American Music Theatre - Lancaster, PA on May 29, 1999

Guess it is time for my review. I attended both the shows at Rambler's Ranch and The American Music Theater. They were the kick-off of The Pilgrim tour. Also the kick-off for a new stage set. Now Brad is on the right beside Gary, and Steve and Gregg are on the left side of the stage. In Jim Thorpe they only used the backdrop with a blue background with white stars. It makes a wonderful background for pictures. In Lancaster they changed the background several times.

The music was as follows: "High On A Mountain Top," "Doin' My Time," "The Whiskey Ain't Workin'," "Blue Train," "Tempted," We Are The Lonely" (Marty said this is a John Prine song), "Dark As A Dungeon," Burn Me Down." Then Marty introduces the band and they leave the stage except for Brad who stays for a guitar duet with Marty, then he leaves the stage. Marty tells the story behind The Pilgrim album. The band comes back and plays a song from the movie Daddy and Them while Marty leaves the stage. I cannot figure out how Brad gets changed so quickly. The band comes out wearing the costumes from the video and Marty comes back wearing a long coat. In Jim Thorpe it was a long green coat and in Lancaster it was a black coat with beads.

They perform these songs from The Pilgrim: "Sometimes The Pleasure's Worth The Pain," "Reasons," "Red, Red Wine And Cheatin' Songs," "Hobo's Prayer," "The Greatest Love Of All Time," "Draggin' Around These Chains Of Love," and "The Pilgrim." I hope lots of you got to watch these on the webcast because they are so wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!! The show closed with "Now That's Country," "Hillbilly Rock" and an encore of "Western Girls" and "You Can't Stop Love."

Of course I had to buy the new t-shirt which is black with the picture from the new album cover on the front and definitions of a pilgrim on the back. There is also a new poster with a similar picture. I had one of these autographed at each Meet 'N Greet.

The line sure was long in Lancaster. Maybe that was because before the show Mike and Spike gathered members of the audience who wanted to join the fan Club (and be able to meet Marty that night). They come into the audience in costume and look for people who will do "the Pee Wee Herman dance" (guess it is time for dance lessons) for a string of beads. Then they recruit for the Fan Club. I forgot to mention the crew is also in costume for the show.

I did get to talk to Marty for a minute about the video. He said it is not going to be released. He also said he was glad it was not being released because it was not right for the album.

It was a wonderful trip. The music was great, I got to see lots of old friends and also got to meet some new ones. Several of the "Onelisters" went out after the show for little chat. It is nice to be able to face with a name.

Review by Pat Johnson, New Milford, CT