Hey folks,

9/25/09 is a day I'll never ever forget...

I remember writing to Tommy in December of 2008 (a few months after coming to MI from the middle east -Iraq-) through Gina and asked if he's coming to Michigan. He replied the next day with "I guess I will be going next year,,,just keep an eye on my website."

It made my day to see Ann Arbor among his tour schedule a few months after the email and I instantly bought tickets for the whole family because I knew that it's something not to be missed.

I and my family (mom, dad, and brother) met Tommy before the concert for about 8 minutes and shook hands, took pictures, and talked for a bit. He remembered the email and was so nice. He signed the "Center Stage" DVD and I told him about my guitar (which I brought but couldn't bring from the car because we parked far from the stage and it was cold!), he said "meet me at the bus after the concert and bring it."

The show started at about 8:15 with Rick Price opening with a great set of songs, amazing singing and feel, fabulous piano/guitar playing, and a very fine performance. Totally awesome!

Then it was a break for about 20-30 minutes and at that time, we got to meet Rick Price and took a few pictures.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, Tommy starts his show with some of his best songs.

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1- I Go To Rio
2- Locomotivation
3- Windy & Warm/a little bit of Beethoven/Classical Gas
4- Nine Pound Hammer
5- Ruby's Eyes

... here came the part where it made the whole night more special... he took my request (during the meeting) of playing "Tears for Jerusalem" and dedicated it to me and family. He said, "here's a request I of a song that I don't play too often, it's fairly new. Composed after watching CNN and seeing what's going in that other part of the world... we've got some folks from Baghdad here with us tonight."

6- Tears for Jerusalem
7- Tall Fiddler
8- Cowboy's Dream
9- Smokey Mountain Lullaby
10- Beatles Medley (based on a little girl's request for her birthday!)
11- Blue Moon
12- Mombassa (with its crazy percussion solo) -he joked a little bit after he finished it and said "people ask me sometimes if I go to the gym and work out" -

... he switched to his other guitar, "the big one" for...

13- Amazing Grace
14- Michelle

... and then his 1934 Kalamazoo and told the story about it; he said that "I brought it back to its home now, Michigan" (he's playing the next day -9/26- in Kalamazoo, MI)...

15- Nuages
16- Guitar Boogie
17- Walkin' My Baby Home

... and now back to his good ol' Mouse for...

18- Waltzing Matilda/Jolly Swagman (because there was an Australian in the audience and he was going back home the next day. Tommy told a bit about the story of Waltzing Matilda)

... then Rick Price joined Tommy for duets (2 guitars/2 voices)...

19- Takin' It to the Streets
20- Wake Up Little Susie

... and one last song where Rick sat on the piano with Tommy on the guitar and ended the show with Rick's hit...

22- Heaven Knows

... for the encore, Tommy on the guitar and Rick on vocals with a great version of...

23- Moon River

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The show was amazing, the audience was great, the atmosphere (because the venue was small) was inspirational... it felt like a family there!

Then we came out of the concert, bought food, and headed to the car. We went out and got lost a little bit in the streets (the first time to go to Ann Arbor) but finally made it to his bus. I and my brother went down with my acoustic and asked the security if Tommy is in the bus and he said to wait a minute. Tommy came down from the bus and signed my guitar and my brother asked a few questions, then I played for Tommy (a song I wrote in dedication to him) for about 3 minutes and everything was amazing (though I felt ashamed and shaky to hold a guitar in my hands after a TE performance ). Here's a video of that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVSOhkB0WIs

I just want to send a big thanks to Gina, Tommy, and Rick for making that night such a special one.