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TAYLOR HICKS CONCERT
AMERISTAR CASINO, ST. CHARLES, MO
BOTTLENECK BLUES BAR
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21ST, 2007 @ 7:30pm
I GOT TO MEET TAYLOR!
**A DREAM COME TRUE**
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Ok, so as most, if not all, of you know I
am a HUGE Taylor Hicks fan, I absolutely adore him! So when I found out
that one of his stops on his US tour was right in my backyard I just knew I had
to go and see him perform. I met some new friends that were also
"Hicks Chicks" as we like to call ourselves and set our strategy plan for the
day of the concert. Since it was General Admission seating, it was
basically first come, first serve as to where you sat. We were all
determined to get great seats, so we made a plan to meet at 2:30 and get in
line. I know, crazy to get in line that early for a concert that didn't
start until 7:30 but the things you do for love....haha. At 2:30, believe
it or not, there were already a few people in line. Shortly after we heard
word that Taylor's tour bus had just gotten there so we jumped out of line and
ran to the valet doors. Lucky for us, my friends husband was our "line
holder" - bless his heart. We got outside to see many other people waiting
as well, for our beloved Taylor to get off the bus. It wasn't long and the
door opened and off stepped Taylor....in disguise with a hat on. We all
screamed his name and he turned around and waved to us all and off he went, into
the "secret" door. After coming back inside to the line, my Mother
soon joined us in the line and a few hours later the line was all the way around
the casino. They opened the doors at 6:30 to get people seated and when we
got inside we went to the second row from the stage, only for me to see ONE last
seat on the end empty in the front row, so I grabbed it before anyone else could
get it - It must have been meant for me :) After I sat down I was in awe
of how close I was to the stage, you could literally reach out and touch
Taylor....which I did later on:)
The show started just about right on time, the band members came on first and
then....Taylor walked on stage....when he came out and I could see him as clear
as day because he was so close; I really think I stopped breathing for a few
minutes, it was un-be-liev-able. The concert was fantastic, Taylor had so
much energy and had everybody up dancing along with him, he really knows how to
put on a show! Close to the end of his song "The Runaround" he walked to
the end of the stage where I was sitting and my instinct was to stick out my
hand and he didn't just slap it, he grabbed it and held it for a few seconds
before jumping up on a box and then getting back on stage. And yes,
I did freak out!! I guess the other fans saw me do it so next thing you
know, everyone in the front was sticking out their hands hoping to get Taylor's
touch! After Taylor's encore and the show was over, we hung around for a
few minutes and got to meet one of Taylor's road crew who came over to talk to
us. He took one of the play lists that was taped to the floor and gave it
to me, tape still on it. Of course my Mom and my friend Barb wanted one
too so he found some extra's and they each got one too. Then I got
determined to get something of Taylor's so I asked him for Taylor's water
bottle. He asked me which one was his and I told him and he went and got
it for me. Taylor used the top of one of the amps all night for his water
bottles, sweat towel and tambourine so I knew it was his! I told my Mom
that she had to ask for his sweat towel and by this time a ton of other women
saw us getting stuff so they came over and tried to get stuff too and when my
Mom asked for his sweat towel, the girls were so jealous and said they wanted it
but he told them since my Mom asked for it first, she got it, so he gave it to
her. Needless to say after one look she turned around and gave me his
towel....oh BOY, were all those girls mad. I just laughed and said "too
bad, so sad - you snooze, you lose"! We talked to the guy a little more
then left the Bottleneck Blues Bar.
NOW FOR THE BEST PART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So after we left the bar we didn't want to go home yet, so we
decided to go to this martini bar/restaurant inside the casino called "King Kats
Club" to have a drink or two before going home. We got there and luckily
there weren't that many people inside so we grabbed a table & ordered drinks.
The news came on their TV's and we watched Taylor being interviewed and them
showing clips of the concert - I was on the news twice, or atleast the back of
my head was....lol
Next thing I know, in walks Loren and Felix, Taylor's keyboardist and drummer.
The order a drink and start talking to some of the people in the bar.
Loren came over to our table & started talking to us and we were asking him how
he got to get in with Taylor's band (he wrote the song The Runaround & sent it
to Taylor) and all that good stuff (including my Mom
telling him she'd love Taylor for a son-in-law!). I asked him if I could
get his autograph on my play list since I wasn't going to be able to get
Taylor's and he happily obliged. Barb had one last picture on her camera
so she asked him if we could get a picture with him since we had no hope of
getting on with Taylor and he happily obliged. We talked to him a little more and left
him to go talk to other people. After about 45min -1 hour we were
finishing our last drink and were just hanging out and talking (they had called
last call and shut the doors to the bar/restaurant) and the next thing you know
I heard some people coming in and I looked up to see my beloved Taylor walking
in with his guitarists, back up singer, sax player, other staff, and bodyguard I
presume. I literally almost fell out of my chair as I put my hand up to my
mouth (that had already dropped to the floor!). They were escorting them
all to a private room and when he walked by he said hi to us and asked if we
enjoyed the show, I literally stopped breathing....yet again. At this
point I am SOOO mad I didn't have my digital camera with me (I didn't take it
with me because people were saying they would confiscate cameras, so Barb & I
brought a disposable one that way if they took it away it was no big deal) and
all my disposable pictures were long gone. I asked one of his staff if he
was signing autographs and he said not right now because they were there to eat
dinner. So we hung out for what seemed like hours (everyone else had left
already, we were the only ones in the bar) when we were told Taylor was getting
ready to leave, so the bartender told us which way to go and he said Taylor
would be standing right there. We grabbed our stuff and started walking
and right when I got to where I could hear Taylor talking my nerves got the best
of me and I said I couldn't be the one that went first! My mom said she'd go first and I was
praying I'd have enough courage to talk to him when I finally got to meet him.
After my Mom met him and got his autograph it was my turn.....I walked up to him
and he said "hi, how are you" and surprisingly I found my courage & my voice and
was able to talk to him - AHHH!!!! I told him that we didn't want to
bother him, we just really wanted to meet him and get his autograph and he thanked me
and told me he really appreciated that (he had some girls bothering him earlier
while he was trying to eat). I think he really appreciated the fact that
we just wanted an autograph and didn't want to bother him like the other girls.
He asked if we were coming back tomorrow night (he was playing again Thursday
night) and I said no, we couldn't get tickets and he said "Oh, that's too bad"
and I said "Yeah I know but I really enjoyed seeing you perform tonight and you did a
fantastic job" and he smiled and thanked me. All I could do was stare at
him while he was talking to me and signing my song list and CD cover. I
can only think of one word to describe him in person....Breathtaking. Poor
Barb couldn't talk to him, she just handed him her song list to sign and boy oh
boy is she kicking herself in the you-know-what now for not being able to talk
to him. I am quite proud of myself, I really didn't think I could talk to
him but I knew it was my only chance ever. He is such a beautiful, sweet
and down-to-earth person and couldn't have been nicer.
Needless to say, I left there on cloud nine and I think I will
be pinching myself every day to make sure it wasn't a dream and that I really
did get to meet Taylor, talk to him and get his autograph. I must say, this
was the BEST experience I have ever had in my life and I will forever remember
it in my heart.
PICTURES I TOOK AT THE CONCERT & AFTER:
Me, Barb & Loren Gold - Taylor's Keyboardist
www.lorengold.com
Oh my GOD, he is so beautiful!
:-)
Taylor's Tour Bus (bad picture, but it's maroon & silver)
My "Taylor" Memento's - his water bottle, sweat towel, concert
ticket & autographed song list & CD
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