For those of you who want details, here is a play by play of our day yesterday! (Hope its not too detailed). We pulled the kids (Rachel and Matt) out of school at about noon. Chris did not come with us this time. Weather report sounded great. I called our local radio station ahead of time and told them we were driving out to Penn State to see Alan and could they play a dedication to my kids on the radio between 1 and 2pm when we were in the car before we got out of range of the station. I had asked if they could do Where I Come From as that's the song they sang back at Alan a couple years ago in Hershey before it was released to radio, but the station said they were pushing Alan's new song That'd Be Alright (which I am sure would make Alan happy), so they dedicated it to them. In fact they must've taped part of my conversation with the DJ that morning because my voice was on the radio. My kids loved it. They said "IS THAT YOU MOM???" Anyway, about an hour or so north they changed the forecast to lots of freezing rain at night. We had to decide what to do. Paul decided to go for it anyway. I had brought a change of clothes just in case and so worst case we decided we would hang out till the sun came up and then hurry home for the next show if it was too icy at the end of the show. We got to the arena with about an hour to spare. I had talked to Tony Stephens earlier this month and told him Rachel is a brownie and had I had Girl Scout cookies "out the "wazoo" in my garage as I was one of the cookie Moms. Anyway he said he loved the shortbread ones. I told him we would bring him a box or two for him and the band. We ended up bringing up a whole case (a box of each kind plus extra shortbread for Tony). When we got there, the guards were questioning the box. We showed them the cookies but they don't usually allow food in, or "big boxes" due to security issues. We followed one of the venue people all around trying to find his boss with this case of cookies. We told them that we have brought things to the band before and usually just meet/find Tony down on the floor or near the meet-and-greet area, so finally one of the "bosses" (who was VERY nice by the way let us go down with the box of cookies (she carried it by this time, again due to security......pretty funny that girl scout cookies could be a threat but I understand that they didn't know us from Adam so they had to be safe). They went backstage and found Tony who was in a meeting. He said they could send the cookies back with the guard. Rachel had made a card and everything and really wanted to give them to Tony herself so the guard went back and talked to him again. He said if we waited he would eventually come out and get them. The floor guards let us sit in the front row (it was still way before the show) and wait for Tony. Good thing as Matthew, who had started feeling bad, ended up with a full blown migraine at this point and needed some medicine. We waited and Tony was able to sneak out for a few minutes just before the first opening act. He came over and talked with us and Rachel got to hand him the box of cookies with her note for the band. He was really sweet to her. She was very happy. (Meanwhile Paul had run back to the car for meds for Matt). Didn't really catch the first act as I was dealing with Matt and trying to get Rachel some ice cream. However Darryl Worley was second. He was VERY VERY good. He has some really good songs and has a way of talking with the audience that is very nice. He also can "move" up there when he is dancing. His song I Miss My Friend was a really big hit as well as a brand new song not released yet about 9/11 and the pending war. I believe it was called "Have You Forgotten?" and he got a standing ovation when he was done. A few times during the show he would say "Hey Did I mention Alan will be on this stage shortly" and the place would go crazy. Finally the big moment. People in the audience had been doing "the wave" in an attempt to get Alan out sooner. Then the lights went down and the beginnings of Gone Country started. Seemed the band had to play the intro a little longer than usual but FINALLY there he was walking out onto the stage from the left part of the stage (when looking at the stage). He had on a bright red shirt and jeans. For those of you who love hearing about those "holes" I only noticed one small one in the front, later saw a pretty big rip in the back that was mostly covered by his red shirt hanging down. Anyway, he looked great. I told Rachel who was wearing a beautiful red dress that Tony must've gone backstage with those cookies and told Alan "Rachel Rothrock brought them and she was wearing a red dress" so of course Alan had to change into red too. (I was just trying to keep her awake by this point as she was exhausted being a school day etc. Alas as you will read, it didn't work!) I tried to remember most of the song list, but they may not be in order. I think the first set was Gone Country, Tooth, Home (which was a really nice surprise to hear), Trees, Livin on Love, Work in Progress, www, When Somebody Loves You, and Little Bitty. Of course for those of you who know us Rothrocks, I usually hold Rachel way up over my head with her Bitty Baby doll and she gets on the big screen during the chorus of Little Bitty, but she was sooo tired she couldn't do it. She was just about asleep by this point. Hopefully tonight in Atlantic City she will be more awake. It was hard for me as we were right there in the 6th row right in front of the camera man and seeing all these little kids up on the screen, knowing that usually my Rachel is one of them but oh well, what can you do with a sleeping child! I think after that he might have done Gone Crazy and then Don't Rock the Jukebox. Again I had a sleeping child on my lap, and