07.14.11 Chris Botti @ Davies Symphony Hall - San Francisco, CA

Botti & Whitfield: Hallelujah

Another fantastic show. Botti and his crew lay it on the line every night when they entertain the masses.

By the time I got to Davies Symphony Hall I was toasty. Dinner at Bourbon Steak in the Westin St. Francis courtesy of my friends at Seablue. Note to self: wine flights are never a good idea before a show, Botti or otherwise. But let's avoid stating the obvious. It's so gauche.

Davies Hall is lovely. It was a perfect summer day in San Francisco. Still light out. I wish I'd taken a pic of the square where the Symphony is located. Old, austere buildings a la NYC. So beautiful. Makes me wish I didn't live in the adult Disneyworld called Vegas. Oh well. That's what travel is for. I arrived around 7.30ish. Lots of people milling about. I think there was a show at the Opera House too. Once again the average age was prob 50. SF has a higher class crowd than at any other place I've been. Lots of money roaming around here. It felt liberally snooty but not stuffy.

The lobby of Davies Symphony Hall

I get my print at home ticket scanned and head up the stairs to the bar. Yeah, not a good idea but it's already too late. Bubbles. $11 per glass. Not bad actually but I've got Vegas mentality. No drinky inside the hall though so down the hatch it goes.

I head to my seat. Yeah, it's good. No idea how I got it but I did. Front row, end of the row, house right - directly in front of the stairs they walked down to head to the audience. The only downside of my seat is that I can't really see the orchestra in full. The loge would have been better. Walking the stage doing his checks is Botti's tour manager, Jeremy Plotnikoff. I think he patted me on the head as he walked up the stairs.

Me with Billy Kilson

I nestle in and the orchestra starts taking their seats. Then out walks Billy Kilson & Mark Whitfield. They're chatting. I have lots of liquid courage in me so I scrunch my finger at Billy to come hither. He does. I ask him if he'll take a pic with me. He obliges. What a doll. He doesn't hang out to sign or take pics after the show so I'm pretty happy I got this. Mark is warming up 5 feet in front of me. I snap a pic of him too. "At least let me know so I can pose," he says. Or something like that. I snap another one. Good man. Thanks for humoring me. He doesn't do the lobby-dance either so double coup.

Whitfield goofing around

The show was much like the rest - and I mean that in a completely complimentary way. I know some people have seen his show upwards of 50-100x. I'm at like 4 I think and it never gets old. The familiarity is comforting. Even his banter, much the same, is charming. I think that's a testament to how good his music is. Like an old standard you can listen to over and over and never tire of it. You hear different nuances, tones, each time. Yeah, I'm sure Botti and band get bored playing the same shit over and over, night after night, but you wouldn't know it. Occasionally Kilson's face can't hide his boredom but that's his charm. And you simply cannot beat the backing of a live orchestra. The fullness. It's like Thanksgiving Dinner. The food can be perfect on its own but when you add the laughter of family, that's what fills the soul. That's what the orchestra does for Botti. His band alone is excellent but add the orchestra and you've got a layer that surrounds the room with goodness.

A couple of surprises. Once in particular. Tonight it wasn't Caroline Campbell or Aurica Duca on the fiddle. It was Lucia Micarelli of Treme fame. Holy shit. Very cool. She's got a much different presence on stage than the other 2 women I've seen play with Botti. Hard to explain. She's more seductive, richer. The other gals can play the violin like nobody's business but Lucia brings more theatre and drama to the stage. Prob why she's a musician turned actress.

Botti on the floor

Lisa Fischer heads out and I take this opportunity to make a beeline for the loo. I know it's not good taste but I had to go. No way I could sit thru her song and not pee my pants. Poor timing. I know. Before I head back in I hear one of the ushers say something about intermission. I've been to enough shows to know it's coming soon so I wait. I don't want to make a scene by going in while they're performing. It was bad enough I made my exit when I did. I did have a fun conversation with the staff there though. It's fun for me to talk shop with other venue kids around the country. It was funny, the bartender was complaining that they weren't on schedule for the intermission. "They're 20 min late," he says. For the patrons, we don't care. But for him this is a job. I get it kid. I'm the same way. When McCartney is on stage and deviates from his set list all I can think about is him doing a runner off the stage and into his caravan, I wanna go home.

The 'young' musician

I head back in for the second half. Great. Botti does the snaps with Lisa on The Very Thought of You and is right next to me just like in St. Louis. Again, I'm continually amazed I was able to just purchase this front row seat online. I come from the world of massive promoter & casino holds, VIP ticket packages and all the other bullshit that steals excellent seats like this from average people. It's one of the great things about Botti but also a testament to his niche. He's big enough to sell out 200 shows a year (or whatever) but not too big to fall prey to the promotion-monster. Good boy. Keep it that way and you'll keep your fan base.

At some point Botti asks if there are any young musicians in the audience. A guy yells out from the loge behind me, "I am." Botti chides, "How old are you?" I think the guys said, "37." He was old, almost my age. Kinda funny. Anyhow, he was the chosen one for the Nessun drum assist. He was actually funny. Not as funny as Joann the "Amen, hallelujah, praise Jesus" gal in St. Louis, but still good. He made the gag work. In hindsight given the average age of the audience, he was a kid.

Me & Botti

Show's over so time to head to the lobby for the money shot. Proof positive I am actually at another Botti show and can continue this ridiculous blog. His autograph line was pretty long. It moved quickly though. The group who stuck around after for a pic was much smaller, usually is. Botti was a trooper, put up with my drunken shenanigans and pursed his lips for a pic with me. Lovely chap. His right hand man Jeremy was good for putting up with me too.

Botti hits Vegas in October, just before my birthday. I've already got my team working on it. I've got some good friends in high places. At least for this show I get to take friends so they can hear the sounds of Botti's crew. I have an invite to head to the Phoenix show the next day but I'd end up hanging with Mick all night instead of watching the show, and truthfully, I'm not sure his tour manager wants to see me hanging backstage with the promoter. Those two worlds colliding would prob make him uncomfortable.

So the Vegas October date may be the end of The Year of Botti. Not sure what the hell I'm gonna call this blog after but I'll figure it out.