Another Great Concert Review From One Of Our Readers

Kent, 
It is just wonderful to see all the concert reviews!  For one thing, it is great to see so many concert opportunities.  For another, it is heart-warming to read someone else's words on the subject. (positive and not-so-positive included) 
Shelley  
Then you're going to LOVE today's feature ... another superstar event with lots of big names from our favorite decade of music ... read on!  (kk)   

kk - 

I, too, attended the Alan Parsons Project show Saturday night in anticipation of an incredible evening of music. You don't mention your seating location, but mine was main floor center, 10 rows from the stage. From my vantage point, singer P.J. Olson was obviously battling a cold, stepping back from the mic several times to cough, causing him to turn his back to the audience and go off stage. Several times his voice cracked to reach notes he otherwise would have attained. Hats off to the "show must go on" effort, but it was painful at times to see him struggle. I also thought (perhaps in part to cover the vocals) the mix of the concert was overcompensated. Maybe with the sound board off center, tucked in the left corner, this lead to a muddied mix. But it was not clear and too loud for a small venue. Several times I thought if Alan Parsons, with all his engineering prowess heard the show from the seats, he would have dropped the guitar and manned the board.
But having stated the aforementioned flaws, I am aware of Alan Parsons significance in rock history, the scope of his work and the huge success of his recordings. I was glad I attended and knocked off another must see live acts from the bucket list. But having seen most big name acts in rock live in concert, this was not a "top five" show from for me. The Live From Madrid concert dvd from several years ago is a much better representation of what the Alan Parsons Project at their best should sound like.
Walt
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

As a first time experience for me, I can honestly say that we were COMPLETELY blown away ... in total awe of this great act.  I will agree that PJ had a couple of vocal issues in the first show ... but Eric Woolfson left some pretty big shoes to fill vocally.  And (as mentioned in this column before) I will agree that the sound system at The Arcada Theatre seems to always be a little heavy on the bass end ... this is most evident when the artists speak between songs (and was a REAL issue the other night at "The Wrecking Crew" screening when at times you could actually feel the seats rattling ... this is something they will have to address during the next round of renovations.)  But I stand by my review ... having seen as many concerts as I have, this one ranks, without question, as one of the best EVER. (I will have to check out the Madrid DVD you referred to ... because if that blows THIS show away, then this sounds like a "must have" purchase for me!  Although, as I recall, Parsons made a comment during one of the shows that the NEW shows they were filming would be better than the Madrid disc currently on the market.)  kk  

How good was it?  Judge for yourself.  Here's a short clip posted on the Onesti Entertainment website this week.  (You should link this to our concert review, Ron, to give fans the TOTAL experience!!!)  kk

And, speaking of great shows at The Arcada, here's a special offer for another one, coming up in October.  Here's your chance to save 20% on tickets to see Tommy James and the Shondells!  

This week's promo code is TOMMY20  for 20% off Tommy James and The Shondells OCT 25 - 8 PM "Hanky Panky," "Mony Mony," "I Think We're Alone Now," "Crimson and Clover," "Crystal Blue Persuasion," "Draggin' The Line" ... The music of Tommy James is heard continuously, everyday, in every country in the world: on radio, television or a film soundtrack. To date, he's sold over 100 million records and has been awarded 23 gold singles plus nine gold and platinum albums. Expires May 21, 2014 at Midnight

Use online at www.oshows.com

And now on with the show ...

***  

We're hearing about more and more of these "package shows" ... much like the old days with things like Dick Clark's Caravan Of Stars tours. 

This particular concert review, sent in by Forgotten Hits Reader Jim Foster, sounds especially interesting ... check it out!

KOOL 103.1 CARAVAN OF STARS Saturday, May 10, 2014

Carl Perkins Civic Center

Jackson, Tennessee

Featuring Ronnie Dove, 

Grace Broussard (Dale & Grace), 
Beverly Bremers, Don Ciccone 
(Critters, Four Seasons, 

Tommy James & The Shondells), 

Jimmy Gilmer , Billy Joe Royal and 
The Cowsills (Susan, Bob and Paul)

I was so excited when I first heard about this show and decided that I definitely had to go to see all my favorite stars. I had a great time in Jackson, meeting and talking to all the stars and, most of all, to have a chance to see all the music I grew up performed live.  The KOOL 103.1 Caravan Of Stars shows should be on your list as a must see.  I loved the show and Jackson so much I am returning in October for the next one! 

