My Adam Ryman experience was one still ingrained into my being even today.
We arrived a little early but couldn't make the preparty so we went into a little bar around the corner and started laughing when we heard one of the waitresses say " There sure are a lot of people with sparkly outfits on this evening. Wonder what's going on?" My friend and I both said Adam at the same time., laughing and people watching all the glitter being spread on Music Row.
We had will call tickets and picked them up. While we were in line for the security check, I could just feel the energy building. As I looked around, the diverse groups of people just amazed me. Young teens to silver haired foxes(male and female), wonderfully happy young couples(gay and straight) to groups there to have a night to remember. Stripper heels to temmis shoes. Just a melting pot of love.
I had a camera and my sony handycam so when we went into the security check line I just knew they would take them as they had us open our bags. The twelve glowsticks didn't help my nerves either. I open up my purse(an India bag) and he looks at me smiling and says you have a good time at the show. It looks like you're ready! Wait, did he really just say that? I said I definitely will with a smile across my face just beaming! My friend says well I guess you were meant to film this! Everyone we talked to as we were heading into the auditorium was so energy filled and positive, you just felt the vibrations getting stronger and stronger with glitter everywhere! We found our seats and OMG so close but far enough away to take in everything. 9th row center was good enough for me. The floor was wooden, the seats were wooden church pews-my shoes came off pretty quickly. The musical history and energy just added fuel to the fire. I think Adam felt it all. Some of his highest notes just went through you reverberating to the very center of your being.
As we were shifting around, a young man came over and asked if anyone was sitting beside me. I said no as there was still some space in the pew. Then he asked if he and his girlfriend could sit there. I said as long as it didn't crowd us and he laughed and said she was skinnier than he was and he was pretty thin. We all laughed andthey came on up. We talked about what made him aware of Adam--ever since AI he'd been a fan. He said what many have said--Who else has a voice like that? It's just fricken amazing! I can't wait to hear him in this place.
On the other side of us was a retired couple in their late 60s. They had been watching Adam since AI too. Behind us, a mother and daughter and grandaughter. In front of us (I know this was meant to be) a stable owner who brought his staff to the show as a gift, One guy in front of us said I feel like I'm in church! I said you are- Adam's church! The guy beside me said Can I get an Amen to that? His girlfriend says Amen and you will be changed! (in a Jimmy Swaggert voice) Everybody started laughing and saying amen to that brother! It was great! More on that later.
Finally the lights go dim the crowd goes wild as Alli hits the stage. She is on fire! That little dynamo was rocking the stage! She has grown sooo much and has all that positive energy glowing! There were a few people standing and I would have liked to have seen more but she went too quickly. She was beaming that pretty smile as she left the stage. I listened to Orianthi for one song----- then I went to get my Adam stuff.
Frustratingly, there was only one person behind the table selling merchandise. The line was lomg but everyone was so friendly and talking about their Adam experiences. The anticipation for his set was easily felt. The girl in front of me said that the only thing she was afraid of was they wouldn't have a tshirt to fit her. I told her that on his website, the shirts went up to the larger sizes so I was sure they would have something in her size. Then I mentioned the phone cover he had just come out with, She squeed and said she had an Iphone. She got one. and they did have the tour shirt in her size. She was happy. Her mom was with her and told me it was the stranfest concert she had ever been to. What do you mean? Everyone here is so sweet and friendly. It's like we all know each other. I said well it is an Adam concert. We all smiled and she said well that's true. I got the fingerless gloves, the dogtags, and the tour shirt of him blowing a kiss. Of course, I HAD to get the Hatch print. I was squeeing myself when I saw it up there. I wonder if I can send it to Adam to get signed? Then I headed back to my seat. As I passed a door to the outside, I caught a glimpse of hot pink and remembered Aime and Kellie were supposed to arrive in one so out I went to see if it was them. To my surprise it had just arrived so I dug out my vidcam and taped them getting out and coming in! As I taped, I said glad you're here to support Adam. Have a blast! They said we will and smiled and waved at the camera! Woohoo!
