Sunset Station, Las Vegas:

Thank GOD for assigned seating!! Since my plane was an hour late in arriving into Vegas! Nena and Sandra from Chicago were there to pick me up (THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!) and we headed straight to the Sunset Station. When we got there, they were already letting people in. We got in and sat down in our seats…(front row!!!) we were so close to the stage (very cramped seating in that venue) that we were able to lean forward, while still sitting and prop our elbows on the rest up on the stage. That was really nice…

Then the opening band came out. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the name of the group. I really did not care for the group that much. I did like one melody they played, but it could be because it was the instruments only, no singing. I don’t know…it was just not my type of music I guess. I think they were from Los Angeles, if I heard them correctly.

Anyway on with the Doggie show….

It was announced that you could take pictures BUT NO FLASH…ok I’ll take what I can get! Thank you very much :o) Then the Boys came on!! Unfortunately I really don’t notice what they wear, for those of you that like a fashion report, it’s usually in the same style of clothes (jeans, t-shirts and Rob with his FABU shorts!). They started with the usual roll call of songs… Bret was really talkative, which is always a treat! The security guards were attempting to make everyone remain in their seats, but that was not to happen, especially when Bret said, “Let them come up”! Of course that went over like a bang, everyone jumped at the chance! People were dancing and singing along with the group. The guys looked so energized! Bret even sang 2 solo songs ~ 32 Stories and Solitary Man!! Talk about an added bonus! Spontaneity was the name of the game that night!! Keanu did this little jump thing that left him on his knees, very rock and roll. And Rob…well damn if they need to get Rob one of those steel cage setups that Tommy Lee uses…HEY ROB!! Ask Tommy Lee if you can borrow that once in a while!! We need to see MORE of you!! Although, I did get a good view of him singing along with the music, it’s always cute to see him do that. That guy just pounds his drum with so much intensity!!

During the breaks of one of the songs, they did a short stint of just jamming out a really cool rhythm. The guys were just having a great time, and it really reflected well in their playing. Everyone I spoke with mentioned how much more eye contact, smiles and “Bret talk” the band had that night. Very well done guys, everyone had a great time. However they did cut the show a bit short and they did not play the long version of Denial either. I really like that version. For those of you who have not heard it, it is a long musical intro that has a really good beat to it. Around 10:45 it was all over…if you hung around the casino, you would have seen Bret and Rob at a bar, surrounded by a lot of people. We admired from afar (Or was that drooled? Hmmm…) drank some Corona’s and Margaritas, then headed out for Laughlin.

Avi, Laughlin:

We arrived in Laughlin around 1AM, checked into the hotel, checked out tomorrows venue location, then headed for the strip. We were set in our goal to acquire our GIANT MARGARITA’S!! It was a driving force that leads us to the promise land (the Pioneer Bar, LOL!). After our Margarita sedation, we trotted back to the Avi, and by 4:30 we were all snuggled in bed with visions of Margarita’s and Doggies dancing in our heads…

We got up around 7, was downstairs by 8:30, we went to see who could POSSIBLY be in line, much to our amazement, no one was there! Imagine that! So, it was starting to get hot, and we decided to go have breakfast. From the restaurant where we ate breakfast, you could see the place where the concert was going to be held. Not 10 minutes after we sat down to eat, did we see people positioning themselves for the wait in line. We kept debating on whether or not to wait, since there were so many rumors flying around about the first 5-6 rows being roped off and not available to the general public and the HEAT thing did not help either. It was too freakin hot!! 100+ degrees!! Uuugh!! So we did what any normal puppies would do…we went shopping! LOL! We purchased some water guns, if we were going to wait, we were going to be cool while doing it. By the time we came back it was about 11-12. The heat was UNBEARABLE!! Yet there were those persistent puppies that did not want to miss the chance at a front row seat. Well, after our stint with the water guns and the sprinklers, we gave up. The heat was just way too much for us to bear.

