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05/11/05 - SANTA BARBARA
BOWL, SANTA BARBARA, CA Review
by Alicja:
Now to the important gig, the one we really came to see, the Santa
Barbara Birthday gig! This was a general admission show so we made sure we got
there early. Arrived about 10:30am, met up with Cuky (some of you badfans know
her), scoped out the place which was really well-hidden up on a steep hill. We
saw the hill we would have to run up.......OMG. After walking up I was ready to
drop dead, how in the world are we going to run it? LOL The place was outdoors
and pretty small and the pit area wasn’t that big either, which explains
why there weren’t too many people queuing till about 2 hours before show
time. Personally, I loved the venue, possibly the nicest one I’ve been to,
set atop, intimate and cozy. We went back down and joined the queue behind two
ladies. Soon after, fellow baddie Latha, whom we met the night before and is the
sweetest, nicest person came. Thank You Latha for the snacks too :) you shouldn’t
have.
We had a really fun day queuing. The weather was gorgeous, the area so
peaceful and quiet. Teresa made up a Happy Birthday sign signed: Love Your Nutters......Bryan
I think liked it when he saw it, he smiled and was trying to figure out who the
nutters were...lol. We kept ourselves amused checking out all the cars going up
the hill with VIP’s, etc....., saw a van load of BA band members too :) but
we just waived.
The show was early at 6:00pm and was to end by 10:00pm cause
of the noise ordinance and local houses in the area. The gates were supposed to
open at 5:00pm, found out there were no cameras allowed. Asked about the poster,
that too was not allowed, also found out there was going to be a separate line
for men and women and that everyone was going to be frisked. I figured since we
were the first on the lines that they were going to make an example of us and
do a full body search......lol. It’s bad enough I was worrying how I was
going to get up that hill, I was now worrying how I was going to get the camera,
films, poster and tape in that were hidden in various places ;) When the time
came, the female security guard barely even checked my pockets so all the stuff
was smuggled in. Shoot, now that I think of it I should have gotten some balloons
too...hehe. We find out we need to get a wristband for the floor section. That
slowed everything down. Then up the hill we go, most people were smart and were
just walking up, stupid me decides to run and halfway up I couldn’t anymore.
All the people I passed by on the way up were now passing me by cause my feet
were barely moving. Eventually, I get up to the top and then there are ALL these
stairs that still needed to be climbed. Mind you, there were paramedics and EMT’s
up there ready to take you away, that’s how difficult the climb was. I was
ready to be taken away by them too....hehe..but somehow I managed to get up those
stairs and I saw Cuky and Teresa holding us spots in the front row. After some
serious coughing, we all calmed down. The pit was filling up slowly, had some
nice people around us that we talked to while queuing. Out comes the poster and
we hang it up, then the security guy comes and tells us that instamatic cameras
are ok, after the no cameras speech at the entrance....hmph. During the gig we
discreetly used our cameras so we got some pics! 
Anyway,
on to the show. The opening act comes on 5 minutes earlier than scheduled and
about 6:30 Bryan comes on. It was a chilly night so Bryan and Keith came out with
their denim jackets. We hear the first few cords of Room Service, see those big
smiles and we are in heaven! People knew it was Bryan’s birthday cause every
now and then someone would shout out Happy Birthday. We tried to get the birthday
song going and right when we started Bryan started playing so he probably couldn’t
hear. We asked Keith for help while Bryan was switching guitars and just as Keith
was ready to strum a few cords Bryan shouts out Cuts Like A Knife. Bryan really
rushed the show probably because of the 10:00pm curfew or he just couldn’t
wait to go and party which is totally understandable :))) He just went from one
song to the next and cut the set list by not playing Kids Wanna Rock, now that
really cut like a knife since it’s my favorite live song. I know it’s
hard to narrow down a set list but next time, please Bryan pick another song ;)
I wanna see KWR in the set list forever and ever :) 
Before
playing Back To You Bryan said it was his first time playing in Santa Barbara
and he certainly got a lot of cheers. The audience was great singing along to
most of the songs. Bryan was smiles all night just as a good birthday boy should
be. Hearts On Fire was simply amazing. When You’re Gone, I’ll probably
never live down. I never ever try for it cause not only does he rarely pick fans,
I don’t think I would be able to get up there. I am as shy as they come.
