Sometimes in life you get lucky. Sometimes, you are blessed. And sometimes you are lucky enough to be really blessed! Last night, Adam and Austin and I were going to a concert featuring Toto and Michael McDonald. It was in Tulsa because that was the closest venue before school starts for the guys. So we took off on one of our infamous road trips for the plains of Oklahoma. All went well on the trip (including a further decay of my sanity after 7 hours in a car with these guys). And then it was time for the show. Long story not-as-long-but-still-longish, as we went into the venue we were stopped and informed that it was must be 21...(We dont know why other than the fact that the concert hall was in the Hard Rock Casino, or maybe its OK law, we dont know.) And we were pretty much told we could come back for the After Show portion (to meet some of the folks in the bands), but we could not be in the hall for the show. That is to say, the boys couldnt but I could but since they couldnt I couldnt. Are you with me so far? Enter Pat Coil, keyboardist in Michael McDonalds band, who had wrangled the tickets for us in the first place. Pat is a friend and former high school band mate from Jefferson City, MO, with whom Ive kept up for the past several years (no it is NOT stalking if there is no restraining order--yet!), and try to see him when I can. Pat and I were texting back and forth before the show and was aware of the predicament. What happened next is one of those things that makes you feel good about humanity in general. Before we even had time to be disappointed that we drove all that way and werent going to see the shows, Pat brought Nigel (Road Manager, I believe) with him, met us in front of the venue, and presented us with ALL ACCESS passes. That allowed the boys to go backstage, and me to see the show and still check on them during intermission, etc. That is correct, BACKSTAGE, with Toto and Michael McDonald! Now, maybe the sound wasnt as good as where I sat, and maybe they had to stand backstage, and make sure they didnt get in the way of various roadies, techs, and musicians, but what a thrill very few people EVER get to experience! Pat, Nigel, and everyone in the crew and band were so nice, helpful, and friendly to the boys and me. It seemed they went out of their way to help us and make sure we were taken care of. One of Totos techs even presented the boys with a couple of Steve Lukathers guitar picks. Im so jealous! After the show, we met up backstage and got to meet Michael McDonald, Bernie Chiaravalle (Michaels guitarist), Drea Rhenee Merritt, his backup singer, Totos lead singer, Joseph Williams, and to top it off, we all got to shake hands with guitar hero Steve Lukather. And I got Pat Coils autograph, so...WIN! In a situation where nobody really had to do anything to change the outcome, everyone involved did EVERYTHING to keep the evening from being a disaster. And I cannot say enough about Michael McDonald, his band and crew, and all the guys in Toto. What a CLASS organization of world-class musicians! Thank you, guys, for everything! And of course, to my friend Pat Coil for going WAY above and beyond the call to see to it that these young musicians (and one old guy whos still a young musician at heart) had an unforgettable evening, thanks, brother!
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 00:06:13 +0000
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