OK, ok, Okay... I know it's been forever, but it's only because a life changing event occured and it's taken me a long while to truly process and gather my thoughts. I've been writing about this event bit by bit for months now. I never want to forget this night. I wanted every detail, emotion, and feeling to be put down in writing. It's mostly for me, but I want to share.
Let me give you the background on Tommy. He is one of two original members of Styx. He has golden locks that transcend time and space. He was in a Calvin Klein ad. He wore all black and a red scarf the first time I saw him. He is my boyfriend. I believe we're in a serious, monogamous relationship. He's 56, married, and the love of my life.
By the time plans were finalized to travel from Rexburg to Denver, it was the morning before the concert. The journey began at 11AM with Tommy Shaw in our heart, Styx on the stereo, and magic in the air. I strongly resembled a stupid schoolgirl/groupie/Band-Aids (obscure Almost Famous reference). We had a full ten hours to conjure-up and imagine our fate at the concert. Endless conversations began and ended with Tommy Shaw's name. Oh boy! He can hit me. If it's not completely obvious let me be redundant. I love Tommy Shaw! He's the only man I could ever really commit myself to. I was willing to do anything to meet him, this includes getting arrested.
Once we entered Red Rocks Amphitheater, it was clear that the audience members were mostly dead-heads tightly gripping the 70's and their reefer buzz. I've seen enough foo-man-choo's and skullets (a mullet but bald on top exposing the skull) to last me a lifetime. I was surfing a sea of tie-dye in the twentieth row, awaiting Styx arrival.
Kansas opened the show. What a buzz kill. They were better than I thought, but still... *snooze* Even though they weren't Styx, I found their appearances to be highly entertaining. The stage persona I'm certain they were trying achieve, made them easily identifiable. Here's how:
1) Eye-Patch man
2) Bare-Chest-Vest man
3) Tony Gazelle (google image that bizz)
As the sun made its day's descent, so did my heart as it sunk deep into my chest. I was a child awaiting, hoping, and wishing for one distant glance from Tommy. Oh, Tommy can you hear me? Will you see me? When Styx arrived on stage it was the crowning moment of my existence. I screamed, hooped, and hollered. I flailed like a crazy person escaping the looney bin with the scent of freedom in their nostrils. Tommy Shaw glided on stage like a gazelle, Rock God. I saw a man. He is my idol. He is the one. He has the all encompassing "IT" factor.
Styx was everything. They were salvation.
During their set Tommy Shaw said, "I have a feeling this is
someone's first Styx concert." I leaped in the air screaming and waving my arms, certain he felt my heart in some rare cosmic circumstance. The next song began, but Tommy was still talking while the song was in full-frontal mode. I continued to leap higher and higher in hopes of getting his attention. He pointed around where I was standing and said,
"I see you, I see you up there."
...WHAT???
Now, here's the deal, I knew there was very little, to no chance he was referring to me in a crowd of 10,000 people, but I told myself, just take it as if it were true... As if he were really pointing and talking to you whilst singing and tearing his glorious axe to shreds!
The rest of the concert was magical. I loved every second. Two of the moments I will never forget are as follows: While Styx played "Come Sail Away," I looked behind me and saw 10,000 people collectively fist pumping, moving, and singing in unison. As I stole a glance behind me, all I could see was the deeply fallen night sky, and the faces of utterly gratified audience members for this sublime music.
The other crowning moment involved the song "Renegade." During their encore, a young girl, no more than six years-old, sat on her father's shoulders waving her fist in unison with every nuance and idiosyncrasy of the music. She sang every word with her hair all adorned in ribbons and a Styx T-shirt. Although there was a vast difference in our ages, the moment captured a mutual and united love we each felt for the music.
With their set concluded, I went on a pain-staking quest to FIND Mr. Shaw (that sounds sexy). Foreigner was prepping to take the stage, we took that as our cue to get the search underway. It's all about Tommy... (Peace OUT Foreigner)! It was difficult. It was like trying to solve a crossword puzzle: You're making great progress, but 17 across and 24 down are making it impossible to solve the puzzle as a whole (17 across and 24 down would be security guards). We annoyed everyone with our crazy antics, but when you're young and on a mission, you can't be worrying about "social norms" or people's "personal boundaries." It's all in the name of love.
Finally, we got some useful information that led us right to their tour buses.about our motives so
PAH-TOW!
But, here's how it happened...
Many things occurred between sitting around the tour buses and actually meeting Tommy Shaw. I wont dive into any details 'cause frankly, I'm tired of writing about all the things not Tommy related. After waiting around for nearly two hours we were starting to lose our drive and hope. We began a list of pro's and con's to help us decide whether to leave or not. During our long wait we watched dozens and dozens of large white vans travel up to the stage, and come back down again. We were told that when Tommy returned to the tour bus, he would be in one of those vans. We waited and waited. Every time we saw a van come down the hill our hearts skipped.
Just as all hope seemed lost, another bus came down the long, winding road. The security guard got up to remove the rope blocking the public from the tour buses. I just had the feeling he was in the van. As soon as the van doors opened, the inner lights came on and there sat Tommy Shaw, with his Golden Locks laying delicately on his shoulders. WE BOTH BOOKED IT... We definitely crossed many lines, but we had to make it to the other side.
WE just went for it.
We started calling after him. "Tommy, Tommy, Hey Tommy!!! Can we get a picture?"
I swear on my life and all that is true... Tommy Shaw went right up to his tour bus, planted his foot on the bus platform, and... wait for it... turned around!!! He stepped down from the bus, came towards me, and his first words were directed at me... He said, "Hey, I saw you in the audience."
IS ANYONE STILL BREATHING???
I have gone over and over this, "Did that really happen? Did he really say that to me?" That moment is forever ingrained in my soul. To try and explain how much that meant to me would be foolish and unsuccessful. There's no greater feeling than knowing you've shared a moment with your musical idol, while they were performing. Nothing can capture how special it is to me that when he saw me, he recognized me. I'll never forget this precious and truly magical moment. You'll notice the pure, unadulterated joy splashed all over my face in the following picture.
I'm so doofy, but happy!
Heavens, he's hansdome!
I'm happy to report Tommy Shaw was as kind and soft-spoken as I imagined him to be. He was generous in taking a picture with us and chatting for a few brief moments. I can't remember all that I said, because I was out of my mind with awe and splendor, but I do remember yelling out, "Tommy, you're my musical idol, really seriously, you're very important to me." I shouted this to him as he returned to his bus. He kindly gave us a final wave and smile.
He did in fact get on that bus. Drove to other cities. Played other shows for thousands. But for those few seconds I felt like his only fan. Boy, my lucky stars sure aligned, so I could meet my hero.
Tommy if you're out there and reading this... Thank you! Thank you for continuing to love your fans after 30 years in the business. Thank you for dusting off your magic on a couple of girls who adore you. Thank you for never cutting you hair... It's gorgeous! Thank you for rockin' out with as much intensity as I hoped you would. Thank you for reminding me what a gift music is. Thank you for staying true to your Styx roots and never trying to forget.
I promise I'll never forget that night. Most of all, I'll never rest until every human is educated and well-versed in the dynamic, instinctual, and unstoppable music hailing from, Mr. Tommy Shaw.
STYX = PURE RADIATING MUSICAL BRILLIANCE
