set off later than planned on Friday, but it all worked out and I found an excellent, and unplanned, parking space at the HOB Orlando one row over from some tour busses (and as it happened, right next to Richard and Loraine's rent-a-car).....i wanted to change from my driving clothes into something different for the show, so I headed for the restaurant's ladies room and took care of that......since I arrived so late, the line to get into the venue wasn't so bad, and I even managed to smuggle my camera into the HOB.....inside, the atmosphere was pretty charged up......worked my way down towards the front and tried to play "spot the loonie" LOL
the band came on and my long wait was over---and this was also my first gig with duncan and tony in the band........well-----------WOW......you've all heard about how well the band are meshing and playing (and obviously enjoying one another's company)....i agree with the other gig goers and reviewers....the guys are playing SO HOT------the shows are tight, the song choices are a wonderful mix of older and newer, self-penned and covers....
the audience roared its appreciation..... I started pulling things out of my "bag-of-tricks"---- funny signs, big knickers, you know---crazy stuff......i figured, if UB40 has entertained us all for so long, it's time someone entertained them...and I was up for it! brought some different things to all the shows.....but I digress..... anyway, one of my signs had my loonie name on it, which our dear BT noticed and acknowledged me! very cool! rbc gave the loonies in the house a shout out---I saw the Brit contingent a little over to my left but didn・t get to speak with them 'til after the show... the show eventually had to end---but the band gave us three encores and most everyone was satisfied (well, I wanted to keep going,--- can you blame me?) I tried to overcome my shyness and went up to the other loonies---some really warm and lovely UK peeps......when it looked like this bunch was being allowed to go backstage, I fell into step at the end, but no-one had sorted an after-show pass for me and I was left outside the door, feeling a bit like a red-headed stepchild...LOL......after a little while I felt stupid waiting about, so I went outside and luckily ran into my "hero of the night" martin, who sorted out my backstage issue....thank you again, martin.---i really appreciated your intervention! upstairs, another darling man made my night----thank YOU, brian.......you've heard it before but I'm sure it never gets old---you're a class act, mister.....a wonderful host in our little area! unfortunately, time flew and the guys had to leave before I really had an opportunity to speak with anyone else....ah well, fingers crossed for another chance.....
drove 150 miles south to sleep at a friend・s house closer to west palm beach, and after four hours kip, a delicious breakfast, and a very smoky visit with my mates, I headed to the "Sunfest"..... it is kind of a street festival set up at the coast, so some of the drinking establishments are out on docks............there were three main stages, and I gravitated to the one that our boys would play......sat parked in front of the stage for about five and a half hours and heard a couple of non-reggae interesting bands.....then it got dark, turned 9pm, and the band came out.......again, the audience screamed their love and it actually intensified by the end of the show......as this was an outdoor gig, the heat (and humidity) were incredible....i felt like a drowned rat by the end but I didn't care......the band was making the music I want to hear every day and I was filling my tank for a long ride....LOL talked very briefly with the looniefriends before they drifted off, but as I was heading out I noticed a familiar-looking bus and saw them standing about... I went all shy again and stood on the other side of some vans that kept prying eyes off the tour bus....weyhey! out came the band and they jumped in the two vans! Got a few happy thoughts to those sax players again and said I'd see them in st. petersburg!
only a twenty mile drive to sleep at my niece's house, then a lo-o-ong trip across the state...almost five hours with non-stop driving.....
happily, I have a dear friend living near st. pete, so I arrived at her house and we got ready for the gig....i was sure that the gig started at 9pm but it started earlier and we missed the first few tunes ......once there, we went down front and let the music wash over us......i think the heat at this gig was the worst of all three shows.....i don't know how he did it, but BT sensed I was on the verge of passing out and got a bottle of water to me....THANK YOU AGAIN, BRIAN.......i was watching duncan more closely at this show than the others and am loving the fact that he stepped up to the enormous challenge of being compared to his other brother, has survived the criticism, and is improving with each performance! he and tony are doing a fantastic job of keeping the sound alive.....as far as his dancing ability, well he hasn't had thirty years to perfect some "just right" moves, but I saw him getting jiggier at times during all the shows, and did I see him give a little 'bump' sometimes that made me tummy get all wobbly......hubba hubba....LOL...tony is a trip to watch~~ his enthusiasm and his musicality make a great combination......ya can't help but smile at him.... and how can i not give respect to all the guys......norman, astro, and earl get the crowd really nuts~ ENERGY!!! rob has everyone mesmerized with his warm-honey/sexy bedroom voice...babies are conceived to robin's voice, i'm sure...... jimmy and those three horny guys are a joy to watch, having fun while kicking out musical GOLD.... i try my best to dance in time with the horn section~ otherwise i get a headache LOL
the crowd showed so much love! we got a nice long set again (about 5 songs had been cut from the Saturday night show) and with the last note I shot off a thing that threw out gold confetti---hope someone saw it! now our florida gigs were over! as the guys left, they stopped to chat/sign/and photo with some of us waiting.......i don・t know why rational thought leaves my brain by the end of the shows (uber-strength greenery, probably) but yet again, I went shy and failed to pull out my camera for a snap with my favourite men (oh was my hubby there, too?.....no......) LOL introduced myself to jimmy, so he knows who he・s talking to online......i see the computer is better, jb~~ it was lovely to meet you (actually again, after a few years).....oh don・t consider this pandering (bt/jb/pp/rbc or whoever ub), but I think you・re all looking better than the last time I・d seen you in 2006......looking better/ better looking, whatever~~ you・re all looking GOOD.....just thought y・all would like to know.....
sorry it・s a ridiculous length read, but it was a good weekend.....hoping all my new friends returned or are returning safely home......
to the guys in UB40: thank you again for returning to florida and giving us the best in music....
can't wait for the next tour......
xxx sunnybeth
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