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WOW, what a great show. It ranks right up there as one of the best I've seen in all my PH years. Could be because it was the first show that I ever attended completely sober, or the fact that we were in the front row. Technically, our seats were in the third row of the Pit, but, because of the way they had the seats set up, we were actually in the front row. The only thing between us and the stage was Charleston. He really seems to be a nice guy ( although I still wouldn't want to pizz him off ). I went to get water at the break, and he saw my 17 year old daughter by herself, and asked her if she was alone and if so, was she ok. I was really impressed that he would care enough to ask. Then during Scarlet Begonias, when the lyrics go something like.....shake a strangers hand....he reached out to me and shook my hand. Way cool I thought.
Mac and Tina both made eye contact with my daughter and gave her a thumbs up sign. They must have been impressed that she was singing the words to every song on the set list. Tina tossed me her pic at the end of the show, and thats something that I'll keep forever. I've had this secret crush on her for a long time. During Gypsies In The Palace, when Jimmy sings " we'll shoot the locks off " and makes a gun out of his fingers, I was doing the same thing towards him, and I swear he looked straight at me and we both shot each other with our fingers. Another way cool moment.
I've been going to Jimmy's concerts for a long time, but, lately, I've kinda fell off the whole PH thing, but this show has brought me back stronger than ever. Jimmy and the band really do seem like they love what they do, and that whole vibe, really rubs off on you. Thank You Jimmy, and The Reefers, for a truely amazing and memorable show.

I took a boatload of pix last night and thought I'd share a few with you guys. Hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Awesome!! Life IS good!!!!

GREAT pics !!

Thank you !!!

WHOA
Charleston let you take that many pics
Thanks for sharing!

WoW!!! Those are some GREAT shots!!! Thanks for sharing 'em.

Awesome pics. Sounds like you had a great time. Thanks for sharing.

Great photos! Thanks for sharing.

Very nice. I'm surprised you got the camera through security, and that Charleston didn't have a word with you.

Snowparrot wrote:Very nice. I'm surprised you got the camera through security, and that Charleston didn't have a word with you.

LOL...last year in P-burgh we sat in essentially the same seats...and Charleston took a pic of US with our camera!

Charleston is a jam up guy. My wife and I talked to him some backstage before this years Raleigh show and he is very friendly as long as everyone follows the rules. He said he remembers seeing us in Wakiki at the Beachcomber. THAT was cool to hear! But yeah, you don't want to make him mad. Said he has been with Jimmy for 20 years now.

At the Beachcomber show, tons of people were taking pictures, but it wasn't an issue. I think the picture policy tends to come more from the venue than the performer, but I could be wrong.

those pictures are great. Last year at Nissan Charleston wouldn't let me take any pics until the encore. We scored front row this year at Nissan, do you have any advice on what to say to him? My wife an I have talked to him a few times ( Vegas and Nissan) and he really is a nice guy.

Great pictures...thanks for sharing!!!

Beach Bob wrote:those pictures are great. Last year at Nissan Charleston wouldn't let me take any pics until the encore. We scored front row this year at Nissan, do you have any advice on what to say to him? My wife an I have talked to him a few times ( Vegas and Nissan) and he really is a nice guy.

First of all, I'm glad you all like the pics. Thank You. I was worried about taking my camera into the show in the first place, but I figured, hey....I'm in the front and I'm gonna try. I had planned on sticking it in the front of my shorts...someplace where they were not going to pat me down at but when I saw that they weren't even patting anyone down, just asking you to raise your arms and turn around, I just left it in my pocket. We did go in a little early, so that may have been why there was no pat down. When we got to our seats I asked the Starlake security person what the camera rules were, and she said as long as it wasn't a professional looking camera, it wouldn't be a problem. Charleston never said a word to me about taking pics. I actually took 61 pics total, and he ended up in a lot of them, but he didnt seem to mind. One thing I did do was to NOT use the flash, although it went off accidently a few times. I remember reading somewhere that the reason Jimmy does not usually allow photography was because he didn't like having a million flashes going off in his face. Every time my flash went off by accident, I said "oh shizz" and immediately looked at Charleston to see if he was about to put me in a head lock or something. But it never happened.
I think that if you don't use a flash, and just stay low key, you can get away with it. Remember that the best photographers blend in with the scenery.
As for what to say to him....I dunno...how about "Hey Charleston, how've you been man....you're lookin good" ?

AWESOME!!!!

Great pics. We were at the show also, but did not pick up tickets until last week so were in the back of the pavillion. My pics stink as a result. It was a great show and a perfect evening. We have not seen JB in a couple of years. We had to drive from northern Ohio to Pittsburgh to see him and the Reefers but it was worth it. Same crazy crowd, just growing older but not up. We are headed to Hawaii with our kids in August and are thinking about staying at the Beachcomber. They have some great deals posted. Keep the faith, all.

Great pictures!!!

And great seats ... you lucky SOB you!!

-"BB"-

Kind of off topic but....

Mark G, I would recommend the Beachcomber. It was nice, clean, right on the main drag of Wakiki, and you are across from a cut-through to the beach. We were on the 3rd floor on the ocean side of the building. It was cool b/c you could look down on the street and it was right above the restaurant. If they have outsince music, you can crack the balcony door and listen. If we ever go back, we would stay there again.

Enjoy the trip!

Wow..great pics. Thanks for sharing.