Jim James taking a breather

blenderbaby · Sep 13, 2008, 04:15 PM

Jim James solo... I did 2 of the dumbest things during my vacation, a 4 week vacation which i have just got back from this weekend, timed so i can travel to Denver to catch James and the Gang show at Red Rock. So there i was, pulling into the lower South car park at Red Rock in a Rental (having broke every speed limit known to man to get there in a day and a half from Vegas). It's 12.30pm give or take, and i am giving the Amphitheatre a look over, "recon" if you like, so i know where my seat is etc for the 7.00 evening show. After a steep 10 minute climb i finally reached the Amp, out of breath (it's a steep climb and being 50yld and a pack of fags a day man..). As its an open air venue, you can go into the Amp during the day. The place was empty except for a few tourists,at the very top. To catch my breath i sat down on one of the carved stone arched rows, of which there are about 100, looking right down at the stage, to my delight tommy was fiddling with his bass and Carl was meandering around the stage, sax to his lips.. I just sat for a few minutes, taking in the ambience of the place. Its a gorgeous venue, the stone arched rows seeming to be hewn from the earth itself, and 2 giant red rocks tower either side of the stage, I rummaged in my bag for my ticket, to see which row it was for, "49", so i glanced behind me to count... that is when i noticed the man sitting all on his own on one of the brick parapets that run up either side of the rows, he was looking towards the stage. I did a double take, thinking how the heck i did not spot him when i first walked in... Thinking "you don't fool me Mr James, even behind the shades and beard", Rummaging again in my bag, and this is where "dumb" thing #1 happens, i had only left my expensive point and shoot canon in the effin car, the one i purchased just for this very gig, cursing my old senile stupidity, my mind raced "10 minutes back to the car, 10 back up that effin steep hill...he'll be well gone..". So i got my crappy cell phone out, to at least get a quick shot of him. Trying not to be too obvious (as i was the only person between him and the stage) i turned his way, pretending to play with my phone, and got a quick shot off (just as a woman was going to walk up past him!). I took a deep breath, more in readiness for the 20 odd rows to walk up than in anticipation of meeting the great man himself!, I started to walk up towards where he sat, my mind screaming, Gollum style.. "FUCK MAN, THIS IS SOOOO COOL, GRAB HIM, PUMP HIS HAND../no, no, the guy is sitting there, probably for a bit of peace and quite../BULLSHIT, PEACE MY ASS, GET HIS AUTOGRAPH, CALL THAT WOMAN OVER, SHE CAN TAKE A PIC OF YOU WITH YOUR ARM AROUND jIM JAMES, YOUR BIG THUMB STUCK BY HIS CHEST, GRINNING YOUR HEAD OFF../hell no, don't do that, what will he think..." then i stopped looking at where i was putting my feet, looked up, straight into my own reflection in jims shades, and still my mind raged "ONE FOR THE FORUM THIS, GO ON, GO ON, DO IT.." I kind of just nodded, looked all around the Amp, caught sight of an Eagle just disappearing behind one of the surrounding red rocks, saying "it's a beautiful place huh" then back at Jim, "yes, yes it is" he replied, in the softest of voices. I nodded towards a couple of women who were using the stone rows as an exercise yard, running up and down them in the hot early afternoon sun, "are they crazy or what!!, Jim looked to where i nodded, his beard moving as he chuckled, responding "yes, i think they are". Then i did dumb thing#2, i started walking, mumbling something about how in the world i will get up these steps later for the show, and mentioning i have to pack the fags in.. Then i was at the very top, out of breath, i sat down, stared at jims back for a while, saw him hop off the parapet, head down the steep steps after a while, disappearing at the side of the stage, i glanced at my watch, it was 1.47pm. I sighed, feeling good, Jim James spoke to me, i made him chuckle, and i respected his privacy, then i put my head in my hands, thinking Dumb dumb dumb, what must HE be thinking, you did not even say goodbye, and as you walked away from him he heard you mumble something about fags!!!.

kymomandstuff · Sep 14, 2008, 01:37 AM

I think Jim's probably figured out that we fans can get a little nervous and sometimes dumb in his presence.I'm pretty certain I made a fool of myself when I met him.Hopefully he loves us despite our drop in IQ when he's around. :-[

Love Dogg · Sep 14, 2008, 12:41 PM

That's prolly what ultimately would have happened to me, too. Thanks for sharing. Are there pics or not?

blenderbaby · Sep 14, 2008, 05:44 PM

In hindsight i feel a fool for wasting the chance to chat more with a man who's music i admire. Will someone let me know if 3 pics came up in my previous post?, as tiny as they may be (hey, blame motorola). Now, all i need to do is find an October 10 chicago gig ticket, as i was so wrapped up organizing my vacation that i missed out :-/

Salacious D · Sep 15, 2008, 10:26 AM

I once told Glen Phillips I thought he was a god. I think I might win the "most awkward thing said to a musician" award. . .

mtngurl · Sep 17, 2008, 12:17 PM

Great story! At least you were able to form sentences ;D It was an awesome show and the most beautiful venue.

YouAre_GivenToFly · Sep 17, 2008, 03:42 PM

QuoteI once told Glen Phillips I thought he was a god. I think I might win the "most awkward thing said to a musician" award. . .

Doubt that.

Jim James: Is this your pen?

Me: No.... umm... it's his... but he's my friend... so, yeah.

Not one of my proudest moments.

blenderbaby · Sep 17, 2008, 11:09 PM

Thanks mtngurl........... and all for that matter, who took thier time to read my ramblings,hey, come to think of it, i should have referenced my post with "I shot Jimmy James!!!" (even if it was a crappy shot) :P

blenderbaby · Sep 17, 2008, 11:11 PM

...oh, and Jim?, if you remember me, please send me an autographed pen to this address.... :D

Love Dogg · Sep 18, 2008, 11:19 AM

Quote
QuoteI once told Glen Phillips I thought he was a god. I think I might win the "most awkward thing said to a musician" award. . .

Doubt that.

Jim James: Is this your pen?

Me: No.... umm... it's his... but he's my friend... so, yeah.

Not one of my proudest moments.

I understand...you didn't want to lie. :-/