My
Day At Melanie C's Concert
in San Francisco, CA - April 3, 2001
The doors opened at 7pm for an 8pm show at Bimbo's 365 Nightclub in San Francisco. The club listing said 18 years and older, but I didn't see anyone checking. After running later than usual I arrived at the club at 6pm. There was already a small line in front of me but the bulk of the line ended up behind me (thank God). When they opened the doors I ran to the closest table to the stage, threw my stuff down then ran to the stage. I ended up only standing behind two people... it's just too bad these people were about 6' tall (I'm 5'6"). But it's ok, the stage was high enough and I could see between their heads very well. After standing in line for an hour then in front of the stage for an hour my feet were pretty tired, but anything for Melanie!!!
I wasn't sure if she had an opening act but she did. They were kind of a slow group, only acoustic guitar and harmonica, but I guess it was better than nothing. When they got off of the stage at 8:30pm, everyone was definitely ready for Melanie. At almost exactly 9pm the lights dimmed... again. She came out with a radio kind of intro. Every station it turned to was playing Melanie C's songs and of course people were singing along. Then the band ran out and Melanie about a minute later. She is even more stunning in person. Now to tell you the truth, I was in so much awe I can't remember which song she came out with... but I think it was "Go". She said the last time she had been to San Francisco was 1998 (the Spice Girls Tour), and she said she'd never wait that long again. She sang every single song on the album and she even sang "When You're Gone" (with the audience acting as Bryan, of course)! She ended the show with the remixed and very popular club/single version of "I Turn To You".
She put on a great show and I hate to say it but... it was better than the Spice Girls show. I spent way too much on souvenirs but I left with a poster, the tour book, a shirt, and one more thing that I'll get back to later.
So after spending my money, I waited for her to come out outside of the club. She kinda ran by surrounded by five very big bodyguards but we still waited to see if she'd come out. We saw her sitting in a chair by the window of the bus. Then we saw Ying, Melanie's personal assistant, start to go inside the bus. We asked if she could bring our stuff in to her. She took them and said she couldn't promise us anything. Five minutes later she came back out and my Northern Star cd cover now has Melanie C's autograph!!!! (not the background photo) That made my day. And... she kept my sharpie pen!!! LOL!!!
I wanted to stick around for her to come out of the bus, but I had to leave. So all in all... this was a great day!!! WOOO HOOO!!!!