Day 23: Orlando, FL

Fade to Grey, originally uploaded by Rich in Orderly Manor.

Best show of the tour? Tonight we were at House of Blues Orlando. Without causing offense to the good residents of this area, i wasn’t getting my hopes up for this place from the minute i got off the bus and saw the massive Disney Experience logo above me. I love Disney as much as anyone but it just doesn’t go with rock and roll. We’ve seen it in California.

Further horrors include a Princess Diana exhibition (or something; i didn’t get too close), the fake lake with the fake boats and the Kenny G soundtrack (see- R&R and Disney – no go) along with the fake hot air balloon that rose and fell gently every few minutes. Maybe that actually had hot air. I meet a young fan who drove a couple hours to be here and she agrees this is not really the place for the Psychedelic Furs or the Happy Mondays. But this is my first sign that the show may be cool despite everything – she’s a guitar player we talk Vox amps and Jazzmasters; better than the usual “why didn’t you do Heartbreak Beat”. The House of Blues is the best i’ve seen – really cool room, perfect sound, great restaurant and dressing rooms. I even get a custom ordered omelette for late breakfast – oh yes.

So the Mondays do a hot set which i observe from the dressing room window above the stage. Mikey was on fire tonight… as they all were. Every night Julie owns that stage – i’m sure they’ve run into a lot of Furs-heavy audiences but i think she does an unbelievable job getting the place behind them. Now we’re on and its jsut good all round. Well, for me at least; i rarely get a great mix on stage but tonight its almost all there. Even ‘All of this and Nothing’ goes smooth. Crowd is off the hook… Mars and I hang with the people for a bit afterwards and then we have to leave. Good job and good night Orlando.