For more pictures
click here You know, I've always had a problem going to Albany. I like the city and everything but the overpasses are killing me. Whoever designed them probably studied a different kind of geometry than the rest of us.
Three clicks later in Google maps I made my own route; no overpasses, go figure.
Times Union Center, one hour before the concert. Parked the car and was planning to see where should I park myself. Never been to the venue but it does look different than Radio City Music Hall so I'm curious how did they arrange the stage. Even more curious I am about where the heck is my seat. When I got my ticket I couldn't believe my eyes, since I bought it like any normal ticket online, no VIP, no hundreds of dollars, etc. Floor 2, row b, seat 1. If the seats are not somehow marked upside down I figure that should be pretty front and center. I grab something to drink and start wondering around the venue.
10 minutes and 3 turns later I'm on my seat and I'm trying hard to bring back my composure. Let's say that if Yanni and the group would be singing in my living-room at home it would be kind of the same distance. For a split second I imagine that if I reach out I can almost touch the piano. "Dude, I'm telling myself, get real. Genius doesn't get transferred that way"
.
Did I mentioned before? This is my second concert, after Radio City Music Hall in NYC. For a couple of minutes I spread the joy, since the guys siting next to me get a measure of how much I liked it since I'm back.
And boom! we're on! It's surreal close. I'm looking at the them and get a definitive feeling of "I'm seeing it (close) and still don't believe it!". They make it look effortless even if it's not.
I have the camera with me prepared, with a hacked firmware, programmed scripts to shoot with different settings, the works. It's in my hand but the problem is I can't get my eyes off the stage to start the device
. Eventually I'm able at some point to arm the thing and start taking pictures. Without the flash since I was so close to the stage that they would've thrown me out if I kept on snapping.
That's what you see above, resized and processed a bit to reduce the noise. I should've taken more towards the end of the concert when everything was under strong lighting. But it's a problem when you're on your feet, clapping to the rhythm.
I stayed after somewhere on the uppers seats watching how they took the stage apart, packed everything with expert precision. Some electronics I know some don't. And then I turn slightly and can't believe. The guy walking up on the stairs toward me and another 3 people is Charlie Adams himself! Charlie who rocked the party just 15 minutes ago, working the drums like none other.The man is obviously tired but happy. He talks with us for a bit. I get a flier with a picture of him, web and mysepace addresses and other info about his releases; he signs it. I have a strange feeling; I'm not at the age anymore when I would be chasing autographs, but the moment added to the whole experience is just too cool. Thank you Charlie!
P.S. I got home fine, avoiding the overpasses again. My precious possession was the memory card from the camera
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