Traffic madness: Five for Fighting, Day Three

So, I got back pretty late after last night's Five for Fighting concert, and as before, I'm doing this post the next day. Leaving Morgan Hill, I headed east to link up with I-5, which would take me all the way to Los Angeles. It would normally be about a 5 1/2 hour drive to San Juan Capistrano, the site of the final Five for Fighting show I would be attending on this trip. But, I planned a little side trip to the Farmer's Market in L.A. to get my favorite Brazilian grill. What I didn't figure into the equation was southern California's famous traffic. It was easy enough to get there, but when I tried to get back to the freeway...ANY freeway...I was stuck in street traffic gridlock. When I FINALLY got to the 405 freeway, I immediately realized I was in trouble. It was stop and go almost the entire way! What would have been a 1 1/2 hour drive took me THREE HOURS! Instead of getting to the hotel early enough to relaxing some before the show, I arrived stressed out and frazzled!

It was 5:00 pm when I got to the hotel, which gave me time to freshen up and eat some of my Brazilian grill for dinner...delicious!  The concert wasn't scheduled to start at The Coach House till 8:00 pm, and I got there at 6:30. I went to the box office and told the guy working the window that I was on the Five for Fighting guest list. He jokingly replied, "Yeah, they ALL say that!" But, after checking the list and seeing my name there, he said,"I guess you ARE on the list!" He gave me my ticket and I made my way into the supper club. They had guys who assigned seating for all the attendees. The nice guy who assisted me was initially going to seat me BEHIND John. Okay, it's really close to him, but I would never see his face. I asked if he could do better for me, and he had me wait for awhile. Then, he came back and seated me at a table right in front of the stage! Supposedly, people with dinner reservations are supposed to get prime seating, but there was just one single open seat at that table, so he gave it to me! I guess it may have helped that I mentioned I was on the guest list.

The gentleman sitting next to me provided very enlightening conversation as we waited for the concert to begin. He mentioned growing up in Riverside, CA and when I told him that I did, too, he was just amazed, in a small world sense. The show was supposed to start at 8:00, but it didn't get underway till after 8:30. It didn't matter, though...everyone was a captive audience as John started things off doing his acapella version of Hope. Here is the set list for the night:

Hope (acapella)
World (piano)
The Devil In The Wishing Well (piano)
Two Lights (piano)
Superman (piano)
Easy Tonight (guitar)
NYC Weather Report (guitar)
If God Made You (guitar) w/Katie on violin
Quartet Jam
Chances (piano)
Augie Nieto (piano)
What If (piano)
I Just Love You (piano)
100 Years (piano)
Encore: The Riddle (piano), Bohemian Rhapsody (cover)

As you can see, I was sitting REALLY close to the stage. My view of John sitting at the piano wasn't as good, but I took advantage when everyone stood up for Bohemian Rhapsody. NOW I can see him!

To make the night extra special, Augie Nieto was in the audience..yes, THAT Augie Nieto. John told the story about Augie and living with ALS. After the concert was over, I said my goodbyes to the quartet. It was really nice to get to know them, and I'm pretty sure they felt likewise. Sadly, I wasn't able to say my goodbyes to John, so I planned to email him when I got back to the hotel. So, after three fantastic Five for Fighting shows, the fun had finally come to an end...or so I thought!

My plan was to visit Joshua Tree National Park tomorrow, then continue on to Arizona. When I got back to my hotel, I happened to check my email accounts. One in particular I only check every other day because very rarely do I GET emails sent to that one. Well, imagine my shock when I saw John Ondrasik sent me a message the previous evening! It seems there was a spot for me on the Thousand Oaks show guest list...if I wanted it. Needless to say, I immediately replied back to him with an enthusiastic YES! A short time later, John sent me a confirmation that I was on the guest list! Wow, FOUR Five for Fighting shows in a row! I feels like old times, when I used to do my groupie road trips and follow John's concerts from city to city. I quickly got to work cancelling the next day's hotel reservation and making a new one. I'll have to come up with an activity to spend my spare time in Los Angeles tomorrow. But, whatever it is, it will pale in comparison to attending the last Five for Fighting string quartet concert of the tour.