JY
took center stage to introduce "Lorelei", saying something about it
being a long time since they played in the state of Massachusetts! (It's a
Commonwealth, but I suppose we'll let you slide this time.) It is so cool to see
and hear him sing lead on this song - he gives it a whole new feel! Lawrence now
plays the keyboard part JY used to cover, so JY no longer has to hustle between
the chorus and the verses to make it back to his keyboard in time, guitar pick
stuck between his teeth. That was always fun to watch!
Glen was the most frequent visitor to my spot, since that was his side of the stage. When he came over to that spot and played, he was so close that I could have reached up and turned the tuning pegs on his bass if I'd gotten it into my head to do it. Of course I would never!
I was not being obnoxious with the gloves and
waving them at all of the band, but I was clapping along, and the letters were
pretty big and hard to miss, as close as he was, which led to my first
thunderbolt moment of the evening. I don't remember exactly when this happened,
but a few songs into the show, Glen bent down to me, reached down and put a
"Derek" pick INTO my hand and said "I like the gloves." I
was extremely stunned! He noticed that I had taken time to do something in
appreciation of the band, and he took the time to return the favor. It was very
cool and classy of him to do that, especially considering that the gloves said
"JY" on them! I did say thank you at the time, but I have no idea if he saw
or heard me say it. I stuck the pick into my shoulder bag where it would not get
away! Mark, who had been sitting in front of me and was now off to my right and
behind me, reached out and patted my shoulder in an "all right!"
gesture, and at that point I was aware that more people were beside and behind
me! Not in front of me though - that was NOT happening!
Glen went over to the other side of the stage, and when he
headed back toward his usual place and was facing me, I held my hands way up and
caught his attention, then quickly arranged my fingers into the "I love
you" sign with both hands, just for a second, as a 'thank you' to him. He
smiled at me and gave me a nod. At this point I felt like I was having an
ONGOING CONVERSATION with Glen Burtnik while he was onstage and I was completely
out of my mind!
Around this time I moved permanently right next to the stage. I had been standing about a foot away, and when people needed to get by I would step back. After a couple of those, if someone needed to get by I stepped forward - no one was going to get in front of me and stop! Occasionally during the evening a crew person with earphones and a headset needed to get by me, and I would step out of the way and let her pass. No one ever tried to make me leave, though.