From: Thorn (ladyhawke_13@yahoo.com)
We weren't planning on going to the Reno show, but thank God we did... I didn't think anything could be better that the show at the Fillmore, but I was wrong.
PRE-SHOW - Got to Reno about 5:30. We had been told that the show started at 7PM so we had a quick dinner and headed over to the Garage. This was just a little niche on one side of the room, open to the rest of the casino, no walls, doors anything. It was set up with portable chairs in the middle of the room with a small table for every few chairs and leather sofas and chairs off to the sides and back. Peculiar. The stage itself was just a couple of feet high. Off to one side of the stage there was a section that was seperated by a small railing and a couple tables and another sofa up there.
Ash and I went on in, hardly anyone there so we
grabbed a table in the front row and got a drink.
Scott was on the stage fiddling with his drum kit. A
few minutes later Craig wanders out and sits on the
sofa I just mentioned and sat talking to Scott for a
minute. Then Scott gets back up to work on the drums
some more, so Craig's just sitting there kicking back.
After a brief discussion and some more whiskey (I am
painfully shy) we decide to go up and say "hi." Craig
came over to talk to us for a couple minutes and I
complimented him on the tour so far and on the diary.
(I had to ask about the fitness regime. I was curious
as to whether Craig was actually towing Wayne and Mark
while they were practising water skiing in S.F. bay.
It seemed likely, being the olympic caliber swimmer
that he is. But he says not. Then Ash and I returned to our table and let Craig get
on with his business. Shortly thereafter Wayne
wanders out and is sitting out amongst the audience
(or where there will be an audience once people show
up.) There are a couple other fans and 4 or 5 people
who appear to be guests. We wander up and say "hi" to
Wayne, but it feels like a bit of an intrusion, so we
make it very brief. He's still very nice, and talked
a little bit about the venue, according to said it's
one of the strangest places that he's played. We
thanked him for the great show in S.F. Then we let
him be...
Shortly thereafter, the soundcheck starts. (No one's
asked us to leave or anything, so we don't...) They go
through a bit of "Can't help falling in love" and
"Beyond the Pale" and another song that I can't
remember for the life of me...
After the soundcheck, Ash ran back to the room to
bring me my sketchbooks, and ran into Mike Peters on
the way back. So he got to say hello and tell Mike
what a huge fan he'd become since seeing him live last
week...
Later, I'm trying to do some sketches of the band, as
unobtrusively as possible, but it's a bit of a
disaster... Too much whiskey on board (I was expecting
the show to have started by then, after all.) So, to
cheer me up, Ash asks Craig, then Wayne, if they'd
mind if we took a picture with them. They both said
yes!! I got to talk to them both a bit more... Craig
said he thought Ash was peaking a bit early on his
buzz, since the show was a couple hours away. Wayne
came over and we shared a chair for the picture.
(Just got the film back - they look great. I look like
a giggly preteen. Which is about how I felt at the
time...) We talked with Wayne for a little while, he
was much less distracted this time and very friendly.
Even suggested we take a 2nd picture "for luck." Then
every body's goes back about their business - Scott
and Mark are both wandering around from time to time,
but I've used up just about every bit of nerve and
whiskey that I had approaching Wayne and Craig, so we
let them be.
We watch the crew for a while while they try to get
the Mission banner to hang right (they finally seemed
to give up.) Then we talked amongst our selves. Next
thing I know, I turn around and Mike Peters is one
stage and it's starting!!
THE SHOW -
Mike Peters was incredible. There is a lot larger
crowd when he played than there was at the Fillmore,
and Mike really warms up to it. I am amazed at how he
can take music that was originally written for an
electric format, especially one as hard-edged as the
Alarm's, and strip it down to a voice, a harmonica,
and an acoustic guitar, and instead of losing it's
edge it becomes even more intense and powerful. Mike
puts everything he has into every note. It's
incredible to hear andsee... (BTW, they stopped doing
a Colorsound set with Mike after the first few shows.
