Guitars, guitars, guitars
When I got inside, I went into the auditorium to find my seat. I was so excited - I had a front row seat! This was the first time that had ever happened to me through reserved seating. Any other time I had been in the front row, at any concert, it was either general admission or a combination of a very close assigned seat and really cool security people. This show was going to turn into the perfect combination of all three.
The Bangor Auditorium itself is unique - when I walked in, there were actual bleachers, like in a gymnasium, immediately on my right. You walk in not from the back of the seats, like in most venues, but from the back of the stage, so immediately on my left was the side area of the stage, flanked by security and ushers, packing cases, gear, and guitars, guitars, guitars. I immediately saw my seat, on the side aisle of the front row, in front of the far left edge of the stage (stage right, in front of Lawrence). I put my umbrella down next to it, then went back to look at the guitars! What am I going to do, pretend to be sophisticated? I wanted to look!
I recognized a lot of Kevin Cronin's guitars and Bruce Hall's basses, and I just stood there amazed that I was so close. The usher right in front of me was a guy who looked to be in his late teens or early twenties at the most, and he asked if he could help me. I told him no, I had found my seat, and I was just looking, if that was okay. He said sure, and started talking to me about the guitars, telling me this was REO Speedwagon's side, and all the Styx gear was on the other side of the stage. He said I'd have to go over there and look too, and I promised I would!
After a few minutes I did go over to the other side of the stage. That was the side the bands would be coming through, so it was blocked off and I couldn't get as close as I could on REO's side, but it was still very cool to be able to look back at the rack of guitars and recognize so many of them.