Cleveland Review

[Jeremy Mixer <mixer@xxxxxxxx>]

Man, what a weekend, I ahve been home for like 26 hours and I just now
finished going through the 650 emails that had collected over the weekend.

Jessica and I left at 9:45 PM on Wednesday, had a great drive to Cleveland
and quite a few rest stops, and pulled into the parking garage at 10:00 AM
the next morning. Probably a little early since we couldn;t find anyone,
but eventually I met up with Dardo and Denise in the lobby, chatted with
him for a couple minutes, went to get Jess and came back and Dardo was
gone. Then I saw Rick Barrett getting on an elevator, yelled hello,
briefly chatted with him, and soon after I recognized Jean Lorrah walking
up to the desk. We had to meet Ed, Natel and Tony at 3 PM, and it was much
earlier then that, but before I knew it there was Connie, Ann-Marie, Rita,
Annie, Buzz, people were coming from everywhere. Jess had to make a couple
phone calls from the lobby ophone, and on my way to find a bathroom I came
across the ever-energetic Mr. "Have another prozac" Pouya, hense
referred to as Prozac-Pouya; who pointed out to me that the bathrooms were
right next to me. We eventually wandered up to Annie's room, where there
was already a small party going on. At 3 we met up with Larry Burnett, who
was a great pleasure to meet, as I have been talking to LArry for quite a
long time and it was a pleasure to finally meet him. Soon after we found
Natel and Ed and checked in. While going down to my car to get a few
things I met up with Samantha Levins and Scott Day, who I chatted briefly
with for a few minutes, and we walked into our hotel room and about shit
when we realized that it was about 3 times the size of any other hotel
room I had ever been in in my life. Hell there were TV's and phones in the
bathroom, 2 other phones in the room, a huge closet, fold out
couch.....for some odd reason the room smelled funny sometimes, not the
fault of anyone who was staying there for sure, but we were barely there
anyway so it didn;t matter. Not to mention the minibar in our room, which
was never opened because I don;t think anyone would ahve been able to
afford the hotel's prices. 

Jess and I had walked around the whole mall earlier in the day, wquite
impressive to someone from Maine. Not like I'd never seen anything like
that before, it was just so odd to think that we were staying in a hotel
that was in the same building as a 5 story mall.

I think we went out to eat right after that, but to honestly tell you the
truth, I don;t remember. We eventually ended up at the Odeon where I
talked to Tom Flannerry for a bit, as well as Heather King, who I hadn't
seen since.....seeing the White in Cleveland at the lastr convention.....I
am convinced that Heather lives in the Odeon and never actually leaves,
just hides or something.

The White was......the White. I have nothing against them, although I do
have to say I miss Larry, Larry did a much better job with the theremin
and the bow then the new guy. And it was nice to see a couple medleys in
the music....other then that it seemed to be the same general setlist as
Niagara. Personally, nothign against the band or any of their members
(Kelly has to be one of the coolest people) but I think it would be
better, that if Grant seems to insist on ahving a tribute band, that he
get a different tribute band each convention. But I don;lt understand what
the point is of seeing a tribute band when you can see the real thing the
next day? It's obvious that many people felt strongly about that, and by
the tijme the second set started a good portion of the crowd had filtered
out. Don't get me wrong, the band does have talent, and I am all for a
group of Zep fans getting together and playing music that they love, some
consider it insulting, I consider it an honor to the band. And I trust
Robert does too, if there is anyone who I ahve heard speak well about "The
White" it is Robert Plant himself, anfd I quote "Robert Plant does Robert
Plant, The White does Led Zeppelin" nad if Kelly and Michael White are out
there reading on this list, thanks for putting on the show.

