(Images via: NYCDreamin Archives)
After a few weeks spent contemplating seeing W.A.S.P., L.A. Guns, Stephen Pearcy and Metal Church in Andover, MN on this date in 2005, then finding out at the last minute that W.A.S.P. had cancelled their appearance that evening (which was no big shock to me as they are known for last minute cancellations), I decided to skip the drive all the way to Andover for the remaining bands on the bill and instead decided I'd go to Minneapolis and see Stevie Nicks, who was playing at the Target Center that same evening. A few minutes later I was on my way.
I arrived at the Target Center and just as I was abouout to step into the line at the box office to purchase a ticket to the show, this reasonably good looking lady in her mid 20's or early 30's comes up to me and says, "Hey! Don't buy a ticket! I've got an extra and you can HAVE it - no cash." She had my attention with this. She explained further: A co-worker of hers had been planning on going to the show and had to change his plans at the last minute, so he had just given her his pair of tickets to the show. She didn't have anyone to go with her, so she went solo, figuring she could sell or give the ticket away when she arrived. Not quite sure why she didn't try to get at least a few bucks out of me for the ticket, but I was grateful for her generosity. We introduced each other and made our way inside the Target Center and soon found our seats. A few minutes later, the opening act, a young woman playing a piano came out and played her songs. I don't remember her name, and I don't really remember much of her material, but I do remember she introduced one song as a Lesbian love ballad, with the statement that her "mother hates this song."
Stevie and her band came out a bit later in the evening and as I had expected, she was absolutely amazing. Stevie has, for a few decades now, been up near the very top of my favorite female vocalists. There's just something about her voice that gets to me deep down inside. Even when I listen to her CD's at just the right volume (read: loud), some of the songs very nearly give me chills. Many of her songs (not the radio stuff) are just haunting and sad...tales of horribly emotional relationships that have gone bad. Need proof? Listen to the songs "Fire Burning," "Ooh My Love," and "Doing the Best I Can (Escape from Berlin)" from her 1989 album "The Other Side of the Mirror." There are so many great songs in her repetoire and over the course of nearly two hours, she belted them out, one after the other, with great emotion and stage presence. Of course, her long-time guitar slinger Waddy Watchel was there, and he impressed the hell out of me too.
The lady who gave me the ticket and I made small conversation throughout the show and she seemed to be equally impressed with Stevie and her band. At the end of the show I thanked her once again for the ticket. She said, "No problem, I'm glad you enjoyed the show." I didn't try to pick her up or get her phone number or anything and I think she enjoyed that I wasn't pressuring her or anything. It was nothing but a few hours spent in the company of a complete stranger, enjoying some fine music.
And as I'm writing this, I'm thinking it's about time for Ms. Nicks to return to the Twin Cities for another show...would love to see her one more time.
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