I had the time of my life in Jackson before, during and after the concert.  Who would ever think that in the heart of Tennessee there is a 50,000 watt powerhouse oldies station playing more great oldies than probably any other station in the country?  Jackson is located between Memphis and Nashville.  How many stations have you heard play Billy Stewart’s ‘Summertime’ and Spirit’s ‘I Got A Line On You’ lately?  It was so refreshing to hear some great oldies while searching the dial through all the country music stations in Tennessee. 

Gerald Hunt, Sr. and his son are very special people who love oldies and the artists that they bring to Jackson.  It was a total surprise to me to see Gerald.  I knew I recognized him as I had seen him working hard bringing us the Sonny Geraci Birthday Benefit and Fundraiser in Streetsboro, Ohio last fall.  What a super guy and pleasant surprise!  We need more people like him! The best part of his shows are the Meet and Greet before, at intermission and after the shows.  It was great meeting, talking to and being able to get memorabilia signed as well as being able to purchase pictures, t-shirts, CD’s and DVD’s of their music!  You will definitely have a great time I promise you!    

Ronnie Dove  
From the very first moment I met Ronnie Dove he became a great friend.  I have all of Ronnie’s music in my collection and, to be honest, sometimes you overlook some of the greatest music when you have so much.  After meeting and hearing Ronnie, I will be listening to his music more often for sure.  Ronnie is a true talent and very professional.  He loves his fans and really knows how to ‘Wow’ an audience.  I was treated to one of the best performances I have ever seen as Ronnie opened the show.  I can honestly say that I love all of his music and hope to see him again soon.  My friends Tom Diehl and George Greene have been friends with Ronnie Dove for a long time and I was treated to a preview of his new CD coming out on Real Gone Records in July.  It’s fantastic, believe me!  Ronnie has a great website, ronniedove.com.  Ronnie tells a lot of great stories about his encounters during his career.  One of the best is his association with Jimmy Elledge. He always does one of Jimmy’s songs at every performance.  If you ever get the chance to see him, do it!  You won’t be sorry.  
SET LIST:  Mountain Of Love; Right Or Wrong; When Likin' Turns To Lovin'; Cry; One Kiss For Old Time's  Sake; A Little Bit Of Heaven; Funny How Time Slips Away (duet with Billy Joe Royal - a Tribute To Jimmy Elledge)   

Grace Broussard (Dale & Grace)  
One of the very first performers I met at Jackson was Grace Broussard of Dale and Grace and her sisters.  Grace is a very talented lady with a wonderful family.  I loved watching her sing on stage.  It was so wonderful to see her as she usually performs with her family in the area where they live.  She is a real treat and you don’t want to miss seeing her!  It was so great watching her and Billy Joe Royal sing the Dale and Grace hits.  It was definitely one of my personal favorite highlights of the show!

SET LIST:  Let The Good Times Roll; Hey Baby; Stop And Think It Over  (with Billy Joe Royal); I'm Leavin' It All Up To You  (with Billy Joe Royal)   

Beverly Bremers  
I have always been a fan of Beverly Bremers and her music.  It was fantastic seeing her perform live.  She is definitely one beautiful and talented lady.  I especially enjoyed meeting her and talking with her about her career and music. I definitely am looking forward to seeing her perform again soon!  She has a new CD that I just absolutely love with some great sixties classics on it! 
Her set list included Joy To The World (with the Cowsills); a Sixties Girl Medley that included I'm Sorry; Where The Boys Are; It's My Party; Downtown; Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow; You Can't Hurry Love and You Don't Have To Say You Love Me, followed by her own hit Don't Say You Don't Remember.  She topped that off with a medley from Hair that featured Hair (with the Cowsills); Easy To Be Hard and Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In   

Don Ciccone (Critters, Four Seasons, 
Tommy James & The Shondells)  
Don Ciccone is fantastic and puts on a great show!  I remember Don mostly from his years with the Critters and one of my all time favorites is ‘Don’t Let The Rain Fall On Me’.  Don performed his two classics from his days with the Critters.  He then told us about being almost drafted during the Viet Nam war and decided to enlist.  After his service, he said that Frankie Valli called him, asking him to be a member of the Four Seasons.  He said ‘Yes’ and the rest is history!  Don also was musical director and a member of Tommy James & The Shondells!  It was great hearing him sing all the classics!  I would definitely love to see him again soon!

