Gregg in Greensboro Wednesday Night

Anybody here going?

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I had checked ticket availability earlier yesterday and there were still GA tix available (I absolutely HATE paying service fees) so I drove the 60 miles to Greensboro, only to be told about 5 PM that the show was sold out. Obviously not happy, I resigned myself to being at the mercy of the scalpers and hoped I wouldn't get screwed too bad, but decided to wait until the box office lady came out. I asked what the difference was between the regular GA tix and the Harley Davidson tix and was told that I shouldn't have been able to see those online. Well, I did...then she asked how many tix I needed. One, I said. She worked her magic and said, "I have one left." And I gave her the biggest smile I had and said, "Ma'am, my birthday was Sunday and you just made my week!" Meanwhile all the other people looking for tickets were staring daggers at me - but as usual they were all looking for more than one ticket and when you do that, usually you lose. Singles always pop up sooner or later.
Not often a Damn Yankee can charm a Southern Belle, but after 11 years down here in NC, I've learned a thing or two... ; )
Good show. Nice venu - I was about 5 feet in front of Gregg's B-3 for about the first 5 or 6 songs but it got SO HOT - and I mean it had to be at least 90 degrees in there, not exaggerating - and the crowd got more and more pushy and borderline obnoxious that I had to move back. Seemed like most of the crowd really didn't know much about Gregg other than the eternal "Didn't he used to be married to Cher?" clueless questions. At this point, it is what it is.
There was also some connection to Harley Davidson - they were in the "VIP" section, whatever that was, and that added to the somewhat bizarro nature of the evening, but not really in much of a bad way.
Gregg's voice was fine, but he did forget some lyrics. Played the strat on at least 4 songs and maybe even 5, including Whippin' Post. Highlight of the show for me was a ripping version of Trouble No More. Didn't expect that AT ALL, and it was quite welcome.
Gregg did leave the stage for about 5 or 10 minutes about 2/3 of the way through and the band had to comp some fusion stuff to cover for him - not my favorite part of the show. Don't know he does this at every show or if he had some emergency but he did come back and seemed OK.
He did appear frail up close and this was confirmed when he signed my ticket and shook my hand after the show. However he did take time to shake hands and sign stuff for other people which was definitely an improvement over his detached persona of the past.
Met a lot of cool people and also shook hands with Marc Quinones, who I have wanted to meet for years in order to thank him for all his years in the ABB. I really think he has been underappreciated and overlooked - he added SO MUCH to the ABB's sound over the past 25 years and it was nice to thank him for it. Also said hi to Chank, who I had met at Wanee back in '08. Of course he didn't remember and I didn't expect him to but he was nice nonetheless and it's always a thrill to meet someone who was there at the beginning. And it's cool that Gregg has at least ONE person he can trust to watch his back.
Only "drawback" was Scott Sharrard seemed frustrated if not boderline angry about something. Don't know if it was a technical issue or something internal with the band but he clearly was NOT happy, in both his facial expressions and body language throughout the show. His playing was fine - after all, he IS a professional - and I thought maybe I was imagining something that wasn't there, but then after the show by the bus he just walked - VERY quickly - past the fans looking straight ahead, no eye contact or engagement whatsoever. Every other band member, and as I said, even Gregg, made time for the fans, but not him. He totally came across a self - involved Prima Donna. And I was not impressed by that at all.

Gregg did leave the stage for about 5 or 10 minutes about 2/3 of the way through and the band had to comp some fusion stuff to cover for him - not my favorite part of the show. Don't know he does this at every show or if he had some emergency but he did come back and seemed OK.
It is just part of the show. They usually do an instrumental titled "Cradle of Civilization" (I think that's the title) when he leaves.

Maybe Sharrard was pissed at Gregg for doing the show, maybe he wanted to stand in solidarity with Springsteen ?

Gregg did leave the stage for about 5 or 10 minutes about 2/3 of the way through and the band had to comp some fusion stuff to cover for him - not my favorite part of the show. Don't know he does this at every show or if he had some emergency but he did come back and seemed OK.
It is just part of the show. They usually do an instrumental titled "Cradle of Civilization" (I think that's the title) when he leaves.
Thanks for that info. I wasn't sure - I've been at more than one ABB show when he has just lurched off stage and then you heard after the show that he was vomiting or something backstage. I had front row center seats at the Beacon once and he ran off the stage at the beginning of Liz Reed and didn't come back. Kofi Burbridge had to cover for him - good thing he was there that night.

