Rik Emmett Concert

Went to Elgin yesterday to see the Rik Emmett band. Started the evening with dinner from a couple of guys I met through the Rik Emmett network. This was the first time I have seen Rik in a full band format. Man, it was fantastic. He played most of his hits from his Triumph days and a few from various other projects, solo and otherwise. At 55 years old he can still wail on the guitar and it is obvious that he still loves playing and entertaining. I wish I had a tenth the talent he does.

One of the exciting items was his expectation that Triumph would be touring next summer. I never got to see them in their prime but you can rest assured that if they come anywhere near Chicago I will be at a reunion show. There was supposed to be a meet and greet after the show, but it was announced that it was cancelled. Then after most people left it was announced that the band would be coming out at some point but we would most likely have to wait outside. So after waiting for a while we decided to leave as it sounded like there was going to be a long wait. Of course, five minutes after we left the band came out to sign autographs etc. What a bummer, so if I would have hung out for another few minutes I would have been able to meet one of my guitar heros. Oh well it was a great show anyway.

Couple of things that made me laugh at the show:

1) The majority of the crowd was mid 40's to early 50's agewise. It makes me laugh to see people my age or older headbanging and putting up the "heavy metal" salute. Especially when they have less hair than me. I guess there is nothing wrong with reliving your youth....or is there. Some of those things would kill me today.
2) What makes a 40+ woman want to dress like she did 25 years ago, gel up the hair (BIG)and slut themselves up when their ass has grown probably 4 times bigger than it was back in the day (at least 4 times bigger). Worst of all why wear pants that didn't fit 3 asses ago. Yuck.
3) Same women dancing like the blond broad in the prilosec commercial. I have to admit that I am rhythmically challenged when it comes to dancing, but OMG these chicks were a disaster. They are at every Rik Emmett show in the area and it is just bad. Plus they always seem to be sitting in front of me. It's like a train wreck in that it's so disgusting it is hard to look away.
4) Air Guitar. Now I will admit that I have played some air guitar in my time but I don't believe I have done much of it in the last 20 years. But one guy was really rocking out the air guitar and wanted to make sure that everybody was watching him. What made me laugh the most was when he air guitared (or actually air bassed) the bass solo. It was a riot and sort of made me feel sad for him and will certainly make me think before I air guitar ever again. But I have only one rule to air guitaring, at least make it look like you are following the notes in some manner. If the guy on stage is playing at the 18th fret don't be air guitaring near the tuning pegs of your imaginary guitar. And please don't stand in front of me and make sure that I notice you, because all I'm going to do is laugh at you. Actually I'm going to laugh at you no matter where you are.

OK enough is enough.