North
American Tour Reports
June 8th Wheeling West
Virginia
Capitol Music Hall
Thanks to Kerri Kove for the
pictures !
Good Morning Dave!
It's 7:28 here at Wheeling, the morning after. Lannis and Mac are still
asleep. The best description of last night - WHAT A BLAST! The guys are the
real Heepsters and I'm waiting for them to write to the list about their
experience. Dave Owens gave us VIP cards and we stood there with him
watching and listening to the soundcheck. The boys were cutting it pretty
close because one of the other groups took so long. The gig was to start at
7:30 and they were still working (checking instruments) at 7:00. The crowds
had already gathered. We could see them and there were young ones
(children) and old ones (shriveled little old gray-haired ladies) and
everything in-between. Clothes ranged from formal (long) dresses to
tie-died shirts that would make Madman proud. There were no rules.
Lannis and I came back here (Ramada) to get a quick bit of crackers and a
swig of soda. Had to pick up our Heep forms for the masses, too. Mac came
in a little later. M & L left while I downloaded some pics from my camera.
Got back and Perry (the head ticket-taker) ushered us to the pit area where
Dave had arranged for us to sit, if we wanted to.
The crowd exploded as Heep appeared on a dark stage, one performer at a
time. I don't know which was louder as the lights came up, Heep or the
crowd behind us. Mac kept up with our set list. Heep played 10 songs. I
can't read the list right now. Bernie told the crowd that this first gig
was the greatest way to remember the start of the return to the States. (or
something like that)
Someone asked Dave if the group would be signing autographs after the gig.
He checked with them and they did sign some outside the Music Hall near
their bus before heading back to the Ramada. Dave told us that Heep and
their roadcrew (and Dave, of course) would leave for Sterling Heights at
2:00am (this morning).
Lannis and Mac met Bernie, Mick, Trevor, Phil, and Lee just before the
soundcheck. Heep invited L & M onboard the bus. And, Heep invited L&M to
ride to the Music Hall with them. (L&M wanted me to ride, too and missed
the bus when they came up to get me). But, it's not like this is the only
time we'll see them.
This whole experience is just awesome. I'm not the true Heepsters but I had
to let you know about the first gig. And, the worst part of all of this
"first" - my digital camera quit working when Heep started playing. I think
I have part of one picture. Might invest in a disposable non-flash camera
for later.
Maybe I can get the guys to give their report to the list.
I'm waiting for Lannis and Mac to come down off cloud nine so they can give
you their view of last night.
All I can say is - WHAT A BLAST!
Bobbie (for those who don't know, Lannis' better half)
Catch you later,
Bobbie
It has
Hi there Boys and Girls in Heepdom,
We drove a little over 8 hours and arrived in Wheeling at about 3:30.
Checked in to the Ramada. Called the Best Western to get up with Dave.
They had a package for Dave, but they were not registered there, had been
switched to the Ramada which we found out later.
So we walked to the venue, the Capitol Music Hall. We ran straight into
the Mercho man, setting up for the gig. We told him about the box at the
Best Western, turned out to be the all important CDs and DVDs. After
delivering the box to the Captitol, and setting that display, we walked to
the Ramada. Heep has this cool burgandy and silver bus. Mac and I got on
the bus, met the guys, bus has sleeping bunks, well furnished frig, nice
lounge section at the back.
Mac and I retrieved Bobbie from the hotel, and then we walked back to the
Capitol for the sound check. Mark Farner was in the process of doing his
check. Eventially Heep did their sound check.
Dave provided us VIP Heep passes. We ended up sitting right in front of
Mick in the pit for the concert.
The gig was a shortened set, about 60 minutes, because of the 3 group time
restraints.
The setlist was as follows:
1. Return To Fantasy
2. Universal Wheels
3. Stealin'
4. Between Two Worlds
5. I Hear Voices
6. Sunrise
7. Gypsy
8. July Morning
Encore
9. Bird Of Prey
10. Easy Livin'
There was a crowd of 1000+. The venue was old, ornate, and nice. The
venue brings in basically country music acts. Mac and I stayed for the
Edgar Winter Band. They played some new stuff and some old stuff, Free Bird
and Frankenstein. Edgar is a very talented, with a good voice, plays Sax,
Keyboards, Drums. We enjoyed but following Heep made it a little of a
downer. We passed on Mark Farner.
I'll let Mac give his review. My 29 year wait is now over. Ed, looks like
you are the longest deprived now. The concert was brillant as you would
expect. The crowd really got into it. I think Heep were pleased.
Heep Now, Lannis
Heep left out about 2:00 am for Sterling Heights. We'll catch up later
today.
WE
SAW YOU GUYS IN WHEELING,WV LAST NITE AND YOU
GUYS WERE GREAT. WELCOME
BACK
ACROSS THE POND, HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOON.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
SINCERELY,
KAREN
From Mac Steagall
Hello fellow Heepsters!
My 25 year Heeplist streak is at an end! Frigging
great show although
a little condensed. We got to Wheeling about 3:30
yesterday afternoon
and we're having a wonderful time (as you might
guess! :->) We ran into
Dave Owen at the Capitol Music Hall, we went on
the Heep tour bus and
shook hands with all the Heeps, then we went to
the soundcheck.
Unfortunately Mark Farner and Edgar Winter got to
go first so by the time Heep got
to do their soundcheck it was almost time for the
gig. I can't believe
how little promo was in front of the theater for
the reboot tour. At first
I thought there was no mention at all. Nothing on
the marquee at all. All
the other acts playing here appear to be country.
Big names, but country...
Travis Tritt, Bellamy Brothers, etc., etc. A small
inconspicuous sign
announced the reboot tour. We were told by Dave
that there was considerable
radio ads however. However judging by the crowd
the word is getting out pretty
well. i don't know how many of these guys came for
Edgar Winter or Mark
Farner but Heep had a particularly vocal crowd.
Now about the gig... Heep lead off about 7:30 with
EW second and Farner as
the headliner was last. I'm not sure if the order
is the same on all gigs
with them but I can tell you it couldn't have been
easy to follow Heep after the
great show they put on. Despite leading off Heep
played about an hour of
music, ten songs as we told by Mr. O in advance.
The boys came out rocking at full
blast and we were on the front row thanks to Dave
O. From the opening strains of
Return to Fantasy to the last notes of Easy Livin',
they were firing on all
cylinders. Bernie is an excellent showman and Mick
provides some amusing
antics with all his hand gestering behind Bernie.
He presents the entire
first verse of July Morning in mime.
Additionally Mick really
puts on a show during his solos, playing with one
hand and gestering with the other.
Trevor has a cool technique of throwing his bass
around for emphasis particularly during the end of
July Morning and JM is the song where the
individual bandmembers are
highlighted with both Bernie and Phil getting
spotlight treatment at key
points of the song. I'll mention other memorable
parts of the show after the other gigs. We'll be
leaving pretty soon for Sterling Heights. Oh...
Bob, we got you a copy of
"Electrically Driven". I'll put it in
the mail to you when I get home...probably on the
14th. We'll give you more updates as soon as we
can. BTW tonights show in SH,
Michigan will also include all three bands but
tomorrow in Flint will be just with
Heep so we'll get a longer set I'm sure.
Happy Heeping!
Mac
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