PAUL WILLIAMS

No sooner had we returned from Phoenix than we were off to Yosemite National Park. I had heard that it was a very special place with it's bears and tall sequoia trees. Both Ann and I were not anticipating the mass of amazing waterfalls and green valleys. The snows were still melting and so the falls were in full force. Nature at it's best.

The snowy mountains over the Nevada and Vernal Falls from Glacier Point	Bridalveil Falls	Yosemite Falls from the flooded valley floor	Ann and I walking through a sequoia tree

And so on to Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the US and where we were to finally see Paul in person. What can one say about Las Vegas? Loud, brash and fascinating....a place to visit, but not too often for me...I prefer the splendour of mother nature.

Towards the Mirage Hotel with it's erupting volcano	The Star Ship Enterprise in the Hilton Hotel	Pegasus in Caesars Palace	Inside the Venetian Hotel

At the end of long days of walking around Vegas Ann and I were glad to get back to our hotel. We stayed at the Suncoast Hotel, where Paul was performing. I have never stayed anywhere like it, with it's 24 hour gambling floor surrounded by numerous eating places with every kind of food.

Ann outside the Suncoast.

Although not a gambler myself, I enjoyed the art of 'people watching'. Every kind of person was there from ardent gamblers to first timers trying their luck.

And so to the highlight of our stay. Paul's concerts and the chance to chat with Paul, Mariana and Paul's amazing band. Ann and I attended Paul's show on the Friday (3rd) and Sunday (5th). Both shows were such fun. Paul has such a way with an audience even when things go wrong....like the audio visual on the first night which did not work, and Paul forgetting the odd word....

Rosanne and Elaine have described the shows so well here that there is not a lot more for me to say. The highlight for me was Paul dedicating a song to me which I had requested when I first knew I would be going to Vegas.  Look What I Found (Java 'PopUp Lyrics' here) was a song written for a music festival in Japan in 1973 and was a minor hit single here in the UK (See details of it's original release here). It was one of the few of Paul's songs which have never been released on an album....a real treasure. Since the song was so obscure, none of Paul's band had ever heard of it, and so the production of the song was done from the words and music alone...different from the original, but still a memorable performance...Thanks Paul.

Paul Williams in Concert

PAUL WILLIAMS AND HIS BAND

Paul Williams with his band	Paul Williams with Chris Caswell (Kaz) on piano and John Lee Sanders on saxophone

Ann and I with (from lt to rt) Bob Terry, John Lee Sanders, Paul, Chris Caswell, Rick Alegria and Lothar Struff.

After the show Ann and I got the chance to meet up with Paul, as well as Mariana and the members of the band.

Paul & Ann at the end of a long evening	Paul & I.....Brothers in Arms

Finally a big thank you to Paul and everyone involved in making it a truly memorable experience for both Ann and I.

See other reviews of Paul Williams in Vegas in 2005 here.

See other reviews from Paul Williams appearances in 2005 here.