Elmira, New York is a small but bustling town. The area is quaint, yet at the same time it has its own 'big city' qualities about it as well. I wasn't sure what to expect from this venue, but I wasn't disappointed. The security were nice but efficient (even when the center guard was being groped and fondled by the ladies trying to get to the front of the stage during Paradise, before Meat Loaf let them know it was ok for the crowds to come forward), and even most audience members were able to snap a few quick photos, even though it wasn't officially allowed.

Kasim started off the show at around 8.15pm. He began with "Don't Hold Me Back," and although a majority of the crowd was chatting, they gave him great applause and cheers when he was finished. He then performed Before She Was Gone, with Mark and John backing him up, to me for some reason, it actually seemed like a lengthened version, but I don't know quite how, perhaps it was a lot more instrumental? Whatever it was, it sounded wonderful. He then performed Sacrifice by himself, but the way he played his guitar, you wouldn't know it; it really sounded like there were several musicians up there, he just was so unbelievable performing. When his set was over, he received applause, cheers, whoops and hollers. It was really great to listen to, but before he could really get his tush off his seat, he was immediately gesturing to Damon to start his guitar lead into Patti's set, maybe that Before She Was Gone really did get stretched out longer then planned, but I was a happy camper! It is so wonderful getting to see Kasim perform in front of so many people, I try and watch their reactions and how they start out not paying complete attention, but then by the time he's finished, he's truly won them over. Even the center security guard was head boppin' along!

Patti's set started with Tie Your Mother Down. Quite a rockin number and I thought surely it would get even more reaction from people, but either they just were super glued to their chairs or I'm the only person in the audience who loves every moment of every performance and performer up there. She then performed her own song, Madeleine. I'm not sure if that's how she spells it (her sister's name I believe), but its how my mother's name was spelled. And I've caught the majority of her lyrics at past shows, but for some reason tonight I really really listened to them, and it so reminded me of my mother in ways, not just in name, but the words as well. She always went out of her way for everyone else around her but never really got much in return sometimes; even when she was sick and our next door neighbor's little four yr old was killed, she picked herself up out of her upset with her illness and got his mother to finally eat again and get out of the house. I really miss her. Patti's next song was Not Enough and was a real crowd pleaser too. Her interaction with the audience has greatly improved and she sounded as wonderful as she always has.

Then came Lemon! The center drum was brought out and they had smoke wafting through the venue, and the way the spotlights, underneath and above dead center on the drum, shone, it was rather a cool illuminating effect, especially with the American Flag on the front of the drum. Then came the drumming, the glitter went flying, the lights blinding, and Meat appeared. Amazingly, the audience really came to life finally! But then quickly settled down. I drove for four hours, didn't get to shoot this show due to the holiday week, and was kicking myself over that fact, so I was wanting to dance and clap and rock about -- so I settled for 'active clapping' (hopefully not looking like a goofball!) in my seat and I kinda felt like the only one moving! Yes, there were times the front floor section would get up, but they'd quickly sit down again, and not move! Sitting is one thing but I so hate not moving and not looking like I'm having as much fun as I really am! So I did my best to cheer and such. Oh! During the beginning of Lemon when Kasim appeared down front, Meat came over to him and actually played his bass with his drum stick and did some funky assed sounds on it, and then proceeded to do his getting behind Kasim to try and crack him up (which, whatever he said tonight, it worked!). The drumstick thing though -- another missed photo op, ugh!

Also during Lemon, Meat's mike was either off or WAY down, and so during the spots Kasim sings with Meat, all I could hear was Kasim, and I have to say, he could carry that song quite nicely!

After Lemon, they went straight into I believe Mercury Blues, and Meat started singing during the intro, which gave the band, and himself, a chuckle. Lawyers, Guns and Money followed. Tear Me Down was next. Kasim starts and stops everyone with such ease, even when, like tonight, Meat's drawing out the songs longer then usual. I'm not partial to the 'theatrics' and so thats when I really pay even more attention to the band and watch what they're up to. The rest of the set may not be in the right order but they performed Rock and Roll Dreams, All Revved Up, Anything for Love and Paradise before bringing out the stools. By the way the entire audience stood for the rest of the show from Paradise on, it was awesome and made the evening even more fun! Not that a sit down show is bad, mind you, I just think its a little more fun to stand!

They've incorporated a hat into the stump the band shenanigans and supposedly in it were papers all filled out by audience members of songs Meat never recorded, but if its a game with the crew and such, they really came up with some funny ones tonight, someone had even suggested Karma Chameleon by Boy George, but of course Meat refused every one of them before Two Out of Three was 'suggested.' Then came Money Money with some very funny audience interaction about what the 'other verses' to the song are :) . I'll just leave that one as it is! Honkey Tonk Woman was next and this was the funniest moment of the whole evening -- Kasim sung the first verse and sounded quite strong; Patti then took the second and everyone, including the audience joined in for the chorus except for one woman in the bleachers who sat and didn't even clap. Meat stopped everyone from singing and proceeded to ask her to at least clap or sing. She didn't seem to want to so he wound up going all the way up there and tried to get her to sing something (she admitted she didn't know Honkey Tonk), but the only thing she could come up with was Happy Birthday -- then he said he realized why she wasn't singing! THEN, he didn't come back down the way he came, he proceeded to come through the entire middle floor crowd to get back to the front of the stage and actually got people to sing along the way, all the while everyone else including the band, sang the chorus as well. It was a fun but kinda scary moment!

Pearl then performed Guilty, even better then the last time I heard her perform it. She's really become an amazing singer. Took the Words was next, with Damon wearing the stump the band hat for a bit, for some reason he actually looked pretty cool in it! Speaking of ensembles, Kasim had on a black sweater and jeans. Mark had on some sort of funky get up -- the only way to describe it is if anyone remembers those rubber dresses that Pam Anderson used to wear, well it looked like that material but a little looser! But don't get me wrong, for some reason it rather suited him quite nicely! But back to Kasim in his sweater..no I'm kidding!! Umm, everyone else kinda dressed the 'usual' , but looked nice too! OK after Took the Words came Bat and it was a real crowd pleaser! All too soon, everyone came front and center for their bows and final good byes. If you can't get the chance to see Kasim solo on his own, but hear that Meat is coming to town, its the next best thing -- not only might you get a chance to see Kasim's solo set (although a short one!), you will also get to see him perform some amazing bass rifts and watch him in action leading the band as musical director. In my opinion, Kasim truly brings the band more together more tightly then they ever were in prior years. He's an amazing leader and musician.

Back to Kasim Sulton's Meat Loaf Winter 2002 / 2003 Tour