SET LIST:  Younger Girl; Mr. Dieingly Sad; Hanky Panky; I Think We're Alone Now; Mony, Mony; Can't Take My Eyes Of You; Who Loves You and December, 1963 (Oh What A Night)   

Jimmy Gilmer  
Jimmy is one of my all time favorite artists! He still has it and I absolutely loved his performance in Jackson.  From ‘Sugar Shack’ to ‘Bottle Of Wine’ he had the place rocking and singing along!  I loved hearing him sing ‘Bottle Of Wine’ with the rare additional verse and ‘Come On React’.  He had us all singing with him.  I really want to see him again.  Meeting Jimmy and spending time talking with him was a real highlight of my trip to Jackson for the Caravan Of Stars Concert!

SET LIST:  Sugar Shack; Daisy Petal Pickin'; Every Day (a Tribute to Buddy Holly); Come On React and Bottle Of Wine (with additional verse)   

John Ford Coley  
I have always been a John Ford Coley fan ... since his early days with Southwest FOB along with Dan Seals.  It was a real treat to meet him and hear him sing and perform live for the very first time.  I absolutely love John and his music. I especially enjoyed the stories he told before performing some of his classic songs. John is very talented and treated me like an old friend at the hotel and during the meet and greet at the concert.  I loved all the hits and especially his duet of the Everly Brothers classic ‘Devoted To You’ with Susan Cowsill.  One of the highlights of the night was his song ‘Soldier In The Rain’, which he dedicated to all the veterans in attendance. (He received a standing ovation for that one.)  He also performed and dedicated the song that was Dan Seals' and his favorite song to perform, ‘Love Is The Answer’. A great moment!  I am really looking forward to seeing him again soon! You definitely have to see him!

SET LIST:  We'll Never Have To Say Goodbye Again; Nights Are Forever With You; Devoted To You (with Susan Cowsill followed by a Classical Piano Solo; then Soldier In The Rain; I'd Love To See You Tonight and Love Is The Answer   

Billy Joe Royal  
I absolutely love Billy Joe Royal. This was the second time I have seen him perform. I saw him in Streetsboro, Ohio, last fall at the Sonny Geraci Birthday-Benefit Concert.  He is a very warm and kind person and is loved by his fans as well as his fellow stars.  Everyone, including myself, were totally surprised as him came out in a tuxedo for his performance in Jackson. I found myself singing along with Billy Joe and I don’t sing much.  It always gives me chills to hear him sing ‘I Knew You When’.  It was fun seeing Susan Cowsill run out and sing backup on ‘My Girl’.  Billy Joe sang an outstanding version of ‘Mack The Knife’  I am a Billy Joe Royal fan for life!  

Billy Joe's set list included Cherry Hill Park; My Girl (Susan - Background Vocals; I Knew You When (False Start - I loved it; I Knew You When; Burned Like A Rocket; Mack The Knife (he did an Outstanding Version and Down In The Boondocks (complete with his dance moves ... and he broke into a smile when he saw John Ford Coley on backup vocals!)   

The Cowsills  
I have been wanting to see the Cowsills for such a long time and finally had the opportunity in Jackson.  I was told how great they are from their fellow music stars and my friends who have seen them.  They were right! The Cowsills were amazing.  Susan, Bob and Paul really know how to put on a show. I had the opportunity to meet and talk with all of them. They are so much fun to be around and it was definitely a major highlight of my trip.

Do not miss the Cowsills!  I love their music and plan to see them every chance I get!

Set List:  The Rain, The Park & Other Things; Indian Lake; Silver Threads & Golden Needles; Helplessly Hoping; Love American Style; I Think I Love You and 

Hair

You can find more pictures and items at:

https://www.facebook.com/jwfosterkc

-- Jim Foster

NEIL SEDAKA - A Guest Concert Review

Forgotten Hits Reader David Lewis saw Neil Sedaka live in concert over the weekend ... and couldn't wait to tell us all about it.  (Sounds like one hell of a show!)  I haven't seen Neil since the '70's but thoroughly enjoyed both shows I attended, once as the opening act for America and then a year later, back as a headliner on his own.

Sounds like these days you get a wide variety of musical styles during a Sedaka show ... but he's still in great voice and still entertaining audiences all over the world.

Here's David's review ... 

How many songwriter / singers have been writing successfully for 60 years? Yes, 60! It’s not easy to think of many. And what singers can we think of who sound precisely the same today as they sounded in 1959? Again, it’s a short list. To add one more requirement to the list, who is as creative today as they were just before the Brits upset the apple cart? Well, there’s one person topping my list: It’s Neil Sedaka.

