Let me set the scene at Universal City Walk on the night of Lucy's concert. Before Lucy came out a band called Paperback Hero, a punk/alternative band opened for her.
They were pretty good and they were all the members put their heart and soul into putting on a good show. It's not music I'd normally listen to but them being so into it seemed to make it fun.
When Paperback Hero finished, they had actors on stilts doing a skit for entertainment while they reset the stage for Lucy's band. That was pretty entertaining, too and around this time there was a lot going on. It was about the time the movies let out so there were a ton of people everywhere going every which way.
When the skit was finished, you turn back around to the stage to see Lucy's band being introduced.
I had been anxiously awaiting this concert since the day it was announced, and was really excited that Michael Orland was the musical director. I love watching clips of Lucy and Michael rehearsing on Lucy's website and he led a grand show at the Roxy in '08 maybe the best concert I've ever attended, and I was hoping to re-capture some of that this weekend.
It was a good concert, but certainly not like her real concerts. I guess that's to be expected since it was free, I can't complain, but there was something missing I've been trying to put my finger on what it was.
I thought Lucy was great as usual. One thing you can count on Lucy for is it to play full-out, and she delivered once again. However, she seemed kind of, I don't know, tired, maybe spent is a better word, but she gave 100% of what she had. I wasn't surprised to read on her blog that she has a lingering flu.
Lucy was probably most like herself when she made comments in between songs.
Someone threw a brown bandana on stage and she said she can't pick it up (for security reasons) and went on to say that brown is not her color. (Hmm, wasn't Xena's leather brown?)
There was a group of guys in the crowd go together and yelled, "We love you Lucy." She looked over at them and said something like, well how come I haven't seen you guys before? I think you guys just like the dress."
(It reminds me when she said at a Con she was going to go main stream, but that she knows who her friends are. I guess she really does because she later acknowledged the fans that had been standing out there all day.)
After she introduced the band, Marissa made an appearance on stage to spray throat spray in Lucy's mouth.
(Marissa is starting to grow on my, but I had no affinity towards her until Dancing with the Stars. I love the way they work the red carpet together at movie premieres and leverage each others careers when they have a gig. I think Lucy carries Marissa career a little more. I was disappointed Marissa didn't get Lucy's mug on camera during her tenure on Dancing with the stars. I was hoping she would have a Marie Osmond like moment when she jumped into the laps of the Osmond brothers at the end of her dance so they all get camera time. But I guess is wasn't meant to be)
And I love that being in Hollywood you never know who is going to show up. Lucy gave a shout out to Vicky Pratt and TJ Scott who were out in the crowd. In that part of the world, you never know who's going to be walking around in the crowd. Maybe she'll get another movie role out of this appearance.
I loved that she sang a lot of my favorite songs from the Chicago and London concerts …but still there was something missing.
After the show, it was amazing watching Lucy work the crowd. There was no back stage, so Lucy just walked over to the side where Marissa and security was standing. There were metal barriers and security guards between Lucy and the crowd, but she did come up and take pictures and sign autographs for the fans. Lots of pictures and autographs, many of which I hope to see around here.
Seeing Lucy with the fans was amazing. She didn't take anything from the fans directly, a security guard would check it out to make sure it was safe before he or she handed it to Lucy to sign and she kept working her way up and down the rows of fans signing autographs and taking pictures. It's amazing how she can graciously take pictures and sign autographs while her safety isn't really secure with the crowd trying to get at her. I wonder how she blocks that out and still be "Lucy Lawless" to all the fans. She rocks.
She probably stayed with the crowd for about 20 minutes, and then they whisked her away. A big crowd followed her out down the main public walkway; which again seemed kind of unsafe, but what can you do?
I think what was missing for me had something to do with her band. Even thought they were great musicians it seemed like they were there more to play music than put on a show. This was true of Michael in particular. I'm curious to see what others have to say, but I thought they kind of left carrying the show to Lucy, and it distracted me a bit. Regardless, I had a great time and I can't wait until the next time I get to see her perform again.