Back to my seat and telling my friend about seeing them and showing my goodies, the guy in front of me asked if I was a Harley rider because of the gloves, I laughed and said no I had horses and they would be perfect for riding. He said do you have horses? I said yes his next statement blew me away. Well I have a stables with Arabians, quarterhorses and saddle horses. So while the stage is being set up we're talking horses and he gives me his card. My friend turns to me and says How do you DO that? I can not believe I turn around and you're talking horses at an Adam Lambert concert! You guys nust just have a sense about each other. We all had a good laugh. Then Aimee and Kellie walked in and sat 2 rows down from us and everybody started to rush them and security came but those 2 gracious ladies let people take pics til it was time for the show. I already had my vid,
Lights go dim--crowd explodes. That gorgeous Lee Cherry photo is up and FYE begins. The chorus starts and the Adam choir sings LOUD! It echos and the crowd erupts as the band slips onstage. A full moon rises onstage with the magicman beginning his Voodoo and the crowd has risen with it. The sound within the Ryman is indescribable, I now know why the only place to beat it is the Morman Tabernacle. The wood is alive beneath me. When he starts Ring of Fire the crowd goes wild. Johnny Cash is in the wings smiling. Hair raising goosebumps as those notes go through you. I know there were other people on stage. My video proves it.
Lasers in the Ryman hah! Take that Randy Travis! Nashville gave him a fever, he said so ! The dancers and he rocked the Ryman. As each song progressed, his smile and energy just increased tenfold. I've watched a few videos from other concerts and his Sleepwalker was just unbelieveable here. Maybe since Aimee was in the audience, he pushed himself to let her feel his pleasure in the song. I was blown away by that song before but live it is body shivers from the feet up. Being barefoot in that place, my soul soared along with everyone. I wanted barefeet to be everywhere so they could really feel this hypnotic music.
When he sat down to go acoustic, he said he didn't see any tvs thrown out the window and the crowd roared its approval.
The acoustic set-aaahh the pure tenor notes with that ethereal music in the background. Once again, there wasn't anyone else on that stage Then the tears flowed with Soaked. Frozen in silence allowing those lyrics to wash over us all, the crowd changed into a congregation. Primal feelings of protection came out with each line as the song progressed to it's ultimate mantra-your soul will be ok.
Then that moment in WWFM, It was like a burst of light as that smile widened when the sea of blue emerged during that simple line-thanks for loving me. I taped some of the blue as they shot into the air but couldn't capture the feelings of love that were sent to him via those simple little blue glows. Even the balcony was lit up! If you look at Monte and Tommy on the videos, they even smile. It was so special.
Aftermath was just as mesmerizing as the other acoustic songs. He said to look inside yourself for answers. Sound familiar, hmmm? (Hi Adam, join in anytime! *waving*)
3. Now he tells us all it's time to party together and we DID!! SFW That glory note where he dropped to his knees. Everybody went ballistic! By then my skin was tingling with electricity. We were on that rocket ship with him. Then he showed us how to Struuuuut!!! The dancers and he owned the stage. I'd LOOVE to have one of those canes, Talk about an Adam party! We were ALL dancin'. I think even the spirits were dancin' that night. You just get lost in the music. So then comes Music again and we went right on dancin' He was so filled with joy! It was definitely electric with the lasers dancin with glitter. Monte was killin the guitar and Adam was killin the notes. The final joy on this rocket ship ride-IIHY. Dayuum!! I wouldn't have been surprised if lightening started flashing across the crowd. He asked us to join in if we knew the chorus (little did he know) and the Adam choir started on cue. His smile told it all. I think he was a little surprised at how loud we were. Adam, you asked and you received. The reverberration in the Ryman was awesome. As many have said no video can do it justice. So the mighty maestro left the stage and the minions craved more. First it started with screaming, then chanting, then the rumble started. Do you know how loud two thousand plus hands pounding on wooden church pews sound? You felt it through the floor. through your cells as it vibrated the building. Then running back on stage, the man and his band we couldn't get enough of Adam with a glow emanting from all around him. His smile just beamed to us all. MW started and the crowd goes crazy again. The rocket ship was traveling back to earth to this mad world then at the ending strains he turned and started gyrating with that voice slowly building louder and louder. The guy with his gitlfriend says who can do that? I said well you better tape this cause he's about to have sex with the crowd. He started taping with his phone as those wails started and as he floated across the stage, he must have lost him. His girlfriend grabbed his arm and put him back on track then looked at me and grinned saying I can't miss this. We both laughed and watched the Ryman get aural sex. When it was over and we breathed a collective sigh, Adam said Thank you Nashville we love you. He turned around to point to the band and LP came up and gave him a hug. So priceless that moment. Have you ever been in the midst of a lightening storm and felt the electricity in the air? That tingling on your skin? The audience had just gone through the eye of the Adam storm and had been changed and charged. My friend turned to me and said I understand what you mean now. My skin is just tingling and I could see the energy ebbing and flowing from us to the stage and back again. He is out of this world. So ends my saga of the Adam experience, one I will truly remember.