I’ve been meaning to write about about my Meet and Greet experience last month, but I had to catch back up at work and then go on a couple of other vacations. Haha.
The VIP email told us to be at the venue no later than 3:30pm and if you’re late, you aren’t guaranteed access to the meet and greet. I arrived there at 3 because there was no way I was going to miss that. When I got there, met a few people who also came by themselves and we pretty much hung out the entire time. Ev fans are great! This happened last time I went to an ev concert and I am still very good friends with the people I met there.
They were late letting us in. We were checked in and had to go through security. I brought a boatload of presents, alcohol included, and security stopped me and said I had to get rid of the alcohol. I felt terrible because i had other stuff for everyone else, but for Troy, I only got a reserve scotch. But I was able to beg and sweet talk security and they said they’ll put it in the meet and greet room and let the artist know that it’s there.
We stood in line for a while outside the theater but we could hear the soundcheck for Hi-Lo which sounded great despite the slightly muted sound. And the merch table was being prepared.
So finally, they let us in during the second to the last round of Hi-Lo and they did a really long soundcheck which also included Imperfection, End of The Dream, Lacrymosa, Speak to Me, and Swimming Home. They did all the songs at least twice, and we were not about to complain about because that was like getting another full concert!
I loved watching them do soundcheck because I love watching musicians working the kinks out of their performances. Interacting, giving each other cues like “wait till I do this before you come in with that.” Amy forgot the lyrics to Imperfection so she scatted mildly over it until she found her place, and it made me laugh. When she broke Speak to Me out, it was incredibly special because even though the concert would be the official live debut, we got to witness the first real live one with an audience. Also I kept thinking, wow I mean it’s perfect because when will she be playing this with orchestra again after the Synthesis tour.
The other reason why I love soundchecks is it’s like being in on the inside jokes. During the Swimming Home soundcheck, Tim’s pedal was doing something wonky and Amy asked him what that was and “let’s work through that” and he showed her that basically the pedal sound was delaying switching sounds. So they tried it a few times and then looked at the time. Later during the live performance, the pedal did the wonky thing and Tim gave Amy this frustrated look and she just shook her head and they both smiled like “oh well.” And it made me laugh because I knew what the look was all about.
Amy wanted to do more but they looked at the time and realized it was getting late. So they lined us up and piled us in the reception room. We grabbed our flutes of champagne and the underaged folks got their flutes and they were filled with water so they can join the toast. A few minutes later, the band came in and we all did the toast. So cool to hear Amy being so grateful about the fans allowing this project to happen. This is also where she encouraged people to hoot and holler if they felt like it because they were still rocking out even if it’s a different setting.
Then they lined us up again and we got to one-by-one talk to the band, and hand them presents if we had any. When I was still in line, I told Beth to come over and she thought I was going to make her hold some stuff for me. And I was like “of course not! I have a present for you! Haha” she hugged me and was real surprised that I included her in the gifts! I had no idea Richie was going to be the security guy, because if I did, I would have gotten him a present as well.
When it was my turn, I approached them and they all said “wow!” I blushed as I was shaking all their hands and then hugging them. And Amy said “Hands down, you are the best dressed of everyone this evening.” And the whole band agreed. I said thank you and told her “well, you said ‘put on your fancy clothes,” so I called my designer friend and asked if she could make me a dress.” Troy and Will said “yeah, it’s really gorgeous. You look great!” And I blushed some more. Amy said “I would wear that on stage!” And I said “we could switch.” And she replies “ok, give it to me right now!!!” Hahaha. You know if she was serious, I would have traded clothes with her right then and there. All she had to do was ask. Lol.
I told them that security almost made me get rid of the alcohol and they were all like “WHAT?? Nooo! We have a bus!” Hahaha. I told them the presents were in the corner and they were super grateful. I told Tim that Dani said they preferred coffee so I got them some Black Insomnia coffee which is like the heaviest hitter in terms of caffeine but I also included some Frangelica in case they wanted to zhuzh it up some evening. I told Jen I loved that she was with Ev now and she got the instant approval from me when I saw her play Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers, which is my favorite Jeff Beck number. I got her some Malbec and a MAC lipstick and a lip plumper. I didn’t have much time to talk to Troy and Will but I told them I had stuff for them too. Troy’s was the reserve scotch and Will’s were these wooden mixing spoons that doubled as drumsticks in case he wanted to hit some pots and pans while cooking. Also some Maker’s
Mark Whiskey.
Then I told Amy that I saw her say Jack loves trains in an interview, and that my son loved it too. So I gave here these 30pack Mini Thomas trains. And she got all excited. She was all “I NEED these!!!” And later I find out Jack was going to be with them for some of the tour.
Finally, I gave her her presents,- besides a couple of MAC lipsticks and a lip plumper and some St. Germain liqueur, I told her I was trying to give her one this one thing in 2015, but since they didn’t come out in Nashville, I held on to it. And a newer model came since so I got her that instead. It’s a TC Helicon Ditto x4, which is a vocal looper. And they all marvelled at it, and she says “wow! That is a gift I could REALLY use! What a thoughtful gift!” And she explained to the others what that was, and Tim chimed in. And she asked if she could share it with the band so I said “of course! It’s yours. Do what you want with it! I just want you guys to make more music.” Haha.
I guess I kind of held up the line. But really the whole thing was about 5+ minutes. We took the picture and Amy asked for another one. And before I went, I was like “Can I please get one more hug?” Haha. And she did.
And then we were led out to shop for merch, in which I promptly parted with hundreds of dollars because I don’t give a crap at this point. Instant ramen noodles for a year are so worth it! lol. The stuff was beautiful this time!!!
Well, as for the show, it is well documented on youtube, but like I said in another post, the magnitude of the thing - of being there live, experiencing the instruments, and Amy’s voice just going through and into you, is something I would subject myself to over and over again. I can’t wait till another opportunity like that comes up, and once again, I will be like, B*TCHES, TAKE MY MONEY!!!