I won tickets to see a private performance by Billy Idol at the Foundation Room in Boston, part of the House of Blues, through my favorite radio station this week. I invited my friend Michelle to be my plus one, and today we headed into Boston and had an amazing afternoon.

There were probably 75-100 folks there for the show. The room is quite small, and decked out in couches and coffee tables, chairs, and a really great old carved wood and stamped metal bar. It's a really cool place, with lots of interesting details scattered around.

Billy and Steve Stevens, his guitarist, did an interview first with the host, one of the DJs from the radio station. Then they started playing, and did not disappoint! They sang six songs, all acoustic, and all awesome. "To be a lover" is now my fave song of his, I have to say. Wow.



The pictures didn't come out great, because the lighting was not very good in there, but I don't care. The show was wonderful. Billy still has it. His voice is as great as ever, and I never realized how amazing a guitarist Steve is.



After the show, they lined us up to get our pictures taken with him. They put us in groups of six, and said no selfies or signing anything. In & out. But I turned to Billy and took his hand, told him that it was a great show, I loved his book, and he's a really good writer. His face lit up, he smiled, and said "Thank you!" That just made my day. My week. Oh hell, my month. Billy Idol looking me in the eyes and smiling will always be a high point of my life. I've been a fan since the early 80's.

I've been bursting into spontaneous giggles ever since I got the email telling me I'd won the tickets. I'm still giddy. What a wonderful experience. I don't go to a lot of shows, and I don't like big crowds, so this was just perfect. There aren't a lot of famous people I'd really care to meet, but I'm so glad I met Billy and got to tell him I'm a fan.

I logged a lot of miles this weekend. Today, I hit 123,456 on the odometer, and pulled over to document it.

Last night was the most fun I've had in a long time. I got to Jim's house around 4:30, got changed & made up, and we hit the road. Drove around the theatre district for a bit before finding a parking space, and hit the pavement searching for a place to grab a bite to eat. We ended up at this cute Thai restaurant around the corner from the theatre, where I had crispy pad Thai (yumminess!). We then headed over to the theatre to wait for our pals, and to see & be seen. Laurie Cabot was there, holding court (both before and after the show), along with a large percentage of the Boston-area Pagan community. I believe Loreena McKennitt is the unofficial official favorite musician of Pagans everywhere (it's a well-known fact that her music *must* be played at all Pagan gatherings), and we were all out in our finery (I wore plum velvet for the occasion) (where else to wear such things besides festivals and Loreena McKennitt concerts?).

The Wang theatre (I refuse to call it by its corporate name) is magnificent (even Loreena commented on it); one could get a neckache looking up at the paintings and decorations on the ceilings. It's the perfect venue for her.

What can I say about the show, except "Wow!" It started with just Loreena and her harp, singing "She moved through the fair," and segued right into "Gates of Istanbul" (which is my favorite piece from the new CD). The set was gorgeous, with a burnt-velvet-looking backdrop, hanging lanterns, a Byzantine-looking arch, and a scrim in front with an arched cut-out. The lighting was fantastic, lots of rich colors and spots. Her musicians are unbelievable; during "The Bonny Swans," the guitarist and fiddler were playing off each other, and she was clearly enjoying it as much as we were. *That* is why one goes to see music live. I get chills thinking about it. All of them were in top form, all playing off each other, all enjoying themselves immensely.

Loreena was much looser and more open than the last time we saw her, and seemed to be genuinely happy to be there. She unfortunately (and perhaps inadvertently) encouraged the audience to speak to her, which unleashed a chorus of loudmouths to do just that (and was the only drawback to the experience). I really dislike when people do that. I was taught to respect the proscenium, separate performer from audience. Maybe in a small club, but not in a place like that. But I'm ornery that way. *g*

There were two sets, with all the favorites (some of which were arranged in new and interesting ways), and I enjoyed when she shared stories about the songs (did you know that "Bonny Portmore" is about a tree?). She did two encores, the first of which was the "Huron Beltane fire dance" (I don't remember what the second one was).

After the show, we hung out again in front of the theatre, catching up with old friends and enjoying the wonderful night air. I went back inside to write down the set list (and wished I could afford the DVD). They had the DVD running, and it occured to me that Loreena resembles Helen Mirren quite a bit; they could be sisters, or perhaps cousins.

After a bit, we went in search of a place to have a refreshing adult beverage, and found this really nice Indian place with an empty bar, just waiting for us. They had some very interesting, inventive, and yummy cocktails (spinningwheels- I have three words for you: clove infused vodka). We all tried something different, trying each others' drinks, and the single-malt that Toby decided he had to try. I don't remember what it was (it was one I've never heard of), but it smelled very peaty and was quite smooth. We closed the place (it wasn't *that* late, maybe 11:30) then hung out on the sidewalk for a while, watching the twenty-somethings in their little dramas, and cars not getting out of the way for an ambulance (what is up with *that*?). Then we broke off into our little groups and headed for home.

I watched a bit of Saturday Night Live with Jim, for the first time in years. It hasn't improved much. The bit about marble columns was funny for a few seconds, but ran on too long on one joke, as is the wont of that show. It's probably just as well that I can't ever stay awake for it.

Jim was late getting up this morning, so I went for a walk down to Curry College, which is just down the street from his house. It was a lovely morning for a walk! This weather can stay as long as it likes. Then I went to Dunkin for bagels and decaf, and we sat out on the deck and read the paper. It was a really nice morning.

Glad to be home now; I'm resisting taking a nap (I'll never get to sleep tonight if I do), and playing Loreena CDs. I should head out and enjoy this weather some more (gotta find that sunscreen). Have a lovely Sunday, and I wish you were all with me last night (some of you were)!