January 1, 2006

Event type: Concert

Date: 2005-12-31

I had the distinct pleasure of spending my New Year’s Eve at the Beacon Theater, front-row centerstage for the Mule-A-GoGo. Up close and personal, nothing better!

Gar and I journeyed into the city on a cold, snowy New Year’s Eve - dreading the anticipated crowds that were going to be ripping through Times Square - only to discover that, because of the snow, a lot of them decided not to go themselves. Fine with me!

It was an amazing night, and an awesome way to kick off 2006. Although I had heard the band (and Warren solo) before, I had not had the pleasure to see them live. The band was in in top form, and ready for a party, and party we did! They rocked the house with not two, but three incredible sets, breaking briefly at midnight for a New Year’s Eve toast. The second set was my favorite - GoGo, funk and soul - complete with horn section, black suits and pencil ties, GoGo dancers and a retro set. The outstanding song for me was “The Letter” - though all of them were phenominal. “Don’t Step on the Grass, Sam” - what a fun song! (Had me laughing because of the prompter who kept coming out on stage during the chorus with lyrics for us to sing along.)

The guys were having a great time on stage. (We were having a great time off-stage) Around 2:30 a.m., the show ended, and we journeyed down to the “basement” where we hung out with some other nice folks, and got to meet some of the band. Hook, Matt, and Danny. Really cool guys! Sadly, I didn’t get to meet Warren, but am hopeful that I’ll have another opportunity!

Knowing we had to catch a bus to get us back home again, we left the party. Arrived back at the Port Authority around 3:10 a.m. only to find out the last bus had left an hour earlier. Hmmm. Not good!

Through Gar’s friendship with the Port Authority personnel, they pulled together a special bus for us, and the other lost souls who were stranded and trying to get back to the same town as us. Around 4:30 a.m., we stumbled across the street and back home. Walk in the door, and there’s Nick - wide awake - strung out on Mountain Dews he drank at a video-gaming New Year’s Eve party.

Well, Happy New Year’s everyone! Hope it’s healthy, happy, and prosperous.

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|  Printable version | Posted in reels and squeals | Tags: concert, govt mule, music, new years eve, new york city, reels and squeals, warren_haynes.