The Doors of the 21st Century
Grandstand Stage, L. A. County Fair, Pomona, California
September 11, 2004
It was another brutally hot week here in southern California. Pomona is located in one of the hotter areas of the region, so there would be no need to take along an 'extra layer' for later. Tonight's show was on the opening weekend of the annual fair, and was a replacement booking for an Isley Brothers show that was cancelled.
The lines to buy fair admission tickets were extremely long and slow-moving. Fans really needed to arrive early enough to contend with the parking, fair entry, and then finding the large Grandstand venue. There were people wearing various Morrison, Doors, and D21C shirts everywhere I looked. Beverly and I made a bee-line to the Grandstand building. The area where the ticket sales and will-call windows were was a major cluster of confusion, as was the main entrance into the building. We went in through a non-central entrance with no problem, and got to our seats in time to see the band arrive in a bus that pulled up alongside the stage.
The stage had no back screen for video projections, but there were large screens on both sides of the stage for closed circuit projection. As we observed last summer at the Pacific Amphitheater show as part of their concert series during the Orange County Fair, there was a woman on a platform with a spotlight on her, and she was signing the songs for the hearing-impaired.
The band took to the stage at 8:05 and opened with Roadhouse Blues, followed by Break On Through.
Ray was in dark slacks and black short-sleeved shirt with rows of white crosses on the front. Robby was in dark pants and a red short-sleeved tee-shirt with POLSKA in white lettering over an image of a white bird (eagle? chicken?) wearing a crown. Ian was in blue jeans with a black fabric jacket over a black short-sleeved tee-shirt with BUT BEAUTIFUL in white letters over an image I couldn't make out, and under the white image were the initials P.P.P.S. or P.F.P.S. or R.P.P.S., --- something like that. Ty was wearing a dark short-sleeved shirt with white stitching and a pattern on the front. Angelo was ... but wait, who was that guy on bass? In the place of the usual hottie bass player with the shaggy, blond highlighted hair who always dressed in blacks and grays, was another hottie with shorter and very dark hair wearing a bright red long-sleeved shirt. The trademark head moves confirmed that this was indeed still Angelo Barbera -- looking good!!
When The Music's Over followed. Ian removed his jacket partway through the song. I spotted Robby's son Waylon and a friend walking behind the stage-side seating section down in front. Band introductions followed that song, and then they began Love Me Two Times. The photography at this show was really extraordinary. There were lots of cameras, and the screen projections overlayed several images together. There were angles from behind and below Ray watching him play close-up. There were multiple images of Ian, multiple images of Robby. There were images of Ian or Ty along with one of the other band members. It was very nice, indeed.
Alabama Song was followed by Back Door Man. Ray mentioned that there was a big election coming up and encouraged everyone to get out and vote, and to "vote your heart." Ray asked Robby what he thought, and Robby said "Vote for the back door man." Ian added to vote for Margaret Thatcher, bring Maggie back. Ian said "one thousand American soldiers have died" as the band began to play Five To One.
It was now 8:55. Ian said that they were keeping the music alive, keeping it out of the museum! Take It As It Comes followed, led off by a delightful keyboard introduction. Robby and Ray shared the vocals with Ian. This is my new favorite live performance, for sure! Not To Touch The Earth was next. Ian said it was for a great musician who is visiting from the desert. The song ended with Ian's phrase, "James Douglas Morrison was the lizard king --- he did everything."
20th Century Fox was sung as 21st Century Fox. Then Wild Child and Peace Frog. As L. A. Woman began, Ray said it was dedicated to all the lovely chicanas out there. The song ended at 9:25 and the band waved as they left the stage. The crowd let them know they wanted more. They returned quickly and did Riders On The Storm. When the song ended, Ray said "Thank you for Jim Morrison."
Ty started a drum solo, urged on by Ray's "Ty Dennis ... talk to your sticks, Ty Dennis." That solo spotlight led into Touch Me, with Ian dancing with maracas. The band waved and left the stage again at 9:45. As he walked off, Robby motioned to the applauding fans to keep cheering.
D21C manager Tom Vitorino came onstage and asked "Do you guys want to hear one more? This is the L.A. crowd, do you want to hear one more?" to tumultuous affirmation from the crowd. The band returned to the stage again, and Ray asked the audience what they wanted to hear. Nothing could be distinguished from the deafening shouts, so then Ray said, "Who wants to hear Light My Fire?" That was pretty unanimous with the fans.
Ian left the stage when the vocal section ended. Robby was back by Angelo during Ray's keyboard solo before strolling towards Ray. During his spotlight, Ray played standing, squatting, and kneeling. He put his right foot on the keys. He directed his right hand with his left hand. He ran in place. He knelt down and put his forehead on the keyboards. Robby said "Let's hear it one more time for Ray" and Ray said, "Robby Krieger taking over, man" as Robby then moved to the front spotlight for his own solo in that fabulous song he wrote. Eventually Ian returned to the stage and mentioned "There are forces that are trying to stop these guys from playing" ... the crowd responded appropriately.
The song ended with Ian leaping off the drum riser, then he again introduced Ray and Robby and said "These are the American Idols." They all lined up and took bows. Ian waved at Robby and Ray as he said "What a fucking privilege." And they were off for good, at 10:00 sharp.
After mingling on the side of the stage for just a few minutes, the band boarded the tour bus. The bus driver gave a goodbye horn honk as they pulled away to get a good night's sleep before flying north for the Sunday afternoon show in Jackpot, Nevada.
Next up for the band are the Miller Brewing special concert at New York City's Roseland Ballroom on Friday night, and then Chastain Park Amphitheatre in Atlanta on Saturday night. The following weekend is a show in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and then .... who knows what, pending the outcome of the trial verdicts!
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