a son with a migraine so I didn't pay quite as close attention to the order. Alan eventually had some stools brought out and did an "unplugged" session with the band. It was incredible and my favorite part of the night. He did this a few years ago and I am really glad to see him adding it back in. He also was able to hear comments from the audience while he was talking and interacted with them which I rarely ever hear him do. That was great too. For instance he was talking about his first #1 hit and his true fans all know its Here in the Real World (although some DJs insist it wasn't until I'd Love You All Over Again). Anyway, someone shouts out "Chattahoochee?" Paul and I go "no way" just as Alan says "nooooo.... it was WAY before Chattahoochee". Then later he is talking about Wanted and being home alone one night when he wrote it......someone calls out "You could've called me" and Alan quips back "I couldn't afford the long distance calls back then". It was such a great thing to see him responding to the audience. He also sang Song for the Life and then did Man of Constant Sorrow (bluegrass) which was fantastic!!! The unplugged session ended too soon for me. I wish he could've done even more of his older songs. We tried to yell out "Hole in the Wall" or "If I Had You" and "Job Description" but by then they were removing the stools to get back to the "regular" show. The one song all my gang really really missed hearing in concert the last couple years is Chasin that Neon Rainbow, so the kids want to make up a poster and hold it up tonight in A.C. if he does the unplugged portion and see if he will sing a chorus of it. Next up I believe was Summertime Blues. Again you can tell the long time concert goers from those who don't get to go very often. Summertime Blues starts with a clip of Alan water skiing on the big screen and people start yelling Chattahoochee. The Dummies!!! (Just kidding). After that song I think he did That'd Be Alright! At some point Alan also introduced the band. He let Dan Kelly play a solo as he is from Pittsburgh, PA. That was great too!!!! He didn't mention anything about Mark not being there. I am glad we had heard from Mark earlier in the year as he keeps in touch with Matt and then read a little about it on the boards or we wouldn't have known what happened. The new guys were really good. Matt who finally started feeling better by this point, really likes Dave Gaylord's fiddle playing, but WE MISS MARK!! Good luck to him with his new opportunities!! Blues Man of course was played. Pretty much all the member of the Strayhorns got to play a solo during that song. I was watching Alan strum his guitar during the solos, and I could actually hear every single "strum". He was playing one chord in one measure, then two the next. It was like a microphone or something was right near his guitar. I don't usually remember hearing that specifically before but it was really cool to be able to pick out his guitar strumming above all the band. Then what I call the last part of the show where he picks up the tempo again: Pop-Top, Drive, (skipped Who's Cheatin Who which he normally does here), Chattahoochee, and Where I Come From. The place was shakin!!!!!! Everyone always enjoys the great job Alan's crew does with the slideshow during Where I Come From of local places, people etc. Someone must have told them that Penn State is kind of the middle of the road between Phillies/Flyers fans and Pittsburgh Pirates/Penguins fans and there is a real rivalry between the two cities because they would flash up a picture of a Philadelphia team and phila fans would cheer/Pittsburgh fans would boo.....and then visa versa.....the pictures went back and forth phila/Pittsburgh/phila...etc. Paul and I who grew up on Philadelphia sports teams and actually got engaged at the World Series games when the Phillies won thought it was so funny! Great job video team. Then the place quieted down and Alan sang Where Were You. His voice was very poignant. It is very moving to hear him sing that song in concert. There is nothing like that live performance. (Both Matt and I noted, we think anyway... that he may have left out the last little chorus that repeats at the end of the song, but if he did it didn't take away from the song at all). We knew that he'd be back out for Mercury Blues, my favorite fast song, but we decided to start leaving (oh my gosh, leave before the end???) because we knew how hard it is to get out of the parking lot and had to face a possible 4 hour icy drive home with two tired/sick kids. We sang Mercury Blues going up the steps of the arena and out on the concourse (and in the bathroom while the kids went potty), we just didn't watch Alan sing it. I am sure he signed autographs but you will have to ask Margie for sure. Hi Margie: Great meeting you and chatting last night!! Anyway, the show was incredible. I have some pictures I will try to post soon and on my website. The ride home was very, very foggy. Could barely see in front of you. Going down those mountain passes was really scary but Paul did great. I hope the band and busses were ok as they basically had to follow the same route most of the way then veer off towards Atlantic City. Will try to post again tomorrow after tonight's show. Keep your fingers crossed we will have healthy kids tonight and can take pictures at the arena. YEEHAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just an FYI: Here are a few songs Alan didn't sing. We know he can't fit all his songs in his concerts anymore, (although we wish he could sing for THREE hours) but just in case someone thinks I missed a song or two in my list, he definitely did not do these this time: She's Got the Rhythm, Who's Cheatin Who, I'll Try, It Must Be Love, Neon Rainbow, Right on the Money, Little Man.