James Taylor and Carole King in their Troubador concert last night.

It was wonderful.

I'm kind of at a loss for words, here, on how to explain how astonishing and grand it is to sit maybe 17 rows from the stage and see two artists you grew up listening to, people who know how to reach inside, find the questions and present them so magically.

I'm at a loss.

So, I will start at the beginning.

We set out early to do some shopping and have dinner before the concert. Saw this hawk and these cute sheep (nice view, huh?) on the ride there.

 

Dinner was fun. I had some absolutely lovely shrimp and crab tortellini with a smoked cheese and sundried tomato sauce, and we got zeppolis to go. (I really do have to find a decent zeppoli recipe. The best I ever had I bought in a brown paper bag down at a stand in Englishtown Market back in NJ, and ate them while wandering the auction in the dead of summer. YUM. Love Englishtown. Miss it, too. They have an excellent pickle stand, with barrels and barrels. What a delight.)

Anyway, this was my first time at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, and I like it. It's not too big and almost every seat is decent, even the nosebleed ones. We had good seats, down on the floor in front of the revolving stage. Maybe 17th row. And oh, when Carole King and James Taylor came out, did this crowd holler!



They were wonderful. Charming, funny, friendly, and good friends themselves.



So Far Away brought me and the girl in the row ahead of me to tears, although she was actually blotting her face with a tissue. I wasn't that far gone, but Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, with both of them singing, was a knock-out, as was Fire and Rain and You've Got a Friend. Right to the heart.

 

They took a 15 minute intermission which was cool, and reminded me of the old days. I loved it. We had a great time, and it looked like they did, too.





The tour merchandise is beautiful. We picked up a program full of photos and a mug, and now I'm hankering for the Troubador CD. If you get the chance to go to this concert, do it. Truly a wonderful evening.