As usual during convention week, it was a wild crowd. A lot of yelling and screaming and standing. I must be getting old,
because I just can't stand up during an entire show anymore - and so, I missed "seeing" several songs (such as the entire
60's segment). But it didn't keep me from hearing - and Barry was in fine voice last night. I don't think I've ever heard
him sound better.
And he truly appeared to be loving every minute up on the stage. He was playful and energetic and seemed to be trying to
absorb every ounce of love that was being thrown at him from the fan club members in the audience. And that's a lot of
love to absorb!
The set list was basically the same as what he's been doing lately, but he threw in a few extras for us.
He did the 40's segment, and the 50's - he cut Love Is A Many Splendored Thing a little short, I'm guessing to fit in the
extras.
I think Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again was the most powerful performance of the night. He did a portion of it with no band
backup - just Barry and the piano - he changed the arrangement slightly. It was beautiful. He also changed the way he
performed it. I think some of the audience didn't "get it", but he actually stopped playing and singing at one point,
just before going into the chorus, gestured as if to say "what can I do?" and had a look on his face that would rip
your heart out. At least, that's how I interpreted it. At any rate, it definitely got to me. And the ending was one
of the most powerful I've ever seen. Awesome performance!
We got Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed (I stood for that one!) - love that song. He could perform that song in every show and
I would never get tired of it.
At the end of the song, he stopped to tell the joke about the priest, the nun and the camel. Oh, Barry! LOL
TTGTFA may have been the most powerful performance, but what he did to start the 60's segment was the most touching. And I
was very glad that my seat was on the far side right next to the Rock Bottom stage. Barry did the Nehru jacket, funny
cigarette bit (and I could actually smell the smoke from that cigarette - Barry, stop inhaling! LOL) - but instead of doing
Yesterday, Barry sang Best Seat in the House. It was so beautiful. Early in the song he asked Seth to turn the lights up
so he could "really see these beautiful people." As he sang he looked around at all of the audience members - really looked
at us. It was so sweet. It blew me away - I honestly don't remember much about the rest of the show because of it.
The rest of the show was typical - 60's, 70's (Mandy was beautiful), and then Copa on the platform. The Chinese fire drill
version of New York City Rhythm was in there, also - that's always fun.
Maybe it's just me, but it seems that his arrangements are leaning toward either being very soft and gentle or very BIG.
When his entire band is playing behind him, it's a BIG sound - you would think there were a lot more instruments than what
you can actually see. And when it's just Barry and his piano (and he's doing that more frequently - these extra songs on
his new CD should be fantastic!) it's soft and gentle and the music is full of emotion. Even when he isn't singing, the
music carries the feelings. This man is good! But we already knew that, didn't we?
As for convention activities, I actually attended the cocktail party at the Tempo (gasp!). And I actually stayed the
entire time (double gasp!!). It's really pretty in there. I still doubt I would ever go in by myself - but I did enjoy
the time I was in there.
