03/04/00 - STATE THEATRE, DETROIT

Review by FO:
I went to the April 3rd concert in Detroit. Absolutely great! I've been a huge fan since I heard Run To You at age 8 but this is the first time I attended a concert. He's a real musician, not just attitude and over-production like a lot of other performers. I was amazed how much sound just three guys could produce, and how his voice never missed a note despite some real throat-splitting yells.

I can't remember the entire setlist but they were on stage for two hours and forty minutes! At the end of most concerts, which are usually half as long, people are sorta ready to leave despite the fact that they're calling for an encore. But people genuinely wanted more despite three encores! Detroit is known as a concert town but I've never seen a reaction like this. The entire main floor of the theater never sat down, even during slow songs. I was also surprised how there was no "wall" between band and audience like a lot of concerts where performers never even acknowledge there's an audience
except the occasional thank you. Instead he kept having the lights turned up and talking to people (and many talked back) and joking around. The same stuff he's done at recent shows during "If Ya Wanna Be Bad..." and "When You're Gone". It was obvious that people had a great time and I even heard comments afterwards like "Jeez, you couldn't get him off stage".

It made me realize how many memorable hits he's had. Even 2 hrs & 40 minutes weren't enough to cover everything. (I really wanted to hear "Thought I'de Died and Gone to Heaven" but oh well). The audience welcomed every song and sang along. This should be a wake up call to critics who like to trash his albums (!?): They should remember how many "acclaimed" bands only have one or two hits are are quickly forgotten.

The only negative was that I had the worst seat because I had the sale date wrong! If ever there was a concert I wanted to be up front for... but I was under the balcony, behind the light control board, next to the projector. The fact that people were on their feet even back here tells you something.

Afterwards I waited around until midnight with fans outside in the not-so-friendly streets of Detroit for an autograph. I heard he always signs so I thought this would be a great first autograph. I had my "Neighbors" CD ready (first CD I ever bought, wanted to tell him that) but he never came out! What gives? If any of the few people who stayed waiting are reading this, what finally happened?

Great concert, definitely going to the next one, and let's get his newer stuff back on USA radio like in Europe. Thanks BA and band!

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