Dan Fogelberg ~ Reviews by Cindy Tour 2002 ~ Ever On

Started with a tour to Michigan with my husband and my mom. A little too many orange cones, felt like Pittsburgh! From my previous trips meeting Sue, she invited us to her house for some wonderful Mexican. Then she pulled out her guitar and her son pulled up at the piano and we all sang Run for the Roses. It became this great night of all of our kids taking turns on the piano, playing their hearts out. Then we were treated to a drum set by her 2 oldest sons. Wow what a great family she has. The next day Sue picked me up at the hotel and we accompanied her to the "pre-show" waiting for her to meet Dan. As you know she did. I've never seen anyone flying so high as her afterwards. The show was really on - set lists have been previously listed. My only complaint is that Ticketmaster keeps selling the side seats first - what's up with that?
We all enjoyed the show at Meadowbrook and went out to eat afterward, laughing and talking over the details.
My family and I then ventured over to Cleveland. We went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - do we think we can ever get Dan in there? Cool place if you've never been there - really will take you back through your life...
My husband (of 20 years that very week) and I went to the Cleveland show. First time he's seen Dan for several years. We both enjoyed the show along with Cindy Bullens (visit her site). Just had these lousy side seats again. His set was shorter, but it was fun sharing it with my husband to show him how Dan's talent along with those other fantastic musicians still rock. His voice gets better every year - aging like a fine wine. We rounded out our Cleveland trip with a trip to the Science Center which is definately worth it. They had artifacts recovered from the Titanic - watch for that exhibit to come to your town.
After a week home, I began my solo western adventure. I flew to Denver and spent the afternoon at Red Rocks watching them set up. You really have to give this road crew credit - they have an incredibly LONG day every show setting up and breaking down. I saw that this show there would be reserved seating in the front and I had second row - oh yeah - still off to the side, but so close... I got dressed in my traditional Wild Places shirt from '91 and arrived early. I met Tom who writes his own music and was seeing Dan for the first time. Always great to watch that experience. Saw Joyce and Connie again so that was fun. This was the best show I've ever seen in over 20 of them.
Cindy Bullens opened up the show again. Then came Dan who was so ON that night. Each song with all of the other musicians on stage just seemed to get them all more electrified. When Dan is on, the shows are incredible and he was. And the other musicians - Robert McEntee - your blues and your guitar work - so good; Mark Andes - your interactions with the audience make us feel so appreciated; Mike Hanna - Realizing all you add to Dan's songs in arrangements, I'm really going to go back and listen for them in detail; and Joe Vitale - from Cleveland! - you rock on those drums - what a treat. Best of all, the musicians seemed to energize Dan in a way I haven't seen for a long time. There were more smiles, laughter and true enjoyment of performing or at least playing together. The night itself was perfect - stars and cool temps. Every song came to life. But when Firefall - from Colorado - reunited on stage, well you just had to be there... they all looked happy, excited, and nostalgic. Best of all Dan looked to be enjoying himself sincerely. And that makes it all...When the show was over, I could only stand there and just say Wow - Wow - so glad I was here to see this.
My travels next took me west on Rt 70 toward Moab, UT. Colorado National Monument and Arches National park were awesome. The beauty of our country never stops amazing me. Next the lonely treck northward (need to be sure you always have a full tank of gas when you see a station - cause it may be awhile). I went to Deer Valley and found out that this was first come first serve seating. When I asked what time she said 3:30 for a 7:30 show. Oh, I wasn't prepared. So I walked around scouting out where I would sit. I talked with a few of the stage hands and commented it would be hard to beat Red Rocks. They agreed that the tour was downhill from there. I was a little worried that the show would not be too good considering they already had that perspective. They commented that the sound was not too good there. But what the heck - I'd already driven miles to get there... So I went to Wal-Mart - bought a $5 Indian blanket to sit on, bought a book (sequel to Bridges of Madison County) and got in line. There were about 10 people ahead of me. Unfortunatly though, most were just locals who always get there early for any show, so it lacked the "Dan community" in-line jabber. When the gates opened, I rushed in and threw my blanket 2nd row to Dan's right (all my reserved seats had been to the other side - and I wanted to see that guitar). Then another 1 hour wait. But much to my surprise the show was short but quite good. The band and Dan all seemed pretty relaxed and the show was better than I expected. I wasn't displeased with the sound and I really enjoyed being able to watch all the musicians play their instruments so well. The audience was pretty engaged, so I think that made a difference. When the show was over, I went up to Cindy Bullens' table and said now that I'd seen her 4 times, I knew her words as well so it was time to finally meet her and buy her CDs. So glad I did. She is a very talented musician and has a wonderful friendly personality. Although she was surely exhausted and had to drive to Las Vegas for the next night, she didn't rush us at all. (www.cindybullens.com). Her Cds were really enjoyable. At the table I met Mike from NE and Sue and Mike from UT. We all started talking and before you know it we all sat in front of the lodge on what became our "ceremonial blanket" until 2 AM. What fun. I love the people and treasure these unexpected experiences at Dan's shows.
My trip was completed over the next day with a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. You really get a new perspective of the world from 12,200 feet! We are but a single stone... That park and its waterfalls are lovely. I even approached some elk who didn't seem to mind my close up pictures.
Returning home to Pgh, I realized many things and appreciate so many gifts - vision to see these wonderous sites and see performers in action, hearing that music that stirs the soul might be mine for the listening and remembering, and mobility that I might put on boots and walk these great trails of our beautiful country and technology that I might hear about the concert tours, that I may be able to know many of you, share my stories and learn yours. And that in times of mistrust and terror, that there are people I've met along the road who remind me that living in this country is a great gift.
I watched a beautiful RW&B firework display last night set to American tribute songs and it brought tears to my eyes.
God bless each and every one of you out there in Dan country on this 4th!