The guys came to the hotel around 1, I think. Rob walked around checking out the river activities, so it looked like. Then, the Tony’s started to set up the bands equipment and you could hear them testing out their equipment. The guys decided to go for a swim, so a hotel van drove them to a little island so they could all take a dip. It was nice to see them relaxing, sad that they had to have security around them, but such is the life of a rock and roll band ~

They let people in around 6:45pm, originally the show was not sold out, but I think it was a sold out show because it was packed!! This time they did allow picture taking and MAN OH MAN were flashes going off left and right!! Security did have their hands full with keeping people out of the isles. This time there was no rushing for the stage allowed. You stayed in your seats although people still stood up. No opening band this time for the guys…small blessing I guess.

I noticed in this show, there was not much talking as in the Vegas show…still recuperating from the Vegas partying I guess ;o). Ok, now this is my fashion report for Laughlin…Bret> jeans and a black t-shirt, Keanu> same…ROB> started out with shorts and a shirt, then he kindly took off his shirt and played without it! That might be an indication of how hot it was over there.

They started off with the same play list someone; somewhere should have a list of the songs. It was really hard to keep to your seats while they are playing. And, I do admit that I was having withdrawals at not being up close as I normally am. We should hopefully be seeing a lot of pictures from people who went. They played so hard that night that after one song Rob just banged his drumsticks so hard and let them go, that they went flying in the air... they really gave it their all. When it was “break time” right before Bret does his solo, people were just cheering and clapping for the whole duration, until Bret came out. I was really happy to hear that for the guys. Bret sang Wish you were here. One audience member screamed back “here I am” which brought laughter to those that heard. Keanu had a lot of eye contact with the crowd, which spurred them to be even louder. What else can I say that has not been said about their performance? Simply put:

DOGSTAR ROCKS!!!

They had an after concert signing, which a lot of people were upset about due to the manner in which you were able to go and they had an after party on the 6th floor. A note to the band here, you really should be more careful in the people that you or your close friends invite…some people that came down from the party were just ragging on the band, big time. Making not too nice comments about the band members. Good thing for us, we know a little bit about you guys to know that those people coming from the party were just DORKS to begin with, lol! But others might believe those things being said.

Avi Casino, Laughlin, NV, July 28, 2001

Date:01-Jul-2001
From:Keanu Reeves Community
Author:Spuddie

This show, the last on this tour, was held just outside of Laughlin, Nevada (near the Arizona and California borders) along the Colorado River. This venue also had seating, although not assigned so we die-hard fans faced a personal health risk beyond most of what we previously endured as the temperature in this Mojave Desert site was predicted to be 113 F on this day.

I hitched a ride after the Sunset Station show with Nena, Ah Nutts and Sandra to the Avi resort where my hubby and kids were already tucked in and sleeping. Thanks Nena! During the 1 1/2 hour drive we listened to a Bottlefly CD and the 1992 Loveline tape. Our room was surprisingly lacking in basic amenities such as a clock-radio, adequate towels for the number of persons in the room, paper and pen. For a resort, the facility was mediocre. We've stayed in Laughlin many times and the Avi Casino and Resort doesn't compare to the other fine places where we have stayed. Another interesting thing I noted while talking to many Dogstar fans was the sheer number of fans who were told the facility was full (even when the tickets first came on sale). Interesting. We booked our room on Thursday evening while on the road to Vegas. Others got a room depending on who made the call (typically males or "older" sounding people got rooms...does anyone see a pattern here or make a connection?)

The next morning, my family and I had a so-so buffet breakfast as we planned the days activities. I eventually opted out of most of the family events when I saw Charlie and Heidi, Janice and Lisa and Dave already waiting at the venue entrance. It was 11:00 am. For those of you who may think that waiting like this is stupid or pitiful, the opportunity to meet and chat with old and new friends and fellow Dogstar fans is worthwhile and I hope that some of you give it a try sometime. However, on this particular day, the risks were higher than usual and the benefit low as I will explain later. If it wasn't Dogstar's last performance, I would not have waited.

