Hi folks:

Allen and i just got back to the hotel from the show tonight. W O W!!! Double W O W!!! Triple W O W!!!! There is no beginning and no ending for what to say. Waaaaay too much.....

After arriving in Edmonton earlier today, Allen and I headed over to the venue for sound check. Since it took some time a little longer for the equipment trucks to get to Edmonton, sound check started about 5:30 or so instead of about 4:30. Worth the wait - you better believe it.

There was about 19 people including Allen and I at the sound check. A young guy named Steve took care of us. Very personable and cute too. I'll write about sound check later, have to get to the show itself. I've read about the new production and heard about it. To experience it is an entirely different ballgame. The logistics and expense put into the production part is awesome. Before the concert starts, there is a video screen that shows pictures of John through his younger years moving along to his CCR days and beyond. There are various facts about John displayed which all are very interesting. Even some of the stuff we know, it was nice to have it displayed along the way in chronological order. I probably read it somewhere at some point, but did not remember that John wrote his first song at 8 years old. Stuff like this that is just so interesting...anyway, this video lasts about 10-15 minutes or so. After that, at about 8:15, John's band started to take the stage and then shortly thereafter John. Realizing some of this has already been posted, I still feel the need to also put the words down. John starts by taking the pose that is on the inside cover of Pendulum, with his arm extended. There is a sort of digital displaythat is behind him and this display during the shows has multi colored lights, diagrams, etc, that compliment each song. There are multiple video screens one each hanging stage left and stage right and one center stage. Various videos are shown during some of the songs, if not then a video camera shows John on this screen while he is performing. There are fog machines which add a really neat touch to some of the songs, there are blasts of strategically placed flames shooting into the air (yes you can feel the heat) during other songs...there is such a feeling of energy that the whole show gives, you'd think a city could be powered by it.

John's voice shows absolutely no sign of getting weaker - in fact, I could not believe how strong his vocals were tonight. Energy level was through the roof. He talked quite a bit with the crowd before certain songs - a nice story about Woodstock and the Grateful Dead.

Before going on about the production and John and everything else, I better post the set list cause these hotel computers have a way of making things disappear into the "black hole" - at least for me... So the set list first:

Travelin Band
Looking Out My Back Door
Ooby Dooby
Wholl Stop The Rain
Run Through the Jungle
Ramble Tamble
Before You Accuse Me
My Baby Left Me
Grapevine
Up Around the Bend
Long As I Can See the Light
Centerfield
Green River
Born on the Bayou
Joy of my Life
Blue Moon Nighs
Gunslinger
Midnight Special
Hot Rod Heart
Rock and Roll Girls
Lodi
Keep on Chooglin
Have You Ever Seen the Rain
Pretty Woman
Down On the Corner
Old Man Down the Road
Fortunate Son
ENCORE
Hey Tonight
Bad Moon Rising
Proud Mary

Hitting the submit button now and will continue in a bit!!!!

Darlene aka Born on the Bayou