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I Can't Believe That I Can Finally Say...


Tim From Wisconsin

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I was shaking when they began playing in November!

I had that "Raspberries high" and tears coming down my face when I heard the beginning of I Wanna Be With You! You're gonna remember that feeling a long long time! I just always knew I would hear/see them again. And it was shocking to experience. I can only imagine what it would be like for someone who NEVER thought they'd see them again! ENJOY it with every fiber of your being!

:) --Darlene

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All I can say is WOW!!!!

It's hard to imagine that something that you anticipated for so long can live up to the hype, but I was wrong. The concert last night was fantastic! First of all - I had to buy a T-Shirt right away, along with a CD containing their first 2 albums in their entirety and of course I had to buy the commemorative Chicago concert poster (Very cool looking). The band that opened for them - The Drysdales - weren't very good, but the crowd was very nice to them. I must have looked at my watch 1,000 times after they were done, but then I thought that if I could wait over 30 years for this, I can certainly wait another hour or so. Then... From the moment I could sense that the lights were dimming, I felt like I was a teenager again - I hadn't felt an adrenaline rush like that in quite some time.

The show was amazing! They looked great, sounded great, and they certainly looked like they were truely enjoying themselves! The highlights for me personally were "If You Change Your Mind", "Don't Want To Say Goodbye", "Tonight", and especially "I Can Remember"! As the show went on I thought maybe they had decided not to play it, but then Eric sat at the piano and started the song. I can admit that it has been a while since something moved me to tears, but within the first minute of the 8+ minute song I was wiping tears from my eyes. I hope that they extend this tour to other cities - Not only for me to see them again, but for those of you who could not make it to Chicago. It will be a night that you will not forget!!!!

Everybody have a great day!!

Tim

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My honest assessment of the Drysdales is that they were not a worthy act to open for Raspberries. Their music (as performed at the House of Blues on Saturday night) was bland. None of the songs were interesting. Each one basically started, dragged on for a few minutes and then mercifully ended. How much cooler would it have been to see Off Broadway open in Chicago?

Bernie

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I could see the Drysdales' set list taped to the stage from my position in the front of the crowd, and every time they'd finish a song, I'd be thinking, "Good, another one down, only X more to go..." They played 11 songs total, and kept telling us they'd be off soon. Just not soon enough.

Jennifer

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Bernie,

"Stayin time dont get out of line" one of my favorite one hit wonder groups. Some other possible one hit wonder groups:

The Knack "My Sharona" Joan Jett "I love Rock n Roll" Does she still own one of the Raspberries guitars? or The Kings "Switchen To Glide" at least these groups have at least one memerable hit under there belts.

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In all fairness to the Drysdales, they were in an unenviable position. Sure I'd rather have seen any number of other opening acts (or no opening act at all), but the Drysdales' sound was pretty poor as well. I know great sound won't change a song if the song is bad to start with, but if the Drysdales' sound was as bad elsewhere in the hall as it was from where I was, this may have been a major reason for the negative reaction.

Marvin

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Marvin,

Sound didn't have anything to do with it. I defy anyone to hum one of their songs five minutes after hearing it. I know that at least one of the band members is a big Raspberries fan, but I just didn't dig them.

Bernie

PS: Enuff Z'nuff would have been another better choice for me!

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Bernie, I agree and also would have liked to see OFF BROADWAY as another choice for an opener. I saw Cliff Johnson sometime ago and told him about the reunion.

Their website has been down, and was trying to reach him thru friends here, with no success. At one point I was going to ask Jim Peterik if he could reach him but didn't want to bother Jim. I thought Cliff would be interested in seeing the show, and also Ken Harck may have been interested in seeing the show. I will say that I have seen OFF BROADWAY several times and sometimes Cliff gets a little carried away with kinda playing around with his shorts/pants. Won't go into details BUTT let me just say, it's kinda goofy :lol:

BUTT I will say they have some great songs!

G :spin:

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I definitely agree with Bernie here...I've always thought of the Drysdales as a rather pedestrian pop band, although Patrick Potts seemed like a nice enough chap. (I always thought they should have toured with the band Koufax. :-) I had the privilege of seeing Off Broadway and Enuff Z'Nuff on a bill in Chicago a few years back and they were both great, but OB in particular knocked my socks off---they would have been an outstanding opener. Other Chicago-area pop bands who would have been cool opening acts are Phil Angotti, 92 Degrees, The Critics, Swinger, The Lackloves, The Bradburys and the Bad Examples. But, of course, any band would have been in an unenviable position having to open for the 'Berries.

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I have a good feeling that we are going to have a chance to see them again hopefully this Spring/Summer. I remember that during the show Eric said "Make a note that next time we need bigger fans" - refering to how hot it was on stage. It made me smile that he said "Next time" which is a good indicator that they are thinking of continuing this tour someday!!

We can only hope!!!!

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Hi-I'm new here - Laura from Chicago. I was at the show Saturday and had a blast. I was not a fan, but had heard good things about the Raspberries and knew that I should check them out.

The drummer for the Drysdales was a fill-in named Brad Elvis. He was in Chicago based bands called the Elvis Brothers, Big Hello and is now in the Handcuffs. He did an amazing job, as always. The lead singer for the Drysdales sounded a bit off key or flat most of the time (to me).

Off Broadway had a show on Dec. 18th at Fitzgeralds in Berwyn and I know exactly what the person meant about how Cliff can get carried away at times - this day was no exception. However they would have been a far superior band to open (my opinion). BTW,I guess there is a Raspberries tribute CD where Off Broadway performs "Tonight".

Goodbye for now-

Laura

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I'd have to agree with Bernie. The Drysdales first number lifted the guitar hook right off The Knack's "That's What the Little Girls Do". From there it was a downward spiral into boredom. The vocalist's voice was hardly suited for pop, and his Axl Rose meets "The Creature From The Black Lagoon" swagger dance moves were quite the visual repellant. For those down front, it was tiresome having watch them and wait for the incredible Berries. No disrepect, but an opener was unnecessary.

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I agree that, outside of the drummer, The Drysdales weren't very good. It was quite evident that they were psyched to be there, opening for The Raspberries though. Natch.

I think the crowd would have loved The Redwalls, a young local band who is on the verge of their first major label release (Capitol, of all labels). They're going out on tour soon, but the audience would have loved them. (Think, The Beatles, early Cavern Club days).

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