So when the time came and he announced he was looking for someone to help him
sing the next song, for some strange reason Bryan kept looking at me and Cuky
and back and forth. I was wondering what the hell is going on? He should be scanning
the crowd for a candidate........hmmmm........then I turned around to see who
looks most enthusiastic and all those nice people with whom we chatted with while
in queue were pointing at us, and then the people behind them and to the side
of me all started pointing at us too. OMG, no wonder, I just wanted to hide. At
that point I thought that if I had only raised my hand Bryan would have picked
me but my hands were busy covering up my wide open mouth. I was in shock and stood
there frozen, I was petrified of being chosen because of my lack of self-confidence.
All those people pointing, I was already not handling the attention very well.
Bryan stared a bit longer and read me well and then chose another girl. Then he
said to me: “I would have had your back but you need to show some enthusiasm!”
THUUUUUDDDDDDDD! He then imitated how I was standing there so innocent and scared,
that was funny.......he got it spot on...LOL. OMMMMMMGGGGGGGG, my instincts were
right, I nearly fell to the floor. I just wanted to DIE but then at the same time
I was the happiest person alive to even be considered by Bryan for the part (without
even trying, too) and that was MORE than enough for me :) Thank You Bryan, that
meant more than you’ll ever know! So that is my story and I don’t know
why I’m even including this in the review cuz I know I’m going to get
a lot of heat for not taking the chance, especially on Bryan’s birthday.
But before you all knock me down and flame me, just know that I have been hard
enough on myself :( I’ve got some issues I gotta work on........I gotta learn
to relax more and take a plunge! :))
Thought that he may have been upset with
me, but those thoughts were quickly gone when he was having fun with us and our
birthday poster.
The show ended with Run To You, the guys took their final
bows and did a little swaying dance back and forth and then Bryan yelled into
the mic: “I’m going to party like it’s my birthday!” Gotta
give Keith credit again for trying with the birthday song before they took their
bows but it didn’t work out. Now go ahead everybody.......blame it on me.....lol......had
I gotten my sorry ass up on stage I could have made sure we sang “Happy Birthday”
to Bryan. Oh boy, how am I ever gonna live this down, I don’t know :) 
Afterwards,
we zoomed out of there and waited for about ½ an hour by the tour buses.
Wish we could have til the guys came out but we had to catch a red-eye flight
from LA to NY. It was an absolute honor being able to see you on your special
day, to see you with that extra little sparkle and twinkle in your eyes. And,
although I am sorry that you had to work on your birthday I am grateful that you
were able to share it with us :) I hope it was as special a day for you as you
made it for me!
********** Review
by Lara Aria:
I got 2nd row & a great view of Bryan & his butt, LOL.
Ricky Warick came on stage at 5:55 & sing, I didn't understand Ricky Warick's
songs, he played some songs, 2 of the songs w/a member of Def Leppard. He was
on stage for 10 or 15 minutes. Then Bryan & his band came out at 6:35, Micky
came out first & was seated at his drums, & then Norm, Keith, Gary &
Bryan came out. Bryan started w/Room Service. When Bryan finished, he then play
Somebody & then he played This Side of Paradise. The best songs were 18 Til
I Die, The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You & Hearts on Fire. Bryan
did a Great job singing. I got friendly w/a couple, the woman was next to me &
the man was behind me. They were there for Bryan & Def Leppard. And the woman
& me talked about Bryan's birthday card. When Bryan started w/Room Service,
I started waving his card in the air. When Bryan didn't see his card, the man
behind me took his card & threw it on the stage, but he missed the stage &
hit the ground. I was so sad! Then, I started waving my arm in the air, my arm
was so tired, by waving my arm, I got Bryan's attention, he kept looking at me
& once Bryan smiled at me. The WYG girl was ok, she couldn't sing. Bryan did
the butt dance & she got to hug him, twice, when they were finished, she got
to touch his hair. When Bryan sang It's Only Love, Keith did a solo on his guitar
& then he put his guitar behind his head & play the guitar, while Bryan
laugh. When I realized Bryan was looking at me, I was flirting w/him. When the
last song was over, Bryan said he is off to celebrate his birthday. I cannot remember
all of the setlist. Bryan & his band finished at 7:45 I think. | | |
