to mention the awesome guitar work of Mitchell. Lest you think his talents are limited to the keyboards, he did an incredible flamenco style bit of finger picking during "Pleasure Victim" that even Terri seemed to be impressed by. I know I was.