A lot of the fun memories came from attending these events with friends who are passionate about the bands we saw and well they just get me. That is truly what takes an ordinary event and makes it extraordinary. So 2009 was truly a remarkable and amazing year of shows. I wish I had time to highlight everything from every show but if I did that my already never ending 2009 shows synopsis would become an even bigger novel. But that is what I love about music and making the most out of every experience. There was just too much to cover in a blog. There were too many memories, too many good people I met along the way or that I saw shows with. So while the end of the year for me was horrible, mainly due to the sudden sickness of a friend who some of you may know (Get Well Robin) and also how I lost my job that won’t bring me down. But both challenges left me lost and struggling and as much as the year started fun I am happy 2009 is gone and 2010 can bring a fresh start. Robin is doing better and I feel liberated from a job that wasn’t where I belonged.
THE LIST OF SHOWS (YES I MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN SOMETHING):
-1997: in Virginia
SOME OF MY FAVORITE HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2009 PART 1: CIVIL TWILIGHT, YOUR VEGAS and THE BRAVERY
The next night we got to interview them before the show in Baltimore (that will be online soon in correlation with an upcoming CD release). That was officially our first team venture. The funniest and most terrifying part was being on the phone directing Rich to the Barnes & Noble in the Inner Harbor. The venue Sonar is located in the middle of nowhere in one of the worst parts of Baltimore. They decided to walk away from the venue in search of somewhere like a coffee shop to do the interview. Imagine images running through your head of four South African guys being mugged in my city their first time there, yes I was worried. Thanks to their sound guy/photographer Kevin who we dub the fourth member of the band that didn’t happen. He was thankfully able to guide them to the safer Inner Harbor. I will never forget asking Rich what he saw as they walked. I had him describe what was around him. He said he saw a river (that would be the harbor) and flags that had the Orioles written on them. I finally exhaled, they were safe.
Everything went well at the interview aside from a cleaning guy who kept interrupting us and ruining some shots. That and the crowd noise below us due to way too many tourists in town for a Soccer match the next night at Ravens Stadium were the only issues. But I will never forget that and the show. We also got to chat with other bands like The Trews and discover how many amazing bands are out there. But my apologies to Audrey for all our parking issues (remember the closed garage in Baltimore at the hotel and the snafu after the 8×10 show?) But earlier at the interview I mentioned how amazing their cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” was when they did it the year before in Virginia. They mentioned possibly doing it at the show that night. I had my camera ready because to our happiness we saw on the setlist that was taped on stage they were going to do it. I recorded it this time and once again they proved why they will be megastars.
The 8×10 Club show was fun as well. I discovered Audrey was coming down for it at the last minute which made me very excited. Thankfully Andrew said they liked this part of Baltimore because Sonar had given them the wrong impression. I couldn’t really talk or scream because due to a massive cold and cough I barely had a voice. I joked about it before the show and apparently Steven and one of the guys from another band were sick too. Audrey screamed on my behalf though when they finally played some of their new songs like “Next To Me.” We got to keep Rich company as he manned the merch stand and he gave both of us a free copy of the new version of their CD. We showed Andrew and Steven the posters and cards that Rich helped get mailed to us. They even autographed a few backstage and we chatted with other fans there trying to recruit them for the street team. Can’t wait to see them again everyone needs to discover this band now but 2010 will bring many amazing things for them I know. (Check them out at www.myspace.com/civiltwilightband or www.civiltwilightband.com
The next night in Brooklyn at Roots Café was even more fun. I remember Christina and I being scared we would be late. In a “this can’t be happening” moment we got off the Subway and saw Mat and Coyle walking towards the turnstiles. Immediately they stopped and looked stunned that we were there. They were sweet and waited for us and I remember saying “guess we aren’t late huh? They can’t start the show without the band after all.” We were lucky and walked with them to the venue. Christina chatted with Mat and I chatted with Coyle and we even stopped to peruse a box of musical items that somebody had left out front of their home on the street. The venue was a small little coffee shop that didn’t serve alcohol so Christina and I went next door and bought some Corona. Once inside we said hello to the legendary Mary aka cupcakethecat and stood for a while since seating was limited. This was fun because it lead to a fun argument with the very talented Andy Zipf. He started dissing Myspace and said it sucked so without thinking or remembering I was in public I blurted out “No It Doesn’t!” That lead to a playful argument throughout his set where he even did a survey of who prefers Facebook to Myspace. I lost, but it was the perfect way to start the night. It even got a chuckle out of Mat who stood next to me with his friend. But Andy’s set was so fun especially when little boy decided he wanted to join him and insisted on trying to play his guitar and drink his water. So funny. He also made a new fan out of me.
It was only 2/5ths of the band tonight due to no room on the stage for a piano. But once again their performance was so brilliant. The highlight of the night was when they completed their acoustic version of Blackbird and Oceanbird and Coyle looked at me and said “ASPCA.” I said “Done.” He smiled and said “Cool.” I did keep my end of the bargain and gave $100 to the ASPCA. Coyle sat down in a nearby seat and after the show everyone watched the very entertaining, energetic and hard to describe band Brothers Moving. They were so fun and I got into it and was moving about in my seat. Such a wonderful way to cap off an amazing night full of so much amazing music. After the show we bid them adieu, a girl talking with Coyle actually said to me “I need to shake your hand, I saw you rocking out over there. Love to see people get into the music.” Perfect way to conclude a perfect weekend.
