Joe's Pub reviews?

[Keithjmoon70 at aol.com]

OK.  Here's mine:
 
I get to NYC as tired as a man can be after working 7 days 16/hrs a day for  
two weeks to get past a deadline at work.  After taking an hour and 10  minute 
flight I wondered why I always drove that 12 hr drive.  (Actually I  love to 
drive)
 
I got a ticket to this event only because the lovely and sweet Cynthia  
tipped me off that they were selling them before being announced and told me to  
act quickly.  But I was too late to get a VIP ticket.  Or a  reservation for a 
table.  But at least I was there. I think there were  only 300 people.
 
On the way to the event I saw something I'll not soon forget .   There was 
this big black dude with an attitude walking with a pimp-stride coming  at us.  
What amazed and amused me was that around his neck was a silver  choke chain 
dog leash that was held by his woman who looked tough with her afro  puffs and 
gave me that "that's right!" look as I gave a grin passing.
 
Ok, back to the lecture at hand...
 
Fast-forward to Joe's Pub...Outside we saw that big bus and I touched it  
because I thought that was all I was gonna get that night.
 
Until I turn around and see Rachel and Mikey!  She did look stunning,  
radiant, and as funny as on the show. I chatted with Mark while Mike was  talking to 
her with a few others.  Those Starcke bros. are amazing dudes to  sell out 
for this band like they do.
 
Well, Rachel was free so I walked up and said hello.  I told her that  my 
sister-in-law and I often watch In The Attic and IM each other as the show  plays 
laughing and commenting.  I told her that we can tell that she is the  one 
that is setting Pete free to express things that he's not felt safe or maybe  
able to for years.  She is covering him with her unconditional and  
understanding support.  I also told her that Donna (who has radar) has no  question about 
the true love they share by the looks they give one another and  that Pete is 
able to get some kind of rest with her to which she replied in a  manner that 
I wasn't fooled by: "Well, I just give him a good hard  shagging!" HA!  
 
The first thing I said to her was "You met Jack White, what was he  like?!"  
(Just kidding)  But I did tell her that I was a Raconteurs  fan as well and 
that I was spreading the word about her to other fans and folks  that I know.  
And Mikey was as down as you can be, man!  He was one  cool cat.  He looked 
like he'd just got up off the street or something  wearing a bucket hat and 
half-shaven but man is he approachable.  It's  like he was an old friend or 
something.  Just so comfortable to be with.  I'm gonna get his CD.
 
Well they announced VIP's get in first and peasants go to the end of the  
line.  Knowing my place I went to the back of the line (slight Kinks  reference). 
 Then I got a phone call from Cynthia telling me to come up  there.  So I 
did.  And we went in.  And they sat us right in  front of Rachel one table out 
from the stage.  I couldn't believe  this!  I ordered a steak and alla that and 
ate right in front of the stage  almost.  Cynthia said "Isn't that David Bowie 
over there?"  and I  turned around and said, "It sure looks like him".   
 
The show started.  Jimmy Fallon was kinda funny but my mind was  elsewhere.  
I don't remember who came on in what order but Mike covered  that in his 
fun-to-read post.   I do remember the soft tone in Mikey's  voice when addressing 
the dead crowd as he played saying "come on people" in the  heavy English 
accent that was so endearing.
 
I didn't really know who Martha Wainright was but man, I do now.  She  was 
intense!  I'm gonna check her out.
 
Then Pete came out. We had a pad of paper that we passed to write  comments 
as the show went on (great idea!)  while Pete just took over the  atmosphere 
with his deep, meaningful, passionate, heartfelt songs about the  God that I 
love and the eternal purpose that we are all included in in some  fashion.  He 
stood miles above the other performers. During "Endless  Wire", as I looked at 
the crowd of famous and rich folks,  I wondered  if many at all could 
understand what he was saying.  Or  cared.
 
Then I had to take a piss. Literally.  So I went to do  so.  
 
I was directed down a short hallway and told to turn right and go up some  
stairs.  As I turned right I was backstage sort-of. There was Pete  talking with 
a few people directly behind the stage.  I looked to make sure  it was him 
but I didn't dare go over there and just went up the stairs to do  what I went 
to do.  Then I came back down the stairs that directly faced  Pete and those 
people -about 35 feet way.
 
Then something very surreal happened.  Pete stopped talking to who he  was 
with and looked at me and walked over to me briskly.  I was shocked at  how 
un-shocked I was.  This was the moment I always wondered about.   This was 
cold-turkey, unexpected and point blank.  He took my hand and  touched my back. He 
looked me right in the eye. And as I looked  him in the eye,  I could feel the 
words being drawn out of me.  I only  said five of them.  I said "Pete, I can 
hear you." 
 
He gave his full attention.  His hands are the hands of a working  man.  His 
eyes are the eyes of a caring human being.  He was not a  rock star.  He was 
not an idol.  He was not unapproachable.  He  approached me!  What an 
experience that was.  He is a real man.   I sensed nothing of pride or haughtiness.  He 
wanted to hear what I had to  say.  I was so touched by that!
 
Then we broke our handshake, he went back to the stage and I went back  to my 
table.  Cynthia saw me holding back tears and said "You talked to him  didn't 
you."  and the night just flowed from there. I got his songs on  video from 
that night.  But nothing is as safely recorded as what is  inside of my human 
being now. I couldn't have arranged this one if I  tried.
 
Thank you Cynthia.
 
Jon in Mi.