Review by SueW:
The Viejas (pronounced Vee-hay-hus) Outlet Center and Casino is apparently in the middle of an Indian Reservation and is basically a casino on one side of the road and loads of shops on the other. It was very easy to find and there was loads of parking. When I got there (at about 6.30pm) Blondie were doing their soundcheck so I just followed the sound!

I joined the line and it was already about 30 strong. All the people around me were Blondie fans and they were all flabbergasted when they were told that Blondie were opening as they were sure that The New Cars would be the opening act! Being near a casino I now wish that I'd placed a bet with one of them!

They let us in very promptly at 7.00pm and searched our bags as we went on but just asked if we had any food or drink. It was a small-ish grass area and the stage was a good 6 feet high so everyone will have been able to have seen okay. I looked back during The New Cars set and the whole area was packed so it was a good attendance tonight! The people from the Meet and Greet were already at the front and I found some people there that I knew so I went and stood with them so it was a very social concert. I really expected that people would sit on the grass until Blondie came on stage and then stand but they didn't so it meant that I had to stand for 6 hours (6.30pm to 11.30pm) which was very tough on the feet (and on my still-damaged toe!).

This brings me to one of my main grouses about certain concerts. If I was a musician I'd be flattered that fans (who are still human beings) bought my records and even more flattered that they took their time and spent their money to come and see me play that I wouldn't expect them to stand for the privilege too. This venue does have seated concerts on this patch of grass and most fans of both these bands are hardly in the first flash of youth any more. But then this tour is being arranged by a company who thinks that $400 is a suitable price for fans to meet the band!

Tonight those who did attend the Meet and Greet said that it only lasted about 15 minutes (and then they went to the fans' party) but all of them said how much they enjoyed it and that the band made them all feel welcome and most said that they would do it again. I think everybody's entitled to spend their money how they wish and while I'd rather spend $400 on 20 Kasim solo gigs, I'm glad that they all thought it was money very well spent.

Blondie came on stage at about 8.10pm and played their usual set. It was the first time I've seen their whole set since the second concert and I think it would be better if it was about 3 songs shorter but at least I know all the songs (except a couple) which helps. We joked before the concert that we hoped that Deborah Harry doesn't wear a skirt or we'd be able to see right up it from where we were standing but she did (and we couldn't!). Clem Burke (the drummer) really holds that band together and is an amazing drummer (although he makes some funny faces on stage!). There was one part when Blondie's hunk was obviously slightly out and it was her who told him so he went over to Clem and got back in sync. Before the encore Deborah Harry came out with a mug of tea and a towel around her shoulders. She threw the towel into the audience and I nearly got knocked off my feet by the tussle that ensued for it! Generally the Blondie fans were very friendly and obviously loved her set - they were all singing along. Although there was no organised (read paid) Meet and Greet at most of the concerts, Blondie fans have spoken about going backstage to meet the band after their set.

And will someone please tell Deborah Harry that she's one out in her count of the concerts! Tonight she said it was the 6th concert and it's the 7th - in LA she said the 5th and it was the 6th!

When we entered the area there were signs saying that photography was not allowed and that anyone using a camera would have their film (do people still use film?!!) removed and possibly the people would be removed from the concert too. The girl beside me got her camera out during Blondie's set and security almost immediately told her to put it away. (There was about a 2 foot wide area between us and the stage where security were lurking.) Later though several people used cell phones to take photos with no problem. I just don't understand why photography wasn't allowed when it has been at other venues.

Obviously there was no curtain at this venue so we could watch the crew getting the stage set up and they do it within half an hour. They didn't have the video screens and silver hoops so tonight the backdrop (or rather sidedrop) was an illuminated sign for Liz Claiborn (a ladies clothes shop)! Normally The New Cars will come on stage just after a musical version of a Beatles song (I forget which) but tonight they prolonged the agony on my feet for another two pieces of muzak.

The New Cars came on stage at about 10.00pm for their great 19 song, hour and twemty minutes set. Kasim won the "best dressed guy on stage" award again wearing a black shirt and light grey trousers. Kasim uses his signature bass for all the set except Drive. Apart from Pala (where it was 2 songs shorter) they've played the same set at each concert but it seems to work well as they have some good Cars songs to start with, then Kasim sings All Mixed Up (it changes things a bit to have a different singer singing lead). The next song is Black Maria which is totally different again and then just a couple of songs later it's back to Kasim on lead in Drive. The next song is Bang The Drum which gets all the band together (and the crowd joining in with the clapping) and then the clapping (and singing by the crowd) usually continues with the next song You're All I've Got before they sing Bye Bye Love and Not Tonight which are both crowd pleasers. The crowd are usually all pumped up for the encore anyway so all in all the set seems to run well.

Tonight it was 3:1 for Elliot coming over to Kasim's side as Kasim only went over to Elliot's side the once near the end of the set. At one part Kasim was standing playing his bass on his side and didn't realise that Elliot was standing just behind him for quite a while. It's always good to see those two sharing a microphone and singing although once tonight they almost missed a line as they were talking so had to make a dash to the microphone!

As I was standing right under Todd's microphone tonight it was interesting to watch him sing for once. The sound of his vocals didn't come out at all clearly for the first couple of songs (at least where I was standing) but once they changed the sound, it was fine for the rest of the set. Todd plays some brilliant guitar on this tour. Although Elliot mainly plays lead, Todd has some great parts - one of my main complaints about The Liars Tour was how little Todd played lead and on this tour he does play more. Todd thanked us tonight for coming to the concert and missing American Idol!

Tonight I could see Greg Hawkes really clearly and he seems to thoroughly enjoy himself on stage each night! He does some strange robotic-type movements and even when he's not playing or singing he is animated. I just wish he'd remember to push his glasses up his nose a bit before he plays the sax in All Mixed Up!

The funniest part tonight was when Todd introduced Kasim. Todd introduces all the band in typical Todd fashion and when he got to Kasim tonight he paused and Kasim could clearly be heard shouting "Easy!". I would guess that this was because of his introduction at their last concert (Los Angeles). For most of the tour Todd has introduced Kasim as the "heartthrob" of the band but in LA he called him "the panty-moistener"! Tonight he said that he was the baby of the band and then clarified it by adding "in years anyway".

I think I've mentioned it before but they have this thing where a tech will throw the tambourine for Bang The Drum to Kasim (and afterwards he throws it back). In Pala it hit Kasim's hand but he didn't catch it so he threw it back. Today the same happened but he just picked it up and didn't make the tech re-throw it. Tonight, for the first time, Kasim also had a maracas (that's what we call it in UK but it may be different here) in his other hand - he could almost become a drummer the way he was keeping two different beats with the two instruments! Kasim kept cupping his hands together and blowing into them but I didn't think it was all that cold.

After the concert I got chatting to a guy who said that he'd been a fan of The Cars for years and he was just raving about how well Kasim sang both Drive and All Mixed Up!! (I didn't even prompt him- honest!) He wasn't so keen on Todd's singing but he loved Kasim's voice and presentation! He even suggested that Kasim sang lead vocals in all the set!

Roll on Saratoga on Thursday!!!

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The New Cars Road Rage Tour