The final time I saw them in 2009 I actually got to see all the members of the band live and chat with 4 of the 5 members. It was on Halloween or as it was renamed “Hell-o-ween” at Crash Mansion. I was dressed as Bettie Page in her “Don’t Tread On Me” devil costume. It was humorous to be donning a black wig, bright red lipstick and devil costume and be talking to their bassist Jon for the first time in almost a year like that. My favorite part was our discussion with him about how I can get my friends Emily and Corey to survive staying out until 4am in NY when they aren’t used to it then get up to go sight seeing. His answer “just don’t go to bed.” Jon is a very wise man lol and our discussion reminded me of why I missed talking with him. I also got to chat with Mark quite a bit and found out his mom and dad were there too. But all of them were very sly hiding the secret to come with their costumes. All four of the guys I spoke with were sweet and had nothing but nice things to say about my costume. I chuckled later because I wondered what they really thought as I talked to them and walked around with my riding crop and very naughty outfit. Heck a friend didn’t even recognize me in the bathroom. It was a cool night where I also got to meet fellow YV fan Becky and see Mary again.
But the real stars of the night were YV. Their costumes were to be a surprise and boy were they surprising. When they came on stage all of them were in little black dresses wearing makeup. It was funny to see five hot British guys in drag. Some donned wigs and pantyhose too. Don’t get me started on how scarily hot they looked dressed as girls A highlight was having Coyle joke on stage that “he liked all the devil horns because that means that people are being evil” and looked right at me as he said it. This was a special night that had many guys in many bizarre costumes hit on me (Little Bo Peep? Zorro?) but it was priceless. It was made even better because I was in NY with two friends who had never been there before and they got to see Your Vegas with me for the very first time. This is another band to watch out for because 2010 will be huge for them! (Check them out at www.myspace.com/yourvegas)
I was supposed to see The Bravery in DC with Audrey the day after their Pennsylvania show in TLA months later (see below.) But thanks to missing my Greyhound bus from Pennsylvania to Maryland I decided to make the fateful decision to take the Amtrak back for the very 1st time. This proved to be a bad idea. That’s because I never made it to the show due to my train hitting someone because the train didn’t move for over 5 hours. That was a terrible disappointment and I felt so bad that poor Audrey drove over 3 1/2 hours to get to the show that I had convinced her to go to the night before. She had to go by herself so I will be making up to her soon.
But seeing the Bravery at their aforementioned Pennsylvania show was amazing. All their new tunes proved to be even better live. They really were even better then a year before and Michael broke out all kinds of cool instruments on stage. Sam was even on the mark despite being sick. But having them so kind post-show especially having guitarist Michael Zakarin say to me that it is nice to see a familiar face in the crowd really meant a lot. Their drummer Anthony was quite nice too saying goodbye to me and thanking me for coming at the end of the after party. Wendy was able to snag a photo pass and was understandably nervous at dinner. We even did a couple shots of liquid courage after dinner at a nearby bar so we could ease her apprehension. That was because this was the first time she would be professional rock photographer (one of many more times to come). At the show she was so calm and got some gorgeous shots.
We were both also very nervous about the idea of holding a spot on the GA floor for her when she was in the photo pit. Because at The Bravery and other GA shows general admission can mean loads of self-entitled, crazy people. We sure encountered many a territorial girl there who shot us icy, evil stares and tried to steal our spot many times through the night due to our great spot. But the photo pit idea was a non-issue since there wasn’t one. That was because the barricade was so close to the stage Wendy and I were dangerously close to being hit by instruments. In fact once when the lead singer of Living Things jumped off the stage his mic chord wrapped around my neck, Wendy saved the day and untangled me. We were breathtakingly close. I even read the setlist and squealed when to of my fave songs were on there and said “aww” when someone came out and scratched them out with a marker. But the show was a blast and her pictures of both bands were exquisite. We didn’t let a few pushy girls ruin our fun when they were simply jealous of our spots in the front row (earned by waiting in line I might add) and the fact Michael Zakarin acknowledged us ruin our fun.
But the coolest part of the night came at the after party when Wendy and I got to see Mike “Dirt” Hindert’s side band No Lover who were absolutely brilliant. But also getting to chat with Cory Becker who is the guitarist for Living Things was one of my favorite memories from that night. I had been flirting with him after the show and complimented his The Cult show so he shook my hand and chatted with me. I also was staring at him like an idiot the entire show too. So it was fun to chat with him and he was so shy and so adorable that it left a lasting impression. Quote of the night was Cory trying to make small talk with us and he said: “So you like the Rolling Stones?” so cute) But the best part of the night was just simply seeing a The Bravery show with Wendy for the first time but also to have her meet the band, make Dirt laugh and just chat with the band for the first time meant even more. (Check them out at: www.myspace.com/thebravery or www.thebravery.com)
