The First Final Farewell Tour - Houston Texas - September 5th 2004 - 8PM
After hearing him for years on the radio and MTV, and VH1 I finally got to see the man up close and personal Sunday night at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Fifth Row - Center - (Just glad it was not a Gallagher at this close range!) - The place was not quite packed but close.
The average age of the people attending the concert seemed to be about mid-forty-ish. Surprisingly there were a lot of people that were pushing sixty in the crowd as well. Security was there but not obscene like at the airport. We were all well prepared to be frisked and questioned like everywhere else you go today. But, that was not the case.
He came out with his drummer and they did a couple of solos before the band and back-up singers came out. He's is his own opening act! Cool!
Not sure of his exact age, Mr. Collins must work out vigorously to keep up the pace that did during the concert. He would actually keep entertaining while the others in the group would go back stage and regroup.
The brass section was tremendous and the sax player was really on his game and entertaining.
He of course played all of his hits and the sound quality was amazing. The high tech sound booth that they had setup on the floor looked more an air traffic control room than what it was intended for..
The light show was above par as well. I think it was meant more for the people sitting farther back than up close, but none the less spectacular.
We made quick friends with the others sitting near us and enjoyed every second of the concert. It was worth every penny we spent and then some.
He made a joke about the name of the tour and said that it really was his last tour. Everyone was chanting - No Phil - We Love You Phil - But alas this is it - His goodbye concert. Glad we got to be apart of it.
His songs have woven themselves into the fabric of my human timeline over the past three decades and experiencing them one after another Sunday night was like having some of my life flash before my eyes.
It went by way too fast 8pm-10: 30pm. You cannot get this type of entertainment over the television, or a DVD performance. They truly loved what they were doing on stage and never did it seem like they were working hard, more like playing hard.
-Thank You Again Mr. Collins.
-Mr. Toad weeps off the keyboard.
P.S. If this comes off as a fluff piece… then so be it.. it was really that good to attend this concert.
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