The Doors of the 21st Century

Verizon Wireless Theater, Houston, Texas

October 26, 2003

The first thing that was clearly different about this show, in addition to the usual palpable excitement in the air, was the presence of the large camera boom and other equipment to support the filming of the DVD that would occur here this night.   The stage was set slightly differently:  in addition to the large screen behind the drums for projecting videos and band close-ups, there were dozens of pillar candles on tables behind Robby's position, and also behind Ray's keyboards.   There were 3 large, round Chinese lanterns descending on the left side of the stage, near the keyboards.    I later discovered there were also 3 on Robby's side of the stage, but these were not visible unless one was quite close or else towards the left of the audience, as they were obscured behind the drapes that framed the stage.  There were two video screens high up on the wall on each side of the stage.

D21C crew member Darren and a few others appeared onstage to begin lighting the candles.   At 8:40 Jim's young lion image was projected on the backdrop, and Carmina Burana began playing over the sound system.   There was also an announcement about the performance being filmed.

D21C manager Tom Vitorino was unseen, but his voice announced the band as they took the stage.   Ray wore a white jacket over dark shirt with dark pants.  Ian was in sunglasses, blue jeans, long-sleeved black shirt (tucked into his jeans), and a black pea jacket.  Ty took to the drums in a black shirt with a grey vertical stripe pattern and a dark knit cap.  Angelo wore his usual costume of blue jeans and long sleeve black turtleneck.   The piece de resistance was most definitely Robby's ensemble:  to complement the camouflage pants he often wears, he wore a camouflage jacket, military style boots, a chain with two dogtags around his neck, huge sunglasses, and a camouflage knit cap with ARMY in yellow letters on the back perched atop his head.  (After the show, friend Dawn likened it to a camouflage condom sitting on his head!!!)  It was so funny, I laughed out loud.   What a sense of humor he / they have!  To see this for yourself, check out these photos from the D21C's website:  photo link   photo link    photo link   photo link  

As per most every show, they opened with Roadhouse Blues.   Robby removed the giant sunglasses when the song ended, and they went into Break On Through which included Dead Cats / Dead Rats section.    Robby now removed the knit cap (or, camouflage condom), Ian took off his pea jacket and sunglasses, Ray removed his jacket, Ty was bareheaded.   Only Angelo kept all his clothes on, as they went into When The Music's Over.   Over the opening chords to that song, Ian said "I love my girl ..."     Ray and Robby faced each other during the mid-section of the song and communicated with facial expressions.  As the song drew to its close, Ian took a mighty leap off the drum riser, and Ray rose to his feet to finish playing it out.

I looked around the theater to see if everyone else was also on their feet (yes!!), and noticed a large orange  poster that had been suspended from the upper left balcony.   It was decorated with a green lizard and the words:  LIZARD KING LIVES.

Ian introduced Ray and then said "Hello, Texas" ... Ray introduced Ty Dennis The Monster on drums,  and Angelo Barbera on bass.  Ray then introduced the best guitar player, Captain Robby Krieger as Robby displayed and waved his dogtags around.    Robby then introduced from Chicago, Illinois, born 2-12-39, Raymond Daniel Manzarek.

Love Me Two Times followed, with Robby visiting Ray at his keyboards during the instrumental section.    As Robby next strolled over by Ty, I noticed that the D21C on Ty's drum looked glittery / iridescent, and wondered to myself if it has been like that all along (and I hadn't noticed,) or if this was a subtle new addition.

Ray announced what we all already knew and were anticipating, their performance of the L. A. Woman from top to bottom.   He explained that they were going to tour that album with Jim and with Jerry Scheff on bass.    They went into Changeling next, followed by L'America with Ian playing maracas.   Ray's white shirt was off now, revealing a short sleeve dark knit shirt with a green circular pattern.

It was 9:25 as the next song for us was Love Her Madly, followed by Been Down So Long.   Robby removed his camouflage jacket to reveal a grey/black t-shirt with a Red Cross insignia on the front!    Hyacinth House was next, and now Angelo was sporting a big white cowboy hat.

When that song ended, Ray announced that they were now going to play some slow-down blues.   Ian moved back by Ray's keyboards as if to look at what Ray's set list was .... Robby plinked a chord or two, and then Ray said that "well, maybe we should do something different ... according to my list, Texas Radio and the Big Beat is next.   Oops!!    Ray was on his feet again to play that song out.

At 9:45 they began to play Riders On The Storm, with Ian playing maracas during the instrumental section.

During L. A. Woman, Ian said "this is for Jim" before the Mr Mojo Risin section began.  As the song drew to a close, Ray stood up and Robby did a little jump ... Robby then slapped hands as the band left the stage.

Again heard but unseen, D21C manager Tom Vitorino could be heard asking the audience if they wanted to hear more, and asking them to make some Houston, Texas noise!!!   They did, and Robby returned to the stage wearing a camouflage hat.  Ray had his white jacket back on, Angelo was back in the white cowboy hat, and the band went into Alabama Song.

As Back Door Man began, a girl got onstage to hug Ian and was promptly removed by super D21C crew member Marco, looking very chic with his hair pulled back.   Several others climbed onstage and waved to the audience to join them ... Tom pushed them back into the audience.   Another guy tried to climb onstage in front of Robby;  Ian came over and pushed him back down into the crowd.

At 10:15, Ray removed his white shirt and he and Robby began their goose-step across the stage, while Angelo and Ty played the opening chords to Five To One.  They saluted each other as they passed.   Ray rose to his feet again as the song ended, and the band once again left the stage.

When they returned this time, Robby said "Houston, we have a problem, Houston" and then they went into Cars Hiss By My Window.   Ray led the crowd in a Light My Fire chant, which they began playing at 10:30.  As usual, Ian left the stage during the instrumental highlights.   Robby roamed the stage, standing near Angelo during Ray's solo.  Ray was on his feet bending over, with his forehead down on the keys as he played, then he lifted his left foot up onto the keys to play!  Several guys got onstage during Robby's guitar solo, and Marco tackled one of them!   Ian returned to the stage with the "f**k  f**k  f**k  f**k, and at 10:40 the song was over and the band left the stage.

The Doors of the 21st Century was projected on the back screen, and the D21C crew were extinguishing all the candles, signaling that there would be more after some safety precautions were made.  Ray strode back out to the center mic.  Some guy ran up and kissed his hand, as Ray said that they want to do one more song, leave the lights on ... this is for Jim ...  'I want to see all my people.'   Robby returned wearing the camouflage knit cap again, turned around with the yellow ARMY letters in front.  

D21C crew member Owen was scrambling around the stage removing the maracas and tambourine, etc., and about half a dozen female dancers moved in from the right side of the stage as they began to play Soul Kitchen.   This was the first time that dancers had been allowed on stage since the Clarkston, Michigan show in June when the audience members allowed to dance onstage during the last song, stole several piece of band equipment in the crowd confusion.

One notable difference in this show, besides the swooping camera, was that there was a lot more light show projection and far less of the videos that have accompanied each song.   The L. A. Woman video was played during that song, but most of the other songs were accented by the psychedelic images which are visible in many of the Webmaster's photos.  The after-show meet and greet was also filmed by the DVD crew.

D21C Webmaster took lots of great photos again;  some of those are linked above.   The rest can be viewed at this link:   see official concert photos:   http://robbykrieger.com/doors/gallery49.htm

Ida  11/6/03

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