Jefferson Starship - 15 Feb 1999
Menominee Nations Casino
Keshena, Wisconsin
The casino show - very strange, in my book! First just the hassle to get out of work - drive an hour and 1/2 to get home, clean-up, leave, over an hour to get there, rush-rush. Walk in - it was free - look at the stage and laugh. Look at the seating area and laugh again. The stage was very small and at a 45o angle - there's a bar below them while they're playing. Hotter than hell in there and not much room for sitting or standing. Before the show, Jack walked by me and I said "Hi Jack, how ya doing", "Good" he replied, "How are you?" He went to the stage to check things out. Then I look over and see the rest of the band coming - lead by the "guards", past the slots and blackjack tables. Again I had to laugh when at the end of the show they were lead by the "guards". Give me a break - were we going to mug them??
The show was electric and full band. Paul, Jack, Marty, Diana, Slick, Prairie and Chris. There were a few hundred people, but in the radio ads they'd play the songs with Grace singing. One chick behind me goes- "That's not Grace!" - Duh!
While listening to "The Best Band in the Land", in one ear you were listening to them, in the other you could hear the slots and all the other casino noise, and people walking in front of ya the whole time - not very cool. Marty got a few jabs in on the casino about money rip-offs.
They played "Let me Fly" and Diana was giving the finger as in up the government - I'm sure some older folks were wondering what was going on. Of the other new songs they only did "Borderland". Why not play more off the newly released CD? They did play "Caroline" which was pretty good since I haven't heard seen them do it since '75. Marty also played "Comin' Back to Me", which was so damn good - I think it was the first time I heard him do it - a very good song! They only played an hour and a half, if that, not enough. You also couldn't take pictures or record - the casino rules (up theirs!) All in all the band was good, just the place sucked. Next time I see them I hope the venue is better. They were heading to New York next, then Japan. Let's hope they do some major touring this year.
I close for now, keep in touch.
Let me Fly,
Jerry "Gee-Bee" Hebert
Neenah, WI