Venue: Boulder, CO .. August 4 2004

Click and to check the photos!

Thanks to Brett Parnes for this really entertaining write-up from Boulder, from the summer 2004 tour:

one of these days ill learn my lessons ... first, bruce simply does not put on a bad show. ever. second, no matter how well a pair of pants seem to fit, when you dance that hard, you really need to wear a belt...

waiting for my friend wendy to pick me up for the show, i decided to write down my request. i was a little ... shall we say happily intoxicated? ... so i decided to draw it instead of write it ... a rainbow, with a stick figure bouncing a basketball and a car with a cadillac insignia ... ok it was a little rough to say the least, but i was pleased. anyway, when i got inside, i had it placed on the grand. made some small talk with the folks, including with an adorable 5 year old.

"what do you want to hear tonight?"
"i want to hear puff the magic dragon."
"oh, we should get bruce to play that. can you write?"
"no."
"i bet your mom would write it for you."

i ripped off a piece of paper and gave it to her. she was reluctant at first, but did so.

"make sure you write the request is from a 5 year old," i said. she complied, asked me if i was with the band (yeah, if i was, i wouldnt have been wandering the lot asking everyone in sight if they had an extra for tomorrow night), and gave me the paper. i had a stage hand also place it on the grand.

bruce comes on, says something to the effect of "well, this request is from a 5 year old, so i guess we should play it," and busts into the puff. she was stoked and came over and hugged me.

there was a "dancing section" on the side, stage left. thats where i was. when the show started, not a damn person got up. i raged pretty hard, and had the whole section to myself for the first couple of songs before others came by. we all got our groove on pretty hard; like i said the rest of the place remained in their seats ... how i dont know ... but they did.

later in the show, bruce busted into my request, rainbows. he came over and pointed at me and motioned at me for come on stage (not knowing i drew the pic, of course, but i dare say i was boogeying about as hard as anyone in the room and i think that was why). i was rocking pretty hard, but i was reluctant to go up. a crapload of chicks went on up though. about 30 seconds later, bruce came back to our side of the stage and pointed at me again and said "you, come up!" so i did.

first time on stage at a hornsby show, although i know its not a rare occurrence by any means. after the rainbows, bruce mentioned that he wasnt intending to play rainbows but he had to, because of the picture he got, which he noted was probably from the same 5 year old. like i said, when i drew it, i was pretty lit. but i was stoked that he played puff and the rainbows based on requests i got going. first time ive influenced a setlist in any way, i think.

the encore was great. the second encore was even better. a delight to hear probably my two favorite tunes tonight ... rainbows and spider fingers. a truly magnificent evening. hopefully, ill get in tomorrow on my charm and jedi powers.

it was certainly another one of those nights that make you want to quit your job and go on tour. i feel the same way whenever the dead encore with brokedown, and i always feel this way with bruce shows. totally monstrous night. i am buzzing right now, although the party favors have long since worn off.