OK, I'll start with the pick - after the last song, Desperado, while the lights were still out, I stealthily worked my way up to the stage and stood next to the Black Shirt. When the lights came on, Timothy was walking along the front of the stage towards me - he tossed two pics to people on my left. I said, "Timothy!" when he was in front of me and held my hand up and he just tossed it to me - just like that! I will attempt to add my photos after this post.
Otis - He came out of the black curtains at the bottom of the stage before the show started. I walked over to him and said, "Are you Otis?" and he said, "Yes." And I said, "Cool, bring me a pick during the intermission. I'm in row 5 right here on the aisle." About 10 minutes later he appeared next to me, looking for someone. I said, "You're an angel!" I don't know why, I didn't know what else to say to the little boy. About 10 minutes later, he came back again, still looking for his friends, and we figured out he was looking in the wrong section - he needed section C front and center. That was the last I saw of him.
The show was incredible - I can't believe how quickly the second set went, it seemed like 15 minutes.
How they sounded - I noticed no problems with anyone's singing or vocal range. On NKIT, when Glenn has to sing the word "around" (when you're not around...) he reached up and pushed on his ear monitor, and I think it was just a psychological thing because that's a difficult part, but he sounded just fine - he hit it. They all sounded sublime. They also seemed to be really enjoying playing the songs they've played so many times - it was a very relaxed and happy vibe. I saw TBS and Don talking a lot when the lights weren't on them. Don was not remotely curmudgeonly or crabby, neither was Glenn. Glenn did not chastise one time or make any comment. Don asked people not to use their cell phones about 2/3 of the way through, but it didn't come across in a bad way.
How they looked - TBS started out in a burgundy t-shirt, then switched to the white button down that VA posted. It is an interesting shirt, it doesn't have normal buttons, but two tiny black snaps or something side by side all the way down. Don is regrowing The Goatee, he seemed to be in some shades of dark gray. For some reason he looked super fine in profile when he was sitting at the little drum kit for WW. Glenn switched into the BEAUTIFUL lilac shirt he wore in the second half - gorgeous on him. For Steph - Will Hollis was very handsome. Hair parted on the left haha, and seemed to be freshly cut - nice sideburns. I was MESMERIZED by Joe's bronze glitter guitar.
What they said - We got to hear the plaintiff joke, the mother-is-half-a-word-joke, the TBS is the "ribbon on the package", and I can't remember the joke Glenn makes and then says, "That's funny" - that was actually funny. At the part when Don was talking about living in Topanga off of whatever street - that's when he mentioned The Californians. We do have a very strong habit of constantly describing the routes we drive, and when you start to notice it, you definitely start to make fun of yourself. Just prior to the show, 4 of us were saying, "Should we get on 73? NO! Just 405 all the way to Century, then left..." It's like, never ending. He had a big grin when he said it like they do in the sketch, "The Califooornians." (Soda - yes, the sketches are long and lame - the funny part is the driving directions, and maybe it's only funny if you know the area, it's exactly how Southern Californians talk.)
The issue of security - Our Red Shirt (local staff) was very sweet. The Black Shirts (Eagles security) in the area were OK, too. There was the obligatory one drunk lady one row ahead who got up every 5 minutes to dance, they must have dealt with her 20 times. At one point, Red Shirt (young black guy) actually waltzed her back to her seat - it was cute.
I have to say that the whole "Whack-a-Mole" game of nabbing people with cameras created a bizarre concert experience. It really takes over for those in the front. I get it if someone is clearly videoing the show, but 99% of those people just want a photo for their own purposes of their experience. I was quite moved during PMAIAR when Joe and Glenn were singing, and I spontaneously took out my phone to get a pic. The flash was off and the screen brightness was all the way down. The minute I held it up, Red Shirt came up and said, "Its really obvious", so that was it for me. Hubby was scolded twice. But, the crowd around us was great - when I looked around, everyone was grooving, singing, sitting when appropriate, standing and dancing when appropriate - I think by the 5th show a lot of people had gotten the word about the rules. No a-holes anywhere. Lots of pot smoke, but not to the point where it bothered me.
Favorite performances - Witchy Woman and Those Shoes. Who knew??
Would love to see them in Sacramento, Tim's home town - that's going to be awesome, but it's not gonna happen for me. I was looking forward to this for so long, and now it's back to reality...sigh...Best concert ever!
p.s. Glennsallnighter I got your mug and will mail on Monday!