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Post by BSJ on Aug 18, 2019 17:49:10 GMT
Framed in museum glass to keep from fading. Unless it stays in its case.
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Post by Horacewimp on Aug 18, 2019 17:50:41 GMT
Framed in museum glass to keep from fading. Unless it stays in its case. Store it in the loft or attic
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Post by BSJ on Aug 18, 2019 21:50:51 GMT
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Post by raybram on Aug 19, 2019 10:11:50 GMT
Framed in museum glass to keep from fading. Unless it stays in its case. Store it in the loft or attic Put it in a cool dark place !!
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Post by Grroosss on Aug 23, 2019 7:35:07 GMT
Sorry for the delay, I’ve just been super busy what with (if I’m allowed to borrow a British word) uni starting up again. “Last week, on Win a Trip to Meet Jeff in Chicago...” And then we were being led through the backstage door, into the already-packed arena. nobodyschild and I took our seats, right on the end of the first row—Dad was up close in one of the side sections, since the VIP experience had only been meant for two. Emilie got a couple photos, and then she left us to wait the last few minutes until the concert started. Front and— er, not quite center! The stage went dark; I could make out Dhani as he came on stage, seeming really hyped up for the show. I laughed as he again introduced the band with “We are Dhani Harrison” after the first song, noting with surprise that he’d dropped the American accent he’d put on in Sacramento. It’s maybe a bit hard to tell, but Dhani’s keyboardist was wearing a Time tour shirt! I was glad to see that the audience around us got into Dhani’s set a lot more than at the Sacramento show, though maybe the front row crowd is just a more enthusiastic bunch—and maybe we were rubbing off on everyone, bopping in our seats and cheering wildly and even singing along a bit since we were familiar with the songs this time. There was one song where Dhani had to cut the band off after a moment due to an earpiece malfunction, but he handled it well, cracking a joke: “This one’s dead, he won’t bother us anymore,” and quickly starting again; the audience handled it well too, getting right back into it. By the end of the set, we certainly weren’t alone in giving Dhani a standing ovation. The stage crew began to set up for ELO—they’ve had some practice now and this time it’s not long before The Lights Go Down again. A huge round of applause; from the nosebleeds in Sacramento I’d been pretty sure I’d seen the ant-sized figure that was Jeff as he came on stage in the dark, but this time I DEFINITELY spotted Jeff as he walked out. Determined to make up for the unenthusiastic crowd and lack of dancing in our area of the arena last time, we debated how early it would be appropriate to stand, and decided we’d get up during Evil Woman if the crowd seemed to be into it... and then the chimes announced the start of Standin’ in the Rain, a cheer filled the arena, and everyone around us was on their feet in an instant. We didn’t hesitate to join them, and we never sat back down. As much as we just wanted to be in the moment, it would’ve been a cryin’ shame to completely pass up the excellent photo and video opportunity from our super-close seats It was just as magical as the first time... Jeff and band were tight and still had incredible energy despite it being near the end of the tour. I was pleasantly surprised that Jeff only took down a couple more notes than he had in Sacramento, and there were some hecka snazzy guitar solos from him that night too. Even though we couldn’t see the full light spectacle from the front row, I didn’t think it was any less effective, flashing right in our faces... though I’d almost completely forgot about the backdrop after the first couple songs—I guess the nosebleeds do have their perks. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have traded the front row experience for anything... the guy behind us was singing along to nearly every word, just like we were; everyone was having a great time; there was plenty of dancing to be had; and best of all, people kept coming out to visit us...
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Post by Horacewimp on Aug 23, 2019 8:25:36 GMT
Great pictures and story Grroosss you had the best of both worlds seeing Jeff twice once from the nosebleed seats and then from the front row. Ohh visitors sounds interesting
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Post by BSJ on Aug 23, 2019 17:32:22 GMT
Oh, I can't stand it! Who!? Who!?
