Trip to Richmond - The Elliott Experience 10/8/06
So it's taken me about a week to put this together, but here we go. Richmond was amazing. The concert, the people, the scenery - everything. I went for Elliott, and fell in love with Virginia it seems. Anyway, here's the re-cap, pics, and vids.
Alright, so we left at 8 Sunday morning, and took a three and a half hour flight to Baltimore, as our plans were made somewhat last minute, and that flight was ennded up being the only one that would fit our budget and put us in Richmond in time for the concert. So we land in Baltimore, and the weather is so amazing, omg. Cool, and sunny, and COOL. And so not Texas-like. Anyway, so then it's time to pick up our car and drive another two and a half hours to Richmond, where we're staying. We didn't mind the drive at all though; it was beautiful, and we passed so many awesome things on the way. We originally planned to go through DC, but the night before
we'd be told that there was major construction causing major delays, and didn't want to risk it. So we took at detour, and still ended up being able to see the Capital Building from the bridge, and a ton of signs for other things like Quantico (FBI training center), Andrews Air Force Base (where Air Force One takes off from, and the Pentagon. Oh, and Dumfries, Manassas, a name which amused me quite thoroughly, because I'm immature like that.
Sup, unfocused. That's the Pennsylvania Ave exit, if you couldn't read it.
The Capital Building is that little thing with the pointy dome top in the middle.
Pretty sure that was the Quantico Triangle, but I couldn't really get a good picture for the trees.
Ahahaha. Ha.
Richmond!
The Virginia State sign. I missed it going it, so I had to turn around in the car and get it as we left. I got skillz.
So we got to Richmond about 3:30, checked in, went to go eat, and headed out towards the fair at about 5. Now, you would figure that and hour would be sufficient time to get you to a fair three miles away, but you would be wrong. Traffic was insane, and it took us the entire hour to 6 o'clock (when the concert was supposed to start) to get into the parking lot. Then we had to walk half a mile to the ampitheatre. At this point, as I'm sure you could guess, I'm basically freaking out. But we get in and get to our seats by about 6:10, and the show starts about 7 minutes later. Our seats weren't bad, but they were towards the back, so the pictures didn't come out all that spectacular. And the security was super tight, so I couldn't really get much closer to take pictures without being shooed back to my seat.
Anyway, Elliott came out soon enough, and the crowd was insane and he looked so good and happy to be home and doing what he loves. A minute later he eases into Bill Withers' "Use Me," and the voice - oh, The Voice was incredible. Smoother than smooth and stronger than ever. Nngh. I'm pretty sure I melted during that one.
My other two favorites were "Ready For Love" (by Bad Company) and "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" (by Donny Hathaway). God, both were so, so amazing. Guh. He also sang "Little Ghetto Boy," "I Believe to My Soul," which I also loved dearly, "You've Got a Friend," "Empty Arms," "What's Goin' On," and "Whipping Post" as an encore. And let me tell you, this white boy is a funky as they come. He was dancin' and groovin' the whole time, and it's quite possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen. Everything he did Sunday night just made me love him a little bit more.
LMBO was also very impressive, and they seem to share a mutual love with Elliott. One of the band members grabbed Elliott and hugged him from behind around the neck as they walked offstage. It was pretty darn adorable.
I wish I could give you more details, but honestly, I can't do justice to this man's voice, or his prescence, or how it felt just to be there in the same place with him and the amazing E-Train with words. I know that if you aren't an E-Trainer, you probably don't understand the feeling or reasoning we have for being so dedicated to him, but I can tell you that the concert experience was everything I could have asked for and more.
The awesome banner that was at the front of the stage.
Yes, I basically took pictures of everything that had his name on it.
And now for was was probably the highlight, aside from, you know, being in the same vicinity as Elliott:
We met Mama Yamin! kfhgjhgjkh! Oh my God you guys. She is the cutest, sweetest thing ever, I swear. He shouted out to her and his brother earlier in the night, and I was hoping to meet her, and it just so happens that she was haning out afterwards talking to people and taking pictures and being wonderful and adorable in general. AND I TOTES GOT A HUG FROM MAMA YAMIN. Be jealous. I also saw his girlfriend, who came back every once in a while to talk to people and check up on the The Mama. She's very pretty. (I hate her. But, not really.)
After meeting Mama, we hung out for a bit, thinking we might get a chance to meet him (little did I know that that chance had come and gone around the time we were just landing in Baltimore), but to no avail. We then headed out, much to my reluctance, and that was that.
Sigh. So very worth the trip.
Now for the videos and audio. The video is pretty good quality, though he and LMBO appear rather small. You can still see him groove and hear him, though. Most are not full songs, as I did not know how long the set would last, and used my video space pretty cautiously.
Video:
I Believe To My Soul
I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know
Ready For Love
Use Me
You've Got a Friend
Empty Arms
What's Goin' On (pt.1)
What's Goin' On (pt.2)
Whipping Post
Whipping Post (Very End)
Audio is ripped directly from the video. Most, again, are not entire songs. However, Yaminions has both audio and video of the entire show, if you'd like to check that out. This is just what I've got to share.
Audio:
I Believe To My Soul
I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know
Ready For Love
Use Me
You've Got a Friend
Empty Arms
What's Goin' On (pt.1)
Whipping Post
*I am currently still uploading the other ones, but they should all be up tonight, or tomorrow at the latest. Check back soon.
Also, here are the professional pics from The Times Dispatch site:
Yeah, I basically can't express my love for this one.
