Hollywood Bowl Reunion Concert

Carole King & James Taylor -- Troubadour Reunion Concert

They didn't play a song that we didn't enjoy! Scott & Peg and Mr. Fun & I started the drive toward Los Angeles about 5:00 p.m. The tickets said the concert was at 7:30, but the accompanying paperwork stated 8:00 p.m. for the start time.

We took a picnic supper and dined while sitting on the lawn outside the bowl with hundreds of other concert goers. The sun was bright. The breeze was gentle. The food was delicious. The friends -- our best!

After dinner we put the ice chest back in the car, grabbed an extra coat, and started toward the ticket takers. The crowd was electric with excitement.

We had no idea where our seats were or what to expect. We knew we'd paid a lot, but what does that mean? The usher showed us to our little box for 4 -- we hooped and hollered, laughed and giggled, took some photos, and settled in. We've never been in a little cubicle/box for 4 -- all to ourselves before. Peg had ordered the tickets but wasn't sure what we had gotten. So we congratulated her throughout the evening for such a stellar job.

At 7:50 exactly Carole and James walked onto stage holding hands. The crowd went crazy and the night officially began.

We were out of our seats when they played "Smackwater Jack," "I Feel the Earth Move" and "Locomotion."

They harmonized together on "Up On the Roof" and I remembered being in a do-nut shop with my real dad after helping him deliver his paper-route one early weekend morning when I was 10 or 11 years old. He gave me money to put in the jukebox and told me to play that one. That may have been my first experience of hearing a song that Carole King had written.

When they played "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" I remembered the day Mr. Fun broke-up with me when I was 15. I played that song on the recorded player several thousand times.

They sang "It's Too Late" and I felt the chills run up my spine because we'd come so close to making that song ours when we'd been married 7 years.

And "Fire and Rain" and "Sweet Baby James" and "You've Got a Friend" all stir my emotions in ways I'm not sure I can describe.

Three hours later and after one short Intermission, they made their first goodbye and then came back to rock the place with several of their best, but they brought us to our feet with the Grand Finale -- "Locomotion." Anyone who was about to leave at the moment, just stopped the leaving as we all became one huge, swaying, dancing, singing choir. It was nothing less than an A+ Terrific Night. And the best finale I've ever witnessed.

I captured dozens of photos with my point and shoot cheapie camera and captured some terrific videos with my iPhone.

I sent the photo of Peg and myself to her this morning with this email: "The Entrance to a Musical Magical Evening -- Mr. Fun & Rosie and Scott & Peg and James Taylor and Carole King at Hollywood Bowl. We'll be singing these tunes and telling this tale for the rest of our lives."

She replied with this special note: "What a fun night. It couldn't have been one bit better. From dinner on the grass to finding our 'good' seats, we knew we were in for a special night. James Taylor and Carole King's performance last night reminds me of our friendship, we have done our own thing all along, but when we get together it's much more colorful and has much more depth. We laugh more, share more, pick up where we left off, and compliment each other. It was a special night for special friends. It's way up there as one of my favorite concerts ever. I'm glad we shared it."

Several Blippers have commented that they have tickets to see one of these concerts on the East Coast . . . you are in for a treat.

That's the story this Saturday evening about last night's concert. Yes, this is a backblip (I've finally removed all the typos--I think. I'm so tired). We didn't arrive home from Hollywood till 1:00 a.m. What fun to read all of your comments yesterday about Carole King and James Taylor and your memories.

Good night from Southern California.
Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol