California Dreamin’ ... 2 weeks of INXS

From the Lobster Bisque in Reno to a Pina Colada by the Beach in San Diego. . .

2 weeks, 10 concerts, rockin’ music, hot guys, beautiful people and great fun. . .

What more is there to say?

Well…

This is my tale in excess… dancing and grooving INXS… all the way baby, all the fucking way!

First off, just for clarification, I KNOW Reno is in Nevada! But this does not matter… This story is what can only be described as a ‘dream vacation’. All of my travels during these 2 weeks were directed by when and where I was going to see Our Band play, who I was going to meet up and party with, how I was going to get there, and where I was going to stay… This was my version of back packing through Europe, if you will…

I was just following INXS all the way through California…

I saw some awesome music in some fantastic venues, some weird places, some brutal front row experiences, and got to capture some great photos and had an absolute ball the entire time. I am in this state of dazed ‘afterglow’ as I sit here writing this. The memories are floating around all twisted together…I have a HUGE smile on my face, my feet hurt like hell, and I have bruises I don’t remember where they came from. Have I mentioned how much FUN this was?

First off, here was the itinerary: Reno-Berkeley-Sacramento, day off, Lemoore(Fresno)-Santa Barbara, day off, LA-LA-Hemet, day off, Pala-San Diego. Can we say, EXCESS? I mean, who else should I see this much? I had to do it…their name, after all is: INXS…I mean, it’s only natural, no? So was my XS-ive journey in XS bliss…Thumbin(not really) my way through California! (And yes, that is 10 shows, count them: 10!)

Why, oh, why would I plan to go to 10 shows? What am I, a groupie? LOL…I’m not going to answer that!

For me, this was a seize the opportunity kind of vacation. It started out that me and few friends, that had attended a show or so together earlier this tour thought LA would be the place to see them, INXS, again. The Greek in LA is known as a great venue. Then a couple of us thought Reno the week earlier would be a good idea. Then, one of the folks that couldn’t make the Reno or LA shows, said they were coming out for San Diego. Then I found out I could not make my own local shows up here in Seattle and Vancouver (I had another non INXS adventure to Korea).

Then I looked at the rest of the tour schedule, and thought, why not go to the Sacramento show while I was down there…it is close to Reno, and there are a bunch of bands playing…I mean, it’s not all about INXS is it? (lol) Then of course, well if one is going to Reno and Sacramento, well, Berkeley is right in between, why not make it a trifecta? I was supposed to fly home for 4 days, then come back down to Southern California for the LA, etc shows. But then…well, I could just visit mom in Fresno in between, save a flight home, and catch the Lemoore show at Tachi casino(about 40 miles south of Fresno), and heck while I’m at it, what about that auction show over in Santa Barbara?

Ok, so we already know I was going to the LA shows, and really wanted to stay for the San Diego show a few days later…but you know… there is the Hemet show and the Pala shows in between?!?! Oh, what the hell, just book them ALL! Errrrr! How many shows is that? Oh my freakin’ god, I am going to 10 shows! For ONE band! Every single show from Reno to San Diego. I must have lost my ever loving mind!??!!? Well, yes, I did, and I am so glad!

Some Dreamin’ highlights…

Reno, beer literally flowing down our backs, girl fights, Front Row Center Baby! Drunken M&G with my crew (you girls rock!)…I told all the BINXS they were hot, except JD…totally dissed him, oops! LOL! Headlines: Lobster Bisque, 3card Poker, Double shots, INXS in the Pig Pen! Rock and Fucking Roll! BTW, the Garage is not where you park cars…just sayin’…

Berkeley, a cool breezy night, another set of rockin friends, sitting in a great venue, a better than expected seat, and oh my, open season to take pictures with the GOOD camera…I shot 400+ frames this night. INXS indeed! Also, seating, hard right circle section, non pit, GREAT seats. I was actually glad I had these seats rather than the pit...the stage was uber high, and we got a lot of up close attention over on the sides where the stage to the seats differential was not so dramatic...

The BINXS in Berkeley, aka INXS...













