MadonnaTribe reader MadonnyDC has sent us his experience from the re-INVENTION tour.
To read the essay he wrote, telling his story, titled A Religious Experience click on Full Article.
Garan and Madonny ready for big fun at the re-INVENTION tour

Special thanks to Madonny for sharing his experience with The Tribe

A Religious ExperienceI remember being 9 years old, standing in the kitchen, singing Like A Virgin and my mother asking me if I knew what that was. I said no, she said, “OK…carry on.” That was the beginning for me. I instantly became a die hard Madonna fan at a very young age and followed her religiously throughout her career. My bedroom growing up was a shrine to her. EVERY inch of my walls were covered with her pictures and posters, even the ceiling. I also had my lampshades covered with Madonna pins and buttons. Needless to say friends thought I was a bit crazy, but not everyone can understand that not only is she a wonderful performer, but she is also a fantastic person. She has inspired me throughout my life. Her words and her music helped me through coming out of the closet, battling a drug addiction, and various issues that came up in my life, good and bad.

In high school I saw her live for the very first time at the Blond Ambition Tour. I passed out when she rose out of the stage on the elevator. I lost my voice after the 3rd song and couldn’t talk for a week. Even though I didn’t have the best seats in the house, I could feel her presence and I was awe struck. That earned me my nickname which I still use to this day, Madonny (real name is Donny)
Unfortunately I had to wait 14 years almost to the day to see her live again. She didn’t come to DC for the Girlie Show Tour. When Music came out I won tickets to her private launch party in London, but only had 2 days to come up with air fare and a passport and all that was needed to fly over there so I had to miss that. For the Drowned World Tour I had to miss the show for personal reasons. When I heard she was coming to DC for the Reinvention Tour I freaked out and swore I would not miss this chance to see the Diva live and in person again.
I went to the June 13th show with my boyfriend, Garan. The only other concert he had ever been to in his entire life was Dave Matthews. I assured him that he was in for one HELL of a treat with this show. Unfortunately when the tickets went on sale all I could afford were the $48.00 seats. I didn’t care. I HAD to be there. There was no way I was missing this show.
My boyfriend and I had read up on all the reviews on all the fan websites daily. Read all the magazine and newspaper articles we could find. We were prepared for the most amazing show on earth. We even made outfits. My friend Anita made me a kilt very similar to the one she wore for the closing portion of the show. I wore a tank top that said MADONNA DOES IT BETTER and my boyfriend wore one that said GUY DOES IT BETTER.

We were hoping this would get us seats in the pits. Unfortunately they were already full. So we worked our way up to the nose bleed section to our seats. We were right on top of the stage and to the side. I have to say it was an amazing view. We were able to see the entire stage with the exception of the screens that made up her backdrops and curtains. I didn’t care. I was there to see her. The interesting thing was the fact that I could see everything going on backstage and under the stage. When her and the dancers came out from their dressing rooms before the show started I got to see them. Each time she left the stage I was able to see her go to her dressing area along with all the crew prepping the stage for the next set. It was so amazing to see the show from that point of view and was very pleased with the seats we got, even though they were the cheapest seats in the house.
She rocked the HELL out of the MCI Center. Her voice was AMAZING. I have never heard her sound so good. She appeared to be having the time of her life. She even told the crowd that we were the best so far on the tour. That we “Knew how to make a girl feel welcome.” I have to admit that when I heard she was covering John Lennons Imagine I was a bit concerned. That is one hell of a song to take on. SHE FLOORED IT! I cried my eyes out when she was singing it. The entire show my boyfriend and I were screaming and dancing and jumping up and down.We also made out a little bit. 🙂 I lost my voice again and probably lost 10 pounds from dancing and sweating so much. We left there feeling inspired and honored to have been able to see such a wonderful performance in person.
After the show we went for drinks with a friend, Kari. Her boyfriend had some connection and was able to get her 7th row seats for that show. Just two days earlier I had purchased four $100 tickets for my two best friends, Anita and James, and my boyfriend Garan and myself for the June 14th show. James had seen her once before 14 years ago as well. Anita had never seen her. Unfortunately these seats were also in the nose bleed section, but a slightly more head on view of the stage. I still didn’t care. Karis boyfriend called while we were having drinks and I jokingly asked him if he could get us better seats for the following nights show. Low and behold he was able to hook us up with 4th row seats. I WAS FREAKING OUT! We went home and tried to sleep. The excitement kept me up all night. Needless to say I did not make it in to work that morning. I had no voice and was exhausted from the night before. I had to rest up for the show that evening.
I suprised my friends later that evening with the news of our ticket upgrade. I still don’t think they understood what they were in for. They were very excited but it didn’t hit ANY of us until we got to the MCI Center and realized we were 8 feet from the stage and directly below the catwalk. I made sure Garan and James were on either side of me to catch me when I passed out. I knew I would. When she came up on the stage you could tell it was going to be a good show. The crowd was off the hook! She was crouched down in her yoga pose rising out of the stage and you could see her laughing because we were all screaming and making so much noise. Anita started crying immediately. James was in awe. Garan couldn’t stop screaming. I was frozen still till I saw her face. That’s when I lost my shit. I could see the gap in her teeth. I could see every eyelash on her eyes. It was amazing. I never thought I would be THAT close to my idol, and there I was.
She put on one hell of a performance from beginning to end. She seemed to have even more fun then the night before. Once again she commented that we “know how to make a girl feel at home” She wasn’t just a performer that night. She was also a human. She made eye contact with each and every one of us numerous times. She messed up the beginning of Express Yourself. Instead of asking if we “believe in love?” she went straight into the song. She went “Don’t go for SHIT!!!” Started laughing her ass off. Excused herself and started the song out right, grinning from ear to ear the entire song. No one cared. It made the song more special for everyone there. I couldn’t help thinking that she was going to have to put some money in the swear jar for saying shit on stage. It didn’t end there. She dedicated Crazy for You to “All my awesome fans who have stuck by me through thick and FUCKING thin for the past 20 years. I love you all.”
During Don’t Tell Me I put on my cowboy hat and danced like a banshee in heat. She saw me and I thought I was going to pass out. The tears started flowing again. Every song she sang was in perfect pitch and key. The energy NEVER stopped. The stage was amazing, The crew was awesome, the dancers and band were out of this world. When the cat walk came down we were literally 2 feet away from her and saw right up her skirt at the end of the show. I lost more weight sweating and screaming and dancing my ass off. Garan lost his voice too. Anita cried through half of the show and commented that she had no idea just how GORGEOUS she was. All I have to say is SCREW THE PIT SEATS! We had the best seats in the house.
I have gone on and on and on here. So I will cut this short. I am just so happy that I got to share this experience with the love of my life, Garan. My best friend in the entire world, Anita. And her boyfriend who has become like a brother to me, James. Thank you Kari and her boyfriend Wally for hooking us up.
Of course I have to thank Madonna, my idol, my inspiration, for indirectly being there throughout my life. Also a HUGE thank you for the most amazing show I will probably ever witness. It was truly a once in a life time experience that my friends and I will never forget. We were all star struck and in awe of your presence and performance. We love you and wish you all the best on the rest of your tour, and future. Guy, Lourdes, and Rocco are blessed. After last night, I feel blessed. It was truly a RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE.

Special thanks to Madonny for sharing his experience with the tribe