According to Craig, it was just too confusing having
to come out so early and then get ready for their own
respective sets.)
In the break between sets, Mike is out in the crowd
signing things, etc. Ash gets to have his picture
taken with him. The we rush back to our seats for
Gene Loves Jezabel.
We had a real Jezabel crowd there. Jay cut down on
his banter with the crowd, but the music sounded great
- a whole new level. By the end of the set, there are
so many people up dancing that I can't see any sign of
the band. Myself, I've got a bit of a headache that
I'm trying to get rid of before the Mish. I comment
to Ash that this crowd had better disperse before the
Mission comes on or there was going to be serious
bloodshed... :)
OK, so Jez is done, the crowd disperses. (Good thing
too, I'd hate to see myself trying to make good on my
threat - I'd be killed!! Seriously, I'm a wimp.) Just
a few minutes 'til the Mission. The crew is back,
fighting with the banner again. They finally do get
it in place.
I am now right in front of the stage, which as I said
is only a few feet off the ground. Just in front of
Wayne. I could reach out and touch him. Set list
-(again, this is the best recollection of a warped
memory. You'd think the fact that I could see the list
taped to the stage in front of me would have helped.
Well, maybe it did) - Beyond the Pale, Hands Across
the Ocean, Butterfly on a Wheel, [the audience was
asking for "Amelia" at this point, but Wayne said they
didn't know that one] Severina, Raising Cain, Marianne
(!!!!! - The guy next to me was asking for Sacrilige,
Wayne said we had to pick Sacrilige or Wasteland, so
while most of the rest of the crowd was shouting for
Wasteland, the same guy offered Mariann as an
alternative and the guys decided to take up the
challenge... no attempt was made at the vocals,
though! Instead of doing the traditional encore, Wayne
announces that while this is the part where they'd all
normally wander off and get a drink while we make a
lot of noise 'til they came back, but instead, he's
decided to just stick around. The rest of the band
left the stage, so it's just Wayne and his guitar (not
accoustic this time.) He does Elvis [Thank you! It was
as wonderful as I imagined!!], an attempt was made at
Dream On (they did the first verse and were waiting
for the audience to do the chorus, but we fucked it
up, so they stopped...) Like a Hurricane, Dancing
Barefoot (I think - it's all a blur again. I could be
remembering S.F.) among others, ending, of course,
with 1969.
Again, I'm not sure if I took my eyes off of Wayne for
the whole show. The really wonderful part is that
this time he kept looking back and smiling! (Hard not
to when someone's right there in your face, I imagine.
Goddess bless weird little venues!)
Another thing - I normally don't pay much attention to
the drums, but I just wanted to say that Scott is
truly unbelievable. As Ash just said, he's someone
that can restore your faith in drum solos (though he
didn't get one)!
Sigh.
AFTER SHOW - Well, there really wasn't one - for us
anyway. I bought another t-shirt and went upstair to
bed. It was almost 3 AM!!!!
Wow. I still can't believe it really happened.
Incredible show!
-Thorn
From From: UKESKIMO@aol.com
Sat. 6th. Nov. So here we are on the way to Reno , Jaymo , Mel , my
girlfriend Rachelle and yours truely all in Jaymo's 2 door sporty sedan . I
am not feeling that well , upset stomach , lack of sleep (total of 12 hrs.
