Lapeer - the Aftermath...
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 8:49 pm
This is more than one or two short sentences, so lurkers probably better move on:
Ok, so I went to Lapeer, about 146 minutes from my home in beautiful Jenison, MI. The smell of everything deep-fried greeted my nostrils as my lovely fiance and I strolled Nepessing Street. There, nestled amongst the caricature artists and chainsaw sculptors, was the National City main stage. We bumped into Greg Bailey almost instantly. He was scurrying around, and carrying a laptop, presumably stolen. He welcomed us warmly to the show.
It was warm outside too. Some vocal group was there that played before Petra...uhmm...Three Men and a Tenor...something like that if I remember correctly...We tried valiantly to watch them, but gave up. Shortly thereafter, I ran into my archnemesis and best friend in the entire world, Enosh. We put our Captured in Time and Space abbreviation beef aside for the afternoon and took our place front row center as Petra's tuxedoed roadies set up, efficiently and courteously.
Enosh and his posse as well as my entourage stood in front of the elevated stage. The oldsters, retirees, codgers, etc, who had endured 3 Men and A Tenor to exhaustion sat in bleachers and those nylon fold-up chairs behind us. The MC came out shortly after that and reminded us that there were people seated behind us, and could we please sit down in front. On the scorching concrete. Sarcastic applause erupted from the lazy, sit-at-the-rock-show yokels gathered behind us. We complied however, as it was worth it to be front row center at a Petra show.
Petra ripped, as usual, and as soon as they started "Dance" (About 5 songs in) John implored us to get up and follow suit. You can't sit at a Petra show. And so we didn't. We rocked. This was the first time I had ever seen Bob live on stage, and I was blown away. The band was tight, John was in a great mood, forgot his traditional one or two lines, and helped Paul on the drums for a l'il bit. As memory serves, we heard Ancient of Days, Dance, I Waited, The Noise We Make, Creed, Beyond Belief, This Means War, Sight Unseen, Lord I Lift, Judas Kiss, It Is Finished, Dr. Jekyll & Mr...oh wait, Jekyll & Hyde, Right Place, He Came He Saw, and probably a few I forgot out of sheer awe. Bob even gave a prayer and invitation at the end...awesome.
Then, Enosh and I parted ways, as he was led away, given special VIP treatment...the lucky stiff. He handed me his son and slipped backstage.
So um, Enosh, give me a call, and you can come pick up your son anytime. He's fine, just watching Saving Private Ryan over there.
The next concert I go to, I hope they have shirts in something bigger than a Medium, as the average Pethead (let's face it) is at least an XL. So that was my one beef. There was this sweet shirt there, the Come and Join Us logo tee, that my fiance ended up getting. After meeting her, John told me I was a lucky guy. And you know what, I agree with John. And it probably won't be the last time a rock star hits on her. Just kidding, Dorla! The "lucky guy" comment was the extent of it.
Ok, so I went to Lapeer, about 146 minutes from my home in beautiful Jenison, MI. The smell of everything deep-fried greeted my nostrils as my lovely fiance and I strolled Nepessing Street. There, nestled amongst the caricature artists and chainsaw sculptors, was the National City main stage. We bumped into Greg Bailey almost instantly. He was scurrying around, and carrying a laptop, presumably stolen. He welcomed us warmly to the show.
It was warm outside too. Some vocal group was there that played before Petra...uhmm...Three Men and a Tenor...something like that if I remember correctly...We tried valiantly to watch them, but gave up. Shortly thereafter, I ran into my archnemesis and best friend in the entire world, Enosh. We put our Captured in Time and Space abbreviation beef aside for the afternoon and took our place front row center as Petra's tuxedoed roadies set up, efficiently and courteously.
Enosh and his posse as well as my entourage stood in front of the elevated stage. The oldsters, retirees, codgers, etc, who had endured 3 Men and A Tenor to exhaustion sat in bleachers and those nylon fold-up chairs behind us. The MC came out shortly after that and reminded us that there were people seated behind us, and could we please sit down in front. On the scorching concrete. Sarcastic applause erupted from the lazy, sit-at-the-rock-show yokels gathered behind us. We complied however, as it was worth it to be front row center at a Petra show.
Petra ripped, as usual, and as soon as they started "Dance" (About 5 songs in) John implored us to get up and follow suit. You can't sit at a Petra show. And so we didn't. We rocked. This was the first time I had ever seen Bob live on stage, and I was blown away. The band was tight, John was in a great mood, forgot his traditional one or two lines, and helped Paul on the drums for a l'il bit. As memory serves, we heard Ancient of Days, Dance, I Waited, The Noise We Make, Creed, Beyond Belief, This Means War, Sight Unseen, Lord I Lift, Judas Kiss, It Is Finished, Dr. Jekyll & Mr...oh wait, Jekyll & Hyde, Right Place, He Came He Saw, and probably a few I forgot out of sheer awe. Bob even gave a prayer and invitation at the end...awesome.
Then, Enosh and I parted ways, as he was led away, given special VIP treatment...the lucky stiff. He handed me his son and slipped backstage.
So um, Enosh, give me a call, and you can come pick up your son anytime. He's fine, just watching Saving Private Ryan over there.
The next concert I go to, I hope they have shirts in something bigger than a Medium, as the average Pethead (let's face it) is at least an XL. So that was my one beef. There was this sweet shirt there, the Come and Join Us logo tee, that my fiance ended up getting. After meeting her, John told me I was a lucky guy. And you know what, I agree with John. And it probably won't be the last time a rock star hits on her. Just kidding, Dorla! The "lucky guy" comment was the extent of it.