We drove to Dayton in a pretty heavy rain, but no lightning or thunder, so it wasn't toooo bad. When we got
there, Ed wheeled me up the ramp and into Dayton's Memorial Hall. We were quite early, and they weren't supposed to let people in yet, but it was raining pretty hard, so they took us (Ed and me) to our seatsfront row, just barely left of center. Then Ed went out to the lobby to wait for Cyberpal Ellen, since we had all the tickets. While waiting for Ed to return with Ellen, a gentleman noticed my RITS jacket on the back of my chair. He approached and asked whether
I was a fan. Yeah, right! I told him I was, and he asked questions about RRT. I filled him in with whatever I could, and told him to wait 'til after the show and he could talk to the guys and ask them, since they would almost certainly be more up-to-date than I was!
I got my camera set up (35mm SLR with a telephoto lens and 1000-ASA film so I could avoid using a flash (the film was Kodak Gold, which I highly recommend, since it even adjusts the color for shooting under incandescent lights. No yellow tint!) and ready, then an usher came and told me I wasn't supposed to take pictures. I was going to be a
good sport and put the camera away, but then she added, "unless the performers don't mind." I told her that the guys were aware of my photographic proclivities and were, in fact, the recipients of several prints I've taken during shows. She didn't believe me, but she went and asked the guys, who gave a wholehearted "OKAY!" to my picture taking, hence the photos you see here! That little incident over, Ed returned with Ellen, and shortly thereafter, the show began.
And what a show! I didn't take notes, so I can't give you a complete play list. Let me just say it was the <i>best</i> concert show I've ever seen RITS do, and I've been going to every RITS show I can since 1990. The show was filled with new songs by the Riders, old classics by the Sons of the Pioneers ("Timber Trail" and "Cowboy Camp Meetin'" were among my favorites), one of the best performances of Palindrome I've seen (Slim's expressions during his Palindrome responses to Ranger Doug's queries were absolutely priceless, and yes, Tiff, they did do "Do geese See God?"), outstanding rope tricks from our own King of the Clothesline (including the famous Dead Butterfly and successful leaps both directions through the Cowboy Wedding Band), the "Hoop Dee Doo Polka" and "Texas Sand" by the Sultan of the Stomach Steinway (as a confirmed Polkaholic, I was in heaven with those!), and even Sidemeat showed up to do his versions of several Andrew Lloyd Webber classics. It was definitely the best show I've seen them do. (Is there an echo in here?)
Oh, yeah and during the questions portion of the show, Ellen asked the following: "donna j. wants to know: What's the Cowboy Way? Boxers or briefs?" You know the look RD gives Slim when Slim breaks into "Surfin' U.S.A."? He
gave Ellen that very same look, only I think this time it was sincere! And yes, she did win the tape! (Just so the light person gets credit for that question, my dear friend Amy suggested that I ask when we went to their show in Louisville last year at Coyote's. Neither of us had the nerve that night. I've been suggesting it to everyone I've gone to a RITS show
with ever since then. Someone finally had the nerve to ask it! Yes, Amy, you were right. It did win the tape!)
After the encore of "The Merry-go-round Broke Down" and "He Walks with the Wild and the Lonely,"
and after schmoozing with the guys for a looooong time (sorry guys!), we reluctantly left for home.
Oh, and I almost forgot. During the intermission, a gentleman asked me whether I was close enough to see what kind of accordion Joey was playing. I couldn't read it, but I already knew Joey uses a Baldoni in concert, so I told him. He said he would talk to him after the show, but I never saw the guy again. He said he was an accordion player! Another sultan of squeeze!
We drove through what was by then a raging thunderstorm and made it home safely by 12:30 AM, only to be awakened by the water alarm in the basement at 1:00 AM (for those of you keeping count, that's less than a half-hour
of sleep), and we spent the next 5.5 hours battling flood waters in the basement! However, even that was made easier by the happy memories from a few hours before. The next afternoon, I was horrified to hear about the tornadoes that had touched down in Nashville as part of the same storm system, but Ranger Doug assured me that all was well with the Riders, although his daughter had a close call while out driving to pick up his son, James. But not to fear, both are safe and sound, as are the rest of the Riders and their families!
Just another spring concert by Riders in the Sky! My next planned encounter with the guys is May 29 in Asheville, North Carolina. Once again, I will be accompanied by Ellen! Should be great fun!
So until donna j. rides your way once again, so long saddlepals! It's been so good to see ya!
donna j.
Every day...the Cowboy Way!
All photos and material ©1998-2013 by donna j.
