Atlantic City - August 8, 1999

Well, where to start? How about from the beginning? That would make sense wouldn't it? (Duh, of course!)

Okay, me and my friend took the 8:45am bus (only bus leaving to Atlantic City) and we got there at around 11:00. The good thing about this was that we got our money back for the fare (which was a nice surprise for us and it paid for our lunch! LOL!).

It took us a year and a day to find the hotel (RESORTS). The bus parked at TAJ MAHAL (which was right next door). However, that hotel was pretty big and both were connected. So it took us awhile (and asking about three different people).

Anyway, we finally found the main lobby at around 12:00 (yes, it took us an hour to find the hotel and lobby). Surprisengly, our rooms were ready; so we didn't have to wait until 4:00 to check in (talk about luck)!

The hotel was full of smoke - especially in the casino (where, unfortunately we had to walk through to get to our rooms [and I ended up coughing once we got out of there because of all that crap]). However, we did stumble upon the promo pic of the the guys after coming out of that (which was nice. They had little mini posters and advertisements all over the place).

I have to say this, though. Sorry, folks, but there should be some places where they allow smoking and some places where they shouldn't. Personally, I feel that there shouldn't be smoking throughout the whole hotel. It was very annoying and irritating. I couldn't stay in there much longer, we had to walk outside on the boardwalk. I hate smoke (sorry, gang, I don't smoke).

So anyhow, at around 1:00 or so we ate lunch and about 2:30 we headed for the theater (where we saw the picture advertisement again. Okay, so we were having too much fun with this). There were two other people already on line (since 6:00am mind you) waiting! Only for us to be told by a security lady to come back at 5:00. (Hey, she was nice about it.)

Well, whoever said Durannies listen to security people? (LOL!) We came back a half and hour later, and someone else was there. She said we could stay. (Actually, there were two more people on line - different from the ones that were there before. I'm not sure what happened to them).

A couple of highlights while we were waiting. We heard the soundcheck (couldn't go in, but heard SIMON testing the microphones, which was kind of funny actually. We also heard "HALLUCINATING ELVIS". It was instrumental, but we knew what it was).

And yes, we caught a "SIMON sighting"....LOL! It was funny how that happened, though. Someone on line went "there's SIMON", and about half of us ran down (I didn't, I wanted to keep our place in line; but I saw in the distance). He looked like he was in a rush anyway, going into the elevator wearing his cowboy hat and cargo pants....LOL!

Well, after all of that was over....We still had another 2 1/2 hours until the doors opened. We were eighth in line (somehow people cut in front of us - maybe it was because we were standing by the picture? Hee, hee!).

We met up with some cool people while we were waiting; and the line started building up at around 4:30 or so. We were wondering where they were selling merchandise. All of a sudden, my friend notices people walking with t-shirts in their hands. So, being the determined people we are, we asked them where they got them from; and they told us. Well, no wonder we couldn't find it. Do you know where they were selling things? ALL THE WAY AT THE END OF THE LINE! Actually, right behind the line; so no one could see it. Really stupid.

They had the tour book, stickers, two T-shirts, and some crazy hat. One T-shirt was a tight pink one with their faces on it and the other was white with their picture. My friend and I brought both T-shirts, the sticker, and a tour book (and a good thing we brought them when we did, because they were all sold out after the show. A lot of people wanted to look at our tour books because they couldn't get one; so a word to the wise. BUY YOUR MERCHADISE EARLY!).

Finally, at 6:30, the doors opened and we were seated at the first table, on NICK'S side (which was pretty cool). The way the tables were set up was that they were right up against the stage; so if DD wanted to jump on the tables or something, they could have (not that we would have minded). No barriers, no gaps, nothing, that was great! YES, FOLKS, THE SHOW WAS SOLD OUT!

Okay, so as usual the band was late coming on the stage. This time they broke their own record (well, for me anyway, since this was my first time seeing them since '97). They came out 20 minutes late (in '97 they were 15 minutes late). SIMON & NICK were in fine form (sorry WARREN fans, but from where I was, I couldn't see anybody but SIMON & NICK - literrally. Couldn't even see Wes or that drummer guy). SIMON had on a black tight shirt, black and white pants, and gray and white sneakers. NICK had on white pants with gold rhinestones, white shoes, and a white shirt with a floral pattern and it had stripes. (Very cool, both of them were.)

We had a happening table, though. (Well, the whole place was jumping - everyone was singing the words to all the songs [except the new ones of course]). There were about ten of us to a table; and All ten of us were SIMON fans, it was so funny (my friend is a SIMON & NICK fan). So you can guess which side of the stage SIMON came to the most (LOL)! Everytime he came over, everyone would scream out his name, it was great. He liked our side a lot (I wonder why?), and I have to say he noticed me several times. (Woo hoo!)

A couple of highlights of the concert: SIMON constantly bending down to either fix his pants or get a drink of water (and for some reason he went behind the drums during one of the songs, and was back there for awhile). NICK doing that lovely hand thing in "ELECTRIC BARBARELLA" (Yes, the magic box is back) and all the little "thrusts" that SIMON was doing (IMAGINE SEEING THAT CLOSE UP **THUD!**). Also, SIMON sung "ORDINARY WORLD" and the high notes came out beautifully. In fact, that was the best I've heard them (and me being a singer myself knows these things). That AWESOME version of WHITE LINES (EVERYBODY WAS ROCKING TO THAT ONE)! SIMON shining the spotlight on us (I forgot what song he did that in), and Two girls running up onstage to hug SIMON (okay, I know that's so 1984; but I thought it was funny....LOL!). One came from behind, almost knocking him over; and the other girl climbed up from the table in front of us - almost knocking him down again. When she went back to her table, I heard her say "I'm so embarrassed"....LOL! Funny, that was hilarious. This was during "RIO" (what is up with people wanting to hug THE MAN during that song? The same thing happened back in 1994 at RADIO CITY. Funny!).

Overall, this was a very, VERY GOOD concert; and was well worth the two hour drive I had. Not to mention Atlantic City gave the show great reviews; but I have to say one thing. That venue was not prepared for a show like that one. I mean, they can take cabarets and things like that; but a rock concert? No. I mean, they only had one security guard (from where I was sitting); and that same guard took the girls off the stage. Oh well, at least AC wants them back (woo hoo)!

After the show, our search for the guys continued until about 1:30 in the morning. No such luck. We went on their floor too, but we figured they wouldn't be there now; so we went to the Taj Mahal for drinks (soda, guys, we don't drink alcohol); and hung out there for awhile (I was already beat from all that dancing and walking around; so I was falling asleep). Then, we went back to RESORTS, took a picture in front of the theater by the advertisement (I have about a million of these pics on film I think!), and went to our rooms.

The next morning, I couldn't stay in that hotel much longer. The smoke was getting to me (and my friend too); so we checked out at 10:30, left our luggage in storage (why is it that luggage always seems heavier the next day?), grabbed some breakfast, and walked on the boardwalk; but before doing that, we went to see if the poster was still up by the theater. It wasn't, so we went outside; and sure enough, Duran's picture was still posted; so we just stood there and stared at it for an hour and a half (until it was time for our bus). This is one experience, though, I will never forget. Never ever have I've been so close to a stage in my life. I will always remember this performance and this day; and hey, we didn't get a chance to meet them; but you know what? We had great seats, and that lovely encounter; and THEY ROCKED!!!!

Now for my second show, PNC BANK ARTS CENTER.

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