From Tina: >The Dallas show kicked ass! It was so much better than the Houston show. >Like I said before, at the Houston show, the band was playing mainly to the >cameras, but when I think about it there really wasn't an easy way for them >to interact with the fans, with all of the security guys and the camera guys >between the stage and then the barricades were set up. They really needed >to do that because Houston is always a rough crowd. Houston was where Slash >got knocked down during the 2001 Snakepit tour, if you remember that. >Needless to say, no audience member got near enough to do something like >that during this Houston show. But, I didn't leave with the same high I got >from the Dallas show. > >For Houston, I got to the venue around 4:00. One fan had been there since >2:30. Most of the crowd didn't show up until 6:00 or so. The security >people had fun tormenting the fans. They got us to start lining up around >6:30. Then they kept looking at us through the glass, open the door like >they were coming out to let us in and then close it again. Or they would >open the door and come out with their wands like they were going to let us >in but they would just mill around or make a phone call and then go back >inside. And it was, of course, after 7:00 (when doors were scheduled) when >they let us in. Some of the other people in the crowd who had attended a >lot of concerts said that these security guys do that all of the time. When >they finally let us in, I was in the front. I was a little to the left of >center, so I wasn't on Slash's side. There was a boom with a camera on it >set up to film the show in addition to the cameramen that were on and around >the stage. I don't remember when Living Things came on, but they seemed >like a pretty good band. I think that VR came on around 9:30 or so. I >don't remember the set list, but I think it was pretty much the same as has >been previously given. I just really didn't get into the show. Part of it >was all the other stuff going on in front of me with the security guys and >the cameramen was distracting and another part was that towards the end of >the show I was not feeling well (cold sweating, nausea) because I >(foolishly) did not get enough water in me. I've felt that way after shows, >but never during them because I am usually so into the show, so all of the >stuff with the cameramen definitely detracted from the show for me. After >the show I just wanted a drink of water and I had to leave the venue for >that, since the bars were closed, so I didn't stay to buy any stuff or try >to find where the band might be. I was kind of bummed because I was less >high than I was after the Snakepit shows, I wasn't excited for Dallas at >all. > >I slept until almost 10:00 the next morning, so I had to get up and rush >around to get ready. I washed my clothes so that I could wear my Snakepit >shirt again, since I didn't get a VR shirt. I didn't really get on the road >until around 12:30 or so. I didn't get to the venue until after 4:30. >There was a group that had been there since 11:30. Fans had driven in from >Waco and Arkansas, so there were some hard core fans, I think more STP than >GNR. Apparently VR arrived not long before I did and some fans had gotten >autographs, mostly I think from Duff and Matt. I don't think anyone got >Slash autographs at that time. They were already inside by the time I got >in line. I heard that some fans got additional autographs after soundcheck >too. Apparently, there is some reluctance to sign GNR stuff - I was told >that a guy had to beg them to sign his GNR stuff because they don't want >more stuff on eBay, so fans had better be prepared for that if they have any >GNR stuff that they want signed. Doors were until 8:00, but they let us in >around 7:30. The setup was really cool - it was a theater setup with >different levels separated by solid railings, and it was all GA. The >railings and the different levels kept there from being any type of a mosh >pit. The stage was small and the speakers were directly in front of the >stage. I staked out my spot against the speakers right where Slash would >be. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't have any temporary hearing >loss after the show. The show was just incredible - having Slash, Duff, >Dave, and Scott literally on top of us. The back of my neck hurts today >from staring straight up for a lot of the show. The show was just electric >- it was incredible - everybody left the guys alone, too. Scott came over >during one part of the show and made parting/swimming motions with his arms, >the crowd separated for him, and he went and stood on the first level >railing. He did the cheer thing where he raises and lowers his arms playing >with the crowd. Nobody mauled him or anything. I think Duff was more >worried about Scott than the lone security guy. When Scott was standing on >the railing, Duff came over made a hand gesture to the guy to balance Scott, >so he didn't fall over backwards, but the security guy didn't understand. >Once Scott was done, he came back over and hauled himself up on the speakers >and got back onstage. Slash talked a lot onstage - I don't remember him >speaking more than once at each of the Snakepit shows. I was so up during >the show that I don't remember the setlist for this show either. The >roadies weren't readily giving out setlists after the show, but some fans >got them. I joined the pack and got a VR t-shirt and then headed around to >the bus area. Duff was already signing stuff - he was very much just a >regular guy, talking to people, smoking a cigar, drinking O'Douls >(nonalcoholic beer). He signed for a lot of people before leaving - I had >him sign my map that I had printed show where the venue was. Matt came out >and signed for awhile - it seemed like he was not out very long. When he >got to me, he asked me what it was and I said that it was my map because I >came in from out of town, so he wrote "The Map to Velvet Revolver" across >the top. I've attached a scan. Once he left, a functionary of some sort >said that he knew we were waiting for Slash and Scott but that they weren't >coming out. Scott had already left. I don't know who this person was - I >suspect he was connected to the venue, because he said "I don't talk to the >talent" when someone asked him a question. At one point he said that Slash >had already come out once and wasn't coming again. If that was the case he >must have been there literally just after the show ended and not stayed out >very long, because I didn't think I was in line for my t-shirt that long. >Maybe, I was... Anyway, the guy eventually had security make us leave. He >either didn't believe us when we asked him if Dave would come out, because >he always just ignored that, or Dave didn't want to come out. I wasn't >expecting to get Scott's autograph, but I was hoping to get everyone else on >my map. Slash definitely wasn't very fan-friendly this time - maybe >Snakepit burned him out on doing meet and greets. So I was a little >disappointed, but I am still looking forward to October 29th and in other >show dates in my driving radius! There were fans who were following the >band to Denver, so I am happy to report that there are many other >road-trippers out there! > >Tina