A Ravishing, Roaring Good Time in Red Bank, NJ with Tears For Fears in Concert – Count Basie Theater

There was a very tiny blooper where Roland seemed to forget a verse of ELAHE. And it was actually quite awesome. Here’s why…that’s one of many songs with complicated lines I’ve memorised to the very end. So… myself and others who knew it kept right on singing …LOUD. I could hear myself over the few seconds of silence. I quickly piped down but it was too late. Some people turned around and looked at me as if they were trying to figure out the rest of the song. Some people were sitting at this point so I was this lone person in the center of this venue (here we go again). I could feel Roland’s spotlight hitting my back making a shadow on the seats in front of me because I was directly in front of him four rows back. “It’s okay!” I yelled and started hand gesturing the rest of the lyrics. Roland hopped right back into the verse like a pro and we all sang along. It was so much fun. I almost wish he’d pause on purpose and let the audience fill in just for kicks…but anyway…

Bobby cut the song off just before the blooper happened…and that’s perhaps for the best…

It’ll be a moment only G-d and I will remember. I’m sure the Good Sir has washed it from his memory and rightly so, it wasn’t that big of a deal but darn that was fun for those of us who love that song. I enjoyed acting out the words  as ridiculous as I may have looked in that Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter coordinate and tiara. That spotlight was so bright it was impossible to avoid being a spectacle standing there animated, wiggling around to the beat but hey…You only live once… YO-EFFIN-LO.

Another outstanding moment was Curt wearing a very special Ben Sherman shirt and walking over to Silver Kitty so she could see he was wearing her gift. I about died…I was so happy. I’ve yet to have seen that on any of the videos, so again, that’s between us and G-d Almighty.

But two things did get on camera thanks to Mr. Ramos and SK, The Good Man came over just after Head Over Heels and gave Travel Fan, Queen of Kooks, Silver K the coolest of hugs! If any other hugs occurred on the planet that night, they didn’t compare to the one she got. It was so sweet and so caring. Boy did that soothe my soul. We as fans love Curt and his family. G-d bless them. Very sweet Smith Family Rockers…a gentle family with big hearts.

*Thanks SK for prompting me to come stand with you. Thanks to the people next to you who ushered me right on in.

So…the show ends, the lights go up and suddenly all these shiny (drenched) happy people turn around and look at their fellow concert goers that they’ve been dancing and singing next to all evening. “I’ve got pictures of you, let me send them to you,” one began. Then others chimed in showing each other their pictures and immediately texting these perfect strangers all of their photos.

One person in particular was Bob Ramos, a music guru with a long history in music education…yeah, he was there too! Isn’t that the coolest?! “I’ve got pictures of you, and you…and you, too!” he said as he pointed to each person near the stage. We exchanged email addresses and chatted for a few minutes (very briefly because security was trying to clear that place out). But then something odd happened…people started hugging…and kissing…and smooching each other goodbye. People that had never even met before…even I was gently kissed by strangers a few times and not a pop kiss on the cheek either, a full on frontal smack on the lips. In our not so tidy states of joy THAT happened…and you know what ::whispering:: I liked it! #TFFUtopia

I remember turning back around to one of the rather skilled darlings (he clearly had a PhD from the University of Pucker-Up and shall remain nameless) to give him a compliment on his kindness. I dropped a loving line and walked away for fear I might be so bold and ask for another. For shame, indeed. That’s perhaps an overshare. But we’re all friends now. It was all in the name of love. Still rarely a dull moment in this crew, eh? Speaking of moments, did I mention Kris slid Roland some chocolate in the middle of the show! LOL! He leaned right over and loved it! #ChocolateTennisRacket for the win! So cute!!

Drummer Genius Jamie Wollam was very generous with  drum sticks this tour. He not only gave out the pair he played with that night but also brand new ones to various people. He threw a drum stick toward Bobby (who already had a pair from the Tulsa Oklahoma show) and Bobby caught it…and gave it to a sweet man who happened to be in a wheelchair in front of him. Made that man’s night! Huge thanks to Jamie for being so accommodating to many of the dears and giving encouraging and kind words throughout their time with the band.

We finally left the concert area, well some of us anyway… Bobby went backstage and had a long chat with Roland about music, song meanings and other stuff. Several Travel Fans hung out near Carina, our man Mr. Ramos got some drum sticks and a set list signed…and as he put it, had his “expectations met like a MOFO.”

We had entirely too much fun not only with the band but with fellow fans. We played and chatted like kids and teens with new and old fan family as they came out from backstage. Curt had to jet but when I checked my phone I found he had left me a really nice note. I cherish things like that. He didn’t have to say anything at all but he did…he did a lot of things. Gestures are everything. To finish up our outstanding evening we went over to the best, authentic Mexican Restaurant on the planet before heading back to the hotel. It’s called North of the Border and it’s not far from the train. Go eat there! It’s incredible!

!!!IT WAS SUCH AN AWESOME NIGHT!!! Sadly words and these descriptions can’t really sum up the event. It was one of those, “you had to be there” occasions. There are so many people to thank including the Angels of Mercy that got us there. What more can we say? Muchisimas Gracias, Dalu, Salamat, Merci and THANK YOU!