As the temperature increased our group remained relatively small with new friends, Michelle and Mike joining us as well as old friends Kelly, her mother, Krix, Tess and a few others. Dehydration became a concern and several of our husbands were attentive and brought us ice and water periodically. Around 1:00 pm or so a gentleman from security came by and offered us some water. Lisa discovered the outdoor showers used by beachgoers and she periodically refreshed herself. I eventually put on a bathing suit under my clothes and followed in this wisdom. Ah Nutts, Sandy and Nena came by with squirt guns, another refreshing alternative to cooling off. Some of us later opted for frolicking in the lawn sprinkler as that water was cooler than the outdoor shower. Rob walked by while I was still frolicking in the sprinkler. Fortunately, hubby was with me at that moment so I didn't look too stupid standing there soaking wet next to a lawn sprinkler wearing a plaid jumper. Hubby then left me to rent a jet-ski and I chased after our two boys who went toward the beach area. This involved what appeared to be me running after Rob! I ran past him so fast because the sand on the beach was burning my feet (I hope Rob didn't notice that either).

While my husband was renting his jet-ski, Rob came in after him and rented one too. There is a 15-minute instructional period required before operating a jet-ski and Rob and my husband were the only two at that time. Kewl, huh?

We had a few other nice surprises and fun while waiting. Mr. Reeves was spotted on a private island by the beach area. He was wearing black swim trunks (yes, I took a picture...but I'm still deciding whether to post it or not). He was accompanied by a small group of people and I believe Bret was with him. Security staff were also there and they tried valiantly to keep the jet-skis and motor boats away. I saw Keanu do a quick gesture of air guitar.

Later that afternoon, my husband came by to check on us and bring us some ice, he noticed a familiar sound of some Scorpions music. He liked what he heard and I regret that he did not accompany me to this or any of the other recent shows. I guess the boys sometimes practice and tune up to the Scorpions! Later, after the boys had completed some rehearsal, a few of the fans were delighted to have the opportunity to get their picture taken with Keanu. I don't know if Bret or Rob were there at that moment, as I opted not to join the fans. It is such a nice gesture on the part of the boys. We were looking forward to a great show and the autograph session that was advertised throughout the facility on the show posters. Sometimes the heat didn't seem too hard on us afterall.

In between these other distractions we watched maintenance, security and catering personnel enter and exit the building. Oh, how we wished they could have shared some ice and water with us (20 minutes before the doors opened, that request was honored, although nice, a few hours too late). One guy continually joked with us about the show being cancelled and several people from security reminded us that the doors weren't going to open until 6:30 pm (we knew and it was closer to 6:45). We had a brief glimpse into the set up. Questions soon arose as we learned that the first 1-12 (the figure was undetermined and eventually was 6) rows of seats were going to be entirely reserved for casino guests, casino employees and friends of the band. Now VIPs and reserved seating are nothing new, but I had never seen it done quite like this (almost 1/4 of all seats and the entire front?). A security guy said this was entirely standard but I informed it was quite the contrary. He then said it was standard for them. To add insult to injury, the first row of seats would begin about 15 ft. or so away from the stage. The spacing of the seating provided plenty of leg room, but at what price to the paying fans toward the back?

Casinos typically provide free tickets to shows to high rollers as a courtesy and a perk. It's a nice thing to do. At Sunset Station some of these people attended the show, I spoke with a couple in the front row myself and I saw a few others sprinkled throughout the audience. Occasionally I've seen a small reserved section off to the side, but never this magnitude (remember, about 1/4 of all the seats from my count). I was further disturbed to hear that a large portion of those reserved seats would be going to casino employees (yes, I saw their uniforms). As far as I'm concerned a major faux pas. I'm surprised the security guards didn't turn around and watch the show themselves. I think the only thing that stopped them from doing that were the fans trying to get a single picture from a distance of 15 ft. away. But security made up for it by yelling to each other during the performance instead of using their handy-dandy-special-secret-agent communication devices. Seating eventually allowed for some paying Dogstar fans as follows: Starting about 15 ft from the stage the first 6 rows were all reserved. There were two sections of seats of approximately 14 seats in a row. The right-most 6 seats in the first six rows on the right side went unreserved (a grand total of 36 seats). That is where myself and most of the early birds ended up sitting. If you picture a high school auditorium, our seats began at the portion of the stage where the curtains gather, and moved further right. Despite this concession, the high volume and location of the reserved seating is nothing less than insulting to paying Dogstar fans. As far as being fan-friendly, this venue ranks at the bottom of my list and I will never go there again. It was all wrong. Period.

