When I bought my general admission lawn tickets to the Dan Fogelberg concert at the Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville scheduled for July 28, I knew that I could not get to the winery that is about halfway up the Napa Valley for the 5 p.m. gate opening. I had a commitment with friends and family during the afternoon, but I knew that we could get away with leaving early enough to get there around 5:30, if all went well. In case all did not go well, I was wondering about whether there would be a problem getting a place to sit if we got there closer to the 7 p.m. show time, or even after. I called the winery, and confirmed that there was an opening act, and that Dan would go on sometime around 8. I also asked how crowded it was at a sold-out event like the Dan concert in case I showed up after most everybody had gotten there, whether there would be room on the lawn. I was told, "Oh, there's room."

Just to keep life interesting, my wife did not know we were going to go to the concert or go away for the evening until the last possible time. She knew something was going on, because I had blocked out Sunday afternoon on the calendar without any indication of what it was, but when she had inquired, and I asked whether she wanted details or preferred mystery, she said she it was OK that she be informed on a need to know basis. I had to prepare the kids so it wouldn't be a surprise to them at the last second. I told the six-year old on Thursday, and he did a great job of keeping a secret. I knew I had to tell my wife by Friday night so she could pack her own stuff, but also crucial that I get the kids mostly packed by then so she wouldn't worry about it. So, around the time I had all the kids stuff packed for one night at grandma and grandpa's, I told the three-year old that his mom and I would be leaving the next day's event a little early, and that he and his brother would be going to his grandma and grandpa's house for one night. I figured I'd tell my wife shortly thereafter that we were going away for the night and what she needed to bring, but I thought I'd see how long it took the three-year old to give away the secret. The answer was, not long, because by the time I told my wife about a half hour later, she knew that the kids were spending the next night at grandma and grandpa's (but no other details).

The Saturday afternoon of the concert, we left our event a little early, leaving the kids with grandma and grandpa, and the six-year old was pretty proud of how well he had kept the secret (he actually even knew some details, as opposed to his brother who only knew we were going away for a night). Things started badly, with some brief bad traffic in an unexpected spot. Then, there was some lengthy bad traffic in an unexpected spot, which caused a delay of about a half hour. I knew then that even if we hurried to check in to our lodging for the night, we would still probably not get to the concert before 6 p.m.

At about 5:55, we pulled into the parking lot at Mondavi. My wife had suspected that we might be going to an outdoor concert, because I had told here that she should have clothes for spending the evening outdoors. As we waited to turn left into the parking lot, she had enough time to read the Summer Festival sign, find the July 28 date, and see through the "Sold Out" lettering whom we were seeing. She was pleasantly surprised with what we were doing. With the parking lot pretty full, we got a great spot for getting out, right on the main driveway headed out not far from the exit.

After going in the entrance (which was immediately behind the stage that was set up), it looked pretty crowded. I still assumed that there would be some lawn space we could find an hour before show time, especially since I had been told, "Oh, there's room." Well, there wasn't. Pretty much every lawn space from where you could see the stage at all was taken, including some places with partially obstructed views. I had brought pads that unfold so that you can have a seat back while sitting on the ground, and we had a small backpack and a small cooler with the picnic dinner I had brought, so we didn't really need any more space that what we could sit in, but unless we wanted to go behind a building where you really couldn't see the stage, there was no real room. So, I had to dig back in my memory to the old days when I used to go to a lot of concerts with festival seating and create space that wasn't there. I wandered over and on blankets, chairs, and people, and went in and found a small patch of lawn about 60% of the way back from the stage in the main lawn area, right in the middle. I mean right in the middle. In fact, I pretty much ended up sitting on the cord that ran from the control panel to the stage. This was not like being in the first row, but it is such a small venue that you were not very far away no matter where you were. I waived my wife to come one in, and we settled in there, and only had the minor concern of how much the people in the seats in front of us would block our view, but we had enough room to enjoy our picnic dinner. I knew that we would not be able to see Dan's hands on the piano keys, but it looked like the only way you could see those was maybe if you were pretty far to the left in the grass area and not too far back. We were pretty surprised at how crowded it was an hour before show time, with people still coming in. It certainly seemed like they tried to fit in too many people into that small area, considering that people would spread out on the lawn. And let us say that I pretty much felt that the "Oh, there's room" statement was false.

A few words about the Mondavi Summer Festival. The Mondavis started it as a benefit for the Napa Valley Symphony. It tends to be more jazz oriented, and outside of Michael McDonald, who will be a small part of a jazz oriented bill in the last concert next Saturday, none of the artists outside of Dan playing at Mondavi this summer have come close to touching Billboard's top 40, and most people on this board have probably heard of none of them (certainly, I haven't heard of any of them). But a lot of people like to come out and enjoy an evening picnicking at the winery, drinking a lot of wine, and then hearing some background music they know little about, and even though the conditions are quite crowded, a lot of people seem to be willing to spend good money to do this. This evening for many was no different, which we would discover to our dismay as the evening wore on, which I will go into after I go through Dan's concert.

