Funny concert story to share tonight . . .
Usually every summer we hit several outdoor music venues for concert being music and outdoor lovers. J This year though, well, Heart of Gold was the two outdoor music concerts I hit (I gave both venues and performances strong thumbs up!) and we passed on most others. We couldn’t go the whole summer though without seeing something so we picked the last concert of the year at Chateau Ste Michelle – a local winery – and got tickets for a great gig – Bonnie Raitt with Mavis Staples as her opener! If you’re only going to make it to one, this was a good one!
Bonnie actually was playing Saturday and Sunday nights. Naturally, the weather was perfect on Saturday night and a little less than perfect for us last night. Actually, while it threatened some rain, it really was plenty warm and we never got wet. Just a bit clouded over. We seem to always luck out with our concert weather but this was the latest we have ever booked a show.
We went along with our good friends Jeff and Tina, also music lovers. The four of us got their more than an hour early but late in comparison to a TON of others. Both shows were sold out. For this one we were straight back but quite a ways back. Still, Glen brought good binoculars and the sound system is great so all was well. Plus Tina and I both packed some good picnic food to go with the nice bottles of wine we purchased – life was good.
And so, of course, were Mavis and Bonnie! Honestly, I didn’t know anything about Mavis Staples. I’m guessing she is in her 70s and reminded me of a cross between Tina Turner and Etta James. The girl can belt out the tunes! We knew – and loved her version – of every song she and her band presented. Great stuff!
The Bonnie and her group was up. She presented old and new stuff – all of it great. She was personable, chatty, clearly happy to be in Seattle and playing to such a large, enthusiastic crowd showing her some love. She played for about an hour before she started in on Angel From Montgomery – one of my favorites by her – and just as she started in on the chorus, ZAP!, KAZAM! ZOW! WOW! – the stage got hit by lightning!!!! Or at least it looked like it did! Turns out the wineries transformer blew which made for the light show but our show was over. All power gone – including the power to tell everyone the show was over! Poor Bonnie!
We all shuffled out of the place at the same time and even with Jeff’s masterful maneuvering in the parking lot we sat there for our share of time. Big deal – we had fun talking about it all.
Walking out, listening to the people around us, everyone seemed surprisingly calm about it all. Everyone seemed to get it sure wasn’t Bonnie Raitt’s fault and honestly, we had gotten a great show in the hour we got her. Of course, it being a diverse world with loads of differing views, there are some growly people on facebook tonight looking for a refund from the concert venue. I think that’s pretty silly but at the same time, it does seem like Chateau Ste. Michelle would be very smart to offer some kind of gesture like a free wine tasting if you show your ticket stub or something like that. I don’t really care though. I felt almost like the abrupt, dramatic ending was a bonus really. We got a great show by Mavis, fabulous show by Bonnie and fun story to tell for years to come – starting with you all!