The payoff for waiting all day was that I did have a great view of Keanu as I was in the second row next to the reserved seating, rather than behind it. I was extremely fortunate in that the reserved seat to my left and in front went unfilled so I had a completely unobstructed view. That was lucky. I believe that a very large portion of Dogstar fans were, without a doubt, clearly not as fortunate. We had to remain seated throughout the show, but the energy and enthusiasm from the Dogstar fans was clearly high. I was happy for that enthusiasm.

The boys started about 15 minutes late (following the late opening of the venue doors earlier) and they began with...SURPRISE! Alarming! The song set varied little from the previous evening. There were several awkward pauses in between songs and some annoying sound problems, but despite this the energy from the boys was sky high! Keanu was the most animated. He was very attentive to the audience and had quite a few stage antics that culminated in a "fall". He sang along to Superstar, or was it Cornerstore? I forgot. When security allowed fans to a take picture "close-up" from the center aisle, he would often smile for them. He acknowledged many familiar faces in the audience and even gave the "hang loose" sign a few times.

Bret's solo mix of Comfortably Numb and Wish You Were Here was delightful. For once, it seems, the audience was highly enthusiastic and didn't talk through his solo performance and he was loudly applauded. Also during the show and I forget at which song, perhaps America, one of Rob's drumsticks broke. Fortunately, it was at the end of the song! Did I mention that Rob was topless during the performance? Unfortunately, Mr. Reeves blocked my complete view of this, but I do believe that Mr. Mailhouse also felt the heat that day!

All three performers seemed to be having a great time. I wonder how much of Keanu's enthusiasm was acting? I don't know. He did seem to be a bit "over the top" in his performance. He was unbalanced with Bret in that respect as Bret didn't really make it over to Keanu's side of the stage at all. Both Bret and Keanu did at one time or another jump on Rob's platform and they jointly met at the center other times as well. Nonetheless, Keanu was fun to watch, it was to be their last show for awhile and he did seem to be having a good time, real or not. At the end of the show the boys did meet in the center, but not quite the way they did at the House of Blues a few weeks ago. I was mildly disappointed by that, but very pleased with the show overall.

Excitement about the prospect of getting some autographs in a controlled environment quickly turned to dismay when we learned the advertised autograph session was for VIPs and selected guests. I have no problem with a VIP or selected guest autograph session, but if all aren't invited then the resort has an obligation to not advertise it. Case closed. I said farewell to some friends and ran into a few others for brief conversation and chat about the show. I eventually ran into my husband and we enjoyed a childless dinner that evening (most casinos now offer childcare).

The next morning we hung around at the beach with the children and we saw Rob (I lost count how many times I saw him!) and Bret (quite honestly, the most elusive of the three - and you thought it was Keanu, right?)! We decided to depart and head back home as it was my son's birthday and he had several outdoor activities planned for us in the Sierrra Mountains (oh, goody!). I again saw Rob and waved 'goodbye' and we had a pleasant journey home. I have some pictures, not too many, but a few, that I'll post in a day or so.

This was a great performance by Dogstar, the fourth in a row! There were many fans there for the first time or who hadn't seen them perform in a long time, if ever. Despite the disappointment of seating and other monkey-wrenches thrown our way by the Avi Resort, the performance itself was well done and it did meet my expectations.

~~Spuddie