May 20, 2002 Concert Photos
About the show
We arrived at the Wohhlfahrt Haus Theatre at around 7 PM, an hour before the show started. I wanted to mingle a bit with the people and see if I could find anyone that was a member of the list We parked the car pretty far out because there wasn't enough parking places in the front of the place. It wasn't too far, just not right in the front door. I went into the main area of the Theatre which was where Don's people and the people from Highway 101 were selling merchandise. I went straight to Don's table because I really wanted to buy a shirt. I hadn't been able to previously find out whether or not his people were going to be selling merchandise there or not so I had a shirt made with the New Moves album cover on it. I just like that picture. Yes I know it's totally illegal to make your own concert shirts but I dont plan to sell it or anything like that. I just wanted a shirt to wear to the concert so I could have something and *IF* Don happened to see me (which I think he did) he would *KNOW* that I wasn't just there with my mom, that I was actually there because I wanted to be there. Anyhow, while I was at the merchandise table the guy selling stuff commented on it. He liked the color. I had put the picture on a blue shirt. Who knows, maybe I gave them a new idea for colors or something. Don really does look great on blue. Anyhow, I ended up buying a Gentle Giant shirt and going into the little girl's room to change into it. It looked great on me. My mom decided to wear my other shirt so now we both had Don shirts on. I was still walking around maybe hoping to catch Don someplace in there. I really did know that he wasn't in there and there wasn't a chance that I was going to see him but I went into the bar/restuarant anyhow just to look around and see if he or some of his band was there. No one interesting was there other than the casual drunk and a few people eating. By this time the show was starting. I had already heard that he wasn't signing anything but I had already thought up a plan for after the show. My plan was this: the moment the show was over I would be out the door and go to that big blue/purple bus I saw earlier outside parked by the stage exits. By the time I had hatched this little plan it was 8PM and the show was starting so I went into the theatre area where the stage was and found our seats which happened to be located in the 3rd section back, on stage level in the center! We watched an hour of Highway 101. I had never really listened to any of their stuff before but they were pretty good. They played until around 8:45 and then there was a 15 minute intermission. I went back out into the lobby area where everyone else was at and was talking to Highway 101 who by then had went out to sign things and do pictures. I had a picture with them and found myself talking to their very cute guitarist. I asked him if there was any possible way that he might be able to get me to Don, thinking that since he had that all access pass he would be allowed back stage. He actually gave it some thought. Maybe he felt sorry for me or something but then said that he didn't know for sure where Don was so I didn't get to see him at that point. I had them sign my cup the theatre had provided me with when I bought a canned soda (why they gave me a plastic cup for that I dont know but at least it was good for an autograph) and after the cup signing I heard something going on in the theatre. They were setting up Don's stuff. I went back to Don's merchandise table to look at the CDs one more time and I bought the Live CD that was the same as the show we were about to see. I ended up getting 2 free photos (they give you one for every $20.00 you spend) I saw people rushing back into the theatre so I went too. I found my seat and sat in it. At this point I dont think it would have been possible to go in reverse and get out of the place should one need to do that because of all the people coming in. The show started. Don came out on stage along with his band and they started singing "Good Ole Boys Like Me". He went through the usual routine and at one point in the show some people very quietly over to my left put up a 'happy birthday Don' banner on the wall. He sang 3 more songs before he noticed that and he was just finishing "The Ties That Bind" when he saw it. Once he was finished singing the song the audience sang "Happy Birthday" to him. He said a few words and then started singing again. I really like the way he talks, all slow laid back and easy. Anyhow, we got a 1 hour and 15 minute show according to my watch because he came on at 9 and didn't walk off the stage until 10:15 PM. Like I mentioned earlier, I had this little plan. I thought it was a pretty good plan myself. I went outside, down the sidewalk to the end of the building and the bus was still parked there. I assumed that since it was a nice big bus and it was still there that it was Don's. I ended up waiting there hiding in the shadows of the building for about 35 minutes. During the time I was waiting the driver (?) got off the bus. I asked him if Don was coming out. He said no, that he had already left. Now, knowing what a great escape artist Don has been known to be, I thought that maybe this guy was actually going in to get him and he was just telling me that to get me out of there so I wouldn't see Don when he came back out. I waited a few more minutes and the driver guy came back out. This time he had a plate of take out food and just got back on the bus. I dont think he saw me that time. I was still watching for him and this other guy came up behind me and said hello. I swear I thought it was Don before I turned around. Once I had turned myself around to face this guy I saw a tall guy, not as tall as Don and not quite as old, looking back at me with a cheap imitation 'Don hat' that looked somewhat like the one Don wears but more like a K-Mart special. It was evident that this guy was trying to look like Don and he was doing a pretty good job with the voice and accent but he just didn't have the looks. He asked me if I had seen Don yet and I told him no. He was also looking for him. He said he was going to check out the motel next to the theatre and see if he was there and left. I hung around for about 10 more minutes then left. I later found out that I was waiting at the wrong bus. Someone told me about Don's "Gypsy Lady" just days after the concert but I didn't happen to see that one sitting around either, come to think of it...Just the newer bus. I do hope to meet him someday soon.