Sold Out Waukegan Show

Just got home from another excellent BSO adventure. I knew it was going to be a good night when we pulled into our hotel behind two of the band tour buses. We got to say hello to most of the orchestra guys (and Miss Leslie) before they left.

The Mighty Blue Kings opened the show and they were terrific. Ross got the crowd revved up and ready.

The band opened with Batman and maybe it was just me, but it sounded like they were singing "Beth Ann, Beth Ann, Beth Ann" and I'm going with that. I took the time to do the administrative task of writing the setlist because it seems important to a lot of you so here it is. They cut out The Man with the Bag and Gimme Some Rhythm from the night before, but it was still a most thorough show.

Batman
Dig That Crazy Christmas
Sleigh Ride
This Cat's on a Hot Tin Roof
Bogie Woogie Santa Claus
Sexy and 17
Stray Cat Strut to Mr. Grinch
Trouble Train
Pipe Line
Honey Man
Angels We Have Heard on High
Lonely Avenue
Run Rudolph Run (Trio)
Jingle Bell Rock (Trio and Vixens)
Blue Christmas (Trio and Vixens)
Mr. Jazzer (Trio)
Fishnet Stockings (Trio)
Rock This Town (Trio to Orchestra)
The Nutcracker Suite
Jump Jive and Wail
Gettin' In the Mood (for Christmas)
Jingle Bells

Brian looked GREAT (I have two pictures to post when I figure it out) and it was casual Saturday for the band. They got to wear their bowling shirts with the black jackets. Towards the end they had on their leopard print jackets. The crowd was very excited and the dance floor was mobbed with fans. It was ALL good!

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Thanks BethAnn! Did Brian use his new white gretsch guitar?

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There it is.

Hey BethAnn,

Thanks for the review! I'm curious to how the dance floor worked out. Were there actually couples dancing, or was it just jammed packed with fans who rushed the stage?

When we saw them at Oneida a couple of years back, they had a dance floor there. Brian invited everyone up to the dance floor, and pretty soon it was a mass of fans crowding the stage. I felt bad (for a little bit) for the people who paid good money to sit in the front row. All they got was a nice backside view of a bunch of crazy folks. We've seen the BSO up there since then, and there hasn't been a dance floor since.

So, after that long-winded explanation of why I'm asking....I look forward to hearing what it was like for you.

Take care,
hrg

BethAnn wrote:

I took the time to do the administrative task of writing the setlist because it seems important to a lot of you so here it is. They cut out The Man with the Bag and Gimme Some Rhythm from the night before....

Thank you BethAnn! Your taking the time to write down the setlist is very much appreciated.

I was wondering if any songs would be dropped from the opening night's set. Here's hoping they down pare it down any more than those two. I noticed the sequencing of the set was adjusted slightly as well.

And your photos are great - nice job!

We got second row seats from the box office a few months ago and the guy repeatedly asked me if I was okay with obstructed view and offered me "better" seats further back. I assured him that second row, aisle was just what I wanted, thanks. Only a handful of people were up front during the Mighty Blue Kings, but as soon as their set ended, the crowd surged to the floor. Being a seasoned Christmas show fan, I made sure to get up there quick and was right in front. There was no room for dancing because it was so packed and the floor wasn't small, but it wasn't big. Even the people that tried to bop around in place were banging into others. Sure hope no one had the swine flu!

RMC, you're welcome for the setlist. They wouldn't let you bring beer into the theatre so my hands were free!

It is kinda tough to write with a drink in your hand! More than once I tried writing down a setlist in the pit with a plastic beer cup held by my teeth while getting jostled on all sides by the enthusiastic crowd, spilling beer all over myself in the process. But it was always worth it.

I forgot to ask - was there one four-song encore, or two two-song encores?

Thanks.

One four-song encore, ending with snow coming down.

PIPELINE?!?!?! i wanna hear that!!! and god i love that red hotrod hes got. mmmm. is that even a hot rod? or like some early version? cuz its got the punched out tone switcher and i thought they just came with a pickup selector?

Thanks for the review & setlist !