After theshow the gathering ensued in Annie's room, although mellow for
zepfest standards, it was pretty damn cool. JR got a softball sized knot
in his knee (JR email me privately if no one ahs told you where that came
from) and the party broke up because most people were dead tired and would
ahve never gotten any sleep if Annie ahdn;t have kicked the whole world
out....thank you Annie, if you hadn;t have done that I would have gotten
no sleep, which would ahve made for an interesting drive home. Thanks
Annie! I see why they call you "mom!"

we woke up the next morniugn and all showered and headed over to the conve
tion, where Jess and I met Natel and Ed and left 2 minutes after getting
there to go to lunch, where I had a pretty decent cajun burger. we
returned back to the convention, where I eventually found myself meeting
up with Jessica Kutch.....definately an odd moment, about 5000 miles later
then expected I must add....but it was great to finally put a face with
the name. Right as we were leaving to get our food I met up with Tom, he
introduced himself as "Tom" and I thought "That ain't TOm" but once he
said his name then I looked at him for a second, confused, then realized
that this was in fact the worm standing right before me.

Back at the convention, more socializing took place, it was a great time,
we eventually headed back at about 3:30-4:00m and ended up takuing an
unplanned nap in the hotel room. Of course rthis was only after walking to
the Gund Arena and going inside to hear a soundcheck.....yep, that's
right, we heard a soundcheck.....

some guy going "sound, one two three, testing one two three" and then he
said "Ah, ah " "Ah, ah ah" and next thing you know he was singing "Janie's
Got a Gun" or something resembling that....once we left that part of the
concourse security cxame and put a gate up to keep us from going back.

After the nap we went and saw the show......Lilly Haydn was cool, probably
would ahve been a lot better if I wasn;t anxiously waiting to see Page and
Plant, but at 9 they finanlly cameout. Lilli wwas pretty damn hot btw, but
her music really didn;t doo much for me at all, except her last song, that
was cool.

For my first time seeing either Page or Plant live, it was incredible,
mind blowing, one night I will never forget. Robert hit high notes like I
ahven;t heard him hit since the early 70's, and had an interesting fight
with a mike stand, but that's another story. He knocked it down, tried to
use his foot to bring it back up, and it fell the o0ther way, and thiskept
going on for like half of a song, until he finally grabbed it. He made two
references to the "Travelling Led-Heads of America" who are pretty much
based around this liost, so that was really cool. The video screen zoomed
in on Tom B's sign as RObert was scowling at it.

For a strict non-smoking policy, the security didn;t give a shit, weed and
marlboros were everywhere.  But, I heard that some people in attendence
were kicked out for taking pictures....whatever. But it was nice not
having to leave the arena for a smoke :)

Jimmy had a nice stairway tease at the end of one song, forget what it was
though.

After the show people were cheering all the way out of the arena and into
the walkway which led to the mall at the building where we were staying
at. After we got back we went on up to 975, where the party was raging.
Jessica and I provided some karaoke which everyone was singing along to,
which is a good thing because I don;t want to hear how bad I sounded, when
I got up the next morning my voice was gone from yelling at the show the
night before, to the point where I thought I had laryngitas.....I had to
drink tewo sodas the next morning just to have a sopeaking tone back
again. One of my vocal chords is killing me still, but it's my own damn
fault. Anyway, eventually we went off to bed.....but not until after JR
realized that Merit Adventures had bought some unique advertising space :)
Jessica made herself useful as the room bartender, pouring shots of
tequila for everyone and even mixing a couple of rather unique drinks that
had never been mixed before.....probably for good reason, but you make use
with what you have right?

We wokeup way to late the next morning, I was hoping to be on the road by
10, ended up waking up at 11 and not leaving till about 12:30-1 OR SO,
NEVER GOT TO SEE A LOT OFPEOPLE TO SAY GOODBYE TO and for that I
apoligize, and ended up going through a hellish rid home through some
really thick rainstorms which delayed us and forced us to miss the Furthur
Fest that I had been looking forward to for just as long as the
convention....but oh well, I'veseen Hot TUna before....still
dissapointing, but Jess and I made it home safe and sound, all in all it
was a great weekend. The Page/Plant show really made it special, the
people are the reason I go, just li8ke what Dardo and JR said, hopefully
next time around I'll be able to repay everyone for all the favors they
have done for me,I thank you all, you know who you are. I truly from the
bottomof my heart love everyone who went, and can;t wait for an
oppertunity to hang out with y'all again.

Jeremy

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