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I Met Arnold Again!! Arnold Sports Festival 2019
- Date of Event: March 3, 2019
- Location of Event: Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, OH
I was not going to attend the Arnold Sports Festival this year, until I found out that Arnold Schwarzenegger was going to take pictures with fans.
So I could not resist.
It was brief, as photo ops are, but getting my picture taken with Arnold may be the most important picture I’ll ever get with a famous person.
He’s been a hero of mine since I was a kid.
So this means a lot to me.
I’d met him twice briefly at the festival in 2016, but did not get my picture taken with him.
Glad I got that done.
I also got to see Arnold speak at two seminars.
Of these festivals I’ve been to (this is my 4th), this was the most I’d seen Arnold.
It’s just great to see how he conducts himself.
He’s super professional, very nice, humble but confident, and is very intelligent.
I’ll always be a fan.
Thank you sir!!
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What a Show!! Cher/Chic Concert Experience
- Date of Concert: February 10, 2019
- Location of Concert: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH
Well, for the first time, I saw Cher and Chic in concert.I saw them in Columbus Ohio at Nationwide Arena.It was a different kind of show for me but I enjoyed it.Chic played about 55 minutes featuring many songs written by leader Nile Rodgers.Look up his body of work.Then about 30 minutes later, the one and only Cher took the stage in very grand fashion.Throughout the show, she had many costume changes, different backdrops, dancers, you name it.It was quite the show.My favorite parts were when she duetted with her ex husband Sonny Bono (RIP). Technology is quite amazing sometimes.Also, it was nice to see her guitarist, Joel Hoekstra, who also plays for Whitesnake, rock out a little bit.At 72, she looks AMAZING. Plastic surgery or not, I don’t care. AMAZING.She performed many songs from throughout her career.Fun show.I have posted pics below, as well as the setlist,courtesy of my friend Kevin Montavon, who was also at the show.* are musical/dancing bits where Cher isn’t onstage…when she’s changing outfits, taking 5, etc.)Cher Set List:
- Woman’s World
- Strong Enough
- *Gayatri Mantra
- All Or Nothing
- *Little Man/All I Need Is You
- The Beat Goes On
- I Got You Babe (Sonny “singing” with her from a magic mirror)
- *You Haven’t Seen The Last Of Me
- Welcome To Burlesque
- *Lie To Me
- Waterloo (Abba Cover)
- SOS (Abba Cover)
- Fernando (Abba Cover)
- *Cher Movie Montage
- After All
- *Heartbreak Hotel (Cher onscreen as “Chelvis”)
- Walking In Memphis
- The Shoop Shoop Song
- *Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)-Featured Joel Hoekstra rocking out
- I Found Someone
- If I Could Turn Back Time
- Believe
Chic Set List:
- Everybody Dance
- Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)
- I Want Your Love
- I’m Coming Out/Upside Down
- He’s The Greatest Dancer/We Are Family
- Get Lucky
- Let’s Dance
- Le Freak
- Good Times
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Mr. Scary: Lynch Mob (George Lynch) Concert Review
- Date of Concert: December 15, 2018
- Location of Event: The Venue Cincinnati in Cincinnati, OH
I FINALLY saw one of my favorite guitarists, George Lynch, in concert.His band, Lynch Mob, played in the Cincinnati area at a place called The Venue Cincinnati.Two cover bands opened, then Lynch Mob came out and played for two hours.Two hours of Lynch Mob and Dokken songs.George has in the band Nathan Utz on lead vocals, Sean McNabb on bass, and Scott Coogan on drums (he sang lead on one song while Nathan played drums).They had fun, as did the crowd.I’m glad I finally saw George. He’s the last of the Dokken guys I needed to see.I’m just sorry it took almost 20 years for me to see him.Better late than never.That’s my last event until March.I live for these things.You know what makes me happy?Music, concerts, meeting famous people, and seeing movies. That’s about it. And that’s ok. Don’t ever expect me to change.Love and PeacePhoto Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
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My Louisville Supercon 2018 Experience
- Date of Event: December 1, 2018
- Location of Event: Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, KY