I climbed back over and on blankets, chairs, and people, bought a bottle of chilled wine to go with the picnic dinner I had brought, climbed back over and on blankets, chairs, and people to our spot, and we enjoyed our picnic while waiting for the show to start. Finally at 7 p.m., Robert Mondavi and his wife came on to introduce the show. Robert indicated that he was pleased that Dan agreed to play, and his wife said she was very pleased, and that she had been a fan of Dan for 25 years.

Mrs. Mondavi said that there would be an opening act, because Dan Fogelberg doesn't want to have an intermission (all the Mondavi Summer Festival Concerts have an intermission where they have wine and cheese available for tasting). She introduced the opening act, Roberta Donne. After her first song, Roberta acknowledged that she sings "Angry Chick" music, although she (I think jokingly) denies being an angry chick. She says that she writes music instead of going to therapy, but let's just say it seems like therapy might not be a bad idea anyway. At some point during her set, she talked about how great it was to be opening for Dan, then said that she was going to go home with Dan after the show, that was part of the job, she would get paid for it. I assume she got some negative reaction from the front, because she did say with a slightly resentful tone, "C'mon, I'm only kidding."

Life as an opening act is tough. I'll never forget what a great performance I saw T-Bone Burnett give once, but unfortunately, he was opening for The Who, and the crowd was restless and not very kind. As much of the crowd was talking and moving about during the opening act, I assumed (or maybe hoped) that none of this would exist during Dan's performance. My wife and I talked about how tough it is to perform when so few people are paying attention. I told her about my friend who had a really lousy experience at a gig in the Midwest this summer, where he played someplace full of students who just wanted to do homework on their laptops, but he wrote a really good song about the experience that was well received at subsequent performances. Roberta lasted about a half an hour, and she was done, it was time for intermission, climbing over and onto blankets, people, chairs, etc., to leave the grassy area, and go to the restrooms, and go taste some wine and eat some cheese (the salsa jack was the best cheese). When, before the concert started, I told my wife that there was free wine and cheese tasting at intermission, she thought it would be too crowded to get to any, but that was incorrect. A lot of people just stayed in their lawn spots during intermission (indeed, it was not easy to get out from anywhere near the middle), and not a lot of people wandered over to the room where they had wines available for tasting. And in addition to the cheese in the room where tasting was, people were carrying cheese platters around the grounds.

Shortly before 8 p.m., Mrs. Mondavi came back out and told us it was time to go sit back down, because Dan was coming out. My wife and I climbed back over and on blankets, chairs, and people, and got back to our spot. And then, about 8:05 p.m., those words came over the speakers, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Please Welcome Dan Fogelberg."

Dan came out, looking a little trimmer and fitter than he looked last year, sat in his wooden chair, and went straight into Nexus. After he was done, he said how great it was to be back in Northern California (he was right of course, it is great to be in Northern California). He thanked the Mondavis for inviting him to play, said he had been drinking their wine for years, and said it was great to be doing a concert that would help the "Napa Philharmonic." OK, so it's really the "Napa Valley Symphony," but who am I to correct Dan. He then played "Go Down Easy." After that, he commented on what a nice place it was, and how great the sound was for a vineyard. He said he had never performed at a vineyard, (pause) at least not music. He generally seemed to be in pretty good spirits, and in pretty decent voice (although not great, but I don't know if he is ever in great voice anymore). The quality of his voice was a little up and down through the evening, but it was mostly quite full of energy. Next up was "Hard to Say."

After that, he told us that this was his last concert before he hits the "Big 5-0." He said he hadn't really thought about it until recently, and it is horrifying. If I heard him right, he said "If Dad ever told me I'd live past 30, I wouldn't have believed him." He said he hoped he has some of his mother's genes. He said his grandmother is 107, and his mother is 80. He said that if he has a sex change operation, he might live forever. He got a pretty good reaction from the crowd on that one, and he responded by saying the price of immortality is high.

He then went into his introduction for "Forefathers," and asked how many people in the crowd have children. When about a dozen hands went up, he jokingly expressed his disbelief. He went on to ask how many had grandchildren, and when he got a better reaction, he said that the grandparents are willing to own up to it.

After "Forefathers," he moved for the first time to the piano. He played "Beggar's Game." He then did his introduction for "Paris Nocturne." He said he had written the song in the '70's. He said he thought it was Robin Williams who said, "If you remember the '60's, you weren't there," and he said he always felt that way about the '70's. And the '80's. He said it is starting to come back to him, but through flashbacks, so he isn't sure if it is then or now. He then said he wrote "Paris Nocturne" to be in the style of a composer of some note, Frederick Chopin. When there was little reaction, he said, well, a composer of note in some parts.

