Hazel Moon Fillmore Magic...

Well, I just got back from our road trip to the Fillmore in Detroit, Michigan, to see the band featured in our book, Hazel Moon. It was a perfect, summery fall day when our road trip began at noon, Central Standard Time, but when we arrived in Detroit it was apparent that they were in the Eastern time zone. The show started at 7 PM, but the Hazel Moon Magic began well before the Bunnymen took the iconic Fillmore stage, which had previously been known as the State Theater, and before that The Palms, which I only mention because The Palms was also the name of a concert venue Lori and I frequented back in the '80s in the Milwaukee area.

Other than knowing who the band members were, before showing up we hadn't spoken with anyone about our book and our wish that the band consider supporting the marketing of our book, but almost immediately doors opened, those necessary Connections began flickering like Christmas tree lights, like Hazel Moon fairies dancing all around us. Outside the venue, right after getting our tickets, we ran into the band's tour manager and after sharing our hopes for the evening, we were put on a very limited meet-and-greet list for after the show.

That important step accomplished, we were able to go into the Fillmore, find our seats, be amazed at the historic grandeur of the venue's lush, ornate interior, and revel in every minute of the Bunnymen's concert. In another delightful connection to the book, the Bunnymen lyric quotes from Hazel Moon by the end of the concert had all been sung by the band! 

I have to admit, being on the road trip with my sister, Lori, being at the Bunnymen's concert, made us feel like we were 20 years old again!

After the show, which included two encores (see below for a book excerpt) we couldn't help but be stunned with the connection to our story, a key scene about the Bunnymen concert involved an encore, something they rarely, if ever do. When calm and quiet finally settled back into the Fillmore auditorium, we were led to the meet-and-greet area where Lori, in full bloom in her actress roll playing Lady Luna, eloquently explained what our book was about when asked by the tour manager.

We signed two copies of our book for the two original members of the band from those early days in the '80s, the setting for Hazel Moon, and the years during which my sister, Lori, and myself were being creatively inspired by taking in so many fabulous bands, including, Echo and the Bunnymen.

Time will tell, but the band has copies of our book and if they like it, and agree to support it, that would be fantastic, however, The River is Everywhere...the Moment was Memorable, the road trip full of exciting memories that we'll never forget...no matter what happens with our book!

Pic below, me at the Fillmore done as an artistic rendering.

Excerpt from Hazel Moon about the Echo and the Bunnymen encore from Chapter
12 Encore.

SUDDENLY A TREMENDOUS ROAR snapped Luna out of her Lyudmila spell. When Echo and the Bunnymen played the last song of their last set and vacated the stage, few, if anyone left. Instead, the audience began applauding, yelling, and chanting, hoping the band would come back for an encore.

Not about to give up, after a few minutes the audience rose to their feet and intensified their raucous outcries; adding taunts, whistles, screams, and banging together anything they could get their hands on to make enough noise to get the band's attention.

Whipped into a collective frenzy anyway during this Eve of the Hazel Moon, the rowdy crowd was not about to leave without seeing the Bunnymen back on stage one last time. The band, on the other hand, was making them sweat.

The decision whether or not to play an encore was usually made by Ian and although they typically avoided them, on certain special nights they played their fans' obsession with the band for all it was worth.

Twas a tricky maneuver, though—wait too long and the crowd will begin to disperse—don't wait long enough and they won't appreciate the encore. Wait just the right amount of time and the encore will take them to a place they've never been during a live performance—one they'll remember for the rest of their lives.

Ian had a sixth sense about just when to send the band back out there, and after fifteen long, drawn-out minutes, that's exactly what he did.

The exuberant explosion of sound brought Luna back to 1984 while also putting a look of hope back on November's despondent face, believing that the Eve of the Hazel Moon had come and gone without presenting her with any magical gifts—without keeping any important life-changing promises. But all that changed with the encore.

"AHHAH...they're back...the band's back!"

Anyone watching November would have thought her in the midst of the ultimate G-Spot orgasm! She was gasping for breath, her arms were wrapped around herself tightly, and she screamed while digging her long, sharp fingernails into her shoulder blades.

Thinking to herself, oh...the moon gods are good to me...the concert magic is not over!

The crowd was absolutely going wild. Looking left she saw a casserole of geeks and freaks, posers and desperadoes; all with their hands waving frantically in the air, many holding lit cigarette lighters in a ceremonial tribute to their adoration for the band and their acknowledgement that this Eve of the 

Hazel Moon was indeed a remarkable night for the ages.

November was afraid to exhale, worried what she was seeing would break up like a smoke ring if she didn't hold on tightly to the memorable moment. She'd followed the band enough to know that an encore was a privilege. The crowd also sensed the aroma of being honored.

Angela had the same untamed reaction, screaming with glee as November wrapped around her from behind, and like a powerful python slowly squeezed the very air out of her lungs.

"They are so back...ROCK ON!" Angela squealed, giving November the kind of naughty I'm-yours look you'd only find on a turn-of-the-century French pinup poster.

Dickey bolted between the two, first crouching, then rough-housing his arms around their waists before bellowing out a loud, "Yeah!"