Post by OneVillageIdiot on Aug 13, 2010 11:18:40 GMT -5
Got to the venue around 12:30pm. Only a handful of peeps waiting outside and there was some shade. The buses rolled right by us at 1:30 and kept going, under the arena. That was it. So I sat and stood around for about 3.5 hours. During that time I had the pleasure of meeting Suzanne, one of the bus drivers for the crew. She graciously accepted an envelope with a VI shirt and an initial copy of the 8/28 Toledo party flyer to give to Arlene, the girl’s bus driver, who then put it in Crystal’s “bunk”. I never thought I would get to meet Crystal and I would eventually leave. But I was ok with that. I’ve lived in the desert for 32 years now, and was prepared to stick it out.
After a twitter barrage by some kind peeps, I see one that she is looking for “us” and before you know it there she was. Small, unassuming and dressed in black of course. Glowing with the sun on her back. She was saying how she was getting these tweets about a village idiot needing to see her yet she had been napping. She gave me a small bag with 2 guitar picks and a crystal, which I forgot I had until I found them in my pocket back at the hotel room. As I’m telling her about the 8/28 party we’re throwing in Toledo, and whatever jibberish was coming out of my mouth, she kept thanking “you guys” for all “we” have done to support her. I told her about peeps helping other peeps around her fan base, the Village Idiots helping Da Nation with the sunflower project, and she loved to hear that. During all this Paul Hanni, our fellow cyber guru, calls me and I recognized the area code so I picked it up. Told him yeah, Paul, I’m a little busy right now. Told her who it was and she said call him back, she wanted to talk to him! I obliged. She signed a couple shirts, one for the party give-away, and gave out autographs to the rest of the small crowd. Although the others were mostly there for other idols they all wanted Crystal’s autograph and picture. I left and found out later a few others came out.
Crystal is an extremely genuine and unassuming young woman, and that shows in her demeanor as she interacted with everyone. You really get a sense from being around her that fame has not changed her one bit. You are her equal when you meet. As she was departing (she was sort of blowing off her handler that kept saying it was time to go) she asked how many backstage passes I needed. I responded “20,000”. Not really. LOL.
I don’t remember the walk/run/crawl/flight back to the hotel. When I got back to my room I get this call from a young woman by the name of Crystal. I never thought about it, the party flyer has my number on it. I answered the phone “Village Idiot 1” and she asked “is this how you always answer your phone?” LOL. I was told (in different words) to get my ars back to the arena and that there were four b/s passes waiting for me at will call to pick up right away. Being giddy at the time I asked if my wife could say hello. Well that was a mistake (tehe). Crystal told my wife that she hoped my Crystalmania wasn’t damaging our marriage! From that point on I went from being “Jeff” to “Mr. Bridge”. LOL.
Well to be honest, the show was a little anti-climatic for me after my experience. All of them were good, but being there live confirms Lee and Crystal were no doubt the correct final two. Sound was great. Crystal’s voice is as pure and sweet as honey. Great stage presence and crowd interaction. But her future is in smaller amphitheatres as I see it. We were right in front of her when she sang. I gave my small Mamasox AZ license plate replica to a little girl for her to hold up. (Crystal had me autograph it later for a twitpic I guess – she took it and I want it back!). It’s amazing how 4 songs can go by so quickly! My buddy got some vid/audio and of course I have pics to share from the evening. Casey announced during his set he had signed with Sony that day. Lee was awesome.
At the M&G backstage, we got to meet most of the idols. They are all very nice young people and I made sure I told them all what a great career they had ahead of them. They do appreciate hearing that. I was ribbing Lee about some of his possible influences … Seger, Bruce, Petty. He didn’t disagree. At one point Casey was standing by himself so we chatted with him for a bit. Katie was funny, she’s the one who took my Mamasox sign away from me. I challenged big Mike to an arm-wrestle. Yes, I won. Tiny Aaron didn’t hear when I told him he was really good for being 21. His mom did!
