OH. MY. GOSH.
Taylor, you were my first. I waited through six seasons of American Idol for someone like you - someone who could make me say, “WHOA! I LOVE this voice!” - someone who could make me just not WAIT to see them in their own concert… and you were the one and last Friday night was the night.
THE VENUE:
House of Blues, Dallas, Texas. What a terrific place for concerts; it’s new, it’s not too big, not too small, and the accoustics are outstanding. We (hubby and I invited another couple) arrived shortly before 7, and after a quick search of our purses, and the whole-body wand treatment that we all got, they trapped this lovely paper bracelet around our wrists and waved us through to stand in line or wait in the bar or restaurant. (care to guess which we chose?) Yep! Taylor wasn’t supposed to start until 8 and there was no opening act, so we had plenty of time to have a drink and eat a bite in the HOB Restaurant before finding our seats.
ALL of the reserved seating is in the balcony; the floor is General Admission, Standing Room Only, and since we entered the venue from the HOB restaurant instead of the outside doors, I didn’t get a chance to see how crowded the floor was, but looking around after we were seated in the balcony, I saw almost no empty seats anywhere.
There are three sections in the balcony - Left Side, Center, and Right Side.
There are only two “Box Seat” areas - on the Left Side, and on the Right Side.
The Center Section has no box seats; instead the first row is aligned with the
first row of the Box Seats. THAT is the part that I find weird! I see NO advantage to paying $30 more per seat for Box Seats, other than the fact that
those seats swivel, and the rest do not. (makes me glad now that there were none available when we purchased ours) The cocktail waiters and waitresses served everyone in the balcony - in their seats. I had already been told there are no bad seats at the HOB”, and found it to be true, as we were in the third row of the Center section and could see everything and everyone on stage, as well as their expressions, perfectly.
TAYLOR, THE BAND, AND THE MUSIC:
OH. MY. GOSH. I cannot tell you how absolutely, utterly awesome every song was! I thought I loved almost every song on the album, but that was before seeing Taylor and his band live and hearing those same songs ramped up several notches. I didn’t recognize his opening song (something about wanting to “kiss you, but you’re too tall”), but it set the stage for a really lively and fun show, and the audience didn’t need much to get into Taylor Hicks - he had us with the first note.
Of course there were lots of mentions of Da’lis, Texas, which in turn prompted the overhead lights to come on every time, with much applause
from the audience.
Couple of notes: At no time throughout the entire concert did
Taylor or anyone EVER hawk his album! (Is this normal?) At one time, in appreciation of the sax player, someone threw a huge pair of white granny panties on the stage. (the sax player never came forward when he was in the spotlight again!) Taylor carefully stepped over the panties, and then kicked them off the side of the stage.
Every single one of the band was outstanding, absolutely OUTSTANDING! And they ALL had the spotlight several times. I think most of them have been touring with Taylor all along? I don’t remember the base player, but he must have been taking dancing lessons from Taylor. He did a LOT of hopping up and down and just a lot of Taylor Moves!
They performed every song on the album EXCEPT for “Dream Myself
Awake”, “Places I’ve Been”, and “Hell of a Day” (the bonus track from WalMart). “Give Me Tonight” was a big shocker to me - it was their second song of the night, and SOOOOOO much better than on the album I almost didn’t recognize it! I don’t know how they can segue in and out of so many songs so seamlessly, but “The Maze” seemed to be the one that meshed with several of the others. Taylor played the guitar on almost every song and of course blew us away with the harmonica on many of them.
Once again he encouraged the audience to participate in the beginning of “The Right Place”, even laying the mike down on the floor facing those standing at the front. “Young Turks was a crowd pleaser, and “Medicated Goo” seemed endless - the sheer energy of that song is
exhausting! Taylor sang several of his originals: “Heart and Soul”, “Soul Thing”, “The Deal”, and another one he wrote that I’ve never heard before: “My Friend”. It was so pretty. I hope we hear it again, maybe on his next album?
All in all, it was the single best concert I’ve ever attended, and though
our friends were never huge Taylor fans, they came away with a new appreciation of his many talents, not the least of which was his voice. I understand his concerts keep getting better, and as we were“taking the long way home” Sunday night, I couldn’t help thinking that Taylor Hicks was so worth the wait.
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Taylor Hicks has been chosen by the Blues Historian as Artist of the Week.
Anyway, this statement about Taylor is interesting :
It is also obvious that Simon hated the guy, so he must be good:-) I am not a fan of American Idol, or music competitions for that matter. I don’t think it is right to pit artist against artist to see who is the best. Although I do see a benefit from participating in a contest. Hopefully better exposure, and more gigs. However, choosing who is the best artist is like apples and oranges.
I like Hicks voice, and he seems to have a respect for the music. So he is ok in my book.
BTW, Desdemona, the Dallas HOB venue is listed as having 1,600 seating capacity. In the Orlando concert 2 days later, the audience was estimated at about 7,500.