We saw Neil performing with the Nashville Symphony Saturday night (the third of a three-night run), and his show is simply magnificent. His voice is so well–oiled one has to listen intently to hear the slightest roughness, and that’s on the low notes! Sedaka gave us a solid two hours, and kept us spellbound throughout the surprising second-half of his show.

The first part of Neil’s act is just as you’d expect: He plays all the old hits, beginning with “Oh! Carol”, though he didn’t mention he wrote it because of young Carol Klein, aka Carole King. He went on to do the rest of the early hits such as “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen”, “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”, and several others. He talks about something serious happening in late ’63 that sidelined him for 12 years, and then picks up with his friend / collaborator Elton John helping Neil return to the pop charts. Neil performed all of these songs to perfection with the backing of the symphony, which included a full drum kit, electric guitar, and a blending of instruments that provided the right “feel” of 60s pop. He interspersed commentary between the songs and raved about the delightful way Toni Tennille performed the Grammy award-winning “Love Will Keep Us Together.”

After an intermission, he returned and said he now wanted to do something different, which was a return to his roots. Neil was awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Julliard School of Music at the age of 9, and has always been a serious student of classical music. He recently wrote a piano concerto “Manhattan Intermezzo”, which he performed with the symphony at this show – and it was indeed the surprise of the evening. This classical piece is enough to make any die-hard rock and roll fan want to listen to more of the classics. The composition is bright, light, and airy – and just plain fun. Sedaka’s classical style would remind one of Gershwin or Copland, and throughout the performance I would hear similarities to Neil’s early pop songs. Hearing his fingers running around that keyboard, one wouldn’t think a 74 year old was playing.

Sedaka also talked about his family: His wife of 51 years, his two children and his grandchildren. During the second half of the show, he also performed later hits such as “Laughter In The Rain” and the ballad version of “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.” A few more of his later songs and some more short classical compositions rounded out the evening, and the crowd was on its feet.

The only blatantly missing piece from this show was “Bad Blood.” I’m surprised it was not included, considering Neil’s mention of Elton and Rocket Records.

This tour only makes a few stops this year, and if it comes to your town you won’t regret attending. Neil Sedaka has changed with the times and seems to be a super nice guy, and he delivers a performance that’s bright and fresh-sounding from start to finish. 

-- David Lewis 

Sedaka's got eight more U.S. dates before he takes off for Canada and an extended series of shows in the U.K.  Looks like he returns to California for a couple of shows in December.

You can check out the complete itinerary here:

Click here: Neil Sedaka Tour Schedule

THE ALAN PARSONS LIVE PROJECT - Concert Review

Artistic Rock at its Absolute Finest ... 
Without Question, One of the Greatest Shows I Have Ever Seen   

It's difficult finding the right words to tell you just how incredible and fantastic this show really was.  

Suffice to say that we sat through BOTH performances at The Arcada Theatre Saturday Night (May 10th, 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm), transfixed and spellbound.  (Truth be told, Frannie flat out refused to leave!!! She just HAD to see it again ... and I was right there with her.  We joked with Ron Onesti on the way out that if he put on a third, midnight show, we would have stayed for THAT one, too!  By the way, those are her camera-phone photos seen below.)  

While I've always enjoyed Parsons' music, I never saw the band perform live back in the day.  I have, however, grown to appreciate this music even more over time ... and let's face it ... these guys don't get out and do many live shows all that often anymore ... so I certainly wasn't going to let this opportunity pass me by ... I might never get another chance to see them.  In fact, I was REALLY looking forward to this concert event ... and knew I would be blown away by what I saw ... and, despite all of my pre-show optimism, I am happy to report that the show exceeded each and every one of my expectations in every conceivable way.  It was nothing short of spectacular.   

What an INCREDIBLE night of music, executed by some of the highest-caliber, top-notch musicians on Planet Earth.  EVERY song was performed to pure perfection ... and this is REALLY saying something when one considers that there wasn't a hit performed Friday Night that was sung by the original singer on the record!!!   