sleep in 3 nights ) ,back is hurting and i think maybe i'm getting the flu ,
but i'm having fun . Just a few more hours before we get to Reno and we
mention that the inside of the car is not smelling that great , than we
relise that Jaymo has not showered in 3 days ...yukkk , we laugh as it
reminds us of the Mission tour bus and Nightrider's sneakers . 2.30pm and we
arrive at the Hilton hotel where the "Garage" is located , the site of the
gig for that night . We think we have made good time after all untill we spot
the tour bus parked up front ! We go in and as we do we see Milkey coming our
way . He tells us that the band are all here and in their rooms which have
been compted for them . I ask if we can get free rooms as well and Milkey
says he doubts it but maybe we might get discounted ones . I spend a good
40mins. trying it on with the manager who tells me not only can they not do
that but that they do not have any rooms vacant anyway . I try the old "if
the President was coming would you have a room for him" and she tells me
"yes" , i tell her that the President isn't coming so we will take that room
, my English humour is lost on her and we check in at the Travelodge across
the street . Not how ever before checking out the "Garage" which is located
inside the casino !! We all insist that the first thing to be done is make
sure Jaymo takes a shower NOW . He does and takes the car and heads back to
find out what the plan is as this is gonna be a late starting gig tonight (
The Mission go on at 12.30 am .) . The rest of us take a nap and at 5.00pm
Jaymo calls the room to tell me to get over here as we are gonna bring in the
gear now . I miss the curtesy bus and have to run a block to the Hilton , oh
i feel so much f***ing better for that!!!! Nightrider tells us to grab a
luggage cart as we have to bring it all through the casino . As we wait for
him to return a Japanise tourist asks if we can get his bags for him !!! We
pull the gear through and on to the stage and i set up the back drop which
for some reason will not hang straight . Meanwhile the word is that Dawn (
lighting ) is ill as is Jules . I go back to get the girls and return to find
that Jaymo has handed out everybodys free meal tickets and has one left with
3 meal tickets inside , the envelope is marked ' Billy Duffy ' , but Wayne
says that he is not coming so enjoy , and we do as we hear the Mish do the
sound check. We return to find the place packed out with no where left to sit
or stand , while looking around we bump into Jules who says she feels fine ,
but Dawn is not doing too good and wont be able to do lights tonight and a
'Garage' stage crew person will be doing the lights instead . We look for
Mark so as to get the camera to do the pics for the web site but cannot find
him as he staying by Dawns side untill the last moment . We sit down on the
side of the stage to watch MP and as he starts his first song the back drop
falls down , great !!! GLJ play and have the crowd on their feet . 12.25am
the Mission are about to come on when Milkey tells me Jules IS sick and can
Rachelle work the merchanise stand , i grab my camera from her and start
taking pics from behind the stage as The Mission start into their set. Nearly
every time Waynes sees me and pulls a funny face . After a couple of songs
Wayne says " I've played in some wied places but this has to be the wiedest
ever " as he looks out over the crowd in the 'Garage 'to the crowd gathered
by the slott machines . It sure is and not only that its also a free show !!!
There are quite a few Mission fans showed up for this as i go down to the
floor but again i don't see any Mishlist laminates . Wayne says to the crowd
" Is everyone well pissed up yet . Kim , you pissed up yet ? , well come on
get pissed up!!! " The set goes well and the sound is good , Wayne even
manages to get through 'Dancing Barefoot' which is Rachelle's fav' but misses
it due to the fact that she is busy selling t-shirts ,etc. ( latter is she
mad she misses it or what ?) . As tomorrow is a day off it has been decided
to break down the gear but leave it and the merchanise all here backstage and
in the dressing room , which by the way is the size of a postage stamp . I
get a line of fans together and lead them in a few at a time and i talk to
others as they wait their turn , one has even got a copy of ' Names are
for....' which he is latter well pleased that Wayne has signed for him . As
it all starts to die down i sit and talk to Jay from GLJ about various
things including the " other " GLJ with brother Mike . Before we know it the
time has got to 3.30am and some of the others are looking to go else where ,
i am beat ,sick and ready for bed and this folks is where things take a turn
for the worst on the personal realationship front ( the details of which i
will leave out , but lets just say i cant deal with stupid drunk women and
leave it at that for now ) . I leave the 'Garage 'and go back to the hotel ,
pack up my bags and check into another room getting into bed at 4.30 am . I
know that when i wake i am gonna be faced with a big problem and IT will have
a hang over and this could well be the end of the tour for us
........es KIM o
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