Tuesday August 17 – Ventura Theater

Susannah was not at the merchandise table. The new items at the table were all for Chrissie’s group–posters and T-shirts with the complete Chrissie tour schedule into October. Lucinda’s side just had the live show CD’s.

Thanks to tonyg and stoger for covering all the items at the show. I enjoyed “Seeing Black” among the 4 new songs.

Wow, what a night to kick off a mini tour! I wasn’t sure if I’ld be able to go to the show, with it being in Ventura and having a two year old and all, its sometimes hard to get out especially on a work night… but my wife Jennifer who is also a die hard Lu fan did something completely out of character and got a sitter on a work night and surprised me the day before by making it a date night. So living in the San Fernando Valley we actually made it to Venture in 40 minutes and had a incredible evening.

Taking the night, with a sort of a “take it as it goes” attitude, we got to the theater, got our tickets and walked over to Watermark restaurant http://www.watermarkonmain.com/, sat down at the bar and had 2 glasses of a Russian River Pinot and a great meal.

I really got to spend some quality time with my wife and then walked over to the show and catch the tail end of JP, Chrissie & The Fairground Boys. As soon as they were done, we waited to see if any seats would open up and who do I run into, but non other than Michael Rosenblatt, the man most famous for discovering and signing Madonna, along with many other artists such as the New Radicals etc.,

Michael & I used to work together at MCA Records, where I was an IT person and also where I began building websites for a living. Of course I am happy to see Michael, because he is a famous record executive who I rarely ever see or get to see let alone talk to and he starts telling me the story of how he so badly wanted to sign Lucinda Williams to MCA Records. Michael goes on to tell me how he had brought “Car Wheels…” to the then President of MCA who passed on it. The details of the story had me riveted, but the message here clearly was that after all this time he was still a hugh fan and so glad to know I was too. So ever before the show started, my night was off with a bang of many surprises.

As soon as Lucinda started, we then all ran to our seats to catch every note.

For my wife… hearing so many of songs for the first time live, was really cool. I being a guitar critic, was just in awe of how well Val is fitting in so perfectly and adding a tasteful flavor all his own. After seeing him play with Shelby Lynn and in the studio recently track on Lucinda’s latest album, I’ve come to understand why so many people love him. Even that night before the show I met a guy who worked at McCabes guitar shop come out and get all excited because Val was playing… but I have to admit, while I listened to Val play these the arrangements of these classic Lucinda songs, my mind did wonder and think of Doug Pettibone and how now I will always measure Lucinda guitarists up to his great tone, style and phrasing … and then who walks in and sits just a few rows in front of Jen & I? Doug himself. Not being in on the surprise guest info thing, Jen and I are like “…wow, how awesome is this? You think he’ll sit in? And sure enough Doug does. So after Side of the road, I of course being a new fan of Val’s and long time fan of Doug’s had to run up as close as I could when I realized on Joy it was gonna get crazy good and sure enough I captured this on my little digital canon camera…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BGjtPcvNe4
This was just pure magic for me, two great guitar players throwing solos back an forth in celebration of each other! And even Lu followed this with the “I’m not worthy” bows to each of them.

Also in attendance was long time Lucinda friend and fan, Pamela Des Barres. My wife having read her rock n’ roll memoir “…I’m With the Band”, and me loving the idea that she is widely considered to be the model for the Penny Lane character in Cameron Crowe’s film Almost Famous, it was a real treat for both of us to know that she is also a real fan. Sitting behind Pamela, we looked over her shoulder as she rocked back and forth the whole night and was clearly signing along. Here’s a pic of Lucinda and Pamela sharing a laugh and smile after the show.

JP Jones and Chrissie Hynde not only didn’t do a song with Lucinda, but they had to split before the end of Lucinda’s set. But knowing this would bumm lucinda out, they hand drew a large thank you card in blue sharpie to Lucinda and the band. It reads… “Lucinda and Rockin’ Band, The Queen of Rock! (Not Country) Thanks We love you! Chrissie, Thank You Lucinda, JP, Patrick Murdock xxx

The back story of the Rock and Country comments on the above card, is that when Lucinda hung out back stage at JP, Chrissie & Patrick’s first gig together at Club Bardot, Lucinda told Chrissie about how she has always wanted to be considered a “rocker” like Chrissie and hasn’t always accepted being labeled “this or that” (I’m paraphrasing here) simply because she lived in Nashville at one point. Chrissie was so articulate and astute with Lucinda about how Lucinda was indeed “a rocker”, while also being very important to Nashville. Personally, I was blown away to see (in my opinion) two iconic women, being so supportive of each other. Lucinda clearly being a big fan of Chrissie’s (often wearing a Pretenders T-shirt live), now inviting her to launch a new project, by playing on gigs that Tom had already set up.
And now seeing this card by Chrissie calling Lucinda a “Queen of Rock!” left backstage for Lucinda to see after her show. Obviously it was a hugh thank you for letting them play these shows and certainly, in my opinion, a really heart felt gesture that I’m sure touched Lucinda. Definitely a drawing of Lucinda worthy of the “Fan Created Art” section of the Gallery! 😉

Here is a video of JP, Chrissie and Patrick’s first gig that I was fortunate enough to have been invited to see with Lu and Tom. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwWx08pnIgM where they decided to do these shows together.

But I have to say, the thing that really continues to remind how special Lucinda is and what I always look forward to is meeting the people who are so touched by Lucinda’s music and make such a hugh effort to go the shows. While Jen and I were having diner, she asks me… “…do you think we’ll see so and so and so and so? Jen & I look forward to seeing people who we have now come to know as the “die hard fans” at the live shows. Tuesday night, I had to make a deal with one fan, who I knew would end up with the set list. Our deal was, if he got it first, I begged him to let me photo it for the website, and then I’d give it back to him. If I got it first, I would take the pic and then give it to him. What’s amazing to me is how he always does gets the list off the stage before anyone else including the band techs or members. I, on the other hand have to wait to get them from Tom after they get back, and that is just too long for me, but Tuesday I had a plan, and I really wanted to post it. You see, knowing that Lucinda had taken fan requests when putting the set list together, I knew the immediacy of seeing the list online would be awesome for people. Thanks Tom Tracy for re-posting it below after I posted it today on Facebook.

Also thanks to TonyG for your kind words and to everyone who are so immediate with your postings and give such great insights, I can’t thank you enough for making this site so awesome with your contributions! I know I don’t post much here, but man do I love reading these threads!

Ralph aka “WebMasta”

8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Great stuff, Ralph.
Thanks for sharing.

Ralph, I’m doing the “I’m not worthy” wave. Super post! Love the insight.

PS… My assistant just put together a ticket giveaway and Lucinda meet and greet contest for the Napa shows that TOm O, Frank Riley, the promoters just approved. It will be a random drawing for people who facebook and retweet the ticket sales links to the show.

Details to follow…

The Napa show ticket giveaway and meet and greet will launch tomorrow in the AM.
3 pairs of tickets will be given away.

Look on Facebook for details!

Consider this heads up exclusive to forum members!

WEBMasta

Thanks much for posting the photo of Chrissie’s thank you note to Lucinda as well as the “backstory” on how JP, Chrissie opening the Ventura/Sac/Napa shows came to be. To be able to see/hear both of these woman in one night was incredible. If only they had performed together…
Bob G – a JP, Chrissie & Lucinda fan