I went to Louisville Supercon today.I met and saw a bunch of people.Some of whom I got pictures with and autographs from.All were very nice.I met William Shatner, Walter Koenig, Alice Cooper (super nice man), Richard Dreyfuss (He asked me where I was from and I said Ashland. He was curious as to where that was in Kentucky. I told him it was east of Louisville. He then gave me a quote that was said by President Abraham Lincoln, which is “I hope to have God on my side, but I must have Kentucky.” Don’t ask me why he said that but I thought it was great he said it to me.), Jerry Lawler (who let me hold his crown), Scott Steiner (Yes he was cool to me. He has a rep for being a jerk but he was cool to me.), Allan Oppenheimer (actor/voice actor who did the voice of Skeletor and many others. He even did the Skeletor voice for me, saying “Lucas, I’m not nice”!!!), Jonathan Frakes, John De Lancie, Levar Burton, and Ricou Browning (The Gill Man in all the underwater sequences of the Creature From The Black Lagoon trilogy.)I saw many others, including Michael Rooker, Sean Gunn, Ralph Macchio, Henry Winkler, Kevin Conroy (voice of Batman on Batman The Animated Series and various animated films), wrestlers Sgt. Slaughter, Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson (who literally parked a few cars away from me as I was getting out of my car to go in), Mark Henry, Booker T, Kane, managers Jim Cornette (who I had met before) and Teddy Long, artist Neal Adams, and many more.I didn’t meet everyone but I mostly got what I wanted.Fun day!!Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
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I Saw Another Legend: Sir Elton John Concert Review
- Date of Concert: October 23, 2018
- Location of Concert: KFC Yum Center in Louisville, KY
I saw another legend.Sir Elton JohnKFC Yum Center in Louisville, KentuckyWhat a show.2.5 hours of Elton and his band delivering the goods.I’m glad I finally saw him.My list is getting shorter.I’m letting the pictures and set list do most of the talking here.Set List:
- Bennie And The Jets
- All The Girls Love Alice
- I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues
- Border Song
- Tiny Dancer
- Philadelphia Freedom
- Indian Sunset
- Rocket Man (I Think It’s Gonna Be A Long Long Time)
- Take Me To The Pilot
- Someone Saved My Life Tonight
- Levon/Elton and band Jam/Levon reprise
- Candle In The Wind
- Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
- Burn Down The Mission
- Believe
- Daniel
- Sad Songs Say So Much
- band introductions
- Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
- The Bitch Is Back
- I’m Still Standing
- Crocodile Rock
- Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting
- Encore: Your Song
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
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Dream Come True: Phil Collins Concert Review
- Date of Concert: October 19, 2018
- Location of Concert: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH
Dream come true: I saw Phil Collins in concert.He played a sold out or nearly sold out show at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.My cousin Zachary and I went and we had sooooo much fun.Before Phil came out, there were many pics of him on the screens.When he did come out, he was walking with a cane, and told everyone he would have to sit for a lot of the show.This is because he had hip and knee surgery, his right foot is numb, and that’s just the way it is.But you know what? Everyone, myself and my cousin, were just happy to see him.He sang great, his band is phenomenal, and the songs are just classics.He did sing three Genesis songs (his other band), and a lot of solo hits and a few somewhat deeper tracks.Even if he is not totally physically perfect, he’s still going for it and he’s having fun.He’s still got a great sense of humor and again, he’s having fun.One of the first things he said to us, and all the other shows he does, he starts off by saying that he didn’t think he would be doing this anymore.He actually did stop for a few years because of just life.But he said he missed the fans and missed doing this.So, for anyone who complains that he sits, shut up!! He’s giving all he has and I think it’s more than good enough. In fact, it’s amazing.Seeing him was HUGE for me.It was worth every penny, and trust me, it was not cheap.But TOTALLY worth it.I’ll never forget this one.I took many pictures.What a great concert.I’m glad I finally saw him.My list is getting shorter. When it is complete, so am I.Love and Peace always.Set List:
- Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)
- Another Day In Paradise
- I Missed Again
- Hang In Long Enough
- Throwing It All Away
- Follow You Follow Me
- Can’t Turn Back The Years
- Who Said I Would
- Separate Lives
- You’ll Be In My Heart
- Drum Trio (Phil did play block percussion!! His son Nicholas is the main drummer)
- Something Happened On The Way To Heaven
- You Know What I Mean
- In The Air Tonight
- You Can’t Hurry Love
- Dance Into The Light
- Invisible Touch
- Easy Lover
- Sussudio
- Encore: Take Me Home
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I Saw Captain Kirk: William Shatner Q&A After Star Trek 2 Screening
- Date of Event: September 22, 2018
- Location of Event: Taft Theatre in Cincinnati, OH
