by Vickie

I was on a business trip to Reno, NV and the RITS were playing at John Ascuaga's Nugget Hotel at the same time (quite a coincidence, as I've been waiting for years for them to play somewhere near my home). I go halfway across the country and they're right in my back yard! The Nugget was only about 3.5 miles from the Silver Legacy where we were staying, so it was an easy matter to arrange a cab ride over.

The seating is done Las Vegas style, which means no reserved seats, but an early arrival and a generous tip to the maitre'd got my friend and I two seats at a table right next to the stage - on the "Woody" side!

The opening act was certainly unique - what else can you call two enormous elephants dancing and doing all sorts of tricks on the stage?! As close as I was, all I could think was "gee, I hope they're house trained!" As we all know, it may not be the easy way, but it's the cowboy way!! Bertha and Angel were followed by a comedian.

Then, finally, the moment which I had long awaited -- my first glimpse of the Riders "up close and personal!" Actually, we were peeking under the curtains and caught glimpses of an occasional cowboy boot while the elephants were performing...so we knew they were back there!

I did not make a list of their songs, as it was quite dark in the audience area, but for the most part, it seemed as if it was pretty much the same lineup as when Bobbie saw them in Indiana. At any rate, I really didn't care WHAT they sang, as I would like anything they did! I kkknow alot of the selections from "Always Drink Upstream from the Herd." At any rate, I was too busy listening and taking it all in and savoring every second! They were fabulous -as I knew they would be!

The stage hands were doing strange things with the props which kept cracking Ranger Doug up - bigtime - a couple of times he had to stop singing he was laughing so hard!

It just seemed like the hour flew by and it was over way too soon. They announced that they'd be downstairs at the gift shop to sign autographs, so of course, I knew that's where I wanted to be!

The only thing is, the Nugget was the size of several football fields inside with the most awful set of graphics you'd ever want to see - so no one could find their way downstairs. I was talking to another set of concert-goers and we were all speculating on how to find it when I turned around and there stood Woody! So, I said, "Gee, I bet he knows where the Riders will be signing autographs! Let's follow him." So I rode down the escalator with him, introduced myself and chatted on the way down. He said I ought to look up their Web Page on the Internet - Of course, I proudly told him I am an official Cyberpal!

They were all at a table in the hallway signing pics, etc. In turn, I got a chance to talk briefly to each of them. Small world - but I found out that Joey is from a Chicago suburb only about 20 minutes from where I live, so we were comparing notes on pizza places!

It was such a wonderful evening - my first RITS concert, but as Ranger Doug told me, "I hope it won't be your last!" Never fear, Ranger Doug, 'cause it certainly won't be my last!!

Vickie

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