My scribbled notes
from seat A14 (in the dark) lists the following: venue sold out, no empty seats. I asked the venue manager about this at the end. As well as via Ticketmaster (a curse on them,
they are baffled by requests for seats slightly left of centre both in UK and USA) tickets were available from casino box office, for dinner/concert package and also for
Casino premier members apparently, (as well as busloads of marauding soccer hooligans from Blackpool ;-)).
The usual 4 piece band with piano tucked back by drum kit
8pm start Slippin' & Slidin' - Kenneth Lovelace Lonely Weekends - Robert Hall Bye Bye Johnny / Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller - B.B. Cunningham
JLL strolls on unannounced at 8:10 Roll Over Beethoven You Win Again ( "not TOO still") Georgia On My Mind Little Queenie Before The Night Is Over
Boogie Woogie Country Man Over The Rainbow Chantilly Lace Easter Parade No Headstone On My Grave Sweet Little 16
Short piano intro, sounded like a mix of Lucille and Rockin' My Life Away, cut short by JLL Drinkin' Wine Spo Dee-O-Dee Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On Great Balls Of Fire
show ends 9:04
Excellent response from crowd. First time I've seen JLL outside of Memphis in the US. A few small kids in my row were on their seats clapping like mad.
Crowd responded well to both ballads and rockers, the roar that greeted the opening section of Chantilly Lace was delightful. JLL looked very relaxed and was in good humour
throughout, talking and joking with people he knew in the front rows, including his lawyer.
Top marks for the venue and staff: a seperate theatre from the Casino, bar with
drinks available, plenty of leg room and no restrictions on still photos. Sound was superb, superior to the recent UK tour, piano and JLL vocal crystal clear and each band
instrument could be identified in the mix. A lesson for future promoters, two large video screens either side of stage featured excellent front and back views of JLL, with great
close ups during vocals and piano breaks, with shots of Kenny and the boys during their solos/accompaniment. This show would make a great (Blondell free) DVD. No merchandise or
progammes on sale.
Due to Kenny being the only guitar man on stage JLL took more solos. Easter Parade was a treat on Easter Saturday, following it with No Headstone was
inspired, ah if only he's done Mott The Hoople's Roll Away The Stone, for an Easter hat trick ;-).
Vocals were in great shape, especially on the slower songs and there
were many fine lengthy piano breaks from a smiling JLL. Kenny asked JLL do to SL16 but JLL did my personal fav Little Queenie instead. Later JLL said that he'd done the wrong
Chuck song earlier and did SL16 then, with a fine rocking solo too. Pauline said it as the best show she'd seen JLL give. Des was pleased that his son Fraser had finally seen a
great JLL show to help him understand why his dad was a Lewis fanatic! After all the earlier panic about the clash between Gulfport and Blackpool it was a great experience to see
shows at both venues
Kenny was in great form and he, BB and Robert said they had really enjoyed the show afterwards.
A perfect end to a great trip, special thanks to Des for tempting us to go.
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