The sneak preview
Between sets, I talked to Andy and his girlfriend some more. They loved REO and couldn't wait to see what Styx was going to do! I didn't want to spoil any of the effects, but Andy wanted the sneak preview, so I pointed out the mirror ball and the confetti cannons, and explained the spinning keyboard when he asked. We were all looking around in different directions when Andy laughed and pointed at the stage. JY's microphone had just been set up, and Andy said, "The guy who stands there must be really tall." Trying really hard not to turn into the JY trivia factory / public relations department (that tends to alarm people if they're not braced for it), I just smiled and said yeah, he is. Andy said, "I thought so. The guy who set up the microphone tested the height by walking into it with his forehead!" I told him how I sometimes see Jimmy set up the stands, and JY's mic is about the right height on him, but he tests Tommy's by making sure it hits him in the throat!
Forgive me for all the rambling, but to me this is one of the things that makes a show so much fun; taking in all the minutia, absorbing the atmosphere and letting it take me away. Andy and his girlfriend were great - I think I was getting them as excited to see the show as I was, and that's saying a lot!
Andy asked how the Styx show started, and I got shivers just describing it. The lights go out... the letters rise up (I forgot to tell him what the letters spelled out; he had to ask)... the lights go out again... and when the lights come back up, THERE THEY ARE!