So I promised an update about my wonderful James Blunt, so here it goes. I am sure this will take more than one sitting to write. =) (Just so you know, I started this on 2-25. Ha ha)
We got to the theater at 5:30. The doors did not open for another half hour, but since the seating was General Admission, we wanted to make sure we got good seats, so we arrived early. There were already about 100 people in line, but it could have been worse. And honestly, I wouldn't have been able to stand out there longer than I did. It was only about 20 degrees outside, and I was frozen to the core by the time they let us in.
We were lucky to be standing in line behind a woman that knew the theater well. In fact, she had just been there the week before for a different concert. She told us that there were no seats on the lower level--it was standing room only. Since the concert did not start until 7:30, and dear JB would most likely not be on until 8:30 or 9, we decided not to stand for 3 and a half hours waiting. Instead, we wanted balcony seats. Somewhere we could still see James (hopefully) but be seated and comfortable throughout the night. These women, Sarah and Caroline, wanted to go get dinner, so they asked us to save seats for them. In return they'd buy us a drink. No-brainer, right?
So they finally open the doors at 6, which is good because I'm a popsicle by now. They have guys separate from girls to be patted down. Well, you can imagine how many men were at a James Blunt concert--not many. I bet there was only one male to every four females. So my husband got into the theater way before me. I assumed we'd be far back in a big huge theater. Not so. I ran up the stairs once I finally got in and saw him sitting in the 5th row of the balcony. And the theater was not nearly as big as I thought. We could still clearly see the stage. I knew I'd get a good look at my JB.
Sara Barellis (or however you spell her name) was the opening act. She was very good; better than the song on the radio makes her out to be. But this post is not about Sara. It's about James.
So out comes James at 9. I've been waiting to see him since 5:30. I am PUMPED. He was absolutely, fantastically amazing. The man has a wonderful voice, but he can really perform as well. He connects with the audience, and he allows us to see the passion he has put into each and every song.
One of the first songs he sang is a favorite of mine:
I really want you to really want me but I really don't know if you can do thatI know you want to know what's right but I know it's so hard for you to do thatAnd time's running out as often it does and often dictates that you can't do thatBut fate can't break this feeling inside; it's burning up through my veinsI really want youI really want you-oooI really want you, nooooooowNo matter what I say or doThe message isn't getting throu-oughAnd you're listening to the sound....of my breaking hea-aa-artHe got louder and louder each time he sang that chorus. It was very powerful. I love it.
A few songs later, JB went to sit at the piano. The entire crowd erupted in screams because we knew that meant "Goodbye My Lover" was next. He told a story about how a survey was done, and "You're Beautiful" was the number one song played at weddings, and "Goodbye My Lover" was the most played song at funerals. He joked about finding songs for other occasions such as Bar Mitzvahs. He did say that the next song was for divorces. It's titled "I'll Take Everything." Everyone chuckled.
And then the moment came. After "I'll Take Everything," James played the first few notes of "Goodbye My Lover" and the crowd exploded and then quieted just as fast. The audience is totally silent during this song. It's quite eerie in a way, but wonderful because all you hear is James's heart-wrenching voice and his fingers hitting the keys of the piano (and then later pounding them).
Goodbye my loverGoodbye my friendYou have been the oneYou have been the one for me.....During the second verse of this chorus, James was pounding on the piano like a madman and singing/screaming to his hearts content. If I were closer, I would have looked for tears running down his cheeks. Then just as suddenly, he quiets to the point where you must strain to hear him sing:
I still hold your hand in mineIn mine when I'm asleepAnd I will bear my soul in timeWhen I'm kneeling at your feet.This is when everyone sings the chorus while JB just plays the piano for us. It was fantastic.
"Shine On" was performed amazingly as well. He changed it up a bit with long pauses in the middle, which made everyone scream with anticipation. He is such a goofball with all the funny faces he makes as he sings. I think that makes me love him even more since I am such a dorky dingus as well.
Whoever sets up the lighting for this show is a genius. The backdrops are amazing. I can't even explain most. But my favorite was the back-projection camera. They are small cameras on the mics, and they projected the images on a big screen behind the band. You could see James right up close, singing to his heart's content, as well as his band members jamming along. It was a fantastic idea. I captured a few nice pictures on my phone so I can see my JB at anytime.
I have several songs of his recorded on my phone. They aren't the best quality, but at least I have my Jamesy on my phone, live, anytime I want to listen to him. I recorded my favs: "I Really Want You," "Goodbye My Lover," "Shine On," and "You're Beautiful."
It was a night to remember. I love James Blunt. I really adore him. Seeing him live just makes me fall deeper in love with him than I thought possible. Live music is just the best.