Parsons, a studio genius, has always used guest vocalists to best showcase his musical visions.  As such, artists like Allan Clarke of The Hollies, Colin Blunstone of The Zombies, as well as vocalists John Miles, Lenny Zakatek, Chris Rainbow and others have graced his work in order to achieve the exact sound he was looking for (or heard in his head.)  The guy who helped spearhead this journey ... an EXCELLENT vocalist himself and a fixture on a great number of hit records in their catalog ... Eric Woolfson ... passed away a few years ago.  His voice was like no other and he was also a hands-on conspirator to bring us music quite unlike any other on the airwaves ... then or since.  (Woolfson wore the multiple hats of manager, co-producer, co-writer, musician and vocalist on all of the original Alan Parsons Project's biggest records.)   

To that extent, Alan Parsons is often just a sideman in the band that bears his name.  Throughout the concert he remained in the background, filling in on guitar and keyboard where necessary, in a somewhat low-key manner.  He is not a "showman" ... or even the focal point of the band on stage ... more of just a "presence" that oversees the creation as it unfolds.  However, make no mistake about it ... this is HIS vision ... his dream ... his genius ... his musical kaleidoscope ... that the band brings to life every night on stage.  Quite honestly, they take the entire concept of "classic rock" to an entirely new level ... infectious, sophisticated, intelligent rock that affects the listener down to their very soul.  We both experienced chills and tears as the music overwhelmed us ... not an easy thing to do after 35+ years of repeated listenings!   

In fact, the thing about The Alan Parsons Live Project is that it isn't about pomp and circumstance at all ... the band isn't all flash and "showy" and over the top (although I will tell you that guitarist Alastair Greene is amongst the finest I have EVER seen) ... they just go out there and DO IT!!!  Masterfully orchestrated performances, rendered to pure perfection, live on stage.  

Credit goes to every single member of the band:  P.J. Olsson handles the majority of the lead vocals (although with a band boasting seven accomplished singers and players, the vocals were a spot-on delight to hear ... all seven members sing, making the background singing full and inspiring ... and throughout the course of the evening, four of these singers take on lead vocal duties as well, including Olsson, Greene, sax, guitar and percussionist Todd Cooper and Parsons himself). Filling out the arsenal are drummer Danny Thompson and bassist Guy Erez, both of whom keep the bottom end thumping at a kick-ass pulse rate ... this is music that you FELT!  This is some pretty intricate stuff they're trying to pull off on stage, with any number of melodic changes thrown into the mix ... and they pull it off flawlessly.  And let's not forget keyboardist Manny Foccarazzo ... so much of Alan Parsons' music is keyboard-driven ... and some of those sweeps and swoops literally send chills down your spine.  A top notch, stellar band in every conceivable way.  

What about the music?  A little bit of everything from every era ... including a brand new single "Fragile" which is now available for downloading through all of the usual sources like iTunes and Amazon ... and let me tell you, it sounds JUST like the best material the band recorded back in the day.  The set list comprised material from all of the phases of his career ... and it is no exaggeration to say that every song was a highlight.  (A complete Alan Parsons CD Collection has just been released on Arista Records that encompasses his entire recorded output, including an album that never saw the light of day ... for good reason, according to Parsons!  Copies were being sold in the lobby before and after the show for $140 ... but I just saw it on Amazon for about $92 ... which is a HELL of a deal for an 11-CD set!  That's just over eight bucks per CD!)   

Tracks like "Don't Answer Me", "Breakdown", "I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You", my all-time personal favorite "Time" (which literally had vocalist P.J. Olsson gasping for air at the end ... in a most heroic and endearing way!) and "Sirius / Eye In The Sky" (dedicated to all the Bulls fans in the audience during the second show) brought the crowd to its feet time and time again.  In fact, I can honestly say that I can't remember EVER seeing this many standing ovations during a single performance before ... nearly every song boosted the audience up out of their seats again to pay their respect to this remarkable band.   

The band performed the entire side suite from "The Turn Of A Friendly Card" to absolute perfection, transitioning from song to song seamlessly (while Alastair Greene changed guitars, tempos and moods at the drop of a hat.)  The encore(s) of "Psychobabble" (first show only) and "Games People Play" were absolute show-stoppers.  (The electricity generated by "Games People Play" still resonates 24 hours later as I type this!  It was surreal!)  Both sold out crowds couldn't get enough.  Couple this with the perfectly-executed lighting effects and this show goes down in my personal record books as one of the very best I've ever seen.  (Doing a little quick math here as I'm writing this, I figure that I've probably been to somewhere between 600 and 700 concerts in my lifetime ... add in all of the opening acts to that equation, many of whom went on to become headliners in their own right, and I may be up close to a thousand.  The show that The Alan Parsons Live Project put on at The Arcada Theatre Saturday Night most certainly ranks in The Top Five shows I've EVER seen for me ... and my guess is that EVERY SINGLE AUDIENCE MEMBER who was there that night would have to agree.)   

