Old Town School of Folk Music
October 15, 2010
Chicago, IL
Review by: Cheryl

Well, here I am again at 3 in the morning, still thinking of little else since my much anticipated show. As most of you know, my last Patty show was 1991 when Patty opened for Hank Williams Jr. To me, that was a tease of a few songs in a big arena of rowdy Hank fans. I waited for years and years after that show for Patty to come to my area again. I am not a traveler because of my cats. I did have separation anxiety over these cats on my trip to Chicago, but I went anyway. I finally had someone to come and feed them while I was gone.

Patty came my way again in 2005 which was the mostly Mountain Soul tour, perfect! My wait was finally over. I took the morning off to man the phone to get good seats I kept calling the box office and the woman would say, "the tickets aren't released for sale yet". I kept calling back, as the woman would not stay on the phone with me until the tickets were released. I know that i drove her nuts. I would hang up and call again and again and again.Then, she answers, she knows me by now, lol..I got second row seats, WOW! I bought 4 seats and decided to take the girl that I work with and her husband to the show, since I play Patty constantly at work and by now she was a fan. I was counting down to show day. I got the tickets at the end of July for the September '05 show. By August 28th, I was evacuated to Arkansas because of Katrina. I figured I would be home ina day or so, my concert was 3 weeks away. Well, the venue in Bay St. Louis, Ms. was wiped out and so was I. I was in total denial in Arkansas thinking maybe the venue survived. The show must go on. WRONG! My house was destroyed, my rental property was destroyed..those I could rebuild. But, my Patty collection of VHS tapes, gone..but more importantly, my concert was not going to happen..WHAT!

I needed some consolation, so I turned to Patty. "Dreaming My Dreams" came out that September. I purchased it in Arkansas and any other Patty cd I could find. I had to buy a boom box too. I listened to Patty constantly for the month that I was stuck in Arkasas, unable to return home. Patty's music is my salvation.

Well, anyway, fast forward to the present. Enough of the past. I can finally let that go of my lost Patty show. I saw Patty live!

I arrived in Chicago with Flat Patty. I was so excited (still am), I secured a rental car and got into the car. I checked for my suitcase, my purse making sure I wasn't missing anything..and OMG, where is Flat Patty?, I left her on the counter at the rental place. I hadn't driven off yet, I ran back in and there she was. Whew! that was a close call, I couldn't imagine telling Nicole that I lost Patty. Would I be on a bad list, or what? :) Flat Patty helped me pass the 2 days before showtime. I just wanted it to be show day.

The day of the show, I arrived at the school at 5 pm to make sure the tickets were there and that there wasn't a problem. Can you tell I was still fearful the show wouldn't happen again? There was no problem with the tickets, I had tickets in hand and the bus was outside. The show was going to happen. Whoa. I headed toward the restroom at the school before venturing out for dinner, I heard test, test, it was Patty's voice. OMG, she is on the premises doing a sound check. I just stood there frozen and out walks Deanie, she smiled and went right back into the stage area. Then, out walks Deanie and PATTY, no less. I was still frozen. Patty was very focused and did not make eye contact. I was not going to disturb her zone. I just stood there frozen, still and as they walked by I just said, WOW, in a low very surprised tone.

Well, was I amped up or what. I walked down the street to decide on a place to eat. An Irish pub was nearby and Guinness was calling my name. I had buffalo wings which were very spicy. Funny, you would think a New Orleans girl would like spicy, I don't, but the Guinness helped cool it off. I only had one Guinness because I wanted all of my faculties for the shows which were now an hour away! It was going to happen. FINALLY!

After dinner, I decided to go ask the ticket agent if any better seats were available. I was in GG for the first show. She points to the seating chart and says that she has table N, a second row table at center stage. WHAT! She was not kidding me, I was ready to buy the tickets and she upgraded me for no charge, WOW. I was lucky tonight.

There I sat, 6 feet away from the stage, tops. Radney Foster was entertaining. I remember Foster & Lloyd. He told stories of Keith Urban recording his songs and making them hits. His wife then wanted a new kitchen, they call it the Keith Urban memorial kitchen. :)

Now, it's PATTY TIME! Sometimes, when something is sooo anticipated, it can be disappointing. Let me tell you, that didn't happen. Words to describe Patty's voice....How about exact, perfection. Perfection is just not enough of a description. I loved every second of the shows. What a voice, what a voice, what a voice. I tried to take pictures, but Miss Thing next to me kept tapping my arm and telling me pictures were not allowed. I didn't want to ruin my mood, so I stopped with the camera. I just listened.

