My Day With Clay: A fan review

Here is my review of December 18, 2004.

Well I’ll start from the beginning.

It seems that every time my mom and I go see Clay, there seems to be a problem that almost makes us miss it. In Duluth for the Independent tour, my mom got stuck in traffic on the way to the venue. When leaving for Charlotte to see the solo tour, we forgot a bag and had to return home throwing us off track by several hours. We didn’t have much time to get settled before we had to leave for the picnic. This show was no different.

My day started at 7:30 AM. Plenty of time to make a 2:00 PM show at a venue only 25 minutes from my Parents home. This day was to break tradition. We were going to arrive with PLENTY of time.

There was a catch though. My father had gone to my home to take care of the farm while I am down with my back. Shouldn’t be a problem….1 hour away and all he has to do is let the animals out and get on the road.

8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00………ring ring. The phone at my mom’s. It’s my dad! What??????????????? You haven’t left yet??????????????????

“Dad, drop everything where it is now and get on the road!” I said to my father! How would this concert virgin know about all the troubles we could face? He doesn’t know about our “history” with cutting it close!

10:30, 11:00, 11:10………Dad walks in the door. I calculate in my head……one hour to get ready………..1 hour 50 minutes to get there. Seems like a lot, but we are riding the train so we don’t have to park. Not to mention we are meeting my Brother and Sister-in-law at the train station. Mom is already starting to worry; she knows our “history”.

Dad got ready in record time. We loaded up Granny and took off. (Grandma had been ready since 7:45, always prepared!) Made it to the train station by 12:30. One and a half hours till show time! One hour on the train……30 minutes EARLY! Ha, we beat the game this time!!!!!

12:45, 12:50, 12:55, 1:00………..Brother arrives, He and his wife had been waiting at the wrong train station, realized it, and then hurried to the right one. One hour, we should make it as long as they aren’t………………train stops……………..announcement; “We are on short delay while the other train clears the single-track.” Ding Dang. It’s happening again!!!!!!!!!!!

Strain starts again, change trains to go north……5 stops………..25 minutes………..gonna be really close.

We arrived at Symphony hall with 4 minutes till show time. They tear our tickets and show us to the ushers (who we will discuss later). The usher looks at my ticket and says, “Wait right here, there is a problem with your tickets.” Come to find out that the people who were in our seats had gotten them from some place other than the venue. They removed the people from our seats and we sat down.

The nice “Clay-mate” next to me must have thought that since I was a guy, I didn’t know anything about Clay or his fans. Ha Ha! She proceeds to tell me that some people even bring their phones to give other people a “Cell-cert”. While she is telling me this I am getting my cell phone out and I tell her that I’m calling a girl in Raleigh.

While I am telling her this I hear “Are you Glen?” It turns out that three fellow Clay-Maniacs and one Husband are seated just behind me. It’s always good to meet fellow members!

Now on to the Ushers and the concert!

When we first sat down, my mom was getting her phone out and she was visited by an usher that told her that her phone would have to stay off and that there was security everywhere. The house lights drop and the concert started. Clay in all his grand style begins to mesmerize every single person in the room. The sound was great and his voice was supported by the sounds of the symphony, a beautiful combination. The sounds seemed to bend and twist together with little effort and amazing skill. I, along with everyone else, was seamlessly connected to the show. Except for two people………..the ushers. I will now refer to them as the Nazi’s.

The Nazi’s were in full force at this show. The lady to my left hovered over us with her binoculars as she scanned the crowd for deviants such as myself. People disrespecting the show and the venue with cameras, phones and light sticks………that’s right……light sticks. The “Clay-mate” Mary Lou next to me had two children (very cute BTW) who had gotten glo-sticks at the merchandise booth. The Nazi came all the way down the isle to the middle to ask the little boy to turn off his glo-stick. TURN OFF A GLO-STICK??????????? You can’t do that! Not to mention that he bought it there! The Nazi’s continued to swarm over the crowd and remove items as they saw fit. They were not the highlight of the evening.

Clay was Clay. Very chatty this time. I seem to be lucky with that. He has been really chatty at all the shows I have been to. I think he feels comfortable in the south. He always says how much it is good to be back here. I’m sure it has many memories attached.

The concert hit a high moment during DSIAFCD. It’s a personal favorite of mine, along with everyone else in the world. It ended way too fast. I love the way that he works the crowd and silently begs for screams. There were few “Hooters” and no “Flashers”. I was impressed with the group as a whole. The concert seemed to progress without a hitch. It was wonderful and I have trouble finding words to describe how it touched my soul, but it did.

This concert had a different feel than the others I have been to. I really love the concert that is flooded with screaming fans, cameras, posters, and GLO-STICKS! This concert was amazing and I hope that he does another like it, but I hope that he doesn’t forget the special (and clack filled) concerts that we all love. This concert atmosphere was perfect for the symphony and for the season. I feel honored that I was able to experience it……. especially with my whole family.

I know this review is different from the ones that you are used to and its not really much review. In fact, it’s just all about my day and my experience. It’s what I have. It may just be that I’m a guy and I don’t get the same feeling about Clay that all you ladies do. I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I did.

My family got “Clayed”

Thanks everyone!