THE CONCERTS I ATTENDED
The first concert I ever attended was in March of
1996 in Chicago, Illinois. This concert was the most
wonderful intimate expierence with a very down to
earth, very appraochable man.
The show was about a 2 hour, two part show. There
was him on his guitar, his bassist Alan Dermano, and
his percusssionist Michito Sanchez, and that was it,
but it was still very nice and fullfilling.
The concert left you with a very peaceful and serene
feeling. At this point I wasn't a huge JD fan, but a
regular one at least, and at this show he didn't do a
lot of his more known songs, but more of the ones it
seemed like he wanted to do; and even though I had
never heard those ones before it felt like I knew all
the words.
John Denver seemed like he was getting into every
song all over again! It was incredible! Some songs
that were 20 to 30 years old he seemed to be singing
all over again for the first time!!
Some of the more known ones he didn't do at this show
was "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Sunshine on my
Shoulders", "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", and
more.
But the songs he did perform, in the order of
performance was:
Set One
The Eagle and the Hawk
Welcome to my Morning
Follow Me
The Garden Song
Today
Saturday Night in Toledo, Ohio
Catch Another Butterfly
For Baby (For Bobbie)
I Want to Live
Grandma's Feather Bed
Dreamland Express
Seasons of the Heart
For You
Kissing You Goodbye
It Amazes Me
Set Two
Home on the Range/Ponies
Me and my Uncle
Eagles and Horses
Rocky Mountain Suite (Cold Nights in Canada)
Love is the Master
Darcy Farrow
Whispering Jesse
Rocky Mountain High
Poems, Prayers, and Promises
Annie's Song
Encores
Calypso
Amazon
Perhaps Love
The show opened with John struggeling to belt out the
high notes of "The Eagle and the Hawk". Afterwards
someome from the crowd yelled out: "Far Out!", and JD
replied with, "No, far up is more like it!" Referring
to the high notes in the song.
He continued on with inviting the audience to sing
along on "Welcome to my Morning". Then a few more
songs, and then the infamous "Saturday Night in
Toledo Ohio", and then the full story of John being
beaten up by some 'big' Toledo ladies!
Then John's marvelous rendition of the classic hit
"I
Want to Live", followed later by inviting everyone to
sing along on "Dreamland Express" also.
Soon after that JD hopped over to the piano, and did
his famous "For You" love ballad, then made us all
laugh with a new comical song never recorded:
"Kissing You Goodbye."
Then he ended the set by inviting everyone to "stick
around for the second part of the program is they
would like", and then "It Amazes Me."
After a short intermission John opened the secong
set
with a medley on "Home on the Range" and
"Ponies".
Later on JD did a classic goof up on his opening riff
to "Cold Nights in Canada", it was hilarious!
Then from "Whispering Jesse", John slowly and very
subtley made thw transition into his "Rocky Mountain
High" theme song! The crowd went absolutly nuts
throughout this entire song and afterwards also, it
was the most amazing feeling and adrenilane rush!
Then he ended the second set with the classic ballad
"Annie's Song", and then came back with 3
encores!
"Calypso", "Amazon", and a dedication to George Burns
"Perhaps Love". This was the day George Burns passed
away.
Afterwards I braced the freezing cold for about 45
minutes to see and get great pictures of JD leaving
the building wearing his granny glasses, and carrying
a guitar case and some flowers.
He told us thanks for coming to the show and wished
us a pleasant evening. It was so neat to hear his
voice without a microphone and about 3 feet away from
me!
The show all together was a complely incredible and
peaceful expierence!
