I am in the lobby of the hotel in Hollywood where it all started in a way: back to the place we stayed on May 19-21, the start of this tour. It's where Dean first hooked up with us, and where we were still figuring each other out. And tonight is where the tour with Tenacious D will end. But before all that, there is a giant Red Rock looming in the room that needs to be addressed.
So Thursday we played Red Rocks. I've been asked numerous times how it was. Well, how do you describe something that is indescribable? It's like an intangible love, like one of those things you can't (or shouldn't) try to capture. It's one of those unexplainable things in life that exists, but you can't tell someone how or why it happened.
We arrived around lunchtime and were shuttled to our dressing rooms. We were told these are Snoop Dogg's preferred rooms when he plays here. Interesting tidbit, but I'll bet he didn't have Townes Van Zandt playing on the stereo like we did. After load in we split up and Kyle and I hooked up with Dawn & Ivan from PeaceJam. We had lunch on an outdoor patio with mountains as our backdrop and a falcon flying overhead. It certainly felt like another planet.
It was good to speak with Dawn and Ivan; they are intelligent, interesting, and Ivan is just a riot to be around. After lunch we loitered around the touristy part of the place and I discovered that the grandfather of my former professor at Wayne State University--Professor Duncan--sang at Red Rocks in 1947. To be a part of this history, where our name "The Sights" will be added to this wall, well I have to be grateful. I want my grandkids to see that I did something with my life. I should probably get kids first, though.
We soundchecked and Jack caught the end of it so I met him a few rows up to catch up. Shades got a cool picture of Jack and I together in an empty Red Rocks. Jack told me to look triumphant, but in the photo I was caught smiling. You can't hide happiness, and this was going to be a great day.
Before the show we hooked up with Liz Copeland, now Liz Warner, and her cool husband Clark Warner. They are now in Denver with two beautiful children. It was so nice to see them doing so well, and it felt good to be in the presence of Detroiters who get it. Great people. Also in the house (and backstage) were Neil and Karrie Miller, a great couple who made the trek from Ohio. Seems like Dean isn't the only great thing to come out of Ohio.
We went onstage to a more than half-filled Red Rocks, and when we finished the place was packed. And dancing. And clapping. And loving it. During the quiet chorus of "Mercy" where Jarrod and I sing "bring you, to your knees, have you begging me..." a woman got up and started shaking her booty. It was the coolest. There was a strong contingent of people in the front seats who couldn't get enough of us. Not only was our backdrop insane, the crowd brought it to another level. I couldn't enjoy it while we played, but I looked up at the crowd and cheers'd them at the end, taking a few seconds to soak it all in.
As a band we delivered another killer set, and I was very proud to load our gear off that stage that night. We were ourselves up there, and people loved it. I think of the vice-prez at Capitol Records who told me years ago we were stuck in the '60s (which could have been true at the time) and I think--you were stuck in the Fischerspooner. How's that working out for you, oh yeah, just played Red Rocks. See ya. Later.
All the best,
eddie
Today’s high according to Jerry Sprinter‘s thermometer: 83
Photos by Shades