Anyway, he played "Paris Nocturne," and since it is a piece I like to play, I know it well, and was very interested to hear how he played it as a solo, especially as contrasted with how it is written in "Complete Songs Vol. 1." It was interesting that in some places he added a little more color, in a few places, he added a little less. In one spot, he messed up slightly. That's what he gets for playing a piece I know so well, I can really tell that he messed up slightly. My wife noticed too, but maybe just because she has heard me play it enough. Nonetheless, it was very enjoyable to hear Dan play it. One thing that startled me a little was that after playing the last chord as written and as played on the "Twin Sons" album, and in fact, the crowd started to cheer, he added a low F. Even though it isn't written with a low F in "Complete Songs Vol. 1" nor is it played with a low F at the end on "Twin Sons," I often like to play it with a low F at the end. I have wondered whether it is too cliché, but playing it as a piano solo (as opposed to the fuller instrumental on the recording), it just sounds better to me with it, so I usually play it. And now, I find that Dan plays it, too. At least he did Saturday night. Gee, maybe my musical sensibilities aren't too bad. Or else maybe Dan and I are both screwed up in the same way. Just from a personal standpoint, the low F may have been the highlight of my evening, and it probably had no meaningful effect on anyone else in the audience.

Dan then did "Don't Lose Heart." My wife really liked that song, she had never heard it before, as, I must admit, I do not own "Portrait." Maybe I have to go get it now. I have listened to that song on the Internet, but I do not own it on anything. I guess I'll have to fix that.

Dan then moved back to the guitar for "Make Love Stay." He did his old line about how it may be the only song in the English language that contains the word "exhumed." Then when he got to the word for the first time, and the crowd gave a big cheer, he stopped playing, said, "Thank you," the lights guy turned down the lights as though he were done, and Dan took a sip of tea. At least some of the crowd knew the song well enough to know it was not over, and were finding it pretty funny. He then resumed the song. The next time he got to the word exhumed, he did not sing the word, but paused briefly (perhaps with some members of the audience up front filling it in, but we could not hear from where we were), and then moved on. He was in quite a jovial mood with all of this.

Then after finishing the song, he talked about it being a hard summer with the passing of a couple of guitar legends. He talked about John Lee Hooker. Among other things, he talked about how great it is and how lucky we are that he kept playing into his early 80's (this is not the talk of a man planning to retire at 50), and how nice it was that he was more well known at the end of his life than he had ever been, and was finally making some money. He talked about how at some of the places he played in the Midwest, John Lee Hooker had been booked to play. He talked about how indebted we are to Bonnie Raitt for bringing John Lee Hooker into the spotlight. (Personal aside - I am personally indebted to George Thorogood for making me familiar with John Lee Hooker. Back before Bonnie Raitt brought John Lee Hooker into the spotlight, I went to a couple of different George Thorogood concerts where he had John Lee Hooker join him onstage to play a little while. It was great.) Anyway, Dan dedicated "Road Beneath My Wheels" to John Lee Hooker, and continued straight into his lengthy John Lee Hooker riff at the end. The crowd that was into the concert (see further comments below) really got into this pretty well.

Dan played Lazy Susan, and then dedicated Buckaroo's Midnight Ramble to Chet Atkins. On another personal note, both Chet and John Lee Hooker are people I had been with my wife to see perform, as we had been together at the Thorogood concerts in the 80's (before we were dating), and had seen Chet Atkins in concert after we were married.

Then it was time for less banter, and the big hits. "Run For the Roses" was next from the piano. Then "Morning Sky." OK, that isn't one of the big hits, but he always seems to stick it in here anyway. Then a lot of tuning and his "We tune because we care" line before "Longer." Then "Leader of the Band." Then he bid us goodnight and told us to drive carefully and tip our waitresses before going into "Part of the Plan."

I was a little disappointed at this point, because he was clearly doing his last song before the encore, I figured he would only do one encore, and I figured he would not leave out "Same Old Lang Syne." I really wanted to hear "Along the Road," and thought the concert would have a better spiritual end with that song. As I suspected, he came back out and sat at the piano for "Same Old Lang Syne." To a standing ovation from a fair number in the crowd, he waived goodbye, and left. I was not holding my breath for him to come back, and indeed, there were a lot of people leaving. I was bent over to gather some stuff together when my wife said, "He's back." Good. He gave a sincere thank you to his crew for their help on the tour, and sounded like a man who really thought he had a good time on this tour. And said he was going to give us a traveling prayer, "Along the Road." Most people in front of us sat down for it, but a few people close by in front of us did not, which is good, because I was not going to, either. My wife and I just stood and listened with our arms around each other as he played the song standing up (the first time all night he had not been sitting down to play the guitar). And when he was done, he said he'd see us around next time (again, not a man sounding like he is about to retire), waived goodbye, and left the stage for the last time around 9:50, a good hour and forty-five minutes after he started.