Sacramento, the Ranch, the hoedown, melting in the Sun! From 2 oclock on, rocking to the beat. Lovehammers, Scott Stapp, INXS, and a few others scattered in between… Sunscreen, water and sweat, working our way to the Front row, fighting off drunken stragglers, stage right for INXS. Open season to shoot semi daylight pics. 260 plus shots of INXS, 150 shots of the Lovehammers and Scott Stapp(and band)…A great afternoon spent, with an endless set of great music.

Sacramento photos:

Marty Casey:
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Scott Stapp:


The BINXS, aka INXS...










A day of rest…

Tachi(Lemoore/Fresno)…where? LOL…kicking back in the 5th row, could have made our way up front, but enjoyed the heck out of a show with folks pogoing all around in the middle of nowhere California…good times. I had a dude sitting down eating nachos in front of me half the night…quirky night on the grass and folding chairs.

Santa Barbara, the living room, with 650 of my closest friends and favorite band. Chilled all the way back in 4th row, right/center aisle. Resisted moving up, though everyone around me was. The whole room was vibrating and bouncing, and it was SWELTERING inside this tiny theatre! Sweatin’ with INXS. Tres hot, LOL...

Another Day off, time to visit the Pier, stop for Ice Cream in Solvang, and traverse my way across the great state of California…

Lala land here I come. As I drove just over the Grapevine, change radio stations, what do I hear, New Sensation, baby, it was ON! It was time to hit the Greek baby! Checked out the venue, saw the crew off loading the equipment, made my way to West Hollywood to prep for a hoppin weekend in Hollyweird! And it was, weird, that is! I was mid pit at the first show, following a fun and bossy M&G.

The results of being bossy:


It was a hot weekend in LA, as in temperature…no sign of June gloom! But gloom there was, the security nazis were obsessive to the point of fucking annoying checking tickets for more than half the show, during and throughout some beautiful music.

It didn’t matter if you were in your exact right spot or not, you spent half your time having to find your ticket and reshow someone, mid song. Did the Band play ‘By My Side’? I don’t know(they did), I was getting totally wigged out trying to align myself properly with my assigned seat, watching legitimate front row ticket holders in front of me have their show interrupted as they scroured for in their purses and pockets for their ticket. What the Fuck ever! I agree, that only Pit seat holders should be in the Pit, but in the exact space, etc…sorry, this was out of fucking control, and they need to get a fucking clue.

Proceeding to my second Day in LA, I had a lovely seat just behind the pit, and a couple of empty seats next to me, that a couple of my friends were able to join me in for most of the show. Great night, INXS was putting it out there for the ‘Industry’…from all reports it was not a ‘front row show’ but rather a perfect professional production. They played to the venue at large. This was likely the best time to be where I was. Great night. Got to see some famous folks: Racheal Hunter, way more beautiful in person, just across the aisle from us, Paul Mirkovich (Rockstar HouseBand)…how hot is he in person?!?!? Great night at the Greek. Golden Circle indeed.

Overall LA…well, it was good, but oh, what was to come! The best part of LA for me, was the cool friends I got to hang with and others I got to meet. Good times. Entertaining shows.

Hemet, or more specifically San Jacinto, the Soboba tent Casino, outdoor venue, early starting concert, fight for our front row spot…and then…

The hottest freaking show, EVER! I mean EVER. Holy heck, lol. It is hard to describe. After squeezing one hip, shoulder, and boob at a time into my spot in front, next to my favorite gals ever! I was privileged to be witness to a show I will never forget. I am still quivering from it! How do I describe the endless * eyefucks *, the attention the entire front crowd got, the hot moves on stage…the boys competing with eachother for us screaming for them…the juicy apple stuff right next to me…the boys beside themselves watching. It was like one endless…well you get my point, no? OH.MY.FUCKING.HELL it was SO.SO.HOT! There was a whole different version of somethin’somethin’ during Taste It…a bit of Sax Sex(so HOT!), a bit of Love from the mic TO JD…There was shaking asses, hot stares, splayed squat action right in front of us, dealing cards(lol—funny moment, think 3card poker!), endless thrusting motions, grinding, Sexy Sax playing, hot, banging, vibrating drums…There was simply an audience writhing in ecstasy as the Band kept bringing it harder and harder. Hot. Hot. And more, Hot!

