Concert Reviews
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Oneida Bingo Casino, Green Bay, WI
July 19, 2001
By Jill
Hello all! I see that there are no concert chronicals detailing the Green Bay experience yet, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Anyone feel free to add anything I missed! Note that all quotes are only roughly paraphrased!
Let me start off by saying that this is my 3rd out of 4 concerts. Figured I'd make up for all of the lost years from the 70's and beyond! Jumping back to the first experience in St Louis, it was just as exciting as I could ever have wished for. David's voice could still shoot straight through my heart and bring a tear of joy. The second concert in Metropolis, I was able to take a step back, and really take in the whole experience. Of course my eyes were still riveted on David, but the rest of the band and crowd interaction added to the fun. He seemed to really enjoy the full house compared to the small country bar. But at Green Bay, those Packers are a wild bunch! There were already fans lined up 6 or 7 hours before the show, and at least 100 people were already in line when we arrived 2 hours ahead of show. The line zig zagged back and forth across the parking lot, and Oneida staff passed out portable mini-fans and bright turquoise admission wrist bands in exchange for our tickets. It was about 90 degrees in the shade, and several of us appreciated the fans! I looked around for others wearing the new DC Tshirts, but there were only a few. Quite a number of people were hoping to pick one up at the show, and wanted to know where to get them. Of course, I was more than happy to share!
The line began to move slowly at 7pm, but as we entered the tent, the rush began. I hurried to the far side of the room to the right, and got seats about 10 rows back. Some nice women later told us that we could move up a row. Everyone around us was nice, and eager to hear about what was to come, but I didn't want to give it all away! Immediately, I noticed one surprise which I had not seen at the other shows. There were several cameras simulcasting people in the audience. People with signs and LPs rose up one by one, and as the camera zoomed in on each one of them, the audience cheers heightened. By the time David was announced, there was already fever spreading. The whole crowd stood up and most never sat down.
David came out in a softer mauve colored satin shirt and black skin tight shiny pants. His hair was decidedly longer on top than a month ago, and blew in the slight breeze. His face lit up as he looked out, as the tent was completely jam packed all the way to the back wall. There seemed to be standing room only.
I found that my eyes went back and forth between David and the overhead screen. Whoever was running that show did a spectacular job! There were beautifully sync'd special effects, and several camera angles added to the fun! One camera was in the very front looking up at David, and you could easily imagine being transported to beneath the stage. (Would LOVE to buy that video... HINT HINT!)
I Can Feel Your Heartbeat was followed by his question... "where were you in the summer of 72?", and Summer Days drove the crowd wild. Why let the fever die down?... so along came I'll Meet you Halfway. The crowd cheered the lyric change... to reach out and touch one another... and he urged everyone to sing with him. Everyone obliged! David was having so much fun that he lost a few of the words to No Bridge, but quickly got right back into it.
Next it was time to welcome the hometown crowd. He said "if you've never been to Green Bay, you've never been anywhere!". I don't know whether a fan gave it to him, but he put on a Packers baseball cap, and wondered whether Brent Favre might be shaking in his boots. The crowd cheered their football team. Fans were waving items in the air, and David went to grab a few of them. He had a mardi gras necklace, and a bright purple bra, which he wrapped around his neck, and said something about Sammy Davis no longer being with us. So many people were waving things at him, that he said "It's wonderful to be having this conversation, but I don't think that the other 2000 people here are into it". Then he grabbed the standing microphone to pull it down to be seated, and laughed that they'd given him another "trick microphone!". Once he got it set, he talked about visiting Green Bay only once in the 70s. He talked of being a big football fan in the 60s, and talked of several old Packers who we might know from the "ESPN classic set!". He talked of wanting to revisit "early memories for some of us who have grown up together", and led into... ferris wheel and sunshine laughter!
Fans continued to reach up, so he said that "even though I'd love to have a personal conversation with each one of you, I can't even walk and chew gum at the same time"... and "for those of us with brain damage...it's okay I survived... and so did you!". The laughter continues. He slowed it down, and talked about the wonderful experience in the past 5 years in Vegas, closing the Copa, and bringing the show to us... oh she made me weary... Try a Little Tenderness, followed by an introduction of the "lovely and talented Ms. Candace Davis Martin"... Do I love you my oh my... river deep mountain high, and Candace solo... Come on baby, Rescue Me.
Welcome back to the stage... David Cassidy... drum beats restlessly as we await David's return. David emerged from the curtain sporting a very tight flattering white v-neck tshirt. He laughed at his delayed return to the stage, and said that it took him a little longer to "peel off" his clothes! Then came "the part we are going to dread, the audience participation... take yourselves back to year 1957... I wasn't the only person who was alive back in 57... but I'm close!... back to a coffee house in Greenwich village". He pointed to a guy that wasn't snapping his fingers, and asked for the spotlight and said "yeah, baby, you can run but you cannot hide!" The laughted faded, and "okay he's had his 15 seconds... back to the coffee house"... Well the shark bites with his teeth... Mack the Knife!
Despite fears of losing my fave song, the next tune sauntered in... Are you sleeping my baby... here we are so far away. now don't ya cry... Ricky's Tune!... Old Trick new style with some revised lyrics. From there, he picked up the pace and led into... So I'll never feel your touch again... Lyin' to Myself. Next put your hands together and rock with me... you may call me a rollin stone... Rock Me Baby! By the end of the rockfest, the man is bathed in sweat. He toweled off and then flung the towel in circles overhead. You could see sweat fly 20 or 30 feet. David said "what? It's only sweat!... and if you think it's warm out there, I'd like to invite you up to the stage... but I can't". He started to talk about how wonderful it was being there, and broke midsentence to pick up a bra and said "is this somebody's bra that I don't know?" ... (hilarious!)... "this one says something... (wacky voice)... Birthday girl Berb... Berb... where's Barb?" He flings his sweaty towel at her 10 rows back and then said "we exchanged lingerie!". It was laughter pandemonium! He picked up other items thrown to the stage... "this one has her phone number!" with a mischievous chuckle. Then he talked about how he asked each and every person who went to DC.com to give him our top five songs, and how he was amazed that some of these songs he has never played, such as the next song most requested... by far... and said it's "how I feel about you over the years that we spent together"... Cherish is the word I use to describe... which cascaded into... Last night, I turned out the lights laid down and thought about you... Followed by a bluesy improv to introduce each member of the band. I'm gonna tell you a story... about a long time ago... leading into... Cmon down and meet everybody... Cmon get happy!
The fever never died, and David seemed as happy as could be. He oozed sincerity when he said "You make me happy... I waited 10 years to come back and tell you that!", and how he felt so lucky to be here with us! Doesn't he know that we are the lucky ones? Then he went on to thank everyone for all of the underwear and... doing his best Christopher Lowell impersonation ... "how very spethial that is... I espethially like the pink ones"! Amidst thunderous applause and laughter, he immediately switched persona gears to a deep voice... "let's go down some beers together... I'll meet ya at the bar." What a hoot!
Finally, from David to each and every one us... (Piano plinks the first note)... beautifully, slowly, soulfully, in acapella he belts... Don't you know they're sleeping...mmmm... right in the middle of a good dream... and the band encourages clapping to finish ITILY uptempo. After a very brief exit... We already missed him... she stood there bright as the sun on that California coast... and did a riveting performance of Hollywood Nights. It was over all too soon. Can it get any better than this?
Thank you to Jill and Erik (David Cassidy Fan Site of Norway).
