Hey guys!
By popular request, here is the Florida Review I posted on Strike Zone a few weeks ago, ENJOY!
Saw the boys in Hallandale Beach (just north of Miami) on Saturday (Feb 10). First, let me set the scene for you; hot, sticky Florida day. It's at Gulfstream Park which is a horse-racing park (think Breeder's Cup) Add about 1000 drunk trailer-trash types, plenty of booze flowing and very few folks under age 30.
The boys came rolling onstage after a HORRIBLE M.C. spent 20 minutes giving us Loverboy "trivia" in exchange for betting slips (gotta keep those habitual gamblers spending..) Anyway, it was a sparse 200 or so people to start. Dougie comes out first and eminates a very low "Hellooooo" in a deep voice.
To the strains of "Notorious" (my fav) Mike comes out. You can really spot the true fans as several of us leaped to our feet and sang out loud. I was shocked at the number of people who were just staring at the stage and not clapping or rocking. I don't get it.
The guys looked great. Mike had on a black t-shirt and black jeans ( a move he would later regret as the sun was beating on him directly). Paul had on a cool Aussie hat and a tie-dye shirt. Dougie was in black shorts and T, and Matty had on shorts and T as well. (I think Matt got a SERIOUS haircut.)
The new bass player came out. They introduced him as "Spider" about the third song. He is stocky with shoulder length gray hair. He was really good.
The boys played all the standards, but the interludes between songs became the most fun. First there was this drunken elf, I swear, I think he was really retarded. Not sure. He felt as if he should "act out" every word of every song. (Points to himself for "me" and makes a heart with his hands when Mike said "love." You had to be there.) He kept running up to the stage between each song handing them scraps of paper. Mike handled it well.
Then, between songs, Mike says "You know, we just flew in from the Pacific Northwest. While we are happy to be where its warm (he gestures to the blazing sun) Gimme' a friggin' break here!" and then he says "Yeah, I know what your thinking, lobster face tomorrow!!" They were all soaked with sweat.
Ok, now for my most embarrassing moment. By now, half way thru the concert, the crowd had swelled rapidly to probably 800-1000. In between songs, Mike is trying to towel off and talk to crowd while the guys grab sips of water. I'm still hopping around about 30 feet away after "It's Your Life" and Mike points at me and says "Gee, she's having a good time." Like a total 15 year old, I scream (god, so embarassed) and Mike says, "You know, you could take that shirt off, we won't mind." Crowd hollers and catcalls (remember, all rednecks here) and then Mike says "Just send the shirt and bra right up here..."(points to his right) I just try to hide behind husband and smile at Mike and shake my head "no." Then Mike says "You seem to know all the words to all the songs too, you want to come sing while I go cool off?" (By this time, I am a puddle of adolescent excitement...)
Anyway, they played about an hour and a half. Played all the goodies plus "Teenage Overdose" which I wasn't expecting. He got everybody off their butts for "Working" and "Lovin'" and the crowd got pretty big. They had two encores as well.
Afterwards, about 20 of us collected on the barracades waiting for them to come out. A lot of folks were holding the actual Albums (you remember those) and some had CD covers. A lot of drunk "over the hill" groupies too.
In fact 2 gals (who looked like the pride of any truck stop south of Tennessee) were screaming for Mike to come out. Paul finally came out and was quite kind and gracious.
When I talked to him I just asked about his son and also told him how sorry I was about Scotty. He looked wistful for a moment and said "Yeah, wasn't that a weird thing?" I asked him how hard it was to play since then and he said "Well, some guys are taking it better than others, but you know, that's rock and roll..." He said that they are probably keeping a limited schedule for now.
Dougie came out and was really nice. Finally, Mike came out and everyone went nuts. Some drunk jerk behind me kept yelling "Hey, Mr. Rynoski, why'd you change your name? Hey, Mr. Rynoski, can I call you that, or just your alter ego, Mike Reno?" (Several of us were pretty embarassed.) I snapped pictures of Mike as he headed down the receiving line towards me. One of the truck-stop gals yelled "Mike, hurry up!" and I just snickered and said "God, white trash!" and Mike just looked at me and grinned.
When he got to me, I asked him how Alex was and told him how awesome the show was. I also told him how my husband and I tried to see them in VA Beach in 99 when Hurricane Floyd washed them out. He laughed and said, "Yeah, that was a mess." I got my picture taken with him and he laughed and said he was sorry if he embarrasssed me earlier about the T-shirt thing, and I said, "Oh no, I felt 15 again!" I then told him congrats about Pam and then he looked at me and said "How do you know so much?" And I said "Well I'm on the STRIKEZONE website and several others." He just laughed and said "Oh, ok."
I just got my pictures back today... Too bad I didn't get this chance 20 years ago...