LBB, I don’t know how many the floor holds and how many are reserved seats. As I mentioned, the only seating is in the balcony and the whole floor is standing room only.
The balcony appeared to be way full - I saw only a sprinkling of seats not occupied - about 5 to 10 max in the whole Center section where we were. I couldn’t ’see’ any vacant ones in the other two sections because they appeared to all be full.
Hey !!!! Des and LBB !!! Man, I wish I could see him again !!! He hasn’t really been anywhere near WV for awhile. I can not fathom loving this soul-singer STILL to this very day !!!….eeesh !!
I meant that in a good way..
Hi sarahinwv,
Know what you mean - my husband teases me, but I have just been so taken with the guy’s voice from the moment I heard him audition, and kept saying “YES!” every week when he was safe!
Wonderful review Desdemona!!! I have loved Taylor’s voice since “First Cut Is the Deepest” (Hollywood round) and have had the privilege of seeing him live 3 times. I will never get tired of watching him jam with the band or play his harmonica. I wish he was coming to my part of the country again but will have to wait until he tours again.
Thanks, dante - I didn’t want to leave the other night - wanted him to sing more, more, more! :) I don’t get tired of hearing him sing. Am beginning to hear “Heaven Knows” on the radio every time I run errands - when I’m not playing a cd. Once in a while they will play “Just to Feel That Way”.
Thanks for the great recap dante..You make want to see Taylor live again. Only time I saw him was at the idol concert last year. Sounds like you had a blast!
I meant Des note dante.. my bad
No, really, Desdemona, tell us how you really feel. ;-)
Thanks for the recap, and how wonderful that got to enjoy a musical performance that much. There’s nothing like a kick-ass concert!
Desdemona
Trust me!!! I have been to see Taylor 10 or 12 times- each time I leave trying to figure out how I can next see him. Never in my life has a performer made me even want to see them more than once certainly not numerous times But I can tell so far not only have I not tired of him he has become addictive- you just want MORE
Oh.my.gosh des!
Your recap is too cute !
I loved this recap. :) Glad you had such a great time!
ealbino, janerazor, hicksaholic, carolina, pj, dante, sarahinwv, LBB….
Thanks!
http://i16.tinypic.com/4um1so9.gif
Nice recap - wish I was there! Altho I have to say I don’t understand how you’ve not heard of “My Friend” since it’s on his Under the Radar CD which I think most every Taylor fan has burned about 16 copies of….
I don’t know why I had never heard it either, calimari, but for some reason it wasn’t on my radar - see, some of those songs on the Under the Radar cd I’m not really that crazy about and I never bought the cd. I love, love, love a lot of his originals - “Somehow”, “The Fall”, “Heart and Soul”, “Soul Thing” (like the original better than on the Taylor Hicks cd), “The Deal” (one of my favorites on the TH cd), “Hell of a Day”. I DON’T care for “West Texas Sky” (and I LIVE in West Texas)…….
Anyway, the concert was awesome - Taylor was awesome, the band was awesome!
Desdemona~ Loved reading your recap! Taylor live is simply the best isnt he? His joy for music shines through in every song he sings, and you made me want to go see him again! lol Hope he comes near me again soon. Glad you had such a great time. :)
Thank you, later. I missed his Spring Tour when he came to the Dallas area (even though I’m over 300 miles from there, it’s still the best city for me to see him) But everyone says his summer tour is even better than the spring tour was. Don’t know how it can get any better unless they just play longer! LOL
Des - I didn’t care for West Texas Sky at first either, now I like it fine - but “My Friend” is the song I tend to skip on that CD. I’m frustrated that I can’t get all the words, altho I like the Orleans jazziness of it. I was really hoping to see him in Niagara tomorrow night but sick kitty called off the road trip.
calimari, I had the same feeling about West Texas Sky. It wasn’t a favorite when I first heard it, but it’s one of the more meaningful to me now.
I’ve seen Taylor live 5 times. He’s been different in every show. Sometimes the band is tight and sometimes loose and jammy, but ALWAYS he and they have tremedous energy put on an incredible show and I’ve never had a bad time.
Well, I listened to West Texas Sky again, cal & Mary, and I remember now what I DO like about - it’s the guitar at the beginning - it’s not West Texas to me, but beautiful Flamenco guitar. :)
Great recap Desdemona-Taylor’s concerts are fantastic!!
In the Orlando concert 2 days later, the audience was estimated at about 7,500.
Little Boy Blue-I attended the Orlando concert and it was before the Dallas concert at Hard Rock Live. Orange Beach Alabama audience was estimated at 7,500.
Loved your recap and enthusiasm, Desdemona! Great concert in Dallas. I was there, of course, Taylor was in Texas. I have been to Spring and Summer concerts and I justcan’t get enough of the musician.
Thanks for the inspired recap Desdemona. I’m sorry to say that I only saw Taylor once in NYC and once on the AI 5 tour. I’m afraid I’ll have to wait too long to see him again. A Taylor hiatus is in the works and it makes me so sad…….