|
Partys & Promos Very Special Events FANS ONLY - ONLY FANS |
|
|
 |
|
Aloha Stadium BOTH Shows SHE'S a RAINBOW & SHE'S a RAINBOW AGAIN STORY Why would this be THE # 1 Absolute Best Pre Concert Rolling Stones Party of ALL Time. LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION of course ! That would be the right, the easy answer, and then we ride off to Catch the Sunset on the North Shore . . . but this definitely has more Sway. The weather was absolutly Gorgeous perfect Starry Skies - Tropical Warm Breezes - I Can Almost Hear Ya Sigh. Plus this Party & Party Again was Behind the Stage ALMOST ALL ACCESS . . . In a Very Casual - Very Minimal light security atmosphere. None of "The Band" was strolling around - but we saw Bobby Keys Bopping around. The pre party was put on by a local outfit called Aloha TNA USA Productions and individuals Shep Gordon ( See the SNL Directorial Debut of "Wayne's World" Mike Myers movie about the man if ya wanna know more ) and Tom Moffatt Hawaiian Concert Promoter DJ and there's a bit more on his resume so Google away. The Pre Party really had Zero Fanfare or PR Push, it was just listed as a Basic Concert Party Get Together Area near the Stage before the Concert ... Some Swag and $ 125.00 price tag . . . NO ticket to the Concert. Ya had to provide your own . . . So I guess with a cost of adding 2x onto the price of the Ticket Back in 1998 - There were Not Many Takers. Probably about 20-30 of us and thats all they wanted to handle. Anyway, I was as usual expecting warm flat beer - cold hors d'hoevres & some side room to just Hang Fire out. NO NO NO and SAD SAD SAD for those that thought like I did, it was Fancy Hawaiian Crudites - Fancy Platters - Mini Hawaiian Luau Cooking - Top Shelf Bar Service - Waitresses at your Beck n Call AND We were actually REALLY behind the Stage, we could walk around, watch everything get set up - sharing with / what was availble to The Stones and Crew . . . There was a polite mention to not mingle with the band, but not with tone as a do not even try it . . . or you will get bounced for doing it . . . Anyway the opportunity to meet the band did not present itself. Just NO REAL Security for Us . .. We were part of / or Actually felt like Somewhat "THE" Security & Crew . . . or part of or what seemed part of . . . the roadies, staff, crew and policing . . . But, No work to do . . . Basically everyone else was running around doing their jobs while we just Hung Out drank partied and Watched it all go down. HOW KOOL IS THAT . . . YOU WERE part of SECURITY & Staff . . . BEHIND THE STAGE - while Everyone was working there Asses off and you have nothing to do, but Eat Drink and be Fuggin Merry. What was even Kooler was you could walk around . . . The Pre Party Guests pretty much had access to everywhere but a dressing room. So, while most hugged tight to the bar & food, I decided to walk around to my seats at one point . . . Which were 7th Row Center . . . AGAIN Tickets were not included so ya had to have floor center seats to walk out front and I was the only one of the group - that was able to walk back n forth to the party . . . back n forth to my Floor seats catch the fabulous views of the stage sky and stars - then back to the party . . . Pretty much walking around like ya owned the place . . . No Security at all for us partiers, nor most importantly MOI LOL ! Finally a bunch of people in my row come up to me and go "Who are You" . . . of course the New Yawk come back LOL is . . . " Who the Fug R U " . . . Laugh I Nearly Died . . . The person then goes " No, really, We see you coming & going from behind the stage - drinks in yer hand" . . . " You Must be Someone Important " . . . Laugh I Nearly Died Again . . . " No Who are You Really " . . . " You have to be Associated with The Band " . . . I Go . . . " Really I'm Not " . . . " I am just here to see the show like you . . . with access to a little cocktail party in back of the stage " . . . Oh? bewilderment was kinda the return response . . . " Where are you from ? " . . . " I go Connecticut " . . . Now these fans start Barking at me BULLSHIT ! . . . Now we know you are BS-ing us . . . No One comes All the way from Connecticut to Hawaii to See The Stones Play LOL :) This was just before all the VIP Concert Travel Packages - Fan Groups on the Internet / Facebook - IORR - Rocks Off for Stones concerts & Information caught on. All the banter with fans up front on the floor was Amusing as All Hell ! . . . Now I play make believe Security LOL . . . keep bopping back n forth to behind the Stage to my seats to make sure all is going well like I have a Clue . . . or moreso is there enough ice for my drink left in the koolers . . . Like I really know what to look for behind or in front of a stage, except maybe more Solo Cups or Keiths hidden Jack Daniels bottle. But to the people in the crowd it looked like I was doing some kinda Stones CIA Shit - Sight check - Sound check . . . Now onto the Show . . . and Back to my seat with the whole section shaking their heads thinkin that I am totally BS ing them. I am really with the Stones Secret Service just trying to hide that fact that I am some key person with all kinda ins LOL. Seeing The Rolling Stones under Tropical Breezes in Hawaii is absolutly one of those pinch me is this really happening moments. I am not stretching it that this was head & shoulders above and different than any other "Venue Vibe" . . . the stones buzz and tropical feel was something like Peanut Butter & Chocolate - Vodka & OJ - Batman & Robin. IT WORKED - UNIMAGINABLY PERFECT . . . The song selection Poll came out with She's a Rainbow and Jagger rolled his eyes, not knowing that the State Nickname is the Hawaii Rainbows. Playing the song for the first time in 40 ish years was just lovely. Now its Show # 2 - Hawaiian Tropical Breezes Again - Rinse & Repeat - She's a Rainbow Again - Full access to behind the Stage, even less people here for this party, Around a dozen. I coulda picked up some amps and starting pluggin sh!t in. I was the Only pro with One Day of Experience . . . Now back to my Rinse & Repeat Routine of walking out to my seats, now in Row 5 Center for this Show, with some of the same people, Actually ALOTTA the same fans from the front floor sections last night are back on the Floor, and I get my Balls Busted Amusingly. "Hey Mr BS we know yer with the Band NOW ! . . . "No One goes to two shows All the way from Connecticut Gets Free Drinks .. . The Only One with Behind the Stage Access for Both Shows" . . . ALL FUNNIN at MY EXPENSE . . . Laugh I Nearly Died Again & Again LOL. So I had to finally show them my Drivers License ! . . . AND they still didnt beleive me. LOL. Anyway back n forth from behind the Stage drinking with the Private waitresses, the road hands, the staff, the promoters. All Under the Gorgeous Starry Evening Tropical Skies of Hawaii with the Breezes and weather to Die for. Sorry B you put on a Killer show for the record books at BB Kings and all the other partys mentioned herein, that took a Mountain of Under Appreciative and in some cases Totally Unappreciatve work to pull off, but none could hold a tiki torch to this party. In Finishing . . . Sorry NO She's a Rainbow as Song Choice again. Was just kidding on that . . RESPECTABLE was played. Even Better. And on a Very personal Note. I had a NEW Girl Friend at the time and I told her I am going to see The Stones in Hawaii - I just took her to see them at MSG Row 2 ( which BTW is the record for Farthest Distance Between two Stones Shows NY City then Hawaii) Told her I had Tickets Hotel All lined up 3 weeks in Hawaii . . . all ya needed to do was hook up the Air and clear it with your work, then ya can just join me. She was another one that thought I was BS-ing. LOL. Well when I called her from Hawaii she still thought I was BS-ing. FINALLY, She knew when the postcard came and has been kicking herself in the butt for it ever since. Oh Well - Oh Well. THANK YOU SHEP GORDON |
Copyright © 1998 - 20__ HIW 
|