My wife did not know in advance what songs Dan was likely to play, like I did from reading set lists and reviews at EO. She was a little disappointed that she did not get more variety from the concert in Reno we saw last summer, whereas I got what I expected. We had the same number of songs as Reno, with only four different songs -- we got "Go Down Easy," "Paris Nocturne," "Don't Lose Heart," and "Along the Road," which we didn't get last summer, leaving out only "To the Morning," "Over and Over," "Mule Dance," and "The Reach" from last summer. Not a bad trade off, but a little more variety would be even better, and even if he is going to do all of his hits, he could have more variety among the other songs. Buckaroo's Midnight Ramble two years in a row?

Dan's performance and mood were great. It was a very good concert. Watching the performance from that venue, however, at least from a spot that was not right up front, left something to be desired. As I say, it was quite crowded. That was not a big deal. The crowd was doing a lot of talking and moving around and ignoring the artist during the opening, but that is to be expected.

What I did not expect was to have it continue while Dan played. There was far too much of a constant buzz in the crowd, especially during the quieter songs. People were moving around a lot, which didn't help. When Dan was playing the guitar, most of the time we could see OK, but with people moving around a lot, we would occasionally lose our good sight lanes. If Dan had been standing up, it would have been fine. Or if his chair had been on a platform about 3 feet higher, it would have been fine. Instead, it was a minor annoyance when he was playing the guitar to make sure we could see. Our view of the piano was fine. And at least we weren't behind a building like some people.

I'm sure it did not help that there was a huge percentage of the crowd who were there to picnic in the beautiful, if crowded, setting and hear whatever background music they were going to get. During the opening act, a group of four immediately to our right were talking about who on earth Dan Fogelberg is. One of them said, "Didn't he do a song about his father who had a band? I can't remember the name of that song, but I liked it." "Yeah, I think that's right."

Of course, there is nothing wrong with people being at a concert where they don't know much of anything about the artist, so long as they pay attention. But as the evening wore on and more people who didn't really care about Dan got more and more wine in their systems, and things got pretty bad, at least in the back two-thirds of the crowd. Things were probably at their worst during "Longer" and "Leader of the Band," a couple of quiet songs, where the sounds of talking, and the loud sounds of laughing from a group lost in their drunken reverie really detracted from our enjoyment of the songs, and sort of wrecked the mood of the songs. The worst group had a couple of people who would shout that they loved Dan, but they didn't exactly pay attention during the songs, and made things bad for others, especially with really loud laughter during "Leader of the Band." And this was all clearly not going on just in our immediate area, this was the case throughout the rear two-thirds of the crowd. In fact, there were some people who left well before the first encore. Heck, it was just background music for their picnic, so why not leave early?

My biggest hope is that none of this was going on towards the front, and that Dan either did not notice, or was easily able to ignore it. On the whole, this venue is, in my opinion, not the ideal way to see Dan. I would like someday to just see him in concert where everyone is there to see Dan (whether they are familiar with him or not), rather than there because he is the entertainment for the night at the casino and they are high rollers who get good seats for free and can be obnoxiously drunk during the concert, or because they like spending $70.00 to go sit in a crowded lawn to picnic and get drunk and hear background music. Probably the people up front were the ones who got there well before the gates opened and really wanted to see Dan, not just picnic with background music, and since the early bird really can sit up right next to the stage, maybe it is a great place to go if you get there early enough to be up front and can't hear all the talking and laughing going on during the concert, and be distracted by all the moving around. But (unless maybe you are up front), it is no place to go enjoy a concert in peace.

On a more positive note, it really was a beautiful setting for a concert. We were lucky because the temperatures around here are quite well below normal right now, which means that while the sun was up, it was warm on the grass but not uncomfortably hot like it would normally be at this time of year. I really loved when it was twilight and as Dan was playing, I think, "Run for the Roses," two geese flew together which, from our vantage point, were just above the sightline of the top of the stage. As it got later in the concert, the stars came out and the waxing moon got brighter, and the cool breezes were upon us. It would have been wonderful to listen to those slow beautiful songs in that setting if I could have completely shut out the buzz of others talking and the obnoxious drunken reverie nearby.

For the most part, though, we were able to ignore the negatives, and focus on what a good concert it was, and it was a good concert, we had a good time, and my wife and I are both glad we went. We got into the car in our good parking spot and drove off, ending our Oakville Experience.

Bob T.