So there you go. The Elliott Experience. Again, sorry it took so long, but the past week has been pretty hectic and it takes a while to put this stuff all together. But in conclusion: This man is pretty much amazing, and if his record sounds anything like this concert did, I might die with happiness.
Love.
Alright, so we left at 8 Sunday morning, and took a three and a half hour flight to Baltimore, as our plans were made somewhat last minute, and that flight was ennded up being the only one that would fit our budget and put us in Richmond in time for the concert. So we land in Baltimore, and the weather is so amazing, omg. Cool, and sunny, and COOL. And so not Texas-like. Anyway, so then it's time to pick up our car and drive another two and a half hours to Richmond, where we're staying. We didn't mind the drive at all though; it was beautiful, and we passed so many awesome things on the way. We originally planned to go through DC, but the night before
we'd be told that there was major construction causing major delays, and didn't want to risk it. So we took at detour, and still ended up being able to see the Capital Building from the bridge, and a ton of signs for other things like Quantico (FBI training center), Andrews Air Force Base (where Air Force One takes off from, and the Pentagon. Oh, and Dumfries, Manassas, a name which amused me quite thoroughly, because I'm immature like that.
Sup, unfocused. That's the Pennsylvania Ave exit, if you couldn't read it.
The Capital Building is that little thing with the pointy dome top in the middle.
Pretty sure that was the Quantico Triangle, but I couldn't really get a good picture for the trees.
Ahahaha. Ha.
Richmond!
The Virginia State sign. I missed it going it, so I had to turn around in the car and get it as we left. I got skillz.
So we got to Richmond about 3:30, checked in, went to go eat, and headed out towards the fair at about 5. Now, you would figure that and hour would be sufficient time to get you to a fair three miles away, but you would be wrong. Traffic was insane, and it took us the entire hour to 6 o'clock (when the concert was supposed to start) to get into the parking lot. Then we had to walk half a mile to the ampitheatre. At this point, as I'm sure you could guess, I'm basically freaking out. But we get in and get to our seats by about 6:10, and the show starts about 7 minutes later. Our seats weren't bad, but they were towards the back, so the pictures didn't come out all that spectacular. And the security was super tight, so I couldn't really get much closer to take pictures without being shooed back to my seat.
Anyway, Elliott came out soon enough, and the crowd was insane and he looked so good and happy to be home and doing what he loves. A minute later he eases into Bill Withers' "Use Me," and the voice - oh, The Voice was incredible. Smoother than smooth and stronger than ever. Nngh. I'm pretty sure I melted during that one.
My other two favorites were "Ready For Love" (by Bad Company) and "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" (by Donny Hathaway). God, both were so, so amazing. Guh. He also sang "Little Ghetto Boy," "I Believe to My Soul," which I also loved dearly, "You've Got a Friend," "Empty Arms," "What's Goin' On," and "Whipping Post" as an encore. And let me tell you, this white boy is a funky as they come. He was dancin' and groovin' the whole time, and it's quite possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen. Everything he did Sunday night just made me love him a little bit more.
LMBO was also very impressive, and they seem to share a mutual love with Elliott. One of the band members grabbed Elliott and hugged him from behind around the neck as they walked offstage. It was pretty darn adorable.
I wish I could give you more details, but honestly, I can't do justice to this man's voice, or his prescence, or how it felt just to be there in the same place with him and the amazing E-Train with words. I know that if you aren't an E-Trainer, you probably don't understand the feeling or reasoning we have for being so dedicated to him, but I can tell you that the concert experience was everything I could have asked for and more.
The awesome banner that was at the front of the stage.
Yes, I basically took pictures of everything that had his name on it.
And now for was was probably the highlight, aside from, you know, being in the same vicinity as Elliott:
We met Mama Yamin! kfhgjhgjkh! Oh my God you guys. She is the cutest, sweetest thing ever, I swear. He shouted out to her and his brother earlier in the night, and I was hoping to meet her, and it just so happens that she was haning out afterwards talking to people and taking pictures and being wonderful and adorable in general. AND I TOTES GOT A HUG FROM MAMA YAMIN. Be jealous. I also saw his girlfriend, who came back every once in a while to talk to people and check up on the The Mama. She's very pretty. (I hate her. But, not really.)
After meeting Mama, we hung out for a bit, thinking we might get a chance to meet him (little did I know that that chance had come and gone around the time we were just landing in Baltimore), but to no avail. We then headed out, much to my reluctance, and that was that.
Sigh. So very worth the trip.
Now for the videos and audio. The video is pretty good quality, though he and LMBO appear rather small. You can still see him groove and hear him, though. Most are not full songs, as I did not know how long the set would last, and used my video space pretty cautiously.
Video:
I Believe To My Soul
I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know
Ready For Love
Use Me
You've Got a Friend
Empty Arms
What's Goin' On (pt.1)
What's Goin' On (pt.2)
Whipping Post
Whipping Post (Very End)
Audio is ripped directly from the video. Most, again, are not entire songs. However, Yaminions has both audio and video of the entire show, if you'd like to check that out. This is just what I've got to share.
Audio:
I Believe To My Soul
I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know
Ready For Love
Use Me
You've Got a Friend
Empty Arms
What's Goin' On (pt.1)
Whipping Post
*I am currently still uploading the other ones, but they should all be up tonight, or tomorrow at the latest. Check back soon.
Also, here are the professional pics from The Times Dispatch site:
Yeah, I basically can't express my love for this one.
So there you go. The Elliott Experience. Again, sorry it took so long, but the past week has been pretty hectic and it takes a while to put this stuff all together. But in conclusion: This man is pretty much amazing, and if his record sounds anything like this concert did, I might die with happiness.
Love.