Taylor Hicks Performs at Endymion Ball...a Monkbot Exclusive

Our dear little NOLAgirl has had a rough year and a half...what with Hurricane Katrina destroying her home and city. So, she richly deserved her special night last night at the Endymion Ball in New Orleans where Taylor Hicks gave a private show as part of the Mardi Gras celebration. And the wonderful girl she is, our NOLA was gracious enough to share her experience with us. Thanks, NOLAgirl.

Taylor at Endymion

A Monkbot Exclusive by NOLAgirl (a.k.a. Katie)

Click here for photos of the event.

It was a chilly 30-minute wait to get into the Dome for the Extravaganza (my mom told me to bring a wrap but I thought I'd be fine. Duh.). Wind was blowing, excitement growing. It was about 6:30. BRING IT ON. Got into the warmth of the Dome and trekked our way to table DD 29 (coincidence? I think not!). We had a GREAT table (thanks Mr. Keith!) and the first 2 pics show the stage from our table. (The Taylor pics are from closer up, we just walked right up to the barricade) Pretty cool set, huh? No AI tin foil high school prom crap. Nice. Local band The Cheeze Weez entertained us until the parade arrived around 8-8:30ish.

As his float was entering the Dome the announcer gave a little background on Taylor, mentioning that he was a Southern boy and then stupidly saying he also attended Auburn University, to which the boos rang loud and clear (including my own AND the friends in our group that went to Alabama). Taylor was still chucking beads and cups like a champ but you could tell he had to be pooped. I am sad to report that I did NOT catch anything from him on his grand marshal float. However, my friend Meaghan said she DID she him say "Katie, I love you!" So I felt better, naturally. I didn't get a pic of him on the float, but you've seen some cute ones already here at Monkbot.

Covered in beads, we moseyed back by our table to unload (the woman next to me by the parade route got clocked in the face with beads and had to put an ice pack on her eye - ouch.) and get ready for Al Green. He made it do what it do and toward the end of his set Meaghan and I (the blonde in the pics) headed to get in position for Taylor. She didn't know much about him, but I think she was somewhat impressed, or at least enjoyed it. (I talked to her today and she went online to search for Taylor to find out more about him and his music, so that says something!) They had the stage divided into two sides so that the musical acts could transition without having to wait for the crew to change out all the equipment and stuff. So as Al Green was finishing out, I saw Brian, Jeff, Zippy, Sam and Mitch come onto the darkened side of the stage and get into position. I told Meaghan that Taylor was coming soon because that was his band and she was impressed with my skillz and "inside info." Word.

So then the fun REALLY began! He came out ready to rock and started with "Call Me the Breeze." He then did "Hey Pocky Way" with some tagging ("When the Saints Go Marching In" and that "Hey, the Mardi Gras" callback thing to the audience we've heard him do before). He did two originals, which he announced as such, "Soul Thing" and "Hell of a Day," and then did "Gonna Move." They were all great and I was so feeling it (and no, it wasn't just the gin and tonic). The up-close crowd seemed to be, too. His circles dance and harp seemed to get the most response, naturally. He then closed it out with "Dance to the Music" (fun!) tagged with a little "Higher." He of course gave props to all the LMBO guys like usual. Didn't talk much, just the usual "How y'all doin', New Orleans!!!!" and "Happy Mardi Gras everybody!!"' sort of thing. It was short (less than an hour) but SO sweet!



The woman next to me during the performance turned to me after it was done and said "Aww, he didn't sing that song!" and I said "What song?" "That 'make you proud' song," she said. "Ohhh," I said. "Yeah, I don't think that's one of his favorites. You know, not really his style." (trying to be "PC" with this stranger). "Well I like it!" she said, "And he did make me proud!" So one woman was a little disappointed in not hearing DIMYP ... but this woman had no complaints, all around! (except that Taylor didn't call me up on stage to dance with him, as my office mates had predicted Friday - those nutcases).

(In other news, Styx was pretty damn good. "Come Sail Away" was by far the most fun of their set. It sounded like the whole Dome was singing along! Journey ... meh. We left before they were done, as it was already nearing 3:00 a.m.)

I have to say my friend Melissa's parents (her dad rides) were so sweet to me in particular, as they knew I was a big Taylor fan. They made sure we got a good spot and seemed to enjoy us enjoying him (and the whole ball, to tell you the truth!) Her dad came up to me at one point in the night and showed me some pics on his camera from the Friday night more casual dinner that Endymion has. He got some good ones of Taylor. He said Taylor was so gracious and signed autographs and took pictures with anyone who wanted them for two hours. Mr. Keith seemed impressed by him, so that was neat.

Shell, that's all I can think of now! Sorry it's not that creative, but it's the facts baby!

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NOLAgirl...no apologies, babe. That RAWKED! :)

Laissez les bon temps roullez, baby! Yeah!

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Just to avoid confusion that Mardi Gras is all revelry and no pain...here's proof of the dangers inherent in having plastic beads hurled at you...our own Double D got this contusion at the parades in Mobile.



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