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Post by unomusette on Aug 23, 2019 21:30:18 GMT
Yet more delicious titbits from your epic experience, bet Jeff spotted your beaming smiles there in the front row. Good on you for being determined to stand up too, but also top marks to the crowd for sharing your views on this, it's pretty rare in seated venues. Just goes to prove what a special event this was all round
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Post by Chippa on Aug 27, 2019 3:58:02 GMT
Let me guess...you both jumped onstage for the encore of Roll Over Beethoven, and showed off your rock cello skills?
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Post by Grroosss on Aug 27, 2019 7:40:29 GMT
Let me guess...you both jumped onstage for the encore of Roll Over Beethoven, and showed off your rock cello skills?
Oh, wish we'd thought of that, that would've been fun!
Mike Stevens and Lee Pomeroy looked like they were having a great time being silly on ROB, and I was glad to see that one of the cellists was really getting into it, but I do think they could still ramp up the theatrics a bit... I'm waiting for the day when they flip their cellos and guitars upside-down at the end... *nostalgic sigh*
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Post by nobodyschild on Aug 27, 2019 17:35:58 GMT
What do you mean, of course we jumped on the stage! ....I wish but as for our visitors: We danced and sang all night long. The laser lights washed over us, almost as if we could touch them. We were a part of a crowd of people, two figures amongst roundabout 20,000 who to the untrained eye probably seemed no different than anyone else in the crowd—except to the figures on the stage. While no one can ever really be sure, several times it seemed like Jeff looked straight at us, and a little smile always crept into his expression as he looked away. Some songs into the show, we were approached by Johannes, who held two very small objects out to us—I was really confused at first, because in the dim lighting and with all the flashing lights I couldn’t tell he was holding anything, then I thought it looked like he was offering us quarters or something—but I took them, and once in my hands I saw they weren’t spare change, silly me, but two ELO guitar picks. I wanted to thank him but by the time it’d registered in my brain what our gifts were, he’d already turned around, presumably to go backstage again. He wouldn’t go unthanked though, because a little bit later he came out to us again, holding another set of little objects—this time, picks from Dhani. I mouthed a thank-you as he slipped away again and tucked mine into my pocket (and would then continually keep checking to make sure they were both still there). During one of the rare times I wasn’t either dancing like crazy or focusing on the stage (er...mostly Jeff) with tunnel vision, we looked over to the sound booth area and caught Craig waving to us, and we returned the wave, grinning and giddy. After band introductions, they plunged into their second set, the arena buzzing with energy, and I resumed my crazy dancing. I was so caught up in the moment that I didn’t even realize that Camelia had come out to our seats until she actually had to touch my arm. I was rather surprised, and maybe just a teeeeny bit embarrassed that she’d caught me in the midst of my pretending to be a rockstar on stage (and that her, Craig, Johannes, and probably a handful of other people had a good view of this singing, dancing, air-guitaring spectacle for over half a show already), but the feeling quickly faded. “Jeff loved you girls, he absolutely loved you,” she told us, and I was so speechless and overcome that I started tearing up. I still hadn’t gotten my voice or even my brain to work again to say anything back, and almost as quick as she came she was gone.
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Post by vlogdance on Aug 27, 2019 17:55:52 GMT
“Jeff loved you girls, he absolutely loved you,” she told us. That's got to be the high point of the entire experience. No wonder you were tearing up.
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Post by eloneen on Aug 27, 2019 18:08:08 GMT
So sweet!
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Post by BSJ on Aug 27, 2019 18:08:57 GMT
I think you two made everyone's night! And will never be forgotten.
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Post by Helmut83 on Aug 27, 2019 18:09:57 GMT
Jeff doesn't look like someone who likes just anyone, you must surely have conquered him with your spontaneity and the fact that you were such dedicated fans while being so young, something which, let's admit it, is a rarity (unfortunately) and makes you a bit different from most other ELO fans. Glad to know the chance fell in the right hands and that you lived such an unforgettable experience, something you are surely going to tell your grandkids about (if you ever have).
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