Checking the official website, it looks like we caught the tail end of this part of their U.S. tour ... there are only a couple more show scheduled here in The States.  On Tuesday, May 13th, they'll be at The Cleveland Performing Arts Center before doing three shows at The Walt Disney Show Resort on May 16th, 17th and 18th.  (They will perform three half hour shows each day!)  Then it's off to Canada and Germany.  
Click here: Alan Parsons - The Official Website   

I was also taken by the incredible stamina of the band and have to give them props.  These guys gave it all in the first show ... they held absolutely nothing back and had to be physically drained by show's end ... and I honestly didn't see how on earth they could possibly come back and do a second show later that same evening, especially with only about a 45 minute break between performances.  I feel confident in saying that the audience left completely fulfilled (and anyone who wanted more opted for the second show ... and there were quite a few of us that did, I might add!)  Then ... incredibly ... they came out to do the second show, which was even STRONGER than the first!!!  It was nothing short of amazing.  It was as if the entire band was completely rejuvenated ... they were clearly pumped ... perhaps because the reaction had been SO overwhelming during their first performance ... perhaps because the second show was being filmed for what I hope will be a live television concert event. (I still don't have official confirmation on this ... but man, the world NEEDS to see this show!!!)  INCREDIBLE!!!  

There ... I've put it into words ... and STILL don't feel I've done it justice.  Saturday Night at The Arcada was something that needed to be experienced ... and I am SO glad and SO thankful that we were able to be there to do so.  Thanks again to Ron Onesti and the incredible Arcada staff for making this the ULTIMATE in concert experiences.   It truly was a one of a kind show. 
kk   

More great reading on The Alan Parsons Live Project can be found here:  
Click here: Alan Parsons releases box set, returns to Cleveland for greatest hits concert - Cleveland Music | Examiner.com   

Kent, 
Great to see you Saturday night at the Arcada. Once again, a 24 karat gold round of applause for promoter par excellence, Ron Onesti.
Seeing the Alan Parsons Project was truly a pleasure.
The "Project" isn't your traditional concert band. They will never be confused with Ted Nugent or Judas Priest.
Instead of serving up meaningless guitar and drum solos, the band lures you in wistfully and creatively with its own special band of rock 'n roll poetry.
That being said, the scintillating guitar energy on "Prime Time" was nothing short of stunning. Make that overwhelming.
Alan, himself, is, of course, a massive physical presence, who's level of charisma is bolstered by his jet black hair and neatly trimmed beard.
While, he is remarkably stoic on stage, his body language tells the audience he is approachable and appreciative. I was delighted to have the chance to visit with Alan briefly during the show's intermission.
One helluva show!!
Alan Parsons Project: 3.5 Stars and counting.
Chet Coppock
Host: Chicago Blackhawks Heritage Series  
Three-and-a-half stars?  For me, on a scale of one-to-ten, this one ranked a solid 27!!!  I have rarely seen or enjoyed a better concert experience.  Even groups who have gone out of their way to "wow" you with theatrics and staging and lighting and special effects like laser beams and spaceships landing on the stage couldn't touch the pure electricity these guys created simply by playing their music.  (Although I will freely admit that I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the lighting, which was exceptional throughout the show ... kudos to whoever was responsible because you did an OUTSTANDING job!)  
"Stoic" is the PERFECT adjective to describe Parsons ... while he doesn't speak much from the stage (and doesn't really appear comfortable speaking at all ... he seems to prefer to let the music speak for itself) ... when he DID talk he was quite humorous and witty ... very entertaining.  He DOES present a huge presence ... and the perfectly-sculpted hair and beard, along with the bright red vest portrayed him as a very proper, old-school British Gentleman.  I would have enjoyed speaking with him, too, but have a feeling he's a man of few words.  I will say this, however ... even after all these years of building the remarkable catalog of music he has established over time, he had to be COMPLETELY bowled over by the incredible reception he received at The Arcada ... this was most definitely an Alan Parsons crowd, who had been waiting a VERY long time to witness the return of their hero.  He did not disappoint ... and had to feel quite gratified and satisfied by what they accomplished on the stage that night.  Thank God we were there to see it ... and I swear we would have sat through a third show had there been one!!!  (kk)