Cassi knows some of Guster's songs because she will be cruising with them on the Ships and Dip cruise. Yup, she's a huge BNL fan and is following them south very soon. I have the option to send a video as to why I want to be Scooter for a day (if I win I would go on the same cruise). Scooter is the drum tech for Guster. I introduced Cas to Guster for this reason. She'll get me an autograph (I hope) hehe. Misa saw Guster at the 10,000 hrs show, and knows most of the songs from Goldfly and a few from Keep It Together. Viv and Beth and Huey were there because they'd been with us at the parade, though as Guster themselves wrote on their road journal "There will be 15,000 people there, probably 5% Guster fans, 15% Kansas fans, and 100% drunk people." They were somewhat correct...
Advantages: Lead singer, Brian wore a Hamburg Inn #2 shirt.
They played a rendition of "In Heaven There is No Beer" and a version of "Homecoming King" dedicated to Iowa's newly crowned King and Queen.
Astrophysics Boy was able to make an arrival and only missed a few songs.
Guster also modified "In Heaven" to explain "Guster has no gear, that's why we're singing here" because their drumset and keyboards didn't make it from their last gig. However, I think that makes the IC concert that much more unique. And they did a geat job regardless. (though Brian couldn't play with his hands on a rented drumset...can't get that set bloody or anything)
Drawbacks: Really tall guys standing pretty much right next to me on my right who were very drunk (seemingly) and kept yelling stuff like: Play Dust in the Wind.
And the girls who showed up half way through the concert, and tried to push their way to the front, complete with their tavel sized (luckily plastic) bottle of Smirinof Raspberry. Security (two guys standing on the edge of the stage) didn't seem to mind that at all, as they just looked on and laughed.
The stench/aroma? of marijuana was also an annoyance for me, as I am pretty damn allergic to it, even via contact exposure.
But, advantages outweighed.
Also, last night I had the opp. to be "hired" to videotape an opera production. This was a $65 dollar a seat affair at the hotelVetro in Iowa City. So I got to see the hotelVetro - which appears to be an attempt at a "modern" style, even though to me it came off as more of a "sterile" style. I got to try sushi from Formosa though, which wasn't too bad and give away my drink tickets to those adventurous enough to try Saketinis. I did snag a great looking bottle of VOSS water for my collection.
(I'm not sure I've mentioned my habit of collecting interesting looking bottles that are aesthetically pleasing to my senses/sentimental but I've been doing it for a few years now. There is in fact a Jazz vodka bottle that Astrophysics Boy is working his way through for me, it looks like a trumpet!)
The best part though, was everyone believed I was the sister of the director and why shouldn't they, as she's my twister. (i.e. twin sister in theory)
Not only that, but I got to be incrediably proud of her official professional opera directorial debut. The blocking was great, even though it meant I spent a bit more time panning. Cas did a great job staging Cox and Box in the lobby of the hotel. A triple challenge, because the audience was on EITHER side of the hotel's entrance, it's a public space, and she had only three days to work it all out. It was an enjoyable spectacle and her cast did a lovely job. Cedar Rapids Opera Company would do well to keep her employeed. I just hope the video turned out well, as associated people were clamouring for a copy afterwards.
