Aside from the 80s Cruise, there have been lots of other music and performances in the past few months.
Let’s start with something that wasn’t a concert, but that I’ve waited to do for a very long time. Craig Ferguson performed his comedy act at The Paramount in Bristol, VA, on Sunday, February 15. He was as cheeky, irreverent, and hysterical as I knew he would be! We got autographed posters from the event, which was an extra-special surprise! Friends Ann Baber Fleenor and Christy Kiser-Davenport and their husbands were in attendance, too.
On Friday, February 20, we were back at The Paramount, this time to see Sebastian Bach. Misty Yates and her boyfriend Rusty were a few rows behind us. Russ and I were on the second row, maybe third, but really close. During part of the performance, I got out of my seat and walked back to Misty’s seat and said, “Go enjoy it closer up for a little bit.” She was so excited. Although I love Sebastian Bach and he puts on a heck of a show, I’ve had the opportunity to see him on the 80s Cruise, and I just wanted to share the love. I think she enjoyed her time down front – she was dancing and head-banging away. It was a great show. Surprise for the evening? He broke out into a Gordon Lightfoot song. You just NEVER know what to expect from Sebastian, except that he is always entertaining!
The next night, we drove down to Cherokee, NC, so I could see Boy George & Culture Club at Harrah’s Casino. Russ played in the casino while I enjoyed an amazing show I’ve waited over thirty years for! Boy George has a beautiful laugh. He sings in a lower key now, but he still sings with heart. He’s grown up a lot – and you can hear that in his voice. You can hear it in the stories he tells between songs. He’s very positive and wants others to seek out the positive in a not-so-positive world, too. I’d definitely go see them again.
As a side note, we left the following Wednesday for the 80s Cruise. Three events the week BEFORE that cruise is way too much, lol! Next year, I must remember to REST before the cruise!
March 21st, Lynne Bishop, Kandy Kiser Howlett, and I saw Sheena Easton at The Millwald in Wytheville. Anthony “AD” Dawson from Tazewell came over to enjoy the show, too, when we messaged him at dinner and told him there were still tickets available. Charity McDaniel Hurst and her husband Jeff (from Tazewell/Richlands, who also go on the 80s Cruise) and a couple of their friends, who also go on the 80s Cruise were there, as well. It was great to see such a great turnout for such a lovely and talented singer.
If you read my 80s Cruise posts, you may remember that I MET Sheena Easton on the 80s Cruise a couple of years ago on the elevator, but that she had bronchitis and didn’t get to perform her second show, so we missed seeing her. So, this was another artist I’ve waited about 30 years to see. And did I cry? Of course, I did. “Almost Over You” has always been one of my favorite songs, and, although it sounds a bit different now than it did in the 80s, it still grabbed my heartstrings and made me all mushy inside. I think it’s interesting to look back at my reactions to those songs in the 80s when they were popular, when I had no boyfriends, but still had crushes that tore my heart into tiny pieces, and how those songs can still take me back to those moments decades later, making me remember those feelings so vividly. Sheena provided a great evening of entertainment. As did my friends.
Most recently, on April 9, Kandy and I went to see Collective Soul at the Hard Rock Casino, here in Bristol. Another great show. I didn’t know as many of their songs, but the music was superb, and the lead singer kept us entertained. “Hey, baby!” “Shine” and “The World I Know” were my favorites from the night, but really, everything was excellent – including “December (Spit Me Out),” which I never knew had “December” in the title, lol!
Next up is Gin Blossoms on April 24, also at the Hard Rock, with Kandy. AD was supposed to go with us, but he had a heart attack this past week. It’s scary when our friends start having heart problems and things like that happen to them. As I’ve said more than once this week, I’m still in my 20s or 30s in my mind; my body just doesn’t believe my head, anymore.
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