Well - we're back !! Our 24hrs in Birmingham were brilliant, to say the very least...... The sun was out, the shops were open & on top of all that, Greg Allman's concert was well good - better than I could have ever wished for !!
ME (who is behind me cooking supper for J, who is here about someplace) took B & I into town to catch the coach.... we made it in good time, tho' the 4 hour trip was a little over the top. It stopped for an hour in Bristol - but, not to worry, we made it to Birmingham on time..... about 1.30 pm. From there, as we don't know the city at all, we took a taxi to the hotel - I'm glad we did, I don't think we would of found it without a great deal of head scratching !!
It was easy to spot tho' - all 16 floors of it !! We were on the 13th, tho' we didn't take that as any kind of 'omen' - the room was very nice & we had great views out over the city, including the concert hall.... which, true to what the lady told me (when I booked the ticket) was right across the street - about 5 minutes walk, if that !!
Now, we were told that Birmingham was a bit of a dump & the shops were c**p etc etc - but, we found it just the opposite. The people were friendly, the shops were brilliant & we had a lot of fun looking around Saturday afternoon !! Then back to the hotel, for a meal - a quick 'clean up' & over to the concert hall at 7.30 pm.
Two things struck me about the audience - nearly all of us were 40+ (& had seen far better days) and, (secondly) - for a 2000 seat hall & such a well know performer - there were lots of empty seats... I very surprised by that !! The hall was great tho' (The Symphony Hall) & the sound quality was really good. Sometimes the volume can be over the top, but this time around, it was very good.......
To sort of emphasise the hall's qualities, the support - Tift Merritt - finished her set, by standing at the front of the stage & sang without any amplification..... her voice alone carried all around the hall !! She was good & I think she could of done a couple more tracks, but time was against her...... it was 9 pm & Greg Allman ambled onto the stage !!
I won't even try to run thru' the whole set - but, when (part ways thru') he counted 1-2-3 & the band launched into 'Dreams', I was completely satisfied & that's really all I can say about it !! As the lyric goes ... "..dreams I'll never see"... well, it made my night - it was the one track I wanted him to play & he did it !! To see one of my all time favourite artist, in the flesh, playing one of my all time favourite tracks - well, what more could I ask for from a concert...... it made (that one track) everything about the trip 100% better than I could ever wish for !!
So we left the hall about 11.30pm - after a great, quiet, conversation with Tift Merritt, who signed her Cd's for us (which was a bonus) & headed back to the hotel..... pass some of of the weirdest scenes I've really ever seen !!
The hall & hotel were on the same street as a bunch of night clubs & to say the least, some of the ladies were not exactly wearing a lot !! Oh well, each to their own I guess - we went to a concert, they went to a night club !! We came home with some T shirts & memories - I hate to imagine what they came home with !! Each to their own.......
At the hotel, we had a fizzy drink (sorry Doc') & went up to our room with a view !! We spent Sunday shopping - yea, I know - it was a Sabbath Day - but we had 'nothing' else to do for 5 hours until the coach left for the trip home. I did look for the local Chapel - before we left - but I had no idea where abouts to look... shame really - I would of liked to have found one !!
The ride home was not so good - the passengers in front of us were a pain... We were told, due to my 'condition', that we would be allowed to get on first & sit in the front (as we were on the trip up) - unfortunately - the passengers 'bullied' the driver & despite what we were told + the intervention of a member of staff at the coach station, we had to settle for another seat & the 'nice' letter of complaint I mailed to the company to air my views !! It spoit the trip home, but not the weekend - which nobody was going to take away from me !!
Some people were 'moaning' (after the concert) that Greg Allman didn't speak to them or make any attempt to go see them - as they waited at the stage door area. Give the guy a break !! He had just done a brilliant 2 hour show - just be grateful for that..... I was exhausted, I can't begin to imagine how he felt. If any of you 'moaners' read this - get a life. It was a concert - just because you want to hang around the stage door - he doesn't have to come out to see you !!
Ok, that was the weekend. It was brilliant & I'm so glad we made the effort to go.... it cost more money than we could afford (to be honest) - but...... I don't regret a penny of it !!
Not only did we come home with some T shirts & memories - we also had lots of 'new' music to listen to. Some Tift Merritt Cd's + ones by Anvil, Nazereth, Humble Pie & a box set by Iced Earth...... it's a 2 DVD + Cd set - lots of music !! B (who is out at the moment) got some new stuff and I bought her a bangle, which she liked. It was a great weekend & one we won't be repeating - something like that can not be repeated - it was once in a lifetime experience for me !! Until next time..........
Bye Bye
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