Another great night in my life happened!I saw William Shatner in person in Cincinnati at The Taft Theatre.He is doing a series of shows where Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan (one of my favorite movies ever) plays and then he comes out afterwards and talks for an hour, tells stories, and answers questions submitted to him by fans at the venue.He had so many stories to tell.He talked about how he once played a trick on Deforest Kelley (Dr. McCoy), in which Deforest was heating bagels in a toaster, and he got Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock) to distract him so that he (Shatner) could remove the bagels from the toaster so that when Deforest came back, the bagels would be gone.He did this twice in a row. He did this because Deforest told him that he was afraid his memory was not too good.You had to be there to laugh.He told a story about a cop pulling him over one night/morning while he was driving to location on the Star Trek 2 movie in uniform.The cop asked him where he was going so fast to. Shatner told the cop “I have to get to my spaceship”.He even brought a fan on stage to try to explain to him Time and Space, which was fun.Again, you had to be there.One fan submitted question was “Boxers or Briefs?” He paused for several seconds and said “Depends”, and went on a funny Depends rant.Such a great night.My life sucks most of the time (always broke and working, don’t sleep well), but nights like this make me glad I’m here.Another one of the greatest events I’ll ever attend.Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
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The Voice of Rock: Glenn Hughes Concert Review
- Date of Concert: September 16, 2018
- Location of Concert: House Of Blues Cleveland in Cleveland, OH
A HUGE bucket list concert for me happened Sunday night in Cleveland at House Of Blues.The Voice Of Rock Mr. Glenn Hughes!!!I’ve been a fan of this man and his work for 19 or 20 years now.Unfortunately, he has not toured the US much within that time frame.But now he’s coming around more which is wonderful.On this tour, he is playing Deep Purple songs that he was involved with (he was a member from 73-76 and co-sings/plays bass on 3 incredible DP albums Burn, Stormbringer, and Come Taste The Band), has sang on so many other albums of his own, as well as albums with Trapeze, Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Gary Moore, Hughes/Thrall (Pat Thrall of Pat Travers), even Motley Crue and Quiet Riot, and more recently California Breed and Black Country Communion, and many more.This man is one of the best singers you will ever hear in your life.He can sing anything and has. Rock, Metal, Blues, Funk, Soul, Christmas Music, you name it.Look up his discography.And he’s still as great or better now than he’s ever been.A phenomenal bassist too, but his voice is off the charts.And most importantly, he’s just a great person and very fan friendly.He emailed me back one time and has liked several tweets I’ve sent him and has replied to me on some of them (yes it is him).I never thought I would see this man in concert but I FINALLY did.I’m glad it happened.I’ll always be a fan of this guy.Two more concerts to go this year, as well as two other non concert events.As Glenn says all the time “Music Is The Healer”.It certainly is to me.Set List:
- Stormbringer
- Might Just Take Your Life
- Sail Away
- Keyboard/Drum Solo
- You Fool No One
- Guitar Solo/Blues Jam/High Ball Shooter/You Fool No One (Reprise)
- You Keep On Moving
- Gettin’ Tighter
- Mistreated
- Smoke On The Water/Georgia On My Mind
- Encore: Highway Star
- Burn
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I Met Chewy: My Cincinnati Comic Expo 2018 Experience
- Date of Event: September 15, 2018
- Location of Event: Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, OH
I went to the Cincinnati Comic Expo today.A lot of fun.I met Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca of the Star Wars movies-Awesome!!), saw some other celebrities and cool items, and had some cool Star Wars pictures taken of me.There was a lot going on there and I didn’t experience everything by any means, but it was a very fun day.I’m a geek and proud of it.Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
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National Treasure: Buddy Guy Concert Review
- Date of Concert: September 9, 2018
- Location of Concert: The Clay Center in Charleston, WV
I saw a national treasure tonight: Buddy Guy!!!One of THE Blues icons.82 years old and still going strong.He played music and told stories for almost 2 hours.His new album, The Blues Is Alive And Well, is AWESOME!!!!He even went into the audience for several minutes and played.He played guitar with his butt, a towel, a drumstick, and the typical way.This man is a Master.I’m glad I finally saw him.Next Sunday, I’m off to Cleveland to see another master: Glenn Hughes!!!Love and Peace always.Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
