First off, Thank you Thank you to those who made this possible. They have been working on it since October and tonight was the culmination of that sticktuitiveness to finally have this night happen.
I should preface that I found out this was going to happen about 9-10 days ago, so had to book the trip on short notice. The thing was, I had to keep it secret, not publicize it, no recording as per the contract that they signed. I can't tell you how excited I was... I had heard there was a chance it was going to happen but a slim one, so I didn't think too much about it until I got the call.
I am one lucky Halien, and about now, I might as well just give up wondering why me? and just enjoy the ride.
There are Haliens out there who don't blog, who don't tweet, who don't instagram or Facebook, but are true and true Haliens. I heard more WTF stories tonight from enthusiastic fans. Some were forced to sit down and give a listen to Haley while on a ski trip, one even heard her for the first time on Idol while on a business trip in China!!
Haley has her vocal fans, like myself, but she also has fans that are not so vocal online, but are very supportive none the less.
Tonight is one of them. Besides hiring Haley and Keith so they can enjoy the performances for themselves, these Haliens invited people who have never heard her before, or those that only 'kinda sorta' knows her. This was about exposing Haley to new fans, passing out CD's for them to buy and get signed.... True and blue fans getting the word out on someone they truly believe in. By the end of the night, we were all were hooping, hollering and clapping like any Halien. I think mission accomplished and Haley gained new fans.
The host made a speech about how he was FORCED to watch S10 AI, despite having a low regard for the show. Needless to say, once he heard Haley, it was all over, he was hooked line and sinkered. "This girl can sing!!" he exclaimed, amazed that such a talent can come from a show he had little to no interest in.
I was a little bit of a disadvantage as I arrived, because some of the other guests knew of Tusk, so when I was introduced as such, I heard ..."Oh you're Tusk"
Honestly, I was taken aback. My Haley fandom comes from my belief in her and I do what I do, as I've said time and again, because something about Haley 'inspires' me, motivates me to do what I can to give Haley the audience her talent deserves. So when I start gettin 'recognised', it's a little something to get used to.
I arrived at 6:00 to this amazing house, the drive up there was in itself unbelievable on a cloudless 65 degree day in California. The had a lovely spread of food, beer and wine out...an amazing view. When Haley arrived, after the sound check (which was a treat in itself) she had to step outside and take in the view... I wanted to say, 'someday, Haley, someday', but I didn't want to be obtrusive.
Haley was a delight, as usual, friendly and smiling and HOLY COW, she looked AMAZING. They had to fly Keith in from Florida, and he looked very dapper. I think Haley was surprised to see me there as much as I was surprised to be invited.
The place was the hosts' living room which opened out to a scenic view of the beach as the sunset, and I can cross off "Undone" as a song I have yet to hear live. When someone requested it, Haley shot a look at Keith, "Can you do it?" Keith nodded affirmatively as he tickled the Keyboards. "Well, I haven't done this song alot, so if I forget the words, you can help me and sing along"
(all paraphrased of course) Needless to say, she flawlessly performed it with extra inflections here and there. Magnificent
She asked for requests from the audience, and made a joke about "fortunate sons" (about the house they were performing in) which got a chuckle from everyone. I yelled out "CCR", in referrence to her "fortunate sons" comment, but I don't think Haley made the connection, "Oh I love me some CCR" and turned to Keith and said, "we ought to work that on our covers"
She also performed "Wasted Tears", "Keep Coming Back" "Night and Day" (left a big impression on some of the older audience members), "Wonderland", "Undone", BATJ, HOTRS and "Oh Darlin'"(HUGE response as she tore into that song's climax as well as on HOTRS and BATJ)....there was a part in BATJ where she turned to Keith and said, "take the solo"...and to the audience..."I love to put him on the spot"...of course, Keith was up to the task and I'm sure impressed many there in his own right. On HOTRS, at the end, she had fun back and forth with Keith that had the crowd laughing...she was on her game tonight (Did I mention she looked AH mazing?).
One of the hosts that helped make this happen asked me if there was a song I wanted to hear? and I said, I think she'd love to do some Beatles, Haley's ears perked up and I said, "Oh Darlin'" , and Haley said (again paraphrasing) "we gotta do some Beatles, Tusk is in da house"...and another host said "Anthony" and Haley paused, "Oh, no...did I get that wrong?" I told her she didn't and she responded "Oh...and I thought I was trying to be cool by calling you Tusk" and I told her "You're always cool" which made her smile
After the performance Haley, Keith and Chiara (whom I apologised for not introducing myself before, finally introduced myself), stuck around to talk to enthusiastic fans. One of the hosts passed out CD's for her to sign for some of her new fans. I asked a couple questions got a picture, but didn't want to hog the time, so that her new fans had a chance to talk with her.
I made my way over to Keith. Finally got a picture with him. He admitted to being really surprised to see me there, but glad I could come. I asked him, did you tell Intrepid Heroin you were coming? He said, Yeah, why? I told him she tweeted that he had a private gig and I was afraid the hosts would think that 'leak' came from me, but I knew they tweeted alot, so I figured that's how that happen (per agreement, this was to be a private event and not to be publicised)
I really enjoyed my conversation, I always wondered how Courtney knew Keith played keys? (Keith had an interview on youtube where he retold how he got hired to play for Haley).... I asked him, how does it get from Courtney coming into a speaker store, to Keith playing keys on American Idol for Haley? Keith explained that whenever customers want to test out the speakers, instead of playing someone else's music, he played his own music. Courtney listened, "Is this you, bra?" it was. So Courtney told Keith that he'll be back...and the rest is history.
Keith credited his father (a musician in his own right) taught him work ethic, wouldn't let him 'go and and be a teenager' until he got it right. I referred to the saying that "Luck is the meeting of preparation and opportunity" Keith had the talent and work ethic that allowed him to accept Courtney's offer. The opportunity came and Keith had the preparedness to take advantage. He also told me his excitement about his coming album, some of the people he got to work with...also that he thanked some of Haley's fans for posting about his music.
I got to ask Haley if she was actually going to England to write music, like she tweeted. I'm going to be in France, and would love to be able to take the Chunnel to the UK to hear her. She asked me when I was going? I told her, and she said, she doesn't know, but she's going to be doing some traveling in the future, shows in Asia. (I didn't want to press her and keep firing questions at her, I never want to come off as the 'over reaching' fan.
Near the end of the night, as Haley, Keith and Chiara sat outside to take in the view and talk to the hosts, I asked a final question, "Will you ever come back to the Pacific North West? I love the traveling, but I'd love it even more if I didn't have to catch a plane to see her?
She and Chiara both laughed, the hosts said, next time we do this, let's do it on the beach, in the cabana, and Chiara said "In the Pacific North West!" LOL
Before she left, she wanted to take a picture of the area she and Keith performed, but for some reason, her phone/camera died. I offered that I could take a picture for her, and send it to someone who tweets so she can get it (I told her, I don't tweet). She thanked me and gave me a hug and made her goodbyes (took awhile, because people kept stopping her for a pic, which, of course she obliged)
Thank You, Thank You to my wonderful hosts and their guests (I had fun sparring, discussing politics, religion, life's lessons and experiences with many of the guest before the show)...and of course....Haley and Keith, you were amazing
