[davevoeltz]

Dakota Rose,

my family and I were there in Row G and as luck would have it, a drunken woman who repeatedly told me her husband was a co-owner of a bar in Sturgis, sat beside me. I am sure you heard her constant hooping and hollering throughout the concert. She was constantly yapping and only slowed down when I told her I paid money to listen to Gord sing. Even her husband couldn’t get her to shut up.

As far as the concert goes, Gord was in better voice as compared to the last time we saw in back in Minneapolis in Sept of 2002. His range was much better than I was expecting to hear and the band was always perfect as to be expected.

I did check for available ticket the day before the concert and the only thing left were seats in the rear of the balcony. There were empty seats scattered on the mail floor but apparently they were no shows. Oh well, their loss.

I was happy to hear a wide variety of songs and the different background and lights added to the enchantment of the evening. My only complaint was ‘only’ hearing 28 songs J

After the concert, we walked around the side of the building. Earlier in the evening, I scoped things out and saw the semi, bus and two Cadillacs so I figured that is where Gord would leave.

Only two other women were waiting with us. I visited with the semi driver and he was telling me how this was the most strenuous schedule he could remember. When all was done, he then had to return to Toronto to drop off the band’s equipment. I asked him if this was the smallest group he had seen waiting for Gord and he said there are some nights when there is no one waiting. That surprised me.

I then visited with the electrician and he told me we were lucky to even have a concert. He worked through the day and was able to get two spotlights working. Aluminum wiring and aluminum fuse panel are a bad combination and they were lucky it tripped the sprinkler system. He would be busy for the next few days fixing the old panels.

Mike, Terry and Barry came out and after a brief chat, jumped in a car and headed out. About 10 minutes later, Rick came out and started up the car. We know Gord would be coming out soon.

Sure enough, the door opened and Gord exited the building. There must not have been any back stage greeting because less than 30 minutes after the concert, he was leaving. The two ladies got pictures with him and had him sign their tickets. My son than approached him.

I made up an 8 x 10 poster of the pictures I had taken of Gord and my younger son at previous concerts. This dates back to Winnipeg in 1999(?) and two other concerts in Minneapolis.

Gord personalized it for Thomas and looked at the pictures on it with interest. Thomas has grown quite a bit in the past 10 years but Gord hasn’t changed a bit (other than not having a mustache). We thanked him for a fine concert and he and Rick headed for the car.

Other than the drunk seating beside me, the concert was much better than I expected. I had seen some of the recent YouTube videos of Gord signing and I was expecting his range to be limited. I was very surprised to hear the range and quality of his voice. I was really expecting this to be my last concert, wanting to remember what that was. Instead I got a stronger performance than expected and can’t wait until he is in the area again next year.

Dave in Pierre, SD (but really in Denver tonight)