As much as I wanted to talk more with Crystal, you cannot at these gatherings. Everyone needs to get their chance to talk with her, and out of respect for the other idols we needed to show them some lovin’ too. That was the fun part I didn’t expect. And Scott McIntyre from season 8 was there. (Note I just found out that Crystal and Didi did not come out right after the show for the unofficial M&G.)
All for now. Have a great VI day!
See my pics here.
After a twitter barrage by some kind peeps, I see one that she is looking for “us” and before you know it there she was. Small, unassuming and dressed in black of course. Glowing with the sun on her back. She was saying how she was getting these tweets about a village idiot needing to see her yet she had been napping. She gave me a small bag with 2 guitar picks and a crystal, which I forgot I had until I found them in my pocket back at the hotel room. As I’m telling her about the 8/28 party we’re throwing in Toledo, and whatever jibberish was coming out of my mouth, she kept thanking “you guys” for all “we” have done to support her. I told her about peeps helping other peeps around her fan base, the Village Idiots helping Da Nation with the sunflower project, and she loved to hear that. During all this Paul Hanni, our fellow cyber guru, calls me and I recognized the area code so I picked it up. Told him yeah, Paul, I’m a little busy right now. Told her who it was and she said call him back, she wanted to talk to him! I obliged. She signed a couple shirts, one for the party give-away, and gave out autographs to the rest of the small crowd. Although the others were mostly there for other idols they all wanted Crystal’s autograph and picture. I left and found out later a few others came out.
Crystal is an extremely genuine and unassuming young woman, and that shows in her demeanor as she interacted with everyone. You really get a sense from being around her that fame has not changed her one bit. You are her equal when you meet. As she was departing (she was sort of blowing off her handler that kept saying it was time to go) she asked how many backstage passes I needed. I responded “20,000”. Not really. LOL.
I don’t remember the walk/run/crawl/flight back to the hotel. When I got back to my room I get this call from a young woman by the name of Crystal. I never thought about it, the party flyer has my number on it. I answered the phone “Village Idiot 1” and she asked “is this how you always answer your phone?” LOL. I was told (in different words) to get my ars back to the arena and that there were four b/s passes waiting for me at will call to pick up right away. Being giddy at the time I asked if my wife could say hello. Well that was a mistake (tehe). Crystal told my wife that she hoped my Crystalmania wasn’t damaging our marriage! From that point on I went from being “Jeff” to “Mr. Bridge”. LOL.
Well to be honest, the show was a little anti-climatic for me after my experience. All of them were good, but being there live confirms Lee and Crystal were no doubt the correct final two. Sound was great. Crystal’s voice is as pure and sweet as honey. Great stage presence and crowd interaction. But her future is in smaller amphitheatres as I see it. We were right in front of her when she sang. I gave my small Mamasox AZ license plate replica to a little girl for her to hold up. (Crystal had me autograph it later for a twitpic I guess – she took it and I want it back!). It’s amazing how 4 songs can go by so quickly! My buddy got some vid/audio and of course I have pics to share from the evening. Casey announced during his set he had signed with Sony that day. Lee was awesome.
At the M&G backstage, we got to meet most of the idols. They are all very nice young people and I made sure I told them all what a great career they had ahead of them. They do appreciate hearing that. I was ribbing Lee about some of his possible influences … Seger, Bruce, Petty. He didn’t disagree. At one point Casey was standing by himself so we chatted with him for a bit. Katie was funny, she’s the one who took my Mamasox sign away from me. I challenged big Mike to an arm-wrestle. Yes, I won. Tiny Aaron didn’t hear when I told him he was really good for being 21. His mom did!
As much as I wanted to talk more with Crystal, you cannot at these gatherings. Everyone needs to get their chance to talk with her, and out of respect for the other idols we needed to show them some lovin’ too. That was the fun part I didn’t expect. And Scott McIntyre from season 8 was there. (Note I just found out that Crystal and Didi did not come out right after the show for the unofficial M&G.)
All for now. Have a great VI day!
See my pics here.
Just kidding. Absolutely fantastic review, Jeff.