Fucking hottest show, EVER.

So what could follow this…well first a day off, as we were sated from what was an unbelievable night. I don’t think I could have gone to another show the next night even if there was one…it left you completely spent. Thank god there was a day reprieve.

So then we get to Pala…was this a pool party or a wedding? LOL…I get to the venue early due to some transportation logistics…I see everything getting set up…I see a lovely grassy area between the pool and the casino set up with white folding chairs and an aisle down the middle! Seriously , if I didn’t see the stage up front, I would have assumed it was set up for a wedding…I thought this was freaking hysterical. But no worries. As I expected via my earlier show observations, this show was going to be a free for all regarding placement of where you were in relation to the stage, regardless of what ticket you had. I was front and center, slightly right. Good show. Fairly hot. Some weirdness with the ‘big screen’ cameraman right in front of us half the show? WTF? Kind of put a damper(read blockage) on the hotness in front of us! All in all though a beautiful night, at a lovely venue….Just the way I wanted my wedding, errr, I mean to see INXS, lol ...

Then San Diego. We were set to see a concert by the Bay. Have I mentioned, San Diego? It was simply beautiful. The city, the beach, the venue. And of course, INXS. This was the show, most of us were able to get to all at the same time, some of my best concert buddies, and a few others I got to meet here. It was altogether, a perfect way to end my little Dreamin’ adventure.

My most memorable moment, was actually before the show, as we piled into the cab, realized we were one person over, and were trying to figure out how to get in…first we tried to get 2 people in the front…the taxi driver shook his head, uhmmm, no! LOL…We tried piling an extra person on someones lap in the backseat….taxi driver, uhmmm, no! errr, switch around seats, try again, get all of our butts finally in the back seat, noone on any one elses lap, finally cabdriver rolls eyes, but is like, okey dokey, lol…we glance to the left out our window before we pull away, and who is looking at us with WTF looks of hysterical horror? Just imagine, a couple of Aussies and a skinny tall Canadian getting ready to go themselves…yes, major looks of hysterical incredulity …we would be seeing them in a bit, on and around stage…oh my freaking god! Fucking hysterical indeed.

The show. Awesome. Beautiful night, hot band, great friends and fans. Hot music. Lots and lots of endless fun. Serious brutal front row. It was another free for all (suggestion, if not going to check tickets, might as well make the concerts General Admission, just sayin’!). Luckily, I got up front, as my front row ticket apparently did not guarantee it! It was a battle. But it was fabulous. The end of the night was perfect…A bike taxi ride back(freaking hysterical—our drivers tried to race—we laughed the entire way back!). A bunch of us gathered together after the show, we had Cosmos flowing, ordered the ENTIRE menu, and lolled around on this bed seating area where we were all hanging out. The band was there, but honestly I didn’t care. We were a group of friends, some of coolest people I will ever meet , hung out all night, laughing and enjoying a beautiful night. We said hi to a couple of the band members that showed up, but mostly kept to ourselves enjoying what was, for many of us, the end of this little journey.

Best of's:
Best venue: San Diego, can't beat the bayside locale ...
Runner up, Prettiest location: Pala, gorgeous surrounding view from the concert ...
Best sound: 2nd night at the Greek, LA
Hottest show, EVER: Hemet, of course, lol...

Best people to party with and best friends made through this experience? You know who you are! I will say, INXS, together again, made this possible, and the great people I have met along this journey through RockbandLounge.com have created memories and friendships, in my life, I will never be able to duplicate. So thanks to each and every one of you. Major *smooches*.

INXS, California Dreamin’…Over, and Fucking Out! Yeah Baby. Love and Smooches to all that I met up with along the way. Special Thanks to those of you that were gracious enough to open your homes to me and let me bunk in between our concerts! For those of you I shared hotel rooms, great seats, and swigs of vodka with…fun, straight up, shaken not stirred!

Next stop, Paris…just sayin…