Maybe Sharrard was looking forward to pissing in the women's bathroom Heineken. Thanks for the review brogan. Someone so mediocre and unpopular ought not cop a tude IMO.

Maybe Sharrard was looking forward to pissing in the women's bathroom Heineken. Thanks for the review brogan. Someone so mediocre and unpopular ought not cop a tude IMO.
I wouldn't call him mediocre and was not aware that he was unpopular, nor was I trying to imply that he copped an attitude - if I did I should go back and modify my post, I can't get into someone else's head. Just calling like I saw it.
[Edited on 4/14/2016 by brofan]

Thanks for the report Rich! Sounds like your karma wheel was turning in the right direction last night!

Thanks for the report Rich! Sounds like your karma wheel was turning in the right direction last night!
Thanks, Brewster. It was - until I got popped for speeding on the way home. 70 in a 55 - mandatory court date. What's up with that?
Actually it was my SECOND time getting pulled over for speeding in the last 5 days....the previous cop got me for 73 in a 55 and let me go. It pays to be nice to cops..... sometimes.
And yes, I am going to slow down.

Gregg did leave the stage for about 5 or 10 minutes about 2/3 of the way through and the band had to comp some fusion stuff to cover for him - not my favorite part of the show. Don't know he does this at every show or if he had some emergency but he did come back and seemed OK.
It is just part of the show. They usually do an instrumental titled "Cradle of Civilization" (I think that's the title) when he leaves.
When I saw him a few months ago in Cherokee that was my favorite part of the show. Not because I didn't enjoy Gregg, but because it was a great jam I hadn't heard before. I thought it was very cool.

Gregg did leave the stage for about 5 or 10 minutes about 2/3 of the way through and the band had to comp some fusion stuff to cover for him - not my favorite part of the show. Don't know he does this at every show or if he had some emergency but he did come back and seemed OK.
It is just part of the show. They usually do an instrumental titled "Cradle of Civilization" (I think that's the title) when he leaves.
When I saw him a few months ago in Cherokee that was my favorite part of the show. Not because I didn't enjoy Gregg, but because it was a great jam I hadn't heard before. I thought it was very cool.
Glad you enjoyed it, Bob. Do you live in western Carolina?
A buddy of mine who mostly lurks on here but posts once in a blue moon went to WCU in, as puts it, "CulloWEED."
Always cracks me up.

Gregg did leave the stage for about 5 or 10 minutes about 2/3 of the way through and the band had to comp some fusion stuff to cover for him - not my favorite part of the show. Don't know he does this at every show or if he had some emergency but he did come back and seemed OK.
It is just part of the show. They usually do an instrumental titled "Cradle of Civilization" (I think that's the title) when he leaves.
When I saw him a few months ago in Cherokee that was my favorite part of the show. Not because I didn't enjoy Gregg, but because it was a great jam I hadn't heard before. I thought it was very cool.
Glad you enjoyed it, Bob. Do you live in western Carolina?
A buddy of mine who mostly lurks on here but posts once in a blue moon went to WCU in, as puts it, "CulloWEED."
Always cracks me up.
Yep, I live in Hendersonville.

Gregg did leave the stage for about 5 or 10 minutes about 2/3 of the way through and the band had to comp some fusion stuff to cover for him - not my favorite part of the show. Don't know he does this at every show or if he had some emergency but he did come back and seemed OK.
It is just part of the show. They usually do an instrumental titled "Cradle of Civilization" (I think that's the title) when he leaves.
When I saw him a few months ago in Cherokee that was my favorite part of the show. Not because I didn't enjoy Gregg, but because it was a great jam I hadn't heard before. I thought it was very cool.
Glad you enjoyed it, Bob. Do you live in western Carolina?
A buddy of mine who mostly lurks on here but posts once in a blue moon went to WCU in, as puts it, "CulloWEED."
Always cracks me up.
Yep, I live in Hendersonville.
I sold a machine (portable ultrasound) when I was with GE to Margaret Pardee hospital in Hendersonville. Nice little town. Sure is pretty out where you live.
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