Introducing Deanie, Patty mentioned that Deannie had been with her for 17 years. Deanie, says "I don't know why I keep coming back" and the two shared a laugh. After Patty sang "My Old Friend The Blues" and knocked it out the park, Deanie says, "That's why I keep coming back". I can see that, listen to that voice for all those years..How lucky is Deanie.:) When Patty introduced Sydney as being from Franklin, Kentucky, Sydney cheered for Kentucky. Patty said, "You better like Kentucky" and laughed. I like Kentucky too, look what it produced, PATTY!

My first show was over and another to come. I sat outside in a little courtyard behind the school in between shows. I talked with a guy who had come from Dallas to see the show. Sorry, I forgot his name, I told him about the website. He was aware of it and asked if it was my website. Oh no, it is Nicole's website, I am a member doing the Flat Patty blog right now. He loves the Elvis license plate too. We talked about Patty, of course until it was time for the second show. I tried to upgrade seats again as I was in D for the second show. There were no table seats available and the ticket agent said that D is good seats and that I was spoiled from the table seats at the first show, that was true.

The second show began and Patty varied the set list a bit. I had not wanted to think about Harlan. If she didn't do it, it was ok. I prepared myself for that possibility. I was still thrilled, no matter what. Patty begins to tell the coal mining story and the banjo begins picking..OMG, Here comes Harlan. All my dreams have come true! I was blown away by the power and beauty of that voice. I stood up for a standing ovation. Too bad everyone else didn't stand. That didn't stop me, I was taking it to the max! It was my very first Harlan LIVE!

Now, the second show was over and onto the bus. I recognized Dennis from the website pictures of fans. I asked him what usually happens at the bus. How long does it take, if it happens? He said about an hour or so and sometimes she walks right into the bus and doesn't stop. Ok, I had Patty walk by me in the school earlier, if that is all that happens, that was a thrilling experience too. We all waited and talked about Patty's music. Time was passing. Pizzas were delivered the bus. Most of the band members were already on the bus. Dennis said Patty was probably still inside the school. So, we talked and waited some more. It was pushing 2 in the morning by now. I was almost ready to give it up. Dennis says, "Here comes Patty"! WHOA! Patty walked by and said give me a few minutes and walked into the bus. OMG, the meet and greet was going to happen too. All my dreams are really coming true even more. Am I lucky tonight or what!

The manager came out and said, no pictures and that Patty would sign one thing for each person. No pictures, I was ok with that too. I probably would not have liked the way the picture came out of myself. I am not photogenic. I decided on having the center picture from Country Music magazine from 1998 I think. Patty is in a green top, I always loved that picture and hoped that one day I would have it signed and framed. The picture was in the top of my closet when Katrina hit. I love those few things that survived even more. Patty came out of the bus, pen in hand. I pulled out the picture and Patty said, "That's an old one" I told her I had been waiting along time for this night. I told her of my lost Patty concert, the one thing I couldn't get over from Katrina. Now, I can let it go. Patty reached for my hand in a very heartfelt way and said "Katrina should never have happened." She totally understood my emotions. I thanked her for her music and told her how it has gotten me through the whole ordeal.

Wow, I got it all. Two concerts, and autograph and to have Patty reach for my hand and hold it in a heart felt moment! I say again, thank you, Patty.

Now, I am back in New Orleans. What have I been doing since my return you ask? Listening to Patty nonstop, except of course when the Saints game came on yesterday. I had company for the game, they were treated to Patty's music on every commercial, at halftime , and after the game. My company asked, "Did she play that song"? everytime I played a different song. I would say, "No, not that one either. There are so many wonderful songs, she can only do so many in a night." I loved whatever she played. Live is a whole new level. Now, as I listen to the cd's, it's even more intense, as I imagine everything live. I am still absorbing everything from my Patty experience, and what a total experience it was.

I have been going back and listening to all the cd's. I am hung up on Self Titled right now. I am going back to the beginning and I hope Patty's music will never end, at least not in my lifetime.

Funny, when I saw the new article posted on the website that Patty liked the song "Imagine" Well, that Imagine sculpture sits on my night stand. I am a Beatles maniac as well with John being my favorite. If I ever had a personalized license plate or a tatoo, which I don't, it would be "Imagine" I never got to see The Beatles live, I was only 10 in 1964 when they came to New Orleans. I probably wouldn't have been able to hear them back then anyway. But, now I can say..."I HAVE SEEN PATTY LIVE!!!!! And, I ain't coming down, no, I ain't coming down!