I had been reading so many wonderful concert accounts from the first few weeks of the Moodies tour and enjoyed them immensely. The show at JB was finally MY turn to finally attend a MB show in the year 2000!!
Somehow, Ticketmaster blessed me with front row center orchestra seats RIGHT IN FRONT OF JUSTIN!! If I'd have screamed out loud the way I wanted to, I'd have awakened the entire neighborhood!!!!
The security staff WAS rather helpful if NOT knowledgeable about the pre-concert John Lodge album signing. Each member pointed me to the next "checkpoint" and to ask there about it; I was teased a-plenty by the guards about the beautiful bouquet I had brought along for Justin. I was almost embarrassed to be carrying it and debated about leaving it behind in the car! The florist had gone to town with the greens and baby's breath as I waited for the 6 baby iris and the single white rose to be arranged; they really transformed 7 flowers into a stunning bouquet with cascading blue ribbons.
Anyway, those holding the Natural Avenue vinyls were brought to a separate area to wait for John. We saw Ray stroll out on stage and waved to him when he saw us; he smiled and waved back. There were only 6 fans there. It was amazing how the security people with us ALL turned a blind eye to the 6 cameras that materialized from wherever we had hidden them to get into the venue in the first place!! The meet and greet went by fairly quickly once we were brought into the backstage area. John was his usual warm, bubbly, charming self during the whole event. He is such a gracious gentleman! He began to misspell my name and made a joke out of it, and was so happy to hear me wish him a happy B-day (2 days late) as well as to accept my little gift bag with a small present for him. I am so pleased to have made him smile so broadly as he seemed to be surprised by my gesture!

Photo © Maddalena Carrozzo Justin Hayward "Question"

Once we got to our seats, it was nearly time for a heart-attack! They were even closer than we thought! THIS was beyond a dream come true! When the fellows strolled out onto the stage, I couldn't keep the smile from my face. There they were, a stone's throw away from me! Especially John AND Justin!! Justin was already scoping out the audience down in the front and when I was bestowed with the first Hayward smile of the evening when he lay eyes on ME, I was already in heaven! (I couldn't believe it!!) I smiled right back and his smile broadened and "just" set the tone for the rest of the evening for me! He actually smiled twice more for me before he even played one note. Guess he realized he had a new face under his nose and was glad to see me! I was surely happy to see HIM again!! Talk about "walkin' on air"!!
The concert itself nearly flew by for me as I quietly sang along with a small smile on my lips all evening. Every so often, the bandmembers would find a new or familiar face to acknowledge and it was such a charge to even get a smile from Mr. Edge from behind his drumkit! It was a pleasure to receive the smiles and winks from John and the occasional smile from Mr.All-Business, Justin, as we all sang along (not loudly) and swayed gently and clapped when appropriate. I thought I was imagining it when I noticed the way JH covertly watches the audience members but "comparing notes" during the intermission and after the show with friends, it was confirmed in ALL our thoughts that when it appeared that either he or John was watching someone with a smile, it was exactly what was going on. I was in shock when during "IJAS", the Jays had come forward, as usual, and were looming right over me, Justin actually smiling down at me, and my camera had shut itself off! Like a nut, I fumbled with it, suddenly not being able to switch it back on, turn the flash off, put the zoom on. I was sure they'd have moved on from me but when I looked back up, they were STILL there waiting for me to get the camera going!! As soon as I snapped them, they DID move to my left! I was still in shock!!
Once the show had ended and the band and back-up members stood all across the stage, Justin soon came forward to the stage's edge. Somehow, I raised my irises to him and he looked at me, beginning to smile so warmly and genuinely. How my legs didn't crumble is beyond me for I received "that gesture": the tapping of his breast above his heart, and "that question": "what? For ME?" and the warm look as he accepted my flowers with a broadening smile and a gracious thank you, and a second "that gesture". If his hand had brushed mine, that would have been IT!! But then, the envelope with my letter had fallen to the floor and Jus did not see it as he was walking away. We called and pointed to him and luckily, he heard the commotion and turned to see what was going on. He looked at me very intently; he had to see the crushed look on my face, and said: "Don't worry; I'll send someone to get it. DON'T WORRY." I nodded back, doubting that it would happen but true to his word, he immediately sent a roadie out to the front to pick it up as he stood back in the dark shadows waiting for it to be delivered safely to his hands. I waved to him in thanks but I don't know if he saw it. I couldn't believe what had just happened or what had happened all night! The first AND last smiles Justin gave to the fans were given to little ME. I wonder if he realizes how happy such a simple gesture on his part has made a long-time fan??
I will never forget this evening as long as I live! I will probably NEVER get those seats of a life-time ever again; for once, I have NO complaints with TM--which of course is subject to change with the next concert I want to go to!! I have such lovely memories in my mind and heart to relive time and again, and they will remain with me to make me smile and even get a tear in my eye. Thanks to the fans and friends sitting in close proximity to me under the stars; to the other fans and friends who were there to share such a lovely evening of magical music and Moody moments; and, to Justin and the Moodies for still wanting to search for that lost chord...and wish us all to continue to share their musical journey with them.

Review by:
Maddalena Carrozzo
Brooklyn, NY

These five photos: © 1999 Dave Hirsh