Jerome collector
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2017
- Messages
- 85
- Reaction score
- 86
Despairing that Jake Shimabukuro would ever tour in the center of the US, my wife and I drove 8.5 hours one-way to see him in Colorado Springs at the Stargazers Theatre last weekend. I have attended many concerts (rock primarily) over the years, but I have never driven anywhere near that distance (almost 600 miles) to see anyone in concert. But I’m not getting any younger, so I jumped at the opportunity.
The Stargazers theatre is a wonderfully intimate venue in a very unusual dome-shaped building that was converted for live events from a 1969 movie theater. The sound system was surprisingly good. Jake was preceded by Audrey Bussanich, a very talented, young (19 years old!), local Colorado Springs girl, who played original compositions on keyboard. She told a funny story about meeting Jake at the NAMM convention earlier this year and learning that he was going to be in Colorado Springs. She said, “I need to get tickets to that concert,” and she ends up opening for him. Can’t get better tickets than that.
Jake was accompanied for most of the evening by Nolan Verner, who was playing on a borrowed electric bass. His bass ended up on the wrong vehicle the night before, after a show at Red Rocks. I didn’t attempt to write down the set list, but from memory they played the following (not in order): While My Guitar Gently Weeps; Bohemian Rhapsody; Dragon; Piano Forte; 143; Celtic Tune, 6/8 (I think), and Tritone (all from Nashville Sessions, his latest); Ukulele 5-0; and Kawika. Jake was solo on a beautiful medley that started with Akaka Falls and Hi’ilawe, and included Over the Rainbow and What a Wonderful World. That’s not a complete list. He played for roughly 2 hours and 15 minutes, and it was a non-stop blast.
We learned through an email from the Stargazers theatre that Jake would be signing things after the show, so we decided to stick around. I had my first ukulele, a Kala KA-S, in the car to play while my wife was driving. My favorite ukulele is a Gold label Kamaka that I didn’t want to subject to the drive. Anyway, I pulled the Kala out of the car after the concert and stood in line waiting for Jake. In the brief moments after he thanked us for coming to the concert, he signed my Kala and a copy of his Nashville Sessions CD, and then allowed my wife to take a picture of the two of us. And after waiting in line, I forgot to tell him he needs to do a show in Omaha! In retrospect, I think I’m glad I didn’t bring the Kamaka, because I’m not sure I’m comfortable with the idea of a Sharpie signature on a vintage uke.
We had a nice time talking with other fans in line (both before and after the concert). I remember one person saying that Jake’s playing style was intimidating. Strangely enough, I don’t feel that way. I’m a relative beginner (and with zero musical background), and we’re at such different skill levels that I don’t even try to compare myself to him. His playing is definitely inspirational but not intimidating.
I don't know whether I’d ever drive almost 9 hours to see another concert, but I don’t for a minute regret doing it last weekend. You only live once.
Mike
The Stargazers theatre is a wonderfully intimate venue in a very unusual dome-shaped building that was converted for live events from a 1969 movie theater. The sound system was surprisingly good. Jake was preceded by Audrey Bussanich, a very talented, young (19 years old!), local Colorado Springs girl, who played original compositions on keyboard. She told a funny story about meeting Jake at the NAMM convention earlier this year and learning that he was going to be in Colorado Springs. She said, “I need to get tickets to that concert,” and she ends up opening for him. Can’t get better tickets than that.
Jake was accompanied for most of the evening by Nolan Verner, who was playing on a borrowed electric bass. His bass ended up on the wrong vehicle the night before, after a show at Red Rocks. I didn’t attempt to write down the set list, but from memory they played the following (not in order): While My Guitar Gently Weeps; Bohemian Rhapsody; Dragon; Piano Forte; 143; Celtic Tune, 6/8 (I think), and Tritone (all from Nashville Sessions, his latest); Ukulele 5-0; and Kawika. Jake was solo on a beautiful medley that started with Akaka Falls and Hi’ilawe, and included Over the Rainbow and What a Wonderful World. That’s not a complete list. He played for roughly 2 hours and 15 minutes, and it was a non-stop blast.
We learned through an email from the Stargazers theatre that Jake would be signing things after the show, so we decided to stick around. I had my first ukulele, a Kala KA-S, in the car to play while my wife was driving. My favorite ukulele is a Gold label Kamaka that I didn’t want to subject to the drive. Anyway, I pulled the Kala out of the car after the concert and stood in line waiting for Jake. In the brief moments after he thanked us for coming to the concert, he signed my Kala and a copy of his Nashville Sessions CD, and then allowed my wife to take a picture of the two of us. And after waiting in line, I forgot to tell him he needs to do a show in Omaha! In retrospect, I think I’m glad I didn’t bring the Kamaka, because I’m not sure I’m comfortable with the idea of a Sharpie signature on a vintage uke.
We had a nice time talking with other fans in line (both before and after the concert). I remember one person saying that Jake’s playing style was intimidating. Strangely enough, I don’t feel that way. I’m a relative beginner (and with zero musical background), and we’re at such different skill levels that I don’t even try to compare myself to him. His playing is definitely inspirational but not intimidating.
I don't know whether I’d ever drive almost 9 hours to see another concert, but I don’t for a minute regret doing it last weekend. You only live once.
Mike