The Doors of the 21st Century

Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California

Thursday, July 14, 2005

The Pechanga Resort & Casino is a beautiful hotel, casino and convention center ... but man, is it HOT there.   Like Vegas, like Palm Springs, that kind of hot.

After checking into my room I went back downstairs to wait for Beverly to arrive, and ran smack dab into Marco walking with Robby, who had his golf bag slung over his shoulder.   I guess golf addicts just don't care how hot it is!!!    Robby went on up to his room to freshen up and change.   Marco and I were still chatting when Robby returned, followed by Ray a few minutes later ... and they all headed off to their soundcheck.

A few hours later, we were inside the 1,200 seat Pechanga Theater, which appeared to be filled to capacity.   This was my first show since New Years Eve;  it's been WAY too long since the last one.  There was lots of new D21C merchandise I hadn't seen before:  at least 4 or 5 new tee shirt designs including two shirts with images of Robby, Ian and Ray featured on the front.   There was underwear, tank tops, halter tops, baseball caps, key rings, posters, and a blue denim D21C jacket.

At 8:20 the theater darkened as O Fortuna from Carmina Burana began playing.   The announcer said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, from Los Angeles, California, The Doors of the 21st Century."   The place was on its feet cheering as the band took to the stage and began rocking us out with Roadhouse Blues.

I'm sure everyone wants to know what tonight's band wardrobes were!    Ian wore blue jeans, black tee shirt, sunglasses and the Bathing Ape leather jacket.  Robby wore dark blue pants and a black tee shirt with a huge green snake:  its head and most of its body were on the front, but its body also curled over the left shoulder and ended on the back of the shirt.   Ray wore dark slacks, a brown jacket over a pink shirt, with a bright green scarf tied around the neck.   Phil was in brown slacks and a black jacket over a yellow & brown shirt.  Ty was up on the drum stand in black shirt and slacks.

The next song played was Break On Through.  Ray removed his jacket, Ian removed his sunglasses.  Peace Frog followed.  Ian shed his jacket as the opening notes of When The Music's Over played.   When that one ended, Ray introduced Ian, Ty, Phil and Robby ... and Robby then introduced Ray as the founder of The Doors and the finder of Jim Morrison ... Raymond Daniel Manzarek.

There was no Brotherhood of Light video show going on at this show ... just some great color lighting effects enhancing each song or spotlighting the artists.  It was nice ... there were no visual distractions to draw the eyes away from those musicians.

During Love Me Two Times, Ian went to the side of the stage while Robby and Ray traded their lead solos.  When that song ended, Marco and Owen scrambled onto the stage to bring out a pair of stools and placed them in front of Ray's keyboards  ...   YIPPEE!   We knew what this meant.

Ty and Phil left the stage, Ian and Robby sat on the stools in front of Ray, and they played People Are Strange, followed by Crystal Ship.  Although Robby was playing his custom Rick Turner guitar, there was to be no Spanish Caravan played for us this night.

The band returned and went into Alabama Song, followed by Back Door Man.  Ian said the next song was dedicated to the powers that keep us in the dark, alluded to the recent London tragedies, and the band played Five To One with some "please, please listen to me children" thrown in.

I don't know where it came from, but I suddenly noticed that Ian was wearing a red and white beaded necklace.  It was now 9:25.   Ian zeroed in on some fans in front on the left side who were sitting, and chided them into standing up, saying what could be more important than Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek!!!   Not To Touch The Earth was next;  Ian concluded the song with 'James Douglas Morrison the Lizard King ... he did everything.'

Everyone was already on their feet when the band went into an unfamiliar song that really, really rocked.   It sounded like a classic Doors song, and yet, it was unfamiliar.  At its conclusion, Ray explained that the song was Eagle In The Whirlpool, one of their new ones.   This is the third new song that I've seen them perform over these last few years, but it immediately became my favorite among those.   The audience definitely indicated their approval of this new song, too.

Next was Touch Me.  During  L.A. Woman Ian tossed his tambourine off to the side of the stage, where it was caught by his son in the wings.   When that ended, the band waved and left the stage.

They returned to the sounds of thunder and went into Riders On The Storm, followed by Light My Fire.   Ray loves to ham it up during his solo in this one ... he goes from standing, hunched over the keys, to balancing on his right foot while his left foot is on the keys.   He used "Lefty" to direct his right hand.  He played his invisible Vox with his left hand.   He kicked his stool over.   He got down on his knees and played.   He played with his elbows and the palms of his hands.   When it was Robby's turn to solo, he included Elinor Rigby and My Favorite Things, as he so often does.   When Ian returned to the stage as Robby's solo was ending, they all crouched down to jump up as Ian resumed the vocals to close out the song.

When the song ended, the band members lined up across the front of the stage for several bows ... and it was over at 10:20.   It was a great night.   I saw several friends afterwards who each raved about the show itself, as well as the new song we got to hear.

by Ida   7-17-05

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