A Fluffy, White Prelude

Doubt and disappointment gnawed at me as I watched the weather with growing concern.  It was unusual, even for the Northeast.  The week before Wakin's concert, a giant snowstorm moved in, burying everything in its path in an unrelenting blanket of seemingly endless, record-setting snow.  Airports closed...schools closed...buildings buried in heaps of snow...people stranded on planes.... In order to get to the show in Niagara Falls, I was set to fly into Buffalo, New York--right smack in the middle of it all! Would I be able to get in, I wondered?  And if I got in, would I be able to get out again? 

Ah yes, Concert Time 2007 had rolled around with flurry of worry all its own that reminded me strongly of the chaos preceding last year's San Francisco show.  But also like San Francisco, at the end of all the panic, I again found myself seated comfortably on a plane, soaring off through the deep blue sky towards the concert.  Miraculously, in one week's time, the weather had cleared.  Just in time for the concert! God is so good!

A Very Happy Meeting

Carole* and I had talked for the last few years through email and message boards. We had worked together on various message board-initiated projects for Wakin, and shared a mutual, devoted appreciation of Wakin's music.  However we had not yet met face-to-face.  But Wakin's choice of venues this time brought him very close to Carole's home in Montreal, and so as an added joy to us both, we met for the first time at this concert!  Carole and I passed the time before Wakin's show getting to know each other better, shopping, eating together and visiting--of course--Niagara Falls!

We had a terrific time hanging out before and after the show!  And again, God was so good, because although we had purchased our tickets separately, we ended up sitting together for the concert!  It was like meeting a very good, very dear friend for the first time.  Spending time with Carole made this concert very memorable and happy for me.  I'm so glad she decided to go! *(Click here to read Carole's account of the concert!)

The Magic Begins

Finally it was time. Carole and I arrive at the show with great anticipation.  For me, it had been one whole year since I'd heard Wakin perform live.  For her, it had been three!  It seemed like millennia to us both.  We were so excited!

Our seats were much better than I expected.  I laughed briefly to note that the perspective was almost exactly the same as it had been in San Francisco.  But we were closer to the stage!  It seemed the Avalon Ballroom's claims of a houseful of great seats was true, at least for ours.  I was happy to think that my pictures might actually come out this time! Ha! 

The show began with the raising of a giant screen.  Wakin appeared on an elevated platform, wearing a beautiful white suit that twinkled in the lights and waving to the audience! 

The band fanned out around him on either side, guitars and drums on one side, back up singers, strings and keyboards on the other.  Sadly from where I was sitting, I could only get clear shots of one half of the band, which was disappointing for the pictures, but I could hear them just fine!

The band exploded into "Direction of the Heart", and it was clear from the very first notes this was going to be a very special concert.  The concert hall reverberated with glorious sound, and Carole and I smiled.  The show had begun!

What He Sang

Wakin performed a variety of songs in three languages!  Here is a line up of what he sang--to the best of my memory.  Even as I'm writing this, I'm sure I'm leaving something out, so if you were there and would like to add a title, please let me know!  Once again, my apologies to all Chinese-speaking fans. I only know the titles by their English translations:

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