I thought I'd share the "show review" I submitted over on the AiC web-site here. I'm sure most of you also spend lots of time over there, but since it takes a few weeks for them to decide whether to post these things, you'll see it here first. This is also a longer version. I had to stay within the 400-word mark for that review, but decided to add a little more detail here.
"There are some things that one hesitates to bring down into words. Words change an idea by definitions too precise, meanings too hung about with the references of every day." (Mary Stewart: The Hollow Hills) Here is my humble attempt:
"Oh my," she breathed as they walked out on stage. Momentarilly transfixed, wholly focused on Jerry as he began to play. A trance seemed to be breaking as she became aware of the fact that her body was moving in sync with the music she was feeling. Had she been screaming? She was definitely singing along now. Yes -- delicious excitement overflowed as her brain clicked back into place and she realized, consciously, what she was hearing: "Hey, turn me upside down........"
"Oh my"... its all that can really be said. She had been a fan since the beginning, but allowed life's fateful twists to keep her removed for years, only catching chance moments of the sound she loved on the car radio. She had never seen them live. Though lavishing herself with every bit of recorded material she could lay hands on for the last year, she had yet to hear William sing. This show approached with confused anticipation. No one could ever replace Layne. What if .... No, the thoughts would not be allowed to form.
It was a glorious day. Her son will be 18 on the 29th. This was all part of his birthday present. Mutual appreciation of music had become an increasingly strong bond between them over the last year. He is turning into a young adult whom she likes very much, and she would give him the world if she could. His best friend was visiting. Neither of them had been to a concert before. Megadeth was in town the same night that AiC was at the Gorge. She couldn't make him chose. She paid for it all, and agreed to drive the 6 hrs to Portland so they could see both.
They arrived early, so had plenty of time to buy their shirts and take in the beautiful setting. The seats they had been given by purchasing tickets through aic.com were excellent! Relaxed conversation was struck up with the woman seated in front of her. What a friendly, delightful person. This continued in spontaneous shouted bursts as thoughts, questions and moments of uncontainable emotion popped up throughout the show. It was as if she had also come with a friend.
What an amazing experience! All insecurity banished instantly. William's voice is enough like Layne's for the songs to sound "right", yet different and distinctly him: excellent. Jerry, Mike and Sean were even better than could be imagined. She felt the music from the inside out, acutely aware of every bone and muscle vibrating with the sound. The drums and bass kept her body moving of its own accord: nonstop, clothes and hair dampening with sweat. The absolute awe inspired by Jerry's guitar and vocals was almost overwhelming: delighted to the point of pain, at times unable to breathe and nearly brought to her knees.
The last note was still resounding through the amphitheater as Jerry started to pull his guitar over his head.
"Nnoooo...", she screamed. "Don't stop." The woman in front of her turned and met her eyes with a look of such complete sympathy, she knew: the dreaded inevitable must be happening. Indeed -- Jerry had walked off the stage, Mike said something about T-shirts, and Sean was throwing stuff to the crowd.
Still she pleaded: "It's not over." -- but the woman slowly nodded -- "they're not coming back out?" -- a slight shake of the head. The imploring desperation turned to utter sadness as reality sank in. She knew there was no mistake, for this woman was their business manager.
"...on a placid island...in the midst of black seas of infinity..." H.P. Lovecraft